Parterre Garden
July 12, 2012 update: “Parterre Garden” was originally part of The Sanguine Gryphon’s Summer 2011 pattern collection, and is now available directly from the designer (me!).
The pattern is now available for purchase as a download for $8.00, either on Ravelry, or directly through the blog … buy now
An old English parterre garden painted on string instead of canvas. Its overflowing beds of flowers and its twining, twisted paths depicted with lace and cables, rather than oils or pastels. A knit garden where skinny little cabled paths meander through, between and around beds stuffed full of lacy flowers. While two stick straight carriage lanes split one garden into three.
This shawl is worked in one piece, beginning at the back of the neck and worked down to the hem. The paired increases are used to create three quarters of a square, allowing the shawl to sit neatly upon your shoulders. Just before the bind-off, an eyelet row is worked, to ensure that a thorough blocking is possible.
The pattern calls for two m1 stitches in a row. To accomplish this, lift the bar between the stitches and knit. Repeat. It works best if both m1 stitches are worked in the same manner and careful attention is payed to maintaining an even tension.
Yarn: The Sanguine Gryphon ‘Mithril’, 4 oz/750 yds, 100% merino wool, 2 skeins, shown in Madonna of the Lilies (Spring/Summer 2011 colourway)
Note: The sample shown was knit alternating skeins every other row.
Needles: US 3/3.25mm 40”/101 cm circular, or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge: 24 sts and 36 rows = 4”/10 cm in St st, washed and blocked
Notions: Stitch Markers (4), Tapestry Needle, Spare DPN or Cable Needle
Finished Measurements: 27.5”/ 70 cm down center back 49”/ 125 cm along each side of hem
Skills Used: cable cast on, knitting and purling, 2 stitch cables, k2tog, k3tog, k2togtbl, k3togtbl, 2 m1s in a row, sk2p, slipping stitches, ssk, yo, decrease bind off, weaving in ends, blocking lace
Both charts and written stitch directions are included.
(and because I’m not a fan of two pattern release posts in a row, please accept my promise of pictures, of at least one FO, and some handspun yarn this weekend, as an apology.)
Mrs. Peacock Photos
The shawl formerly called ‘flashdance shawl’ and sometimes thought of as the ‘peacock shawl’ has been rename, Mrs. Peacock. It is also off the needles, off the blocking wires, and has been photographed.
Pattern coming soon (ish).
Not Secret Knitting
Things seem to be getting wrapped up left and right around here, everything from the show I’ve been frantically working on (it opened Wednesday, closed Sunday and went smashingly), to the semester, to a bundle of knitting projects and patterns (most of which are secret, sorry), to some personal stuff that I’m glad to be letting go of. But since most this either isn’t very photogenic (the semester, and personal stuffs), or I forgot to take photos of (the show), or I can’t show you photos of (secret knitting), why don’t I show you what’s on my needles.
Most of my knitting focus for the past couple of weeks has been directed at two projects. One of which needs to remain a secret (I’m starting to sounds like a broken record here). The other project, which I can show off, is currently in my Ravelry projects as the ‘Flashdance shawl,’ but desperately needs a new name.
When this photo was taken, 2, maybe 3 days ago, I was a handful of rows away from binding off. I finally finished it over the weekend, and it is currently laying next to me blocking. I tried taking a couple of blocking shots just now, but it’s a very grey day, and flash does not to this shawl justice. So I’ll have to wait to get a few shots once it comes off the blocking wires, and the sun comes back out to play.
According to my Ravelry page, I cast this on sometime in March, but it feels as though I’ve had this project on the needles forever, (maybe it’s the 2, almost 3, other shawls I’ve started and completed in the mean time, just maybe).
The yarn is Madelinetosh Lace, colorway ‘flashdance’ knit on US size 2s (2.75mm). This is the first time I’ve used Madelinetosh anything, and I think I’ve said this before, but I might be in love. I’ve got two more skeins waiting in my stash, and I’m trying to talk myself out of a third skein that my LYS is holding for me.
The pattern is already in the works, and I’ll probably start looking for test knitters later this week.
If you follow me on twitter, you might have seen me mention wanting to knit a hat once the deadline shawl I was working on at the time was finished. This was kind of spur of the moment since I don’t wear hats all that much, and it was April (I think) at the time I said it. But since I try to do what I say I will (unless it has something to do with blogging regularly, or more often) I started a hat.
It’s a top down stocking cap, knit on US size 10s, in an unknown yarn that I got from a friend who picked it up somewhere in Asia. This friend actually got me four balls in two different colorways (the two, not blue balls, really are the same colorway, I promise).
I don’t know what the yardage is, or exactly what the fiber content is, but it’s a single, with what feels like a high wool content. I’m betting the hat won’t take more than the one ball, and I don’t know what I’ll do with the other three balls. Maybe a felted bag?
Though I hate to end this post on a down note, the Springy Mitts made a trip to to frog pond. They’re now just a cuff. Though I might rip the cuff out as well, cause it’s kind of big.
I really liked the boxes on the palm, but I wasn’t in love with the waves going up the back of the hand. So I’ve ripped it, and I think I’m going to do a more geometric pattern. Maybe a play on a classic argyle? We’ll see.
Anyway. Until next time, keep knitting.
