DROPS Design: Candy Cane Lane - Pattern 205-22 // [Free Pattern]

PROJECT DETAILS

Status Finished Object
Started 7/16/2022
Completed 12/4/2022
Pattern Name Candy Cane Lane
Designer DROPS Design
Measurements 5'4" // B: 35, W: 26.5, H: 38.25
Pattern Size Small
Yarn Knit Picks // Swish // DK Weight Yarn // Colors: Bare & Serrano // 10 balls (4 Bare/6 Serrano), 246 yds./100g (Bare) / & 123 yds./50g (Serrano)
Needles US 3 (3.25 mm) // US 6 (4 mm) // US 7 (4.5mm) colorwork 40" Circular

NOTES

A good, free pattern to modify to your preference.

MODIFICATIONS

  • Crochet Provisional Cast On; Started with120 stitches and 1 knit row using size 6 (4.0mm) knitting needles; then moved onto Yoke using S-M-L chart;

  • Used knitting increase calculator to evenly space increases; on increase #5 (row 35 of chart) I increased on row 36 of chart instead, which is a plain row to avoid increasing on a colorwork row;

  • Stopped doing increases at increase arrow #6; this led to me having 280 stitches total versus 300 (making a loose fitting sweater, could probably stop increases sooner);

  • I made sure that the colorwork join was at my shoulder instead of center back;

  • I divided for the sleeves as follows: 90 front stitches (moved more stitches to front for larger bust), 80 back stitches, 55 sleeve stitches for sleeve #1 and sleeve #2 (with 9 stitches added at the sleeve);

  • Finished body with a 1x1 rib using US 3 (3.25mm needles) - also knit 1 row before 1st ribbing row using size 3 needles - and then knit 9 rows of 1x1 rib before finishing with a tubular bind off

  • Picked up collar stitches (120) and knit 1 round with 3.25mm needles; next round decrease 20 stitches around (K2, [K2tog, K4] 19 times, K2tog, K2); work one, German short row in 1x1 ribbing before working 5 rows of 1x1 rib around, before finishing with a four row tubular bind off

RESOURCES

  • Knitting Increase Calculator // Website

  • No Holes For Sweater Sleeves // Suzanne Bryan // Youtube Tutorial

  • How To Knit: German Short Row // Brooklyn Tweed // Youtube

  • Tubular CO in the Round (1x1 Ribbing) // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

  • German Short Rows 1x1 Rib // Lauren Peterson // Youtube

Final Thoughts

I love the final result! Very festive.

Tin Ceiling Washcloths & Dishcloth // Sandi Rosner

PROJECT DETAILS

Status Finished Object
Started Teal WC: 11/22/2022; Red WC: 11/25/2022; Mint Marl WC: 11/26/2022; Pumpkin DC: 11/26/2022
Completed Teal WC: 11/23/2022; Red WC: 11/25/2022; Mint Marl WC: 11/26/2022; Pumpkin DC: 11/29/2022
Pattern Name Tin Ceiling
Designer Sandi Rosner
Size Made Teal, Red, and Mint Marl: Washcloth Size; Pumpkin: Dischcloth Size
Yarn Teal & Red: The Original Sugar 'n Cream (100% Cotton); Mint Marl: Sugar 'n Cream, Green Twists (100% Cotton); Pumpkin: Creme Cotton, Loops and Thread (87% Cotton, 13% Nylon)
Needles US 4 (3.5mm)

NOTES

I made these as a gift. I may end up keeping the pumpkin dishcloth.

Modifications

  • I used different yarn.

    • Teal & Red: 1 ball of Sugar ‘n Cream (had tiny bit left over)

    • Mint Marl: 1 ball of Sugar ‘n Cream twists (which has 95 yds. versus 120 yds.) + a little bit of the red Sugar ‘n Cream left overs

    • Pumpkin: Creme Cotton, Loops and thread (this has nylon in it, so it is not suitable to be used for hot dishes; it is also super soft and has very little twist - not sure how this will hold up, but it’s pretty)

  • I went down several needle sizes — to a US 4 (3.5mm) — to get gauge.

Final Thoughts

I love the tin ceiling design. It shows up very well on camera and is more subtle in real life.

The small size is quite large. In the photos they look potholder size, but are actually over a foot long.

Also, if following the chart, remember to do the opposite stitch (knit or purl) on the WS row from what the symbol means on the RS row.

