Sparrow

Sparrow is a very fun and simple shawl or scarf worked in a yarn I had for a long time, just begging to be used. I missed working on a worsted weight shawl for a long time, but never seemed to find the right project to start it.

Sparrow crescent shawl

Well, this collection gave me the final push to stop procrastinating and start scratching my head!

Cascade Eco Cloud
color "1808 Wild Dove"

I had these 2 skeins of Cascade Eco Cloud for a while, and they were so lovely I had a hard time deciding what to do with them. I bought these skeins to try out the yarn before working on a full garment with it, a process I learned was worth it.

It was a while since I worked a shawl in a worsted weight yarn, and I finally decided to go through with this idea. I went ahead with a crescent shape, because I like a lot and I think it's versatile and fun to wear.

I decided to use a simple texture for the central panel, to add just a bit of interest without making the shawl overly complicated. The large lacy border gives a strong visual impact and just what it takes to bring everything together in this simple design. The optional crochet border adds to the lace effect but can be replaced by a few rows of garter stitch if desired!

The overall pattern is quite simple, and makes a fun little project!

Pattern is now available as an individual download as well as a part of the "Frugal Knitting" collection.

Young gentleman Knits: a collection just for little boys (girls welcome too!)

Ha! Those perfectly adorable little buggers... who wouldn't love them? I love little boys, with their boundless energy and unrestrained enthusiasm, and the fact that I have one of my own only adds to my affection for the young gentlemen of this world.

But the origins of this particular collection are all tied up to my very own little boy, and one innocent question: "Mommy, when will you make me a sweater?". This one question sent me on a new mission in life : build up a collection of knitting patterns for the little boy in my life.

"Mommy, when will you make me a sweater?"

You see, my first few designs were for my son, and he was also the recipient of the very first knitted piece I made! I always loved to knit for him and I have a monstrous amount of yarn intended to use for garments or accessories for him. But sadly, it had been a while since I designed something for him, because he spent some months (years actually!) refusing to wear anything I made for him. After a while, I started busying myself with various women's designs, and neglected my first love for designing things the little boys.

This year, I will be renegading on this omission with a collection of 7 designs for little boys (you could totally adapt any of these to the little girl in your life too, and I bet she would be adorable in them!), all to be published in the current of the year 2014. This collection will be proceeding the same as my previous collections, with a discounted price of 15$ until the completion of the collection and a final price of 18$ when all the pattern are added. Each pattern will also be available individually, and added to the collection as soon as they are finished.

ALL the patterns in the collection will be seamless. I hate seams (even if I am also an avid quilter and sewer, I strongly like to separate the two crafts!), and none of the designs will have any other seams than the simple 3 needles bind off.

Special promotion notification for my newsletter subscribers only:

• Notification of the release of new patterns 
• a 50% discount on the price of selected individual patterns valid for the first 2 weeks of the pattern's release 
• The collection will be 15$ from the first pattern release until 2 weeks after the last pattern release - no coupon code needed! After 2 weeks from the release of the last pattern in the collection, the price will be 18$ for the collection, same as my other patterns.

Buy the collection here:



So, without making you wait for more, here are the few first patterns of this new exciting collection:

Variation

This first design in the collection makes good use of an old favorite of mine: variegated yarns. I love variegated yarns dearly, especially for children's designs, and I always look forward to good ways to show them at their best advantage.

 Variation is a seamless drop shoulder pullover worked form the bottom up in a simple allover texture. The sleeves are picked up from the body and worked to the cuffs with moderate tapering. The V-Neck collar is moderately deep and picked up at the end.

Variation uses versatile worsted weight yarn, and is simple enough to be worked at a speedy pace in no time. All this makes Variation an extra comfortable sweater that your little boy will love to wear as much as mine does!

Seltzer

Selzer is a simple top down pullover with saddle shoulders and eye catching colorblocks. It is both easy and eye catching and the all-jersey fabric will make this project fly off your needles like magic!

Selzer pullover

The Seltzer pullover makes a fast project, uses worsted weight yarn and can easily be adapted to a 2 color variation! The fit is moderately generous, for both comfort and style and is already a favorite of my little boy.

