Summmer Travels Inspiration Part Five - Lady's Tresses Shawl

So this is the final pattern in our series inspired by my travels in Summer 2016 (yes, I am that far behind on my pattern writing!) This pattern was inspired by a biking trip near Aviemore in the Scottish Highland where we came across a patch of beautiful Lady's Tresses orchids (yes, we do have orchids in Scotland!)

I absolutely love looking for unusual wildflowers, and finding wild orchids is always very special. Lady's Tresses shawl has a pretty floral motif and pointed edging, inspired by their delicate flowerheads. And the rest of the bike ride was very scenic too, through Scot's pine forest.

The shawl itself is very quick to knit, using less than 380yds / 350m of laceweight yarn. It starts with a garter stitch band shaped with short rows, then a band of floral lace which blends into a delicate lacy edging. Here's the pattern information:

Yarn:  Gemini Knits 2 ply Laceweight Baby Suri Alpaca/Merino (50% Baby Suri Alpaca, 50% Merino, 1097 yards / 1200m per 100g)

Colourway Stormclouds

380yds / 350m required

Dimensions: 9" / 22.5cm wide at the ends, 11" wide at the centre and 70" long.

Needles: US 6 / 4mm circular needle.  

Gauge: 16 sts = 4" / 10cm in stocking stitch after blocking.

Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, mat and t-pins for blocking.

 

Purchase the pattern on

Ravelry

Etsy

Craftsy

 

 

Summer Travels Inspiration Part Four - Thieves' Road Shawl

So as ever, it's been a long time since the last release in this series. I definitely have major issues with saying "no" when people offer me extra work to do which keeps my schedule full to bursting, my resolution for 2018 will definitely be to do less work and spend more time knitting!


Better late than never though, here's the story behind my latest pattern.


The Thieves' Road is a path near Aviemore, which was used in the dim and distant past by raiders who would loot and pillage in the villages nearby. We biked up the trail to Inshriach Bothy where we stayed the night, you can see route details on the Heritage Paths website. It's a strangely beautiful place - the Scot's pine and juniper bushes are twisted into pretty weird shapes around a clearing.

 I must admit I find bothies a bit creepy too - I would much rather sleep in my tent. In a very modern spooky moment at about midnight my phone went crazy - after about three days with no phone signal or internet it came to life with all my notifications, all of a sudden and in the absolute middle of nowhere. Should have brought the tent!

Trees growing very strangely here!

So the shawl was inspired a bit by the history of the place - I think the slightly faded looking red and blue paired up with the heirloom lace gives a bit of a pirate/smuggler kind of feel to them in keeping with the history of the trail, and the handdyed Malabrigo yarn works beautifully with zigzag stripes. The wider, shallower triangle makes it perfect for wrapping up in - ideal for sitting around a campfire - since it's cold enough to need a thick shawl when you're camping in Scotland, even when the fire's going and even in July! It's dk weight too, which makes it a cosier shawl, and a quicker knit, than most shawls in a lighter yarn. 

Bothy entertainment - cards and single malt

Here's the details:

The pattern for Thieves' Road Shawl is available to purchase on:

Ravelry

Craftsy

Loveknitting

Etsy

Pattern Specifications:

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Rastita DK
MC No me Olvides, CC - Jupiter (100% Merino Wool, 283 m/310 yds per 100 g)
One 100 g skein in each colourway = 566 m/620 yds.

Dimensions: Makes a triangle 162 cm/64” across and 50 cm/20” high after blocking.

Needles: 4.5 mm/US 7 40”/100 cm circular needle (for working flat) 6.5 mm/US 10.5 needles for bind off only.

Gauge: 19 sts and 28 rows = 10 cm/4” after blocking

Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, mat and t-pins for blocking.

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:

Felted Lace Wrap Pattern

Just released this week, Felted Lace Wrap:

An easy lace pattern in worsted weight wool (so it's quick to knit)! The wrap is lightly felted once it's done which gives it a fuzzy, worn-in look, and softens it up. Available to download from Ravelry, Etsy and Craftsy.

Yarn: Croft Wools Aran weight Gotland yarn, one 250g skein. Available by mail order from http://www.croftwools.co.uk/wool.html

Gauge: 14 sts = 4” with 6.5mm / US 10.5 needles before blocking.

Needles: One 40” 6.5mm / US 10.5 circular needle.

Extras: Two stitch markers

Dimensions: 16” x 60”

Asphodel Shawl

I've just released a new lace pattern, Asphodel Shawl:

 

A stunning lace shawl with a geometric design. There are three distinct bands of lace in the shawl, working from larger to smaller diamonds with a lace edge. The shawl is constructed as a traditional triangular shawl, with the lace patterns to the right and left sides of the spine mirror images of each other.

Asphodel is available on Ravelry, Craftsy and Etsy.

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace or other laceweight yarn. Two skeins = 840 yards / 768m.

Gauge: 21 sts = 4” with 4mm / US 6 needles after blocking. Exact gauge isn't crucial though.

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

Extras: Two stitch markers, crochet hook and yarn in a contrasting colour for provisional cast on, 4.5mm/US7 needle for bind-off, pins and a large towel for blocking.

Dimensions: makes a triangle 58” across

and 29” high after blocking.

Updates

Just a quick post to keep everyone up to date with the latest news. First, I've just made a Facebook page, which you can find here. Keep an eye on it for latest pattern and yarn news and hopefully a few giveaways will be coming up in the near future.

I've got a new shawl pattern just out: Buddleia is based on a traditional Estonian leaf lace pattern witht the addition of a floral motif. You can buy the pattern on Ravelry and in my Etsy shop.

  Next, I've got a jumper pattern in the pipeline, Lochan is a beautiful lacy sweater with a really simple construction. All the shaping's done by changing needles and the lace pattern's easy to remember. It's still being tested at the moment, in fact, if you're interested in testing the sweater in a 32, 48 or 56" bust then you should head to the Ravelry free pattern testers group and volunteer! The pattern should hopefully be available to purchase at the end of November.

And finally, fresh off the blocking board is my Eilean shawl. I'm hopefully going to get the pattern written up this week and should be looking for test knitters soon. Keep an eye on the Ravelry free pattern testers group if you're interested!

Here's a wee picture!

Cocoa Wrap

An easy wrap pattern that's quick to knit in chunky yarn. The slipped stitches make the fabric extra dense. This is sure to keep you cosy when you're curled up with your cocoa! The wrap pictured was knitted with my own handspun Bluefaced Leicester yarn, but Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds Chunky is the correct gauge and would be just as nice. Pattern is available to download from Ravelry.

Yarn : Five skeins Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds Chunky = 550m in total.

Needles :  5mm/US 8 straight needles

Gauge:  14sts = 4" in stocking stitch

Size: 12" x 60"

Notation: 

k = knit

p = purl

sl = slip 

kw = knitwise

pw = purlwise

CO = cast on

RS = right-side

WS = wrong-side

Twisted Slip Stitch Rib Pattern:

Row 1: sl1 pw, *p1 k1* to end of row (don't "untwist" twisted stitches by knitting into the back of them!)

Row 2: sl1 pw *k1 sl1 kw with yarn held forward* to last two stitches, k2

Directions:

CO 61 stitches. Work in Twisted Slip Stitch Rib Pattern until wrap measures 60", ending on row 1 of pattern. Bind off all stitches on wrong side. Weave in any loose ends and you're done!