Sandra's Designing Blog

This is an exclusive area of my web site where you can find out more about my knitted designs, what inspires me, how I work and what I like (and don't like) to design. 
 
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Category: Kits & Patterns

  1. New Pattern Alert ! 50% Discount PLUS Free Swatch Pattern

    Posted on

    Today I'm celebrating the release of my new pattern - Kemptown scarf. A beautiful squidgy scarf knitted in 2 coloured brioche. The syncopation occurs when we swap Knits (BRK's for Brioche people that understand) for Purls (BRP's) and vice versa within the row. 

    For knitters that want to start Brioche or just to know a little more or just to get back into it again, then below you'll find a free swatch pattern, just to get you started. It's a pattern I used successfully  last night at a little focus group.

    Happy Brioche knitting x 

    Sandra
     
    syncopation is "a disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of rhythm": a "placement of rhythmic stresses or accents where they wouldn't normally occur". It is the correlation of at least two sets of time intervals.
    Kempdown scarf is now available on Ravelry and through my web site. Please use the couponcode "SYNCOPATED" on Ravelry for 50% off the pattern price. Valid til the end of the month. 

     
    Abbreviations you will need to understand

     

    BRK      Brioche knit. Knit the next stitch together with it’s Yarn over.    

    BRP      Brioche purl. Purl the next stitch together with it’s Yarn over. 

    S1YO    The working yarn must always be in front before slipping 1 stitch purlwise and bringing yarn round the RH needle clockwise ready to work the next stitch.

     2 COLOUR CAST ON
    1. Start by making a slipknot holding both colours of yarn together to make the first stitch on the needle. Make sure Yarn A is to the right.
    2. Place the tip of the right needle between the two loops on the needle and cast on 1 stitch with yarn B.
    3. Now place the tip of the right needle between the front two stitches on the left hand needle, cast on 1 stitch with yarn A.

    Repeat steps 2 to 3, alternating the two colours, until the required number of stitches has been cast-on. The slipknot that you started with in yarn B should now be dropped.
    Swatch produced by Coleen from last night's focus group

    2 coloured Brioche Swatch pattern

    Cast on 25 sts (or any other odd number of sts) using circular needles and the 2 colour cast on technique using both Yarn A and Yarn B making sure the first stitch and the last stitch is in Yarn A. 

     

     

    SET UP ROWS

    Row 1A: Using Yarn A, K1, (SL1YO, K1 ) to end. Slide work on the needle ready to work the next row in the same direction.

    Row 1B: Using Yarn B, SL1, (BRP,SL1YO) to last 2 sts, BRP, SL1. Turn work.

    Row 2A: Using Yarn A, P1, (SL1YO, BRP) to last 2 sts, SL1YO, P1.  Slide.

    Row 2B: Using Yarn B, SL1, ( BRK, SL1YO) to last 2 sts, BRK, SL1. Turn work.

    TIP - PLACE A STITCH MARKER SOMEWHERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WORK, SO YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHICH IS THE RIGHT SIDE!
     

    BRIOCHE RIB

    Row 1A (RS): Using Yarn A, K1, (SL1YO, BRK) to last 2 sts, SL1YO, K1. Slide work. 

    Row 1B (RS): Using Yarn B, SL1, (BRP, SL1YO) to last 2 sts, BRP, SL1. Turn.

    Row 2A: Using Yarn A, P1, (SL1YO, BRP) to last 2 sts, SL1YO, P1. Slide work.

    Row 2B: Using Yarn B, SL1, (BRK, SL1YO) to last 2 sts, BRK, SL1. Turn.

     

    Repeat rows 1A - 2Bof the brioche rib as many times as you want.
     

    Cast off using both Yarn A & Yarn B, knit the BRK column in Yarn A and the purl in Yarn B.

    Weave in the ends and block gently following the care on the ball bands.
    Our focus group last night
    Learn more here about 2 coloured brioche

  2. New Knitting Kit, Discontinued Yarns And Reduced Prices

    Posted on

    My newest kit is finally ready and its gorgeous ! lovely twisty cables in a floral design. The twists stand out well in this yarn too. The yarn is Stylecraft's Recreate which is a recycled yarn, so good for the planet.  I have designed just 1 standard size for the gloves and 3 sizes for the hat.   Find the kit here 

     
       
    Hi my friends
    It seems a while since I last emailed you, so I thought I'd give you a little update. 
    Firstly, on the designing front, I know early on in the year I didn't feel like doing much designing, because of Johnny's health issues I really didn't have the headspace. However, I couldn't stop knitting & playing and I ended up creating many knitted mandala's, a very mindful exercise. These are available from my web site shop just in case anyone is interested. I have also had some of them printed on the front of some pretty greeting cards just to try and recoup some costs. 
    Now  I'm back designing. You will see my designs in both Knit Now (a shawl & mitts/cowl set) and The Knitter (a hat, a cowl and a scarf) in the coming months.

    The kit above is the 1st new design for my shop and I've been looking forward to showing it off ! Available in 4 different colours (Smoke, Djon, Cherry & Ink) using recycled yarn from the Stylecraft range (remember their mill is just 5 minutes away from where I live).

    I have a brioche scarf all knitted up with the pattern in draft so will be released to you all soon. Also I'm in the middle of constructing a bag out of 3 slip stitch squares. It's looking pretty cool so far.

     
     
    West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious yarn 70% Falkland Wool & 30% British Alpaca has been discontinued for a while now. I have a number of kits where this yarn is included - The Popple Gloves, Splash Waves Wrap, Diamond Shawl and the Kilana Socks.
    All these kits have been reduced in price.