| I started knitting when I was about ten years old (which is
a few years ago.....) Through the years since the time
that I could devote to knitting has gone up and down, but it has
always been a good way to use time on long car trips!
For the last few years I have been concentrating on knitting
projects using circular needles. I really like working
with finger weight and lace weight yarn, usually on US size 4
needles and smaller. I prefer Fair Isle and Cable
patterns. I also really enjoy lace knitting. Over
the last year or so I have done a lot of lace knitting (for
myself, my daughters, sisters and several close friends) but I
still do some socks, cables and Fair Isle work for my husband
and my sons.
I am starting to put some of my patterns on this web site as
well. There are links to them at the left of this page.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I did creating them! Recently
I have been putting a lot of my knitting information on Ravelry.
This is an exciting knitting networking site.
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On April 18, 2009 I posted the first
part of the new KAL for the "Sidonia Shawl" at the "Yarnfeathers_KAL
group page"
at
Yahoogroups. This pattern will be available at
no cost for a limited time. If you are interested
please join the group! Both a charted and a
written instruction version are available. The pattern
for "Jenn's Rose Trellis Stole" is still available for
free. If you are interested,
please get more information at the "Yarnfeathers_KAL
group page"
at
Yahoogroups.
The pattern, and row by row instructions, are posted in
the group files. In order to access them you must
join the "Yarnfeathers KAL" group. There
is also a beaded version of the shawl pattern available
at this site. |
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Knitting Links
These are a few of my favorite links relating to knitting,
crochet, yarn, thread, spinning, and other related "fiber arts"
sites:
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Some of My Favorite Projects
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This is a short description of some of my favorite projects.
When I add a project it will be at the top of the list.
New Projects were added on April 17, 2009.
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Sidonia Shawl
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This is a shawl that I designed for my sister, Sidonia. It
is a fairly easy project to knit. I used US size 4
needles, but I am a loose knitter. The shawl took about
1800 yards of Jaggerspun Maine Line Wool 2/8 (fingering weight). |
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Moebius Scarf
This is a pattern which looks nice in both solids colors and
variegated yarns. Once you are through the set up for the
pattern it knits up very quickly. I have complete step by
step instructions for the setup on the
"Free Patterns" section of my
website.
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Forget Me Not Shawl
This is another shawl I adapted for my daughter. She
liked the pattern of the shawl but she prefers rectangular
stoles vice triangular shawls. So, I took the pattern
repeats and used them to make this rectangular stole. I
used US size 2 (2.75 mm) and a lace weight merino / silk blend
wool. This was a fairly quick knit, and one that was easy
to do in the evening while watching TV. |
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Here is a detail view of the shawl. |
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When you are almost 5 feet tall (in your heels) and you need
an evening wrap, what do you do? You call your Mom and ask
her to knit a stole.....and that is why I designed this stole
for my daughter, although it can be made longer for someone who
is taller. The pattern is based on Barbara Walker's Rose
Trellis pattern from her First Book of Knitting Treasures.
I modified the pattern to meet the "look" my daughter wanted.
I used US size 3 (3.25 mm) needles and Skacel Merino Lace wool.
I am starting a Knit-a-long for this shawl on November 1,
2008. If you are interested, please get more information
at the "Yarnfeathers_KAL"
group site.
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The Barbara Shawl
I am making this shawl for my sister. I am using US
size 4 (3.5mm) needles. The yarn is Bouton d'Or Zephyr
Superwash Merino wool. The pattern was written by Myrna
Stahlman. I love the way she does her shawl patterns.
