Daffodil Love Gloves – A Free Knitting Pattern

As it is Valentine’s Day (I was supposed to post this yesterday), I thought I would share a pattern that I love! I love the yarn that these gloves are knitted with, I loved designing the pattern and I have loved knitting them… I hope you love them as much as I do!

As I have mentioned previously, I received two skeins of Lorna’s Laces Supersock yarn in the “Daffodil” colour way as a gift for Christmas last year, and have been searching high and low for a pattern to knit it up in. I felt that the yarn was far to beautiful to be knitted as socks where no one would be able to appreciate the colours, so I decided to design a pattern for gloves.

I have kept this pattern a secret up until now because I feel that my ‘Daffodil Love Gloves’ are a perfect little pattern for Valentines Day! Also I wrote the pattern up after knitting the gloves, instead of writing it up as I go along, and therefore my pattern may not be as accurate as I would have hoped. If you have any problems with this pattern, please let me know so I can fix it!

This pattern can be knitted in any sock or 4-ply yarn (I used 2 x 50g skeins of Lorna’s Laces Supersock Yarn), and are knitted to fit a medium sized hand.

Happy Knitting…

Abbreviations:

K – Knit

K2tog – Knit 2 stitches together

P – Purl

P2tog – Purl 2 stitches together

PM – Place Marker

C2bK2 – Slip 2 stitches onto a cable needle and hold to the back, knit 2 stitches, then knit 2 from cable needle.

C2fK2 – Slip 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold to front, knit 2 stitches, then knit 2 from cable needle.

C2bP2 – Slip 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold to back, knit 2 stitches, then purl 2 from cable needle.

C2fP2 – Slip 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold to front, purl 2 stitches, then knit 2 from cable needle.

C1bK2 – Slip next stitch onto cable needle and hold to back, knit 2 stitches, purl 1 from cable needle

C2fP1 – Slip 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold to the front, purl 1 stitch, knit 2 from cable needle

Tension:

7 Stitches = 1 inch

You’ll need:

2 x 2.75 round needles

3 x Stitch markers

Row Counter

Stitch holders

Pattern:

Cast on 84 stitches (42 per needle) and join, careful not to twist the stitches.

Row 1 – PM, *P2, K4** repeat from * to ** until end of row.

Row 2 – *P2, K4** repeat from * to ** until end of row.

Rows 3 – repeat row 2.

Row 4 – *P2, C2bK2** repeat from * to ** until end of row.

Rows 5 & 6 – Repeat Row 2.

Rows 4, 5 & 6 will create cabled rib pattern for cuff. Repeat these rows a further 18 times.

Repeat Row 4 once more: 61 rows.

Row 62 – *P2tog, K4* Repeat from * to ** until end of row. 68 stitches (34 per needle)

Row 63 – K7, P2, PM, P16, PM, P2, K7, K34

Row 64 – Insert cable pattern.

Repeat cable pattern 4 times before thumb opening:

Right Glove: Begin 5^th repeat of cable pattern across first needle. When starting the second needle begin as follows:

K2, cast off next 13 stitches, K to the end of the round

Pattern across first needle, on second needle – K 2, cast on 13 stitches, K to end of round.

Left Glove: Begin 5^th repeat of cable pattern across first needle, When working on the second needle, work as follows:

K19, cast off next 13 stitches, K2.

Pattern across first needle, on second needle – K19, cast on 13 stitches, K2.

Both Gloves:

Continue working in the round until you have 6 cable pattern repeats, ending on row 3 of the cable pattern.

　

Divide for fingers:

Work on each finger individually, starting from one side, knit a finger, then begin on the next. Keep stitches you are not working on separate on a stitch holder. Finger instructions are for both hands.

Index Finger:

Knit 11 stitches from the front and 11 stitches from the back of the hand. Cast on 5 stitches between index and middle finger – 27 stitches. (13 front needle, 14 back needle)

Working in the round work the stitches on the back needle as follows P5, K4, P5, working in purl only on one the front needles. Work this row twice

Back needle – P5, C2bK2, P5, Front needle – Purl

Work these three rows a further 3 times before finishing finger in garter stitch (1 row knit, 1 row purl) to the desired length.

