Showing posts with label Merino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Merino. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Craic: New socks for spring
Craic, pronounced “crack,” is a Gaelic word that roughly translates to “great fun,” as in: “Knitting these socks is great craic.”I designed these Celtic-spring-inspired socks for Three Irish Girls, using Kells Sport, a densely-spun, 100-percent superwash Merino with a plump structure that makes cables pop. And as you knit, Kells works up into a wonderfully soft and squeezable fabric - I could hardly keep my hands off these socks!
Craic's pattern begins at the cuff, where pattern-specific ribbing flows effortlessly into ripples and twintings of deeply-textured cables. At the ankle, one panel splits, following the instep stitches to the toe.
Then there's my favorite part: The large cable panel on the back of the sock continues all the way down the heel flap, making these socks a perfect match for cute clogs and other slip-on shoes...
Full charts are included in the pattern, so you'll always be able to see where you are and what comes next. I've also added instructions for the various stitch patterns - so, even if you're a novice cable-knitter, you'll be able to knit these impressive-looking socks. (And I'm always happy to answer your questions!)
While Craic was first released to the Sock Yarnista Club, the pattern is now available for anyone to purchase via PDF download from the Three Irish Girls Web site. Just click here for more information - after all, what sock knitter doesn't enjoy a little craic from time to time?
Click here to see Craic Socks on Ravelry!
(Note: The above photos of Craic Socks were provided by Three Irish Girls.)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Heart-in-Hand Fingerless Gloves
A new pattern! Well, new to my blog, anyway... I designed the Heart in Hand fingerless gloves (that's a Ravelry link) exclusively for Shalimar Yarns, using their superwash Merino "Honey Worsted," last autumn. They were featured at the company's booth at Stitches East in November, and are now available directly from Shalimar or from Eleganza Yarns.
The first time I saw the Corazón colorway was in a superwash sock yarn at Eleganza Yarns. I knew right then that I wanted to design a pattern to showcase its delicious, buttery, berries-and-cream hues. These gloves are feminine, without being too girly...sweet, but not saccharine, with a ruffle that's definitely not frilly.
My inspiration for this pattern was a little, hand-shaped, pewter pin I bought for myself on a long-ago trip to Lancaster County, Pa. A tiny, cut-out heart was nestled in the center of the palm. I wore it often, though it's now gone missing -- probably sometime during one of our many recent moves.
The origins of the "Heart in Hand," I learned, is debatable. Some say it began with the Shakers, a religious sect, for whom it represented love, charity, and piety. Others say that, in the 1800s, women would sometimes trace their hands on paper, adding a heart in the middle, to represent their love for the recipient.
The longer you look, the more stories you'll find about this unique symbol. But in the end, what's important are the emotions and traits it represents: love and affection, kindness and hospitality, faith and loyalty.
The gloves are knit in the round, from the fingers to the wrist, and use only one skein of soft, squeezable Honey Worsted. The heart-shaped cables (charted out in the pattern) appear on top of the hand and wrist, while the palm is worked in stockinette stitch and the underside of the wrist in ribbing for a snug, comfortable fit.
I'm quite happy with the final result, and hope you'll enjoy making them for yourself or for a truly heart-warming gift.
Happy knitting!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Fleece & Fiber Porn!
Wine & Orchids roving custom dyed by Three Irish Girls
Simply mouthwatering.
Today, I consider myself a very, very fortunate spinner...
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