Today is the first day of the Jems Luxe Fibers Sock Knit and Crochet Along! We are going live on Zoom tonight, March 22nd, and every Tuesday night at 7pm c to learn together how to make the perfect socks. Contact Jems Luxe Fibers on Instagram for the Zoom link.
I have the perfect crochet pattern for the event. Let your favorite hand dyed DK yarn from Jems Luxe Fibers shine with the Vanilla Crocheted Socks. Cozy socks constructed with a traditional gusset and heel turn make a perfect fit. The pattern is free during the KCAL. Download it here!
Knitters can join in as well. You can download Crazy Sock Lady’sDK Weight Vanilla Socks here, also free! Or choose your own pattern. We always have a good time with Judy and Emily on Zoom.
February 13th is Galentine’s Day and it’s the day to honor the girls that stand beside you through thick and thin! Celebrate your Bestie on Galentine’s Day with the Claddagh Crochet Hat.
The Claddagh is one of Ireland’s most recognized and precious images. Two hands embracing a heart adorned with a crown symbolize the purity of a cherished relationship. Little hearts adorn this hat to remind you of that cherished love. Choose a single skein of Monstrous Bulky from Jems Luxe Fibers or use one of their Monstrous Minis curated color collections like Aphrodite shown here in reds and pinks. Create this hat for your favorite lady or girl-it comes in two sizes!
Don’t you love a new year? New beginnings, a fresh slate…new projects! I don’t do New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I make a new WIPs (works in progress) box. Everything from last year gets sorted and prioritized. And then I can start making room for the new projects in the coming year.
I hope you are having fun dreaming of what your next next project is! That’s always the best part, isn’t it? And I’ve got some super cute patterns coming your way in the next few weeks for you to drool over. The first patterns are from a collaboration with Forbidden Fiber to spread Random Acts of Kindness. Bookmark this page, because I’ll release a new pattern from the collection every few days until all five have been revealed. Then make available the Random Acts of Kindness Ebook featuring all five patterns at a discounted price. I hope you love them as much as I had fun designing them. Please take the opportunity to spread a little love this year!
Precious mitts for a precious child, inspired by the book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. The “kiss” can be emblazoned on the back of the hand or hidden in the palm.
Tell your Best Friend they are a Winner with this cup cozy, then make a complimentary version for yourself! The fun motif is reminiscent of early TV game shows.
An older pattern gets an upgrade thanks to new Monster Minis from Jems Luxe Fibers!
Jems Luxe Fibers has introduced new bulky mini sets called Monster Minis and I’m in love! These little wonders are a fun way to play with color. I’m one of the lucky first designers to get their hands on some to see how they work up. The first thing I did was reinvent my classic Lush Cowl to feature Jems’s coordinating sets. This version uses a full skein of Jems Luxe Fibers Bulky in Graphite and the Hebe Collection Monster Minis. Don’t you love the color combination?
The warm and squishy cowl features a unique crochet cable technique. It works up quickly with enough plush layers to sit high over your nose, and is soft enough to scrunch around your neck. So grab the pattern and your Monster Minis from Jems Luxe Fibers. They are the only ones who carry bulky minis!
When you are knitting a top down sweater like a yoke or raglan pattern, after you complete the shoulders and top of bust, you will separate the sleeve stitches from the body stitches. The sleeve stitches will be held unworked as you finish the body down to the waist.
Joining the front and back of body creating a sleeve
In the Fireworks pattern by Olive Knits, at the beginning of the round you will work a few extra stitches before you separate the body and sleeves. This is because your BOR (beginning of round) is at the top of the shoulder and you must first work to the stitches that will be under the arm. Where you place your first marker is going to be the new BOR. Then you will continue by working a certain number of stitches for the front, slipping the appropriate number of stitches for one arm PURLWISE onto waste yarn, adding a few stitches under the arm, working a certain number of stitches for the back (this brings the front and back together), slipping stitches purlwise for the other arm, adding stitches for under the other arm, and joining the back to the front.
For other top down patterns, the process is the same, but the position of the BOR will change the process a little. A well written pattern will give exact numbers of stitches to work and slip and in what order.
Most patterns suggest holding sleeve stitches on waste yarn. But if you have extra cables you can use those instead. It is important that you use a generous length of waste yarn or a long cable so it will be easy for you to try on your sweater. That’s one of the big advantages of making a top down sweater!
To slip stitches to waste yarn, you will need a tapestry needle and a generous length of waste yarn. (See images below) I recommend using a contrasting yarn in a lighter weight than your work. Thread your waste yarn on your tapestry needle, but don’t knot it. Slip stitches PURLWISE onto the tapestry needle the same way you would slip them from the left to the right needle. Continue working your stitches down your waste yarn, but don’t let them fall off the other end! When you have the appropriate number of stitches slipped for one sleeve, tie the ends of your waste yarn together so you don’t drop the stitches. Be sure to leave plenty of room for you to try on your sweater.
