Rain on the Cobblestones

I am happy to announce the publication of my latest design set, Rain on the Cobblestones!

About the Design

Rain on the Cobblestones is a textured scarf and cowl set named after the glint and texture of rainy cobbled streets at night.

Cobblestones was designed to be reminiscent of knit tweed cabled sweaters. I love thick squishy knit cables that pop out from the surface of the fabric, so I did my best to create a similar effect in crochet.

The pattern is written using US terminology.

Recommended yarn:

Rain on the Cobblestones was designed in Knit Picks City Tweed DK, a merino/alpaca/tweed blend. It’s squishy-soft and holds its shape well, making it ideal for showing off texture. The subtle alpaca halo and tweed flecks also compliment the texture and give the piece a classic feel.

Substituting? I recommend a yarn with loft and good stitch definition that doesn’t stretch too much when blocked.

Techniques and Difficulty Level:

Cobblestones is an intermediate pattern. It incorporates the following techniques:

• basic stitches (ch, sc, dc)
• back loop only stitches
• double back loop stitches
• crossed double crochet

Note: The double back loop stitches and crossed double crochet are explained in a detailed photo tutorial PDF that comes with the pattern.

Construction:
The cowl is worked in the round and the scarf is worked lengthwise in rows.

What to expect in the pattern:

For a complete list of what to expect when you buy a Knot Theorist pattern, click here.

Here is what you can expect to find in the pattern-specific designer notes:

• a summary of the construction
• how to treat turning chains
• where to place the first stitch of each row
• photo instructions for double back loop stitches
• photo instructions for crossed double crochet stitch

This pattern also comes with a separate PDF containing large-photo stitch tutorials for double back loop stitches and the crossed double crochet stitch.

Coupon code:

To receive your launch discount, add both the Rain on the Cobblestones Scarf and Cowl to your Ravelry cart and use the coupon code “KTDblog” without quotation marks to enjoy both patterns for a total of $5.00. This code will expire at 23:59 PST on January 7, 2017. Thank you for following the Knot Theorist blog!

Tester Reviews:

Here’s what Ravelry testers had to say about Rain on the Cobblestones:

“This gorgeous cowl works up quickly, yet appears complex. A perfect match for the tweedy yarn.” -Mamaloftin

“This is the second time I have tested for The Knot Theorist and I would love to test in the future. Each pattern was well written and provided a lovely finished project! I have kept these two projects for myself.” -MrsMcD918 of Simply Summer Street

“Working with Keilah on her pattern was such a pleasure. Not only was the pattern itself very lovely and something I’d like to make again, she’s awesome with her patience and attentiveness and genuinely wants you to enjoy the pattern. A++ for both the pattern and designer!” -hookhappy

 

Save

Modifying Your Dragonfruit Shawl

Dragonfruit is a shawl of endless possibilities. By playing with proportions, trying different transitions, and engineering unique edgings, you can create a Dragonfruit Shawl uniquely your own. For inspiration, here are a few examples courtesy of the wonderful Dragonfruit testers.

Proportions

One of the simplest ways to change up your Dragonfruit is to play with the relative proportions of each section. The pattern includes notes on how to change the length of each panel.

Tester gulickkr lengthened Section III of her shawl, emphasizing lace over texture to show off her delicate alpaca silk yarn. Disou made Section II the widest panel in her Dragonfruit Shawl, yielding more substantial shoulder coverage. In my own Dragonfruit in Grey, I made Section II the main stitch pattern and diminished Section III to a small band of texture that draws the eye to the edging.

Top, left to right: gulickkr, Disou. Bottom: Dragonfruit in Grey.

Photo credit: gulickkr on Ravelry

Photo credit: Disou on Ravelry

Border

If you prefer edgings that are simpler to crochet, try finishing off with a picot-chain row, as in Nancy-P’s project (top left).

Would you rather skip the second set of dblo slip stitch rows? Take a look at 15FiberFrenzy’s project page to see how she worked the edging directly into the mesh of Section III (top right).

If you come to the end of Section III and realize you are running out of yarn, there are still plenty of options. You can leave out the border altogether like ppremdas, finish off with triple crochet clusters as dsmcg did, use picots like tropigal08, or improvise your own pointy edging like colorsfromspace.

Bottom, from left to right: dsmcg, ppremdas, tropigal08, colorsfromspace.

