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

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 !