Smoke rings July 2013 Giveaway

The Falling Leaves Smoke Ring

just now it does not look much like leaves, after blocking it will magically transform.

The smoke ring is a wonderful versatile garment. Not only does it keep your head warm but also your neck too and if you make it large enough can provide

 soothing warmth to shoulders. It is one of my favourite fall and winter garments that i keep close at hand.

The Smoke ring originated in Europe during the Medieval times. They were known as a Wimple and most were made from heavy quality cloth fabric. 

I do not know when people started to make them from yarn.

Do you know ?

Smoke rings are just so stylish and look equally lovely draped around the neck.

They can be knit in a variety of yarns depending on the warmth and softness required.

Me, i prefer anything with qiviut. The softness and warmth is unsurpassed. Even yarn blends with only 10% qiviut provide a softness that you will not find in any other fibre or yarn so much so that the garment can be worn next to skin without irritation.

The yarn blend above is our qiviut-queen. 10% qiviut-10% cashmere-10% silk and 70% merino.

This months give away 2 winners drawn at random to win the yarn to knit the falling leaves smoke ring. Colour shown above is natural, all you have to do is tell us what colour you would choose from these colours here: www.cottagecraftangora.com/qiviut-queen-merino/4557554607

Open to knitters world wide, 

please only 1 entry per person,

RUNS FROM: 3rd July 2013 TO 31st July 2013.

TENSION: After blocking test piece Shown below 6'' wide X 3'' inches long.

I consider my self quite a loose knitter so you may need to test knit on a larger needle. 

To test your tension cast on 23 sts on 5 mm-US #8 and work 1 full pattern repeat then wash gently, block, dry,  measure and adjust needle size if required.  The smoke ring should have drape and be of a loose comfortable fit.

THE PATTERN- Falling Leaves:

*** at this stage i'm not sure how many yards are required probably 3 to 400yds***

with the correct size circular needle cast on 93 sts.

Join to work in the rnd, place st marker amd knit 1 rnd then begin pattern below.

1: (RS) k1, k2tog, k3, * yf, k1, yf, k3, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k3; rep from * to last 7 sts, yf, k1, yf, k3, sl 1, psso, k1.

2: and all alternate rnds knit all sts.

3: k1, k2tog, k2, * yf, k3, yf, k2, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k2; rep from * to last 8 sts, yf, k3, yf, k2, sl 1, psso, k1.

5: k1, k2tog, k1, * yf, k5, yf, k1, sl 1 k2tog, psso, k1; rep from * to last 9sts, yf, k5, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k1.

7: k1, k2tog, yf, k7, * yf, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yf, k7; rep from * to last 3sts, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k1.

9: k2, yf, k3, * sl 1, k2tog, psso, k3, yf, k1, yf, k3; rep from * to last 8 sts, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k3, yf, k2.

11: k3, yf, k2, * sl 1, k2tog, psso, k2, yf, k3, yf, k2; rep from * to last 8sts, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k2, yf, k3.

13: k4, yf, k1, * sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yf, k5, yf, k1; rep from * to last 8sts, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yf, k4.

15: k5, * yf, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yf, k7; rep from * to last 8sts, yf, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yf, k5.

16: knit.

rep these 16 rnds until work measures 20'' inches long.

My daughter Kyanna

''Flower Bud Smoke ring''

This is the flower bud smoke ring...folded in half and to the left you can see the cable.

Here's the Flower bud pattern:

With 5mm - US Size 8 Circular needles cast on 109 sts, join to work in the rnd, place marker.

(Note on rnd 11 of every pattern row the last 2 sts and first 2 sts make a cable) To do this, k to last 2 sts, slip these 2 sts onto a cable needle, hold at back of work, remove st marker, knit next 2 sts, replace marker then knit the 2 sts from cable needle, continue the rnd incorporating the 2 sts just worked.

Rnd 1: k3, * yf, k2, p3tog, k2, yf, k1; rep from * to last 2 sts,k2.

Rnd 2: knit.

Rnds 3-6: rep 2 rnds above.

Rnd 7: k2, p2tog, * k2, yf, k1, yf, k2, p3tog, rep from * to last 9 sts; k2, yf, k1, yf, k2, p2tog, k2.

Rnd 8: knit.

Rnds 9-12 rep rends 7 and 8.....on rnd 11 insert cable as outlined above.

Rep the rnds above until work measures 20'' inches long.

Next, knit 2 rnds and then cast off all sts sewing in any loose ends.

I'm thinking of knitting another smoke ring pattern using the same yarn but i have this lovely Tundra green that i would like to try !

Best of Luck with your entry !

Texting mitts and Qiviut Yarn Giveaway for June 2013

This Months gorgeous little selection 226 grams of yarns spun into 2, 3, 4 ply some pure qiviut, some blended and some white pure cashmere.

We have been very busy lately working on qiviut knitwear building stock for the coming Fall season and with lots of my own projects too...... there's just not enough hours in the day !

When out and about on my travels quite a few customers have asked for the Texting mitt pattern with the picot edge and leafy cuff. The mitts take about 45 grams of yarn so this little lot above could make 5 pairs.

