A few days ago I realized I’d never taken formal shots of the Leila shawl I knit in Laceweight Malabrigo so I took advantage of the gorgeous sunlight to get some good photos. The funniest thing happens to me with projects sometimes: by the time I get done knitting I’ve moved on emotionally from the design and I barely enjoy the finished item because I’m focused on the pattern-writing and photography stage of designing. Looking at this shawl a year later I can now appreciate just how nice it is! I can’t wait for the weather to cool off so that I can wear this again . . .
Knitting the full-size shawl in laceweight results in a small shoulder-warmer shawl that’s larger than a scarf. The great thing about laceweight is just how LIGHT the whole piece is — wearing it feels like you’re barely wearing anything but you still get the warmth of wool. And the Malabrigo lace has such a lovely hand that it feels like a luxury to get to wear it around your neck (well, not in 90+ degree heat of course).
I knit this particular design so many times that I feel like I could knit it again just from memory, and I actually have an urge to do just that! There is something about diagonals that really speaks to me design-wise, which I guess is no surprise given how often I use them in my designs. Looking at the border detail now reminds me how much fun it was to come up with it originally . . . and I’m currently working on two new designs that use diagonals, too.
Speaking of which: yes, my knitting ADD is just as bad as always . . . I am trying to focus though . . .
Project specs:
Pattern: Leila Shawl
Yarn: 2 skeins Malabrigo Laceweight in color 92, Little Lovely
Needles: Size US 3
Started: May 25, 2009
Finished: June 13, 2009
I finished the last few details of the pattern and it’s now available, finally! Sorry it took so long, many of you have been hounding me (nicely!) for this one for a few months now . . . well the wait is over! Get it from my shopping cart or Ravelry’s, whichever you prefer.
Covered with interesting cables, this oversized cowl is fun to knit and easy to wear. Knit it in a semi-solid handpainted yarn or a solid neutral to coordinate with your favorite winter coat!
Complete written and charted instructions included.
Looking for help on the wrapped cable? Check out my step-by-step video, How to Knit a Wrapped Cable!
Price: $4.00
I meant to do this yesterday but didn’t have time, so I apologize for being one day late in announcing the contest winners!
I used random.org to choose a number from 1-132 (the number of comments left before the deadline) and here are the results:
Congratulations Melissa who loves Cascade 220! You’re the winner of the aqua Leila shawlette:
And our second winner is:
Congratulations Fairyknits (sorry, you didn’t leave your real name, so I have to call you Fairyknits!) who loves Malabrigo! You’re the winner of the wine Leila shawlette:
Ladies, I’ve emailed each of you to get your shipping info, please let me know where to mail your shawls!
Thank you to everyone who entered, I wish you could all have won! I loved reading the comments as they came in and this contest was so much fun for me, I’ll definitely be doing it again in the future. I’m going to be analyzing the “favorite yarn” comments and posting a summary here shortly . . . stay tuned!
Thanks for your patience folks! I came home after a long day at work yesterday, mostly filled with editing a huge Word file, and sat down to edit my own (not that huge) file! There were some final corrections that needed to be made but now the pattern is finished and ready for you!
Introducing Leila!
The pattern includes instructions for both the full size shawl and the shawlette size. All instructions are written out (yes, every single line!) and charted. The large shawl is knit in light fingering weight yarn, I used 2 skeins of Cashlana (sadly discontinued) for the sample you see above.
For the shawlette size, my aim was to write a pattern that could use sock yarn and required no more than the amount of yarn needed for a pair of socks. We all have way more sock yarn stashed than we’d like to admit, right? This shawlette took less than one skein of Socks that Rock Lightweight, and would work equally well with other sock yarns you may already own. At least for me, knitting this shawlette took much less time than knitting a pair of socks does! It’s a great way to knit down your stash (if you’re into that sort of thing that is).
Both sizes are included in one pattern for $5.00. Purchase from my e-junkie shopping cart or from Ravelry.
Here’s a link to the official Leila Pattern Page with all the yardage and size measurements.
Or if you’re ready to buy now, here are the purchase buttons!
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me (click “Contact” above and fill out the form) with any questions!
Enjoy!
At long last I’ve finished writing, editing, and photographing that shawl I was designing in Koigu Cashmere! Introducing Soho, a wrap that can be worn as a scarf or stole!
I designed this wrap specifically to work with Koigu and other handpainted yarns. Knit on size 5 needles and worked in a combination of a few simple patterns, this wrap knits up quickly and lets the gorgeous yarn be the star. The unusual construction plays up the variegation of the yarn and helps keep your interest! Here’s a shot of the gorgeous center panel:
I knit the sample with 6 skeins of Koigu Cashmere, but you can use any one of the many gorgeous sock yarns that are on the market today.
Requires size 5 circular and double pointed needles. Pattern is suitable for an advanced beginner, as it requires only Knit, Purl, and YO.
Available as an immediate PDF download for $5.00. Click here to go to the pattern page and purchase through PayPal.
Cecil Socks Details:
Finished Size & Measurements:
8″ Adult Medium (8.5″ Adult Large)
Gauge:
30 sts and 46 rows to 4″ in stockinette on US#1/2.25mm needles
Materials:
1 skein Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock, 360yds/4.5oz
Suitable Yarn Substitutes:
Any fingering weight yarn
Pattern Price:
$5.00
I’ve just finished proofing the pattern and adding it the website, and it’s now available either directly from the blog or from its own Cecil Pattern page!
