Pinnacle Chevron

Current paint project,
she's taken about a week so far and still isnt finished.

            Oh no, I didn't keep my promise of posting yesterday! And no one is surprised. Look I just
forget when I'm on holiday and because my laptops doing "something spooky" as my brother would put it, it's a real PITA to post when I'm here, I keep leaving it upstairs and it's annoying to climb three flights just to get my laptop down. Not only that but because my phone is being weird with instagram at the minute some of the pictures I've taken need to be edited again on my laptop which again, is testing my already lazy nature. I've also been doing very little actual knitting since I got here mostly because Persona 5 partly because stellaris and partly because a bunch of my mini's arrived and I've been painting. (Yes I paint mini's, yes that's like the lamest thing anyone can do, but really I only do it for display/I like painting, not for actual wargaming unlike the BF who is a much bigger dork than I am) My problem is I have about 20,000 different hobbies and I tend to have very intense periods of doing one a lot more than the others then I get distracted and drop it. I procrastinate my hobbies with more hobbies! For example the above paint project is actually a "side project" for my main project which is a giant dragon. And I havent started it as I can't decide on a colour scheme I've narrowed it down to either, black and blue, black and red, or white and blue. Buuuut I'm sure I'll figure it out when I get back to uni. I'm actually staying here longer than expected as the BF doesn't have to go home next week and I didn't want to abandon him to a house with only J*** (one of our housemates, he's fine but the BF wanted to have a longer holiday with me) in it.

Anyway on with todays stitch. Pinnacle chevron. One of the prettiest patterns in the first chapter (possibly beaten by seeded chevron which is next up) it's a very nice overall texture. Because it's basis is a broken 2x2 ribbing the pattern also has a lot of lateral stretch. If left unblocked or blocked lightly the ribs tend to twist slightly, (a result of the moving purl stitches) and resembles a mock ribbing rounding out naturally, defining the chevron.

Swatch is as Follows: 4ply - 2.5mm needles - 37st x 48st - Longtial CON - Chain COFF

Pattern for working flat:
CON multiple of 18st + 1
Rows 1 & 3 - P1 *(K2,P2)x2, K1, (P2,K2)x2, P1*
Rows 2 & 4 - K2 *(P2,K2)x2, P1, (K2,P2)x2, K1*
Rows 5 & 7 - P1 *P1, K2, P2, K2, P3, (K2,P2)x2*
Rows 6 & 8 - K1*K1, P2, K2, P2, K3, (P2,K2)x2*
Rows 9 & 11 - Rows 2 & 4
Rows 10 & 12 - Rows 1 & 3
Rows 13 & 15 - Rows 6 & 8
Rows 14 & 16 - Rows 5 & 7

I've added spacing to this pattern as I think it makes it easier to read. I will be doing more complex patterns this way from now on to save your eyeballs. This pattern is another cyclical one, (like the chevron pattern) where the second half is the inverse of the first half. This pattern is also a good one if you want to practise "reading" your knitting as it's pretty obvious is you make a mistake. Anyway hopefully I will remember to do another blog post sooner rather than later. This week has been a pretty good test of how often I will post when I'm at university, as the only difference is I'll be doing lectures rather than just playing persona 5 and painting. I will likely post less if I have a lot of work to do (obviously) but twice a week is a pretty good rate for most blogs anyway. Good Luck and Happy Knitting!

Tulip Pattern

Although I put my clothes away for once
as I didn't want to get yelled at by my mother

            I'm back off my holidays (Boooo!) so you'll now have a more regular posting schedule
(Yaaay!) everyone's been busy today returning the house to habitable levels, doing laundry, getting the cat, doing the shopping, doing more laundry, getting annoyed that the cat keeps crying ect. Although I have a HUGE spike in my views on the 8th of august when I posted the parallelogram pattern so either you all went mad for that one or you were all dying for a new post. Either way I've been very busy today, on the last day on the beach I wove in all the ends on my finished swatches and I've been putting them in the book as fast as I can I've only done 5 so far because it's a tedious and long job but hopefully by the end of the week they'll all be in and I can get on with the slip stitch patterns. Anyway enough chatting on with the pattern.