Fingering Weight Oslo Hat // Petite Knits

PROJECT DETAILS

Status Finished Object
Started 11/21/2022
Completed 12/2/2022
Pattern Name Oslo Hat
Designer Petite Knits
Size Made N/A - I altered the pattern to accommodate fingering weight yarn.
Yarn Malabrigo Yarn Ultimate Sock, Leftovers (Boneyard Hat & Socks on a Plane), Main Hat Color: Cote D Azure, Brim: Camaleon
Needles US 1.5 (2.5mm)

NOTES

I made this hat for a coworker. She wanted a hat that fit her head (circumference 22”) and that was not slouchy but more fitted at the crown (similar to a skull cap).

Modifications

  • I used fingering weight yarn and a 2.5mm needle.

  • I cast on 128 stitches. Note: The original pattern sizes increase in a multiple of 8 stitches.

  • I followed the directions and measurements as listed on the pattern.

  • I followed the decreases as listed in the pattern; however, I added one decrease round (as listed for the largest size in the pattern) to make sure that I had 40 stitches before doing the last set of decreases on the last of page of the pattern.

Final Thoughts

This hat has a snug fit, which I believe will work for the recipient.

If I were to knit this hat for myself I would consider going up another increase of 8 stitches for a total cast on amount of 136. I would also knit 5.5 - 6” for the hat length after the WS turn for a slouchier hat.

Socks on a Plane // Laura Linnemann

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 9/24/2022
Completed 11/20/2022
Pattern Name Socks on a Plane
Designer Laura Linnemann
Yarn Malabrigo
Needles US 00 (1.75mm), US 1 (2.25mm), US 1.5 (2.5mm)

NOTES

This was my knitting project for a trip to Greece and Germany in 2022.

Modifications

  • Followed the pattern mostly as written, but I used smaller needles to achieve gauge for the foot, switching to 2.25mm needles for the leg (after the gusset turn) and 2.5mm for the ribbing.

RESOURCES

  • SSP // Very Pink Knits // Youtube

  • Tubular Bind Off in the Round // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

Final Thoughts

This is a great travel project! It turned out to be just the right size and amount of knitting to take with me on a 3 week trip filled with activities.

REViVAL Sweater #2 // ANIKESTRiCK [Isabel Kramer]

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 11/1/2022
Completed 11/18/2022
Pattern Name REViVAL
Designer ANIKESTRiCK / Isabelle Kramer
Measurements To fit 35" bust, with 0-1" positive ease
Pattern Size Cast on Size 4, Ended Increases at Size 1
Yarn Various: Malabrigo Lace // Pearl
Needles US 4 (3.5 mm) // US 3 (3.25 mm) 40" Circular

NOTES

A nice, simple sweater that uses the contiguous method to shape the shoulders for a top-down seamless sweater.

National knit a sweater month stats

Total # of stitches: 56,490

Daily stitch goal: 2,200

Total # of knitting days: 18

MODIFICATIONS

  • Used two strands of lace weight yarn to approximate fingering weight yarn

  • Used a gauge comparison calculator to figure out how to size up based off of my gauge versus the pattern’s gauge

  • Cast on for a size 4; however, stopped increases when I reached the final stitch count for size 1. This allowed me to accommodate my broad but narrow shoulders, while ensuring that the contiguous shoulder and armscye (the shape / outline of the armhole) hit my body in the right place. It was important to me that the placement mimic the placement of a set-in sleeve.

RESOURCES

  • No Holes For Sweater Sleeves // Suzanne Bryan // Youtube Tutorial

  • Italian Bind Off // Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

  • Italian Bind Off // Purl Soho // Youtube

  • Knitting Gauge Calculator // Website

  • Crochet CO // ANKESTRick // Youtube

Final Thoughts

I found it a bit of a pain to hold two of the same weight of yarn together for this pattern. Ensuring that I did not only catch one yarn instead of two proved to be a hassle. The end result, though, *is* extremely squishy.

I finished knitting this sweater in 18 days in November 2022, and I completed my first NaKniSweMo challenge successfully.

Headband with a Twist // Mirella Moments

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 11/6/2022
Completed 11/9/2022
Pattern Name Headband with a Twist
Designer Mirella Moments
Measurements N/A
Pattern Size One Size
Yarn Spun Right Round // DK Weight Yarn // Left Overs
Needles TBA

NOTES

I am knitting this as a gift.

MODIFICATIONS

  • None

RESOURCES

Final Thoughts

A great quick knit, and a great way to use up left overs.

