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Let’s get to it!
It’s that time again – design time. I’ve had fun this year exploring a bunch of different techniques and patterns that have influenced the direction of my own design for this season of fingerless gloves.
I started sketching some patterns with both colorwork and texture in mind and decided to explore both techniques using on design. Hopefully, this will be the first in a small series of patterns on the theme. This first pattern explores stripes and ribs. I love how different the design looks based on technique.
Both patterns are bundled together so you can explore both!
The colorwork version utilizes stranded knitting to create a graphic pattern in stockinette. Please be sure to loosely strand the colors in back to create a flat fabric and avoid bumpy sections between colors.
Colorwork Version
Glove length: 8.5 in (21.6 cm), Flat width: 3 in (7.6 cm) – larger in thumb gusset area.
Yarn: Worsted weight, two colors; MC: 70 yds, CC: 60 yds
The texture version uses knit and purl stitches to create texture, perfect for showing off solid and semi-solid color yarn.
Texture Version
Glove length: 7 in (17.8 cm), Flat width: 3 in (7.6 cm) – larger in thumb gusset area.
Yarn: Worsted weight, 100 yds
Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) double pointed needles – set of 4 recommended.
These fingerless mitts knit from the bottom cuff up.
They are knit in the round.
Size: Adult
Special skills:
• Knitting in the round
• Increase & Decrease
The changing* of the seasons has really lightened my mood. Sure, I love summer for the beaches and mountains and pools and ice cream and general carefree fun, but the soul-crushing heat and humidity has finally pushed me to the breaking point. Summer 2018 seemed especially hot and, though I’m not certain we broke any records, it definitely was long.
Now it’s time to get back back out to the workshop and make it happen. And I’m ready. Seriously, that statement can’t be circled, underlined or highlighted enough. My summer days were filled with sketching and color studies in anticipation of that very moment the clock struck Labor Day. Each day arrived filled with ideas and inspiration. Nights were filled with dreams awash in weirdo, day-glo colors.
So humidity, if you hear me, get your act together and move along. My screens are prepped, colors are ready and it’s time to get to work.
*Autumn does not actually begin until September 23rd.
Just locked in two colors on this new screenprint for 2018. I’ve been very much looking forward to exploring more hard-edged, geometric abstraction this year and Untitled was an awesome design with which to kickstart the season.
Seriously, is there anything more exciting than designing a multi-color piece and locking in that final color on the print run? It’s like putting in that last piece of a jigsaw puzzle. The thrill never gets old.
Socks are one of the things I enjoy knitting for friends and family – they express love in the effort they take but are a practical garment that can be made interesting with color and pattern. This year, I’ve been inspired by the ESK Yarnathon Zodiac Knitter badge to knit 12 pairs, though I know I will probably knit more.
I’ve focused on textured patterns in the past, pairing them with solids or semi-solid colors or simply striped colorwork. This year I decided to take advantage of some of the beautiful multi-color exclusive Under the Sea yarns paired with solids in addition to multiple solid color options. Here are a few of the first patterns I’ve knit up, just a peek of what is to come:
Superellipse Socks: This is one of 4 patterns created with a 2-color slip stitch technique. I love the simplicity of this technique in allowing you to slip stitches to create the pattern instead of relying on stranding colors. It keeps things from getting tangled and feels more like knitting stripes.
Paper Birch Socks: These are stranded colorwork socks, which can become a bit tedious and tangly, but well worth the effort. I love the idea of a solid color overlaying a color-changing yarn. It allows all of the beautiful detail to pop through with a restrained beauty.
Both patterns utilize an afterthought heel, which allows you to knit the sock pattern without interruption. This was a new technique for me, but I like the result.
