Ahoy Cowl

Featured Knitting Stitch Pattern: Sailor Rib 

This is a simple stitch pattern that adds a texture that is deeper than simple ribbing.  It is easy and adds amazing depth to your finished piece; plus it’s reversible.  Try it with some handspun and make a scarf or cowl.  It’s a great unisex stitch pattern, and so many yarns look amazing in this stitch!

Sailor Rib (multiple of 4 + 3 stitches) - see "Mistake Rib Stitch" video below.

• Row 1:  *P2, K2; repeat from * until 3 stitches remain; P2, K1
• Row 2: *K2, P2; repeat from * until 3 stitches remain; K2, P1 

AHOY COWL

Natural burly-spun Icelandic wool handspun gives this cowl a rugged, squishy look knit in Sailor Rib pattern, while the other half is knit with a thick and thin soft alpaca blend yarn that lightens the look of the cowl.   

MATERIALS:

• Approximately 70 yds of a thick and thin Icelandic/gotland lock yarn, or any thickly spun lock yarn, to get a similar look
• Approximately 75 yds of Asana Bulky (50%wool / 50% alpaca, 140 yds), color 406, by Galler Yarns, held double. (chunky yarn, recommended to be knit with a size 10-10.5 needle)
• Length of Sari Silk ribbon (optional, for seaming)
• Size 13 needles, straight or circular*.  Cowl is knit flat then seamed. 
• Yarn needle for seaming.

*Swatch!  Choose the size needle that makes a fabric YOU like.  Sailor rib looks more dramatic knit at a denser gauge.   

PATTERN:

Cast on 15 stitches (or whatever width you’d like your cowl to be) 

Follow Sailor rib pattern for 7-10 inches, or however long you’d like your cowl to be made of handspun yarn (i.e. half length- sample is long enough to wear as a simple cowl)

When the cowl is about half as long as you would like, switch yarn to the Asana Bulky (held double).  Change stitch pattern or continue in Sailor Rib.  

Continue knitting until the cowl is as long as you desire.  Cut loose & get creative!  Make it a long scarf or cowl, to wrap around your neck several times.  Add another yarn or stitch pattern to the piece; the possibilities are endless! This could be a great use of small bits of handspun or a stash buster.   

Bind off.  Seam ends together with a yarn needle and a length of sari silk yarn for a dramatic seam, or to be subtle, seam with the Asana Bulky.    

Block with Unicorn Fibre Rinse.  Gently pat dry, reshape and dry flat. 

7x7 Mitts

 Featured Crochet Stitch: Half Double Crochet Through The Back Loop 

Half double crochet (hdc) through the back loop (tbl) is such a versatile stitch!  It adds a ribbed look (almost a knitted look) to your piece, and is also reversible.   

My favorite project to do with this stitch is quick fingerless mitts.  They can be done with several different sizes of yarn, and only takes about 60 yds.  It is super quick- make a pair of mitts in an hour! 

7 x 7 mitts

I like to make fingerless gloves for myself and as gifts.  It takes less yarn than you think, perfect for a skein of handspun that is 70 yards or less.  For longer mitts, look for at least 100 yards (crochet can eat up your yardage).  The name comes from the dimensions- 7 inches long, and 7 inches wide, which is a nice basic length and width for most hands.  The mitts are crocheted length wise, then seamed on one side leaving room for a thumb opening.  In this stitch pattern, the mitts are substantial and ribbed, making them extra warm.  For a more delicate mitt, use a smaller yarn and hook.   

MATERIALS:

• 60 yds of handspun yarn - I used a bulky single ply, mixed wools and silk, plus approximately 20 yds of spiral ply handspun with loops and puffs (I ran out of the bulky single and added in a bit of coordinating funky plied yarn for one mitt) 
• Size P crochet hook (or whatever hook gives you a fabric you like).  Try not to be really loose as these will stretch with wear.  
• Smooth worsted weight yarn or length of sari silk ribbon to seam mitts 
• Yarn needle for seaming 

PATTERN: (Make 2) 

Crochet a chain that is 7 inches long (or however long you’d like your mitts to be).  Make the chain rather loose for ease in crocheting the first row.  

