Monthly Archives: December 2012

Important addenda and updates!

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double basketweave cowl free pattern pdf

Fans of the Double Basketweave Cowl rejoice: There’s now a free PDF of the pattern. You can download it from the original blog post or from Ravelry. Or if you’re attending the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend in SF (I am!), you can pick up a hard copy at the Sincere Sheep booth. And of course, every time you fave it, tweet it, queue it or pin it, an angel gets its wings!

Also, we’re so pleased with the shop and the response to it, we’ve decided to extend the dates. Instead of closing up for the holidays on Saturday night, we’ll remain open until Wednesday, December 19th, at 9 pm PST. (Our final shipments, for this session, will go out on the 20th.) So you have a few more days to shop. Note that we’re offering the beautiful bushel baskets at a discount until closing day ($38 for the set, on sale from $49). And for any order henceforth that includes Sincere Sheep Luminous yarn, we’ll include a hard copy of the cowl pattern. I personally think a Fringe project bag — either natural or ticking — plus two skeins of Luminous and the accompanying cowl pattern would make a spectacular gift. Right? But keep in mind we ship via UPS Ground, so don’t delay — especially if there’s a lot of ground between you and California.

Thanks so very, very much to everyone who’s ordered from Fringe Supply Co. Like I said, we’re very encouraged — especially with the response to the project bags — and will definitely be reopening, with expanded offerings, in early 2013. Meanwhile, we’d love your feedback on the shop, the shopping experience and the products. While order-taking goes on hiatus, the FSCo site will remain up and you can always get in touch with us — either here or through the contact page over there. We’d really love to hear from you, whatever you might have to say!

Now where were we? Oh, right — pre-fall images are starting to come in! Stand by for my erudite reactions …

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Elsewhere

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elsewhere121312

— There’s no one-sentence summary of Clara Parkes’ amazing new venture The Great White Bale — just click that link and read it, yo? For better or worse, the Explorer option sold out before I gave in to the urge to pony up for all that wool, but I am officially an Armchair Traveler.

— In case you need another holiday craft, see the DIY felted acorns at HonestlyWTF. And then there are the boot stuffers topped with giant pompoms. I actually need those.

— Etsy had some follow-up questions for Simon Doonan — following his much talked about Slate essay on Art and craft, that is.

— Threaded takes a long view on Christmas sweaters. (Did you see that piece last year about the couple largely responsible for the Christmas sweater market? I can’t find it now!)

— I love this Christmas stocking idea at Fancy Tiger so much I actually considered doing a little decorating for the holiday. I’m also fond of their latest free knitting pattern, the Ice Skating Cap.

— Hannah Fettig is doing a video-fueled knitalong for her Cradle Cardigan, a great introduction to the top-down method if you haven’t done it. (You should!)

— Natalie Joos, you slay me with your crazy sweater-styling ways. Over and over, you slay me.

— Emma Dime has a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the “Sheep to Shawl” feature in the new issue of Kinfolk (which I regrettably put off carrying in the shop until next time).

— Did you see those beautiful sweater notecards at Brooklyn Tweed?

— And last but so not least, pre-registration for June’s Squam. Will I see you there?

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Double Basketweave Cowl

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UPDATE JULY 2018: I’m thrilled to be revising the recommended yarn for this pattern from the original (Sincere Sheep’s Luminous DK) to Sincere Sheep’s US-raised and -milled Cormo Sport — read an interview about the yarn here. The materials list and photos have been updated to reflect the new yarn; everything else about the pattern remains the same!
—Karen

Double Basketweave Cowl - free pattern


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Ever since I knitted that Jumbo Basketweave Cowl, I’ve been wanting to do another version — at a thinner gauge and long enough to wrap twice around my neck. And from the moment I first laid my hands on Sincere Sheep’s indigo-dyed yarn, I knew I had to knit with it, and that I wanted it piled up around my neck. So the two urges merged into this Double Basketweave Cowl. Double because it loops twice, because it’s knitted with two strands of yarn, and because I love it doubly as much as the jumbo version. It’s the knitwear equivalent of that most beloved and worn pair of blue jeans.* You can now get it as a kit!

It can also be knitted with a single strand of chunky-weight yarn, click here for the slight pattern tweaks for that.