Have you ever tried to take a picture of your feet that shows the outside corner of each foot? I hope you’ve never had to, because I felt like I was failing beginner yoga while trying to take these shots . . . although they came out surprisingly well considering! I’m especially proud of the single-sock shot, it looks so professional, as if I had a foot form! (I don’t, that’s my actual foot)
These socks came out better than I expected, and the pattern really works even with this brightly-painted yarn — which goes to show that you don’t have to knit plain socks out of all your handpainted sock yarn if you don’t want to!
I want to try these in one of the gorgeous semi-solids, too, I think they’d work just as well.
The diamond is easy enough to do without a cable needle, and would be a perfect project to try that technique for the first time!
I had a whole bunch of yarn leftover after knitting the smaller size, you could easily knit the legs longer than my 5″ and have enough yarn.
I’m proud to introduce my latest pattern, now available for sale at Chiagu: Onda!
This rectangular stole is knit with 7 colors of Koigu KPPPM which shade from light to dark. I was thinking of the ocean when I knit this, and found great colors to capture that mood of waves crashing on the beach. The shawl would look equally great in other color progressions: I can imagine it in shades of green, for example, or bright reds and oranges. . . the options are endless!
The lace pattern is a straight-forward version of Feather and Fan so this pattern would be great for a beginning lace knitter to get her feet wet!
I spent part of the weekend organizing my stash and then a brilliant idea hit me: Why not sell KPPPM kits for this pattern?
So I went ahead and created a few colorways, so now you can buy this pattern either as a PDF download or as a kit.
The kits consist of 7 skeins of Koigu that I handpicked from my stash to work well in this design. When you order a kit, you will receive the yarn (I can wind it if you’d like me to, just ask in the special instructions) plus the pattern as a hard copy, and the skeins will be marked 1 through 7 so you know what order to knit them in.
Since most of my stash was bought before the latest price increase, I’ve decided to price the kits at $84 (which breaks down to $12 for each ball) and include the pattern for free. Shipping will be $5 and the kits will go out via USPS Priority Mail.
There are currently 5 color choices (and of course, each kit is unique and will never be replicated!) and I will add more if there’s a demand. If you’re looking for a certain look or color and none of these are what you’re imagining, email me and I’ll see what I can do. There’s still plenty of Koigu where that came from! I figure I can share the wealth. ;o)
As always if you have any questions or need help, just email me! Thanks!
(oh, BTW, “onda” means “wave” in Portuguese)
I finally got around to photographing the Silk Garden version of my Halfobi pattern, so now I can share it with the world!
I made the medium size again and used a little less than 6 skeins of Noro Silk Garden in color 205. If you want to use Silk Garden for your Halfobi, which comes in 3 size options, you’ll need 5 (6, 7) skeins of yarn.
What’s great about the Silk Garden version is the color changes, of course. I thought for a second that I might try to make the two halves symmetrical, then I came to my senses and just let the color changes happen freely. It tuned out that the two fronts are similar but not identical, but the sleeves are completely different. But you don’t notice because the overall look is very cohesive, and who can argue with the genius that is Noro yarn?
I’ve updated the Halfobi pattern page to include information on knitting it with Silk Garden.
Project specs:
Pattern: Halfobi
Yarn: 6 skeins Noro Silk Garden color 205
Needles: US size 7
Started: March 2007
Finished: March 2007
I’ve just put the last finishing touches on the pattern and set up the website for sale! Finally!
Laura is my latest pattern, and one of my all time favorite sweaters! This updated classic is a tunic length cardigan featuring patterned yoke and cuffs knit in an easy cable pattern. Here’s a closeup of the stitch that graces the yoke and cuffs:
Since this shape is flattering on many body types, I decided to offer a wider range of sizes. The pattern is sized for:
Sizes: XX-Small (X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large)
Finished Measurements: Bust: 30 (33, 36, 40, 44, 50)”
Gauge: 16 sts and 24 rows to 4″ in stockinette on size US 10 (6mm) needles
Materials: 4 (4, 5, 6, 6, 7) skeins Prism Cashmere (100% cashmere), 164yds/100gr
You can substitute any heavy worsted or light bulky yarn that gives you 4 sts/inch. It would look equally gorgeous in a solid or a softly heathered yarn!
This pattern, like all of my patterns, is available only as a PDF download. Payment with PayPal gets you an immediate email with a download link, and then you’re all set to start! (Please note that if you pay with an eCheck the email comes immediately after the eCheck clears)
Thanks for your patience while I worked on this pattern! I am already working on the next one so hopefully there will be less lag time between patterns in the future!
by Ivete on January 1, 2007
in Chiagu
Introducing the latest pattern at Chiagu: Coco Clutch, my pattern for Black Pearl Yarns’ new Cashmere!
This cute clutch is simple to knit but offers a challenge in the cabled side panel, and is the perfect little purse to carry on a night out. I chose the classic off-white and brown combo to give it a chic feel, but it would be equally cute in all one color (if you’re not doing a contrast color, one ball is enough to knit the clutch).
The pattern is availabe for immediate download either at Chiagu or at One Planet Yarn. This cashmere was a pleasure to knit with and you’re sure to be spoiled rotten by it!
