Photo Shoot

Katy and Kevin Doyle came to North Carolina earlier this month. We got to have dinner with them one night while they were here, and Katy and Kevin were kind enough to do a photo shoot of some of my samples! I'm also very grateful to Lauren Harrington, since she is a far better model than I am. I HATE having my picture taken. It didn't help that it was extremely humid that evening. Katy was kind enough to leave out all the photos of me making weird faces (of which there were plenty, I'm sure) but here are some "behind the scenes" shots.

In the last photo you'll see that there are people in the background. We had people walking around all over the place, since we were in a public area (the nerve!). And then if I wasn't feeling awkward enough Brian ran into some family friends and we were forced to make small talk for several minutes.

New Pattern: Katy & Kevin Cowl

Once again I cannot share any of my WIPs, so instead let me share with you a brand new pattern!
This pattern has actually been finished for MONTHS. I knit the sample after meeting Mira from Baah! Yarns  way back in January. I submitted it to a magazine, and then promptly waited 6 months to hear that it had been rejected. That was sometime in June. I finished writing the pattern and had it test knit and that was all done by the end of June. Just today I finally finished making the changes from my tech editor, and decided it was time to publish!

I know it's a little early to be thinking about Fall, but here are 3 good reasons why you should start knitting fall accessories now.
1. They are small and portable, and thus good travel/vacation knitting
2. Once it actually starts to get cool you will be busy knitting things that really keep you warm, like sweaters and blankets.
3. This pattern is awesome and unisex, so even if you don't know exactly who it's for you will have a great gift.


This pattern is named after my friends Katy & Kevin Doyle, no, they are not siblings, they are a couple! They are also the amazing team behind all the lovely photography you see. (the crappy photographs are mine, the good ones are theirs). They are also the models in these photos!

Katy & Kevin Cowl 

Anime Infinity

I know I promised that I would finish the short rows tutorial this week with info about how to use short rows. It's coming, I promise. Part of why it's been delayed a bit is because I've been getting new patterns ready to be published!

This pattern is for the Anime Infinity Scarf. This scarf was inspired by the yarn, Anime by ArtFibers, which I received from Brian for Christmas. I received two skeins, and I knit a lacy baktus with the first skein, but then I felt the need to design something special for this beautiful yarn.

These are more amazing photos by Katy Doyle featuring the lovely Rebecca Song.

Right now this pattern is available for free exclusively to my email subscribers. So if you'd like to have this pattern, just sign up for my mailing list below. As soon as you confirm your email address you'll receive a link to the PDF.

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UPDATE

This pattern is now available for free download through Ravelry here. Or for direct download here. Of course you are still welcome to sign up for the email list if you would like.

Now on Facebook!

Mari Knits has its very own Facebook page!

Some of you may be wondering, what took you so long? Well, I don't like Facebook that much... Gasp, I know, but anyways, here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/mariknits. I hope you'll "like" me!

You can also see more awesome photos of my knitting by the amazing Katy Doyle on the Facebook page

Yak Hands Mitten Pattern

Here is a new and improved version of the Yak Hands! Mittens. These mittens are knit at a slightly tighter gauge to make them extra warm and cozy for winter. At the end of the mittens you will need to Kitchener stitch the remaining stitches. Alternatively you could also do a three needle bind off, though this will leave a seam.

Materials
1 skein Lotus Yarns Tibetan Yak 4 100g/150 meters
4.5 mm double pointed needles

2 buttons

Gauge

10 sts and 13 rows in 2 inches

Abbreviations

k knit

p purl

k2tog knit two stitches together

ssk slip 2 sts, knit them together

p2tog purl two stitches together

M1 make one

Seed Stitch; Row 1: k1, p1 repeat to end; Row 2: p1, k1 repeat to end

M1: (increase 1 stitch) pick up the horizontal strand between the two stitches, twist, and knit

Left Glove

CO 34

Rounds 1-4: seed stitch*

Round 5: k1, p1, k2tog, double yarn over, p2tog, seed stitch to end

Rounds 6-10: seed stitch

Round 11: (WS) BO 6, p (28 sts)

Round 12: k

Round 13:  distribute sts onto 3 needles and join in round and k

Rounds 14-16 k

Round 17: k14, Place Marker, M1, k1, M1, Place Marker, k to end

Round 18: k

Round 19: k to marker, slip marker, M1, knit to marker, M1, slip marker, k to end

Round 20: k

Repeat Rounds 19-21 until 13 sts between markers

Rounds 22-23: k

Round 24: k to marker, slip marker off, put next 13 sts on holder or spare yarn, slip marker off, CO1, k to end (29 sts)

Round 25-36: k

Round 37: ssk, k to end (28 sts)

Rounds 38-45: k

Round 46: ssk, k12, k2tog, k12

Round 47: k

Round 48: ssk, k11, k2tog, k11

Round 49: ssk, k10, k2tog, k10

Kitchener stitch remaining 22 sts 

Thumb

Round 1: palm facing place 13 sts from waste yarn onto needles and knit, then pick up 5 sts from the gap on the inner thumb (18 sts)

Round 2: k to last two sts, k2tog

Round 3: k

continue Rounds 2-3 until you have 13 sts remaining

Rounds 4-7: k

Round 8: k2tog, k5, k2tog, k4

Round 9: k

Round 10: k2tog, k4, k2tog, k3

break yarn and tie off remaining 9 sts

Right  Glove

CO 34

Rounds 1-4: seed stitch

Round 5: seed stitch to last 6 sts, k2tog, double yarn over, p2tog, seed stitch to end

Rounds 6-10 seed stitch

Round 11: seed stitch 28 sts, BO 6, break yarn 

Round 12: (RS) rejoin yarn and k

Round 13:  distribute sts onto 3 needles and join in round and k

Rounds 14-16: k

Round 17: k14, Place Marker, M1, k1, M1, Place Marker, k to end

Round 18: k

Round 19: k to marker, slip marker, M1, knit to marker, M1, slip marker, k to end

Round 20: k

Repeat Rounds 19-20 until 13 sts between markers (6 times)

Rounds 22-23: k

Round 24: k to marker, slip marker off, put next 13 sts on holder or spare yarn, slip marker off, CO1, k to end (29 sts)

Round 25-36: k

Round 37: ssk, k to end (28 sts)

Rounds 38-45: k

Round 46: ssk, k12, k2tog, k12

Round 47: k

Round 48: ssk, k11, k2tog, k11

Round 49: k

Round 50: ssk, k10, k2tog, k10

Kitchener stitch remaining 22 sts

Thumb

Same as the thumb on the left glove. 

Photos courtesy of  Katy Doyle


If you have any questions/comments about this pattern, or need help you can email me at marichiba@gmail.com or leave a comment on this page. 

Falling Leaves Scarf

My newest endeavor is to re-write the Falling Leaves Scarf to be a scarf and shawl pattern. I also noticed there were some errors in the chart (oh my!) so I'm also working on reworking the chart. I have to say, editing is not my favorite part of designing.

My very talented friend, Katy Doyle, has also been taking pictures of my samples. I'm really excited to share a couple of her first photos of the Falling Leaves Scarf, and as soon as I finish it I will also send her the larger shawl! (I wouldn't dare take a terrible photo on my dining table of the incomplete one and put it next to her much prettier ones.)

The Falling Leaves scarf is made with 200 yards of Lotus Yarns Cashmere DK. The new shawl version I'm making is knit with their Cashmere Fingering, which is just as soft but with a lot more yardage.