Roxbourne Hat, Ready to Test

November 22, 2012November 22, 2012 | Elanor

I would greatly appreciate your help in testing my latest pattern, Roxbourne.

This beanie-style hat features crimped welts that give it some interesting shaping. The body of the hat is a stocking stitch panel, which you can decorate however you want. I’ve included charts for the skull-and-crossbones motif if you like pirates!

Get in touch if you’d like to join in, I’ll be conducting the test in my ravelry group.

New yarn, new projects

November 12, 2012November 13, 2012 | Elanor

Look at these beauties:

Lovely Squishy Balls of Artesano Merino Superwash

I’m working on a new project with Jane of StitchUpp. You are looking at the makings of two hats, a cowl and a capelet! Very excited to be working with Jane for the first time, especially since she’s opening her own premises in Uppingham soon, so keep an eye out!

I haven’t tried Artesano Superwash Merino before, so when I’ve done some swatches, I’ll post a review here.

Happy knitting!

x e

Mid-Work I-Cord

November 1, 2012November 1, 2012 | Elanor

This is a combination of I-Cord cast on and bind off such that the fabric appears uninterrupted except for a horizontal I-Cord.

At the beginning of a RS row, cast on 3 stitches.
*Kfb, k1, k2tog, slip last 3 sts back onto LH needle, repeat from * to end of row.

In the pictures below, the I-Cord is knit in a contrasting colour. There is no reason why you can’t use the same yarn throughout, this was just for demonstration purposes.

You will have added 3 or 4 extra sts (depending when you stopped). On the next row, slip the extra sts over the following st to get back to the correct number of stitches for your pattern.

The sts on the needle after making the I-Cord tend to be loose. You can tighten them up by twisting the stitches as you work them.

COLLARED!!!

October 24, 2012November 8, 2012 | Elanor

I’m now looking for testers for my latest pattern, COLLARED!!!

Now accepting testers for COLLARED!!! — COLLARED!!! A sequinned collar, perfect for the party season and last-minute gifts.

I’m using the Free Pattern Testers Group on Rav to do this

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/free-pattern-testers/2336814/1-25#reply_form

I would also appreciate feedback on whether I should release this as a free pattern or charge for it. Merci beaucoup!

How You Doin’?

September 26, 2012September 26, 2012 | Elanor

I’ve been up to no good! I have organised some tech editing on two more patterns and I have outsourced some knitting for the first time. I’m about 3 weeks away from releasing a dinky little hat and a great bit mofo of a blanket. I’ll give you a sneak peek of the blanket schematic:

can't tell you the name cos it's a surprise — can’t tell you the name cos it’s a surprise

I guess I could have just left it as a blank rectangle, but that wouldn’t have been very nice of me.
So, I’m VERY excited about things slowly, glacially, moving forward. I have the next 6 months planned out and they’re HECTIC. Expect the following:

Roxbourne hat, made from yummy, scrummy Fyberspates Scrumptious
Can’t tell you cos it’s a surprise for a friend blanket as schematic above
A multicoloured, fabulous, stash-busting marvel of a cowl/shawl/collar that I’m calling Wildacres. Due November, it’ll look great over your clothes as a winter warmer. Here’s a pic of it in progress:

Then over the course of the winter, I’m aiming to get a boob-lovin’ tank sweater, some simple socks and an elegant little cushion out of my head and onto your needles. Fingers crossed, eh?

Cue little happy dance.

Luv ya! Happy knitting!

Kildare Beret

September 10, 2012September 26, 2012 | Elanor

My first self-published design is up on rav!

This is the hat that I designed in the WoollyWormhead hat design workshop, so I’m uncomfortable about accepting money for it. On the other hand, I put a lot of work into it, so I don’t want to give it away either. Greater exposure or not! So therefore I’m putting it up for sale, but I’m giving all proceeds to Tommy’s, who will make better use of it than I.

Tommy’s funds research into pregnancy problems and provides information to parents. We believe it is unacceptable that one in four women will lose a baby during pregnancy and birth.

I learned to knit when I was first expecting. Unfortunately, the pregnancy turned out to be what the docs call a “blighted ovum”, as my husband and I found out at the 12-week scan. Afterwards I was astounded by the number of women around me that had also had miscarriages. How come it’s not talked about? J and I felt like we were all alone in the world at the time. I finished knitting the little baby blanket I had started and my daughter has it on her bed now.