Photo credit: Nancy-P on Ravelry

Photo credit: 15FiberFrenzy on Ravelry

Photo credit: dsmcg on Ravelry

Photo credit: ppremdas on Ravelry

Photo credit: tropigal08 on Ravelry

Photo credit: colorsfromspace on Ravelry

Beading

To add sparkle and weight to your Dragonfruit, consider adding some beads to the border. You can add beads to the points of picots as Chamelaucium and tekkie did, or you can follow gulickkr‘s example and use beads to replace the picots.

Left to right: Chamelaucium, tekkie, gulickkr.

Photo credit: Chamelaucium on Ravelry

Photo credit: tekkie on Ravelry

Photo credit: gulickkr on Ravelry

Transitions

The original Dragonfruit Shawl (right) has a small bump  at the transition from Section I to Section II. If you prefer a smoother curve, the pattern gives instructions for an alternate transition as shown in the Dragonfruit in Grey (left).

For more inspiration, check out all of the Dragonfruit Shawl projects here.

Do you love making modifications to patterns? Which mods would you like to try in your next Dragonfruit? Let me know in the comments below!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

I’ve Been Interviewed by ALittleBitToKnit!

I’ve had the honor of being interviewed by crochet and knitting designer Sarah Gomez of ALittleBitToKnit! Click here to read the interview. Be sure to check out the rest of Sarah’s blog for more designer interviews and lovely fiber craft projects!

Choosing Yarn for Your Dragonfruit Shawl

When I invited the Dragonfruit Shawl testers to share their yarn choices, I was amazed by the variety of yarns and color combinations that poured in. Some posted pictures of gorgeous gradients, others chimed in with solid and slow-color-change and self-striping yarns, and still others showed off combinations of yarns from all categories.

Altogether, my 26 inventive testers used over 30 different yarns to create their shawls. I hope the gallery of possibilities below inspires you when choosing yarn for your own Dragonfruit Shawl. With so many possibilities, you can make this shawl over and over again with a different look each time.

The Backstory Behind the Original Yarn: Jazz Handz Fusion Fiber

Photo credit: nikkifox81 on Ravelry

Jazz Handz Fusion Fiber in Bird of Paradise III

The Original Dragonfruit Shawl

Photo credit: MrsMcD918 on Ravelry

Two of my testers, MrsMcD918 and nikkifox81, also used Jazz Handz for their Dragonfruit Shawls. Coincidentally, they both used the same colorway, Rainbow Sherbet.

Jazz Handz Fusion Fiber, created by the wonderfully sweet Susan Herkness, inspired and motivated me when working on the Dragonfruit design. When I received my very first cake of Jazz Handz, which I had ordered in the Bird of Paradise III colorway as a birthday present to myself, I had a vision of it worked up as a richly textured crescent shawl.

On fire with inspiration, I set to work to create my dream shawl. Hesitant to use such a gorgeous yarn for mere prototypes and possible failures, I used other yarns to experiment with textures and shaping techniques. These efforts, however, were largely unfruitful. Months of swatching and dreaming failed to produce anything close to the shawl I had imagined.

Disheartened, I unwrapped the gorgeous cake of Jazz Handz once more from its carefully wrapped swaddle of tissue paper. I suddenly felt an urge to work with it, to feel it running through my hands and over my hook, to watch with delight and suspense as the colors changed. After an argument with my perfectionist side, which advocated for perfecting the design in a different yarn first, I picked up my hook and began to crochet with it.

My first attempt was far from perfect, and my perfectionist side had cause to gloat as I regretfully unraveled several rows and rewound the yarn around the outside of the center-pull cake. The yarn was resilient, however. It looked none the worse from being frogged, and I realized that I, too, was none the worse for having tried.

In fact, I was better off. I had become acquainted with the feel of the yarn, and seen it worked up, and thus I had a better intuition for which textures would suit it best. Not only this, but in returning to the yarn, my original source of inspiration, I had rekindled my passion and excitement for my quest. Hook in hand, I picked up the yarn with renewed energy and confidence.

At the end of a few more days, which passed not without some frogging and frustration, my dream shawl was complete, and I felt the exhilaration that only comes after surmounting a difficult challenge. I couldn’t wait to share the newly born Dragonfruit Shawl.

To learn more about Susan Herkness and her wonderful yarn Jazz Handz Fusion Fiber, check out my interview with her here.

