If you are searching for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your friend, sweetheart, or yourself (why not?) take a look at this lovely Heart Scarf.

Liz made this one out of two skeins of Noro Cash Iroha and used divine Lantern Moon Needles. The finished scarf could be given as a gift in itself, but the yarn, Lantern Moon needles and free pattern below would make a lovely gift that any knitter would be thrilled to receive.

Any worsted weight yarn would do, we think this pattern would be fantastic in Malabrigo Worsted or Koigu Kersti as well.

Come check out this lovely scarf and let us help you pick out the perfect yarn and needles for this project!

KnitCulture.com Lace Heart Scarf

Yarn: 2 skeins Noro Cash Iroha
Needles: size US 7 or size to get gauge
Gauge: 4 stitches per 1”

Abbreviations:

k-knit
k2tog-knit two stitches together
k2tog tbl-knit two stitches together through the back loop
P: purl
rs-right side
ws-wrong side
sk2p-slip 1, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over

Pattern:

All even rows are RS
All odd rows are WS

Cast on 24 stitches

Row 1: k across row

Row 2: k across row

Row 3: k2, *yo, K2tog, repeat from * to last 4 stitches, k2tog,yo, k2

Row 4: k2, p across row, k2 (repeat for all even rows)

Row 5: k2, yo, k2tog, knit to last 4 stitches, k2tog, yo, k2

Row 7: k2, yo, k2tog, k7, yo, K2tog tbl, k7; k2tog, yo, k2

Row 9: k2, yo, k2tog; k5, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, K2tog tbl, k6, k2tog, yo, k2

Row 11: k2, yo, k2tog, k4, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, K2tog tbl, k5, k2tog, yo, k2

Row 13: k2, yo, k2tog, k3, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, K2tog tbl, k4, k2tog, yo, k2

Row 15: k2, yo, k2tog, k2, k2tog, yo, k7, yo, K2tog tbl, k3, k2tog, yo, k2

Row 17: k2, yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo, k9, yo, K2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, yo, k2

Row 19: k2, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, K2tog tbl, k2, yo, sk2p, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k3, k2tog, yo, k2

Row 21: k2, yo, k2tog, k3, yo, sk2p, yo, k3, yo, sk2p, yo, k 4, k2tog, yo, k2

Row 23: k2, yo, k2tog, knit to last 4 stitches, k2tog, yo, k2

Row 25: k2, yo, k2tog, knit to last 4 stitches, k2tog, yo, k2

Repeat above from Row 4 until desired length;

Repeat Row 3 and knit 2 more rows (garter) and cast off.

(c) Knitculture.com

UPDATED 2/7/09, get the latest, corrected version of the pattern here.

It’s that time of year again. We’ve brought out the knit thong for Valentines day. We’re getting smiles, leers, and the occasional “ew!” from the pre-teen crowd.

This perennial favorite always gets a few boyfriends interested in knitting. Once again we’re offering the popular class to help students get started. An added bonus, this is a quick project that doesn’t require too much yarn.
You start the project at the top of the front, and get to learn a little bit of lace as well as some decreases and shaping. Then it’s time to learn how to do a little bit of crochet in order to connect the front and the back of the piece.

The back gets you acquainted with a bit of increasing, and then it’s time for picking up, cable cast-ons, and knitting in the round.

A picot edge rounds off the experience nicely.

All that technique in one little garment means that by the end of the project you’ve learned a whole lot in a relatively short period of time.

Check out the free pattern available from Interweave and join us at our class.

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There was of course, one step before I started gauging. The bride-to-be and ex of the Knitter’s Studio, Mindi, came over with about 20 books of lace patterns. One by one these books were paged through, post-it noted, and dumped unceremoniously to the ground. After which Mindi went home and decided on the patterns for the shawl I was going to knit, as well as a skirt for herself.

That’s when I came into the picture, having volunteered some months ago to undertake the project. We wanted to do several guages, so that we could decide what needle size based on the look of the lace. Mindi had already started her skirt with 2s, but we had both agreed that we wanted the shawl to be looser and lacier, so I went ahead and guaged on 3s, 4s and 5s.

