b girl b knits

Better Late than Never

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 12:16:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've knit anything, and even longer since I've posted. Anyway, here is my first pattern published in a book, More Knitting in the Sun! It's a modified version of my ruffled mini skirt pattern, redesigned for girls sized 4-12, with an additional ruffled tier. The skirt is knit in stockinette stitch in the round from the waist down. Increasing and decreasing create the ruched ruffles.

SIZES
4 (6, 8, 10, 12) to fit waist 21.5 (22.5, 23.5, 24.5, 25)"

YARN
Classic Elite Yarns Provence (100% mercerized Egyptian cotton; 205 yd /100 gm): Color 2627 French Red; 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) skeins

NEEDLES
Size US 5 [3.75 mm]: circular, 16"
Size US 10 [6 mm]: circular, 24"

NOTIONS
0.5"-wide elastic, 20 (21, 22, 23, 23.5)" length
stitch markers
scrap yarn
tapestry needle

GAUGE
20 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st on size 5 needles
15 sts and 19 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st on size 10 needles

New Pattern: Boysenberry

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:52:00 +0000

This adorable waist-length cardigan was brought to my mind by the designs of the 1950’s, when accentuating a tiny waistline was the fashion. The allover lattice pattern and seed stitch accents are simple and striking. The collar flows into the front bands, which are folded back and sewn at the waist edge, creating two small pockets. The pockets may not be truly useful for holding anything other than your hands, but for me, that’s all they really need to do.

The pattern is available at Tangled Magazine for $6.50.

SIZES
To fit bust size 32 (36, 40, 44)"

YARN
Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport (100% wool; 184 yd [168 m]/1.76 oz [50 gm]: Color 157 boysenberry; 7 (8, 9, 10) skeins.

NEEDLES
Size US 5 [3.75 mm]: straight
Size US 3 [3.25 mm]: straight

NOTIONS
2 stitch markers
2 stitch holders
tapestry needle

GAUGE
24 sts and 38 rows = 4” [10 cm] in lattice pattern on size 5 needles
13 sts and 24 rows = 2” [5 cm] in seed st on size 3 needles

Arabella Pattern

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Thu, 06 May 2010 20:51:00 +0000

It's officially spring and the weather has been great. But it's never too early to start knitting your next sweater for winter. Or you can knit this sweater in a lighter yarn such as cotton and wear it during cool summer nights or early fall.

Arabella takes advantage of the gathering effects of smocking and ribbing to cinch in the waist of the sweater. The square neckline complements the diagonal lines of the smocking, while the slightly blouson sleeves add an element of curviness in contrast to the neckline.

This is the second pattern I am self-publishing. It is available as a PDF for purchase through Ravelry for $7.00. I hope you like it!

SIZES
Finished bust size 27 (30, 34, 37, 41, 44, 48, 52)” / 68 (77, 86, 95, 104, 113, 122, 131)cm
Length 19.75 (20.75, 21.5, 22.25, 22.75, 23, 23, 23.25)” / 50.5 (53, 54.5, 56.5, 58, 58.5, 58.5, 59)cm

YARN
Cascade Yarns Wool 220 (100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 220 yards [201 meters]/100 grams): Color 9429 Mossy Rock; 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins.

NEEDLES
Size US 5 [3.75 mm]: straight and 16” circular
Size US 7 [4.5 mm]: straight

NOTIONS
8 stitch markers
2 stitch holders
tapestry needle

GAUGE
18 sts and 26 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st on size 7 needles
20 sts and 29 rows = 4” [10 cm] in k1, p3 rib on size 5 needles

Ruffled Mini Skirt Pattern

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:28:00 +0000

Spring is here and it's the perfect time to knit yourself a mini skirt with a fun flirty ruffled edge. This skirt is knit in the round from the waist down so you can try it on as you go. Since I hate seaming, the elastic waistband is encased as you knit the skirt. Two options are providing for finishing the ruffle, one of which also requires no seaming.

