Treat Yourself KAL Ideas: Garments

The Treat Yourself KAL lasts six weeks, starting Monday, January 14, and ending Monday, February 25. If you’re making a larger project like a sweater, feel free to get started swatching this weekend. That way you can hit the ground running next week.

Here are some garment ideas, if you’re thinking you might like to dive in and cast on a sweater or vest.

Treat Yourself Knitalong Ideas: Garments

Meadow Road Pullover, by Bonnie Sennott

Pattern: Meadow Road
Yarn: Stitch Sprouts Yellowstone

Easygoing A-line shape, gathered sleeves, seamless construction — there’s lots to like about Meadow Road (named after the rural road where we shot the photos). The pattern provides instructions for six sizes: 32.25 (35.5, 39.25, 43.25, 47.75, 51.75) inches/82 (90, 100, 110, 121, 131) cm .

Pom2, by Bonnie Sennott

Pattern: Pom2
Yarn: Bartlettyarns Sport

Like Meadow Road, Pom2 is a seamless design, worked in the round from the bottom up. There are six sizes, with finished bust circumferences of 36.5 (39.5, 44.25, 47.75, 52.25, 55.5) inches/93 (100, 112, 121, 133, 141) cm. Want to make the knitting go faster? You could work the lace panel on the front only and knit stockinette on the back!

Drafter’s Cardigan, by Bonnie Sennott

photo: Interweave/Harper Point Photography

Pattern: Drafter’s Cardigan
Yarn: Plucky Knitter Traveler Sport

It may be coldest January now, but spring will come eventually, and wouldn’t a lace cardigan be a nice addition to your spring wardrobe? The Drafter’s Cardigan, from the spring 2017 issue of Knitscene, is worked in one piece to the armholes; after finishing front and back and joining the shoulders, you work the set-in sleeves top-down in the round. Bust sizes range from 33 to 53 inches/84-135 cm.

Wichita Vest, by Bonnie Sennott

Pattern: Wichita
Yarn: Woolen Rabbit Emma

If the time commitment of a sweater doesn’t work for you, maybe a vest would be a good project instead. Knit in one piece from the bottom up, this double-breasted, cabled vest lets you get creative with buttons (I used mismatched vintage buttons purchased at a thrift shop).

Mathews Street Vest, by Bonnie Sennott

photo: Interweave/Harper Point Photography

Pattern: Mathews Street
Yarn: Green Mountain Spinnery Sylvan Spirit

Here’s another garment idea that’s definitely doable during the KAL — the textured Mathews Street Vest, originally published in knit.wear, fall 2016. Like Wichita, it’s worked in one piece to the armholes. It features an attractive knit-and-purl pattern; garter stitch details at the hem, armholes, front bands, and neck pull it all together.

If you’re joining the Treat Yourself KAL, pop over to Ravelry this weekend and let us know what you’re making. You don’t have to wait until Monday. Photos of yarn are always appreciated!

LINKS

Treat Yourself KAL

Bonnie Sennott: Ravelry Designer Page

Bonnie’s Garments Bundle

New Pattern: Pom2 Pullover

Just released: the pattern for my 2018 Rhinebeck sweater, Pom2. It’s now available in my Ravelry pattern store, where you can save 25% with the coupon code POM25 through December 2.

Since I designed Pomegranate back in 2011, I’ve changed a lot and so has my style. These days, I’m happiest in simple, comfortable sweaters. So I decided, why not rework Pomegranate into a pullover I’d love to wear now? With an easygoing, relaxed fit, Pom2 is definitely a sweater I’ll live in.

Pom2 and Pomegranate share the same lace stitch but otherwise are completely different designs. The new Pom2 has no waist shaping, modified drop shoulders, and simple 1x1 ribbing. It’s worked in the round from the bottom up, and the construction is entirely seamless.

Reverse side, Pom2 Pullover by Bonnie Sennott

For the sample, I used a cone of Bartlettyarns Sport that I purchased at Rhinebeck in 2017. The heathery terra cotta appealed to my love for warm, rich colors and I was delighted by how well the yarn worked for the lace panel. It has a soft, rustic effect and feels good both while on the needles and in the fabric of the finished garment. It comes in both cones and skeins, and in the pattern I’ve calculated how many skeins are needed for each of the six sizes. I’ve also included full yardage for each size, should you wish to use another yarn.

