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!

Organ Pipes

nomnomnom

            I'm on me holidays! After a long drive, we finally arrived in weymouth. Unfortunatly it is raining, so we're staying in the caravan until dinner. Which will likely be at the Marlboro (fish and chippies nomnomnom) so I can sit down after the mania that was yesterday, and the unpacking today and write a post. Now I'm on my holidays hopefully I will have time to sort out the swatches that arent in the physical copy of the book.

            Organ pipies pattern is so balled because unsurprisingly it looks like organ pipies. It's a pretty simple pattern with a nice enough overall effect, easily used in place of stockinette instead for more interest. It's pretty self explanitory and there's not much to say about it, it's inoffensive at best.

Swatch is as follows: 4ply - 2.5mm needles - 34st x 50st - Longtail CON - Chain COFF

Pattern for working flat:
CON: multiple of 6 + 4
Rows 1 & 3 - K4*P2,K4*
Rows 2 & 4 - P4*K2,P4*
Rows 5 & 7 - P1,K2*P4,K2* end K1
Rows 6 & 8 - K1,P2*K4,P2* end P1
Row 9 - *P*
Row 10 - *K*

            Well a simple pattern for a busy day, works well in both a textured yarn and a simple yarn. Flexible enough to work in most places where stockinette is used. Happy Knitting!

Arabic Diamonds

            Well I've had an exciting day, I finished two swatches, managed to get a ninetails and a ditto in pokemon go, my bf's parent's have finally organised us going to france, and I'm going on holiday to weymouth in two days so I am very excited.

            First the swatches, I'm nearing the end of the ribbing chapter before we reached it on this blog which is ideal I have about 4 left so it looks like you'll be close to where I am when I start the slipped stitches chapter (hooray!). Secondly the ninetails and ditto; I don't know if I've been particularly unlucky but I have managed to somehow miss every ditto out there, (one sec the tv is super loud mum's left it on bleeding hochanda -_-)  today me and mum went out to walk up a few candies from our buddies and hatch some eggs as it's the last day of PokeFest. I had to walk 1km more in order to get a ninetails so I decided once mum had gone in to quickly zip up to the local park and back on the jog there I thought "wouldn't it be funny if I caught a ditto now mum's gone in?" and low and behold a rattata appeared I caught it and literally sprinted home upon it transforming into a ditto. 

Clearly the best Icecream.

            The france thing, I have only been to continental europe once in my life, my parents prefer to go on holiday within britain (which is fine I love weymouth but we'll get to that later) this means the only time I left the uk was for a day trip to belgium with school back in 2009, it is somewhat expensive but I should be able to afford it if I'm frugal next term. And lastly, weymouth, our annual holiday to the best holiday place in the uk, (yeah I said it) I am excited to show the bf a Rossi's ice cream (also the best) as he LOVES icecream.

On with the stitch, like yesterday's stitch the arabic diamond is traditionally done in the eastern knitting style and features twisted stitches. The pattern provided by barbra uses regular stitches, however it is also easily changes simply by either purling into the back loop or knitting into the back loop. The swatch below is knitted using the non-traditional regular switches.

Swatch is as follows: 4ply - 2.5mm needles - 33st x 48st - Longtail CON - Chain COFF

Pattern for working flat (non eastern version):
CON - multiple of 8st + 1

Row 1 - *P*

Row 2 - *K*

Row 3 - P4*K1,P7* end P4

Row 4 - K4*P1,K7* end K4

Row 5 - P3*K3,P5* end P3

Row 6 - K3*P3,K5* end K3

Row 7 - P2*K5,P3* end P2

Row 8 - K2*P5,K3* end K2

Row 9 - Row 5

Row 10 - Row 6

Row 11 - Row 3

Row 12 - Row 4

Well that's it for today, and likely tomorrow, as we're very busy preparing for our holiday. Hopefully I'll get some knitting done on the drive down to weymouth but I won't be writing up a blog post until we get to the caravan, because I get horribly car sick and it's worse with reading. Sadly I've no time to set up another post tonight so you'll all have to wait. Luckily we're heading towards several pretty looking stitches so patience will pay off! Happy Knitting!

Arabic cross

An accurate gif of me rn

           Pretty tired today, had to get up early to go into town with mum so I could get some proper running shoes and some socks. Wouldn't have been so bad, but we had to rush because my brother had to go to the orthodontist that with all the cleaning yesterday means I am very sleepy. So I might just do this post and go to bed.