Who would you knit them for ?

Leave your entry in the comments section, 1 winner drawn at random.
RUNS FROM 18- JUNE 2013 TO 30 th JUNE 2013.
open to knitters world wide.

The pair shown above is knit from 100% magical qiviut in Raspberry and natural.

I used 2 strands of 2ply held together and our 3ply for the natural leafy border cuff.

Total 44 grams- 260 yards.

To Knit The Texting Mitts You will need:

 any of the 2ply lace yarns shown above,(knit 2 strands tog)

1pair of 3.5mm-US SIZE 4 straight needles,

1 set of 3.5mm- US SIZE 4 D.P.N's

3 st markers.

Wool needle.

TENSION: 7sts = 1'' inch

X

8 rows = 1'' inch

I knit very loose so you may have to go to a 4mm if you consider yourself a tight/firm knitter !

With 3.5mm begin to knit the mitt. 

Cast on 44 sts, join to work in the rnd, pm, and knit 24 rnds.

NEXT MAKE THUMB GUSSET:

1: k19, pm, m1, k1, m1, k1, pm, k to end.

2: and every alt rnds knit without inc. 

3: k19, sm, m1, k3, sm, k to end.

5: k19, sm, m1, k5, m1, sm, k to end.

7: k19, sm, m1, k7, m1, sm, k to end.

cont inc every 2nd rnd until you have 12 st bet markers.

On next rnd, k19, remove marker, slip 12 sts onto waste yarn or st holder, remove 2nd marker, turn work INC 2 sts, turn work back to (RS) and continue to knit around back to 1st marker.

continue knitting in rnds until work measures 6'' inches long from cast on edge.

PICOT EGDE:

k1, *k2tog, yo, k1; rep from *back to beg.

Next rnd knit all sts including yo's and work a further 8 rnds for the turn back of the Picot.

sew picot edge down inside of mitt.

Thumb: with D.P.N's pick up the 12 sts from the waste yarn and 2 edge sts, so you have 14 sts for the thumb. join to work in the rnd and k 12 rnds, bind/cast off all 14sts.

Sew in any loose ends, make a 2nd mitt.

The Leafy Cuff:

 with 3.5mm needles and a 3ply yarn or 2 strands of 4ply held tog k3 pattern repeats as shown below then sew onto the cast on edge of mitt. 

CAST ON 8 STS.

1:(RS) k5, yf, k1, yf, k2.

2: p6, inc in next st, k3.

3: k4, p1, k2, yf, k1, yf, k3.

4: p8, inc in next st, k4.

5: k4, p2, k3, yf, k1, yf, k4.

6: p10, inc in next st, k5.

7: k4, p3, k4, yf, k1, yf, k5.

8: p12, inc in next st, k6.

9: k4, p4, yb, sl1, k1, psso, k7, k2tog, k1.

10: p10, inc in next st, k7.

11: k4, p5, yb, sl1, k1, psso, k5, k2tog, k1.

12: p8, inc in next st, k2, p1, k5.

13: k4, p1, k1, p4, yb, sl1, k1, psso, k3, k2tog, k1.

14: p6, inc in next st, k3, p1, k5.

15: k4, p1, k1, p5, yb, sl1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, k1.

16: p4, inc in next st, k4, p1, k5.

17: k4, p1, k1, p6, yb, sl1, k2tog, psso, k1.

18: p2tog, cast of next 5sts using the p2tog as 1st stitch, k1, p1, k5.

rep these 18 rows another 2 times, then cast off the 8 sts, sew onto cuff with right sides facing together, then make another leafy cuff and you got a pair of lovely open style mitts perfect to gift.....who would you make them for ?

ABBREVIATIONS:

k=knit, sm= slip marker, pm= place marker,

yo= lay yarn over working needle to make a loop st.

 inc= increase by making a stitch, knit into the front and back of the next st to make a new st.

alt= alternate rnds.

(RS) = right side.

k2tog= knit next 2 sts together to form a single st dec.

dec= decrease.

 psso= slip next st from left needle to right needle without working it, then knit next st on left needle, then slip the slipped st over st jus worked.

yb= yarn back to knitting position. 

please let me know of any typo's......Thank you !

Once you haveplaced your entry here...Pop over to my Shetland wool blog. I am hosting a Shetland wool blanket post and need the name for my sampler blanket design......will be adding new blocks to the post over the next few days.... 

www.shetlandwool.blogspot.com 

 

qiviut-queen-superwash yarn December Yarn/competition Giveaway

                                         Qiviut-queen-superwash yarn above shown in natural.

                                                     And grape juice above here.
Love how this yarn feels, its soft and very spongy and has lots of memory. The yarn hugs the bamboo needles. So far i have knit socks, a hat and i'm working on a garter slip stitch scarf and have plans for a knitted throw made up of different pattern blocs cables and Texture sts etc. This yarn will be available in 20 ish Lush colors.

This is the little pair of sockettes knit from the yarn in rain forest colorway. Took only 45 grams.