Pom2 Pullover by Bonnie Sennott

If your personal style leans toward the more fitted original Pomegranate, which has waist shaping, set-in sleeves, and a pretty twisted rib folded neckband, don’t worry — it’s still available, and it’s also on sale. The coupon code POM25 can be used in my Ravelry store for both patterns, through Sunday, December 2.

If you prefer shopping for patterns at Etsy, I have some nice news: all patterns for garments (sweaters, tops, and vests) are 25% off in my Etsy shop through December 25. (No coupon code required!)

I feel like Rhinebeck is not really over until my Rhinebeck sweater pattern is published. Now, it’s time to start daydreaming about next year’s Rhinebeck sweater!

Sweater Sale and 100 Knits Book

100 Knits: Interweave's Ultimate Pattern Collection

Have you seen Interweave's beautiful new book of their most popular knitting patterns? I'm excited to have two designs in it — Chili Pepper Cardigan and Drafter's Cardigan. 

100 Knits: Interweave's Ultimate Pattern Collection is a gorgeous compendium of hats, cowls, cardigans, pullovers, shawls, socks, and more. At 500+ pages, with lots of full-page photos and patterns by many, many talented knitwear designers, it's incredibly inspiring to flip through — a knitting reference you'll treasure for years to come. The only problem will be finding time to make everything in it that you love!

Chili Pepper Cardigan, by Bonnie Sennott

Drafter's Cardigan, by Bonnie Sennott

100 Knits: Interweave's Ultimate Pattern Collection is available both as a print book and a downloadable ebook from Interweave. It's also available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Sweater Sale!

As summer draws to a close, it's time to start planning your fall sweater knitting — and to make that easier, I'm having a sale. Save 20% on Blue Peninsula pullover, vest, and cardigan patterns in my Ravelry pattern store with the coupon code SALE20. The sale ends Tuesday, September 4 and you can use the code as many times as you wish. (Magazine and yarn collection patterns are not included.)

Happy Labor Day Weekend (if you're in the U.S.) and happy fall knitting!

Clockwise from upper left: Wichita Vest, Meadow Road Pullover, Mount Pollux Pullover, Goodnough Cardigan

New Pattern: Evergreen Mountain Pullover

The spring 2018 Interweave Knits is now arriving in stores and mailboxes, and I'm excited to share that I have a new sweater design in this issue.

All photos copyright 2018 Interweave/F&W Media/Harper Point Photography

The Evergreen Mountain Pullover features striking sculptural and textural lace on the back and front, with patterning that’s easy to memorize and satisfying to knit. The body of this drop-shoulder pullover is worked from the bottom up in pieces and blocked before the neck and sleeves are worked in the round.

The call for submissions for this issue asked designers what they'd most like to wear on a springtime retreat in the mountains. (Doesn't that sound nice? Wish I could go on one!) For me, the perfect sweater would have a casual, relaxed fit — a comfy pullover that's warm enough for chilly mornings when layered over a heavy T or a long-sleeve shirt — but also comfortable on warmer spring days when worn over something lighter, like a camisole.

I do love to knit sweaters in the round, but for Evergreen Mountain I chose to knit the front and back separately. That’s because the stitch pattern really needs to be well blocked to open up and reveal its true beauty. I knew the blocking would be much more effective if the pieces were knit flat. After the sides are seamed, though, the sleeve stitches are picked up around the armholes and then the sleeves are knit in the round, downwards to the cuff.

This sweater has one of my very favorite neckbands: a 1x1 rib that’s knit to double the intended length, then folded to the inside and sewn in place. It’s a little more knitting than just binding off in pattern, but I think the end result is well worth it.

For this design, I didn’t use the same ribbing on the hem, sleeve cuffs, and neckband. Instead, they’re all different — the split hems have a wide rib that flows perfectly into the lace stitch of the body, while the sleeves have a 2x2 ribbing. I could have used the wide rib on the cuffs, but I felt it would have been out of proportion on that narrower circumference.

Evergreen Mountain is knit in a worsted weight wool — Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok worsted. It was new to me, and I liked it quite a lot. It worked beautifully for the lace stitch and produced smooth and even stockinette on the sleeves. I would love to knit another sweater with it, especially with one of the natural (undyed) colors.

If you'd like to cast on your own Evergreen Mountain, you can get the spring 2018 Interweave Knits online — or look for it at your LYS or local bookstore.