Arabic Cross, an ancient pattern. It takes the original form of knitting, which first appeared in the middle east and uses it to make a pattern of crosses on a reverse stockinette background. Knitting is one of the oldest forms of fabric creation because it doesn't require large equipment like a loom to do, meaning it would have been very valuable to nomadic and non agrarian peoples. Arabic knitting, also known as eastern knitting, produces a twisted stitch simply through how it's done. Essentially you purl your stitches clockwise (as opposed to anti clockwise as in english or continental) and this produces the twist. The appearance of eastern knitting can be produced without the traditional method. You simply either knit into the back loop or purl into the backloop every other row. (depending on your preference)
The cross is well suited for small decorations/interest on an overall purl fabric, such as on a pocket or around a hem.

Swatch is as follows: 4ply - 2.5mm needles - 37st x 48st - Longtail Con - Chain COFF

Pattern for working flat:
CON - multiple of 12st + 1
Row 1 - *P*
Row 2 - *K*
Rows 3 & 5 - P5*K3-b,P9*end P5
Rows 4 & 6 - K5*P3,K9* end K5
Rows 7 & 9 - P2*K9-b,P3*end P2
Rows 8 & 10 - K2*P9,K3*end K2
Rows 11 & 13 - Rows 3 & 5
Rows 12 & 14 - Rows 4 & 6
Row 15 - *P*
Row 16 - *K*

            If preferred the pattern can be done without the twisted stitches, you simply knit all stitches as you usually would. For tjose of you who were unaware of the different forms of knitting it may be workwhile to attempt different versions. Personally I am usually an english knitter, I learnt to knit that way so I find it easiest often people learn one way and stick to it Personally I think it's the easiest to control, however english knitting is the slowest version of knitting so if I'm doing a simple row (all knits or all purls) I will switch to fixed needle continental because it's faster, and for ribbing I use the eastern style purl on the first purl next to a knit as it helps draw the ribbing in closer. So try different forms of knitting they can prove very useful. Happy Knitting!

Harris Tweed

            Well I'm exhausted, my room was pretty much a bomb site since I got home this summer. It's partly my fault for not wanting to put my clothes away, as my draws were full of old stuff I didn't want getting muddled in with my actual clothes, and partly my brother throwing his crap in there, thinking my room is some sort of dumping ground solution for when mum tells him to clean his room. (dirty little troglodyte)
           
            We did discover something pretty gross though. About 2 years ago a mouse somehow got into my room while I was away. (we have a cat she brings them in lets them go and is unable to catch them again) I say somehow no doubt it was my idiot sibling throwing crap in there leaving the door open and letting the cat in. Anyway, a few days before I came back my mother put some laundry in my room only to discover a dead mouse in the middle of my bed. Gross, not only that but my matress was covered in mouse poo!!! D: We got rid of the dead creature and hoovered the mattress but never found where the mouse was living. Until today when I cleared the small set of draws where my makeup sits on. Bottom draw full of chewed socks and mouse poo. Disgusting. cleaned it out and hoovered up the poo again, hopefully that is the last of the idiot brother/mouse incident.

Traditional Harris Tweed with interlocking crosses

Todays stitch is Harris Tweed, the name behind this one again is unclear; the pattern consists of interlocking crosses, this is likely the source of the name. Harris Tweed is also simply a knid of tweed, it's handwoven in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. There are several styles of this tweed, popular are plain, herringbone, and various types of checks, however generic harris tweed looks a lot like a miniature version of this knitting pattern ie interlocking crosses. This is likely the origin of the name and pattern, it is likely an attempt to replicate the effect of harris tweed and it is a very nice pattern particularly good for menswear if used with a tweedy yarn. The pattern is fully reversible so it is also well suited for scarves.

Harris Tweed (Knitted)

Swatch is as follows: 4ply -  2.5mm needles - 30st x 45st - Longtail CON - Chain COFF

Pattern for working flat:
CON - multiple of 6st
Rows 1-3 - *K3,P3*
Row 4 - *K*
Row 5 - *P*
Row 6 - *K*
Rows 7-9 - *K3,P3*
Row 10 - *P*
Row 11 - *K*
Row 12 - *P*

Now my post is done my room is tidy and I've yelled at my oik of a brother for treating it like a bin, I can finally relax and make my magikarp jump. I've actually started on some of the lacework patterns now, It's the first lacework I've ever done so hopefully I don't cock it up too much, it's going well so far though. We're also nearly halfway through chapter one of the book, the first chapter is very long compartivly but we are making good progress. Happy Knitting!

Vandyke Pattern

Anthony Van Dyck with his signature beard.

