Lake Effect Lace Scarf Pattern Ready for Download

The Lake Effect Scarf worked up beautifully in Rowan Kidsilk Haze.  One 25 gram skein produced a 54" (137cm) long scarf that is about 4.5" (11cm) wide.   I did not block this scarf as I really loved the gently ruffled edges that resulted from the stitch pattern.  But I think you could carefully block and still keep the edge effect. 

This is a super easy technique - even if the directions read a bit wonky (cause it's brioche after all).   But seriously, once you get the technique of creating the wraps down, it is a very straightforward stitch pattern.  See the video of the cascade stitch if you need a visual.  In the Lake Effect stitch pattern, the "cascades" line up over each other; in the cascade stitch pattern the "cascades" are staggered, and occur over 4 rows instead of 6.

I'm anxious to try this in other yarns as well. 


You'll find the link to the pattern over on the right hand side of the blog - under the Complimentary Pattern heading.

If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to leave a comment or send me an email.

Update  - this post shows how to add beads to this design.

Lake Effect

I spent last week working in Ohio, and three of those days in Columbus.  You might think that would tough sledding for a Michigan Wolverine, but really, I love Ohio - the State.   Beautiful, pastoral, rolling scenes, and if you are in the northeast corner, east of Cleveland, in the winter  - snow.

While on this trip, I was working on another Brioche Nine Patch Blanket as a Christmas gift, and wondered how the cascade stitch would change if I stacked up the "cascades" instead of staggering them.  I swatched up with a couple of different versions of the number of "yarn over" rows and came up with following arrangement that I like - of course, you could vary not only the number of rows, but also the number of plain stitches between the "cascades".

Here's the pattern worked up in a couple of different kinds of yarns.

If you have a skein of lace weight, you could work up a lovey scarf in no time - it's a quick knit once you get the hang of slipping the stitch combined with making a yarn over (a common brioche movement).   Take a look at the "cascade stitch" video if you need a refresher.

I'll post the pattern later this week. 

Day 28: NaBloPoMo - NoMo

Today is the last of the NaBloPoMo posts. Thanks for indulging me for the last 28 days.

What I’ve learned:

Daily posting is a larger commitment than I anticipated and requires much more planning than I thought.

I don’t have enough content to blog every day in a meaningful (read interesting) manner. 

That being said, having a committed frequency is a good thing – maybe a post a week is a better frequency to stay in contact and still provide value.

Look for a post once a week at least through January 2012.  We’ll see how that works.  And I’m going to shoot for a complimentary video or pattern at least once a month. 

As promised, I am working on the pattern for the Thankful sweater. It's going to take me a few more days to get everything graded, drafted, tech edited, and tested a bit more. 

Swatching for Oxford Gables

Playing around with a new design.  Just the beginnings of an idea, but here is the first swatch.  Two strands (one sky blue and one mocha brown) of a kid mohair and silk lace blend held together.  Played around with bead placement.   We will see.   This is going to be a very soft, snuggly garment that will need to be worn with a bit of negative ease, I'm thinking.    Fun little stitch pattern. 

Hail to the Victors

As a tribute to Michigan's victory over Ohio State - today's post will feature my Michigan fan gallery of knits.

Thankfully Finished

It's done - and I am very happy with both the fit and the style.  I love the way the neck line fits, and sleeves and shoulders sit very comfortably - staying on my shoulders instead of riding to the back as so many of these shrug type sweaters do on me.

The back has a nice drape creating a slightly rounded lower edge and the illusion of waist shaping, even though the knitting is just a straight piece.

I did run out of yarn while seaming the body to the top/sleeve piece.  I just subbed in some brown super wash that I had on hand, so the yarn type would be the same.  You can't see it from the right side.  So I know I'll need to adjust the yarn amounts in the pattern - this was too close for comfort. 

I would love to see this knit up in a variegated yarn, maybe a noro type. 

Pattern drafting is well underway.

Happy Thanksgiving

I'm happy I don't have to cook tomorrow.   Just knit and maybe eat some leftovers.   OK, not maybe, definitely.

And, I'm thankful that there are only 5 more days left in NaBloPoMo.

Thankfully Seaming it Together

Today was a hectic frantic day trying to get everything organized for Thanksgiving dinner for 18 tomorrow.  Don't get me wrong, I love hosting our family  - Thanksgiving is the favorite holiday for both me and Mr. VK.  But pulling it all together, cleaning the house, and this year trying to paint our den all at the same time will stress out anyone - as I am so sure many of you can attest to.

So today, in the midst of all the chaos, I made myself sit down and do a bit of seaming on the Thankful sweater.  I grafted the two halves of the top/sleeve together and began to feel the soothing effect of the rhythm of grafting sink in.  Yes, I said grafting is soothing.   Nothing to be afraid of.  There, I said it.  Somehow, grafting or kitchener got a bad wrap.   It is not hard to do.

Next, I seamed up the sleeves from the cuff to the underarm.  Good old mattress stitch, with a selvage stitch on each side, and it works like a charm.  Again - easy.  Anyone, yes, anyone can do it. 

OK, enough seaming cheer leading - go forth and seam.  I am going back to marinate the turkeys and put together the sweet potato casserole.

Braided Rein Mitten Sneak Preview

Are you ready for the warmest snuggliest mittens you've ever made?

Thankfully Blocking

Also thankful that this is Day 21 of the NaBloPoMO.  Only 9 more days of daily blogging left.  Wont be doing this again.  And the crowd goes wild :}

Knitting on the Thankful Sweater was completed last night.  I have enough yarn left to graft to two top/sleeve halves together and to seam the body to the top.  That's definitely cutting it too close for my comfort.

Today, I blocked my pieces

I debated grafting the two halves of the top/sleeve together before blocking, but decided against it - mainly because the body is already a big piece to block, and the two halves would be more manageable, well, as halves.

Now, I have a confession to make.  All this time, I have been thinking (and blogging) that this yarn is Knit Picks Capra, a lovely merino, cashmere blend.  However, when none of my spit splices were sticking I got a bit suspicious and went looking for the ball bands.  I wound these balls up in September, and stuck the ball bands in my ball band stash box.  Well, the yarn is actually Knit Picks Swish bulky, a washable merino.  That means it has been treated so that it won't shrink or felt in the wash.  Spit splice fail explained.  Swish is still a nice soft wool. 

My blocked stockinette stitch gauge is larger than the knit up gauge, just as my original gauge swatch suggested.   I had no problem blocking to my planned measurements, except for the ribbing which is intentionally 1 inch shorter to save on a bit of yarn.

If the pieces dry by tomorrow, I might be able to seam it up in time for T-giving.