.........And a hat in the same colorway........ i ♥ this color !

Garter Slip st scarf in Natural, Raspberry and Mahogany......scroll down page for pattern !


The Competition: 5 winners will be drawn at Random and each will win 1 - 100 gram skein of qiviut-queen-superwash yarn. (sorry no color choice) but we have these in handpainted and solid Jewel colors.

Tell us: what you love most about Qiviut Fibers and Yarns.
Open to all, end date 31-12-2011. Winners will be Drawn January 1st 2012

 

Textured scarf is knit widthways requires a 100 gram skein. Finished scarf measures 6'' X 72''

Really easy Garter slip stitch that makes for a lovely sturdy stich design that is very comfortable to wear.

The 1st and last 6 sts are always knit on every row to form the edges of the scarf

You will need: 100 grams of yarn either solid or differnt colors, 

US4 - 3.5mm straights or circular needle, 

2 stitch markers, 

wool needle.

The pattern:

Please note: scarf above is worked in 1 row in each color A,B and C throughout.

A=Natural, B= Mahogany, C= Raspberry

With 3.5mm - US4, cast on 401 sts and begin with 6 Foundation rows in Natural, then change to contrast color and begin pattern below.

Row 1: knit ( k6 place marker, knit across and place marker for last 6 sts to form the edge)

Row 2: knit

Row 3: k6-sm= slip marker, k1, * sl1 purlwise, k1; rep from * to marker, k last 6 sts.

Row 4: k6-sm,  k1, *yf sl 1 purlwise, yb, k1; rep from * to marker, k last 6  sts.

Rows 5 and 6: knit.

Row 7: k6-sm, :k2, *sl 1 purlwise, k1; rep from * to marker, k last 6 sts.

Row 8: k6-sm, k2, *yf, sl 1purlwise, yb, k1; rep from * to marker, k last 6 sts.

Repeat these 8 rows  for 5 full pattern repeats then knit all sts for 6 rows to form outer edge.

Tassels`:

make 4:  I used the same 3 colors as in the scarf  by wrapping the yarn around palm of hand or closed fingers  20 turns, slipped it off my hand and put a length of yarn through the center and tied a secure knot in the top with enough length to sew the tassel to scarf, cut through bottom loops to open the tassel fringe, cut another length of yarn and secure around the middle of the tassel, trim with scissors then stitch to scarf. 

To see more colors of this yarn here's the Link:

www.cottagecraftangora.com/#/superwash-qiviut/4557554607 

100% Qiviut scarf competition/giveaway.

         Finished all my custom knit orders and even my Christmas knitting is done ! Finally got to cast on for this months competition. This time its a 100% qiviut scarf, easy lace stitch but the special bit is the WHITE Qiviut, yes white ! I have been lucky enough to get a small quantity of white qiviut and thought it would be nice to add some to this scarf . The picture above makes the qiviut look really white but its not that white, more creamish. we had to add 15% merino to the white qiviut as it was a bit short, we closed the twist but it should still have a lovely soft Halo after washing. 

Below is a picture of the Stroller outfit and baby Blanket i knit using white and natural qiviut.

The white and natural color look good together.

About the scarf: White qiviut scalloped edge changes to Natural colored qiviut, Knit width ways, you cast on 412 sts on 3.5mm-US4. Has an easy lace st design, should measure about 72'' long and 7'' wide after blocking......i hope !
The competition...... 31-10-2011 TO 28-11-2011.
This month we are giving 2 prizes: 1st the yarn in natural qiviut and some white qiviut to knit this scarf, (your saying, 'what scarf ', well i have to knit it but will add pics as i go along )  2nd the actual scarf so you can gift it (it's nearly christmas) or keep it for yourself !

To enter: Tell us what knitted item you Gift the most for others !
example, Mine happens to be Scarves !

yarn requirements: 50 grams of lace weight yarn and 15 grams of contrast lace yarn. Total yards about 480.
The pattern:
With contrast yarn and US4 - 3.5mm straights Cast on 433 sts.
Rows 1-4:  Knit.

Row 5: (rs) 1st and last 6 sts form the edges of scarf and should be knit on every row seperate with a st marker.  k1, * (k2tog) twice, (yf,k1) 3 times, yf, (sl1, psso) twice, k1,(place stitch marker here to seperate the pat rep's )

Row 6: purl.

Rep rows 5 and 6 - three more times, then rep all 12 rows to form the pattern as set.

Continue to work another 4 pattern repeats and the knit a further 4 rows in white qiviut or contrast yarn.

To bind/cast off knit with 2 strands of white/contrast yarn held together to give a nice sturdy secure edge to the scarf.

Got 2''inches done so far......only another 4'' inches to go......its quite slow, takes about 20 minutes for 1 row!

Well its getting there. Today is the 27th of November and the deadline is the 28th so i only have a couple of hours to finish and get it mailed off to the Lucky winner. It now measures 5'' inches, only 2'' to go, i will work on it this evening while watching 'House of eliott' and will post the final picture after blocking !
After blocking the scarf measures 7'' X 76'' and i'm really happy with the look of the scarf ! Its very soft, has a wonderful Halo.

