Not Entirely What I Expected

I worked a swatch of Crimped Stitch #3 without the double wraps but on the same size needles. It came off the needles dense. Really, really dense. Much more than I expected.

Blocked, though, it turns into a lovely fabric. It may be a tad stiff for a whole garment, but I can certainly see it as a section to add stability - - perhaps a yoke or shoulder strap. On the other hand, going up just a needle size or two would  probably yield a nicely draping fabric.

On the third hand, the unblocked fabric has a very nubby texture. It's hard to tell in the superwash wool I used for the swatch, but I suspect that in a cotton and/or hemp blend yarn it would make a lovely bath mitt or similar item. Hmmmm, I'm going to have to think about that!

Until next time . . .

Crimped Row Stitch #3

 When I started designing the crimped stitches, I did design a third. It's been languishing for a while, but now here it is! Unlike the previous two crimped stitches, this one has two pattern rows.

Using a very stretchy cast-on, co any number of sts plus 2 for selvedges.

Row 1 (WS): K all sts. (On the 2nd and subsequent repeats, drop the second wrap as you knit the st.)
Row 2: K1, p across, k1.
Row 3: K1. (Knit up a stitch 2 rows below next st, knit next st, knit up a stitch 2 rows below last st) across until 1 st rem. K1.
Row 4: K1. (Sl 2 k-wise, k1 with double wrap, p2sso) across until 1 st rem. K1.

Work pattern to desired length ending with Row 3. Bind off loosely in Row 4 pattern. (Drop the second wrap of each st before working the next st.)

The diagram shows the sequence of knitting up the outer stitches and knitting the center one. The first time it's done, the outer stitches are knit up in the cast-on which is, of course, different from subsequent rows. Depending on the cast-on, this can be confusing. Stretch it out a bit to reveal a space to use. There is really no right or wrong here, so just be consistent.

Now, what variations can be worked here? What if we leave out the double wraps in Row 4? Can we change the order of the knitted up stitches? Can this stitch (or any of the others) be made into an offset pattern? Those are questions for the next time(s). Until then . . .

My Latest Published Design

© ilikeknitting.com

The June 2015 issue of  I Like Knitting has been published, and I am very pleased that a lace scarf I designed has been included! It is in an original pattern stitch I call Triangle Lace. The halves of the scarf are started at the center back so the ends are identical. I've used a really cool, though little known, decrease called "Bunny Ears." It turns three stitches into two and contributes greatly to the symmetry of the pattern stitch. You can find a number of tutorials here. It is worked on a wrong side row in my pattern, but is quite instinctive when you know what the result is supposed to be.

The yarn is Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo DK. It's an 80/20 bamboo and wool blend, lovely and soft. With the small wool content, it will be a good season-spanning accessory. 

You may have noticed that I haven't posted for the past few weeks. I've been busy with a big project but, now that it's done, I plan to get back to blogging. Until then . . .