kathleen dames

Even though it's 75 degrees on November 6th here in New York City, my thoughts have turned irrevocably towards cozy, wintry knits (apologies to my friends in the Southern Hemisphere). Hopefully the weather will cooperate, and I can soon feel comfortable knitting and wearing my woolies. To put me in the proper mood, I've found five lovely and clever cape patterns that would be perfect for the weather I'm hoping for. Each of these patterns has special details that make them stand out in any crowd.

Arien of Dorthonion Capelet by The Jane Victoria $5 USD
Lothlorien Cape by Susan Pandorf $8 USD
Emily Capelet by Ysolda Teague £3.75 GBP (about $5.84 USD)
Yoked Cycling Capelet by Tanya Seaman $6 USD
Jasper Wrap by Jennifer Lang C$6 CAD (about $4.68 USD)

All images from patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended. I just want to share the love!

And a cape + cowl set from me (this one's free!):

Caught in the Rigging by Kathleen Dames FREE on Knitty.com

Have you knit a cape? Or do you think these are ponchos? Let me know your favorite in the comments below.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo,

04 November 2015

What should my next project be? #WIPWed #knitscope

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03 November 2015

Techniques on Tuesday: 72 degrees and sunny #knitscope in Riverside Park

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02 November 2015

Winding yarn for new project: swift and wonder in action #knitscope

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30 October 2015

Technique: Integrated Button Bands

When I introduced you to Marianne cardigan on Monday, I realized I hadn't talked in-depth about one of my favorite cardigan techniques: Integrated Button Bands.

I picked up the basics of this technique from Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket. In that pattern she has you work the button bands on both sides of the jacket, since you might be knitting it before the baby is born and would not know the sex of the child. Once the baby is born you'd be able to sew the buttons onto the jacket on the "proper" side.

When I thought about the technique for an adult sweater, I realized that doing both button holes meant that you would know exactly where to sew the buttons on when you were finishing the garment: over the holes, which would line them up perfectly with the buttonholes!

Since small buttons and lots of them are my preference, basic "baby" button holes using yo, k2tog work perfectly. Garter Stitch works nicely as the base, since the fabric is springy and tightens up just enough to prevent the button band from sagging.

Patterns I've published that use this technique include:

Bloc Party Cardi (FREE on Knitty)
Kellynch Cardigan (I'll be self-publishing this one from Jane Austen Knits 2014 soon)
Marianne Cardigan
Pomegranate Cardi

Have you ever used this technique? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Quadrille c'est fini! #FOFriday #knitscope

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Walk in riverside park #nycfallfoliage quick scope (#FOFriday chat later today)

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29 October 2015

Kitchener stitch for Quadrille #knitscope

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28 October 2015

Pattern: Colonel Brandon

Colonel Brandon on Ravelry (no account necessary)

Available in Jane Austen Knits 2015 $14.99 (print and instant dowload)

Manly yet sensitive, in the end Colonel Brandon is the perfect match for Marianne Dashwood. And his sweater embodies their story: Hartshorn Cable is the central motif (Marianne is dosed with hartshorn after she encounters the feckless Willoughby in town), Waves of Honey highlight the sweet reward of Marianne’s hand after all the colonel suffers, and the Alternating Cables embody the dichotomy of Colonel Brandon’s persona: romantic hero with his poor Eliza versus wearer of flannel waistcoats in Marianne’s initial impression. The seamless hybrid yoke allows the cables to wrap up around and square off the shoulders, while garter stitch creates a crisp collar, cuffs, and hem.

What you'll love about knitting Colonel Brandon:

Seamless design worked in the round means you are always looking at the front of your work and can better keep track of all those cables
The cable patterns are aligned, which means you work the "action" rounds all together - it's easier to keep track of what you're doing this way
The hybrid yoke cleverly shapes the sweater to the body while still showing off those wonderful cables

What you'll love about wearing Colonel Brandon:

Garter stitch collar/cuffs/hem provide a clean finish
Hybrid yoke creates lovely square shoulders
Cables tell the story of Colonel Brandon's romantic life

Size/Finished Measurements

38 1/4 (41 1/4, 45 1/4, 48 1/2, 54 1/4, 58 1/4)" bust/chest circumference. Sweater shown measures 38 1/4".

