Dec
24
2013
I wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you after the holidays! :)
SALE in my pattern store! 2
Dec
17
2013
This year is coming to an end. It has been my first year without a day job and my first year as a self-employed designer. I self-published 7 knitting patterns this year – the number I hope to beat next year :). I have lots of ideas I would love to share. Thank you all for your support!
To celebrate my first year as a designer I have an offer – buy 3 of my patterns and get 1 of them for free! This offer is valid from Dec 17 until Dec 31, 2013.
Cranberry hat and mittens 1
Nov
22
2013
A while ago I had this idea, that I have to get myself a hat with lots of cables and bobbles. And not a nice or neat hat, but really exaggerated, over the top and bulky one. And pink, definitely pink! It took me quite a long time to find the right yarn for this, but finally I did – DROPS Andes. I don’t know how I missed it before. Actually somehow I have only started to discover Garnstudio’s yarns. So far I haven’t been disappointed.
So this is the hat, knitted with DROPS Andes (65% Wool, 35% Alpaca, 109yds / 100m, 3.53oz / 100 g) in color 3145.
The braided band is knitted first, in rows. Provisional cast on is necessary, you can do this with crochet chain or without. The rest of the hat is knit in the round (how to pick up and knit stitches – if you have to pick up 2 stitches for 1 selvage stitch, insert knitting needle first under the back loop of selvage stitch and then under both loops) .
As it is a super bulky yarn, the hat is quite warm. But here in Estonia it gets really cold in winter, so a warm hat is a must.
You can find Cranberry hat pattern on Ravelry
And I couldn’t resist to make matching mittens. These are constructed the same way as the hat but with a rib cuff.
If you are planning to knit both hat and mittens, you’ll need 3 skeins of yarn not 4!
You can find Cranberry mittens pattern on Ravelry
Winter Bliss hat
Nov
20
2013
The inspiration for this hat was the yarn – Debbie Bliss Winter Garden – soft blend of merino, baby llama, linen and silk (30% Llama, 30% Merino Wool, 20% Silk, 20% Linen, 109yds/100m, 3.53oz/100g). I fell in love with the colors of this yarn the minute I saw them on the shelves of LYS. The subtle tweedy flecks give this yarn a really unique and wonderful look. Although I have heard a lot of complaints about the hard bits in the yarn (pieces of linen), I think these bits give a real character to this yarn (and it is not that difficult to pick them out if they really bother you ;) ).
As this yarn is quite bulky, it knits up real easy and quick and the hat will be done in couple of hours. You can wear this hat either with brim down or brim turned up. You can make a pom-pom for this hat, or not. Many possibilities.
You can find this pattern on Ravelry
First Snow mittens
Oct
18
2013
It was a really long and warm summer this year. I actually can’t remember the last summer before this one I didn’t complain about the weather. Usually the summer here is too cold or too rainy or too hot and I do not like none of these. Regardless of this perfect summer this year, at some point I was dreaming of winter and the first snow. The first snow in the fall that always melts. Although I don’t like cold, I love when it’s snowing on a windless day. I love how the snowflakes just slide down from the sky and you can admire separate snowflakes on your hat and mittens and coat. So I wanted to capture this image of first snow on mittens.
I hope you like these mittens as much as I do and they keep your hands warm during a cold winter.
I used Regia Angora Merino (65% Merino, 25% Polyamide, 10% Angora, 50g / 1.76oz, 200m / 219yds) – a very soft and warm sock yarn, it felt just right for this kind of colorwork knitting :)
You can purchase this pattern from Ravelry
Honeycomb gloves 1
May
3
2013
I love gloves and I have always wanted gloves with cables. So I decided to start with something really simple that would give me an idea how to design gloves with a pattern that would continue on fingers. Honeycomb pattern seemed just right for that. The pattern makes these gloves very snugly and comfy, just the way I like it. Love my new gloves!
I used soft and warm alpaca yarn – Garnstudio’s Drops Alpaca (100% alpaca, 50g/1.76oz, 166m/182yds). Purple, of course :)
You can purchase this pattern from Ravelry
Williamina shawl
Apr
30
2013
The spring is here and it is the perfect time to knit a nice lacy shawl for summer nights, right? I modified my earlier design a bit and knitted a new sample and wrote directions in English.
So here it is – Williamina shawl.
I used Garnstudio’s Drops Lace, which is a blend of alpaca and silk, a very soft and enjoyable yarn to knit with. And purple is my new favourite, definitely.
Finished measurements of the shawl: 68” / 172 cm wide and 34” / 86cm long at centre. Pattern is adjustable, you can easily knit a smaller or a larger shawl.
You can purchase this pattern from Ravelry
