August giveaway, more mill ends & another Smokering pattern

The Chevron Smokering

Last months post was about smokerings and again this month. The smokerings i knit last month are now in Germany....my daughter Kyanna went to visit friends for 2 weeks and needed a few gifts to take along....the friends father got qiviut socks, the mother received my best smokering and johanna a lovely Bordeaux lace smokering which is why i'm knitting more smokerings again this month. 

They are the perfect gift.

August is the month that i start my Christmas knitting.

When do you start ?

I love how the wavy edge looks in this Tundra Green I want to do this one a little different from the 2 smokerings i knit last month. As you can see its almost finished. Imagine the cast on edge(wavy end) as the part that frames your face and the end on the needles is going to have eyelets to thread an I-cord through and attached to the ends of the I-cord  lovely fuzzy Pom-pon's ....all from 1 skein of qiviut-queen-merino yarn

This pattern will look stunning knit from mill ends. Mill ends in similar natural shades.

Here is the little basket of mill ends for this month. 212 grams total.. I hope the Lucky winner will get 2 smokerings out of it, one for you and one for a friend.
The two lighter coloured yarns could go to make the pom-pons, the darker shade of pure qiviut could be the cast on edge(the edge that frames the face)-very soft against the skin, with the medium tones as the garter ridges.....or maybe you have other ideas !
 I will wash the yarns so they are all soft and relaxed and ready to knit when you take them out of the bag.

Pattern notes:

This stitch style pulls in the work and combined with my naturally loose knitting gauge you may need to knit with a larger size needle to get the drape required. I used a 5mm-US size 8, you may need a 6mm- Us size 9.

You will need:

5 or 6mm circular needle.

2 D.P.N's needles.

Wool needle
pompom maker.

Cast on 110 sts follow the directions below.
RNDS 1-3-5 purl.
RNDS 2-4 knit.
RND 6: *k2tog,  k2, kmit into front and back of each of next 2 sts, k3, sl1, k1, psso, rep from * to end.
RND 7: Purl.
Rep last 2 rnds twice more. Work 6th rnd again. Then begin at rnd 1 again, rep all until 9 full patterns are complete.
Next knit 2 rnds then make eyelets to thread I-cord through.
Eyelet rnd: *k5, yo, k2tog, rep from * to beg.
Knit another 2 rnds then cast off all sts.


I-Cord.  with 4mm-us size 6 DPN's, cast on 3sts leaving a 8'' inch tail.
 knit 3sts (do not turn work) simply slide the 3 sts to the opposite end of the needle bringing the yarn from behind, putting extra tension on the yarn and knitting the 3sts again. soon the cord will be 24'' inches long. Break yarn leaving a long enough tail to sew pompom to the end and gather up the 3 sts to finish I-cord.

Pompoms. I used a 2'' inch pompom maker and leftover sock yarn in natural color.
Thread the I-cord in-n-out the eyelets then attach pompoms and your done.
Gently wash and block.

To enter August Giveaway tell us in the comments section  

When do you start your Christmas knitting ?

Winner will be drawn at Random,

Open to knitters worldwide.....best of Luck !

From: August 4th To August 31st

Qiviut-Queen yarn contains- 10% qiviut-10%silk-10%cashmere-70% merino.

With only 10% qiviut in the yarn you can really feel the difference in softness. This is a lovely everyday yarn that makes wonderful socks, hats mittens, gloves, sweaters and shawls. 

Qiviut-Queen-yarn has a new price. NOW $26.00 PER SKEIN.

SOLD HERE:www.cottagecraftangora.com/qiviut-queen-merino/4557554607

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 

 

January 2013-Tundra fern kit giveaway

 

The Tundra Fern scarf kit

 

Happy new year.....

Just a quick blog entry as i'm in the middle of knitting qiviut sweaters and the deadline has come and gone.

This months giveaway is for a scarf kit shown above....looks crappy because its not blocked and i'm just test knitting it on scraps of pure qiviut yarn, the kits i mail out will be so much better and contain New yarns from the same batch and the New pattern !

here's the yarn colour choice below

 

To enter just tell us what colour you would like to knit this scarf in :
1: natural-not shown,
2: hunter green,
3: slate,
4: turkey red,
5: purple,
6: raven black,
7: mahogany,
8: raspberry,
9: egyptian red,
10: bordeaux,
11: navy blue,
12: NOT AVAILABLE...... as the qiviut we are working on is too grey and does not take that light azalea colour.

2 winners chosen at random. 
From january 2nd TO 31st January 2013
best of Luck to you all !  

And here is the finished scarf !

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.

The Whispering Tundra Scarf

''The Whispering Tundra Scarf''

Knit from 100% pure qiviut 2 ply lace weight yarn.This is one of the first scarves i made and fell in love with the soft qiviut yarn.The simple design makes for easy knitting on the go.  Knit with a repeat lace stitch that's easy to remember.
       The beads are added to the hem strung in groups of 3 so they hang down over the edge and beads are added in a random fashion over the rest of the scarf again in groups of 3.

I have knit scarf twice. The very first time i knit with lace weight 2ply qiviut on a 5mm needle, follow the pattern below on 5mm's . The lace was very open and floaty
(i think i prefer it that way) the second time i knit it using 3.75mm gives a closer stitch that is more defined and firmer but requires 3 balls-66 grams or 480 yards.
If you want a floaty open lace then 5mm's is the way to go !

Supplies: 44 grams - 2 balls of lace weight qiviut-you can use our 'magical qiviut'' yarn or ANY of our 2ply lace weight blends. To see our yarns vistit our site:www.cottagecraftangora.com
 Has to be a 2ply lace weight though to get the same lacey effect !

1 pair of 5.00 mm straight needles.

Size 6 pony beads- 4gram bag.

To begin: cast on 37 sts. scarf will measure about 8'' inches wide.

Rows 1-4 Knit.

5Th Row: (rs):k1,*(k2tog)twice,(yf,k1) 3 times,yf,(sl1,k1,psso)twice,k1;rep from * to end.

6th Row:purl.

Repeat rows 5 and 6 a total of 3 times more.

Then rep all 12 rows until all your yarn is used up.
Leave a small amount for the Bind/cast off.
Sew in any loose ends. Apply beads as you like for your own personal touch!

ABBREVIATIONS: yf=yarn forward at front of needle.
(k2tog)Twice=knit the next 2 sts together twice.
(yf,k1)3 times=yarn forward at the front of needle(lay yarn over top of needle),then knit the next stitch.
(sl1,k1,psso)twice=slip the next st to opposite needle without knitting it,then knit the next st,then pass the lipped st over the stitch just worked,do this twice.

Look for more patterns and yarns at:www.cottagecraftangora.com