Cast off.

Middle finger:

Knit 10 stitches from front, cast one 3 between middle finger and ring finger, knit 10 across back, pick up 4 between middle finger and index finger.

Work finger the same as Index finger.

Ring Finger:

Knit 9 stitches from front, cast on 3 between ringer finger and little finger, knit 9 from back of hand, and pick up 3 between middle finger and ring finger. 24 stitches – 12 per needle

Back needle: P4, K4, P4. Front needle: Purl. Work this row twice.

Back needle: P4, C2bK2, P4. Front needle: Purl.

Work these three rows a further 3 times before finishing finger in garter stitch until desired length.

Cast off.

Little finger.

Knit 8 stitches from front, 8 stitches from back and pick up 2 stitches between little finger and ring finger. 18 stitches – 9 per needle

Back needle: P2, K4, P3. Front needle: Purl. Work this row twice.

Back needle: P2, C2bK2, P3. Front needle: Purl.

Work these rows a further three times before finishing finger in garter stitch until desired length.

Cast off.

Thumb:

Pick up and knit 14 stitches from front and 14 stitches from back of thumb.

Back needle: P2, K4, P2, K4, P2. Front needle: Purl. Work this row twice.

Back needle: P2 C2bK2, P2, C2bK2, P2. Front needle: Purl

Work these 3 rows a further 3 times, then finish thumb in garter stitch until desired length.

Cast off.

　

Cable Pattern:

This pattern is worked over sixteen stitches and ten rows and will sit inside the markers on the back of the hand. I find that cable patterns tend to look a little complicated until I start knitting them. I would like to have included a graph with this as well, but have not found anything suitable.

Row 1 – C2fP2, C2bK2, C2fk2, C2bP2

Row 2 – P2, K12, P2

Row 3 – P2, C2bP2, K4, C2fP2, P2

Row 4 – P2, K2, P2, K4, P2, K2, P2

Row 5 – P1, C1bK2, P2, C2bK2, P2, C2fP1, P1

Row 6 – P1, K2, P3, K4, P3, K2, P1

Row 7 – C1bK2, P3, K4, P3, C2fP1,

Row 8 – K2, P4, K4, P4, K2

Row 9 – K2, P4, C2bK2, P4, K2

Row 10 – K2, P4, K4, P4, K2

　

What I’ve been up to…

I have been missing for a few weeks… I am attempting to teach myself how to make jewellery with wire, beads, thread and all sorts of interesting goodies!

I guess I am hoping to sell a few things on once I have mastered a few techniques, but I will keep you informed as I go along.

Last week was a bit of a frantic knitting week. At the last-minute my boyfriend decided that we were going to travel to Wales to meet his new-born nephew, so I thought that I couldn’t possibly turn up without a gift for him, so I designed and knitted a simple jumper for him. After that I thought that I couldn’t possibly turn up with a present for the baby, without a present for his two-year old sister, so I designed and knitted a little dress for her… All this happened within the space of three and a half days. I will post pictures and patterns as soon as I get the opportunity to write them/upload them.

I have also finally got round to knitting something with my Lorna’s Laces supersock yarn in Daffodil, but I shall leave that as a surprise until I post the pictures and the pattern. Not since Purple Rain have I been this in love with a knitting project, and if it is even possible I am even more proud of this project as it is all my own design too!

I promise to post a full entry within the next 7 days… I really should update my Ravelry page too I suppose!

Happy Crafting!

New Years… New Beginnings

Although I am a HUGE fan of Christmas, I am rather glad the holiday season has come to an end, and I can resume my somewhat normal existence. I tried so hard to make gifts for friends and family this Christmas, that I quite literally turned myself into a one woman knitting factory, and after the ninth pair of socks, I was quite sick of knitting for everybody else and wished nothing more than to make something for me.

I got yarn for Christmas, for the very first time… (and hopefully not for the last time either…) I had found a pattern on Ravelry for a shawl and it was in an orange-yellow colourway, called Suntrap, and I fell in love. I wanted the shawl in a bright yellow, and hunted high and low for yellow laceweight yarn, which I found at Get Knitted… God Bless Lorna’s Laces! The yarn isn’t a laceweight yarn, it is in face a sock yarn, but it is BEAUTIFUL. The Colourway is called Daffodil, ans when you knit it up, it quite literally looks like you are knitted fields of daffodils. I love it!

 At this point however I will say that I am slightly disappointed, not with the yarn, but with my original expectations of how it would knit. As a skein, the yarn was three colours, the majority was bright yellow, then some green and even less turquoise, and I assumed the yarn to knit with mostly yellow with some green and turquoise stripes. You know what they say about assumptions… The yarn knits mostly green. I have also found that I can’t knit a lacy scarf out of it (as I had originally hoped) because the colours just don’t show as nicely as one would have hoped. I refuse to knit socks with it, it is far too beautiful to knit socks with. With a heavy heart I put the pre-rolled balls in my project basket, awaiting something… the perfect pattern.

As I have said before I usually like to have one project going at a time, but often get bored, so actually have three or four different projects on the go at once. This holiday season I have finished all but one of my ongoing projects, the lace ribbed tunic. I am knitting this tunic from King Cole’s Riot. I adore this yarn. It is super soft, a little fluffy and knits just beautifully. I really do think that this tunic will be one of those items of clothing that I will always wear once it is complete, however there are two problems currently presenting themselves… Firstly – I have put on about half a stone since I began this tunic and it no longer fits the way it should and so, starting from yesterday, there is and epic weight loss mission going on. Secondly – I remember the tunic being A LOT more fun to knit than it is as the moment… If I get an inch (one repeat of the lace pattern) of the tunic knitted a day, it may be finished in time for summer…

I also finished Purple Rain… and I love, love, love it! I had to finish the shawl four rows before the end of the edge pattern or I was going to run out of yarn, but even so, the shawl is gorgeous… Pictures will definitely follow soon!

Today I started a new pattern for a jacket-type shrug (if that makes any sense) the pattern is available for free on Ravelry, it is called Springtime in Paris by Berta Karapetyan. It is knitted in a double-knit using brioche stitch and stockinette, and again, I feel that once it is finished, it is going to be one of those items that I just wear all the time. I have been looking for a pattern to knit my Rowan Classics Extra Fine Merino yarn in, the yarn is already soft, but knitting it in brioche stitch makes it even more huggable, I am beginning to question why I have never knitted brioche stitch before.

So the search continues for more patterns for my Christmas yarn, the Lorna’s Laces yarn in particular… As my mother always says… “Too many patterns to knit, and not enough time.”

Happy Knitting

Basic Sock Pattern – 4ply

These were knitting out of Opal sock yarn

I love the way you can tell that they’re a pair, but they don’t match!

These socks are very similar to the above pattern, and turn out beautifully.

For my latest pair of socks I am using Katia OIe` Gaudi Sock yarn. This yarn is soft and colourful, and knits wonderfully. The colourway knits into a ‘Gaudi-style’ pattern. The colours in the yarn I have chosen are blue white and yellow, I will add pictures once these socks are complete. 

The other pictures in this post are socks knitted using this same pattern, but different yarn. These socks can be knitted using any 4ply yarn.

PATTERN:

• Cast on 85 stitches on 2 2.75 double-pointed needles.
• Work 2×3 (knit 2, purl 3) rib for 70 rows
• Decrese 1 stitch in every purl section – 68 stitches
• work 1 row 2×2 rib
• Knit 30 rows
• Work 34 stitches in scrap yarn (preferably a different colour)
• Knit 60 Rows
• Work toe decrease as follows, making sure there are 34 stitches each needle. Row 1 – K1, SSK, Knit to last 3 stitches on needle, K2tog, K1. Repeat on the second needle. Row 2 – Knit. Repeat these 2 rows until there are 14 stitches on each needle, turn the sock inside out and cast off remaining stitches using the 3 needle cast off method.
• Pick up 64 stitches on the heel, 34 stitches on each needle,  removing the scrap yarn. Work as toe decrease – Row 1 K1, SSK, Knit to last 3 stitches on the needle, K2togn K1. Repeat on second needle. Row2 – Knit. Repeat these 2 rows until there are 12 stitches on needle, turn sock inside out and cast off remaining stitches using 3 needle cast off method.
• Sew away and threads, and close up the little holes that appear from picking up the stitches aroung the heel.

This is the most basic method I have found to knit socks, they are quick and easy and best of all, the socks are comfortable!

Happy Knitting

Purple Rain

Purple Rain - Gail (aka Nightsongs)

 Although I would classify myself as a semi-experienced knitter, there are some patterns that I look at, and absolutely adore, but I am too scared to knit them as I think that they are way out of my league – complicated lace or cable patterns are a prime example of this.

Before this past Saturday, I had never knitted a lace pattern that consisted of more than 8 rows (four of which tend to be purl or knit rows in between the pattern, so I guess the pattern itself was only 4 rows). 

After knitting what seemed like millions of socks as Christmas gifts for other people, I was in what my mother calls a ‘bad knitting place’ – those times you find when you look at pattern, after pattern, after pattern and nothing seems to inspire you. I even decided to design my own pattern because I couldn’t find anything that I wanted to knit and fifty rows into my lacy scarf, I looked at it and didn’t like what I was seeing, and therefore unpicked it and started again… I think this happened about 6 times before I gave up.

My poor Regia Hand Dye Effect yarn had been knitted and unpicked so many times I think it was beginning to feel useless!

So after throwing a very minor temper tantrum, I started trawling Ravelry for a lace scarf pattern. I was determined that before I knit another pair of socks or gloves or anything for anybody else, I was going to make myself something beautiful, and when I found Gail (aka Nightsongs) on Ravelry, I fell in love. This pattern is simply beautiful!

I was very apprehensive to start knitting this pattern, as previously stated I have never knitted a complicated lace pattern before (any this one is not easy by any means). I printed off the pattern and put it on my side of the sofa and spent the evening looking at it. The pattern consists of 3 lace pattern charts, 2 of which consist of 37 patterning rows. I have never been so scared yet so excited to knit a project in my whole knitting career (I don’t think career is the right word here, but I couldn’t figure out what the right word was).

Two days after printing off the pattern, and yet another pair of socks later, I finally picked up my Regia Hand Dye Effect yarn and my 4.5mm needles and I cast on the four stitches to begin… and named my garment Purple Rain. It is now two days later, I have managed to knit the pattern without any major fudge-ups and I am even more in love than I was before. This is the perfect pattern to introduce me to more complex lace, and I am knitting it in the perfect yarn, and with every stitch I knit I feel more and more respect and love for the designer of Gail (aka Nightsongs).

This BEAUTIFUL pattern was designed by MaweLucky and you can find her on Ravelry, you can also read her blog at coloursfromchaos.blogspot.com/. Her Ravelry page includes further lace designs, which I have every intention of knitting once I have finished Purple Rain, and the rest of the knitting needed before Christmas.

I am off… Purple rain is calling me to complete her…

Happy Knitting

DBE Pattern #1 – Basic Socks.

This pattern has come to me after making many pairs of hand-knitted socks as gifts for friends and family this Christmas. The pattern is a mix of what I thought were the best parts of several other sock patterns (all of which are available on Ravelry). So far this year I have knitted 8 socks ( 4 pairs) and am not even nearly finished!#

Make 2 in any double knit yarn on 2.75 mm/3 mm/3.25mm needles. I am using Crofters Baby Fair Isle DK, they feel so incredible on my feet I have to fight the urge not to give them aways as gifts but to keep them for myself!