If you are using cable needles, use any needle size smaller than what you are knitting with. This keeps from stretching your stitches and changing the gauge. Slip stitches PURLWISE from the left needle to the new cable being careful to not let them slip off the other end. Secure your needles together so stitches won’t fall off as you are working the body. Be sure to use a cable long enough to allow you to try on your sweater!
My favorite way to hold sleeve stitches is on an interchangeable cable so the needles don’t get in the way. For this technique, you will need:
an extra cable long enough to allow you to try on your sweater
a needle any size smaller than what you are knitting with
something to secure your cable, like a connection piece or stoppers
Attach the needle to one end of the cable and a connection piece or a stopper to the other end. Slip your stitches PURLWISE as described. Then replace the needle with the other end of the connection piece or the other stopper.
After your sleeves are separated from the body, you are ready to work the rest of the body! You will come back to the sleeves after the body is complete.
Slipping stitches purlwise onto waste yarnBackward loop cast on under the armAdd marker between 2 cast on stitches to mark the center under the armMaterials for holding stitches on an interchangeable needle cableSlipping stitches onto a cable
If this is your first time swatching, here are a few of tips.
Use your size 6 needles because you want to use the needles you’re going to use for the body of the sweater.
Cast on more than 20 stitches. The edges tend to warp a little bit, so you won’t get an accurate measurement if you count the stitches on the edge.
Your swatch should be a little more than 4″ x 4″ of stockinette stitch (k on one side, p on the other). There’s no “right” way to do it other than that. But if you like specific directions, I’ll post row by row directions below.
Notice the gauge says the swatch should be “blocked.” For the most accurate gauge, wash your block the same way you’ll wash your finished piece. When you wash different fibers, they may grow or shrink, so you’ll definitely want to take that into account for your sweater.
Let me know if you have any other questions! Happy swatching!
This is your Olive Knits Fireworks Sweater Headquarters! Here, you can find links to everything you need to participate in the Fireworks Knitalong throughout the month of July. Let us know you are knitting with us by signing up here. If this is your first sweater, great! I’ll also have a variety of resources available to you to make it fun and easy.
A huge thanks to Olive Knits for organizing this worldwide KAL, and to Jems Luxe Fibers for hosting our small group KAL! First, bookmark these websites for easy access:
July ALL MONTH: Weekly livestreams and prize drawings with Marie on Facebook
July 30th: Official end of KAL and Virtual Bind Off Party – Livestream
What You May Have Missed
• Order your pattern and yarn ASAP! The pattern is discounted for a limited time only. Order your yarn soon so you will receive your order in time to cast on with us!
It’s such a time of joy and there’s so much to be delighted about! I find joy in the warmth of the long days, the expectation and freedom of summer exploration, summer recipes that delight the senses, colors that scintillate in the sun! And Jems Luxe Fibers served it all up with their What’s Cooking yarn subscription this spring!
Yummy colors and delicious southern recipes were delivered the last 3 months: Carrot Soufflé in April, Pig Pie in May, and Blueberry Rumble in June. These colors brought me such delight, I named my newest pattern “Chara,” Greek for “joy.” You can crochet your own delicious Chara Shawl using the colors from Jems Luxe Fibers What’s Cooking collection or choose your own color palette that brings you joy!
Joy is the warmth of spring, delighting in the flavors of fresh recipes, and the dazzling colors inspired by What’s Cooking Spring 2021 by Jems Luxe Fibers. Fill your senses with joy as you immerse yourself in creating this shawl!
Difficulty Advanced Beginner
Finished Measurements Approx. 60 inches by 32 inches after blocking
It’s so hard to keep a secret! I’ve been working on a pattern collaboration with Forbidden Fiber Company called Fight Like a Girl, and I can’t wait to share it! So in my excitement, here is a sneak peek. If you want to get in on it, you can order the kit here.
Forbidden Fiber has delicious hand dyed colors and the Fight Like a Girl kit is no exception. This treasure trove is inspired by how awesome we think women are (ourselves included). The kit includes six 20g hand dyed miniskeins, a pattern (crochet or knit), and surprise themed goodies.
Here is the Kirithra Cowl and Scarf! One pattern, two styles! “Kirithra” means “honeycomb” in Greek and it’s the same honeycomb pattern as the Kirithra Shawlette. I am so proud of the Kirithra Shawlette, but there are so many things I love about the cowl version.
First, it’s a perfect use of a pack of mini skeins from JemsLuxe Fibers! Do you have a mini skein set waiting for a project or 5 random minis you can put together? You can use that, or even left over sock yarn from your last few pairs. You just need 20 grams or 90 yards each in 5 different colors. You can even use a couple of full size handdyed skeins if you want.
Another thing is how fast it is. The cowl only takes a few hours to make, so it’s a great last minute Christmas present. The scarf, of course, takes a little longer, but it’s only December 1st. You still have time!
It’s easy too! If you were hesitant about the Intermediate skill level of the Kirithra Shawlette, this is a fun Beginner alternative.
If you like a challenge, or math (ha!), the cowl and scarf patterns are adjustable. The stitch count is included so you can alter the width and length.
I hope you enjoy this cowl as much as I have had designing and wearing it!
Katie Clark Crochet 