2011-11-30:
The 2 winners drawn at random are:
Karen our scarf winner and Brendaknits our yarn winner.....Thanks to all who took part ! 

Artist's Hand Mock Cabled socks

                                                           

 These little Beauties are so soft and warm. Not sure if they will be Durable inside a shoe or boot but i dont plan on wearing them outside. I love Qiviut socks in fall and Winter for simply relaxing on the sofa while knitting to keep my feet Toasty warm or as bed socks...... when the storm is rageing outside qiviut socks give you the best nights sleep.

Qiviut truely is 'the wonder wool of the North'. It's softer than Cashmere, warmer than anyother yarn, durable if you take care, has a beautiful halo.....is an investment in your wellbeing, looks good and looks even better with age, and is a God send for anyone who suffers from poor circulation.
Qiviut promotes Blood Flow due to the heating factor, warms joints and muscles so they relax. Anyone with poor circulation is in need of these socks, yes they are expensive but worth every dime as long as you take care of them !
They must be hand washed, cold water, lay flat to dry. In summer store the socks in a plastic tote to protect from moths (yes, like Humans Moth's ADORE Qiviut) ......do these things and your socks will last for years !

The Yarn details :

Artists Hand is 90% Qiviut - 10% Silk. Qiviut is a very soft Silky fiber that takes dye very well....colors are vibrant and alive !  This yarn is now available in 50 gram skeins for smaller projects.....check it out here :www.cottagecraftangora.com/hand-painted-qiviut/4546963932

The Competition details :

Tell us: Where is the place/country that has the most number of wild Muskoxen.

Competition is open to knitters world wide, runs from 2011-09-02 TO 2011-09-30

***Correct answers will enter and 1 name drawn at random***

Well i can say for a fact that these socks will NOT be durable but will be fine for bed/house socks when its really cold out.They have a wonderful halo and softness with a massive amount of warmth.

You will need:

1 set of 3.25mm and 2.75mm  D.P.N's

60 grams of 2 ply lace weight yarn such as Artists hand,

stitch marker,

wool needle.

 Tension: 6sts=1'' inch. 8 rows = 1''inch long on 3.25mm

With 3.25mm and 2 strands of yarn held together cast on 50sts, join to work in the rnd.

Work rib top , *k1, p1, k2, p1 rep from * back to start of rnd.

Rep this rnd for 8rnds.

Next: move sts so you have on N1: 17sts, N2: 15sts, N3: 18sts

mock cable work:

1: *k1tbl, p1, k2, p1. rep from * back to beg.

2: *k1,p1,k1,yo,k1,p1.

3: *k1, p1, k3, p1.

4: *k1, p1, k3, with tip of left needle, lift 3rd st on right needle over 1st two sts and drop off, p1, rep from * to beg.

Work 12 pattern repeats

Change to 2.75mm D.P.N's and simply knit all sts for 12 rnds.

                         Heel Flap:

 On N1 knit 13sts and slip the last 4 sts onto the beg of N2.

On N2, k1, sl1 across the 19sts and k1, sl1 for 4 sts from end of N3.

Turn work and p across row.

rep k1,sl1 and purl rows a total of 17 times.

More coming soon.....only 50% done!

Felted Qiviut Hat - Kit Competition giveaway

                                              Arctic Muskox Floral Hat

The hat and Blog Entry is still undercostruction and when complete will have more flowers, I-cord top with Pandora style Silver beads ! Will post more pic's as i go along.

WE were supposed to have this months competition as part of a promotion for our, 'Arctic Muskox Blend vest' but sadly its not working out. I can't find the pattern but plan to rework it so we will offer it at a later date in late August.....check back for that !

This is the hat complete !
COMPETITION: Tell us What TWO Colors you would like to knit this hat from the selection below. One winner will be drawn at Random. Starts today 2011-07-23 will be drawn the 15th August 2011.
Choose 1 color for the hat and 1 color for the Flowers. You win the pandora style beads, enough yarn to complete an Adult size hat and enough yarn to make the flowers.
 (Felting equipment and embellish knit are not include)
If you dont want to buy the embellish knit and felting items you can always knit the I-cords on D.P.N's and simply sew the flowers inplace as i have done in the past.

Colors: Hunter, slate Blue, Turky red, purple, raven black, mahogany, raspberry, egyptian red, bordeaux, navy blue and wild rose. (wild rose replaces the yarn on the end)      

Onto the Felted hat Kit....... And Oh do i love it ! This ones knit with 2 strands held together of our 3 ply Arctic muskox blend in Raven Black and Wild Rose. The flowers are needle felted to the hat and this makes the hat so much sturdier and thicker and will be really Warm when Winter is Blasting !

