Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for October, 2011

Wildlife Ski Sweater Pattern

Posted in Knitting Projects, tagged , on October 29, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I just finished putting the finishing touches on the ski sweater pattern I promised to share with you.  I have several verisons, but we will start with this one.

 The pattern for this sweater is a stitch by stitch chart, complete with pattern notes and finishing instructions.  Of course , you can adjust these figures as needed.  The chart is gauged for 6 stitches and 9 rows per inch, using sport weight yarn, knitted with a #4, 32 inch circle needle.

The chart is for a man’s large,  chest 50, hip just below waist, 39.   I always think  SWEAT SHIRT, when I think of a Ski sweater, so for me even though I wear a medium sweater normally, I like a large one when it’s cold so I can comfortably wear it over all my layers.

This pattern uses Intarsia in the round, and Fair Isle.  You can even uses one of my bobbles for the nuts.  Hummmm… that’s an idea….Hummmmm…..

I also have the set of charts for the borders and Whitetail buck available separately.

Below are samples of what you can do with the “fade out” chest panel.

If you are interested, please check out my Pattern Catalogue page.

Happy Knitting- KT

Read Full Post »

A Little 3-D Knitting -Plus

Posted in Knitting Projects, Knitting Tutorials, tagged , , , , , , on October 26, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I have been dink’n around lately with a new wildlife design that I call, “Quail in the Snow.”  The discoveries I’ve made during the process of developing a bobble for the pine cone have been very interesting.  I have already shared with you some of the info in my recent post about “bobbles,”  but further trial and error has brought me to some new conclusions.

1.  A bobble can be made in one stitch and on one row.

2.  Varying the loops can create different special affects.

3.  If you want the knitting to expand for a 3-D look, be gentle, don’t pull them to tight, and knit them with one strand  of yarn.

4.  If you want your bobbles to lie flat on the backside, you need to work your boobles with two yarns- one to make the bobble, and one to knit the stitch in-between.  This second yarn is pulled tight across the back.  It pushed your bobble out front, and helps to retain a proper stitch gauge- very important.

In the picture below you can see the result of the 3-D affect I acheived with my pine cone.  The cone  and snow just above it, was worked with one strand.  The snow on the other branches was worked with two strands, thus putting it in the background.

You can see that the cone it is raised quite a bit above the surface of the work.  To retain the shape, I simply created a web of yarn across the back, weaving it together so that the backside retained the gauge of the entire piece.

Below is one of my new designs, which includes all four charts to play around with.  I am still doing a bit of fine tuning, but hope to have it ready soon.  This particular design was knitted with Palette fingering yarn from Knitpicks.

Hummmm?  A little glitter in the snowflakes might be nice.

This pattern will give you a chance to use Intarsia ( in the round), Fair Isle, bobbles of various kinds, and the experience of creating the pine needles and details with a crochet hook.

It was great fun to do.    Quail Motif – PDF

Have a great day!

Knit-tweaker

Read Full Post »

Double Knit Christmas Placemat

Posted in Knitting Projects, Uncategorized on October 24, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I got a wild idea yesterday as I was working on my designs for my double knit afghan, and thought I would share it with you.

Here is my Christmas Placemat design.  It measures about 19 by 13 1/2 inches.  Each mat requires 2 skeins of each color of sportweight yarn.  The gauge is 6 stitches and 8 rows per inch( my gauge).  I also have a chart for 6 by 9, if you need it.

You can obtain this pattern on my Pattern Catalogue page.

Just had to get this to you now, as the holidays are just around the corner.

Happy knitting –

KT

Read Full Post »

Double Knitting Charts for Afghan

Posted in Knitting Projects, Knitting Tutorials, Uncategorized, tagged on October 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I recently shared with you plans for my “Idaho Memories” double knit afghan, and as I was writing up the pattern this week,  I decided that I might offer you some of the charts.  All of them can be used for other projects as well.  Simply changing the yarn weight, will size them down or up as all the charts are designed specifically for knitting.  These specific charts are gauged for 6 spi,(stitches per inch) and 9 rpi (rows per inch), and 6 spi and 8 rpi.  Why the second set?  I don’t know about you, but when I double knit my row count is less.  So  I offer you both sets of charts.

Do your swatch then pick your chart.

These blocks can also be made into pillows, and knitted with Fair Isle or  Armenian knitting methods.

I apologize for the picture, but I was not able to load a larger version.  You can click on it and save it, or use your “snipping tool” to make a copy then enlarge it on your computer.

Anyway…………..,  I was just thinking that you might like to have some of these charts to make your own afghan or a pillow for that someone special for Christmas.  I have created a PDF file of some of the charts for you to download.  Enjoy!!

