Tag Archives: scarves

New Favorites: Ebony and ivory

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New Favorites: Ebony and ivory knitting patterns

There have been two new knitting pattern photos this week that have made my eyes widen and my mouth fall open. Both happen to be near-black and off-white, which is a combo I find irresistible. And in both cases, used to exquisite effect. First came Joelle’s Diagonal Pinstripe Scarf, a simple garter-stitch scarf (free pattern at the Purl Bee) knit on the diagonal with randomly placed single-row stripes, which creates a sort of ticking effect due to the garter stitch. Or as she says, “in Heirloom White with fine lines of Dark Loam, the effect is like a graphite drawing on cotton rag paper, loose and mysterious.” Then came Michele Wang’s Alloy, part of the latest Brooklyn Tweed collection, BT Winter 14. It’s classic Michele — an impeccable set-in-sleeve pullover with contrasting textures — but in this case she’s added color-blocked panels in the sleeves and sides. Had it been knitted in anything other than Fossil and Cast Iron, it wouldn’t have been the same. As is? Want.

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By the way, I know there are several of you who’ve been studying my Pullovers for First-Timers post, trying to decide what you want your first sweater to be. If you’re leaning toward a drop-sleeve pattern (i.e, no sleeve-cap or armscye shaping) there are two great options in that new BT collection: Abbott by Michele Wang and Benton by Julie Hoover. Both manage the proportions well.

2013: My favorite New Favorites and your favorite posts

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Best of New Favorites: Sweater patterns

You know there has to be some reflection and projection here as the calendar flips over from 2013 to ’14, starting with the patterns that caught my attention over the course of the year. Pretty much every week, under the heading of New Favorites, I post about the patterns that I not only like or admire but that make my fingers twitch with the urge to cast on — whether it’s great new releases, a designer who’s caught my eye, or some gap in my wardrobe or skill set I’m thinking about filling. Clearly I’m fickle, and some are more passing fancies than others. But some of these picks burrow into my brain and simply demand to be knitted. Here are the ones I’m still fixated on — I hope to cast on at least some of them in 2014.

SWEATERS
top left: Stonecutter pullover by Michele Wang (Pattern of the Year, as far as I’m concerned)
top right: Dwell cardigan by Martin Storey
bottom left: Trillium cardigan by Michele Wang
bottom right: Rook pullover by Kyoko Nakayoshi

Best of New Favorites: Fingerless gloves

FINGERLESS GLOVES
Antiquity mitts by Alicia Plummer

Best of New Favorites: Scarf/shawl patterns

WRAPS
left: Flying Squirrel stole by Michiyo
right: Imposter’s Shawl by Amber Corcoran

Best of New Favorites: Sock patterns

SOCKS
left: Climb socks by Jane Richmond
right: Cream socks by cabinfour

The hats I am most persistently obsessed with were both mentioned on the blog, but neither of them in New Favorites. They are the Bray Cap by Jared Flood and Gwyneth by Leah McGlone.

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And speaking of favorites, here are the ten posts that attracted the most views over the course of 2013:

1. How to improvise a top-down sweater
2. Holiday knitting cheat sheet: A hat for every head
3. Best summer sweater knitting patterns
4. Double Basketweave Cowl (free pattern)
5. New Favorites: Simply Great Cowls
6. Scarves to start now
7. Wabi Mitts (free pattern)
8. Fast, easy and warm: Jumbo Stitch Cowls collection (free patterns)
9. Knitter’s Delight: Beautifully textured hats
10. Holiday knitting cheat sheet: Cowls all around

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Knit the Look: Ondria Hardin’s shearling collar

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How to knit a version of Ondria Hardin's amazing shearling collar

There’s something wildly enticing about the ultra-curly shearling lining in this motorcycle jacket photographed on model Ondria Hardin. I’m guessing none of us could afford the jacket, whoever makes it. But it’s simple enough to add a statement collar to any jacket you like. Simply knit yourself Tara-Lynn Morrison’s loop-stitch-o-riffic Markham Collar. To mimic Ondria’s shearling, I’d say knit it in something really dark and lustrous, like Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino in Black.

See Vanessa’s recommendations for the rest of Ondria’s outfit.

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Street style photo © Vanessa Jackman; used with permission

One to watch: Alice Hammer

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One to watch: Alice Hammer

First, I want to say thank-you to everyone for all the nice birthday wishes here and elsewhere. Bob and I had a really lovely time in Point Reyes — ate and drank way too much, stayed in a lovely little cottage with a heated marble bathroom floor (which was strangely compelling), and generally enjoyed some much-needed time together. I came home happily exhausted and swamped by the orders that stacked up in the 26 hours I was away. So please forgive my silence, but I’ve been catching up with my to-do list while feeling really out of touch with my own knitting and the world of knitting in general.

Last night, I sat down on the couch with the single goal of trying to reconnect — dipping into the various wells of inspiration — and I was so happy to stumble across a brand-new knitting designer, Alice Hammer. French, lovely and with a taste for slouchy-chic sweaters and pretty little hats, she just began publishing her patterns in October. You can see them all (so far and coming soon) in her webshop and on Ravelry. Her blog posts and Ravelry listings are written in both French and English, so I hope and assume the same is true for the patterns themselves. Suffice it to say, she’s off to an enticing start.

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DIY Comme des Garçons granny-square scarf

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How to crochet a granny-square scarf

Granny squares have officially hit the Fashion Bigtime, friends. The legendary Comme des Garçons has put out a granny-square scarf, available in black/off-white and grey/off-white at La Garçonne. Of course, they don’t call it a granny-square scarf; it is a Square Crochet Stole (“crocheted … in alternating nested square pattern”). It’s granny cool, for sure, but if I ever drop $495 on a scarf, it won’t be 70% acrylic. Of course, anyone who can crochet a granny square could make themselves a 100% cashmere version for less than that — or a merino one that looks like a bargain by comparison.

My crochet skills are rusty, at best, but there’s no better learning or re-learning project for crochet than this ultra-basic form of the granny square. And it’s easy enough to seam a bunch of them into a long rectangle. But the striking thing about the Comme scarf is the diagonal of the pattern, and the trick to that is the half-squares (aka triangles) needed to fill out the edges. Friday night I sought out two good solid videos: how to crochet a granny square and how to crochet a half-granny square.* Then I sat down and made my first granny square in decades, and was reminded again of how much I love the motion of a crochet hook — truly addictive. So there may be some squares and half-squares in my future.

You could do this in any yarn and weight you like. Just make a square you like the looks of, measure it, then calculate or diagram how many you’d need — laid on a diagonal — to get the width and length you want. And from that, figure out how many triangles that leaves along the four edges. (Note that you’ll need four half-triangles — quarter-grannies? — for the four corners.) I’m guessing the CdG stole is worsted weight, each square about 5 or 6″ wide, and that they’re laid out four or five across and twelve or thirteen down. It lists a finished size of 25×77 inches, which is pretty deliciously voluminous.

For those with more advanced crochet skills, check out the pinwheel motif version being sold alongside the grannies.

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Relatedly, ICYMI for this week is Things that make me want to crochet.

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*Note that the first video uses the term “treble crochet” and the second uses “double crochet” — they are different names for the same stitch.

Scarves to start now

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Scarf patterns to start knitting now!

So about that growing scarf obsession. I’m not talking about any skimpy little rectangles to flick around your neck; I’m talking about big, dramatic, shoulder-hugging scarves, bordering on “wraps” or “stoles.” Scarves that involve some serious knitting. So whether you want to be wearing one this fall or are thinking about knitting a few for the holidays, these are scarves to start now!

1. Wheaten by Anne Hanson, exquisite cables and lace (See also: Topiary and Afton)

2. Nathalie by Val LNU*, simple and effective rib-and-seed-stitch combo  (free pattern)

3. Kirkwood by Julie Hoover, love those classic cables

4. Doux by Julie Hoover, luscious yarn combo and lovely textured stitch**

5. Falmouth by Alicia Plummer, on-trend chevrons (and there’s a matching hat)

6. Isla by Carrie Bostick Hoge, good old knits and purls, even better with another repeat or two each direction

7. February by Beth Weaver, pure cable beauty with tallllll ribbed ends

8. Vermeil by Wencke Lucas, my life won’t be complete until I cast on this crazy stitch combo (in Pom Pom 6)**

9. Caribou by Pam Allen, curvaceous grid of welts (maybe?) and ribs

10. Snowflake by Joelle Hoverson, bulky with allover texture, this is probably the quickest knit on the list (free pattern)

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*LNU: That’s cop-speak for Last Name Unknown. Don’t ask me how I know.

**I know, I know, I’ve featured these two before, but this list wouldn’t have been right without them.

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Ann Budd’s “Five Easy Pieces”

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In praise of Ann Budd's Five Easy Pieces

After a veritable forty days in the desert, new knitting patterns are finally starting to drop at a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pace again. There have been several lovelies this week that will have to wait for future New Favorites, but right now I want to talk about Ann Budd’s new collection for Quince & Co., Five Easy Pieces. It’s a hat, a pair of gloves, a pair of mittens, a scarf and a pair of socks. All lovely. But true to Ann Budd form, each one is written up in five different gauges, from fingering to chunky, corresponding to the five core Quince yarns. (The one exception being there’s no chunky version of the gloves.) Plus, most of the simple stitch patterns are based on multiples-of-four stitches, so you can swap them around amongst the different patterns at will. I’m already picturing that chevron cable on a hat. (Which, come to think of it, would look a whole lot like this, no?)

You can see all five patterns here, view the lookbook here, and download the ebook here.

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In other news, I’m happy to be able to tell you that both of the Fringe Supply Co. totes can now be found at the Pendleton Woolen Mill Store in Portland (among all these other fabulous shops). Sorry I don’t have any knitting to show you this week, but that’s the kind of week it’s been. All the more reason I’d love to hear about what you’re making …