Wood Work

Just released ... Wood Work. Knit in the beautiful Malabrigo Rastita with a slip stitch rib pattern on the cowl and hem. Pattern available on Ravelry and Love Knitting.

Wood Work © Paulo Chow

Wood Work © Paulo Chow

Wood Work © Paulo Chow

Happy Knitting!

Finished Objects

It has been quite a long time since I have knit something from someone else's pattern. I have to remember that it is all written down for me and I don't have to figure out for myself what the next step is. 

Have you checked out the Indie Designer Gift-A-Long forum on Ravelry yet? You still have a few more days (until Friday November 27th) to cash in on the 25% off thousands of indie designer patterns. 

Use coupon code giftalong2015 on select patterns. You can find all the participating designers and patterns in the sale on Pinterest.

My first GAL finished project was Collingwood by Carolyn Macpherson. Love the texture on this hat and the fit is perfect.

Collingwood Hat Pattern by Carolyn Macpherson

I've already gotten a start on my second project, Waverleaf by Faye Kennington. This is a gorgeous scarf that uses short rows to create the colorwork design. I love the bright colours with the dark purple.

Waverleaf by Faye Kennington  © UkeeKnits  ~ Used with permission

And one more shout out to Carol E. Herman and her Passport Mitts. These mitts have a beautiful cable running down the backs and are worked in DK weight yarn. I think they would be lovely in a merino silk blend yarn.

Passport Mitts © Carol E. Herman Designs (used with permission) 

So ... what will you be knitting for gifts this year? 

Happy Knitting!

Gift-A-Long 2015

Are you participating in the Indie (Independent) Designer Gift-A-Long this year? Do you even know what that is?

What is the GAL all about?

It’s prepping for the holidays as only fiber folks can, with special deals from tons of indie designers!

The Indie Design Gift-A-Long is a 6 week long KAL/CAL of holiday gifts made from patterns designed by 335 independent designers. Starting November 19th at 8pm (US-EST) through November 27th at 11:59 pm (US-EST) these 335 indie designers will be discounting between 5 - 20 of their patterns 25% off sale for this event.

But it's more than just a sale ... there are over 15,000 prizes of all sorts given out, games, and generally a lot of fun! The Gift-A-Long KAL/CALs will run from November 19 at 8pm US EST through - December 31, 2015 at 11:59pm US EST. 

This graphic is a great summary of what is happening over on Ravelry.

It's almost time, so head on over to Ravelry to find out more and join in the fun!

And if you're looking for the list of participating knit and crochet designers you can find a summary of all 335 of us here ... GAL Designers.

Left Over Sock Yarn

If you like to knit socks as much as I do, you end up with lots of odd sized balls of sock yarn left over. Not enough to make another pair of socks but too much to give away.

Take a look at Over Left Socks. 

Over Left Socks

These socks are worked cuff down with 5 colors of yarn in a slipped stitch pattern. No working with multiple yarns at a time like stranded colorwork does. 

And it's fun to try out different colour combinations of yarn.

Have a look at the colours others have used on the project page.

Happy Knitting!

Socks

For the most part I like to knit sweaters, specifically cardigans and for smaller projects hats. In the past I knit a lot of socks but got away from knitting them as my sock drawer was full. Now, since the weather is warming up, I was looking for some smaller projects to work on and fell back in love with knitting socks. 

I had a tub full of sock yarn, mostly leftovers but also some full skeins just waiting for the perfect pattern.

The first socks I knit were some plain jane socks with some yarn my mom gifted me for Christmas last year. They are so comfortable!

Then I started thinking about creating 5 or 6 new sock patterns and creating an e-book. So, with 5 patterns designed and another 1 or 2 to do, the e-book is in the works. I will add each individual sock pattern to the Ravelry database as it is finished being tested but expect the e-book to be complete by the end of June. 

Perfect small projects for summer knitting.

Picking Up Stitches

In all of my cardigan patterns, the button and buttonhole bands are picked up and knit after the cardigan body and sleeves are completed. This technique can often give knitters problems. How does one pick up stitches so they are even along the body of the sweater?