Inspired to make your own Dragonfruit Shawl in Jazz Handz yarn? Click here to visit the Jazz Handz Etsy shop.

Other Yarn Choices

Gradient

Gradient yarns were a popular choice among testers because the pattern is easily modified to use an entire skein or gradient set. With Dragonfruit, you don’t have to worry about any colors going to waste.

Photo credit: Disou on Ravelry

Photo credit: Sanoe on Ravelry

Photo credit: Mamalaw on Ravelry

Photo credit: KMDCrochet on Ravelry

Photo credit: ppremdas on Ravelry

Photo credit: gulickkr on Ravelry

Photo credit: tropigal08 on Ravelry

Solids

Dragonfruit also looks well in solid-colored yarns. Whether you make it monochrome or use a different color for each panel, solid colors show off the contrast between each panel of texture and the intricate edging.

Photo credit: Chamelaucium on Ravelry

Photo credit: tintocktap on Ravelry

Photo credit: charq on Ravelry

Photo credit: Boudelene on Ravelry

Photo credit: DiamremNovelties on Ravelry

Photo credit: keokifam2oz on Ravelry

Dragonfruit in Grey

Slow-Color-Change and Self-Striping

The stitch patterns of each panel help blend the transitions of both self-striping yarns and slow-color-change yarns such as Knit Picks Chroma and Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable.

Photo credit: Nancy-P on Ravelry

Photo credit: rksmom on Ravelry

Photo credit: tekkie on Ravelry

Photo credit: colorsfromspace on Ravelry

Photo credit: CrochetOff on Ravelry

Variegated, Semisolid, and Combination

Dragonfruit is a great stashbuster shawl! Those beautiful but often tricky-to-use skeins of variegated yarn can be used by themselves or paired with coordinating solids and tonals.

Photo credit: stricker on Ravelry

Photo credit: PoohBear83 on Ravelry

Photo credit: 987sherri on Ravelry

Photo credit: knitgrl on Ravelry

Ready to make your own Dragonfruit Shawl? Click here to buy it on Ravelry.

Dragonfruit Shawl: A Tester’s Review

MrsMcD918, one of my wonderful Ravelry testers for the Dragonfruit Shawl, posted this detailed and helpful review on her blog yesterday. It includes notes about the yarn, an assessment of the pattern difficulty, and a tip for working the slip stitch sections. Check out the full post and the rest of her blog at https://simplysummerstreet.com/.

 

The Dragonfruit Shawl

I am incredibly excited to announce the publication of my latest design, the Dragonfruit Shawl!

About the Design

Featuring an engaging hybrid construction and an unusual border, Dragonfruit is an adventure of a shawl. Its three textured panels and intricate edging pack a visual punch, whether made in solid, gradient, variegated, or slow-color-change yarn.

The pattern is written using US terminology.

Recommended yarn:

Dragonfruit was designed in Jazz Handz Fusion Fiber, a wonderful unplied cotton gradient yarn available on Etsy. Its excellent stitch definition and semi-gloss finish showcase the fine details of the textured panels and intricate edging. The dramatic color changes, far from diminishing the effect, enhance the contrast between the panels.

Dragonfruit is tremendously versatile, and there are plenty of possibilities for yarn to choose from. Dragonfruit is suited to solid, tonal, striped, and even variegated yarn! You can also mix and match by using different yarns for each panel. For inspiration, check out the wonderful projects on the pattern page.

Click here for a blog post all about Dragonfruit yarn choices!

Techniques and Difficulty Level:

Dragonfruit incorporates the following techniques:

• basic stitches (ch, sc, sl st, hdc, dc, trc)
• basic increases and decreases
• back loop only stitches
• back loop only slip stitch

Construction:
Dragonfruit is worked in 3 sections. Starting with a single shell, the Section I is worked from the bottom upwards. Then the work is turned, and the other sections and the edging are worked from the top down.

Customization:

Dragonfruit is a shawl of endless possibilities. By playing with proportions, trying different transitions, and concocting original color combinations, you can create a Dragonfruit Shawl uniquely your own. For inspiration, check out the wonderful projects on the pattern page.

A blog post about customizing your Dragonfruit Shawl is coming soon.

How to wear it:

See 5 Ways to Wear a Crescent Shawl.

What to expect in the pattern:

For a complete list of what to expect when you buy a Knot Theorist pattern, click here.