This one knits up beautifully! |
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Modified Lacy Prairie Shawl
I used four skeins of Knit Picks Essential yarn for this
shawl, which is based on a pattern from the book Folk Shawls, by
Cheryl Oberle. I modified the pattern edging (not as many
garter stitches). I used smaller needles than the pattern
called for: US size 5 (3.75mm) and a finer yarn, so I had
to increase the repeats to make everything work. I made
this for my Australian friend, Joanna. |
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Sunshine Shawl
This bright and cheerful shawl took five skeins of Knit Picks
Palette yarn. It was very quick and easy to knit. I
used US size 4 (3.5 mm) needles and it took about 2 1/2 weeks to
knit. |
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Gracie Shawl
This shawl is made of fingering weight sock yarn. It
took 3 1/2 skeins. The shawl washes and blocks very
nicely. I chose that yarn and started the lace very low on
the shawl because I made it for my daughter, who wanted to use
it while she was nursing our granddaughter. I used US size
4 (3.5mm) needles |
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Two Variations on the Icelandic Shawl
The shawl with green shades was done size US 4 needles with
Jaggerspun Maine Line. The variation is that I did a regular
knit instead of a reverse stockinette. The purple shaded
shawl is done on size US 6 needles from Knit Picks Palette
yarns. The variation is in the edged lacing (row 15) I added
one stitch and did a horseshoe lace edge instead of the
edging from the pattern. This change used approximately 200
more yards and made a much larger shawl. |
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This shows some of the details of the purple shawl variation. |
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Sweaters for our First Grandchild!
I recently found out that I will be a Grandmother in May
2008. Needless to say, I got right to work on my knitting
needles. Here are my first two efforts: |
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Size 6 months. It is a variation of one of EZ's baby
sweaters. I am holding off on installing buttons until I
know whether or not to install them on the left or right side.
This was done with Filtes Sydney Sport weight Superwash washable
yarn on size 6 circulars. |
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This is size 1-2 years, and is a variation of the Sirdar
"Snuggly Baby" pattern Nr 3020: I changed the button band and
collar. It was made with Sirdar "Snuggly" on size 6 and
size 3 circulars. Again, no button until I know whether to
sew them on the left or right sides. |
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This photo shows the size difference between a 6 month and a 1-2
year old. |
This shows a closeup of the detail on the shoulder and button
fronts. |
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Icelandic Lace Shawl (from KnittingDaily)
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I made a few slight modifications to the pattern, but only
someone who has already knit the pattern will be able to tell.
It was a delightful project to knit. I used Jaggerspun
Maine Line 2/8 yarn: it is very soft and easy to use.
I only used 5 colors instead of the recommended 8 colors. |
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Diamonds are Forever Shawl
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This is a fun beginner's level summer shawl done with fingering
weight yarn. |
This shows a detail view of the work on the shawl. It is
shown in front of a contrasting green background to highlight
the pattern. |
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Springtime Shawl
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This is the detail view of the Springtime Shawl. I decided
to "play around" with some sock yarn to see how it would work
for making a shawl. It took 2 100 gm skeins of sock yarn
to make a 72 in long by 22 in wide shawl. I was surprised
at how well it draped and how soft it was! |
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Two Tone Beret
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This is a very easy hat that I made just for the fun of it using
circular needles. The hat is sitting on a teddy bear which
I had previously knitted. |
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Diamond Cable Scarf
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This was a fun experiment at putting different types of cables
together. I originally made one in grey with two of the
diamonds that my husband uses as a winter dress scarf.
People started asking me if I would make a cable sampler scarf
to help teach them cable knitting: this scarf is the
result. |
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Dolores' Mini Cape:
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This project was fun to design and knit.
It took me about 24 hours of knitting time to
knit. It is nice weight to wear in Spring
or Fall. I used DK weight yarn on size 6
circular needles (although it could have been
done on straight needles).
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This is a sweater I made for my
daughter Heather:
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This sweater is based on the
"Northern Lights" pattern in the Fall 1993 issue
of Knitter's magazine. I modified
the pattern to be completed from the bottom up
in the round on size 2 circular needles.
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The wool was cashmere (white
yarn) and mohair (blue yarn). I modified
the shoulder and the detail on the cuffs, bottom
band and neck. The sleeves were knit from
the cuff up and then attached to the body of the
sweater so that the pattern was consistent.
The photo at the right shows a detail of the
pattern. The entire sweater took about
four months of work. |
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This is the detail of the neckline, which is a modification from
the original pattern. |
This is a detail of the bottom
band, which I also modified from the original
pattern. |
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This is a Faire Isle sweater that I made for my husband
Bill:
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I designed the pattern for this sweater
using several traditional Fair Isle patterns, combining
the ones I liked the best. I used Classic Elite
Alpaca wool on size 3 circular needles. It took me
about four months to complete the project, working in my
"spare" time.
This photo has been "enhanced" to show more detail at
the expense of accurate color. For a more accurate
color representation, see the next link below. |
Here is a close-up of the pattern.
These colors are more accurate than the picture at the
left. |
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