            I missed a day I know I'm terrible, I really just didn't want to post after running yesterday. Also I may have been distracted by magicarp jump. I should've written it up whilst waiting for GoT episode 2 but I was being lazy :O
Speaking of GoT much prefered this episode to episode 1, more stuff happened and it actually feels like important characters are going to meet and not get distracted on the way. *SPOILERS* Although I think Davos is going to be a bit miffed that Mel is on dragonstone working with Dany, hopefully that wont get in the way of Jon and Dany dealing with the wars to come *SPOILERS END*

            An interesting pattern with an unclear history today. The likely origin of the name is from a 17th century artist called Anthony Van Dyck. He had a penchant for collars with a sawtoothed or scalloped edge, and often painted people wearing such a collar given it was also fashionable at the time, and so along with his signature pointy beard the collar with a pointed trim was named after him. Later the trim would be known as vandyke trim, which is the anglicised version of his name.
            The pattern features parrallelograms and rectangles, both of which can be formed from sawtooth triangles. With no other obvious explanation that's likely why this pattern has it's name. I don't think Van Dyck knew how to knit given he would be too busy painting dudes with pointy collars; it's more likely the pattern was invented during the regency period after the lace collars with a van dyke trim became more popular amoungst women.

Swatch is as Follows: 4ply - 2.5mm needles - 32st x 44st - Longtail CON - Chain COFF

Pattern for working flat:
CON multiple of 8st
*Left leaning parrallelograms*
Row 1 - *K*
Row 2 - *K4,P4*
Row 3 - P1*K4,P4*end P3
Row 4 - K2*P4,K4*end K2
Row 5 - P3*K4,P4*end P1
Row 6 - *P4,K4*
Row 7 - *K*
*First set of squares*
Row 8,9,10 & 11 - *K4,P4*
Row 12 - *P*
*Right leaning parrallelograms*
Row 13 - *P4,K4*
Row 14 - K1*P4,K4*end K3
Row 15 - P2*K4,P4*end P2
Row 16 - K3*P4,K4*end K1
Row 17 - *K4,P4*
Row 18 - *P*
*Second set of squares*
Rows 19,20,21,22 - *P4,K4*

I've organised the pattern into the sections if you knit the rows in the order shown you get the van dyke pattern but you can re-arrange it to make horizontal chevrons (put the left leaning and right leaning one after another) or just one type of parrallelogram in the pattern with the squares, the pattern is really easy to change. 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!

Little Check

            Ah finially the prescheduled posts have caught up to me, damn I should've written one

Something my dentist would 100% have in his office

yesterday but I had to help my mother at work. Seriously I was so pooped I slept from 12-12 that's excessive even for me! I have been busy over the last few days, including going to the dentist. Now I only mention the dentist because my dentist, who is a very good dentist and always tells me off, is very funny. I can remember at least... 5 stories about the dentist where he was weird/funny but when I went to the dentist last wednesday I laughed so hard I cried. Me and my brother were in the dentists office, and suddenly the light short circuited blowing out the whole building. The dentist tries the circuit breaker but ultimately decides the light on the dentists chair is enough as we were the last patients that day, now the next thing I said was "dentist in the dark I guess" sparked the mad part of the dentists brain so whilst weilding a metal tool the dentist sang "Dentist in the daaaaark... Poking at your teeeeeth" To the style of dancing in the dark. Needless to say everyone in the room fell about laughing including the dental nurse. The dentist is a maniac, he's great.

            Right on with todays stitch. Little stitch is an ancient stitch, that possibly dates all the way back to the earliest arabic knitting even though it doesn't include the traditional arabic twisted stitches. (this is likely because the stitch has changed over time) The pattern is formed of small squares of stockinette knitwise against a backgound of stockinette purlwise.

Swatch is as follows: 4ply - 2.5mm needles -31st x 40st - German Twist CON - Surprisingly Stretchy COFF

Pattern for working flat:
CON: multiple of 10st +1

Row 1 - *P*

Row 2 - K4*P3,K7*K4

Row 3 - P4*K3,P7*P4

Row 4 - Row 2

Row 5 - *P*

Row 6 - *K*

Row 7 & 9 - K2*P7,K3*K2

Row 8   - P2*K7,P3*P2

Row 10 - *K*

            Personally I don't much like this pattern, its... alright? I guess? It's not particularly interesting is it's problem and it's also not particularly pretty it's mostly just meh. It's basically a slightly more interesting version of purl-side stockinette stitch, which isn't exactly a high bar given that stockinette is known as "plain" knitting. The most interesting thing about it is it's age but it's not surprising that it's old given it's simplicity. At least it's easy enough to knit. Happy Knitting!

