Long Time No Patterns…
Sorry for the long silence. It seemed I wrote many blog posts in my head. In some cases I even took the photos for them, but they somehow didn’t get written. Where are those blog gnomes when you need them?!
I’m working on some collections for fall and winter so it is pretty much nearly all secret knitting around these parts which means knitting posts are pretty much nonexistent. Except of course the patterns I design with yarn from My Sister Knits for the newsletters. Up above and to the right is May’s free pattern - Cirrus. It is a simple all in one, no seaming, side-to-side shrug that is completely customizable to your own particular ration of across back width and upper arm circumference. The pattern is still available for free on page 3 of the May 2010 newsletter at the My Sister Knits Community News page.
The stitch pattern is a small, two-stitch repeat with two pattern rows in the vertical repeat so it is simple to memorize, a pretty simple lace for those new to lace knitting or a great KIP or TV-watching project for those more experienced with lace knitting. This open faggoted lace often does a great job of mixing up higher contrast colors of handpainted yarns too. I put a small gusset at the transitions from sleeve to back so that the edges on the flat section are self-finishing and it gives just a tad more wiggle room for getting the shrug on and off.
This one was knit from Madelinetosh tosh sock yarn in the Nostalgia colorway and for the small size pictured here took only about 3/4 of a 4oz skein. The pattern contains four sizes based on garment sizing standards if you are knitting it as a gift and don’t have exact measurements and takes 275-500 yds of fingering weight yarn. There are notes on how to make adjustments and you could also easily make longer or fuller sleeves as well. Just don’t forget that any changes you make will impact the yardage you require!
I’m hoping things will slow down around here sometime this summer so I can whip one up for myself. It slips into a purse so easily so it is at the ready when AC in restaurants and such gets to be too much. One can even keep the seam to the inside and wear it as a tube scarf if only the neck is chilled!
