Sunday, April 23, 2006

How can I add more pink to my wardrobe?

Left: post fulling. Right: still wet. Actually this photo is just to show off that I now keep fruit in my house.

Bad Weather + Sore Back = viel stricken (that's mucho knitting for you English speakers)

I usually don't do any designing myself, but I had this very pretty baby alpaca and I wanted to make some wrist warmers. Unfortunately I couldn't find a free pattern for sport weight. So I designed my own and I'm pretty pleased with how these came out. They look cute under a jacket, but I might keep them at work for when the Air Conditioning and all that typing produces writst cramps.

My Pattern

Yarn: Frog Tree Baby Alpaca. 1 skein Main Color (Navy) 1 skein Contrast Color (Magenta)
The Knit Picks Andean Treasure looks like it will substitue nicely.

Needles: Size 3 double pointed needles.

With MC CO 36 stitches and divide evenly across three needles. Work in a k2 p2 rib for 4.5 inches. For a longer cuff, work for an extra 1 - 1.5 inches.

Next row: k2 bo 6 in pattern. Finish working in k2 p2 to the end of row.
Next row: k2 co 6 stitches. Finish working in k2 p2 to the end of row.
Knit three more rows.

Make ruffle:

Row 1: Change to CC. K one row.
Row 2: *k1 m1* repeat to end of row.
Row3: K every st.
Row 4: *k2 m1* repeat to end of row.
Rows 5 - 7: K every stitch.

BO. Turn project inside out and weave in loose ends. Make a second one identical to the first. Wash in hot water with mild detergent just to full the fibers slightly. While the project is drying try it on so the cuffs will conform to your wrist.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very cute! A friend who owns a knit shop (called The Naked Sheep) gave me the funniest bumper sticker this week that says "Knit Happens" which just cracks me up. I have it on my wall of interesting junk in my cube!

claire said...

what does "m1" mean?

Cupcake said...

Claire, m1 means "make one". There are a couple of different ways to make stitches like yo (yarn over) and kfb (knit front to back). M1 usually mean to knit, then pick up a stitch from the row you just worked. It sounds weird but it is very easy. Maybe Knitting Help has a video tutorial?

claire said...

you have. changed. my life.

VIDEO TUTORIAL!!!!!

st. cupcake. that's you.

Cupcake said...

Yep, Knittinghelp.com is pretty great. That's where I learned the Kitchner Stitch and where I saw for the first time with my own eyes the little gem I like to call the handy "Spit felt join." I had heard about this yarn legend before but didn't think it would work. Brilliant.