I first knit this hat a few years ago from 100% Angora yarn and my daughter and her friends at school wore it out! Even the boys were having a turn of it ! Kyanna, my daughter said, ''its just too soft and warm everyone wants to wear it''.
The Hat is knit first, in the rnd on 4.5mm- 7US circular needle, has a lovely rolled edge. Most of it is knitted in Easy stocking stitch with only a few rows knitted in purl st to make two ridge sections that the flowers are added between. The flowers are I-Cords and the main flower on the top of hat is knit in a really easy petal form then attached or felted to hat. The hat has Easy top shaping so it fits snugly on the head. Fits the average person, has strectch upto 24'' inches. If you want to make this hat for a child simply use a 3.5 to 3.75mm needle size following the instructions as set.
***Pattern Instructions below***

Felting and the Embellish knit. I just adore the Embellish knit......OMG its so fast to make I-Cords......yards and yards in minutes ! Will be using this little treasure a lot more ! Bought this on http://www.ebay.com/ think it cost about $25.00 with shipping. In the picture above you can also see the felting mat and felting needle tool both by http://www.clover.com/. Cant remember where i bought those as i have had them 3 years and this is the 1st time i'm using them......should be able to get these on ebay too !
 Heres the Link to bond america:
www.bond-america.com/products/embellish-knit.html

This is how the inside looks when properly felted......all the fibers are mangled together nicely!

The Pattern instructions:
Tension: 5sts= 1'' inch 7 rows = 1''inch square on 4.5mm- 7us.
                                           The Hat:
Requires about 100 grams total.
With 4.5mm Cast on 88sts, holding 2 strands of yarn together. Join to work in rnd, place marker and knit until work measures 2.5'' inches long.
Next: purl all sts for 4 rnds. Then, knit all sts until work measures 4.5'' inches deep from beg edge.
Next: purl all sts for 4 rnds.
Next: knit 2 rnds and then begin top shaping.
Top Shaping:
1: *k2tog, k6, rep from* to end.
2: and all alternate rnds, k without shaping.
3: *k2tog, k5, rep from *as before
5: *k2tog, k4, rep from* to end.
7: *k2tog, k3, rep from * to end.
9: *k2tog, k2, rep from * to end.
11: *k2tog, k1, rep from * to end.
Next rnd, k2tog all round, break yarn leaving a 10cm tail and draw through rem sts. sew top closed.

                    Flowers:
Daisy cords : make 4. With 2 strands of yarn together and 4.5mm D.P.N's cast on 4 sts,
K the 4 sts, then slide the work back to beg of needle pulling the yarn from behind and knit. Continue until the cord measures 11'' inches long. Break yarn leaving a tail and draw through live sts to secure. Bend 1'' inch of the end of cord like so to form a petal. Each daisy has 5 petals.

SEW through the centre of cord (place only 1 stitch so you can pull out if your not happy with the look of the flower)  secure and then make another loop next to this one sewing the loops inplace as you go until you have 5 loops per flower......it takes a few attempts to get the feel for it and have all your petals quite equal in size.

 Sew through the centre of flower and sew inplace on the hat. If not felting then you will put a couple of sts through each petal so the flower lays flat.

Flower for top of hat:With 3.5mm needles and a single strand of yarn, cast on 2 sts.
Inc 1 sts at the beg of each row until you have 11 sts.
Break yarn leaving stiches inplace on the needle, simply slide the work to end of needle. On the empty needle cast on again as before rep the procedure until you have all 5 points on the same needle.
Next: knit across all 5 points, knit 2 rows.
next: k2tog across, k1.
next: k2tog across row.
next: k2tog across - 7sts rem, pass 6sts (1 at a time over 1st stitch), fasten off.
Needle Felt or sew the flower inplace as shown below.

           I-Cord Top:
As before for daisy, cast on 4 sts and make an I-Cord 18'' inches long. Attach to top and center of flower,add beads on ends and tie a knot in end of cord to prevent bead from falling off.

ABBREVIATIONS:
K=Knit, rnd(s)= round, sts= stitches, beg= begining, D.P.N.= double pointed needles, K2tog= knit next 2 sts together to make 1 stitch=a decrease, rem=remain,

Winter Cherry and Raven Black

This is a hat that i managed to knit and finish in one day......Thanks to the embelish knit gadget and clover felting pad and needles. These hats are really easy to knit and the felting and I-Cords add Fun

And another....just can't stop knitting these hats......i love the natural gray soft-spun Angora with navy blue

Qiviut/Merino Cabled Socks...in Bordeaux : March Competition

The Clear winner of last months competition is the Egyptian red and why not ? Whats not to like about beautiful warm red with orangy undertones ! However, my fav is the bordeaux and much more suitable for me.
       Whats even better is knitting these socks with 50% Qiviut/50% merino yarn. The qiviut adds warmth, a luxurious feel...... sensuality to the yarn.....a feeling of gorgeousness and softness. The Merino adds strength,  durability and some elasticity along with supleness and adds balance to the yarn. Qiviut/merino wool blend makes the perfect socks.....that are soft and warm.
Overall Design: cabled sock top, smooth leg and foot section and toes.....for the longest time i have wanted hand knit socks with toes so every toe is snuggly wrapped in comfort ! (if you are not comfortable knitting toes.....thats ok, just knit a plain toe section)

The Competition: Win the yarn to make these socks.

