17 February 2016
15 February 2016
Color blocking with Kathleen Dames (and Victoria Beckham)
Victoria Beckham: Fall 2016, Look 9 |
Color-blocked cuffs, matching collar, navy body, orange contrast. Does that look like anything you might already know?
Kathleen Dames: June 2013, Bloc Pulli |
Oh, hello, Bloc Pulli. You're looking as sharp as when I designed and knit you during Hurricane Sandy. You've got fun-to-knit long cuffs shaped with short rows, a sideways-knit collar that's stretchy and adds a pop of color up top, and in the entire garment you only have to purl three half-rows, so you're just one big, fabulous knit-knit-knit. (Personally, I wouldn't want to knit a sweater entirely in ribbing these days, but that may just be me.)
Guess color blocking is still a fashionable thing. Do you think my Bloc Party cardigan will show up in a collection next Spring?
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Last summer I experienced another facet of the Intellectual Property dodecahedron when someone was selling a copy of my pattern for An Aran for Frederick on Etsy. That was a pretty clear case, and Etsy responded almost immediately by taking the pattern down.
In this instance Ms. Beckham's Look 9 would be deemed nothing more than a coincidence, since, unlike Mati Ventrillon's experience with the house of Chanel, VB's design team have not visited my atelier (i.e. my desk in the corner of the dining room/book and yarn stash storage next to the washer-dryer/filming studio in our bedroom) ... ever.
So, what should I do? Not much, actually, except enjoy the fact that a design similar to mine stomped the catwalk at NYFW yesterday. I do think my design is more fun to knit, though ;)
Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,
P.S. Guess my next pattern in the upgrade queue should be Bloc Pulli, eh?
12 February 2016
s01 ep06 : the body (again) | the sweater with kathleen dames {iTunes}
Show Notes
Questions about Episode Six? Visit the Ravelry thread to see if your question has already been answered: http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/kathleen-dames-design/3373497/
Going on a #buttonhunt? Some of my favorite resources include:
- Some of my favorite buttons on Etsy
- Etsy button search
- M&J Trimming
- Mood Fabrics
- Your LYS (or favorite online yarn store)
Happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen
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Kathleen’s yarn is Camelot in the Orkney colorway from Round Table Yarns
Buttons from Remembrances Pottery on Etsy
Tech editing by Corrina Ferguson/Picnic Knits
Tara Swiger helps small, creative business owners (like me!)
Visit kathleendames.com/thesweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Solstice Cardi pattern*
*Free pattern available until 25 March 2016. After that date Solstice Cardi will be available for purchase from my Ravelry shop
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periscope
ravelry
music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher
Kathleen is wearing Benwick. Pattern available at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/benwick
Lady Jane is wearing the original sample for Solstice Cardi in Julie Asselin's Stella yarn in the Diamant colorway
s01 ep6 : the body (again) | the sweater with kathleen dames
Questions about Episode Six? Visit the Ravelry thread to see if your question has already been answered: http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/kathleen-dames-design/3373497/
Going on a #buttonhunt? Some of my favorite resources include:
-Some of my favorite buttons on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/people/kathleendames/favorites/buttons
-Etsy button search https://www.etsy.com/c/craft-supplies-and-tools/sewing-and-needlecraft-supplies/buttons-and-fasteners/buttons
-M&J Trimming http://www.mjtrim.com/
-Mood Fabrics http://www.moodfabrics.com/buttons.html
-Your LYS (or favorite online yarn store) https://www.jimmybeanswool.com/secure-html/onlineec/advancedProductSearch.asp?pcID=24
Share your project on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with hashtags #kdsweater and #solsticecardi.
Happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen
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Kathleen’s yarn is Camelot in the Orkney colorway from Round Table Yarns http://www.roundtableyarns.com
Buttons from Remembrances Pottery on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/RemembrancesPottery
Tech editing by Corrina Ferguson/Picnic Knits http://picnicknits.com/
Tara Swiger helps small, creative business owners (like me!) https://taraswiger.com/
Visit http://www.kathleendames.com/thesweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Solstice Cardi pattern*
*Free pattern available until 25 March 2016. After that date Solstice Cardi will be available for purchase from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/stores/kathleen-dames-design
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periscope: https://www.periscope.tv/kathleendames
instagram: https://instagram.com/kathleendames/
twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleendames
ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kathleen-dames
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenDamesDesign
music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher
Kathleen is wearing Benwick. Pattern available at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/benwick
Lady Jane is wearing the original sample for Solstice Cardi in Julie Asselin's Stella yarn in the Diamant colorway http://www.julie-asselin.com/en/yarns/
11 February 2016
Episode 6 | The Body (again) {YouTube}
Show Notes
Questions about Episode Six? Visit the Ravelry thread to see if your question has already been answered: http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/kathleen-dames-design/3373497/
Going on a #buttonhunt? Some of my favorite resources include:
- Some of my favorite buttons on Etsy
- Etsy button search
- M&J Trimming
- Mood Fabrics
- Your LYS (or favorite online yarn store)
Happy knitting!
xoxo,
----------
Kathleen’s yarn is Camelot in the Orkney colorway from Round Table Yarns
Buttons from Remembrances Pottery on Etsy
Tech editing by Corrina Ferguson/Picnic Knits
Tara Swiger helps small, creative business owners (like me!)
Visit kathleendames.com/thesweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Solstice Cardi pattern*
*Free pattern available until 25 March 2016. After that date Solstice Cardi will be available for purchase from my Ravelry shop
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periscope
ravelry
music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher
Kathleen is wearing Benwick. Pattern available at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/benwick
Lady Jane is wearing the original sample for Solstice Cardi in Julie Asselin's Stella yarn in the Diamant colorway
Pattern: Benwick
[Captain Benwick] had an affectionate heart. He must love somebody.
—Chapter 18, Persuasion, Jane Austen
Louisa Musgrove takes the air on the Cobb. She has finally recovered from her interesting illness and is escorted, of course, by Captain Benwick. A passing breeze gives our invalid a chill. Our gallant captain wraps his coat around her shoulders. How very interesting she is! And how ready to fall in love is he!
Far from an exact replica of naval dress, this cardigan nods to Royal Navy uniforms with it's epaulet-like braids and clean front closure. It is also trimmed with matching braids at the collar, cuffs, and hem. In a nod to all the love Captain Benwick has to give, there is a heart on the sleeve.
Feel like the heroine in your own novel!
What you'll love about knitting Benwick:
- Seamless saddle-shoulder construction is so much fun to knit - you'll feel so clever using the specified decreases to set in the sleeve and make a saddle for each shoulder
- Matching braid at collar, cuffs, hem, cardigan fronts, and epaulets are delighfully matchy-matchy and a good excuse to practice cabling without a cable needle
- Who doesn't want to knit a heart on their sleeve? This one makes clever use of increases to make a lovely heart
- Finishing work is modest: seam up the sleeves (or work them in the round if your gauge is similar working flat vs. in the round), weave together the underarms, and sew on those hooks and eyes
What you'll love about wearing Benwick:
- You've got your heart on your sleeve!
- Matchy-matchy cables makes everything look sharp
- Hook-and-eye front closures are crisp and elegant
Size/Finished Measurements
32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) inches bust circumference, closed. Shown in size 36-inch with two inches negative ease
Materials
- Seven Sisters Arts Nova (100% Bluefaced Leicester; 200 yds [183 m]/4 oz [113 g]): cobalt, 5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8) skeins {approx. 900 (950, 1050, 1150, 1200, 1300, 1400 yds}
- Size 6 (4 mm): 29-inch circular (cir) needle (ndl)
- Markers (m)
- Cable needle (cn)
- Removable stitch markers (rm)
- Stitch holders or waste yarn
- Tapestry needle
- 7 hook-and-eye sets, sharp-point sewing needle, and matching thread
Gauge
20 stitches x 30 rows = 4 inches square in Stockinette St.
Skills Needed
- casting on
- binding off
- knitting
- purling
- increasing
- decreasing
- working stitches out of order (otherwise known as cabling)
- following charts
Thanks!
Previously published in: Jane Austen Knits, Fall 2013
Photography: Angela Lee
Everything you need to create your own beautiful Benwick is provided in the professionally designed (by me!) pattern.
Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,
09 February 2016
08 February 2016
05 February 2016
s01 ep05 : the shaping | the sweater with kathleen dames
Show notes
Questions about Episode Five? Check the Ravelry thread first: http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/kathleen-dames-design/3368678/
Today it's all about that shaping, plus close-ups on different decreases. Did you know that the first stitch you stick your needle into when working a decrease indicates which stitch will come out on top? Stay tuned to find out more!
Have you already created your project page on Ravelry? If not, visit the Solstice Cardi pattern page to cast on: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/solstice-cardi
Happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen
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Kathleen’s yarn is Camelot in the Orkney colorway from Round Table Yarns http://www.roundtableyarns.com
Buttons from Remembrances Pottery on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/RemembrancesPottery
Tech editing by Corrina Ferguson/Picnic Knits http://picnicknits.com/
Tara Swiger helps small, creative business owners (like me!) https://taraswiger.com/
Visit http://www.kathleendames.com/thesweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Solstice Cardi pattern*
Share your project on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with hashtag #kdsweater
*Free pattern available until 25 March 2016. After that date Solstice Cardi will be available for purchase from my Ravelry shop: http://www.ravelry.com/stores/kathleen-dames-design
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periscope: https://www.periscope.tv/kathleendames
instagram: https://instagram.com/kathleendames/
twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleendames
ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kathleen-dames
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenDamesDesign
music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher
Kathleen is wearing Mermaid's Cardigan. Pattern available at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mermaids-cardigan
Lady Jane is wearing the original sample for Solstice Cardi in Julie Asselin's Stella yarn in the Diamant colorway http://www.julie-asselin.com/en/yarns/
Episode Five: The Shaping
Show notes
Questions about Episode Five? Check the Ravelry thread first.
Today it's all about that shaping, plus close-ups on different decreases. Did you know that the first stitch you stick your needle into when working a decrease indicates which stitch will come out on top? Stay tuned to find out more!
Have you already created your project page on Ravelry? If not, visit the Solstice Cardi pattern page to cast on.
Happy knitting!
xoxo,
----------
Kathleen’s yarn is Camelot in the Orkney colorway from Round Table Yarns
Buttons from Remembrances Pottery on Etsy
Tech editing by Corrina Ferguson/Picnic Knits
Tara Swiger helps small, creative business owners (like me!)
Visit this page to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Solstice Cardi pattern*
Share your project on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with hashtags #kdsweater and #solsticecardi
*Free pattern available until 25 March 2016. After that date Solstice Cardi will be available for purchase from my Ravelry shop.
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periscope
ravelry
music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher
Kathleen is wearing Mermaid's Cardigan. Pattern available here.
Lady Jane is wearing the original sample for Solstice Cardi in Julie Asselin's Stella yarn in the Diamant colorway.
04 February 2016
03 February 2016
01 February 2016
29 January 2016
Now available on iTunes: The Sweater with Kathleen Dames
If you prefer listening to watching, you're in luck! The Sweater with Kathleen Dames is now on iTunes. So, you know what to do... Go. Subscribe. Leave a review. Give stars. Most importantly, enjoy.
Happy knitting!
xoxo,
P.S. I will embed the audio episodes in blog posts (in case you prefer listening from the site) over the next few days and add links to The Sweater page on the site until we are all caught up.
Episode Four: The Body
Show notes
Questions? Check the Ravelry thread first.
Today we will cast on for the body with with the Two-Tail Long-Tail Cast-on, then we will move our working yarn over to the end of the button band, as well as go over making buttonholes. Just a reminder that buttonholes are made on *both* button bands. And if your row gauge is different than the pattern gauge, be sure to account for that when creating your buttonholes as we work our way up the body.
Have you already created your project page on Ravelry? If not, visit the Solstice Cardi pattern page to cast on.
Happy knitting!
xoxo,
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- Kathleen’s yarn is Camelot in the Orkney colorway from Round Table Yarns
- Buttons from Remembrances Pottery on Etsy
- Tech editing by Corrina Ferguson/Picnic Knits
- Tara Swiger helps small, creative business owners (like me!)
Visit The Sweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Solstice Cardi pattern*
Share your project on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with hashtags #kdsweater and #solsticecardi
*Free pattern available until 25 March 2016. After that date Solstice Cardi will be available for purchase from my Ravelry shop.
