September 1, 2013

Wavy Cable Fingerless Mitts

Wavy Cable Fingerless Mitts by Erica Knudson
 
 
 

 

 
I designed these Wavy Cable Fingerless Mitts to compliment a hat from someone else’s pattern. There is one cable up the top of the arm & hand. The thumb gusset section requires a bit of concentration to count the increase rows and cable rows, but if you write down what row you’re on, you’re good to go! They are a size Women’s Medium.


Materials:

220 yards worsted weight yarn (photo here in Cascade Paints) This will most likely be too much yarn, but I wanted to give you a safe estimate.
Size 4mm (size 6) DPNs (5th needle used for cable, but you may also use a cable needle)
Stitch Markers
Waste yarn for holding stitches



Instructions (from the bottom up):

Cast on 40 sts, divide among three or four needles (your preference) and join, without twisting, in the round. If you prefer to use a stitch marker to mark the end of the round, place it here and move it up with each row.



Cuff FOR BOTH MITTENS:

Work k2, p2 ribbing for 8 rounds. – 40 sts

Next row; (k11, k2tog) 3 times, knit 1. – 37 sts

For the next 2 rows; k3, p1, k12, p1, k20. – 37 sts

Distribute sts on 3 needles as follows: Needle 1 = first 19 sts, Needle 2 = 9 sts, Needle 3 = 9 sts. The first needle, with 19 sts, will hold the cable pattern for both the right- and left-hand mittens, but the cable pattern is reversed for each mitt. For the cabling, you may choose to use the 5th DPN as a cable needle.
 


Arm, Thumb Gusset, and Hand FOR THE LEFT MITTEN:

Each row remains at a total of 37 sts until thumb gusset.

First cable row: k3, p1, C12F, p1, k2, k18.

For the next 8 rows: k3, p1, k12, p1, k2, k18.

Next row: k3, p1, C12B, p1, k2, k18.

For the next 8 rows: k3, p1, k12, p1, k2, k18.
 


Thumb Gusset FOR LEFT MITTEN:

For the next row: k3, p1, C12F, p1, k2, k17, pm, M1, pm, k1. – 38 sts

K3, p1, k12, p1, k2, k to end.

Next rows,

A. K3, p1, k12, p1, k2, k to first mkr, sm, M1, k to last mkr, M1, sm, k1. (The first time you do this, you will end with 3 sts between markers.)

B. For the next 2 rows: K3, p1, k12, p1, k2, k to end.


**Here’s the tricky part!!! You need to repeat rows A & B until you have 15 sts between markers, ending on the increase row A. AND…


While repeating these rows A & B, you need to include a Cable row on Needle 1, just like before, on every 9th row. Alternate Cable Front and Cable Back rows. It helps to have a note nearby to keep track of which row you are on. Here is an example of what would follow: 


A(5 between mkrs) 
B
B
A(7 between mkrs)
B(CB)
B
A(9 between mkrs)
B
B
A(11 between mkrs)
B
B
A(13 between mkrs)
B(CF)
B
A(15 between mkrs)


Hand FOR LEFT MITTEN:

Next row: k3, p1, k12, p1, k2, k to mkr, place the 15 thumb sts between mkrs on waste yarn or stitch holder, k1. – 37 sts

For the next 4 rows: k3, p1, k12, p1, k2, k18. – 37 sts

K3, p1, CB12, p1, k2, k18. – 37 sts

For the next 2 rows: k3, p1, k12, p1, k2, k18. – 37 sts



Arm, Thumb Gusset, and Hand FOR THE RIGHT MITTEN:

Each row remains at a total of 37 sts until thumb gusset.

First cable row: k2, p1, C12B, p1, k3, k18.

For the next 8 rows: k2, p1, k12, p1, k3, k18.

Next row: k2, p1, C12F, p1, k3, k18.

For the next 8 rows: k2, p1, k12, p1, k3, k18.



Thumb Gusset FOR RIGHT MITTEN:

For the next row: k2, p1, C12B, p1, k3, k1, pm, M1, pm, k17. – 38 sts

K2, p1, k12, p1, k3, k to end.

Next rows,

A. K2, p1, k12, p1, k3, k to first mkr, sm, M1, k to last mkr, M1, sm, k17. (The first time you do this, you will end with 3 sts between markers.)

B. For the next 2 rows: K2, p1, k12, p1, k3, k to end.

**Remember to use opposite cable rows for the Right mitt. Here is an example of what would follow: 

A(5 between mkrs) 
B
B
A(7 between mkrs)
B(CF)
B
A(9 between mkrs)
B
B
A(11 between mkrs)
B
B
A(13 between mkrs)
B(CB)
B
A(15 between mkrs)



Hand FOR RIGHT MITTEN:

Next row: k2, p1, k12, p1, k3, k1, place the 15 thumb sts between mkrs on waste yarn or stitch holder, k17. – 37 sts

For the next 4 rows: k2, p1, k12, p1, k3, k18. – 37 sts

K2, p1, CF12, p1, k3, k18. – 37 sts

For the next 2 rows: k2, p1, k12, p1, k3, k18. – 37 sts



Finish Hand FOR BOTH MITTENS:

(k11, kfb) 3 times, k1. – 40 sts

K2, p2 ribbing for 8 rows. – 40 sts

Bind off loosely in pattern.



