The Unofficial Harry Potter Knits - Severus Pullover and Dumbledore's Warm Socks

I am really excited about getting to be a part of The Unofficial Harry Potter Knits issue from Interweave this summer. I've been a fan of Harry since the first movie came out, and worked my way through the books starting when my son was old enough to read chapter books.

My Severus Pullover is inspired by what Professor Severus Snape might wear if it became necessary for him to wear Muggle clothes, such as for a covert mission for The Order of the Phoenix. Since he often had to wear poor-fitting clothes as a child, the adult Snape owns only a small number of garments that are excellently fitted and of top quality.

The Severus pullover features a central column of off-set cables reminiscent of flickering flames, flanked by narrow, serpentine cables. The sleeves feature the same serpentine cable, which travels the length of the sleeve and forms a saddle shoulder. Snape is often described as sweeping “bat-like” through Hogwarts in his wizard’s robes, so the sleeves of the Severus pullover are minimally tapered, as Snape does not care for restrictive sleeves.

My second project included in this magazine are Dumbledore's Warm Socks. Dumbledore’s Warm socks are designed especially for spending long hours in ancient, drafty castles. They are worked primarily in a specked rib pattern, whose heavy texture promises warm feet. Near the top of the sock, the initials “A P W B D” - for Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore - are worked across the front of the sock in contrast colour using duplicate stitch on a back-ground of stockinette-stitch squares fitted neatly into the specked rib pattern.

In "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," Dumbledore laments that he has once again received books for Christmas when what he longed for was a pair of thick, woollen socks. He never again mentions this desire in any of the books.

This is thanks to a conversation between Harry and Mrs. Weasley the summer after second year. After a day of buying school supplies in Diagon Alley, Harry has dinner with the Weasley family at The Leaky Cauldron. Conversation turned to Harry's recent release of Dobby the elf via the gift of a sock. They begin talking about the value of a good pair of socks and Harry casually mentions what Dumbledore told him in front of the Mirror of Erised. Mrs. Weasley, overcome with gratitude to Harry, who, with the assistance of Dumbledore, has recently saved Ginny in the Chamber of Secrets, vows to include Dumbledore in her Christmas knitting and to keep him well supplied with woollen socks every year.

Fabrication Pullover

The Fall 2013 issue of Knitscene magazine arrived in my mailbox yesterday, and included my Fabrication Pullover.

The pullover is part of the Mock Cables section of the magazine and uses lace panels to give the impression of cables without ever twisting a stitch.  The large central braided lace panel is from the book "The Knitter's Guide to Stitch" by the always inspiring stitch designer Annie Maloney.

I'm quite happy with the finished sweater, but it is coloured in my memory by a frustrating experience knitting up the sucker. The lace pattern is not difficult, but I was not sleeping well at the time that I knit up the sample and had trouble remembering the pattern. It was a "two steps forward, one step back" process every time I noticed an error and ripped back to correct it. Bonus points to anyone who ignores the mistake I missed on the back of the sweater! I'm so embarrassed that it slipped my notice and ended up being photographed. Ah, well, lesson learned: photograph the finished garment (or even better, the garment pieces before sewing them up) and let the camera spot errors that I miss in person.

Chloe's Vest - Interweave Knits Spring 2013

I'm a bit slow in posting about this pattern, but it is in no way a sign of being indifferent about the pattern. In fact, being included in this publication was something I've been imagining for a very long time.

My Chloe's Vest was included in the Spring 2013 issue of Interweave Knits!

From the magazine:

"A simply shaped sweater vest is dolled up with a delicate lace inset. Vest is knit in three pieces with the inset worked from the center out."

The main portion of the vest is worked using two strands of fingering-weight yarn held together while the delicate lace inset is worked using only a single strand. The pattern is written for 34 (38, 42, 46, 50)" bust circumference and is shown in the 34" size, modelled with minimal ease.



 

 

 

 

Salacia Cardigan

I am delighted that my Salacia cardigan  was included in the Spring 2013 issue of Knitscene magazine!

This little cardigan was designed to create an hourglass shape with the biased lace changing direction at the waistline, cinched with a drawstring tie. The cardigan is knit using Valley Yarns Longmeadow (60% cotton, 40% microfiber; 117 yd [107 m]/50 g) at a gauge of  18 sts and 32 rows = 4" in left-slanting lace patt. The pattern includes sizes 34½ (38, 42, 45½, 49, 52½)" bust circumference.

The front cardigan edges are trimmed with faux i-cord slipped stitches. The modified v-neck follows the bias of the lace before cutting straight back to the shoulder. The hem and sleeve cuffs are trimmed with reverse-stockinette stitch which rolls neatly to the back of the work. The short sleeves end mid-bicep and are worked in an all-over eyelet pattern.

The top is designed to be worn with about 2" of positive ease and ends just above the hip.

The Salacia was a fun knit for me. Everything just seemed to fall into place with this pattern, and it slid easily off my needles with very little of the fussing and adjusting that often comes with knitting up the first sample for a design.

Hobbit Knits - A Collection of Hobbit-Inspired Knitting Patterns

I am thrilled to announce the release of "Hobbit Knits - A Collection of Hobbit-Inspired Knitting Patterns".

 

The eBook contains five patterns, each inspired by a different scene from "The Hobbit".

 

The "Pony Rides in May Sunshine" fingerless mitts are inspired by the beginning of Bilbo's long journey during which he finds adventures to be quite pleasant. When the travelling becomes more difficult later on, he laments that adventures are not all "pony rides in May sunshine". The mitts feature a cabled cuff and are knit from a cheerful, rustic DK-weight yarn, and are designed to protect one's hands during a long day of holding the reins of a pony.