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periscope
ravelry
music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher
Kathleen is wearing Sailor's Valentine. Pattern available here.
Lady Jane is wearing the original sample for Solstice Cardi in Julie Asselin's Stella yarn in the Diamant colorway.
27 January 2016
26 January 2016
22 January 2016
Episode Three: The Cast-on
Show notes
Questions? Check the Ravelry thread first.
Today we will begin our sweater with the first sleeve, first casting on with the Two-Tail Long-Tail Cast-on, then working make-1 (m1) increases with a backwards loop. Plus a little guidance on altering sleeve length. Be sure to get more yarn if you plan to alter the pattern.
Happy knitting!
xoxo,
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Kathleen’s yarn is Camelot in the Orkney colorway from Round Table Yarns
Buttons from Remembrances Pottery on Etsy
Tech editing by Corrina Ferguson/Picnic Knits
Tara Swiger helps small, creative business owners (like me!).
Visit here to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Solstice Cardi pattern*
Share your project on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with hashtag #kdsweater or #solsticecardi
*Free pattern available until 25 March 2016. After that date Solstice Cardi will be available for purchase from my Ravelry shop.
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periscope
ravelry
music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher
Kathleen is wearing An Aran for Frederick, originally published in Jane Austen Knits 2011. Pattern available here.
Lady Jane is wearing the original sample for Solstice Cardi in Julie Asselin's Stella yarn in the Diamant colorway
21 January 2016
16 January 2016
15 January 2016
Episode Two: The Yarn
Show notes
- Kathleen’s yarn is Camelot in the Orkney colorway from Round Table Yarns.
- The adorable ruler is from the Ravelry Mini Mart and made by Katrinkles on Etsy.
- This is a great Magic Loop photo tutorial from Tin Can Knits. (Save it for when we do the pullover season of The Sweater.)
- A little more on integrated button bands. And, yes, you do work buttonholes on both bands as you go, so you'll know *exactly* where to sew on your buttons.
- If you want to learn more about spins and plies and weights of yarn, Clara Parkes’s first book, Knitter's Book of Yarn, is an excellent way to get started.
- And now that you know all about yarn, you might be interested in learning more about the wool itself from the Knitter's Book of Wool.
- Breed-specific yarns hand-dyed in beautiful shades from Sheepspot.
- Does your new project need a new bag? My friend Alex makes lovely ones!
Visit The Sweater to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Solstice Cardi pattern*
Share your project on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with hashtag #kdsweater
*Free pattern available until 25 March 2016. After that date Solstice Cardi will be available for purchase from my Ravelry shop.
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periscope
ravelry
music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher
Kathleen is wearing Sotherton, originally published in Jane Austen Knits, Summer 2012. Pattern available here.
13 January 2016
12 January 2016
08 January 2016
Episode One: The Pattern (with show notes)
Let's talk about the pattern for the Solstice Cardi!
Visit here to sign up for the newsletter and get your free Solstice Cardi pattern*. Your link to download the PDF will be in your Welcome email. Be sure to create your project page on Ravelry!
Round Table Yarns - I will be knitting my Solstice Cardi in the Camelot base, colorway: Orkney - Perceval, Gawain, and Guenevere are other great options in the gauge range
Julie Asselin - the original Solstice Cardi was knit in the Stella base, colorway: Diamant; Fino Simple, Fino, Leizu Fingering, Nanos, and Piccolo are other great bases that have a similar gauge
Hiya Hiya 40" Steel Circular Needles
Black Sheep tape measure
Ann Tudor - adorable ring stitch markers; I have a set of sheep
Removable stitch markers - there are plenty of these out in the world; here is just one option
Shaker needle case - more examples can be seen in the Photo Gallery; contact them directly about purchasing, since they can't keep them in stock in the shop
Share your project on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with hashtag #kdsweater or #solsticecardi
*Free pattern available until 25 March 2016. After that date Solstice Cardi will be available for purchase from my Ravelry shop.
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periscope
ravelry
ravelry group
music: Cafe Parisien with accordion iStock.com/frobisher
Kathleen is wearing An Aran for Anne, originally published in Jane Austen Knits, Summer 2012. Pattern available here.