Category Archives: Free Patterns

Feb2

Two New Designs Available at Pick Up Sticks

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Two New Designs Available at Pick Up Sticks

I just released the Ripple Scarf and the Pop-Up Flower Hat and they are available now for $6 each at Pick Up Sticks. The Ripple Scarf  is an expanded-upon version of a design I did for last season’s Knit & Crochet Now .  This version is knit out of Paton’s bamboo/silk blend and the curves at the front are really just stripes pushed out by repeating blocks of short-rows. It’s an unusual use of the technique, which is, of course, why I love it. The cast on side is the long edge, another interesting feature.

When the striped side is done, it curls. It can be blocked, and the seed stitch edges will eventually sit down but they really, really want to fold back up again. Rather than fight that for the life of the scarf, I knit a stockinette stitch back, then embellished it with a running stitch. The decorative stitching is not necessary, but I like the way it adds a deconstructed edge as a counterpoint to the prettiness of the waves on the front. I wear this scarf EVERY DAY. The weight is perfect and because of the bamboo silk, its hand is soft but not fuzzy.

I made the flowers before the hat as a way to thank my customers for a great 2011. The flowers felt lonely without a perch, so I knit up this deep-brimmed cloche out of my alpaca, doubled. The band is knit lengthwise, then the stitches are picked up along its edge. The crown is then worked in the round. The pattern is in three sizes and includes the flower instructions so you don’t have to download that separately. If you just want the flower pattern, it is still available as a free download at Pick Up Sticks.

Jan25

Free Flower Pattern at Pick Up Sticks

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Free Flower Pattern at Pick Up Sticks

The larger sized flowers.

I am a fiend for short rows and can’t seem to make anything these days that doesn’t use them. I was messing around with a short-row flower and came up with this little 3-D number. I decided to give it away for free at Pick Up Sticks as a THANK YOU to everyone who supported me in 2011. At the end of 2010, I moved across the country from California to Vermont and in the process essentially had to shut down Pick Up Sticks. It was traumatic, and I wasn’t sure I would be able to start the company back up again. When I made the decision to rebuild this fall, I quickly  realized that I have the most supportive customers in the industry, and I was inspired by working with you all again. So thank you for your business. Much, much appreciated. And I’m looking forward to an exciting 2012.

The smaller flower.

Use the flowers to embellish hats, boots, anything you can think of.

Dec4

Yarny Holiday How-To

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Yarny Holiday How-To

Go to the VIDEO TUTORIAL

I spent last week playing around with metal rings + the blanket stitch and got so inspired I couldn’t stop, despite other pressing deadlines! These are three of the ornaments I made. My daughter made a fourth, which we featured in our how-to video. The project requires:

  • 65-yard Small Balls (or worsted-weight wool from your stash)
  • a yarn needle
  • 24 gauge florist wire
  • 4″ or smaller metal rings

I used four of my favorite colors of Pick Up Sticks’ wool, which is available on my website. (One 65-yard ball is $3.50 and the shipping is free +  priority mail, btw.) The ornaments are easy enough to do with a child – I’d say 9 and up. The only stitching technique I used is the blanket stitch, so this project is a great way to learn. If you try it, you’ll have lots of fun dreaming up your own designs with the florist wire.

Nov14

Free Pattern for Beginners; Learn to Knit with My How-To Videos

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Free Pattern for Beginners; Learn to Knit with My How-To Videos

The neck wrap is created using just the knit stitch, so it's a great project for beginners. A video shows you how to change colors and make the buttons.

The short neck wrap. The scarf pattern doubles the length shown here.

TOOLS
Needles: Size 9 straight and a yarn needle

Yarn: 100% Baby Alpaca in worsted weight. Shown in Pick Up Sticks’ alpaca in Sea Blue, Chocolate and Latte, one ball each.

Gauge: In garter stitch 18 sts x 40 rows = 4 square inches.

Extras: Buttons or 1/2 inch cabone rings that will be wrapped with the Sea Blue yarn.

Finished Dimensions
The short neck wrap is 3″ wide by 22″ long.
The longer scarf is 3″ wide (or 4.5″ if you choose) by 44″ long.

SCARF/WRAP INSTRUCTIONS

Knit First Panel

Using Chocolate, CAST ON 100 sts for the short wrap. Cast on 200 sts for the scarf.

Row 1: KNIT to end.

Rows 2-3:CHANGE yarn color to Sea Blue and knit two rows.

Rows 4-5: Change yarn color to Latte and knit two rows.

Rows 6-7: Change yarn color to Chocolate and knit two rows.

Rows 8-11: Repeat Rows 2-5.

Row 9: Change to Chocolate and knit.

BIND OFF all stitches.

Repeat pattern to make a second panel. If you’d like wider wrap/scarf you can repeat the pattern again to make a third panel.

Blanket-Stitch Wrap the Cabone Rings
Watch the videoto see how I wrap the rings.

Tack the panels together every 5 inches.

Finishing

Lay the panels out, side by side,rightsides facing. Pin the panels to each other in 5 inch increments. Tack the panels to one another at each pinned point.
Stitch the buttons or the wrapped cabone rings to the tacked points to embellish.

The pattern for the companion fingerless gloves, also a beginner project, is available for purchase at www.pickupsticksonline.com

Sep15

Check Out My Critters in Knitting Today — On Newstands Now

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Check Out My Critters in Knitting Today — On Newstands Now

I got an email from my editor at Knitting Today asking if I’d like to create knitted pet toys to feature in holiday issue of the magazine. Can you imagine a more fun assignment? I got my knit on and in just two days kicked out the little cuties below.  The patterns are on the website and in the magazine.

Jan12

Free Patterns! Get ‘Em While They’re Hot!

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Free Patterns! Get ‘Em While They’re Hot!
Free Patterns! Get ‘Em While They’re Hot!

Simplicity invited me and a bunch of other knitting designers, including Nicky Epstein & Vicky Howell, to design slippers for their suede slipper soles. I came up with what looks like a harlequin-inspired design, but when I first conceived the intarsia pattern, I thought it would read ultra-modern. I envisioned multicolored and uniformly spaced petals coming off a stem. Ach well, the best laid plans… but I still like the way they turned out.  This promo yielded a bunch of fun and wacky designs, and they are all available for free download on the Simplicity website. All the slippers are being featured in an ad in the January Interweave Crochet and the next issue of Knitting Traditions.

Oct22

Looking For the Poinsettia Pattern Airing on Knitty Gritty?

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Looking For the Poinsettia Pattern Airing on Knitty Gritty?

This photo is from Country Living's 2008 holiday issue, when the wreath kit was featured as an editor's pick for 'best craft gift under $50.'

It’s that time of year again when the DIY network starts airing the holiday show I did four years ago on our poinsettia wreath. The network used to offer the pattern as a download, but since the show was canceled, the pattern is no longer available. I sell the pattern ($6) and a kit ($39) on my website. You can order the pattern as either a download or a hardcopy that I’ll mail to you. The kit includes the pattern plus everything else you need to make the wreath: frame, yarn &  florist wires. I know for a while you could download the pattern for free on Ravelry. Might be worth hunting around to save the $6!