LACE - free knitting pattern

 

 

This is my Autumn jumper cos it will not be as warm as some I own but still warm enough for the next couple of months. Its meant to be likea warm long sleeved top rather than a big winter jumper.

I started making a similar jumper from one of my magazines but its just did not work and turned out so big. Then I investigated some very old books I have that give different stitches but no actual patterns. You need to calculate your stitches to make something from these. I never ever used them before so this is a first but I thought being as it turned out so well I will share it. 

So assuming you understand my directions there is a free knitting pattern here that works really well if you have oddments of different yarns of a similar type. These are all kind of textured fluffy yarns of differnt fibres. Though I think it would work just as well in just one yarn as well. I have oddments of similar yarns though to get this look.
The blue and white are Lister Lee Tropicana,  Burgundy and both shades of pink are Sunbeam Paris, Green is mohair leftover from the cable jumper. I used the green doubled. The rest are single strands.

Pale blue and pale grey both left over from the blue glittery aran - by the way I have just started a second version of that so hopefully soon can give you a much better version of the aran pattern because I know my first attempt was rubbish. I need to learn how to write them properly. 

All the yarns have a slubbed effect so are kind of similar although meant to be knitted on different sized needles though all would come under chunky yarns. I cheated anyway and just knit the entire mix on 6.5mm needles. It took 2 weeks to knit this so it must be simple because I never knit anything that fast usually.

Ah and the trousers were made by me as well 😄

LACE PATTERN:

Pattern is multiples of 11, + 2 (to make up the end of the pattern), + 2 (edging stitches)

Knit edge stitch every row. 6.5 mm needles.

Front and Back

Cast on 59 stitches using the 6.5mm needles. There is no ribbing so you go straight into the lace stitch which gives a nice wavy edge. Stretchy cast on. I used the long tail method for this. I think my usual aran cast on would be too tight for the lace edging I want to create.

2 rows plain garter st.

Set the pattern – Row 1: 1 edge st k, 2p,   yarn over to make hole, 3k, knit 3tog, 3k. h, 2p,  yarn over to make hole, 3k, knit 3tog, 3k. yarn over to make hole, 2p  h, 3k, knit 3tog, 3k. yarn over to make hole, 2p,  h, 3k, knit 3tog, 3k. h, 2p, h, 3k, knit  3tog, 3k. h, 2p, 1 edge st k.

Every reverse row is purl all holes and purl all knit stitches, knit all purl stitches and knit the edge stitches.  Right side row: pattern as rows 1, 3, 5, 7 on chart.

Follow chart. On the right hand side the numbers are for different rows.

Codes used: knit 3 stithces together

↑ =knit 3 stitches together

 0 = yarn over to make a hole

-  = knit

.  = purl

 

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
.	-	-				0	↑	0				-	-	.	7
.	-	-			0		↑		0			-	-	.	5
.	-	-		0			↑			0		-	-	.	3
.	-	-	0				↑				0	-	-	.	1

 Back  

To shape neck when jumper measures the length you want it to. Mine was 60cm or 23.5 inches long before I began the shaping for shoulders. Well the back has no shaping really. I did a straight across neck so to shape the neck cast off 20 stitches, put 19 stitches onto stitch holder ( or spare yarn) cast off remaining 20 stitches.

 Right side row: pattern as above.

Front as back till it measure 48cm. Then pattern on right side until central 9 stitches which go onto a stitch holder. Then you need to decrease along the neck edges as you do the next few rows. My calculations are shown here:

So you need to complete each shoulder seperately. I have done this with two balls simultaneously and knit both sides before but I got very confused doing that with this pattern and ended up ripping it all back and redoing so I would advise do each side seperately unless you are vey confident you can manage this. 

On the wrong side on neck edge knit 2 together then continue in pattern. Right side as pattern, wrong side as pattern. Every 4th row on wrong side knit 2 together at neck edge. When there are twenty stitches remaining knit until the front matches the back length. Cast off.

Do the other side of the neck to match. But on second side knit2 together on Right side of work. Just ensure you have the same total number of rows at the end. Cast off the final 20 stitches.

Sleeves:

I decided on using just 3  lace panels with stocking stitch sides. 

The pattern is 33 +2 +2

So knit edge stitch, p2 pattern 33 stitches

1 edge st k, *2p,   yarn over to make hole, 3k, knit 3tog, 3k, 2p,  yarn over to make hole*,  repeat from * to * two more times then 1 edge st k.

I cast on 37 stitches and every 5 rows increased until I had 57 stitches then knitted in pattern straight until the desired length. It did occur to me this might be nice with 3/4 sleeves as well. I ended up doing normal length. Mine are too long and measure 55cm to each point of the lace. You had best check against your own body if you make this because mine are a bit too long!