SIZES
The waist measurements are for a low waist as opposed to true waist, so pick the measurement closest to where you would wear the skirt.
To fit low waist: 24.5[27, 29, 31, 33, 35.5, 38, 40]inches / 62[69, 74, 79, 84, 90, 97, 102]cm
Length: 12.5[12.5, 13, 13.5, 14, 14.5, 15, 15.5]inches / 32[32, 33, 34, 35.5, 37, 38, 39.5]cm

YARN
600[630, 670, 700, 730, 760, 790, 830]yd / 550[580, 610, 640, 670, 700, 730, 760]m Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK Cotton

NEEDLES
1 24-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle
1 24-inch US #6/4mm circular needle

NOTIONS
24.5[27, 29, 31, 33, 35.5, 38, 40]inches of 1.5-inch wide elastic
10 stitch markers
safety pin or other individual stitch marker
contrasting waste yarn 42[44, 46, 48, 51, 53, 55, 57]inches long
tapestry needle

GAUGE
18 sts and 25 rows to 4 inches stockinette stitch on US #6 needles

This is the first pattern I'm self-publishing. It is available as a PDF for purchase through Ravelry for $5.00. I hope you like it!

Buttons

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 23:54:00 +0000

My friend Sharon (Ravelry user coffeecrisp) sent me these awesome buttons that she made. She also made a ring of the same design, but I decided not to include a picture of my short, stubby fingers. She's thinking about selling these on Etsy, so keep your eyes peeled.

Now I need to create some patterns worthy of such attitude.

Spring Fibertarian!!

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:24:00 +0000

The spring issue of The Fibertarian, which features two of my patterns, is live! The first pattern, Lacey Tunic, features a cowl neck, empire waist, and lace pattern. The second pattern, Bat Wing, is a striped bat wing sweater, which is knit in four pieces and then sewn together.

Spring+Summer Knitty!!

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:04:00 +0000

The spring+summer issue of Knitty, which includes my second published pattern Petrie, is live! This pattern is a simple tank top with a cowl neck, named after Mary Tyler Moore's character on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Laura Petrie. I love cowl necks so I wanted to incorporate one in my next design. Since spring was coming up, I decided a sleeveless top would be most appropriate.

The top above is knit with Berroco Pure Pima cotton. The first incarnation of the top shown below, was knit with ColourMart silk yarn, which I think has better drape. But I think both yarns work well with the pattern.

Thanks to my sister and her boyfriend for the amazing pictures shown on Knitty!

Sneak Peek

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:35:00 +0000

Go to The Fiber Republic! You'll see the cover of the forthcoming spring issue of the Fibertarian, which features one of my patterns.

When the issue goes live, the patterns will be available for free!

ruffled skirt and new blog design

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:50:00 +0000

I came up with a new knit skirt pattern featuring a ruffled edge in anticipation of spring.

pattern: my own
yarn: Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK Cotton
needles: size US 6

Also, my boyfriend has been bugging me to make my blog prettier for a while now. So here it is!

modified quadrat

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:25:00 +0000

Ravelry user mimizuku made my Quadrat sweater with modifications which I think really improve the sweater. I love her version.

You can see more of Mimizuku's knitting on Ravelry or her blog.

more fingerless mitts

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:18:00 +0000

I decided to brave the tons of snow in order to take a picture of these beautiful fingerless mitts.

pattern: Cafe au Lait Mitts
yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton
needles: size US 3

more knitted gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:00:00 +0000

Here are some more last minute holiday gifts I knit.

pattern: star crossed slouchy beret yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted
needles: size US 11

pattern: aran gauntlets
yarn: Morehouse Farm Merino 3-Strand
needles: size US 7

pattern: humanity wristwarmers
yarn: Rowan Pima Cotton DK
needles: size US 5

pattern: garter-cuff gloves
yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
needles: size US 4

knitted gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:13:00 +0000

I spent the holidays with my family in New York, knitting a bunch of last minute holiday gifts which my sisters were kind enough to model.

pattern: chunky cabled beanie
yarn: Patons UpCountry Wool
needles: size US 11

pattern: an unoriginal hat
yarn: Patons UpCountry Wool
needles: size US 11

pattern: turn a square hat
yarn: Cascades Yarn 220 Wool & Noro Silk Garden
needles: size US 6 & 7

pattern: quant headband
yarn: Noro Silk Garden
needles: size US 8

I also went to the Lion Brand Yarn Studio to see the fiber artist Nathan Vincent which was a fun talk.

winter knitty!!