As you can see, I got wildly different results from each needle. The 3s (on the left) were the most substantial, but were of course also the smallest. Not only would they take the longest to knit, but I felt (and Mindi agreed) that it wasn’t lacy enough. The resulting shawl would be a little too weighty. On the other hand the 5s (on the right), were a little bit too far in the opposite direction.

The 4s (in the center) seemed to be the perfect compromise. The resulting shawl will be loose and lacy, but not too much so.

Keep an eye out for some progress pictures here on the blog.

If you’re interested in starting your own lace project you may want to check out Folk Shawls or Knitted Lace of Estonia.

We are very excited to announce that Sharon Brant of Rowan, a knitwear designer, author and costumer who has worked on such films as Harry Potter, Elizabeth and Atonement will be leading a workshop on professional finishing techniques at our store!

In this three hour workshop Sharon will use her recently published book to help you through a whole series of tips and techniques that will give your knitting that professional look and finish.

The day is aimed to show the techniques of working with colour, texture and the following techniques will be covered:

• Choosing the best method to cast on
• The importance of tension and how to correct it
• Working with Colour (Intarsia and fairisle)
• Textures (Lace, Cables and bobbles)
• Finishing techniques, (seams and picking up stitches)
• Plus many more tips that will make people ask “where did you get your sweater?” rather than “did you make that yourself?”

When: Saturday, January 24
Time: 10:00am~1:00pm
Where: The Knitter’s Studio
Price: $65.00

Sign up here!

I have loved knitting in luxury fibers forever. I love alpaca-especially baby alpaca.  Alpaca fiber, considered a luxury fiber, usually rivals the popularity of such fine fibers as cashmere and pashmina due to its natural properties. It is a smooth, velvety, very lightweight, soft, and durable fiber. If 100% pure, alpaca wool is absolutely thermal due to its hollow fiber and microscopic air pockets, so you will never lose your body heat and will be able to breath in warm weather. Also, alpaca fibers do not let water or dust settle.

Misti Alpaca makes some of the most beautiful alpaca on the market. Their alpaca comes in many weights and blends but our personal favorite is their Hand Paint Chunky line.

As soon as we received our first shipment of this luscious beautifully hand painted yarn and piled it onto the table to stock customers began to gravitate toward the table to touch and hold the skeins of yarn. We sold out our first order that day.

I was a bit sad I have to admit because I was very excited to run home and knit up Misti’s one skein Ribs and Ruffles scarf. That afternoon I called our rep Juanita and placed a new order for whatever we could get.

As I was cleaning up that evening, I saw a soft fluffy skein on it’s side under the table. One skein of Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Chunky in Mavelous….sigh. I ran home and knit the Ribs and Ruffles scarf you see here. Enjoy your free pattern from Misti below and check out our online stock of Misti HP Chunky here.

Misti Chunky Ribs & Ruffles Scarf

Needle Size: 13
Finished scarf: 48” X5”
Material: 1 skein Misty Chunky Baby Alpaca
Instructions:

1. Cast on sixty stitches.
2. Ruffle Row one: knit two together across the row (you will have 30 stitches)
3. Ruffle Row two: knit two together across the row (you will have 15 stitches)
4. Begin Eve’s rib pattern
5. Row one rib pattern:
   *knit three, bring yarn forward, slip stitch as if to purl, bring yarn back, repeat pattern from *,
   end with knit three.
6. Row two rib pattern:
   knit one, bring yarn forward, slip stitch as if to purl, bring yarn back, *knit three, bring yarn
   forward, slip stitch as if to purl, bring yarn back, repeat pattern from *, end with knit one.
7. With approximately 8 yards left on skein. Begin ruffle pattern as follows:
8. Row one: knit into front and back of each stitch in row. (you will have 30 stitches)
9. Row two: knit into front and back of each stitch in row. (you will have 60 stitches.Bind off with similar tension to cast on row. Sew in ends. Shape ruffles.

(c) Misti International Inc