 

 

The Elvish Singing Shawlette is inspired by the warm welcome given to Bilbo and his companions one warm June evening as he and his companions approach the Elvish outpost of Rivendell. This delicate lace shawlette is knit from a single ball of sock yarn.

 

 

The Pocketses Vest is inspired by a Hobbit's waistcoat, with a double breast to display plenty of nice brass buttons, as well as two small pockets, just large enough for concealing a magical ring. It is knit primarily in stockinette stitch using worsted-weight wool.

 

The Mirkwood Satchel features a sturdy linen-stitch body and a long, cabled strap. It also has a cabled pocket on the side and is closed with a zipper. This bag came to mind when reading about Bilbo and his companions needing to carry weeks worth of food and water on their trek through the gloomy, unwholesome Mirkwood forest.

 

 

The Beorn Cardigan had a cabled waistband, from which the upper and lower body are picked up and knit. This heavily cabled cardigan is inspired by the wide fireplaces, large mugs of mead, and toast with butter and honey that welcomed Bilbo and Gandalf on their journey home when the visited their friend, Beorn, at Yuletide.

 

All patterns are available for sale individually in my Ravelry shop. As well, the entire collection can be purchased at a discounted price - just click the "Buy Now" button below to be taken to Ravelry. You do not have to be a member of Ravelry to buy patterns from their site.



The patterns are also available in my Craftsy pattern store, as well as in my Etsy Shop.

I hope you enjoy browsing and knitting these patterns as much as I enjoyed designing them. After all, "If more of us valued food and cheer and song* above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

*And knitting, I would add.

The Giveaway!
I have a copy of the Hobbit Knits collection to give away! This contest is open to anyone, in any country, until Dec 30, 2012. Please leave me a comment and include your contact information, such as an email address or Ravelry ID.

UPDATE: Some people have had trouble leaving a comment on this blog. You may also enter the contest by emailing me your contact info at SarcasticStitches AT gmail DOT com, or by sending me a message on Ravelry. Sorry for the inconvenience!

What is your favorite scene from "The Hobbit"? Did you first read the book as a child or as an adult?

UPDATE Dec 30, 2012 - Congratulations to the winner of the eBook, Unwindle! I have gifted you the book on Ravelry. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest!
 

Imbolc Pullover - Winter 2012 Knitscene!

I am delighted to have my Imbolc pullover included in the Winter 2012 issue of Knitscene!

This pullover features two sunburst-like lace hexagons inset into the sweater so that they wrap around the ribs at the left and right sides of the pullover, creating waist definition. Each hexagon is knit from the center out and bound off. The front and back are each knit flat to the bottom of the hexagon inset, at which point stitches are bound off at each side. The pieces are shaped to accommodate the hexagon inset, after which more stitches are cast on and the front and back pieces are worked to the shoulders. The sweater has a feminine deep U neckline. The cuffs, hem and neckline are trimmed in tidy 1x1 ribbing.
 

The sample was knit in the gloriously soft yarn from The Fibre Company called Road to China Light (65% alpaca, 15% silk, 10% camel, 10% cashmere; 159 yd [145 m]/50 g). I used 3.5mm needles and got a gauge of 25 sts and 32 rows to 4".

As the circumference of the hexagon inset is 27", an optional co-ordinating tam can easily be made by knitting two inches of stockinette stitch around the outer edge of a third hexagon, followed by decrease rows to reduce the circumference to 22", and ending with two inches of ribbing.

While winter days start to get longer after the Winter Solstice in late December, the sun's strength doesn't noticeably return until early February, which is celebrated as the Irish festival of Imbolc, which derives its name from the ancient Irish i mbolg, meaning "in the belly", referencing the newly-pregnant ewes. The two sunbursts reference the "doubling" of the strength of the sun, as well as the date of Imbolc, which falls on February 2nd: 02/02.

Amma's Scarf - Canadian Cancer Society Fundraiser

I am happy to announce the release of a very special pattern!



The "Amma's Scarf" was designed for my mother in honor of her 65th birthday. She helped in choosing the yarn and stitch patterns. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of this scarf pattern will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. This means that the entire purchase price, minus transaction fees, will go towards cancer research and improving the quality of life for cancer patients.

The scarf features a scalloped lace pattern at the ends, and uses a garter-stitch diamond lace pattern through the body of the scarf to show off the beautiful tonal variations of this variegated yarn. The pattern includes both charted and written directions for the lace patterns. Please note that the yarn used to knit the sample has a lot of drape (think 100% silk or rayon), so if you use a yarn that has more bounce, such as wool or acrylic, you may need more yardage to make a full-length scarf.



Amma’s Story
When my son was learning to talk, “Grandma” was too much of a mouthful for him, so he dubbed my mother “Amma,” a title she was more than happy to carry. She was delighted to be a grandmother, and even more delighted that she was in such good health that she could enjoy the company of an active toddler.

Two years prior, I told my mother that I was expecting her first grandchild. Not long after this, she told me that she had breast cancer. She was treated and fully recovered. Five years later, I told her that I was expecting another child. Only weeks later, she told me that she had again been diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, she is once again cancer-free with a good long-term prognosis. Happy Birthday, Mom, and many more to come!

The pattern is available on Etsy, on Craftsy or on Ravelry. You can also purchase the scarf through Ravelry by clicking the button below: