Wednesday 23 August 2017

Zelda Scarf Pattern

Introducing the Zelda Scarf in one colour brioche stitch.


This aran weight yarn was custom dyed for me by  GamerCrafting on etsy. I decided to do a one colour brioche stitch scarf in my favourite leaf design and this is the result.


If you are new to one colour brioche stitch then in fact you can rest assured it is easier than two colour brioche. There are only brk stitches, no brp or purl stitches. You can used single pointed needles because you turn after every row and also the increases and decreases are the same as for two colour brioche. 

I have made two YouTube tutorials covering all the techniques used in this scarf. One using the English yarn hold



and the second using the Continental yarn hold. 





Sunday 30 July 2017

Butterfly Baby Blanket



I have fallen in love with this beautiful Japanese stitch pattern. I love the texture and to add to the appeal it is deceptively easy. I have filmed a youtube tutorial showing all the patterning, including the p2tog tbl on the wrong side row.

You can buy the full pattern which has been test knitted and tech edited for your convenience. Buy the Butterfly Baby Blanket here.



Friday 14 April 2017

"Paperflower" Two-colour Brioche Stitch Scarf

The idea for this scarf came from my daughter who hand dyed the pink variegated yarn and asked me to knit a scarf for her. She chose the red background colour and so the "Paperflower Scarf" came to be. 

Thursday 13 April 2017

Free Pattern for a two-color brioche stitch cowl in the round



This cowl features bold colour contrasts and is knitted in a super chunky yarn so that it is quite a quick project. The instructions are essentially those for knitting two colour brioche stitch in the round. The written instructions are free below or alternatively:  Try a free trial of skillshare to watch my class on how to make this cowl. 

Thursday 6 April 2017

Crescent Shawl

Wave Shawl Pattern

This lovely crescent shaped shawl is very simple to knit. It drapes around the shoulders, showing off the lace border. The shawl is wider than it is deep so that it can be wrapped around the neck too. Free written pattern below...


Thursday 30 March 2017

Branching Leaves Brioche Cowl Pattern

The stitch pattern for this cowl resembles Branching leaves, hence the name. I created it while playing with the "wavy buds" pattern by changing the decreases to those used when knitting brioche in the round. You can watch my skillshare class and learn to knit this cowl (including pattern) for free if you sign up to a free two month trial.
       

Tuesday 14 March 2017

"Samba" Shawl Pattern (Sideways Knitted Triangular Shawl)

My version of this sideways knitted triangular shawl has two row garter stitch stripes and a slipped stitch selvage. It is immensely comfortable to wear because the biased fabric wraps itself around the body very readily. 



I have published the pattern on ravelry: Samba Shawl on ravelry.

Monday 13 February 2017

My newest skillshare class covers increases and decreases in brioche knitting (when knitting flat)



This class shows you how to do brioche stitch using two colors and increases and decreases when knitting brioche stitch. To watch the class for free sign up for a two month trial of skillshare with no charge if you cancel in the two month period. 


Monday 30 January 2017

How to knit decreases in brioche stitch when knitting in the round.

While researching my latest brioche stitch pattern I tried to find a way to do decreases when knitting brioche stitch in the round. The two-stitch right-leaning and left-leaning decreases were easily found by consulting Nancy Marchant's book "Knitting Brioche", however she made no mention of a four stitch decrease when working brioche stitch in the round. 

I had a look at the two stitch decreases and decided that if I used a brssk next to a brk2tog then the result should be a brioche four stitch decrease. I tried it and it worked! Read about this and information on how to perform two-stitch brioche decreases in the round below.



The result is my newest pattern, the "Abutilon Cowl" in two color brioche stitch. Available to buy on loveknitting,  Abutilon pattern on loveknitting.com, ravelry.com Abutilon pattern on ravelry.com or on etsy.com Abutilon pattern on etsy.com
Below is a written explanation of the decreases when knitting brioche in the round.


First it is necessary to understand the left and right leaning two stitch decreases:  

Explanation/abbreviations:

brssk:  Slip one stitch knitwise (a stitch with yarnover counts as one stitch), slip next stitch knitwise, insert the left hand needle into the fronts of these two stitches and knit them together.


brk2tog: Reach under the yarnover and brk the next two stitches together. The yarnover then falls behind the stitch when it is slipped off the needle.

sl2yo:  With yarn in fornt, slip two stitches and take yarn over needles and forward to brp the next stitch.

sl3yo:  Slip three stitches and take yarn over needles and forward to brp the next stitch.

brcdd:  Slip two stitches together knitwise under the yarn over while leaving it in
place, brk the next stitch with the yarn over, pass the two slipped stitches over the brk stitch. This is a symmetrical decrease. By avoiding the yarnover until you knit the third stitch the contrasting yarn will not be worked into it but sit behind it.

Brioche right leaning decrease (worked in the round):
This is a two st decrease.

First step: Work to sl1yo, the next stitches on the left hand needle are a MC
stitch with a yo, a CC stitch and another MC stitch with yo. Brssk the first two together and (without doing a yo) immediately, brk the next stitch. This decreases the stitch count by one and there are two MC sts next to each other.

Second step: In the brp round work to the two MC sts. Slip both together purlwise
and take the yarn over the needle to brp the next stitch.

Third step: Work to the two MC sts next to each other with a shared yo. Brk these two stitches together with the yarnover, again decreasing the stitch count by one.

For one-colour brioche stitch this works in exactly the same way but all stitches are the same colour. 

Brioche left leaning decrease (worked in the round):
This is a two stitch decrease.

First step: Work to sl1yo, brk the next stitch. Without doing another yo, immediately brk2tog.
This decreases the stitch count by one and puts two MC sts next to each other.

Second step: In the brp round, work to the two MC sts which are next to each other. Slip both together purlwise and take the yarn over the needle to brp
the next stitch.

Third step: Work to the two MC sts which are next to each other with a shared yo.
Brssk these two stitches.
This step also decreases the stitch count by one again and by two stitches in total.

The same method is used for one-colour brioche stitch.

Brioche four stitch decrease (in the round):

Step 1: Work: brssk, brk brk2tog. There are three MC sts next to each other.

Step 2: In the next round, work these three stitches as follows: sl3yo.

Step 3: In the next round, leave the yarnover in place on the needle when you slip the first two stitches, brk the next stitch with the yarnover, then pass the two slipped stitches over it. 
In total four stitches have been decreased, two in step 1 and two in step 3.

In this way, I have made a cdd into a brcdd (brioche central double decrease). I feel as if I have invented it or perhaps re-invented it, if ever anyone has invented it before. If so I am perhaps the first person to write it down. Let me know. Either way, the instructions for it are above or you can try it out by purchasing my "Abutilon Cowl" pattern. Abutilon pattern on ravelry.com

Happy Knitting! 









Thursday 19 January 2017

Chevrons in brioche knitting




I love the way the hand dyed yarn used as the main color has created a zigzag pattern across the cowl due to the increases and decreases in the pattern. The main colour yarn used was hand dyed, the contrasting colour was Regia sock wool in Purple.

The abutilon flower which gave this design its name is a plant for healing wounds. I liked the lines of the veins on the flower and have recreated it here.

You can purchase my patterned cowl on craftsy here

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