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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  1. 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/

  2. New Knitting Kit, Discontinued Yarns And Reduced Prices

    Posted on

    My newest kit is finally ready and its gorgeous ! lovely twisty cables in a floral design. The twists stand out well in this yarn too. The yarn is Stylecraft's Recreate which is a recycled yarn, so good for the planet.  I have designed just 1 standard size for the gloves and 3 sizes for the hat.   Find the kit here 

     
       
    Hi my friends
    It seems a while since I last emailed you, so I thought I'd give you a little update. 
    Firstly, on the designing front, I know early on in the year I didn't feel like doing much designing, because of Johnny's health issues I really didn't have the headspace. However, I couldn't stop knitting & playing and I ended up creating many knitted mandala's, a very mindful exercise. These are available from my web site shop just in case anyone is interested. I have also had some of them printed on the front of some pretty greeting cards just to try and recoup some costs. 
    Now  I'm back designing. You will see my designs in both Knit Now (a shawl & mitts/cowl set) and The Knitter (a hat, a cowl and a scarf) in the coming months.

    The kit above is the 1st new design for my shop and I've been looking forward to showing it off ! Available in 4 different colours (Smoke, Djon, Cherry & Ink) using recycled yarn from the Stylecraft range (remember their mill is just 5 minutes away from where I live).

    I have a brioche scarf all knitted up with the pattern in draft so will be released to you all soon. Also I'm in the middle of constructing a bag out of 3 slip stitch squares. It's looking pretty cool so far.

     
     
    West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious yarn 70% Falkland Wool & 30% British Alpaca has been discontinued for a while now. I have a number of kits where this yarn is included - The Popple Gloves, Splash Waves Wrap, Diamond Shawl and the Kilana Socks.
    All these kits have been reduced in price.