26 April 2018

Pattern: The Blossom or the Bole


The Blossom or the Bole $US6 on Ravelry (no account necessary)

O chestnut tree, great rooted blossomer,
Are you the leaf, the blossom or the bole?
O body swayed to music, O brightening glance,
How can we know the dancer from the dance?
— William Butler Yeats, “Among School Children”

Inspired by the Yeats poem "Among School Children", this asymmetrical triangle shawl begins with Garter Stripes then alternates stripes with Leaf Lace before bursting into a large section of Birds Eye Mesh. A few more Garter Stripes and a Picot Bindoff finish everything off.

Choose three skeins of your favorite sock yarn and enjoy a fun (but not too challenging) knit. Stitch patterns are provided in both written and charted formats.



Finished Measurements
Wingspan: 87 inches/221 cm
Depth: 42 inches/107 cm

Materials

  • Color A (black): Backyard Fiberworks Prairie (fingering weight: 100% superwash merino, 400 yds/366 m per 3.53 oz/100 g), color: Cast Iron, 1 skein or approx. 300 yds/274 m
  • Color B (green): Backyard Fiberworks Prairie (fingering weight: 100% superwash merino, 400 yds/366 m per 3.53 oz/100 g), color: Arbol, 1 skein or approx. 400 yds/366 m
  • Color C (purple): Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles (fingering weight: 100% superwash merino, 400yds/366 m per 3.53 oz/100 g), color: Daydream, 1 skein or approx. 300 yds/274 m
  • US6/4.0 mm 24-inch/60-cm or longer circular needle (long circular needle is used to accommodate large number of stitches)
  • Stitch marker
  • Tapestry needle

Gauge
24 sts x 48 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in Garter Stitch after blocking

Skills
  • Casting on
  • Knitting
  • Purling
  • Increasing
  • Decreasing
  • Binding off

Thanks!
Test knitting: IsabelleBleu, Minimoebius, SarahinHouston, Strickgut
Technical editing: Catherine Clark



The Blossom or the Bole $US6 on Ravelry (no account necessary)


Happy knitting!
xoxo, Kathleen

29 March 2018

Guess where I’m going next week!



Guess where I’m going next week!

For One More Row Press's next publication, Alice and I are going on a recon trip and connecting with our Parisian designer and dyer friends.

I’m off to get a new pair of sneakers, but share your recommendations of anything we shouldn’t miss in the comments.

#iknitparis #knitlikealocal #iftttkd via Instagram http://bit.ly/2GhuImg

27 March 2018

Test knitting

Interested in some test knitting? I have five designs that are set for release in April 2018. More information in my test knitting newsletter...

Sign up for my test knitting newsletter here.

01 January 2018

It was a year, 2017, wasn’t it?



It was a year, 2017, wasn’t it?

Thank you for all the hearts and comments that made up this #bestnine2017

Clockwise from top left:

  • In my happy place at NYS&W @spirittrailfiberworks booth cuddling Zalti yarn in Big Barn Red that Jen specially dyed for @knitfilament
  • in another happy place @knittycity showing off my Persistence tee from @junipermoonfarm (and my pussyhat)
  • at the NY Women’s March with our girls proudly wearing my first @p_ssyhatproject
  • talking to knitters at Knitty City about the Fall issue of Filament while wearing Covert
  • remembering my dear friend Jill @yarnsinthefarms who supported me early in my knitting career
  • punting on the Cam with the big guy
  • in our happy place in Maine with my favorite photographer after a shoot for @poststitch
  • seeing this sweater @themuseumofmodernart was like bumping into an old friend after a visible mending class with @julie_of_jetsetsewing (one of the benefits of living in NYC)
  • center - hero shot from Quadrille, a sweater originally inspired by my dear grandmother’s vest that was her souvenir from Ireland. 
Happy that family, friends, knitting, and resistance all were part of my 2017.

Happy New Year, my friends.

Let’s make history in 2018.
xoxo, Kathleen . . .
#iftttkd via Instagram http://bit.ly/2lE6Ig1

01 November 2017

Ten years ago today I got off the plane with my toddling daughter and a couple of suitcases to begin a new life in a new place. Who knew that after all the ups and downs of my previous life, I would find my way (back) to this man, so that we could build a complicated, challenging, wonderful life together. Grateful to be #tenyearsanewyorker . . .


Ten years ago today I got off the plane with my toddling daughter and a couple of suitcases to begin a new life in a new place. Who knew that after all the ups and downs of my previous life, I would find my way (back) to this man, so that we could build a complicated, challenging, wonderful life together. Grateful to be #tenyearsanewyorker . . . #iftttkd via Instagram http://bit.ly/2A8iJ3y

01 October 2017

Pattern: Urchin Plumes

Urchin Plumes 

by Kathleen Dames

US$6 on Ravelry (no account necessary)


What to do with six gorgeous tidbits of color in Backyard Fiberworks kits? Use them ALL, of course! By bringing together Garter Stitch sections of one-ridge stripes with thick stripes of Urchin Plumes lace, you get the best of both worlds in a cozy cowl in two sizes, depending upon just how cozy you want to be.

Urchin Plumes lace is provided in both charted and written form. If you are new to lace, it's a great start because you only work the pattern every fourth row. If you are experienced with lace, did you notice that this is really Ostrich Plumes? I couldn't resist changing the name to align with my favorite shade in the Dove in a Plum Tree kit from Backyard Fiberworks. Which of the six delicious shades is your favorite?

What you'll love about knitting Urchin Plumes

  • A chance to put one of those gorgeous kits to good use (or 400/800yds of your favorite sock yarn - this is a great pattern for stash diving and using up your favorite leftovers)
  • Satisfy your lace knitting urge, then balance it out with a bunch of garter stitch
  • Finishing is quick with just two short seams (and a bunch of ends to weave in - I tried to come up with a clever solution for this, but there's just no good way around it)

What you'll love about wearing Urchin Plumes
  • Wear your cowl long for drama or short for warmth
  • Show off two delightfully different textures in one piece
  • Large cowl can be worn as a shoulder wrap, too

Sizes

42-inch circumference, 7 (14)-inch depth. Shown in smaller size.

Materials

Backyard Fiberworks Dove in a Plum Tree kit: 400 (800) yds/100 (200) g total of fingering weight 100% Merino wool

  • A: Urchin 66 (133) yds 
  • B: Hosta 66 (133) yds 
  • C: Plume 66 (133) yds 
  • D: Dove 66 (133) yds 
  • E: Ume 66 (133) yds 
  • F: Walnut 66 (133) yds 

US3 29-inch circular needle (or longer to accommodate a large number of stitches) or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle

Gauge

24 sts x 48 rows = 4 inches in Garter Stitch
16 sts x 32 rows = 2 1/4 x 3 3/4 inches in Urchin Plumes after blocking

Thanks!

Photography: Nick Dames
Technical editing: Corrina Ferguson/Picnic Knits



Everything you need to create your own beautiful Urchin Plumes is provided in the professionally designed (by me!) pattern. Instructions to create small and larger versions of the cowl plus charted and written versions of Urchin Plumes lace are included.