Thumb FOR BOTH MITTENS:

Transfer the 15 sts from the waste yarn onto 3 needles. Join new yarn in-the-round and pick up 4 sts along the gaps. – 19 sts

Knit one round even until 2 sts remain, k2tog. – 18 sts

Knit 4 rounds in this ribbing; k2, p2 until last 2 sts of round, k1, p1. – 18 sts

Bind off loosely in pattern.



Finishing:

Weave in ends, using thumb ends to reinforce the sts around the thumb. Block if desired.



Key:
C12F = place the next 6 sts on the cable needle in front of the work, knit the next 6 sts and then knit the 6 sts from cable needle (cable appears to move to the left)
C12B = place the next 6 sts on the cable needle in back of the work, knit the next 6 sts and then knit the 6 sts from cable needle (cable appears to move to the right)
k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 together, a method of decreasing
 
mkr = marker
M1 = make one stitch, a method of increasing
p = purl
pm = place marker
 
sm = slip marker
St, sts = stitch, stitches 

August 3, 2013

Art Yarn Cowl

Art Yarn Cowl by Erica Knudson


Art Yarn Cowl

I designed this cowl because I had this bright art yarn for YEARS and didn’t know what to do with it. I started this experiment, and voila! I love how it turned out. It is knit in-the-round and is an adult Women’s Medium. It is easily adapted to other sizes by subtracting from or adding to the cast on in multiples of 6 sts.


Materials:

150 yards worsted weight yarn (photo here in Red Heart Soft) This will most likely be too much yarn, but I wanted to give you a safe estimate.
150 yards art yarn (Mine was as thin as thread in places, extra bulky in others.)
Size 13 circular needle
Stitch marker, if desired, to mark the end of the row.


Instructions (from the bottom up):

With both yarns held together, cast on 72 sts (or any multiple of 6), and join, without twisting, in the round. If you prefer to use a stitch marker to mark the end of the round, place it here and move it up with each row.


1. With both yarns held together, k around. – 72 sts

2. With both yarns, p around. – 72 sts

3. With both yarns, k around. – 72 sts

4. With both yarns, (k3, p3) around. – 72 sts

5. With art yarn only, (p3, k3) around. – 72 sts

6. With both yarns, (k3, p3) around. – 72 sts

7. With both yarns, k around. – 72 sts

8. Repeat row 7.

9. Repeat row 7.

10. Art yarn only, p around. – 72 sts

11. Art yarn only, (p2tog, p10) around. – 66 sts

12. Art yarn only, p around. – 66 sts

13. Both yarns, p around. – 66 sts

14. Repeat row 13.

15. Both yarns, (p2tog, p9) around. – 60 sts

16. Worsted yarn only, k around. – 60 sts

17. Repeat row 16.

18. Repeat row 16.

19. Both yarns, k around. – 60 sts

20. Repeat row 19.

21. Repeat row 19.

22. Repeat row 19.

23. Repeat row 19.

24. Repeat row 19.

25. Worsted yarn only, k around. – 60 sts

26. Art yarn only, p around. – 60 sts

27. Art yarn only, (p2tog, p8) around. – 54 sts

28. Both yarns, p around. 54 sts

29. Repeat row 28.

30. Both yarns, k around. – 54 sts

31. Repeat row 30.

32. Repeat row 30.

33. Repeat row 30.

34. Repeat row 30.

35. Worsted yarn only, k around. – 54 sts

36. Art yarn only, k around. – 54 sts

37. Both yarns, k around. – 54 sts

38. Repeat row 37.

39. Both yarns, (kfb, k8) around. – 60 sts

40. Both yarns, p around. – 60 sts

41. Both yarns, (p2tog, p8) around. – 54 sts

42. Art yarn only, p around. – 54 sts

43. Both yarns, p around. – 54 sts

Bind off VERY loosely in knit.



Finishing:

Weave in ends. Block if desired. Be artsy.


Key:

k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 together, a method of decreasing
kfb = a method of increasing
p = purl
p2tog = purl 2 together, a method of decreasing
sts = stitch, stitches

Pattern by Erica Knudson at handmadebyerica.blogspot.com. 
You can use this pattern for free, but please don't sell it as your own.

June 14, 2013

Quick Project

I'm really excited about this project. I bought a permanent transfer pen and a small cotton drawstring bag.  With some tracing paper and practice, I made myself a personalized project bag for my knitting/crochet. The flower image is not my original, but "Frances and the Bee" is! You can see my new blog about beekeeping and life in Minnesota at www.francesandthebee.blogspot.com.
 
Also, I'm working on getting some more items up in my Etsy store, FrancesandtheBee. I'm especially excited about this little project bag because it gives me some inspiration for some items to sell in the near future.  So... please check out the links! 




First Taste of Honey from our Hives