Memories Afghan Moffit Charts – 6 by 9

Memories Afghan – 6 by 8 charts

Yarns estimates – 15 skeins of sports yarn for each color

Size #4 circle needle  ( 6sts per inch)

Have fun-

Knit-tweaker

Read Full Post »

Ski Sweater Motifs

Posted in Knitting Projects, Knitting Tutorials, Uncategorized, tagged , , , on October 16, 2011| 2 Comments »

I have been working on the idea for wildlife designs for Ski sweaters for some time now.  My inspiration for this particular series was the gorgeous change in foliage, harvest time, and “buck fever.”  Yes, in Idaho, Camo gear is the fashion of choice this time of year, as everyone and his brother is hunting for that vension or elk back strap steak to put on the table.

So… with all this in mind, my first set in the series is my “White Tail Buck” combo to use on a sweater for your favorite hunter.  Below is a peak at my digital finished sweater.

I am designing these sets to include charts for bottom borders, shoulders, and Intarsia chest scenes. The gauge is set up for sports weight yarn, but you could use them for fingering weight as well,  the patterns would just be a bit smaller..   Of course all these charts can be used for other things, such as pillows, and socks.(especially the Squirrel border).

I have had a great time creating these, and hope you will enjoy them too.

The method combines Intarsia (in the round), and Fair Isle.  I will include the how to’s and all special affects instructions in the patterns.  The patterns will also include the basic structure of a Ski sweater and application variations.

I originally opted for selling these motifs on Etsy, but since then I have opted to share them with you at  not cost.  If you are interested, email me (see contact page).

Happy knitting-

Knit-tweaker

Read Full Post »

Charting Knitting Designs

Posted in Knitting Projects, Uncategorized, tagged on October 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »

In the last few days, since I posted a snip-it of my afghan design, I have been taking a good look at the pictures I charted.  Then the bright idea came to me that I could use these same picture charts for my ski sweaters or pillow or, etc.  Hummmmmm????

Going one step further, I started with my “stag,” turned him into a white tail buck, then began creating a scene to surround him.  That done, I then thought I might try using the same chart, but doing it in only two colors, which would be great for a double knitting pattern as well.

Below is the result.

This second chart began with the picture  above.  You will notice that it has been simplified, and color has been removed around the objects of most importance.  I decided not to extend the creek behind the buck as it was made the area to busy.  Here again, it is a matter of taste.

This chart is perfect for a DK project, or a Fair Isle knit.  As I told you in the last post, I make all my charts with Pattern Maker.

Although these are MY original designs, I give you permission to use your “Snip-it” tool in Windows to save and study these charts on your computer.  I actually use this wonderful tool to make a pictures of my charts, then insert them in my publishing program (I use Serif) and play with their arrangement.  This technique gives you the ability to see your idea in a completed format, allowing you to change whatever you like before starting on the real deal.  It takes all the guess work out of it- well, most of it anyway.   AND, it’s FUN!

 Thank you God for Pattern Maker!!!

Knit-tweaker

Read Full Post »

Double Knitting Your Memories

Posted in Knitting Projects, Uncategorized, tagged on October 5, 2011| Leave a Comment »

For  about a year I have been mentally trying to put together my ideas for an Afgan that would depict some of my fondest memories of living here in Idaho.  It would, of course, have to include the wildlife, Christmas in the snow with the grand kids, and scenes of our beautiful surroundings.  All these thoughts came together this past week, and I spent 3 days drawing the picture motifs, using Pattern Maker ( a cross stitch software program); by the way, this program works great for charting knitting, too.

My building block for this project was a 12 inch motif framed with maple leaves (from the tree in our front yard).  From that point on it was simple a matter of inserting my picture ideas into the center of the block, and saving each block into a separate file.  Below is a picture of a portion of the Afgan chart.

This Afgan with be 5 blocks across and 6 blocks long, giving me nice size reversible double knit blanket, in cream and burgundy.  Now all I have to do is knit a swatch, calculate the yarn required per stitch and I am on my way.

So…… why did I post this?  Just sharing an idea, hoping it might spur someone to do a similar project.  Hummmm….. what do  you think?

Here is a PDF file of the final digital results – Idaho Memories Afghan

Do check out Pattern Maker, and if you are interesting in doing a project like this, I will be happy to help you get started.

I estimated the yarn requirements at 15 skeins of sports yarn for each color on a number 4 needle (6 sts per inch).

Knit-tweaker

PS. For you experienced “charters”  this is just a pictorial chart of the desired results, my knitting charts are set up to match the gauge.  I also do this with Pattern Maker.

Read Full Post »