*****By entering this competition you agree to use this yarn (if you are the winner) to knit the sock pattern below (socks with or without toes) and by entering you agree to send us by email a picture of the actual socks for us to post on this blog !*****
The winner will be drawn at random. Open to knitters world wide.
Tell us in the comment section what your color preference would be, either Bordeaux or Egyptian Red !
Competition is open until 15Th April 2011.
                                 Best of Luck knitting buds !

To knit these socks You will need :
1 pair of 3.5mm straight needles.
1 set of 3.00mm D.P.N
1 set of 2.75mm D.P.N
1 st marker.
1 cable needle.
Wool needle
4 skeins of qiviut/merino yarn.

TENSION: over cabled section: 16 rows= 2.5''  X 30 sts= 4.5'' inches
Tension over plain/knit st 8sts= 1'' inch X 10 rows = 1'' inch

The cabled leg section of sock is knit on straight needles. Begin by casting on 30 sts with 2 strands of yarn together. Knit across 30 sts, then begin cable work below.
1: p5, c4B, (p4, c4B) twice, p5.
2:  k5, p4, (k4,p4) twice, k5.
3: p4, T3B, (T4F, T4B) Twice, T3F, p4.
4: k4, p2, k3, p4, k4, p4, k3, p2, k4.
5: p3, T3B, p3, C4F, p4, C4F, p3, T3F, p3.
6: k3, p2, k4, (p4, k4) twice, p2, k3.
7: p3, k2, p3, T3B, T4F, T4B, T3F, p3, k2, p3.
8: k3, (p2,k3) twice, p4, (k3,p2) twice, k3.
9: p3, (k2,p3) twice, C4B, (p3,k2) twice, p3.
10: k3, (p2,k3) twice, p4, (k3, p2) twice, k3.
11: p3, k2, p3, T3F, T4B, T4F, T3B, p3, k2, p3.
12:  As 6Th row.
13: p3, T3F, p3, C4F, p4, C4F, p3, T3B, p3.
14: As 4th row.
15: p4, T3F, (T4B, T4F) twice, T3B, p4.
15: As 2nd row.
Rep above pattern 3 more times. Next bind/cast off all 30 sts.

                                                    Make sock:
With wrong side of work facing you, pick up and knit 54sts along the Longest edge onto a 3.00mm D.P.N. Next, with right side of work facing you, knit across the 54sts and put 18 sts each onto 3 dpn's.
                                                                 OR:
For a seam at the back of socks : Stitch the cast on, cast off edges together to form a rnd, with the seam facing to the center back, pick up and knit 18 sts for 1 st needle and then rep all around for needles 2 and 3.
 Join to work in the rnd, k1, place marker and continue to knit around ( putting extra tension on the 1st  stitch of each needle to prevent a ladder forming ).
continue knitting in the rnd until work measures 8.5'' inches long from beg edge of cable design.

                                                     Heel Flap:
Knit across 14sts of 1 st needle. Slip the last 4 sts onto needle 2. On needle 2 we knit the heel flap.
K1, slip 1 all across needle and add 4 sts from needle 3 to needle 2 so you now have 26 sts on needle 2 for heel flap. Next row: Turn work and purl all sts. Continue to k1, slip 1 and purl rows until flap measures 3'' inches long.

                                              This picture taken outside shows the true color of Bordeaux and its not at all Dark as the picture at the top of page suggests !

                                               Turn Heel:
1: (WS) p14, p2tog, p1, turn work.
2: sl 1, k7, k2tog, k1, turn.
3: sl 1, p8, p2tog, p1, turn.
4: sl 1, k9, k2tog, k1, turn.
5: sl 1, p10, p2tog, p1, turn.
6: sl1, k11, k2tog, k1, turn.
7: sl1, p12, p2tog, p1,turn.
8: sl1, k11, k2tog, k to end.

                                               Make sock Gusset:
With (RS) work facing you and on needle 3, pick up 14 sts evenly along the heel edge. Continue knitting across needle 3. You now have 29 sts on needle 3. Rep for other side of gusset adding the sts to needle 1. Slip marker and knit 1 rnd.
dec shaping rnds; needles 1: k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
                                           2: k without shaping.
                                           3: k1, k2tog, k to end.
Every 2nd rnd k without shaping. continue until you have  17 sts rem on needles 1 and 3. Next rnd: continue shaping as above for another 6 rnds and at the same time dec on needle 2 as thus: k1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
When finished you should have: 14 sts on needles 1 and 3 = (28), needle 2 has 12 sts.
 K for a further 6 rnds.

Foot shaping increases: on needle 1, k to last 2 sts, inc 1 st. needle 2- no increase. Needle 3, k1 inc 1 sts, k to end. Next rnd: knit without inc. rep these 2 rnds another 3 times until you have 18 sts on needles 1 and 3 and 12 sts on needle 2.

Continue knitting without shaping until sock reaches to beg of toes......try it on for correct fit !
                                               Knit the Toes:
''Right Foot''

 With 2.75mm d. p needles knit 2 rnds.( With  2.75mm the large toe sts will be smaller and firmer so they will be more durable) ! If your socks are anything like mine ' its always the large toe area thats goes first' !