Materials

Brooklyn Tweed Shelter (100% wool; 140 yd [128 m]/1 3/4 oz [50 g]): birdbook (medium green), 10 (11, 12, 14, 15, 17) skeins.
US6 (4 mm): 16" and 29" circular (cir) and set of doublepointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Stitch markers
Removable markers
Cable needle
Stitch holders or waste yarn
Tapestry needle

Gauge

18 sts and 25 rnds = 4" in St st; Hartshorn Cable chart = 3" wide; 16 sts of Double Moss Stitch chart = 4" wide; Alternating Cable chart = 1 1/4" wide; 12 sts of Wave of Honey chart = 2 1/4" wide.

Skills Needed

casting on
binding off
knitting
purling
increasing
decreasing
cabling (I highly recommend learning how to cable without a cable needle)
following cable charts

Thanks!

Many thanks to the entire staff at Jane Austen Knits/Interweave/F + W Media

Purchase your copy of Jane Austen Knits 2015 today at your favorite LYS or directly from Interweave.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

26 October 2015

Pattern: Marianne cardigan

Marianne cardigan on Ravelry

Available in Jane Austen Knits 2015 $14.99 (print and instant dowload)

“Mrs. Jennings was perfectly convinced of it. It would be an excellent match, for Colonel Brandon was rich and Marianne Dashwood was handsome.”

—Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, Vol. 1, Ch. 8

And so begins the extraordinary fate of Miss Marianne Dashwood. What better attire for our heroine than an Empire-waist cardigan with an intriguing cabled lace skirt and picot edging around the mitered neckline. Stockinette-stitch panels at the side make waist shaping easy, and the garter-stitch hem, cuffs, and integrated button band give a clean finish, allowing the picots to draw attention upward to your pretty face.

The Lace Lozenges pattern uses a novel technique with a cable needle to create the lovely ovals, which remind me of cameos. This is one of the few times I bother actually using a cable needle - generally I find you move along more quickly working cable without a cable needle (or spare DPN). But in this instance, I was unable to find a way to work the Lace Lozenges safely without a cable needle.

As this design was partially inspired by Regency era gowns, the bust area is not as modest as you might prefer. You can wear something underneath (like the model here) that makes up the difference for you, or you could choose to work the front stitches for a few more rows to raise the neckline before holding them aside. Knitter's choice!

What you'll love about knitting Marianne cardigan:

Exciting-to-work skirt pattern makes clever use of a cable needle to create pretty cameo shapes
Integrated garter stitch button band (matches cuffs and hem) means you'll have minimal finishing work to do - seam the sleeves, weave the underarms, then it's time to go on a button hunt!
Pretty picot bindoff at the neckline is fun to work and hearkens back to lace trim on Regency gowns

What you'll love about wearing Marianne cardigan:

Waist-shaping in side panels creates a figure-flattering empire shape that you'll love to show off
Squared neckline with picots brings the attention up to your face (where it belongs!)
Fingering-weight yarn and 3/4-sleeves make this a cardigan you'll reach for year-round

Finished Measurements

30 3/4 (34 3/4, 38 3/4, 42 3/4, 46 3/4)" bust circumference buttoned. Cardigan shown measures 34 3/4".

Materials

Madelinetosh Dandelion (90% superwash Merino wool, 10% linen; 325 yd [297 m]/31/4 oz [90 g]): glazed pecan, 3 (4, 5, 5, 6) skeins.
Needles: Size 4 (3.5 mm): 32" circular (cir). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Markers (m)
Removable m
Cable needle (cn)
Stitch holders or waste yarn
Tapestry needle
7 (7, 8, 8, 8) 1/2" buttons.

Gauge

24 sts and 32 rows = 4" in St st; 18 sts of cable panel chart = 21/2" wide.

Skills Needed

casting on
binding off
knitting
purling
increasing
decreasing
working with a cable needle
following chart for Lace Lozenges

If you've knit up one of my other designs, you may recognize some techniques I like to use. If not, here are some links to help you get started:

Two-tail Long-tail Cast-on - this method also sets you up nicely for alternating skeins of hand-dyed yarn to ensure well-blended fabric
M1 increases (for sleeves)
Integrated button bands (hmm, I need to do a post on this for you - they are worked at the same time as the rest of the sweater body but in garter stitch, and I recommend working buttonholes at the beginning and end of the row so you'll know exactly where to sew on your buttons)
Centered Double Decreases, sometimes known as sl2k1p2sso or s2kp2 for short - I love how this decrease does away with two stitches at once and stands straight and slender; this decrease is used for the waist shaping and the raglan decreases in the yoke, which is the perfect spot for such delicate lines

Come back on Wednesday to meet Colonel Brandon!