For this technique you will need: 

• a cardigan with the fronts completed
• a tape measure
• a crochet hook approximately the same size as your knitting needles (one without a plastic grip so the stitches can slide from one end to the other)
• knitting needles, either circular or straights
• removable stitch markers

Step 1: Dividing front into sections

The pattern should indicate the total number of stitches needed along the front band. Depending on the total number divide this into 5 to 8 sections with approximately 20 stitches in each section. The fewer stitches in each section the more accurate your picking up will be

The Math

Example: This cardigan requires 109 stitches along the front. I've divided this number into 5 sections.
I know that 110 can be divisible by 5 evenly so 110 / 5 = 22 stitches in each section but I only need 109 stitches so 4 sections have 22 sts and 1 section has 21 sts (22 x 3 + 21 = 109)

Lay the tape measure across the front to find the length and divide this length into 5 sections. For this sample I have 20.75" length divided by 5 equals 4.15" for each section.

Using four markers, mark each 4.15" section.

Step 2: Using Crochet Hook to Pick Up Stitches

Using your crochet hook, pick up your calculated number of stitches from the starting edge to your first marker. 

If you don't want to eyeball the evenness of the picked up stitches you can count the number of rows in the section and divide it by the number of stitches you need to pick up. For example, if I have 44 rows in the section and I need to pick up 22 stitches I would pick up 1 stitch every 2 rows (pick up a stitch, skip a row).

I like to poke the crochet hook through the 2 strands of each knit/purl stitch along the edge, wrap yarn around hook and pull through. 

Step 3: Transfer Stitches to Knitting Needle

Once all the stitches required for the first section are on your crochet hook (for this cardigan, 22 stitches), they will now be transferred to the knitting needle. Slip each stitch from the non-hook end of the crochet hook onto the knitting needle.

Step 4: Repeat

Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the remaining sections along the front edge. 

Don't forget that some sections may have 1 stitch more or less than a previous section so the total number of stitches along the edge works out according to the pattern instructions.

Once you are finished all stitches should be sitting on your knitting needle and you will be ready to work a wrong side row.

Happy Knitting!

Patternfish

PATTERNFISH, like Ravelry, is another website that allows a designer to sell their crafting patterns through them. I've added my collection of knitting designs there and am very excited to see my collection written about in their latest newsletter. 

Gayle Clow writes "Cheryl Chow debuts with Firkant, a classic raglan-sleeved cardigan enlivened with chequerboard lace. Chow writes a beautifully clear pattern that is structured just as carefully as she structures her garment and accessory designs. Her hats and mitts, particularly Carry On, are charming. Check them out in her collection."

Thank you so much Gayle for the kind words!

Happy Crafting!

Buttons

Beautiful Buttons! I'm always on the hunt for pretty buttons to use on my cardigans. Unfortunately, JoAnn's is about the only place fairly close to me (still 40 minutes drive away) to touch and feel buttons around here. 

I noticed in the Cardigan Girls Ravelry group that a few ladies had purchased buttons from Fastenation Studio so I thought I would give it a go. I had my doubts as purchasing buttons online to match an almost finished cardigan can be difficult. Colours do not always show true on different monitors.

Hannah was amazing. I picked out two different style of buttons and the colour and emailed back and forth to get the Acorn Branch buttons coloured the way I was wanting them.

What do you think? I'm leaning towards using the Acorn Branch buttons (light background) though the Geometric buttons are nice too!

I would definitely order from Hannah again. 

Happy Knitting!

Currant Hat

My Currant Hat pattern is now available on Ravelry for 50% off until the end of July. Happy Knitting!

 

 

Wrapping

A couple of upcoming designs will include a "wrap" or "cluster" stitch. This is where you wrap the working yarn or contrast yarn around a set of stitches. Sometimes this technique is used for smocking but I'm using it more for texture than to draw in the knitted garment. 

Here's a short tutorial on how to do a wrap stitch demonstrated on my upcoming hat pattern, Currant.

WRAP TECHNIQUE

Start by slipping 3 stitches from the left hand needle onto a cable needle.

Take the working yarn or contrast yarn and wrap around the stitches on the cable needle from the back of the work to the front. 

Wrap the yarn 3 times around the 3 stitches on the cable needle. 

Knit the 3 stitches on the cable needle onto the right hand needle. 

Carry the contrast yarn loosely behind the work until you reach the next stitches to be wrapped. 

Happy Knitting!

On The Needles

I received some yarn from Solitude Wool, this gorgeous Border Leicester Sport, naturally dyed in Osage Orange colourway.

What will it become? That will be a surprise as I'm not allowed to say. Here's a sneak peak ...

 

Happy Knitting!

Lace Hat

Resu, a pretty lace hat knit in 100% linen yarn. This is another pattern in my summer series that I hope to release at the end of May. Currently it is being tested on Ravelry here.