Here is what you can expect to find in the pattern-specific designer notes:

• a summary of how the shawl is constructed
• a schematic of the body with labeled pattern sections
• how to treat turning chains
• where to place the first stitch of each row
• tips for working the slip stitches
• instructions for an alternate transition between Sections I and II (as seen in the Dragonfruit in Grey)
• instructions for customizing your shawl size

Coupon code:

And now, my wonderful followers, here is a launch discount just for you. Add the Dragonfruit Shawl to your Ravelry cart and use the coupon code “KTDblog” without quotation marks to enjoy 20% off the Dragonfruit Shawl. This code will expire at 23:59 PST on July 18, 2016. Thank you for following the Knot Theorist blog!

Save

The Bridgette Shawl

I am pleased to announce the publication of my latest design, the Bridgette Shawl! It is available on KnitPicks and Ravelry.

About Bridgette

Bridgette is a shallow crescent shawl designed to keep the shoulders warm during the transition seasons. Together, the textured body and lacy geometric border form a versatile accessory that can be worn with both dressy and casual outfits.

Recommended yarn:

Bridgette was designed in Comfy Fingering Weight, a lightweight cotton-acrylic blend that is squishy soft, yet sturdy enough for everyday wear.

Skills required:

To crochet the Bridgette Shawl, you need to know the following:

• the basic stitches (ch, sc, sl st, hdc, dc, tr)
• basic increases and decreases
• back loop only stitches

If you can do all three of those things, you can crochet this shawl! Bridgette is suited for both beginner and experienced crocheters.

Construction:
The body of Bridgette is worked sideways. A varying increase/decrease rate forms the outer curved edge. The other edge remains flat throughout. A round of single crochet surrounds the body, then the border is worked along the curved edge.

What to expect in the pattern:

For a complete list of what to expect when you buy a Knot Theorist pattern, click here.

Here is what you can expect to find in the pattern-specific designer notes:

• a summary of how the shawl is constructed
• a schematic of the body with labeled pattern sections
• how to treat turning chains
• where to place the first stitch of each row
• a table explaining how the increases work

How to wear it:

See 5 Ways to Wear a Crescent Shawl.

Coupon code:

And now, dear readers, here is a launch discount just for you. Add the Bridgette Shawl to your Ravelry cart and use the coupon code “KTDblog” without quotation marks to enjoy 25% off the Bridgette Shawl. This code will expire at 23:59 PST on March 26, 2016. Thank you for following the Knot Theorist blog!

---

Jazz Handz Giveaway Winner

Thanks for tuning in with your favorite Jazz Handz colorways, everybody! Here’s the winner of the Jazz Handz Fusion Fiber Giveaway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations, Sharon! I hope you enjoy your prize.

Nymphadora Tonks Shawl

I could probably fill a laundry basket with all of my current crochet works in progress, but this week my Jazz Handz Fusion Fiber was just begging to be made into a crescent shawl.

I didn’t resist. After all, I was feeling somewhat burnt out after the busy holiday season and I knew that making a shawl for myself would revive my crochet mojo.

I decided to use Michele DuNaier’s Mine Once More pattern, which I had used before to make Le Châle Gris.  I set to work on Thursday and within the afternoon, I had already finished the first section.

This project was addicting. Once I started a section, I didn’t want to stop until I’d finished the section. By the time I finished the section, I’d be right in the middle of a color change, and of course I had to keep going until I reached the next color. By Friday night, I had already reached the start of the transition to black.

On Saturday, I finished it! I named it after Nymphadora Tonks from the Harry Potter books because the colors remind me of her.

Love the yarn? Check out my previous post here to learn all about its maker and find out where to buy your own!

Interview and Giveaway with Susan of Jazz Handz Fusion Fiber

Meet Susan

Susan is the sweet and talented fiberista behind Jazz Handz Fusion Fiber. She creates affordable cotton gradient yarns with brilliantly unexpected color combinations. Jazz Handz yarn is unique in that the plies are tied together at intervals rather than plied or twisted. This makes for an airy fabric with excellent stitch definition, perfect for both lacy and textured projects.

You can find all of Susan’s beautiful yarns at her Etsy shop here. Be sure to also check out her Facebook page!