Treat Yourself KAL Starts Today (and Sale Ends)

It's cast on time! The Treat Yourself KAL starts today in the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group. For the next six weeks, you're invited to join us as you knit yourself a special accessory or sweater.

Perhaps a new cowl? There's my newest pattern — Waverleigh — and lots of others to choose from. Just a reminder, all individual patterns in my Ravelry pattern store are 20% off through midnight tonight (Sunday) with the coupon code TREATYOURSELF.

Clockwise from upper left: Waverleigh, Singing Beach, Calliopsis, Birchleaf, Erste, and Cordulia

A number of knitters are making the Rowhouse Socks for the KAL. I can't wait to see how they look in different colors! If you haven't done stranded-color socks before, this would be a wonderful pattern to start with. After the colorwork on the calf is done, the knitting is quite simple.

Rowhouse Socks, by Bonnie Sennott

The Treat Yourself KAL lasts a full six weeks, ending on February 25. So there's plenty of time to delve into a shawl or sweater. Maybe a lace cardigan, like the Drafter's Cardigan, or a chic layering piece for spring, like the Mathews Street Vest? Both are available as PDF downloads from Interweave.com.

photo courtesy F&W Media/Harper Point Photography

photo courtesy F&W Media/Harper Point Photography

If you haven't got a lot of free time for knitting, then maybe a new pair of mitts might be perfect. (That's probably what I'm making.) Whatever you choose, I look forward to seeing you in the KAL!

The Blue Peninsula January sale ends midnight, Sunday, January 14!

New Pattern: Mount Pollux Pullover

Sweater weather is finally here! There's been a delicious crispness in the air in recent days, and I'm so excited to finally break out my hand-knit cowls, fingerless mitts, hats, shawls, and sweaters. As I type this, I'm wearing a brand-new sweater design, just released on Ravelry: the Mount Pollux pullover.

This roomy tunic-length pullover is named after the Mount Pollux Conservation Area in Amherst, Massachusetts, where the photos were taken. It's designed with a comfy, relaxed fit (shown here modeled with about 10 inches/25 cm positive ease).

To celebrate its release, I'm having an introductory sale: through Sunday, November 19, save 25% on Mount Pollux in my Ravelry store with the coupon code MTPOLLUX25.

Mount Pollux is worked mostly seamlessly. After the split hems are worked flat and joined on a circular needle, the body is worked in the round to the armholes. The upper front and back are worked separately and the shoulders are seamed. Stitches for the sleeves are picked up around the armholes and the sleeves are worked from the top down in the round. I love this method of knitting sleeves because you can try them on as you go to get exactly the length you prefer.

Knit in worsted weight yarn, Mount Pollux features a satisfying mix of knit-purl textures, garter stitch, and lace. For the sample, I used Quince & Co. Owl, a wool/alpaca blend. This was my first time knitting with Owl, and I fell in love with its softness and lovely halo. It knitted up effortlessly into a sweater that's incredibly warm — perfect for chilly winter days ahead.

I loved knitting this sweater — it was one of my favorite projects of 2017. And I love wearing it even more. I hope you enjoy it, too. Thanks very much for reading!

Sneak Peek: Mount Pollux Pullover

I'm excited to be putting finishing touches on the pattern for my Rhinebeck sweater! Just a few more photos to edit and final tweaks to the text and it will be ready. It's called Mount Pollux, after the conservation area in Amherst, Massachusetts, where I shot the photos.

With this design, I'm bucking the "rule" that lace is for spring and summer. The sweater combines a lace stitch that's dense rather than open and airy with contrasting knit-purl textures and garter stitch accents. Worked in wool/alpaca worsted weight yarn (I used Quince & Co. Owl), Mount Pollux will keep you warm and cozy all winter.

This sweater is meant to be worn with a good amount of positive ease, for a relaxed, oversized fit. On my sister Betsey, who modeled, the sweater had a lot of ease (about 10 inches). On me, it's more fitted yet still relaxed, with about 6 inches of ease — just the look I was hoping for.

I look forward to releasing the pattern next week. If you don't already subscribe to my email list, now's a good time to sign up — there will be a special coupon code in the next one.

Countdown to Rhinebeck

The recent warm weather here in New England has been nice, but it also makes me a little nervous — is it global warming, or just an unusually warm fall? I hope these unseasonably high temperatures don't continue through the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, coming up October 21-22. If it's hot, no one will want to wear their Rhinebeck sweaters or shawls!