Tulip pattern is likely so called because it resembles rows of tulips in a flower bed. Or well... Sort of? Idk i get where they're coming from, but it looks mostly like a weird ribbing, and it has a lot in common with broken rib patterns. I personally much prefer last week's patterns as they have a clear use but idk about this one; it's not ugly but I probably wouldn't do it again. Not my style. It does look better with blocking, and maybe the yarn I used here wasn't the best choice but I think its more personal taste. (I'd hazard a guess it's not one of Barbaras favs either given she doesn't say anything about it) It'd probably look best in green.
It also has an annoying tendency to curl a lot as you can see I've tried to pin it flat but it REALLY doesn't want to, and if you know me I will do anythning to get a stitch that doesn't curl. It does have a lot of vertical stretch so if you want a pattern that stretches well longways this may be a viable choice.

*sigh* I took this picture when on holiday :(

Swatch is as follows: 4ply - 2.5mm needles - 30st x 52st - Longtail CON -  Chain COFF

Pattern for working flat
CON multiple of 3st
Rows 1 & 3 - *K*
Rows 2 & 4 - *P*
Rows 5 & 7 - K1*P1,K2*P1,K1
Rows 6 & 8 - P1*K1,P2*K1,P1
Rows 9 & 11 - *P2,K1*
Rows 10 & 12 - *P1,K2*

Well that's it for todays pattern, although I am sad to no longer be on holiday, and the cat's constant meowing to make sure we havent abandoned her again is very annoying, I will say I have missed my own bed caravan singles are horrifically small, and very hard; so my spine is thanking me for sleeping on an actual bed rather than on a very skinny rock. Hope you're all having nice holidays if you're on them and that work isn't too terrible if you're there. Happy Knitting!

Broken Diagonal Rib

Tomasz Schafernaker aka the best weatherman

            And I'm back sorry about the break but I've been busy doing nothing on my holidays, it's also going to be a pretty short post today as I've left it late, and I'm tired from swimming/ trying to dunk my brother and cousin as much as possible today. We went to an indoor pool as it was peeing it down all day today. Other than the day we arrived it's been pretty nice weather here so far, especially compared to home where the weather has been pretty dreadful all week. But you didn't come here for a weather report, or to hear about all the icecream I've been eating, you came here for the swatch.
Although speaking of Icecream has anyone else watched the sweet makers? Just me? I really like historical food programmes, I want to have a banquet one day but I don't know where I would hold it or why. Feasts are just fun OK?! (yes got to use an interrobang) Bluh I shouldn't write at night time my brain runs away with me. Anyway on with the knitting game.

Broken diagonal ribbing is pretty much the same as the last swatch I posted, Diagonal rib but the shift is staggered to every few rows rather than every row, the pattern provided leans in the opposite direction as the diagonal rib pattern does. The stagger gives the ribs an interesting zig-zag appearance.

Swatch is as follows: 4ply - 2.5mm needles - 32st x 32st - Longtail CON - Chain COFF

Pattern for working flat:
CON multiple of 8st
Rows   1 - 4 - *P4,K4*
Rows 5 & 7 - K2*P4,K4* end K2
Rows 6 & 8 - P2*K4,P4* end P2
Rows 9 - 11 - *K4,P4*
Rows 13&15 - P2*K4,P4* end P2
Rows 14&16 - K2*P4,K4* end K2

Well it took longer for me to update this post but there it is done! We're getting towards some very long and complicated patterns soon so it's time for you to sharpen up your skills, so get practising! and of course Happy Knitting!

Diagonal Rib

            Ah holidays are great aren't they? Sitting around in the sun all day does have a way of making

Photo accurate picture of my brother today

you veery sleepy. I've managed to avoid getting sunburnt today (Hooray!) but my brother has lit up like a belisha beacon. (probably because the idiot didn't put suncream on properly idjut) Didn't get much knitting done today, although I say that I did get a lot done but between the pattern taking forever and pokemon raids and gyms I didn't manage to finish the square. Todays pattern doesnt take as long as that luckily for all of you.

Today's stitch is diagonal rib, not to be confused with diagonal ribbing, this pattern does draw in but not as much as a traditional ribbing. The pattern is effectivly created by making a 4x4 ribbing and staggering it left or right each row. The pattern supplied by Barbra staggers the stitches so the ribbing is right leaning, the stitch also tends to create a slanted shape, with one side being shorter than the other, this is how the ribbing drawing in effects the overall shape of the square it can be discouraged by blocking. This ribbing doesn't need a stretchy cast off unlike other ribbing as it's stretch mimicks bias stretch.