Cast on 68 stitches ( you can either do this over 3 double pointed needles – 23/23/22 or on two double pointed needles 34/34).

Working in the round knit 2×2 rib (knit 2, purl 2) for 50 rows

Work a further 20 rows stocking stitch

Work 34 stitches in scrap yarn (for after-thought heel). 

Work a further 60 rows (with main sock yarn)

Work toe decrease on 2 needles only (making sure there is an even amount of stitches on both needles), as follows:

Row1: K1, SSK, Knit to last 3 st, K2tog,K1 repeat this on the remaining stitches on the 2nd needle.

Row2: As Row 1.

Row3: Knit.

Repeat these three rows until there are 10 stitches on each needle, turn sock inside out and close using the three needle cast off method. Turn sock right-side in.

Heel: Removing scrap yarn and pick up stitches, create heel flap by using the toe decrease method until there are 10 stitches on each needle, again turn sock inside out and close using three needle cast off.

Sew away all threads, and close any holes that may have appeared when creating the heel.

These socks are made to fit size 6 – 8 feet, so you may need to alter the amount of rows you need to knit between the scrap yarn and the toe decrease in order to get the right fit.

This is the simplest method I have found of knitting great, quick and easy socks that make great gifts for birthdays or Christmas for yourself or even for those lucky others! 

Happy Knitting!

Designs By Elseline – The Rules

I am a knitter, I pretty good one too. My mother (who by no accident, shares the same name) taught me to knit when I was just a child. I remember knitting dolls clothes and blankets with many a dropped stitch, while she worked away at all her many projects. My mom made all of our clothes when we were growing up, as she is an incredible seamstress and a masterful knitting magician (or whatever the female version of a magician is – magiwoman??)

I owe almost all of my knitting knowledge to my mother, if it weren’t for her, my nights in front of the television, or afternoons sitting in the summer sun would be a lot less interesting and sometimes a lot less frustrating too.

I have rules when it comes to knitting, firstly – Only have one project going at a time… I have watched my mother start project, after project, after project, only to finish any one of them up to years after she started them, so I decided that I would only knit one project at a time, only starting something new after finishing something else. This rule went out the window very quickly, as I soon discovered that one can get bored rather easily when knitting one thing at a time, and when you are bored, there is no incentive to keep going. Also I find that I did not finish items as well as I could have and because I was in a hurry to start my next project, the current project lost all excitement for me.

Only buy yarn when starting a new project… This was mainly a space-saving idea, however, since throwing this rule out the window I have found that yarn really doesn’t take up that much space. Now, my stash doesn’t even begin to compete with my mother’s stash (which spreads itself over three rooms) but I have enough yarn (only spread across two rooms) to keep me going for some time (at least a good couple of years) and that doesn’t even take into account what I plan to purchase in the next two years… as well as the purchases I don’t plan to make! 😛

Only knit items for yourself… My knitting holds more value to me that it does to any one else. I know the amount of hard work and effort went into making these garments, I know how many times I screwed up the pattern and had to unpick to correct it, I know the amount of dropped stitches and I know the exact moment the I realised that I wouldn’t have enough yarn and would never find the exact dye lot to be able to complete the garment. No one else, unless they themselves are a knitter, understand the love and care that goes into a hand-made item. I came up with this rule when I was single, and working for a living. Now that I am unemployed, broke, and in a relationship this rule too, had to be thrown out the window. Knitting for yourself becomes a kind of luxury when in a relationship and I can only imagine it becomes worse when having children, also as it is close to Christmas and I can not afford to buy presents for my friends, in-laws, family, or anyone really, I thought I would knit everyone at least one present (out of my own personal stash too).

So I guess when it comes to knitting, the knitter should have no rules. I find this the best way to move forward.

I have every intention that this blog will be my adventures through my own personal knits. I will sometimes reference patterns by other people, and will sometimes include patterns of my own, but like the rest of my intentions they may just be thrown out the window…