Purlwise

Trellis Grapevine

I've had Alice Starmore's Seaweed Scarf (or wrap)   on my mental "gotta do" list for over a year now, but have so many projects waiting in the wings that I just can't justify purchasing and storing one more project. Besides, now that I spin, I love creating and knitting with my own yarn so, while I'm sure she has lovely yarn, I'll admit it - I've  really only wanted the pattern.

Well, last week while searching through my library's copy of  A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker for her version of Frost Flowers, I happened to stumble upon another lace pattern that she called  Trellis Grapevine. If it's not exactly the same stitch pattern as the one used in the Seaweed Scarf and Wrap, it's pretty darn close.

Dayflower

Washing and drying all my hand spun yarn for the Spin-Off sweater is taking a long time, so while I've picked up this small project to work on in the mean time.

I came across this a few weeks ago while scouting around for yarn at a local shop called Full Circle. It's a long skinny scarf made out of very soft yarn called Tajmahal (8% cashmere, 22% silk and 70% merino). I was so attracted to this  curved vine-like pattern that I instantly asked for the pattern after scooping up the yarn.

After getting this far with the stitch pattern, I started to wonder if this was a unique pattern or one that has been around a while.  I quickly identified it using Barbara Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. She calls it dayflower and says that it has been around since the 19th century.

I graphed the pattern this weekend but sadly can't get my HP scanjet scanner working.  I just contacted their support and found out they have a software problem. So, I don't suggest buying their products.

Here's the stitch pattern written in knitting terms. Just beware that it's not an easy one to do and takes a lot of patience because it doesn't have predicable repeats and the number of stitches per row varies.

Cast on 36 sts.
Row 1: wrong side and all other wrong side rows EXCEPT rows 5 and 13 - Purl.
Row 2: k2, *yo k2tog, yo, (k2tog) 3 times, k2, yo, k3, yo, ssk, yo, k2*. (36 sts).
Row 4: k2, *yo, k2tog, (k3 tog) twice, yo, k1, yo, k2, (ssk, yo) twice, k2*. (32 sts).
Row 5: p11, p2tog, p13, p2tog, p4.   (30 sts.)
Row 6: k2, *yo, k3tog, yo, k3, yo, k2, (ssk, yo) twice, k2*. (32 sts.)
Row 8: k2, *yo, k2tog, yo, k1, (yo, k2, ssk) twice, yo, ssk, yo, k2*. (36 sts.)
Row 10: k2, *yo, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2, (ssk) 3 times, yo, ssk, yo, k2*. (36 sts.)
Row 12: k2, *(yo, k2tog) twice, k2, yo, k1, yo, (sl1 - k2tog - psso) twice, ssk, yo, k2*. (32 sts.) Row 13: p4, p2togb, p13, p2togb, p11. (30 sts.)
Row 14: k2, *(yo, k2tog) twice, k2, yo, k3, yo, sl1 - k2tog - psso, yo, k2*. (32 sts.)
Row 16: k2, *yo, k2tog, yo, (k2tog, k2, yo) twice, k1, yo, ssk, yo, k2*. (36 sts.)

Terms:
k = knit
k2tog = knit two together
p = purl
k3tog = knit three together
p2togb = purl two together through the back loops
sl1-k2tog-psso = slip one, knit two together and pass the slipped stitch over
yo = yarn over
*= after working once, repeat once more from * to *

Close Out Yarn Purchase

I went back to Hilltop this weekend to pick up another ball of Jo Sharp DK in a lighter color for more swatching and came back with almost a sweaters worth of it. Hilltop has decided not to carry this yarn so they put it on sale for 30% off. I feel lucky to get that much of one color on sale.

Here's a swatch of the embossed rib* stitch used to create Ripple in Knitted Sweater Style. Although I like the cut of the sweater, this stitch really doesn't excite me.

closer look

*According to 365 Knitting Stitches a Year Perpetual Calendar (July 5th)

Tundra / Rib Texture Pattern

I just happened to find myself in the vicinity of Hilltop Yarn yesterday so I just had to stop by since I haven't been there for a while.

A few Jo Sharp sweater samples were on display. I was immediately drawn to the stitch pattern on a sweater called Tundra which is in her first book. She has given it the indistinct name of "rib texture pattern". I haven't come across it in any of the various stitch books so I don't know if it has a common name.

Yarn: Jo Sharp DK Wool (KR review)
Color: 507 Miro
Needle Size: 6
Gauge: 4 inch square = 25sts and 30 rows

Stitch Pattern:

* = pattern repeat ( 3 stitches + 1)
Row 1: k1, *knit next stitch but leave it on the left needle instead of dropping it, bring yarn forward between needles and purl next two stitches on left needle, take yarn back between needle and knit next stitch*. Basically the second stitch is worked twice, first it is knit without dropping it from the left needle and then purled with the third stitch.
Row 2: purl each stitch if working flat or knit each stitch if working in the round.

Here's a clearer picture worked up on the same needles in a lighter colored worsted weight yarn called Cascade 220.

Update: The 365 Knitting Stitches a Year Perpetual Calendar list this stitch as Supple Rib.

Open Twisted Rib

The stitch pattern on the top down pullover is called Open Twisted Rib which is a variation of one shown in The Harmony Guides 450 Knitting Stitches Volume 2, page 68.

I also found another version of this stitch pattern on KnittingFool.com. I can't remember how I came across this web site but it looks quite useful.

Update: A few days ago, Nanette showed a pattern called Step Dance Socks that uses this stitch.

Flame Chevron

Here's a photo of a swatch I made this summer after reading "Designing Knitwear" by Deborah Newton. One chapter in the book talks about getting ideas from various fashions eras. The section on flapper fashion showed a swatch of an interesting lace design but didn't mention how to make it or what it is called. I search through various books and finally found it in "A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns" by Barbara Walker. It's called Flame Chevron. My version is made out of Cotton Classic by Tahki. I think it would make an interesting tank top like this one from Bouton d' Or, if knit in a lighter weight cotton. Tahki comes in some great colors but it's just a little too heavy for my taste.

Update: Here's a free pattern that uses this stitch. Thanks to Juliet for finding this link.