What were you doing at 8 o'clock this morning?

I was standing outside taking photos of pillows and sneezing.

I've just finished my first pattern for the Knit Picks Independent Designer Program: Cable Doodle Doo, a set of cabled pillows. They feature Knit Picks new 100% acrylic yarn Knit Picks Brava. They are soft, and you can put them in the washing machine and dryer, which seems very practical to me since pillows tend to get a fair amount of wear and tear.  Brian came up with the name, until about 15 minutes ago the file was simply titled: Cabled Pillows. Anyways, here are some of my less than impressive photos. Some of them came out really blurry because I sneezed in the middle of trying to take the photos.

I'm not sure when the patterns will be available, but don't worry, I'll be sure to post when they are!

Another new pattern!

Part of why I have been able to publish so many patterns so quickly is because I wrote some of these patterns some time ago.

Today I'm publishing the Bamboo Baby Dress pattern, available in 3 sizes 18", 19", and 20" chest. I was originally given this variegated bamboo yarn by Lotus to design a women's top. It turned out absolutely hideous. I was about halfway through a top, with a keyhole opening on the back, and the yarn was pooling, and the fit was weird, and I absolutely hated it. Then I was talking to some people from my Beijing SnB group and about making a baby dress, and Mei gave me the idea for the big yoke, and this dress was born. I finally had the dress test knit, and now the pattern is ready for the public! I hope you'll enjoy it!

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.

Falling Leaves Scarf & Shawl is here!

I'm really excited to say that the Falling Leaves Scarf and Shawl is finally up and ready for sale! Here are some pictures of the scarf by Katy Doyle, and that's her in the first picture. 

Bunny Mail Project Continues: Bunny Kits!

I wish I could mail you all little bunnies as part of my bunny mail project, but alas I don't have time to knit so many little bunnies (not that I have a huge following, but enough to make knitting everyone a bunny a scary thought). So, I would like to give everyone the opportunity to enter in a drawing to receive a bunny kit!

What is a bunny kit you ask? 

Well a bunny kit is a little bit of pink, white, and black yarn (enough to make two bunny items) a pattern for bunny puppet and bunny ring, and a surprise all in a little plastic easter egg, sent to your address. 

What's the surprise? 

I can't tell you! Then it wouldn't be a surprise would it? But it'll be small enough to fit in the egg. 

How do you enter to receive a bunny kit? 

Well you join my mailing list. You can use the form below or the one on the left side of the page. If you want two entries you can also 'like' me on Facebook. 

What is I live outside of the USA?

Well, I've heard that other mail systems don't like mail in plastic eggs, so if your name is drawn and you live outside of the USA you will receive your bunny kit in an envelope. 

I will draw names on March 31, 2012, so subscribe to the mailing list and like us on Facebook before then! I have three bunny kits waiting to be mailed.

Bunny Kit

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Bunny Mail

I'm currently working on a couple new difficult designs. They lead to lots of ripping out yarn and angry looks at my scribbled notebook. I felt like I needed a break from this exercise in frustration, and took a look around the internet for some inspiration.

I found this post from Giverslog about sending plastic easter eggs in the mail, then saw these tiny bunnies. Then when I went to the grocery store yesterday they had 6 plastic eggs for $1. So last night I began by knitting MochiMochi Land's tiny bunny, and then I created two of my own bunny creatures.

Now through March 31, 2012 you can enter to win your very own bunny kit! For more info please see this post.

Bunny Kit!

Bunny puppet, bunny nugget (from MochiMochi Land), and bunny ring

For all three I used the same materials:
DK weight pink yarn
DK weight black yarn,
Worsted weight white yarn
yarn needle
2.75 mm double pointed needles

Mini Finger puppet:

CO 12 sts on 2 double points and join to knit in the round

Rows 1-7 knit

Row 8: *ssk, k4* (twice)

Row 9: graft all stitches

Ears (make two)

CO 3

1-7: knit in i-chord

Sew on your ears

To finish use other scraps to sew on eyes and a little tail 

Bunny Ring

Using provisional cast on cast on 6 sts (leave a tail, this is what you will use to graft the ring together)

knit for 1.5" (or more, depending on how big the finger is) while always slipping the first stitch

Remove 6 stitches from waste yarn and graft all the stitches together

Pick up 3 stitches along the edge and knit in i-chord for 6 rows, break yarn and weave in the end

Pick up 3 stitches along the edge about 4 stitches away from the first ear, and knit in i-chord for 6 rows, break yarn and weave in ends

Use black and white yarns to sew on eyes and a tail.

Then I packed each bunny with a note about the bunny's origin, likes, dislikes, etc. with some stickers and a chocolate chick in a plastic easter egg. 

I loaded them up with stamps and addresses, and here's hoping they find their way to their intended recipients! 

Punisher Hat

Brian asked me for this Punisher hat on Ravelry about 4 months ago. I finally cast on as a quick in-between project, but of course, it wasn't meant to be. I found the chart made from a free online website hard to read, so I had to create my own chart. Also, Brian has a giant head so I had to make the hat larger. Anyways, here are my own instructions for creating a large Punisher hat. A picture of the finished hat is coming soon.

CO 108 sts
 join in the round and knit in 1x1 rib for 1.5 inches
*K3, M1* to end (144 sts)
k until the hat is desired length, (I knit mine to about 6.5", and did duplicate stitch for the skull)
Crown Decreases:
Round 1: *k14, k2tog*
Round 2: k
Round 3: *k13, k2tog*
Round 4: k
Round 5:*k12, k2tog*
Round 6: *k11, k2tog*
from this point decrease every round, following the set pattern, then tie off remaining 9 sts.

Here's my chart:

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.

Miya Shawl Pattern Give Away

Just a few more hours until I give out 5 copies of my Miya Shawl pattern. See this post to enter!

Thanks everyone for your comments, the gift copies have been sent to: Yarnella, withane, Beth W, Danna, Ecochicknits

Miya Shawl is here!

The Miya shawl was inspired by Lotus Yarns' Miya yarn, which is a lovely fingering weight yarn that is made of 70% mink, 20% merino, and 10% silk. 

 The shawl is knit from one end to another and is a crescent shape, with the ends measuring about 4" wide and the middle about 20" wide. You can see it here on Ravelry.

This is a picture of the lovely Jasmine wearing the Miya shawl!

I will give this pattern away for free to 5 random people!
To participate post a comment to this post between now and January 31st at 24:00 EST with your email and/or ravelry ID!

You can also buy it on Ravelry here, or click the buy now button below.