Summer Travels Part 2 - Fiacaill Ridge

On to part two! 

This is a series of five knitting patterns inspired by my travels in the Scottish Highlands this Summer. The first pattern was a cowl inspired by the colours of the hills at Abriachan - you can read more about it here!

Our second pattern is inspired by a traverse of the Fiacaill Ridge, an imposing rocky traverse in the Cairngorms:

It looks more scary as you climb higher as well! 

Having said that, once you're at the top of the ridge, it's very flat indeed on the Cairngorm Plateau.

Something I'm not used to at all after climbing so many West Coast munros - bit more of a jagged landscape. And we managed to spot the Cairngorm reindeer which was a real treat:

But back to the knitting: the pattern this inspired would have to be cosy - it's chilly up there! So I designed a cardigan with a warm shawl collar to wrap up in, in super-insulating alpaca and silk yarn. 

Alpaca fibres are hollow, to trap extra heat (they spend a lot of time up chilly mountains too...) so it's the perfect choice for cold weather garments. The design is inspired by the rocky terrain too - with a block pattern at the back made with smocking stitches. 

  Available to purchase on 

Ravelry 

Etsy 

Craftsy

20% discount on Ravelry with coupon code SUMMERTRAVELS2 until end of December 2017

The details for the pattern are as follows:

Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Alpaca, Wool and Silk DK (45% Alpaca, 25% Merino, 30% Silk; 274yds/250m per 100g)

820 (950, 1095, 1250, 1420, 1580, 1750, 1930) yards.

750 (870, 1000, 1145, 1300, 1445, 1600, 1765) m 

Measurements:

To fit bust: 30-32 (34-36, 38-40, 42-44, 46-48, 50-52, 54-56, 58-60)”

Across back armpit to armpit: 15 (17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29)”

Armpit to hem: 16 (16.5, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5)”

Around top of sleeve: 12 (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)”

Sleeve length: 17 (17, 17.5, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19)”

Gauge: 17sts and 26 rows = 4”/10cm in stocking st with US 7/4.5mm needle after blocking.

Needles: One US 7/4.5mm 40”/100cm circular needle.

Extras: Two detachable stitch markers; cable needle; spare 40” circular needles (size US 7/4.5mm or smaller) for holding stitches or waste yarn in a contrast colour; tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends.

 

Moseley in Spring

Released another new pattern this week - Moseley in Spring!

It's available on Ravelry, Etsy, Craftsy, Folksy and LoveKnitting (phew!)

It's a fitted cardigan with a flattering drape front. Moseley in Spring is knitted from the top down with set in sleeves and neat ribbed edgings. A lightweight, and ever so slightly cropped version of our classic Moseley Cardigan in 4ply yarn with cute stripes. A perfect transitional piece for sunny Spring days. Instructions for 10 sizes are given: to fit bust 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56)”.

Here's the knitty gritty:

Garment Measurements 
Across Back Armpit to Armpit: 16 (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28)”. 
Armpit to hem: 12 (14, 14, 16, 16, 18, 18, 20, 20, 22)”. 
Around top of sleeve: 12.5 (13, 13.5, 14, 15.5, 16, 17, 18.5, 19, 20)”. 
Sleeve length from Underarm: 15.5 (15.5, 15.5, 15.5, 15.5, 17.5, 17.5, 17.5, 17.5, 17.5)”.

Yarn 
Baa Ram Ewe Titus 4ply (50% Wensleydale, 20% Bluefaced Leicester, 30% UK Alpaca; 350 yds (320m) per 100g). 
Yardage: 
MC Bramley Baths 440 (540, 575, 680, 715, 840, 875, 1050, 1140, 1320) yds. 
CC Aire 440 (540, 575, 680, 715, 840, 875, 1050, 1140, 1320) yds. 
Meterage: 
MC Bramley Baths 400 (485, 520, 620, 650, 760, 795, 950, 1040, 1200)m.
CC Aire 400 (485, 520, 620, 650, 760, 795, 950, 1040, 1200)m.

Needles 
One 4mm / US 6 40”/100cm circular needle.

Gauge after blocking 
21sts and 28 rows = 4” in stocking st with 4mm/ US 6 needles.

Extras 
Waste yarn (you’ll need about 1yd/1m), 6 detachable stitch markers, spare 40” circular needle (size 4mm/US 6 or smaller).

And just a wee reminder that the knit-along for Mountain Everlasting Sweater is just getting under way in my Ravelry group, plenty of time still to join in the fun:

Pattern Writing

It's the February long weekend for schools in Glasgow, so I've got the next two days off and I've got big plans! I've got two sweater patterns that need writing and I'm going to try to blitz them over the next two days. Hopefully I should be able to get them to a stage where I can send them to be tech-edited and with a bit of luck release the final patterns in the next few weeks.