After knitting the 2 rnds, slide 6 sts from needle 1 onto needle 2 and 6 sts from needle 3 onto needle 2. knit sts from needle 1 onto needle 3 removing stitch marker as you go. You now have 48sts divided onto 2 needles that are facing eachother. Next we divide for toes (DO NOT BREAK YARN)

It is very important to try on the sock as you knit so each toes is perfect !

I found that the toes were a little on the small side and would have been better if knitted on a 3.00mm needle !

With contrast thicker yarn and wool needle remove 16 sts to waste yarn. Rep for other needle. Divide the 16 sts remaining onto 3 needles and begin to knit around to make large toe. Knit with extra tension to keep sts firm and small = durable !
When knitting reaches just past the end of large toe, break yarn leaving a 10cm tail and close top of toe, secure sts and sew loose end inside if sock.

Next: the following toes are knit on 3.00mm D.P.N
Slip 4 sts from each side onto 2 d.p.n's, at same time pickup 1 extra st from both sides of the gap between toes so you now have 10 sts to knit 2nd toe. Leaving a 10cm tail to close gap between toes, join to work in the rnd and knit as before trying on the sock for fit.
Rep as above for the next 3 toes and then your done. Sew in any loose ends and begin other sock reversing the shapings for toes of other foot.......Knit 2nd sock as 1st until you reach the toe section, then follow the pattern below for Left foot.

Left Foot: you should have all your sts on 2.75mm d.p.n'S and are ready to divide for toes.
Needles 1 and 3. slip 6 sts each from the ends of these needles onto needle 2. This needle now contains 24 sts. knit the sts from needle 2 directly onto needle 1. You now have all sts on 2 parallel needles. to knit the large toe of left foot you must knit to the opposite end of needle 2. You are now ready to remove the extra sts to waste yarn as before and knit the large toe on the 2.75mm needles as before and remaining toes on 3.00mm needes.


ABBREVIATIONS:
T3F= put next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, purl the next st from left hand needle, then knit the 2 sts from cable needle.
T3B= put next st onto cable needle and hold at back, knit next 2 sts from left hand needle, purl the st from the cable needle.
C4F= put next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, knit next 2 sts from left hand needle, then knit 2 sts from cable needle.
C4B= put next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at back, knit next 2 sts from left hand needle, knit the 2 sts from cable needle.
T4F= put next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at front, purl next 2 sts on left hand needle, then knit the 2 sts from cable needle.
T4B= put next 2 purl sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next 2 sts from left hand needle, then purl 2 sts from cable needle.

                                       Competition winner: Photo by Jennifer Crandall.
                                                   '' The Worlds Softest Socks ''

Easy Knit Gloves

These are real easy to knit ! I used the 3 ply Arctic musk ox blend in Navy, Raspberry, hand painted teal and navy and a new hand painted color consisting of all the above colours, 4 colours in total and i may have enough yarn for 2 pairs !
Knit on 2.75mm D.P.N so the construction is firm and close fitting.

The only patterns i could find were vintage style calling for a total of 7 needles.....way to complex and annoying so i thought i would design an easy pattern using only 4 needles and holding sts not in use with waste lengths of yarn. Much simpler, easy to work and No Tangled needles to make you scream ! Follow the tension suggestion below and if you feel that you need them larger or smaller simply go up or down a needle size:

Tension on 2.75mm = 7 sts=1'' inch X 9 rows = 1'' inch
The picture above shows the thumb sts on waste yarn just before i close the gap.
***Remember when knitting in the RND (round)...Always put extra tension on your 1 st of every needle to prevent an ugly ladder/gap forming***.

I will add the pattern and more pictures as i go along, i hope to be able to show different segments in detail so you can easily knit these for yourself !

I would say the only sticky bit of this pattern is separating the sts and holding the sts not in use and writing the text in a clear easy to understand manner !

If this is your 1 st pair of gloves its probably better to knit them using a single colored yarn and trying the gloves for fit as you go along.

The Pattern:

You will need 75 grams -3 skeins of Arctic musk ox 3 ply yarn.

1 set of 2.75mm D.P.Needles.

3 lengths of waste yarn-worsted weight or small stich holders.

3 st markers.

ABBREVIATIONS- rnd=round. sts= stitches, sm=stitch marker,dpn=double pointed needles, sm=slip marker. Beg= beginning.

Make Cuff:

With 2.75mm dpn and your main colour cast on 44 sts, join to work in the rnd, pm knit 1 row.

Next rnd: k2, p2 for 6 rnds, then k 1 rnd.

 change to raspberry: k2, p2, 6 rnds Raspberry, k1 rnd.

Change to main colour, k2,p2 for 7 rnds, k1 rnd. Rib is complete.

With Navy k 5 rnds.

With main colour knit 6 rnds.

THUMB GUSSET:

Join on Raspberry and at the same time make thumb.

RND 1: k 18 sts, PM, m1, k1, m1,k1,PM, continue knitting rnd.