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DOUBLE BASKETWEAVE COWL PATTERN | download PDF

This is a super simple, easy to memorize knits-and-purls stitch pattern, knitted in a bouncy US Cormo wool, held double. Comfort knitting, in other words, and suitable for newer knitters. Feel free to knit more or fewer rows of the basketweave pattern for a wider or narrower cowl, but that will change yardage used. If adjusting for the circumference, multiply your stitch gauge by whatever you want your circumference to be, then round to the nearest number that is divisible by both 4 (for the ribbing) and 6 (for the basketweave pattern).

Materials:

  • 2 skeins Sincere Sheep Cormo Sport (400 yards each; pictured in Anja* and Bare), or approximately 640 yards sport/DK/light-worsted yarn, held double throughout
  • US10.5/6.5mm circular needle (32″ recommended)
  • stitch marker
  • tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Measurements: (after blocking)

  • Gauge: 4 sts and 5.25 rounds = 1″ in basketweave
  • Size: 48″ circumference, 9″ tall

DIRECTIONS

With yarn held double, CO 192 sts. Place marker and join in the round, making sure sts are not twisted around needle.
Ribbing round: [k2, p2] to end.
Repeat ribbing round 3 more times.
Next round: Knit.
Begin 10-round basketweave pattern (below); work it 4 times in full.
Repeat ribbing round 4 more times.
BO loosely in pattern.
Block as desired. Weave in ends.

Basketweave pattern:

Rounds 1–4: [k2, p4] to end.
Round 5: Knit.
Rounds 6–9: p3, k2, [p4, k2] to last st, p1
Round 10: Knit.

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<< Fave, queue or download it at Ravelry >>

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ABBREVIATIONS

BO = bind off
CO = cast on
k = knit
p = purl
st(s) = stitch(es)

[ERRATUM: There was an error in the original version of this pattern, in the instructions for Rows 6-9 — the repeat was indicated in the wrong spot. It was corrected here on December 15, 2013. If you saved or printed the pattern before that date, please be sure you’re working from a more recent version.]

*Note that when using indigo-dyed yarn, as with a new pair of blue jeans, there will be some color transfer. Expect your hands to turn slightly blue while knitting (it washes right off) and for the soak water to turn blue when blocking the finished piece. After that, the dye should be set.

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Do the Guinness people know about this?

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purl bee giant granny square blanket

Apparently the largest crocheted blanket Guinness has recorded is 81 x 38 feet, completed in 2007 by a woman named Daphne O’Connor. But was it a single granny square? The website doesn’t specify. Anyway, regardless of whether it might be the world’s largest, I’m amused by the latest Purl Bee pattern — the Giant, Giant Granny Square Blanket, a single granny square giant enough to act as a bedspread. Of course, ever since it hit the interwebs I’ve been mentally draining it of all that color and imagining what it would look like in a solid charcoal, or a single color in an outward ombré effect, or all neutrals, or even ebony and ivory. Our kittens would make a hash of it, so it’ll never happen, but it’s fun to visualize.

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New Favorites: Julie Hoover’s latest gems

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julie hoover knitting patterns becot garance driftwood doux

You know how everyone’s always asking what one book you’d want if stranded on a desert island? Or what you’d choose for your last meal? Well, what if you could only knit from one designer’s patterns for the rest of your days. If someone asked me that, the words “Julie Hoover” would probably be out of my mouth before the question was finished. I’ve had my eye on her for awhile — ever since dropping 9 bucks for a hard copy of Chaleur when I was at Knit Purl last winter — but lately she’s really been hitting it out of the park, releasing one gorgeous pattern after another. Her designs are understated, which of course I love, but the shapes, textures and attention to detail are superior. In a marketplace full of fussy, overworked stuff, she’s creating patterns for seriously wearable clothes and accessories that will stand the test of time — from a beautifully shaped pullover to that perfect slouchy Saturday turtleneck. Great, great stuff.

1. Bécot hat (in mink and cashmere!)

2. Garance pullover

3. Driftwood turtleneck (from Brooklyn Tweed Fall 2012)

4. Doux scarf

Celebrating year one: A giveaway, some highlights, and a whole lot of thanks

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one year anniversary yarnover.me to fringe association

So I can hardly believe it, but this Sunday marks one year from the day I launched a little blog called (at the time) Yarnover.me, kicking it off with a post about that crazy-wonderful image I still haven’t been able to find the source of. But “crazy-wonderful” is a pretty good adjective for everything that’s transpired in the meantime.