Both are lovely Spring sweaters, not too heavy but just enough to keep the chill off!

Moseley in Spring is a lightweight version of my Moseley Cardigan, with cute stripes.

I love drape front cardigans, they're so flattering. (I'm actually wearing my Moseley Cardigan as I write this, it's one of my absolute favourites.) They're surprisingly quick to knit too, even in 4 ply yarn!

The yarn is Titus 4ply from Baa Ram Ewe, a British yarn that's a gorgeous blend of Wensleydale, Bluefaced Leicester and Alpaca yarn. Really lovely stuff!

The second pattern (carrying on with the stripy theme!) is my Mountain Everlasting sweater. This one really is lovely, and I've already got a lot of wear out of it!

It's a classic fitted sweater knitted with stripes of mohair silk laceweight yarn, and the laceweight yarn held together with merino and silk 4 ply yarn. 

The yarns are Shibui Silk Cloud and Shibui Staccato - they're designed to go together and come in the most gorgeous colourways. And they're so, so soft. This sweater really is like wearing a lovely fluffy cloud. Loving it!

So fingers crossed that both patterns will be released soon, so you can knit these two up in time for Spring! 

Courie In

Please not that Courie In is no longer available as a free pattern. However, it is available to purchase in an improved form with additional sizes and instructions for shorter versions and a version with three-quarter length sleeves. 

"Courie in" is a Scottish phrase meaning to "snuggle up" - and it's the perfect name for this oversized, supremely warm, wrap front cardigan. This is a real winter warmer, ideal for nestling into with a mug of cocoa on a cold day. And it's so quick to knit! This cardigan has a slightly unusual construction. Sleeves are knitted first from cuff to centre back, then both sleeves are joined with a three needle bind off. Stitches are picked up at the bottom edge from armpit to armpit and worked down to the hem to form the back. Then stitches are picked up round the front to form the garter stitch wrap front.

Here are the details:

Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Superwash Merino Bulky in Heather Grey. 6 (7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15) skeins = 654 (763, 981, 1090, 1308, 1526, 1635) yards

Dimensions 
To fit bust: 30-32 (34-36, 38-40, 42-44, 46-48, 50-52, 54-56)” Across back: 15 (17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27)” 
Sleeve length: 15 (16, 17, 17.5, 18.5, 18.5, 19.5)” 
Upper arm circumference: 12.5 (13, 14, 14.5, 16, 17, 17.5)” 
Length armpit to hem: 14.5 (15.5, 16.5, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5, 20.5)”

Needles: 100cm/40” 8mm/US11 circular needle, 8mm/US11 dpns if you wish to avoid using “magic loop”.

Gauge: 10sts x 17 rows = 4” in Double Moss Stitch after blocking. Note that the weight of the cardigan whilst damp will cause it to stretch out more than a small swatch will.

Extras: Crochet hook for weaving in loose ends, stitch markers.

It's available to download on Ravelry and Craftsy. 

Summer Knitting

The weather as always here in Scotland remains changeable, but there have certainly been some warm (and even one or two hot!) days lately. So in keeping with the season, here's a few new knitting patterns perfect for Summer evenings on the balcony, keeping the chill off on long seaside walks and lazy days in the park...

Just released today and hot off the presses is my Summer Lace Tank. It's the ideal Summer knit, something lightweight that still looks stunning.

This tank is knit from the top down with a yoked construction. Stitches from the front and back of the yoke make up the body, and extra stitches are cast on at the underarm. The hem and sleeves have an attached i-cord edging to keep everything neat and to stop edges from curling. There are more stitches at the front than the back to provide a better fit and to give a pretty scoop neck. The pattern gives 10 sizes - to fit bust 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56)”.

Available on Ravelry, Etsy and Craftsy.

And the details:

Dimensions: 
Bust: 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56)” 
Neckline: 23.5 (26, 27, 28.5, 30, 31, 33.5, 36, 38.5, 42.5)” 
Yoke Depth: 3 (3, 3.5, 3.5, 3.5, 4, 4, 4, 4.5, 4.5)” 
Armhole Circumference: 14 (15, 16, 16, 17, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19)” 
Length Armpit to Hem: 16 (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)”

Yarn: Rowan Fine Lace in colourway “Patina”. 
550 (625, 700, 780, 870, 960, 1050, 1190, 1350, 1510) m 
605 (690, 770, 860, 960, 1050, 1150, 1310, 1480, 1660) yds

Needles: 4mm/US 6 circular needle-100 cm long if you work magic 
loop, or at most 60 cm if you prefer not to; 3mm/US 2.5 circular 
needle-100 cm long if you work magic loop, or at most 60 cm if you 
prefer not to; two 4mm/US 6 dpns for i-cord bind off.

