Spring - Time To Get Outside

Like much of the US, spring has arrived into the midwest disquised as summer.  Here in Indy, we've had high temperatures in the 80s for almost a week now.  The flowering trees and spring bulbs have erupted into bloom.  Birds are delirious and the air smells divine. 

What better time than to try out a new camera.  I've known for a while that I needed to upgrade my photographs.  After a fair amount of research, and finding a great deal at Costco, we opted for a Nikon D5100 with a couple of different lenses.  I'm on quite the learning curve, but very happy with performance so far. 

As far as knitting, I've been working on design submittals for next winters publications.  It's surreal to be working on winter designs when the weather is this beautiful, but that's how this business works.   And here's a sneak peak of the next brioche/mosaic cowl design - I think I'm going to call this one Archetype.

Refining the Cause and Effect Scarf

Indulged in a little big ten basketball tournament knitting action last night and this Cause and Effect scarf  (see this post and the complimentary pattern section over on the right side of the blog) was started and finished in one night in front of the TV - I told you it was a quick knit.   I decided to try a modification to refine the look of the scarf, tapered ends:  

This version is worked up in Noro Silk Garden.  This fantastic yarn is a blend of silk, mohair, and lamb's wool with the most beautiful long runs of color blends. I love this yarn in this pattern, and the colors are devine.  The silk gives this scarf some lovely body.  This version is made using only one skein - the blocked dimensions are about 4" wide and 48" long.

It may be best to be comfortable with the stitch pattern as written in the Cause and Effect pattern, before trying this modification.  At least work a swatch if you haven't already started a project.

I use a knit front and back (kfb) to make the increases.  Decreases are made by knit 2 together (k2tog).  See the pattern for other abbreviations.  Note these instructions have not be test knit by anyone other than me, and have not been tech edited yet.  Don't hesitate to let me know if you find a problem or have a question.

To taper the ends of the Cause and Effect Scarf: 

Cast on 3 stitches (these will be the center sts of the scarf).
row 1 - k1, yfsl1yo, k1
row 2 - kfb, yfsl1+yo, kfb (5 sts)
row 3 - p1, k1, yfsl1++yo, k1, p1
row 4 - kfb, k1, p1, sl1+++yof, p1, k1, kfb (7 sts)
row 5 - p2, k1, yfsl1++++yo, k1, p2
row 6 - kfb, k2, p1, brp+++++1, p1, k2, kfb (9 sts)
row 7 - p1, sl1yof, p1, k3, p1, sl1yof, p1
row 8 - kfb, yfsl1+yo, k1, p3, k1, yfsl1+yo, kfb (11 sts)
row 9 - p1, sl1++yof, p1, k3, p1, sl1++yof, p1
row 10 - kfb, sl1+++yof, k1, p3, k1, sl1+++yof, k1 (13 sts)
row 11 - p1, sl1++++yof, p1, k3, p1, sl1++++yof, p1
row 12 - kfb, brk+++++1, k1, p3, k1, brk+++++1, k1

Continue working rows 1-12 of pattern stitch (see pattern).  When scarf is about 2" (5cm) short of the desired length and having just worked row 6 of the pattern stitch, begin tapering the ends by k2tog each end of every odd numbered row while continuing in pattern until 3 stitches remain.  Work the last brp+++++1 row and then knit one more row.  Cut yarn and thread tail through remaining 3 live stitches, pull tight and secure by weaving in the tail. 

I really think this gives a refined look to the scarf.  If you give it a try, be sure to let me know how it works out. 

New Complimentary Pattern - Limited Time Only

Just released a new complimentary cowl or scarf pattern Esprit de Corps- perfect for working up in team colors to show your team spirit!  It's a quick project too in bulky or super bulky yarns. 

The stitch pattern is a variation of stockinette brioche stitch -  I call it double stockinette brioche, and there is a video showing how it's done on the brioche tutorials page. 

This stitch is great for these cowls because the resulting striped fabric is textured, reversible and flat - that's right, it looks like stockinette stitch on one side, but it stays flat.  How cool is that.

This pattern is available for free here - but only during the March Madness KAL over on the Verdigris Knits Group Forum on Ravelry - so grab the pattenr while you can, and whip up one or two to show your Team Spirit.