I'm so looking forward to Rhinebeck — seeing (and petting and hearing) lots of pretty sheep and goats. And — of course — checking out everybody's gorgeous knitwear. Maybe if all of us knitters wish for crisp, cool, and bright weather, we can make it happen. Let's try!

I'm working like mad on my Rhinebeck sweater and am optimistic it will be finished in time. The pattern won't be published until November, but I can share a few details now: it's a casual women's pullover, with modified drop shoulders, knit in worsted weight yarn (I'm using Quince & Co. Owl, a wool/alpaca blend). It's worked in the round from the bottom up and the only seaming is at the shoulders (or, if you hate seaming, use a three-needle bind-off instead). More details soon!

The other new design I'm working on is the third and final accessory for my Dragonfly Days collection (the first two were the Enallagma Shawl and the Cordulia Cowl). This time around, I've mixed in some cables with the dragonfly lace, to create a crescent-shaped shawl. Worked in bulky weight yarn — Brooklyn Tweed's Quarry — it will be super warm and cozy, perfect for chilly winter days.

In other news: My Chili Pepper Cardigan from the fall 2017 Knitscene is now available as an instant download from Interweave. Did you know my patterns in the Interweave family of publications are available as digital downloads? I participate in the Designer's Choice program, which means my patterns appear both in the magazines and in the Interweave online store. It's a nice program both for knitters and designers — knitters can purchase individual patterns long after the print magazine is no longer on store shelves, and designers receive royalties for those digital sales.

To find my patterns at Interweave, just type the pattern name in the search box. Or, use these direct links:

Chili Pepper Cardigan
Mathews Street Vest
Firehouse Alley Cowl
Drafter's Cardigan
Nested Knots Hat
Stagger Cowl
Morgantown Hat

Are you going to Rhinebeck this year? If you're working on a Rhinebeck sweater, I hope it's going well and you finish with plenty of time to spare!

Throwback Thursday: Pomegranate Pullover

It may be far too warm for wool sweaters right now, but that doesn't stop me thinking about them! The knitting part of my brain is already obsessed with fall. In fact, this week I cast on my Rhinebeck sweater. It's a new design — a pullover in worsted weight yarn (Quince & Co. Owl). More on that in the weeks ahead.

With this post, I'm introducing a new feature on the blog — Throwback Thursdays. Every now and then, I'll post about an "oldie but goodie," to introduce newer followers of my designs to patterns they may not have seen yet (and maybe remind longtime followers about designs they forgot they had in their queues!).

So let's start with one of my most popular sweater patterns, the Pomegranate Pullover.

Knit in sportweight yarn (I used Quince & Co. Chickadee), Pomegranate features a wide lace panel on front and back, deep hip ribbing, and crisp twisted ribbing on the sleeves and neckband. It's worked in the round from the bottom up and there's not much seaming — just the shoulders — because the set-in sleeves are worked top down, using short rows to shape the sleeve caps. 

It's a versatile, classic pattern that looks terrific on many different figures. More than 170 knitters have posted finished Pomegranates on Ravelry, and it's really wonderful to see the wide range of colors and yarns they've used with great success. It's also nice to read how some knitters have made modifications to make this design truly their own. Some have knit long sleeves, some have converted it to a cardigan, others have skipped the lace on the back, and some have changed up the style of the neckband.

Want to give Pomegranate a try? The pattern is on sale in my Ravelry store for 25% off today through Sunday, August 6, with the coupon code POM25. Happy fall knitting!

New Pattern: Chili Pepper Cardigan

The fall 2017 Knitscene is out! It's full of beautiful sweaters—including my Chili Pepper Cardigan.

Chili Pepper is an open-front cardigan featuring a pretty lozenge stitch on its cuffs and fronts. It's a comfortable classic you'll wear for years to come—and it's equally at home in the office or on weekends.

Knit in DK weight yarn (Valley Yarns Northfield, a soft merino/alpaca/silk blend), Chili Pepper is nearly seamless. It's worked in one piece to the armholes, then fronts and back are knit separately. After seaming the shoulders and back neck, the sleeves are worked top down, in the round. A touch of shaping gives the body a swingy, A-line shape.

In addition to lots of great patterns, the fall Knitscene has an article on slipstitch colorwork, tips for getting a good fit, and an interview with Krysten Ritter. Find it at your favorite yarn shop or bookstore or purchase the digital issue directly from Interweave.

Photos: F&W Media/Harper Point Photography