Milam Gap Boatneck Sweater

I have found that I enjoy designing sweaters more than any other item.... at the moment. That can change at anytime.  I try to find inspiration from fashion magazine trends, but most of all, the landscape around me.

Milam Gap Pattern Via Ravelry $6 (psst... read on for discount code below)


The Milam Gap is my recent self-published sweater.  The inspiration came about the summer of 2011 when my family and I spent our vacation in the Blue Mountains of Virginia. While in Virginia, we spent a day on the scenic and winding Skyline Drive. This sweater is my memory of that day trip. The intricate details of the cables on the front of the sweater is reminiscent of the slow winding path of the Skyline Drive, while the plain stockinette back is a reminder of the calm of sitting on a porch in a rocking chair with a glass of local wine on a cool evening watching the mountain lines fade into darkness.


CONSTRUCTION NOTES:
The boatneck sweater is worked in one piece in the round from the bottom up to the armhole opening, then separated for the back and front.

Shoulders are seamed and sleeves are picked up and worked in the round from the top down with short rows shaping the sleeve caps.

PATTERN INCLUDES: chart and schematics

Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted (100% Superwash Merino Wool; 110 yards/101 meters; 1.76 oz/50 grams); Lemongrass Heather; 9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) skeins.
Needle: US 6 (4.0mm) & US 7 (4.5mm) 32" Circular (cir),
& double-pointed needles (dpn) or Magic Loop for the sleeves; or size to obtain gauge.

Gauge: 20 sts and 32 rows = 4" in St st; 30 ½ sts = 4" in Counterpane Cable Patt on larger needle.

DISCOUNT - Get 10% OFF this and any other pattern in my Ravelry shop using coupon 01BLOG2013 ending March 31, 2013.

Special Thanks to photograher E F Ruegsegger - Leahnari.deviantart.com

ERRATA:

Front decrease should read - Dec Row (RS): K1, *k2tog, rep from * to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 – 52 (60, 68, 76, 84, 92, 100, 108) sts.

Sleeve Row 2 should read: Sl1, p15 (19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43) sts, W&T

New pattern + 20% OFF.... Mansfield Shawl

I've been thinking about shawls, A LOT, lately. There are so many great knit shawls out there in so many different styles and shapes. I love 'em all but knitted shawls take forever.

I wanted something quick, easy, not too lacey, that I could wear under a winter coat as a scarf or just as a shawl, casual and practical with jeans. But most importantly, tjat it will take less than a week from start to wear. So, with all these 'must haves' in mind, the Mansfield Shawl was born one night while watching Jane Austen's Mansfield Park on DVD... for the one millionth time.

The Mansfield Shawl is a top-down triangular shawl that begins with a long foundation chain and shaped with short-rows and slipped stitches.  Once the body of the shawl is complete, stitches are worked along both legs of the triangle for the lace edge.  The pattern uses a wool and alpaca blend sport weight yarn on a large hook for a lovely drape, but would work equally well with heavy fingering wool blend.

Until the end of October 2012, use coupon code MANSFIELD2012 in Ravelry and get 20% OFF this pattern.

If you are not familiar with doing the Foundation Single Crochet (Fsc) beginning chain, there are tons of lovely tutorials on Youtube.  Below are a few of my favorites to get you started.

Furturegirl Youtube channel
Futuregirl.com - Blog written tutorial
Art of Crochet by Teresa chainless single crochet foundation - Youtube 
ChiCrochet Youtube channel

A little thrilled....

I just got home to sit down to read through the newest issue of Interweave Crochet (Fall 2012) I'd picked up earlier at my local Jo~Ann Fabrics. The magazine was the usual: table of content, letter to the editor, yarn company ads, and more ads ... until page 5. Yes, it's another ad, but this was not just ANY ad.  This is a Premier Yarns ad with MY DESIGN - Cordelia Cowl & Capelet.

I am so over the moon to see this ad. This design bring back a lot of memories.  The concept was developed and sample completed during an emotionally trying period last summer. It's amazing that I was able to create anything at all, but this project was great therapy to forget about the present tangled ball of mess and look to the finished product. 

Cordelia Cowl and Capelet are available on the Premier Yarns website as a free download... check it out.

Thanks Premier Yarn for including my design in your ad. It really made my day.