Neck: if you feel confident to knit in a circle seam both shoulers. If not just seam one the knit the ribbing then seam the other side and the ribbed edge

So which ever way you do this: pick up 19 stitches from back stitch holder, 10 stitches from Right front, 9 from stitch holder and 11 from left front and rib for about 6cm and cast off with a larger needle to ensure a stretchy edge. Sew sleeves on and sew up the sides.

 

Thanks for visiting the blog,

Bracken

Strawberry Skirt inspired by The Vampires Wife

 

I have considered this kind of skirt for a couple of months. I should have sewn it sooner in fact.

They are pretty and simple to make and good in hot weather. Just a basic A line mini with frills added. I used my version of The Vampires Wife style blocks that I made for my dresses a couple of years ago to make these. In fact its reallytime I made some more because I love those dresses.

This skirt has turned out very easy to wear, comfortable and girly without being too much like a rara. Not that I have anything against a rara skirt but I did not want one with this being so floral as well.

They vision I had in my head was to have simple side zip. I used a normal lap zip since did not have an invisible zip and did not want to wait to make this once inspiration struck. I used what I had available. Its all overlocked inside to make it neat and has a basic facing of the same fabric round the waist.

The strawberry cotton fabric I bought on a whim years ago and never used. I really don't like florals so no idea why I bought this though it is sweet I suppose. I had just under 1m of this. I do not like to waste fabric and in the end decided its well over time to have used this. I think I bought it in 2014! It will rot away in the stash and never get used at this rate!

I just went all out frilly. Thats got rolled edges on top and the bottom of the top frill, and on just the bottom of the bottom frill. The top edge, of the bottom frill, is not rolled. I just sewed then I overlocked the edge to neaten it and voila! Very The Vampires Wife I think.

I am very happy with this and just wished I had made it at the start of summer rather than at the end. Still never mind. This will also work in Autumn with thick tights and a jumper, and could even be layered with the black skirt (I am planning to make next) under the strawberries as a petticoat if it gets cold. This works quite well because the black skirt is hopefully going to turn out longer so shows up underneath. More on that once I finish sewing it up!

I really need a day out now to wear this somewhere other than just down the garden.

Happy weekend!

Bracken

BBQ party outfit from Three free patterns

 I got asked to a BBQ. Its been so long since I went out to a friends house for dinner. It was aparty with work colleagues so I did not want to dress too informal and slob-like so decided to make a new top. 

This was the  tie front Wilder top which is a free Mood Sewciety pattern. I used a drapey silky woven leopard print viscose for this and it has worked well. The fabric was very fray-ey butotherwise his was relatively sinple to make. Mood have a version where you can make the sleeves wider which I considered but in the end decided to save fabric and make the basic version and I am quite happy with the width of these sleeves.

This is the MDF198 – The Wilder Top Sewing Pattern.

https://www.moodfabrics.com/blog/how-to-add-volume-to-the-bottom-of-a-sleeve-free-pattern-hack/ 

I actually made a skirt from the offcuts of my leopard print fabric as well but ended up wearing that before I wore this, due to the party being postponed.

 I thought this leopard print top would tart up my old wide leg black trousers nicely, but then decided to make some new ones since the old ones look a bit pilly and old. They were made a long time ago now back in 2017 I think! I have worn them constantly so its worth time to make a replacement and this is a nice fabric though creases a bit more than the original pair.

I bought this nice stretch linen (linen-look because I have no idea of the fiber content!) fabric last winter in a sale and had been planing to make some trousers from it for ages. In the end I made a top as well so had a whole new outfit for the BBQ.

 I decided to use the Mood Jamesia pattern for the trousers because I just love this pattern - so another free pattern though this one is a TNT pattern and its about time I made some nice work trousers from it because I have several play versions from this pattern already. 

https://www.moodfabrics.com/blog/the-jamesia-pant-free-sewing-pattern/

These are some of the previous versions of my Jamesia trousers. 

The pattern is really for wovens but I have also made a few pairs in jersey without adding the waist darts and just adding elastic round the waist. They make good track pants!

Then the BBQ got put off for another week so I added the top which is Angela Kane's sleeveless top pattern 532 in size small. I think you need to sign up to the website to get this but thats easy to do.

 https://angelakane.com/sewing_patterns/patterns/sleeveless-top-sewing-pattern-532.php

When making this I forgot to sew the darts but it actually fits well without so I may repeat that in the future. I closed the back with a bow made from black satin ribbon.

And this is a very wearable smart, and a not too formal, nice party outfit. And as a bonus I finally got round to making some new black work trousers!

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a great week

Bracken