Some Mother’s Day Patterns…

Mother’s Day is fast approaching. How better to pamper your mother than to maker her something special? In our April newsletter we featured a very quick knit pattern – Mother’s Mitts (ravlery link). They are knit from Louet Gems Fingering, but you could use any lighter weight sock yarn as well. Download the newsletter now to get your copy of the pattern.

Shawls, stoles and scarves are always a nice choice to knit for mom too. Or, perhaps you should treat yourself for Mother’s Day! No one appreciates all the hard work you do for your family than you! Check out some of these free shawl, stole and stole knit and crochet patterns:

• Citron Shawl by Hillary Smith Callis
• Traveling Woman Shawl by Liz Abinante
• Haruni Shawl by Emily Ross
• Stolen Moments Wrap by Amy Swansen
• Chanson en Crochet by Mari Lynn Patrick
• Magnificent Mantle by Crochet Kitten
• Feather Stole by Elizabeth Meyers

Are you knitting or crocheting something for your mother? What are you making?

Read Full Post »

March 2010 Stitches is Here – With a FREE PATTERN

The March 2010 stitches is available on the main web site at http://www.mysisterknits.com/community/news. Inside is a profile of a fast rising local crochet designer, Aaron Matthew Asmussen and a closer look at two of the many new yarns to arrive in recent weeks.

The free pattern this month is by local designer, Amanda Berka. She set out to make a lightweight and versatile vest that was both stylish and easy to knit. She definitely met her goal when she designed Amala (Ravelry link). Amala is essentially a tube with two armholes. If you can rib and knit stockinette stitch in the round you can knit this vest!

Simplicity does not mean sacrificing detail, however! Once the neck is complete and you split the tube to make the armholes you also turn it inside out so that the public side of the cowl when worn is in stockinette stitch. By turning it inside out she has also eliminated a bunch of purling that would have otherwise been required to achieve stockinette stitch on the public side. Clever!

The vest has wide, deep armholes to better accommodate less fitted sleeves. It also has a slight A-line silhouette to help easily float over any trouble areas many of us would like to hide. Due to the unique construction the vest is only offered in three sizes, but the introductory paragraph offers some guidance for those more experienced knitters who might wish to upsize it or even just modify it for a real personal fit.

Pattern: Amala (on Ravelry)
Source: My Sister Knits March 2010 Stitches, page 3
Designer: Amanda Berka (on Ravelry)
Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed; 50% wool, 25 % alpaca, 25% viscose; 191 yds per 50 g; color 151, 4 (4, 5) skeins.
Needle Size: US 6 / 4mm circular needle, adjust size if necessary to obtain gauge
Gauge: 24 sts and 30 rnds per 4” / 10 cm in St st in the round
Sizes: Women’s S (M, L) with finished bust circumference of 32” (34”, 36”) and hip of 37.3” (39.3”, 41.3”). Zero ease recommended. Size M shown on 34” bust.

Read Full Post »

FREE PATTERN: Laridae Mittens

The free pattern from My Sister Knits this month is a pair of quick to knit cabled mittens. With a fresh coating of snow on the ground and a chance for more in the ten day forecast there is still time to knit mittens to wear this season! These Laridae Mittens are made from Misti Alpaca’s Tonos Chunky, a bulky alpaca and merino blend yarn in semi-solid colors (Avacado shown here). Knit on US9 double pointed needles they practically fly off the needles (especially if you cable without a cable needle). Laridae Mittens have an asymmetric gusseted thumb with increases occurring only on the palm side for a more anatomical fit.

We’re sorry, but you missed out on the free period for this pattern. To ensure you do not miss out on the next one subscribe to the blog RSS feed, or sign-up for our newsletter mailing list.

Read Full Post »

TUTORIAL: Right Twisting Cable Without a Cable Needle

Yesterday I shared the way I like to cable without a cable needle, but I only showed you how I do it for left twisting 4-stitch cables. Today I’ll show you how I do it for right twisting 4-stitch cables or cable 2 right (or back).

Step 1: Take the right needle tip in front of the left needle and place it through the third and fourth stitches on the left needle as if to purl.

Step 2: With your left index finger apply some pressure to the base of the 1st and 2nd sts and remove all four stitches from the left needle.

Step 3: Slip the left needle through the two loose stitches from left to right so they are mounted normally on the needle.

Step 4: Pass the first two stitches now on the right needle back to the left needle. It looks kind of disorganized and the stitches may be somewhat distorted. They may also seem quite tight. This is normal.

Step 5: Knit the four newly reordered stitches and the cable is complete.

You should be able to see the direction the stitches are twisted before you even knit them. It is good practice to take a look at this stage to make sure you did cross them in the proper direction before you knit them. It is easiest to fix the cable before it is knit.

Read Full Post »

TUTORIAL: Left Twisting Cable Without a Cable Needle

I always tell my students who are new to cabling that it is nothing more than an organized way to knit stitches out of order. Most commonly one uses a cable needle to aid you in working the stitches in a different order, but anyone who has done long term cabling projects knows those pesky cable needles like to run away and hide! Even if you do not wish to embark upon a full project dedicated to cabling without a cable needle, knowing how can get you out of a bind if you happen to loose a cable needle while out and about. Today I’ll share how I like to cable without a cable needle to make a basic 4-stitch left twisting cable sometimes called “Cable 2 Front (C2F).”

Step 1: Take your right needle tip and bring it behind the left needle and pass it into the third and fourth stitch on the left needle as if to purl.

Step 2: Take your right thumb and place pressure on the first two stitches on the left needle and kind of pinch them to keep them from dropping. Then slip all four stitches from the left needle.

Step 3: Insert the left needle tip through the 2 loose stitches you are pinching with your right thumb. The tip should enter them from left to right so they are mounted normally onto the left needle.

Step 4: Slip the 2 stitches on the right needle back to the left needle. It looks kind of disorganized and the stitches may be somewhat distorted. They may also seem quite tight. This is normal.

Step 5: Now knit the newly reordered stitches normally. You should be able to see that two stitches cross to the left in front of two stitches. This forms the left twisting cable.

Come back soon for Right Twisting Cables Without a Cable Needle!

Read Full Post »