#knittingpatterns

WIP WEDNESDAY

How one blanket has become a family heirloom...

Back in 2020, I designed a blanket for my eldest son during lockdown. He was three at the time, and his favourite colour was "rainbow". He had been wanting me to make him a blanket for a while, and the three months off from work due to the COVID-19 pandemic gave me the perfect opportunity to pull out my chunky knitting needles. Thus, the "Over the Rainbow Toddler Blanket" was born.

He carted that blanket everywhere around the house until he got too big for it, and then he gave it to his little brother to use in his crib in 2023. The blanket officially turned six years old this year, when the stitches finally gave way, and it became irreparable. Both boys shed some tears over losing their baby blanket and begged me to knit another one. (Actually, this time they wanted two, one for each of them.) So I set to work redesigning my original pattern, correcting a few mistakes I had made as a newbie knitwear designer, and making the blanket using Estelle Eco Cotton yarn held quadruple instead of a bulky-weight acrylic. So far, the improved design is working well. I love the feel of the cotton yarn compared to acrylic, and I think Version 2.0 will be the best yet. Of course, the blanket has to be approved by my two blanket testers to see if it's a good replica, but I'm sure it will pass with flying colours… or, in this case, "rainbow colours".

I'm hoping to post some pictures of the new blanket in the next couple of weeks, once it's finished and the updated pattern enters pattern testing. If you would like to become a future test knitter for any Times Lost Art patterns, please follow me here on Tumblr, or on Facebook and Instagram, for TLA-related updates.

TEST KNITTER CALL

Cute as a Cupcake Winter Hat

TLA is seeking test knitters for an updated version of our " Cute as a Cupcake Winter Hat". We have expanded our size range and updated our pattern layout to make knitting fun and easy. If you would like to apply to be a tester, please submit your application through Yarnpond.

Look as CUTE AS A CUPCAKE in this stylish baby hat. Be original, be bold, be sugar and spice and everything nice in this wonderful, themed hat. Look good enough to eat with a cherry on top - a lovely little red pom-pom. This is a great introduction to the reverse stockinette stitch for beginner knitters.

This knitting pattern is a digital download in a PDF format.

Difficulty Level: Easy

Size: 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, Toddler/Child

Stitch Patterns Used: 1x1 rib, stockinette, eyelet stitch

Stitches Used: knit, purl, yarn, over, knit two together

Techniques Used: knit in the round, colourwork

Needles Needed: US 8 (5.0 mm) circular needles, US 10 (6.0 mm) circular needles suggested length for both sets of circular needles - 20 cm (8”) for smaller sizes, 40 cm (16”) for larger sizes

KNIT WIT

It is probably not possible for a knitter to not know of the acclaimed Sophie Scarf knitting pattern by Petite Knits; but just in case this pattern has managed to evade you, I’m happy to share my own knitted collection and pattern review.

First, let me point out an interesting truth about this phenomenon of a knitting pattern. It is more pleasantly popular than it is crazily criticized.

This pattern has easily engrossed me. It has officially become one of my favorite accessories to knit. I think it’s easy to see why. The design is effortlessly chic, minimal yet refined, with a structure that looks polished whether you’re dressed up or casual. It’s the kind of accessory that instantly elevates an outfit.

My daughter in this photo loves wearing her Sophie with a dress.

If you’re a new knitter still getting the hang of pattern reading, ‘Sophie’ is one that is extremely easy to follow. You count. ✅ You knit garter stitch. ✅ You’ve at this point learned basic increases and decreases.✅

For yarn, I recommend sticking with the pattern-suggested dk cashmere or the silkiest merino you can find.

The pattern will work well with other yarns too, but cashmere brings out the full elegance of ‘Sophie.’

Knitting the same garment twice has turned me into a more skillful knitter. Frogged in its entirety, then re-knitted only to be frogged again, this is my final Soldotna, a popular knitting pattern by knitwear designer Caitlin Hunter. Search through the Instagram #Soldotna tag to see all of the different versions. This sweater is cute in every color on everyone. Many knitters unite in excitement over this beautiful pattern.

My experience however, was a mixture of failure and frustration; but still a really fun ordeal overall. Frogging and preserving yarn is another time consuming skill all by itself. Some of us have learned that the hard way. And since the yarn for this project was purchased from an indie dyer at a yarn festival, I saw 🤑 money that I refused to let go to waste (as I faced temptation to abandon the project altogether).

I’m glad I got over it! And instead of hating the frogging task, I played music, and enjoyed a cappuccino while meticulously unraveling each section, stitch by stitch, moment by moment.

Usually, I’m not in a hurry to finish my knitting projects anyway. I like to think that I’m mostly patient. That’s part of the reason why I hardly ever have any finished objects to post. The WIPs are perpetually on my needles. 💁🏽‍♀️🤭

So, here’s what happened. I knitted following the pattern exactly. After binding off the last stitch, I immediately tried it on and to my horror, the neckline collar *did not* fit over my head. 😤 I was seriously in shock. The neckline was super high and i just could not squeeze it over my forehead. Fretfully, I frogged the neckline only, knitting it upwards (it’s a top down pattern). Finished it again, and again, it didn’t fit.

This time, I frogged it entirely. Then, I knitted the entire pattern again casting on more stitches for the neckline and followed alternative short row shaping instructions. Finished the entire piece, tried it on, and the sleeves were too short, almost to the point of looking sleeveless. Lots of heavy sighing. Come. On.

Then, ha. Another idea, because there was no way I was going to frog it again. With the fully finished object still intact, I frogged the sleeves only, 😀 and re-knitted them to finally end up with something that looks right.

Now, I have a sweater that actually fits over my head, fits me, reflects my skill for pattern adjusting, and carries a whole story in every section.

This wasn’t the breeze through knitting I thought it would be. It was a process. A little messy, a little humbling, but also, finally very satisfying.

Behind the scenes:

KNIT WIT

Happy Monday... or not!