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:53:00 +0000

The winter issue of Knitty is up and it includes my first published pattern, Quadrat!

braided cowl

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:12:00 +0000

pattern: my own
yarn: Lion Brand
needles: size US 13

Braided cowl of my own design.

gyasi's sweater

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 03:38:00 +0000

pattern: trellis
yarn: Rowan All Seasons Cotton
needles: size US 7

I knit this last fall for my friend's son. He finally sent me photos of his son wearing the sweater and he looks adorable!

calorimetry

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:15:00 +0000

pattern: calorimetry
yarn: Moda Dea Cache
needles: size US 10.5

Cast on 80 stitches. Worked short rows until there were 26 stitches outside the markers on each end and 28 stitches in between the markers.

Not a fan of the yarn - had gotten it for free a couple of years ago. Yarn looks more fluorescent in the photo than in real life

knitted ruff

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:08:00 +0000

I received this yarn from my friend a couple of years ago and didn't know what to make with it - until I saw this pattern. I really like ruffles, and I think the color is perfect for the pattern.

pattern: knitted ruff from Cut Out + Keep
yarn: Manos del Uruguay
needles: size US 7

Cast on 24 stitches instead of 18, but didn’t change the short rows. I also made the buttonhole larger.

The instructions on short rows are a bit confusing and not quite right. Wrapping a stitch is described as “yo, slip 1 stitch, yo, slip the slipped stitch back to the original needle”.

If you know how to work short rows, then it’s not a problem. This tutorial on knitty.com is quite helpful.

cloth napkins

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:46:00 +0000

I decided to sew cloth napkins because they're economical, environmentally friendly and most importantly, classy. They're simply two 16" squares sewn together, since the prints are only on one side of the fabric and I didn't want napkins with a "wrong" side. Instead of using the same fabric for the whole set, I chose a variety of black & white patterns. This way I can easily add more napkins to the collection in the future. The egg beaters are my favorite.

crochet flower necklace

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:03:00 +0000

pattern: crochet necklace by creativeyarn
yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solid
crochet hook: US size F

felicity hat

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:13:00 +0000

I love the slouchiness of the felicity hat by Wanett Clyde. The pattern can be found on her website knitology or on ravelry.

The only thing I did differently was to use size 7 needles throughout as opposed to starting off on smaller needles.

pillar lace neckwarmer

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:33:00 +0000

Rather than give up on the pillar lace pattern, I decided to make a neckwarmer to use up some of my yarn stash.

Here's the pattern:

Yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca & Silk
Needles:16” size US 6 circular needles

Gauge: 20 stitches / 4 inches

CO 111 stitches. Place marker for beginning of round.

Rnd 1: knit
Rnd 2: *yo, sl 1, k2, psso over the k2; repeat from * around

Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until the neckwarmer reaches your desired length. (Mine is only about 9" long.)

BO all stitches loosely. Weave in ends.

pillar lace swatch

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:29:00 +0000

I'm working on a new sweater pattern and made this swatch. I don't like the natural bias of the stitch so I'll have to pick a new one.

knitting history

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:37:00 +0000

I started knitting in the spring of 2005. Most of my knitted projects up to December 2008 can be viewed here. Unfortunately, I do not have photos of the items that I knit as gifts.

first post, last knitted

noreply@blogger.com (Beautia) — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:23:00 +0000

pattern: chunky seed stitch neckwarmer (original)
yarn: patons upcountry wool
needles: US size 11

pattern: lace ruffle scarf (original)
yarn: rowan kidsilk haze
needles: US size 8