REViVAL Sweater #1 // ANIKESTRiCK [Isabel Kramer]

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 8/29/2022
Completed 11/8/2022
Pattern Name REViVAL
Designer ANIKESTRiCK / Isabelle Kramer
Measurements To fit 35" bust, with 0-1" positive ease
Pattern Size Cast on Size 4, Ended Increases at Size 1
Yarn Malabrigo Lace // Pearl // 6 skeins; yarn held double
Needles US 4 (3.5 mm) // US 1.5 (2.5 mm) 40" Circular

NOTES

A nice, simple sweater that uses the contiguous method to shape the shoulders for a top-down seamless sweater.

MODIFICATIONS

  • Used two strands of lace weight yarn to approximate fingering weight yarn

  • Used a gauge comparison calculator to figure out how to size up based off of my gauge versus the pattern’s gauge

  • Cast on for a size 4; however, stopped increases when I reached the final stitch count for size 1. This allowed me to accommodate my shoulders, while ensuring that the contiguous shoulder and armscye (the shape / outline of the armhole) hit my body in the right place. It was important to me that the placement mimic the placement of a set-in sleeve.

RESOURCES

  • No Holes For Sweater Sleeves // Suzanne Bryan // Youtube Tutorial

  • Tubular Cast On (using knitting needle only) // Andrea Mowry // Youtube

  • Tubular CO in the Round (1x1 Ribbing) // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

  • Revival Pattern // Ravelry

  • Knitting Gauge Calculator // Website

  • Crochet CO // ANKESTRick // Youtube

Final Thoughts

I found it a bit of a pain to hold two of the same weight of yarn together for this pattern. Ensuring that I did not only catch one yarn instead of two proved to be a hassle. The end result is extremely squishy.

I also think I may go up several needle sizes for the hem and possibly switch to an Italian bind off to give a bit more stretch at the hem, cuff, and neckline.

I will also consider adding an inch of length for the body.

Overall, I like this pattern and I plan on knitting another one for National Knit a Sweater Month in November.

Boneyard Sweethearts Hat // Telly Beans Knits

PROJECT DETAILS

Status Finished Object
Started 10/23/2022
Completed 10/28/2022
Pattern Name Boneyard Sweetheart
Designer Telly Bean Knits
Size Made Medium
Yarn Malabrigo Yarn Ultimate Sock, 2 hanks, MC: Cote D Azure, CC: Gloria
Needles US 1 (2.25mm); US 2 (2.75mm)

NOTES

My three goals for this hat were:

1. To make a Halloween themed b-day hat for my partner.

2. To also be able to wear the hat.

3. To mirror the fit and construction of the hat on my partner's most worn hat.

Yarn Combo

  • MC: Malabrigo Yarn Ultimate Sock, Cote D Azure

  • CC: Malabrigo Yarn Ultimate Sock, Gloria

Measurements

  • His Head/My Head: 22"

  • Pattern Size (0-2" ease): Size M

  • Fit: Fits like a skull cap

Technique

I knit colorwork using two hands (continental & English). I kept the CC in my left hand so that it would be the dominant color.

Modifications

I preferred a double-folded brim for warmth and extra coverage versus a 1" rib. I used the CC color and knit in stockinette with the smallest size needles for 2.75" and then knit 1.25" with my MC in plain stockinette before going up to the largest size needles in pattern and beginning colorwork rows.

On colorwork chart, round 14, I folded the brim in half and knit into the edge of the cast on while knitting the next round (round 15) of colorwork. I used the Norwegian cast on recommended by the designer. I was also careful about my colorwork tension on this round. And I wove in the ends before closing up the brim.

I decided to do less plain rounds at the brim to mimic the hat length of his favorite hat. This meant I did 2 rounds of plain stockinette in the MC after the last colorwork round instead of beginning the decreases on round 53.

Final Thoughts

This rarely happens, but the stars aligned and this hat came out exactly as I'd hope. Next time, I would knit the CC brim to 2.5" versus 2.275" to ensure that the CC doesn't peek out after the brim is folded.

Love this hat!

Men's Charity Socks [Vanilla Sock Pattern] --Frogged--

PROJECT DETAILS

Status FO
Started 8/16/2022
Completed 9/11/2022
Pattern Name Vanilla Socks
Designer Me
Yarn Knit Picks
Needles US 1 (2.25mm)

NOTES

Update 2023: I ended up frogging these socks. I was never satisfied by my bind off.

I made these socks to send off to a charity seeking socks.

Final Thoughts

I forgot how long it takes to knit men’s socks (as well as how much yarn). These socks were made to fit a men’s US size 11.5-12 foot.