Sandra's Designing Blog

This is an exclusive area of my web site where you can find out more about my knitted designs, what inspires me, how I work and what I like (and don't like) to design. 
 
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Category: Free Pattern

  1. New Pattern Alert ! 50% Discount PLUS Free Swatch Pattern

    Posted on

    Today I'm celebrating the release of my new pattern - Kemptown scarf. A beautiful squidgy scarf knitted in 2 coloured brioche. The syncopation occurs when we swap Knits (BRK's for Brioche people that understand) for Purls (BRP's) and vice versa within the row. 

    For knitters that want to start Brioche or just to know a little more or just to get back into it again, then below you'll find a free swatch pattern, just to get you started. It's a pattern I used successfully  last night at a little focus group.

    Happy Brioche knitting x 

    Sandra
     
    syncopation is "a disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of rhythm": a "placement of rhythmic stresses or accents where they wouldn't normally occur". It is the correlation of at least two sets of time intervals.
    Kempdown scarf is now available on Ravelry and through my web site. Please use the couponcode "SYNCOPATED" on Ravelry for 50% off the pattern price. Valid til the end of the month. 

     
    Abbreviations you will need to understand

     

    BRK      Brioche knit. Knit the next stitch together with it’s Yarn over.    

    BRP      Brioche purl. Purl the next stitch together with it’s Yarn over. 

    S1YO    The working yarn must always be in front before slipping 1 stitch purlwise and bringing yarn round the RH needle clockwise ready to work the next stitch.

     2 COLOUR CAST ON
    1. Start by making a slipknot holding both colours of yarn together to make the first stitch on the needle. Make sure Yarn A is to the right.
    2. Place the tip of the right needle between the two loops on the needle and cast on 1 stitch with yarn B.
    3. Now place the tip of the right needle between the front two stitches on the left hand needle, cast on 1 stitch with yarn A.

    Repeat steps 2 to 3, alternating the two colours, until the required number of stitches has been cast-on. The slipknot that you started with in yarn B should now be dropped.
    Swatch produced by Coleen from last night's focus group

    2 coloured Brioche Swatch pattern

    Cast on 25 sts (or any other odd number of sts) using circular needles and the 2 colour cast on technique using both Yarn A and Yarn B making sure the first stitch and the last stitch is in Yarn A. 

     

     

    SET UP ROWS

    Row 1A: Using Yarn A, K1, (SL1YO, K1 ) to end. Slide work on the needle ready to work the next row in the same direction.

    Row 1B: Using Yarn B, SL1, (BRP,SL1YO) to last 2 sts, BRP, SL1. Turn work.

    Row 2A: Using Yarn A, P1, (SL1YO, BRP) to last 2 sts, SL1YO, P1.  Slide.

    Row 2B: Using Yarn B, SL1, ( BRK, SL1YO) to last 2 sts, BRK, SL1. Turn work.

    TIP - PLACE A STITCH MARKER SOMEWHERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WORK, SO YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHICH IS THE RIGHT SIDE!
     

    BRIOCHE RIB

    Row 1A (RS): Using Yarn A, K1, (SL1YO, BRK) to last 2 sts, SL1YO, K1. Slide work. 

    Row 1B (RS): Using Yarn B, SL1, (BRP, SL1YO) to last 2 sts, BRP, SL1. Turn.

    Row 2A: Using Yarn A, P1, (SL1YO, BRP) to last 2 sts, SL1YO, P1. Slide work.

    Row 2B: Using Yarn B, SL1, (BRK, SL1YO) to last 2 sts, BRK, SL1. Turn.

     

    Repeat rows 1A - 2Bof the brioche rib as many times as you want.
     

    Cast off using both Yarn A & Yarn B, knit the BRK column in Yarn A and the purl in Yarn B.

