Candlelight Kimono

A bit like British trains, I may be slow and I may need a bus replacement service, but I get there eventually!

Yarns suggested: Patons Australia Serenity DK
Yarn weight: DK / 8 ply (11 wpi)
Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stocking stitch
Needle size: US 7 / 4.5 mm
Yardage: 1179 – 1441 yards
Sizes available: To fit bust (inches) 42 (44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56)

A multi-seasonal garment designed to fit and flatter a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The lace pattern on the sleeves and lower body is relatively simple to execute and is balanced by stocking stitch on the bodice.

Moss stitch borders and vents provide texture and self-finishing hems (no picking up stitches!). This cardigan is knit in five pieces from the hem up, has a set-in sleeve style with design options including waist shaping, bust darts and two styles of sleeve.

Full instructions for bust dart placement are included.

Designed specifically for and only available on the Ample Knitters Yahoo Group website.

Torbay

Hollywood stars holidaying on the French Riviera in the late 1950s was my inspiration for this cardigan (although it is named for an area on the South coast of England known as the “English Riviera”).
Torbay is knit from the neck down in a seamless yoke style and features a simple cable down both fronts, garter stitch welts, and trims in a contrasting yarn.

If I look like I’m melting, it’s because I took these photos in June, on the one day of Summer we had this year!

Anyway, I like top down cardigans, but I wanted something a bit different to the usual raglans.  I love the look of yoke cardigans and so with much head-scratching and a lot of maths, I created “Torbay”.

For me, it’s the little details in this design like the contrast colour cast on and the garter stitch welts.  But I’m biased!

I nearly tore my hair out trying to get the maths right for each of the sizes (which I had to work out individually) but I hope you will agree that it’s worth it!

Name: Torbay cardigan from the Winter issue of The Inside Loop

Yarn: Patons Diploma Gold Aran (180 m/100 g) in colour: Cocoa 08218

Size made: 43 inches to fit 44.75 inches/109 cm to fit 114 cm

The End!

Esme

Esme (pronounced ezz-mee, it’s a Scottish girl’s name!) is a quickly-knitted hat which gives you two looks in one.  Worn on the top of the head, it’s a tam.  With the cabled brim pulled down over the ears, it becomes a cloche hat.  Knit at a tighter tension than recommended, the yarn makes a warm fabric, perfect for the cooler weather.

Yarn: 1 (2, 2, 2) skeins Sirdar Click Chunky (75 m/50 g) in colour: 0155 (Echo).  Adult Medium used 70 g (approx. 105 m)

Tension/gauge:
16 sts and 21 rows = 10cm/4inches in stocking stitch in the round
Note: for substitution purposes, chose a yarn with a tension of 14 sts and 19 rows = 10 cm/4 inches in stocking stitch.

Free pattern: Toe Cap

Ideal for diabetics, people with Raynaud’s Disease or simply if you have cold toes, this little cap knits up very quickly and uses very little yarn.  Perfect for those last few yards of left-over sock yarn.

Yarn: Sock/fingering weight yarn, approx. 30 m/6 g made one toe cap of size given.

Needles: Five double pointed needles (or preferred style for working in the round) in size to obtain tension

Tension: 28 sts and 36 rounds per 10 cm over stocking stitch in the round

Materials/notions: set of 5 double pointed needles or type of needles you prefer, in size to obtain tension listed above

A blunt sewing needle.

Abbreviations:

• K = knit
• P = purl
• Kf/b = knit into front and back of stitch (1 st. increased)
• rnd = round

Pattern:

Using Judy’s Magic Cast On method (or preferred method) cast on 12 sts (6 per needle).

K 1 round, distributing sts even over needles

Inc. rnd: (K1, Kf/b, K2, Kf/b, K1) twice

Rep. this rnd 8 times [44 sts], then every alternate rnd until 64 sts are on the needles.

Instep stitches: (K1, P1) across half sts.
Sole sts: K.

Work in this manner for approx. 2 cm.

Work K1, P1 rib over all sts for another 3 cm or until reached desired length.

Cut length of yarn approx. 30 cm long.

Using the sewn method, cast off all sts.

Weave in ends.

Legal note: I am offering this pattern for free. Do not sell this pattern. I encourage you to make some for charity or for someone you know who needs their toes kept warm. Donations to charity or for raffles and the like is OK.  If you use this pattern, please consider making a donation to a health or age-related charity.

(C) Amy Pickard 2008.

Errata: Chess Set

Apparently I can’t count and there was a major mistake in the written instructions for my Chess Set pattern (thank you to the knitter on Ravelry who spotted it).

I’ve changed the pattern and uploaded new PDFs both here and over at Ravelry.

If you need the new pattern, please download it now.

The charts are unaffected.

Thank you, come again!