March Madness Knit A Long (KAL) - check out the prizes

Here in Indiana, March means lots of basketball. Whether it be high school or college, it’s tournament time, and that means lots of knitting time. And if you aren’t a basketball fan, maybe its a good time to finish up some WIPs or just celebrate the changing seasons through knitting. So I’m launching my first Knit A Long (KAL) - with prizes!

Just pick any Verdigris Knits design and post a pic of the finished object in your projects on Ravelry before April 3, 2012.  You can work the pattern as written, mix and match pieces, or just use a part as inspiration.

Please spread the word.  There are some great prizes, including 3 skeins (1200 m total) of some heavenly Fyberspates 100% lace weight yarn in colorway Leprechaun.

This yarn is so beautiful I just like to hang it around the house like jewelry for the doors!

The colorway is especially appropriate for March, no?

 

Other prizes include:

A new copy of the book Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi by Anna Hrachovec - some of the cutest little projects eva (and I ordered 2 copies by mistake)

A copy of my soon to be released e-book - Magic Cowls and scarfs.

A bag of soap nuts (all natural laundry detergent that is great for felting too)

And I'll throw in some of my other patterns if we get more than 25 participants.

Here's how to play along:

Any Verdigris Knits Design is eligible, even the complimentary ones. Projects need to be finished by April 3, 2012. One chance per project.  WIPs already in progress are eligible.

To be sure to have your project counted, post your project on your Ravelry notebook and link it to the appropriate Verdigris Knits Designs Pattern.  Tag your project marchmadnessKAL.

Of course, please consider joining in the discussion in the Verdigris Knits Group KAL thread and post photos there as well,  that’s fun for all.

Update - Cause and Effect Scarf

Curses - despite test knititng and tech editing, a mistake slipped through the original version of the Cause and Effect Scarf. 

Row 6 should be:
 

Row 6: sl1 wyif, [brp+++++1, p1, k3, p1] x2, brp+++++1, p1.

A corrected version (rev date 2/28/2012) has been posted. 

Cause and Effect - a New Reversible Complimentary Scarf Pattern

I love perusing the pattern and technical help forums over on the main boards on Ravelry.  My favorite posts are the ones that start "can anyone identify this stitch?"  There is usually a photo of some amazing finished object with a great, textured stitch pattern.  And 9 times out of 10, I swear the stitch is some form of brioche stitch.   I think I figured out that this is because most knitting machines do variations of  brioche stitches very easily. 

So this week, I clicked on one of those threads, and low and behold the stitch pattern was a variation on a 6-row cascade stitch - much like the Lake Effect Scarf (see complimentary patterns to the right).  So I pointed the original poster to the pattern and didn't think much about it.  But the posted came back with some questions, pointing out that Lake Effect was garter based and this pattern was stockinette based.  So I took another look, and found out there was a lot more to this little stitch pattern.  I grabbed some needles and after a few rows, I was jumping up and down after the results (both dog and husband no longer react to these outbursts).

Cause and Effect scarf pattern - side 2

Here's a close up of the stitch pattern:

This photo does not do this piece justice.  Here are some of the great features of this pattern:

The pattern is reversible  - why?  because the underlying structure is 3x3 ribbing.

The cascade "medallions" are staggered, which creates a great texture and creates a self made picot-like edges along the sides.

No gauge is required - just work with needles that are at least 2 sizes larger than you would normally use. 

Here I used US size 13 (9.0mm) needles with a bulky/worsted lace yarn (thick and thin) Berroco Memoirs (now discontinued). 

Cause and Effect Scarf pattern - side 1

The pattern for this scarf is called  Cause and Effect, and can be found over on the right side of the blog in the Complimentary patterns section.

I hope you try this -  I'm happy to answer any questions.

Please join the Verdigris Knits group over in Ravelry.  Its a great place for discussion on these patterns, make suggestions, ask questions, find out about future designs and plans, or just chat.  I'm running a March Madness KAL with some great prizes.

Hope to see you there.

UPDATE  - this post has information on a modificaction to this scarf pattern to taper the ends.

On Valentines - A Marriage of Brioche and Mosaics

My latest design, Topograph, combines two techniques that I have really come to love - brioche and mosaics.

Just take a gander through my designs and you'll see a overwhelming bias towards these types of patterns. 