    Weave in the ends and block gently following the care on the ball bands.
    Our focus group last night
    Learn more here about 2 coloured brioche

  2. Free Pattern - Cable Hat knit on straight needles - for beginners

    Posted on

    Mustard Cable Hat
    By The Feminine Touch Designs
    Easy knit beanie hat with a 4 row repeatable pattern. Worked on straight needles so is ideal for the beginner knitter who is just learning cables. Finishes off with a neat crown so you can decide whether to add a pom pom or not. This  adults hat is 9” high with a circumference of 20”. 

    Yarn suggested

    Hat - Sublime Willow 1 x 50 grams (125m / 136 yards). Shade 592 Mustard. 94% merino wool, 6% nylon.

    Pom Pom - Sublime Cashmere merino silk DK approx 6 grams. Shade 0105. 75% extra fine merino, 20% silk, 5% cashmere.

    Needles required:  1 pair 6.5mm (US 10.5, UK 3) needles, 1 pair 8mm (US 11, UK 0) needles

    Gauge:    20 stitches x 20 rows to 10cm / 4 inch square on 8mm needles.

    C4F & C2F - find more info here - https://www.dummies.com/crafts/knitting/designs-patterns/how-to-knit-a-four-stitch-cable/

    Abbreviations

    CO  

    Cast on 

    C2F

    Slip the next stitch to the front of the work on a cable needle, K1 then K1 from the cable needle

    C4F

    Slip the next 2 stitches to the front of the work on a cable needle, K2 then K2 from the cable needle

    K 

    Knit  

    K2tog

    Knit 2 stitches together

    K3tog

    Knit 3 stitches together

    P  

    Purl

    P2tog  

    Purl 2 stitches together

    PSSO 

    Pass the slipped stitch over

    SL

    Slip the stitch

    INSTRUCTIONS

     CO 85 stitches using 6.5mm straight needles and the cable cast on method (or your own preferred method of casting on).

    Brim

    Row 1: *K1, P1; repeat from * to last st, K1.

    Row 2: P1, *K1, P1; repeat from * to end.

    Works rows 1 & 2 again and then row 1.

    Row 6: P1, (K1, P1) 5 times, P2tog, *(K1, P1) 9 times, P2tog; repeat from * to last 12 sts, (K1, P1) 6 times. (81 sts)

    Hat Body

    Change to 8mm needles

    Row 1: P4, *K4, P6; repeat from * to last 7 sts, K4, P3.

    Row 2: K3, P4, *K6, P4: repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4.

    Row 3: P4, *C4F, P6; repeat from * to last 7 sts, C4F, P3.

    Row 4: As Row 2.

     Repeat rows 1 - 4 a further 5 times. 

    Work rows 1 & 2. 

    Work should measure approx 6”.

     

    Crown Shaping

    Row 1: P2, P2tog, *C4F, P2tog, P2, P2tog; repeat from * to last 7 sts, C4F, P2tog, P1. (65 sts)

    Row 2: K2, P4, *K4, P4; repeat from * to last 3 sts, K3.

    Row 3: P3, *K4, P4; repeat from * to last 6 sts, K4, P2.

    Row 4: As Row 2.

    Row 5: P1, P2tog, *C4F, P2tog, P2tog; repeat from * to last 6 sts, C4F, P2tog. (49 sts)

    Row 6: K1, P4, *K2, P4; repeat from * to last 2 sts, K2.

    Row 7: P2, *SL1, K1, PSSO, K2tog, P2; repeat from * to last 5 sts, SL1, K1, PSSO, K2tog, P1. (33 sts)

    Row 8: K1, P2, *K2, P2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, K2.

    Row 9: P2tog, *C2F, P2tog; repeat from * to last 3 sts, C2F, P1. (25 sts)

    Row 10: *K1, P2; repeat from * to last st, K1.

    Row 11: P1, K2tog, (K3tog) 7 times, P1. (10 sts)

    Thread a darning needle through the remaining stitches and pull tight.

    To Finish

    No need to block the work just sew up the top securely, sew up the side seam, weave in the ends and it’s ready to wear.

    Add a pom pom - Buy yourself a pom pom maker or visit this web site for instructions. https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Pom-Poms/