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.
I had a lot of fun partnering with Jems Luxe Fibers for their Trick or Treat advent box in October! I may or may not have been directly responsible for one of the tricks. I can admit, I am directly responsible for one treat: the crochet pattern included in the kit, the Winter Twilight hat! The pattern really shows off Jems’ stunning color palette that tells the story of the three witches of mythology who had to share an eye!
So now, the tricks of Halloween can be your treat! The pattern is great for any of the Monstrous Mini bulky sets from Jems Luxe Fibers. Check out the version below using the Apollo Collection. The blues and whites are perfect for ushering in winter snowfalls. And the Star Stitch detail evokes thoughts of twinkling stars in the clear cold night or snowflakes on a sunny winter day.
I hope you enjoy this trick-turned-treat!
Winter Twilight Hat using Monstrous Minis in the Apollo collection from Jems Luxe Fibers
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
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!
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!
The Kirithra Shawlette is available now! Choose a kit curated by Jems Luxe Fibers to crochet a stunning version of your own. The pattern is included free with the purchase of a kit. Or you can purchase the pattern here.
Once you have your kit or pattern, you can join the Kirithra Shawlette Crochet Along! Starting November 9th, gather with other crocheters in a private Facebook group to share progress, hints and tips, and some much needed community. Look for your invitation to join after you complete your purchase!
I’m so excited to introduce my newest design! It’s a shawl! It’s a scarf! It’s a SHAWLETTE! I love how this turned out. It’s long and narrow. You can wear it loose around your shoulders for cool fall nights or bundle it around your neck when it gets colder.
I used 3 skeins of Luxe Sock yarn by @jemsluxefibers. The design features a spike stitch pattern with crocheted linen stitch stripes and a ribbed edging all around. The smart unisex design is perfect for anyone!
The pattern will be released November 9th with a special event for a few lucky stitchers! Details are coming later this week!
2020 has been something else, hasn’t it?! I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to the end of the year! There has to be a light at the end of this tunnel. And it should have something to do with Christmas. And yarn. How about a crochet along?
Forbidden Fiber Company is introducing this year’s advent calendar, and it’s gonna be so fun! It’s a White Elephant Advent Calendar! Have you played a White Elephant or Dirty Santa gift exchange? It’s like that. You choose a squishy present out of the box and see what you get. If you like it, you keep it to use in your pattern today. If you don’t, put it back and choose another! The catch is, you eventually get to keep them all!
The White Elephant Advent Calendar comes with everything you need to complete a surprise pattern by the end of the month: 18 coordinating hand-dyed mini-skeins, A MKAL (knit) pattern designed by Afifa Knits OR MCAL (crochet) pattern designed by me, Katie Clark, and a few extra goodies throughout the month.
If you choose the crochet option, find me on Facebook along the way for help, tips, and a good time! Are you ready to get started? Find the MCAL pattern here.
Katie Clark Crochet 