Seltzer is able to offer a wide age range and a versatility that can be used for many year. The fact that the pattern is very easy makes it a good staple in your pattern library: I am already on my third of the same pattern in less than 4 months!

Released as off 06/05/2014

Nobel

Nobel is a sophisticated and striking vest worked with 2 cable panels making for a very impressive garment.

The pattern is fully charted and will dress up your little man with a lot of distinction without making your heart bleed! It's only a vest after all.. Unless you opt for the sweater version... coming soon!

Released as of 06/20/2014!

Beckley

Beckley Street is a classic cardigan worked in a fun bulky weight yarn, perfect for a Fall project. It flies off the needles and can be easily customized too. It features a shawl collar and sophisticated set in sleeves!

Released as of 09/20/2014!

Sunday Morning

Sunday Morning is a very simple pullover worked from the top-down. It features raglan shaping for the yoke and a simple V shape grown organically from the collar ribbing. Ribbing lines race on the sides to add a little extra polish, perfect for the Sunday Morning strolls.

Released as of 11/24/2014!

Variation

Variation is the first sweater I knitted for my little boy in quite some time. Now, before you frown your eyebrows and condemn me as a bad knitter-mom, I had to tell you he absolutely refuse to wear anything I made for him for over a year! No matter what it was, it was literally torn apart in his frenzy to get it off! I tried everything, from cheap acrylic to expensive superwash merino wool, but he would not wear it. Nada. Nothing.

Variation pullover

But finally, one faithful day, he was looking at we while I was knitting something, and he said : "Mommy, when are you going to make me a sweater?". At that, I dropped my needles immediately and I said : "Anytime you want, it would make me very happy!". 

"Mommy, when are you going to make me a sweater?"

And he asked, his eyes full of hope : "Can I choose the color?". Off course, I could not refuse and this was his very own choice. The yarn is Lorna's Laces Sheperd Worsted and the color is "Goblin" (I think this colorway is discontinued now, but not sure!). I chose the yarn because I knew it was super soft and would be easy to care for, and I let him choose from the seemingly never ending choice of colors.

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted
Color "Goblin"

Now, as my son had chosen a variegated yarn, I had to find the right stitch pattern to go with it. I did not want to go with garter stitch, as this takes forever and consumes too much yarn. I did not want to go with plain stockinette, as I don't quite like the effect. After a few tries, I finally found out a stitch pattern I liked enough with this strongly variegated yarn: a simple rib like pattern that would be a breeze to knit!

This shows my yarn quite nicely!

Now, I knew I had to thread on delicately for this sweater, as anything deemed "not comfortable" would threaten this renewed love for things mommy-made. I know my son hates things too close to his neck and absolutely abhors any clothing that pulls on his ears when he gets it off. This decided on the neckline: V-Neck it was! No pulled out ears problems and no scratchy neck too; it was the perfect solution. It even has the advantage of being super cute!

V-Neck details on Variation

I choose to have it at a moderate length, not too deep so it could only be worn with a shirt or a polo, but definitely not close to the skin. I think the results are quite good, if I may say so myself!

Yay: I'm cute!

Next was the choice of the overall shape and fit of the sweater and for this I decided to go with the most comfortable - and simple - of all: a moderately large drop shoulder pullover all worked in the round with picked up sleeves at the armholes. The result is a very simple silhouette, with ample ease for the ever moving little boy (or girl, off course) and no pesky seems to bother either the knitter or the wearer!

So, in short, Variation is a bottom-up pullover, started with a firm 1X1 ribbing for the hem, continued in the round in a lovely large rib pattern that take advantage of the unique beauty of variegated yarns and worked flat to the shoulder with a simple but refined V-Neck shaping. The shoulders are seamed with an easy 3 needles bind off, for a stable and durable stable.

Shoulder detail - Variation pullover

The sleeves are picked up around the straight drop shoulder and are worked to the cuffs in the round. This makes for very comfy sleeves, with easily adjustable length.

An adjustable fit = great looks and comfort!

Variation is available individually as well as part of my new collection "Young Gentleman Knits", a collection of garments and accessories for the little boy (or girl) in your life!

Go to the collection page here!

Buy the individual pattern