New finish

A summer cardigan done in Tivoli's Linen/Cotton with a Tivoli Pattern, I knit it slightly shorter than the pattern to match the garment to the image on me. This has actually been on needles for AGES. I estimate at least 5 years, if not more.

I came across it recently and realised that all I had to do to finish it was to knit the rest of a sleeve and sew it up so I went back to it last week and bought the buttons today and attached them.

Neckwarmer for me, Chimera is the name

Buttons around the back and is just beautiful, field testing will happen tomorrow when I go back to work.

Front


Back



Opened out in front



Knit in Noro Cash Iroha

Kool Kotton Pile

Most of the colours I have of the Kool Kotton Range, a few of them are enticing me to buy more to knit a full garment out of this Cotton and Acrylic blend.

Mio Bandido

He asked for a neckwarmer (he rides a motorbike almost daily) and he asked for it to be in rib for warmth, I saw this pattern Darkside Cowl PDF on Ravelry and thought of him



detail


It's easier than it looks, I made it about 10inches long instead of the size on the pattern out of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece bought from This is Knit

Vogue Knitting Very Easy Knits

Vogue Knitting Very Easy Knits: The Best of Very Easy Very Vogue
US Link

Vogue Knitting Very Easy Knits isn’t exactly what it pretends to be. They’re not Very Easy but a lot of them rely on knit and purl stitches to create interesting effects. You need to know about guage swatching for this one as many of the patterns are made with obsolete yarn and many of the pictures are very dated, still colours and fashions do cycle. I’ve knit one pattern from this the Short-sleeve ribbbed pullover and I like how it looks. I have a few queued as well. I wouldn’t class them as easy more as next-step knitting, stretching some of your boundries without too much of a stretch.

Passion for Colour

Passion for Colour: Designer Knitting with Natural Dyes
US Link

Passion for Colour by Sarah Burnett. I got it from Rathmines Library, part of Dublin City Libraries (yes I work for them, sometimes even I can be surprised what’s lurking on the shelves). Sarah Burnett still dyes yarn and can be found here but this book is a collection of advice on dyeing using natural dyes and patterns. The patterns are quite colourful and none of them really tempted me, there were some childrens’ wear that I could see would work but some of the patterns are too fussy, both in terms of colour and style for me (I’m not a frills person).

However what was good was the section in the front about dyeing. She has a lot of information there, which might appeal to some of the dyers around. Pretty practical and with helpful pictures (and warnings about the chemicals involved in some of the processes). She also has some nice illustrations of colour combinations and instructions on how to achieve them.

But boy are the patterns dated!

Tweed

Name of Book Tweed: More Than 20 Contemporary Designs to Knit
US Link

Author Nancy J Thomas
Any other info Potter Craft, 2008, 978-0307381323

Types of patterns: Garments and accessories, some homewear, all knit in either Aran or bulky weight.

Number of Patterns: 21 (just over the “over 20” they advertise on the cover

Split of patterns: mostly women’s but a decent number of mens scarves and hats make an appearance.
Hats: 3
Scarves: 4
Women’s Garments: 10
Bags: 2
Household: 3
Men’s Garments: 1

Size Range: most patterns go from x-small (35”) to 2X (52”) for women and the solo man’s garment, the Dublin Cabled Vest runs from Small(37.5”) to 2X(52.5”)

Colour/Black & White, full colour photographs, mostly from the front with some side views. Most graphs are in black and white with some colour emphasis but the Lake District Throw chart is in full colour.

Schematics: Yes

Target Audience: Mixed; the book is divided into Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Intermediate and advanced projects (called “Walking on the Moors”; “Hiking the Scottish Uplands”; “Walking the Irish Cliffs of Moher” and “Sailing the North Sea” - gah)

How to knit guide, no only a few stitch patterns

Experimental/Classical/Modern - pretty classical stuff with the odd quirk thrown in

Comments - once you get past the twee and some of the Oirishness it’s actually not a bad book. The tweed yarn referenced is mostly spun in Kilcar and looks quite suspiciously familiar to those of us who knit with Kilcarra Tweed. Several of the patterns are interesting and I want to knit a few. I’ve gone and ordered my own copy. The scarves are pretty unisex and I like the colour use, mostly. Most of the patterns in the Tahki yarns Donegal Tweed are from the Kilcarra palette so for a change not too much mucking about to get a alternative yarn.