Swatch is as follows: 4ply - 2.5mm needles - 30st x 52st - Longtail CON - Surprisongly Stretchy COFF

Pattern for working flat:

CON Multiple of 8st + 6

Row 1 - K1*P4,K4* end P4,K1

Row 2 - K4*P4,K4* end P2

Row 3 - K3*P4,K4* end P3

Row 4 - K2*P4,K4* end P4

Row 5 - P1*K4,P4* end K4,P1

Row 6 - P4*K4,P4* end K2

Row 7 - P3*K4,P4* end K3

Row 8 - P2*K4,P4* end K4

The pattern may also be varied by increasing or decreasing the number of purl stitches on the right side (ie P2,K4) or by knitting and purpling into the back loops of the stitches that form a knit stripe on the right side. An easy enough pattern and it creates an unusual stretch which may have a variety of uses, any fabric that would benifit from being cut out of bias fabric would work well in this pattern. Now I'm off to watch the one shot episode of Casualty. (yes with Dr Doggo) Happy Knitting!

Garter and Rib Check

            A Pretty late post today due to visitors. So it's going to be a pretty short post today because I  am tired from trying not to trip over a tiny child. This has probably been compounded with being unable to get out and run the past few days because I've been busy/waiting on a sports bra or it's been raining. I've also been building up a few youtube videos and things on netflix that I want to binge recently, so I'm going to write this post and then chill out by myself for a while.

I've also been thinking about doing some posts that arent the treasury patterns, maybe some seasonal things, but obviously the current project takes priority given the time it's going to take and I want to try and get as much as possible done before I have to be an adult with a job.


On with the stitch, Barbra keeps it short and sweet and so will I. Garter and Rib check is pretty much explained in the name. Checks of Garter Stitch alternating with checks if ribbing.

Swatch is as follows: 4ply - 2.5mm needles - 30st x 42st - German Loop CON - Surprisingly Stretchy COFF

Pattern for working flat:
CON: Multiple of 10st
Rows 1.3 & 5 - *(K1,P1)x2,K6*
Rows 2, 4 & 6 - *K5,(P1,K1)x2,P1*
Rows 7,9 & 11 - *K6,(P1,K1)x2*
Rows 8,10 & 12 - *(P1,K1)x2,P1,K5*

Well that's today's stitch, it's better looking than yesterdays. (But we all know how I feel about that one) Tomorrow's pattern is more interesting and some of the elements in it will be useful to us later. Happy Knitting!

Double Basket

This very accurate picture is from
http://www.holyokehome.com/2010/06/#axzz4mddIgjkc

            After a day of de-wallpapering, boiling my head, running, and getting scratched to hell picking gooseberries for my mother (who knew gooseberry bushes had demon thorns?!) I am finally able to sit down and get the needles out, or I will be once I stop the bleeding. Whew! I am pooped and this pattern although utterly lovely is a pretty long pattern. Do you like the appearance of cables but the idea of knitting them gives you the willies? Do you need a pattern that's nearly as stretchy as ribbing but looks so much better? Do you want to impress people with your mad skillz while actually doing nothing other than knit and purl stitches? Well I've got you covered fam.

 This natty pattern looks a great deal like cables! Those waving ribs? They're actually knitted straight and the wave is introduced by the purl welts inbetween the ribs pushing and pulling them in and out.

This effect is further exaggerated by the third smaller rib interrupted by the welts pulling the other ribs towards it. The pattern naturally shrinks inward and thus has a LOT of lateral stretch, when pulled the pattern can stretch up to 30% larger horizontally (if left unblocked), It has some vertical stretch too but only around 5-10%.

Swatch is as follows - 4ply - 2.5mm needles - 46st x 63st - Longtail CON -Surprisingly Stretchy COFF

So as you can tell this pattern is very broad (hence the swatch is over ~50st rather than ~30st there are other stitches that require more stitches for the whole pattern, however once you learn to "read your knitting it is easy enough to edit the pattern to chop of the end rib for example.