A picture of an ancient egyptian knitter ( I couldnt find an arabic one)

Twisted Check

Accurate image of me yesterday trying to understand braided rib
(also can we take a sec to appreciate gromits cute wool basket?)

            I should really schedule posts more often it's nice to have a day off, without having a day off.
I've been having a tough time of it recently, I finally came across a pattern that I did not understand (In my defense it's pattern is written bloody stupidly) In light of that I think when this blog gets to ribbing patterns I will likely only do the basics, and then skip ahead in the book; purely because some of the patterns are very difficult/confusingly written/you have to know how to do other things first. It may make sense for me to go straight to the slip stitch patterns because again some of the colour (yes colour has a u in it I'm british) work patterns require knowledge from later in the book. I was thinking of doing colour work last because it's fun, pretty, and will be much more enjoyable once we know what we're doing.

            Right todays stitch Twisted Check, it's sort of similar to yesterdays stitch Swedish Check; I personally think it's the less attractive of the two, but it is by no means ugly. Like its pretty cousin it's got a tweedy look, again enhanced by the nice lumpy hand-dyed cashmere. It does, however, take longer to knit up on account of all the twisted stitches and constant switching between knit and purl positions, (Just like broken rib patterns) as unlike swedish check you switch positions every stitch rather than every other stitch.

The fabric tends to pull in thanks to the twisted stitches, so it's a pretty dense check.

Swatch is as Follows: 4ply - 2.5mm needles - 31st x 36st - Longtail CON - Chain COFF

Pattern for working Flat:
CON - Odd number of st
Row 1 - *K1-b*
Rows 2 & 4 - *K1,P1-b*K1
Row 3 - *P1,K1-b*P1
Row 5 - *K1-b*
Row 6 - *P1-b,K1*P1-b
Row 7 - *K1-b,P1*K1-b
Row 8 - *P1-b,K1*P1-b

We're pretty far into the check patterns now, they're all very nice though so I'm not complaining. At least they don't take half as long as some of the broken rib patterns. Next post is another check pattern although I'm not sure how I feel about it, it's easy but it looks pretty... Meh compared to Swedish and Twisted Check. Happy Knitting!

Swedish Check

            So it's now... 6am and I desperately want to sleep and I just finished watching the new episode of GOT. (Season 7 for those of you far in the future) Warning Spoilers ahead!!!

**SPOILERS**

Some cursory thoughts being, Ed Sheeran singing randomly in the middle of Westeros destroyed my immersion somewhat and I hated it last time they used popular music in the show, (They put it over the credits after lopping off Jamie's hand, it was dumb everyone was mad) I wish they would stop doing that. The hound was perfection top notch. Cersei apparently doesn't give a crap if her map gets smudged because she's walking all over it as the painter paints >:( The pooper scooper scene with Sam literally made me gag, that is the grossest thing the show has done and they crushed a dudes head like a melon, it was brilliant. Apparently Euron shops at hot topic now, but at least he's funny. Does Danny just get a free castle? Seriously no one was in Dragonstone?! Not even squatters?! Stannis should've at least locked the door. By the looks of it Sansa and Jon are actually talking to each other about ruling, (Shock horror!) I get the feeling Little Finger is going to try and drive a wedge between them, but if they keep talking he's probably going to get out played. Best quote of the episode? ‪
"no need to seize the last word, Lord Baelish. I'll assume it was something clever" ‬
‪shut. down.‬

**SPOILERS**

            Alright and now for the swatch, this one is my personal favourite of all the check type patterns, it's both a beautiful tweedy texture, and is nice in detail. It knits up particularly well with imperfectly dyed/spun yarn (like the mustard cashmere yarn I have here) The density of it means it's most appropriate for coats, windproof jumpers or sportswear. (Although whenever old B suggests sportswear I get weirded out, I'm a child of the modern era I suppose I can't imagine exercise without lycra) Its faster to work than next weeks similar but more dense pattern Twisted Check.

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

Pattern for working Flat:
CON Multiple of 4st +2
Row 1 - *Ktbl*
Row 2 - *P*
Row 3 - K2-b*P2, K2-b*
Row 4 - P2*K2,P2*
Row 5 & 6 - Rows 1 & 2
Row 7 - P2*K2-b,P2*
Row 8 - K2*,P2,K2*

Well I'm off, it's half 6 and I need to get some sleep, or I'll get a headache. Was totally worth it though, and to those who didn't want to be spoiled go watch the episode and come back silly! Happy Knitting!