Tag: garter stitch

Back Porch Shawl…

Diana Poirier

Hello everyone!

I’ve been working on finishing up a shawl for myself before I get started on my pattern for Paintbox Yarns.

We have a lovely back porch at our house and my husband and I are out there all the time having our morning coffee on the weekends (except in the Winter of course!) and in the Spring and Fall it sometimes gets a little chilly!  So I thought, what would be better than having a shawl to  wrap myself up with while enjoying my coffee! 😀

I’ve always wanted to make myself a shawl but most of the patterns I found I thought to be too difficult.  Finally after a considerable amount of browsing, I found some super easy instructions, modified them a bit and came up with this!

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I still have one more ball of yarn to go and I should be done.

If you would like to make one for yourself, here’s what you’ll need to know:

You will need approx. 850 yards of Aran (4) weight yarn

US size 8 circular needles (36″ min.)

Cast on 3 stitches

Row 1: Knit, Knit, Yarn over, Knit (the yarn over creates a new stitch)

Row 2: Knit, Knit, Knit, Yarn over, Knit

Knitting every row creates the Garter Stitch.

Continue with knitting every stitch, yarn over before the last stitch, knit the last stitch. Do this for all the rows.

Click here for a video on the Yarn over if you are not familiar with how it’s done.

In the video she does her yarn overs in the middle of her piece.  For the shawl, the yarn overs are only done once per row just before the last stitch.  Also, in the video she purls the stitches once she turns her work – you’ll be knitting all your stitches.

Here’s how your edges will look.

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Well, off to get this shawl finished!

If you give it a try, please share a photo over on my Facebook page.  I would LOVE to see your work!

Happy knitting!

Diana

 

 

Introducing “Thomas”…

Diana Poirier

Hi  there!

I started this crib blanket late last year but never had a chance to finish it.

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Between making commissioned pieces, hosting Christmas, ringing in the New Year and then deciding it would be a great time to begin changing our flooring, I just didn’t have the time.

But now we’ve taken a break from changing the flooring (I needed a break from the dust – we’re putting hardwood down) so I had the chance to finally complete the blanket and get the pattern written.

I was inspired by the Burberry colours and hence the name “Thomas” as in “Thomas Burberry”. 😉

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It’s a really simple blanket pattern that utilizes only the knit stitch and simple colour changes.  I used “Red Heart Soft” yarn.  It was wonderful to work with.  The blanket ended up nice and cushy!

The finished size is approximately 35″ X 46″ so would make for a really nice lapghan too!

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The patterns are available for sale over at loveknitting.com, in my Etsty store and on Craftsy.com.

If you give it a try, please share a photo on my Facebook page! I would love to see your work!

Happy knitting!

Diana

 

FREE pattern…

Diana Poirier

So!  It’s finally starting to get chilly out there!

How about knitting an infinity scarf to keep you warm? Click here for the FREE pattern!

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This scarf is really warm since it’s knit with 2 strands of  yarn at one time.

It’s a great weekend project, so what are you waiting for?

Happy knitting!

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A little side tracked…

Diana Poirier

Good afternoon!

Well, I was almost done my “Peacock” blanket so I thought it would be a good time to start another project!! It just didn’t seem right to only have 1 project on the go!! LOL!!

Burberry was my inspiration for this blanket.  I love the classic tan, black and red.  This blanket is knit lengthwise to get the vertical stripes.

I have to say, it’s going to be one of my bigger blankets!  It will be the PERFECT lapghan size measuring, I hope, about 40″ x 48″.

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Well, off to do some knitting! Now I have two blankets to get finished and get the patterns written for!

Happy knitting!

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Introducing “Princess Kelly”…

Diana Poirier

Hello there!

I got my pattern done quicker than I thought I would!

Here are the completed “Princess Kelly” fingerless gloves:

 

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The pattern is now available for sale over at loveknitting.com, in my Etsy shop and on Craftsy!

It’s super easy and quick, so GREAT for a weekend project! It utilizes only the knit stitch and is knit flat and seamed up the sides.

If you give it a try, please share on my Facebook page!

Happy knitting!

“Princess Kelly” gloves…

Diana Poirier

Good afternoon everyone!

It’s a HOT one here today so a great day to stay indoors in the air conditioning and knit!!

I’ve started knitting these lovely gloves – I call them the “Princess Kelly” gloves, and will be writing the pattern for them too.  I adore the frilly cuff on them!

I’m creating them using an ultra soft nylon and acrylic blend DK yarn from Cascade I purchased from loveknitting.com.

They’re going to be fingerless gloves, so perfect for the chilly days ahead.  I know it doesn’t seem like the chilly days will ever return with all the hot weather we’ve been having, but I have faith it’s coming soon! LOL!!

Stay tuned.  I hope to have the pattern complete soon!

Happy knitting!

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An ode to Canada…

Diana Poirier

Hello everyone!

I’ve finally finished my next pattern and it’s now available to purchase on loveknitting.com, in my Etsy shop and on Craftsy.com.

It’s the “Hooded Hudson Bay Inspired Bunting Bag” for babies ages newborn to 3 months old.

I had a TON of fun creating this pattern and I really hope you love it as much as I do.  It’s knit in one piece and then seamed up one side with snaps on the other making it super easy to get a squiggly little baby in and out!

And if anyone is looking for a gift for a baby to be, this one’s for sale.  Just shoot me a message at diana.poirier@yahoo.ca.

Happy knitting!

A little tip…

Diana Poirier

Hello there!

Just stopping by to share a quick little tip when working with the “garter stitch”.

When you’re working with a pattern and you have to keep track of how many rows you have knitted, counting your “ridges” is much easier.  Each ridge is 2 rows.

In the example above, you have 8 ridges of yellow with the 9th ridge started on your needle. So, you have knitted 17 rows!

Now you know more easily when knitting the garter stitch (knitting every row) exactly how many rows you have knitted.

This tip will come in handy with my new pattern I have coming out soon! 😉

Happy knitting!

 

Free pattern Friday…

Diana Poirier

Hello everyone!

Well it’s Friday, so I thought this would be a good day to share a FREE pattern with you.

I know it’s summer, but it’s never too early to start your Christmas knitting.

Click here for the “Garter Stitch Infinity Scarf” pattern!

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Happy knitting!

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“Pay it forward” gift #2

Diana Poirier

I just wanted to stop by quickly and show you the finished blanket I made for my second Facebook “Pay it Forward” gift.

DSCN4254I used 4 balls of Bernat Super Value yarn and US size 8 circular knitting needles.

I casted on 180 stitches and slipped the first stitch purl wise, knitted across the row, then purled the last stitch.  I did this for every row creating a garter stitch blanket with an I-cord edge.

When I came close to the end of one colour and wanted to add my next colour, I knit  2 rows of my one colour, then 2 rows of my next colour and I did this twice so you would have 2 stripes of the new colour intertwined with 2 stripes of the colour before.

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This one is heading to Sault Ste. Marie for my godson and his family.  😀

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