Buy/Borrow : I’m buying myself a copy. At around the E22 mark it’s a little over E1 per pattern, and I have my eye on about 5-6 of them to add to my queue.

Where found: Coming to a library near you very soon.

Twinkle's Weekend Knits

Name of Book:Twinkle's Weekend Knits: 20 Fast Designs for Fun Getaways
US Link

Author: Wenlan Chia
Any other info: Potter Craft, 2008, ISBN: 9780307346131

Types of patterns: Jumpers, scarves, hats, tops, shawls, hanger covers, I-pod cover, has some colourwork, cables & lace

Number of Patterns: 20

Split of patterns: Women’s, some of the scarves are unisex, the i-pod cover has no gender

Size Range: xs-l; i.e. 31” - 42”

Colour/Black & White: Colour photos, how-to drawn in black & White; charts black and white

Schematics: Yes, for EVERYTHING, including scarves and i-pod cover

Target Audience: Beginner, some stuff that I would class as almost for intermediate but more beginner looking to stretch themselves. Aimed at a younger person than me, i.e. 20’s and skinnier too! (how to make me feel old!!)

How to knit guide: Just a guide to the more complicated stuff, no how to cast on or simple cast-offs here.

Experimental/Classical/Modern - I’d rate this one an modern

Comments This isn’t a book for me. I’m not a small lass and the only pattern that uses below 8mm needles is the i-pod cosy. None of them really sang out to me or made me want to knit them, this is not to say that there aren’t good or interesting patterns in this, it and me just aren’t going to have a future relationship. The one pattern that almost tempted me is the Riverbed Shawl and the Urchin hat isn’t significantly differnt to others around. The Cloudburst Cardigan has potential but not for me.

Buy/Borrow Borrow, if it appeals to you there is potential there for some pretty quick knits.

Where found: Coming soon to a Dublin City Public Library near you.

Blankets and throws to Knit

Name of Book Blankets and Throws to Knit: Patterns and Piecing Instructions for 100 Knitted Squares (Uk Link)
100 Afghan Squares to Knit: Patterns and Instructions for Mixing and Matching Afghan Squares for Blankets and Throws (US Link and a slightly different title)
Author Debbie Abrahams
Any other info Collins & Brown pub, ISBN: 9781843404712

Types of patterns: Throws mostly, all pieced

Number of Patterns: 12 throws, 100 squares

Split of patterns: Mostly colourwork but some shades of one colour
Target Audience: Mostly beginner, some intermediate patterns, there’s some colourwork, cables, beadwork, sequin work and some embroidery.

How to knit guide There’s a technique guide at the back, she assumes the basics and then talks about Intarsia work; Knitting with beads, knitting with sequins, adding embroidery, piecing the pieces together (mattress stitch) and care and washing of the afghan.

Experimental/Classical/Modern most of the patterns are pretty classical, some have colours that are quite “now” but it’s not overwhelmingly so, many of them are a little sameish.

Comments If you’ve been doing the Art of Knitting throw and want to expand your horizon this may be the book for you.

Buy/Borrow Borrow. Some nice ideas in it but not really spectacular.

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries. Coming soon attraction!

Harmony Guide Lace and eyelet stitches

Name of Book: The Harmony Guides: Lace & Eyelet Stitches: 250 Stitches to Knit(Uk Link)
US Link

Author - edited by Erika Knight
Any other info C&B crafts

Types of patterns: Lace and eyelet stitches

Number of Patterns: 250

Split of patterns: just stitches

Colour or Black & White Colour Stitches, Black & White techniques.

Target Audience: everything from easy to difficult

How to knit guide: Yup, done with sketches

Experimental/Classical/Modern - this is pretty classical stuff but it would encourage experimentation

Comments - the new edited harmony guide, some of the photos aren’t as clear as maybe I’d like but overall it’s pretty good, could be improved by being spiral bound, most patterns have a single page.

Buy/Borrow - if you’re interested in this stuff buy, if you’re looking for a one off borrow.

Where found: bought it in the book bargain shop opposite Easons on Abbey Street, they had it reduced to E10.99 so I couldn’t really resist.