CON multiple of 18st + 10 (see it's a lot!)
Row 1 -   *K11,P2,K2,P2,K1*K10
Row 2 -     P1,K8,P1*P1(K2,P2)x2,K8,P1*
Row 3 -   *K1,P8,(K2,P2)x2, K1*K1,P8,K1
Row 4 -     P10*P1,K2,P2,K2,P11*
Row 5 - 8: repeat rows 1-4
Row 9 -   *K*
Row 10 -   (P2,K2)x2,P2*P10,(K2,P2)x2*
Row 11 - *(K2,P2)x2,K2,P8*(K2,P2)x2,K2
Row 12 -   (P2,K2)x2,P2*K8,(P2,K2)x2,P2*
Row 13 - *(K2,P2)x2,K10*(K2,P2)x2,K2
Row 14 - 17 - repeat rows 10-13
Row 18 - *P*

Whew! That was hard work writing out, and now all I've got to do today is wait for my pudding to set, (gooseberry fools yum :D) that is the last of the basket stitches for now, and it is a lovely one to end on. Happy Knitting!

Basket rib and Real life

            Well it's been a while but I promise I've been busy knitting, getting my hair dyed like a unicorn, and sorting out the physical version of this blog; I've finally filled a whole book (and have nearly finished the first chapter of swatches although they don't all fit in the first book) my mum helped me jazz up the front of the book and if you're into paper craft in general you should have a look at her blog. And here is the final version of said real book:

 As you can see the pages get pretty thick with all the swatches in.

            Right on with the swatch, basket rib, it's a variation on basket weave and is a good example of the interaction between knit and purl stitches. Although it consists of mainly purl stitches which are horizontal the overall effect is a vertical rib like texture. The reverse is a denser version of the waving rib pattern.

Swatch is as follows: 4ply - 2.5mm needles - 39st x 26st - Double loop CON - Chain COFF
Pattern for working flat:
CON multiple 4+1
Row 1 - K1*P1,K1*
Row 2 - K2*P1,K3*P1,K2
Row 3 - P2 *K1,P3*K1,P2
Row 4 - P1*K1,P1*
Row 5 - K1*P3,K1*
Row 6 - P1*K3,P1*

A pretty slow knit given its density but it is very warm and on small enough needles it would likely be windproof so it would make a good winter jumper if you have the patience for it. Happy Knitting!

Waving Rib Pattern

            I tell you what summer telly is garbage, I haven't noticed much as I have netflix and running is a good distraction but now I've finished orange is the new black and it's 20 days until Game of Thrones season 7 premiers I've got nothing to watch while I knit, and I don't want to get into anything big because it's only 20 days! *squealing* Seriously I am a Game of Thrones super-fan I knitted a Game of Thrones blanket last year, (That was my last big project before this madness) annoyingly it's showing in the summer this year so I won't be under it to watch the show :'( also I left it at uni by accident, maybe I'll make the BF get it for me during grad week.

           

The blanket

            Anyway on with the stitches today we've got a cool effect based on how knits and purls interact, the ribs in this stitch are actually knitted completely straight the wave is caused by the purl stitches drawing the ribs in (like in normal ribbing) and the knits pushing them out. The reverse is actually a rather cute looking block stitch arranged like a basket weave.

A very pretty pattern, and it doesn't take long to knit up, it resembles cables close-up

Very similar to honeycomb lattice cables closeup, but is slightly more open and easier to do!

I personally prefer the reverse to the front but I'm a sucker for basket weave, it would make some nice cushion covers.

It's also less dense than traditional basket weave so would make for more flexible items.

Swatch is as follows: 4ply - 2.5mm needles - 32st x 40st - German Twist CON - Surprisingly Stretchy COFF

Pattern for working flat:

CON - multiple of 6st +2

Rows 1 & 3 - P2*K4,P2*

Rows 2 & 4 - K2*P4,K2*

Rows 5 & 7 - K3,P2*K4,P2*K3

Rows 6 & 8 - P3,K2*P4,K2*P3

Pattern for working in the round:

CON - Multiple of 6st +2

Rows 1-4 - P2*K4,P2*

Rows 5-8 - K3,P2*K4,P2*K3

            A double pattern again, where both sides look great and it's super easy to knit up! Especially in the round. Now I have to get back to finding something to watch that isn't daytime tv trash, *sigh* If only it wasn't raining I would run. Well happy Knitting!