RND 2: and all Alternate rnds- knit without shaping.

RND 3: k 18, sm, m1, k3, m1, sm, k rem sts.

RND 5: k18, sm, m1, k5, m1, sm, k to beg.

Change to main colour: RND7:k18, sm, m1, k7, m1, sm, k to beg.

RND 9: k18,sm, m1, k9, m1, sm, k to beg.

RND 11: k18, sm, m1, k11, m1, sm, k to beg.

Change to navy and turquoise.

RND 13: k18, sm, m1, k13, m1, sm, k to beg.

Next Rnd: knit all sts to 1st marker, remove marker and put the next 13 sts for thumb onto waste yarn.

Next close the gap, knit putting EXTRA tension on the sts to close the gap. Palm Section:

Continue knitting around for another 5 rnds with navy and turquoise yarn.

As you can see from the picture above there is ample room to try the gloves on so you can get the best possible fit.

Change to hand painted yarn and knit another 6 rnds, again try the glove on for fit. After completing the next 6 rnds the work should reach the base of the beginning of your fingers.

Change to navy and knit 2 rnds.

, at same time inc 1 st each end of all 3 needles

Next make fingers:

With navy yarn, k across needle 1 and knit 8 sts onto needle 1 from needle 2. The rem 8 sts on needle 2, slip them onto needle 3 so you now have 48 sts on 2 needles that are parallel to each other.

 DO NOT BREAK YARN !

See below

Take 2 lengths of waste yarn and remove 18 sts from the end of 1 needle so you have 6 sts remaining, repeat for other needle. At this point i like to change to bamboo needles for the fingers, the bamboo is non-slippy so there is no chance of dropping sts when working in the rnd on a few sts!

With Thumb gusset facing to the right side begin to knit the index finger. k 4sts onto needle 1, 4sts each onto needles 2 and 3, put extra tension on the 1st of each needle so its nicely closed. Knit about 15 rnds and try on the glove, the knitting should come just over the tip of index finger.

Next: Break yarn leaving a 10cm tail, load wool needle and run through the 12 sts, close tightly and sew in loose end to inside of glove.

Change color for middle finger or not !

begin cast on  by leaving a 10cm tail (this is used to sew gap between fingers when glove is complete). Rep as for index finger, picking up a total of 12 sts and knitting this finger to same length as index finger. Rep for the ring finger too.

Pinkie-small finger: You should have 11 or 12 sts remaining (me, sometimes i have 12 and sometimes i have 11) ! You should have 12, if not, inc 1 st by picking up a loop between finger gap. Knit as for other fingers trying the glove as you go along and knitting till it reaches the top of your wee finger and close in the same way as other fingers.

Next: turn glove inside out and sew in all the loose ends by weaving them into same coloured rows.(i prefer a really sharp darning needle for this as it slips into the pearl sts neatly.

Thumb:

divide the 13 sts onto 3 needles and inc 1 st on needle 1. Knit as for fingers trying on as you go and finish in the same way sewing in the loose end.

Go make another glove !

Qiviut Lace Cap.......very cute and very easy!

 The Whispering Tundra Lace Cap

 ......so easy and takes only 22 grams of either 100% qiviut or any of our 50% qiviut blends of 2 ply lace weight.

Close fitting and fits the average person.

TENSION:over rib section-8 sts=1''inch on 3.00mm circular needle

You will need:
160 yards of pure qiviut 2 ply lace yarn.

1 - 3.00 mm circular needle -max 40cm long

1 - set of 3.5mm D.P.N

10 stitch markers.

Point protectors.

Begin with Ribbed Brim

Cast on 122 sts, join to work in the rnd, k1, (pm)= place marker st, p1, continue in k1, p1 until work measures 1.5',inches long and make a double dec on last rnd so you have 120 sts.

Next: beg lace pattern, change to 3.5mm 

RNDS 1-4: knit 4 rnds.

RND 5: sm, k1, *(k2tog)twice, (yf,k1) 3 times, yf, (sl1,k1,psso) twice, k1, pm(place a stitch marker), rep from* (adding st markers as you go) back to the beg.

RND 6: knit

***rep the last 2 rnds 3 times more, then rep all 12 rnds until work measures 6.5''inches long from beg or until 3 full pattern repeats are made.

 Top Shaping                           

Next: knit 8 rnds in knit stitch and remove markers as you go (leave the beg st marker inplace)

Dec for top shaping:

1: *k8, k2tog ,rep from* to end.

2: And all alternate rows-knit.

3: *k7, k2tog, rep from * to end.

5: *k6, k2tog, rep from * to end.

7: *k5, k2tog, rep from*to end

9: *K4, k2tog, rep from * to end.(here you may want to change to D.P.N)

11: *K3, k2tog, rep from * to end.

13: *k2, k2tog, rep from * to end.

Break yarn leaving a 10'' inch tail, double up yarn and draw through remaining sts,close and sew in any loose ends, hand wash and lay flat to dry or set Iron to silk setting and lightly steam !

Most of the hats i knit have an  I-cord top sewn inplace and i love to add beads for a finishing touch.