Thanks!

23 October 2015

quick + purly: 5 women's worsted pullovers

After a fabulous weekend at Rhinebeck, I have pullovers on the brain! Here are five seamless, 1-color pullovers I found for you this week.

Vistoire by Emily Ringelman $6 USD

flattering fit and great central cable
Tweedy Dan by Olivia Pelaez $6 USD

such a nice collection of cables
Dallas by Amy Miller $6 USD

lovely tunic with special cables
Brassica Pullover by Elizabeth Smith $6 USD

lovely, subtle details
Such a Winter's Day by Heidi Kirrmaier $6.80 USD

love the funnel neck and all-over stitch pattern

All images from patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended. I just want to share the love!

And one from me!
An Aran for Anne by Kathleen Dames $7 USD

story-telling cables plus a flattering fit

Do you have a favorite pullover to recommend? Let us know in the comments below :)

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo,

21 October 2015

Jane Austen Knits 2015

It's Jane Austen Knits time, my darlings! The new issue is live and printed copies are winging their way to your LYS (might even be there already).

I have two lovely patterns for you: Marianne cardigan and Colonel Brandon. Aren't they a lovely pair? I was tickled to learn that a photograph of the two together would be on the Table of Contents...

photo: F + W Media

Next week I will share all the details on these two. But right now you should know that Interweave is having a Friends and Family event until Friday 10/23/15: Save 30% at Interweave with Offer Code FANDF30 You can order the print edition or magazine download (or anything else you like) and get 30% off.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

19 October 2015

Rhinebeck!!!

Wow! What a fantastic weekend! I am wiped, so you get lots of pretty pictures. There are some Periscope broadcasts over on Katch, and I think I'm going to upload all of them to my YouTube channel once I look/listen to them to see if they are worth preserving (I have no idea - I was so excited to be there that I'm not sure the video or sound was at all useful).

Coherent words to follow when I am more coherent. Suffice it to say, a good time was had by all.

If we met this weekend, "hi!". If we missed each other, :( I saw many other lovely fiber folks but was too busy enjoying myself to take the proper pictures.

I'm off to do laundry and get myself organized, even though all I want to do is knit all the things (starting with some long arm warmers - it was cold!). Hope you had a lovely weekend, too :)

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Tone Poem Photo: reflected foliage and blurry coffee mug

So excited to be here at Building B!

Annie and I fussing over our handknits by a favorite tree
Cider donut stand in the background

Modeling - smize and show your footwear!

With Annie and her girls

I heart wool

I think this ram was flirting with me

So fun to meet Gaye of GGMadeIt in person (and all the other knitters/periscopers/bloggers/podcasters/wool lovers)!

View of the posing tree from the other side with delicious lamb barley soup

How cool is this jacket? She made all the flowers then sewed them together.
Her beau (not pictured) had one flower pinned on his jacket as a boutoniere.

Captain meetup: Liz Gipson (weaver extraordinaire known as Yarnworker), Lisa Check of Flying Goat Farm (that's her booth of rainbow-organized gorgeousness), Lisa Barnes (LMB Designs). Thanks, Tara, for bringing us together!

OMG! That's my Sotherton as a sample in the Spirit Trail Fiberworks booth
My talented test knitter, Jennifer, told me she'd spotted it.

Frost on the windshield - glad I packed mittens and a hat!

Saturday night's frost caused all the trees to start dropping their leaves like mad -
some parts of the smaller roads had thick carpets of leaves on them

Another Captain meetup in Lisa's booth, this time with Ariel Altaras

I'm sure this lady thought I was crazy going on about her Bohus hat
but she was kind enough to let me photograph it

Tough decisions in the Fiber Optic booth. I went with Vitamin C over Au Naturale,
since I found myself going crazy for yellow sweaters at the Fair this year

See those white things on my cape and hat? Snow. It was cold enough to wear my
Caught in the Rigging (again) over Sailor's Valentine, which is a crazy-warm sweater.

Meeting a pet bird. Like you do. This little one had fallen out of its nest and been rescued
by this lovely woman. She cuddled it and kept it the rest of the time in a cozy pouch. So sweet.

So lovely to meet yet another Captain, Corinna Ferguson of PicnicKnits,
and check out her wonderful all-season book, Warm Days, Cool Knits

This. I have to work up the right idea for Catskill Merino's Pure Indigo yarns - there were three different "strengths".
I was a little fried by this point so will have to visit them at the Union Square Farmer's Market some time.