The Interview

1. Do you knit? Crochet? How long had you been in the fiber arts before you started creating yarn?

My love of fiber started when I was 8 and my Great-Great-Aunt Alice taught me needlepoint. She was a wonderful lady and did amazing petit point pictures right up until her death at 102! In high school I was given a crewel kit to make a piece for a school auction. Not knowing how to do any crewel stitches, there was a learning curve. But the piece, and the art, inspired me! I found the love for the feel of yarn in my hands, no matter what the medium!

Then I took a LYS knitting class with my mum. Two things came out of that class, something resembling a sweater, and finding my true fiber art love. I knit whenever I could find time, and money for yarn. Many years later I discovered felting and designed, knit and felted a closet full of purses and bags. But since I didn’t know what to do with them, I drifted slowly away from knitting for awhile.

Then for 5 years I joined with my mum and we created a successful business hand sewing “Pincushion Posies”. But, five years later, it was time for something new. I learned to crochet and then came back to knitting. It felt like I had come home.

2. What inspired you to create your own yarn, and how did you get started?

I love yarn! Wools, cotton, alpaca, you name it. Color is another thing I love. It must be from my pincushion days and years as an art teacher, but color is just as important as the feel of the yarn. After finding gradients, I soon discovered that I couldn’t get a good cotton gradient. There were a few on the market, but I wouldn’t really call them available. I either couldn’t get the colors I wanted, or didn’t want the colors available, but figured that I couldn’t be the only one feeling frustrated about this. So, I set out to create my own yarn in fun colors, that I liked, and make it available to others at a reasonable price.

3. Tell me about your process. What is the hardest part? The most enjoyable?

I start with 4 strands of cobweb weight, cotton. As I spin the yarn into a cake, I cut one strand (at predetermined points) and use a very strong knot and tie on the next color. By staggering these changes in color, a gradient effect is created. Add in lots of time untangling thread-like yarn that misbehaves, and random knots and breaks thrown in by evil yarn mills, and you end with a beautiful cake of colorful yarn.

The knot I use is the magic knot. Videos on how to make the knot can be found on the internet. I would say it’s magic for several reasons. First, it is very, very strong. I test each knot as it’s made and sometimes get a bit too zealous. While the knot has never broken, it is stronger than the yarn, which sometimes breaks as I tug away at it. Second, the knot magically disappears as you knit or crochet right over it. I actually cut the ends very close to the knot itself with sharp embroidery scissors, but most people weave in the ends. Really, it is nearly impossible to find that tiny little knot later on in the finished project. Magic!

The hardest part is actually finding the yarn I use. So I spend far too much time scrounging it up here and there. The actual process involves playing with color, frustration with knots, disappointment with knots and breaks in the yarn on the cone, and a contraption my husband built for me with plans I drew on a napkin!

Playing with color is by far the most fun! Depending on the day, and inspiration, my stash goes from neatly organized to having every color scattered about “playing” with other colors. Sometimes, the best combinations occur when I randomly set yarns down next to one another. It’s always hard to actually make the ones I set about doing in the first place, because others will appear that look much more exciting to me. I think some call that attention deficit, but I call it inspiration!

4. What is your favorite part of owning Jazz Handz Fusion Fiber?

The Jazz Handz Etsy shop, not so much fun. I’m not a fan of, nor completely literate of computers. But it’s also the best part too. I’ve been given the opportunity to meet the nicest people through the shop. I get to make someone happy with what I’ve made, then they take that and create the most beautiful things! It’s very flattering to me when someone chooses my yarn to spend so much time with. They crochet or knit, every day for weeks sometimes, and in the end there’s this brand new beautiful thing in the world! And I think, I had a little bit to do with that!

The Sale

If you’d like to try some beautiful Jazz Handz yarn, Susan is offering a discount code for 16% off any purchase! That brings the price of a 100 gram skein of luxury gradient yarn to just $14.24. Here’s how to get the discount:

1. Go to the Jazz Handz Etsy shop here.
2. Add the items you would like to buy to your cart.
3. Click on the Cart symbol to view your cart.
4. Under the section that says “How You’ll Pay”, click on “Apply shop coupon code”.
5. Enter the code 2016KNOTTHEORIST16 and check out.

This offer is open to all countries and will end on January 21, 2016 at midnight PST.

The Giveaway

As an additional bonus, Susan has also generously offered to sponsor a giveaway of one skein of Fusion Fiber! To enter, comment below with your favorite Jazz Handz colorway. Then, click here to submit your entry and see ways to earn additional entries. This giveaway is US only and will end on January 21, 2016 at midnight PST.