Gauge: 21 stitches and 30 rows = 4”/10 cm in stocking stitch after 
blocking.

Extras: Two stitch markers, waste yarn, embroidery needle for weaving in loose ends.

Epsilon is a cute cropped cardigan knitted from the top down using a yoked construction. Both charts and written instructions are given for the lace sections.

Instructions are given for eight sizes: to fit bust 28-30, 32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50, 52-54 and 56-58.

Available on Ravelry, Etsy, Craftsy and Loveknitting.

Here's some of the details:

Measurements

Yarn: Abstract Cat Superwash Bluefaced Leicester Sock Yarn 400m/100g. 

Needles: One 4mm / US 6 40”/100cm circular needle, one set of 4mm/US 6 dpns if preferred to magic loop, one 6mm/US 10 40”/100cm circular needle for initial cast on.

Gauge: 24 sts and 30 rows = 4” in stocking st with 4mm/ US 6 needles.

Extras: Waste yarn, 2 detachable stitch markers, embroidery needle for weaving in loose ends.

Sweet and Simple Cushion

A cute cushion cover that knits up quickly using chunky pencil roving. This is a simple knit which uses a couple of clever techniques to give a neat finish. You cast on using a figure-8 cast on so there is no seam at the bottom. Then you use a three-needle bind off at the top with the cushion pad inside so there is no seaming at all. This is a quick knit that would make a great housewarming gift, maybe knit up two or three in complementary colours.

Yarn: Corriedale Pencil Roving

2 x 200g skeins at 130m/143yds per skein

Gauge: 8.5sts and 11 rows = 10cm in stocking stitch with 10mm/US 15 needles

Needles: One 10mm/US 15 100cm/40”

circular needle for working magic loop, one spare straight needle.

Extras: Two stitch markers, crochet hook for weaving in ends, one 40cm x 40cm cushion pad

Dimensions:

To fit a 40cm x 40cm cushion pad.

Notation:

k = knit

p = purl

pm = place marker

slm = slip marker

ssk = slip two stitches knitwise onto right hand needle, then knit them together with left hand needle.

k2tog = knit the next two stitches together.

s = slip purlwise

Instructions

Cast on 72 stitches using a figure 8 cast-on, with 36 stitches on each side of the needle. Place marker for beginning of round, and one 36 stitches from the beginning of the round to mark the halfway point.

Work stockinette stitch in the round ( i.e. knit every round) using magic loop method, until the cushion measures 42cm from cast on. Your cushion pad should fit comfortably inside the cover, without the need to stretch it. Put the cushion inside the cover now, and we will bind off with it inside.

Starting from the beginning of the round, we'll cast off stitches using a three-needle bind off. A youtube video showing how to work the three-needle bind off can be found here. However, instead of having stitches on two dpns, we will be knitting together stitches from the two points of you circular needle, and rather than turning the work so that the right sides are facing, we will continue with the two wrong sides facing in. This will leave a ridge at the top which makes a cute feature.

Written instructions for the three-needle bind off are as follows:

Remove stitch marker for beginning of round. Push the first and last stitches in the round to the tips of the needle points, then knit these two stitches together with your spare straight needle.

Push the second and second from last stitches in the round to the ends of the needles, and knit these two stitches together using your spare straight needle.

Slip the original stitch on your straight needle over the stitch you've just worked, as in a normal bind off.

Continue this process: knit the next two stitches at the tips of your circular needle together, then pass the previous stitch on your straight needle over this one.

When you reach the last stitch on your straight needle, cut the yarn leaving a 20cm tail, pass this through the loop on your straight needle and pull it tight.

Thread the loose ends into the cushion cover using your crochet hook and you're done!

And a quick plug: Queen's Park Cardigan is now available to purchase on Ravelry, Craftsy and in my Etsy shop.

  It's a fitted cardigan with a flattering drape front in a pretty lace pattern. This is a simple but stunning knit that could be dressed up or down. Queen's Park Cardigan is knitted from the top down with set in sleeves, neat twisted rib edgings and an oversized blanket front. Using sportweight yarn on larger than normal needles and blocking creates an airy fabric with beautiful drape. The lace pattern is simple and suitable for a first lace project, with only a four row repeat. Instructions for 8 sizes are given: to fit bust 28-30 (32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50, 52-54, 56-58)”.