Somehow there were five whole readers that first day, and at this point pageviews are, well, vastly more than that and doubling from one month to the next. Which is extremely rewarding given that it’s due entirely to word of mouth. The rapid growth rate also means there are a lot of people reading today who haven’t been around very long. (Welcome!) So because of that, and because I’m a huge data nerd who thinks some of you might find it interesting, I thought I’d share a few highlights.

The most popular posts — i.e., the five that have garnered the most views:
1) Knitting in code (the Morse Code cowl pattern)
2) Holiday knitting cheat sheet: A hat for every head
3) Fast, easy and warm: Jumbo Stitch Cowls collection (more free cowl patterns)
4) Things that make me want to crochet
5) Super Simple Mitts (free mitts pattern)

Some of my favorite posts, in no particular order, for those who may have missed them:
— Q’s for Isabell Kraemer, the human sweater-knitting machine
— the whole Tootsie Toasters extravaganza
— A tie for Evan?
— The other breed of colorwork
— and my all-time favorite, Street styling Elizabeth Zimmermann
(My overall favorite thing to do is also your overall favorite thing to read: New Favorites. Plus all the runway stuff. My most enduring blog crushes are Vintage Jared Flood and Wiksten.)

The most-clicked external links (from the hundreds upon hundreds I’ve posted), all found in the wildly popular hat roundup:
1) Milanese Lace Topper free hat pattern — far and away the hottest single link of the year
2) Bayard hat pattern
3) Chunkeanie free hat pattern
4) Snöflinga hat pattern
5) Spirograph headband pattern

The top five commenters — one old friend and four news ones, thanks to the blog:
1) MJK
2) Sarah
3) Jo
4) projectstash
5) Heather

I’m singling them out (and hoping they don’t mind) because you should check out their blogs (and encourage MJK and Jo to start one) but also because, as a thank-you for all the interaction, Johanna and I are sending each of them one of our “High-Fiber” tote bags from the Fringe Supply Co. webshop, a very big milestone in the life-so-far of Fringe. So if your name is on that list, expect an email from me. Same goes to From the Purl Side, who coincidentally posted the 1000th comment yesterday.

But wait, there’s more!

A GIVEAWAY:

We’ve got one more tote earmarked for a giveaway to a new commenter. To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment below, before Midnight PST on Sunday the 9th, saying hello and telling me what your favorite post (or series of posts) has been and why. (Non-contest-related comments are also welcome!) The winner will be chosen at random and announced here early next week. International commenters welcome.

A SPECIAL OFFER:

Speaking of Fringe Supply Co., because we’ve especially loved packing up those orders that amount to a Fringe sampler platter, and in honor of the anniversary, we’ve put together a Gift Set at a special price. The set contains 1 tote bag, 1 project bag, 1 jumbo cedar sachet, 1 packet of stitch markers and 1 packet of enclosure cards, and is priced at just $52! That will be available as long as we’ve got the inventory to support it (or until we close for the holidays on the 15th, whichever comes first).

AND MY GRATITUDE:

Bottom line: From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading. And stay tuned — there’s lots more to come!

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Walpole forward and back

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walpole chunky cardigan knitting in progress

Deciding what to do with the sleeves for this chunkified Walpole cardigan was not easy. I love the wide, unshaped sleeves of the original pattern. But I also know how many big, cozy, wonderful, shawl-collared sweaters I’ve given away over the years for the sole reason that the sleeves — while looking fabulous — were forever in the way. So I decided to do a very slightly shaped sleeve that cinches in at a longish cuff. And I’m really happy with the way it’s looking. What I’m less happy with, now that I’ve got it on waste yarn (er, baker’s twine) and can properly measure it, is the proportion of the sweater body. I did only minimal waist shaping but I’m wishing I’d done none. I’m not sure how much additional width I’ll gain when the twisted rib detail running up the front relaxes in blocking, but I think it’ll still be smaller than I want this sweater to be. So there’s a good chance I’m ripping it back to the first decrease.

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