This cowl design started out as a typical mosaic pattern, but I had been working on a lot of brioche projects, so when slipping stitches, instead of keeping the working yarn stranded across the back, I did the yarn forward, slip1, yarn over motion common in brioche knit rows.  Didn't even realize it til I got to the next round.  I just kept at it and on the next round, I slipped the original stitch, the previous yarn over, and made a new yarn over.  On the next round, I barked together the slipped stitch and the two yarn overs - and realized that just about any mosaic pattern could be worked this way!

This technique has lots of advantages over regular mosaics:

1. the resulting fabric looks like stockinette on one side, but does not roll -  it stays flat!
2. what would typically be the right side in a regular mosaic pattern has a bit of a skew to it that creates really interesting diagonal dimensions - the plain knit stitches are narrower than the brioche type stitches - this leads to some very interesting visual effects for various patterns
3. it's reversible - the reverse side is as interesting as the typical right side.  The brioche stitches form diamonds.  The photos don't do this side justice.

Like regular mosaics, you only have to work with one color at a time.  And because the cowl is worked in the round, no purling!
I hope you give this technique a try - the pattern is available for $3

Or you can favorite or add it to your queue or wish list over here on ravelry.

Hearts A Bustin for Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

I knit with a great group of women once a month.  They like learning new stitches, so last month we worked on a fairly straight forward brioche stitch found in Barbara G Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns - Fluffy Brioche.  I picked it mainly because of the name, but also because it's only worked over 2 rows in one color.   Before long the group was churning out swatches of Fluffy Brioche.   The stitch has a great texture, and quite a bit of horizontal stretch. Fun sure, but the question around the table was "what's it good for?" 

Well, hats for one thing.  I worked up this hat in 2 colors of a super bulky yarn (Sensation's Sumptuous), modifying the original Fluffy Brioche to be worked in 2 colors and in the round.  The result of working the red as the Main Color was surprising - little puffy hearts spiraling around the hat.  I've posted a complimentary pattern for this hat over on the right hand side of the blog -  Hearts A Bustin Hat.

It is a quick knit in super bulky and would work really well in Malabrigo Rasta.  You only need about 40-45 yds of each color.  I made 2 hats out of 2, 86-yd skeins (red and cream). The hat has just enough slouch to be comfy but not too heavy.  Sized to fit 20-22" heads.  But it's an easy pattern to change sizes, just cast on more or less stitches in multiples of 4. 

I hope you give this hat a try - it's a quick knit and makes for a fun hat.  If you make it up, please post photos on Ravelry.  Can't wait to see how it works up in other colors.










Incidentally, Nancy Marchant has designed a very cute top using a derivation of this stitch pattern  zomertijd.  In her version, she uses 2 differnt needle sizes to create even more texture.

Having a Super Day

Today is the day!  Today, Super Bowl XLVI will be played here in Indianapolis, capping off a 10-day celebration that has highlighted all the great things about our city.

No doubt if you watch the game, or follow any of the news stories about the event, you'll see that one of the hits of the event is the Super Scarf.  A call was sent out 2 years ago that 8,000 hand crafted scarves would be needed to outfit the volunteers of this event.  As of last count, 13,000 had been turned in.  

I've had a blast walking around town looking at all the different scarves - so many wonderful designs.  This gallery features some of my complimentary patterns, created specifically for the Super Scarves effort.  These patterns are available on the right hand side of the blog.   Enjoy the game and come see us in Indy if you have the chance (great yarn stores and another "little" sporting event known as the Greatest Spectacle in Racing in May).

Knitting For Royalty - The Butler Way

So, the other Sarah Burton got to design a few dresses and such for the Duchess of Cambridge last year (just google if you are among the 1% that didn't watch the wedding last April).   As the Creative Director over at Alexander McQueen, that SB is just a tad more well known.  Again, just google and you'll see the fist 1,049,253 links point to her instead of anything related to Verdigris Knits.

But this week, this SB got to knit for one of the most famous mascots in America - Butler Blue II - the mascot for the Butler Bulldogs.  Here is Blue II rocking his 2012 Super Scarf.  He's been quite in demand for appearances this week in the Super Bowl Village.  And he is one deserving volunteer -  he has been a tireless volunteer not only for Butler, but for the entire city of Indianapolis, spreading joy and spirit to all of us. 

Photo curtesy of Kimberly Harms

Here's the scarf.  Knit in the round in stockinette with short row shaping around the neck to help the fit.  Stranded bones and paw prints on one end with a bit of fringe.  The other end is a self formed loop with the patch sewn on the top.