Chain 2 (turning chain; does not count as stitch).  HDC tbl across the row.   

Repeat the pattern until the mitt is 7 inches long (check to see if mitt fits around your hand- if not add another row or two).  Bind off.   

Seam the mitt using an invisible stitch (mattress or crochet together), or make it fun with a sari silk seam.  Remember to leave about an inch open for your thumb.

Block with Unicorn Fibre Rinse.  Gently pat dry, reshape and dry flat. 

Cascade Scarf

MATERIALS:

• 30-50 yards of bulky, textured, handspun yarn. For this yarn we used a "twisted" style yarn that left lengths of yarn twisted and hanging free from the skein. You could also get the same effect with a tailspun / lockspun yarn. 
• Size 36 (or 50) straight knitting needles

PATTERN:

Cast on 6 stitches (or less, or more)

Knit two rows

Knit one row eLONGated (see video below)

Knit two rows

Knit one row eLONGated (see video below)

Continue knitting until you are nearly out of yarn. Bind off loosely. 

Wear straight or seam the ends together for an infinity scarf (as pictured)

Block with Unicorn Fibre Rinse.  Gently pat dry, reshape and dry flat. 

Anything Goes Cardigan

Want to use about 300-500 yds of handspun or mixed bulky yarns? This is the Cardigan for you!  Based on the easy “Boho Cardi” by Carol Porter, the pattern has been adapted to handspun with additions of lock spun for cuffs and collar.  Feel free to build up the collar with lots of different yarns for added warmth/drama.  

NOTE:  Handspun is heavy! The dimensions in the cardigan are approximate, and will assume a stretch of about 6 inches.  Try your intended yarn by making a swatch, and hanging it from a rack/hanger. Measure the length before and after ‘stretching’ to see how much length you will gain and adjust the pattern accordingly!  This is merely a simple ‘recipe’ to make a cardigan---use your imagination and creativity to make it your own!

Approximate finished measurements:

• Chest: 32 (36,40,44) inches
• Length varies—knit 20 inches, stretched to 26 in example. Do a swatch to see YOUR stretch!

Gauge: 2 Stitches/inch using size 36 , 32 inch circular needles.  Length - approximately  1 stitch per inch.

MATERIALS:

• Approximately 350 yds of chunky/bulky handspun or a mixture of yarns.  In the example, I didn’t weave in ends, I connected the yarns together with hand dyed silk ribbon, to give it an organic look (handspun had bits of things sticking out so this added to the texture and appearance).  
• 50-100 yds of lock spun yarn, or other fluffy textured yarn for edges and neckline
• Size 36 or 50 circular needles, 32 inches around, plus extra needle for Three Needle Bind off at the shoulders (can seam together, but bind off assures a better shoulder join).
• Stitch holders and tapestry needle , plus scraps of worsted weight smooth yarn for setting in sleeves
• Size P/Q crochet hook: for attaching lock yarn or other textured yarns for hems and collar.  

PATTERN:

The sweater construction is as follows (from the bottom up):  Start knitting the back of the cardigan, bind off for the neck.  Knit the first front panel from live stitches (Right front, as worn).  Then attach yarn to back neck and knit up to match the shoulder area of first panel.  Then pick up and knit the second panel (Left front, as worn).  Stitch fronts to back using the three needle bind off technique.  Make sleeves, then attach by setting them in starting at the top shoulder and going down.  Seam together the sleeve bottom.  Crochet lock yarn to edges if desired.

Back/Body:

Cast on 40 (45,50,55).  Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 11-12 inches.  Knit 8(9,11,12), slip these stitches onto a holder.  Bind off next 4 stitches, knit until there are 16(19,20,23) stitches on right needle, then place these stitches just worked onto a holder.  Bind off 4 stitches, then knit the remaining 8(9,11,12),  

Right Front Side (as worn):

Knit across the remaining stitches on the needle (8(9,11,12).  Knit across these stitches again (2 rows plain garter stitch).  Bind off 1 stitch at the beginning of this row (armhole edge), then knit across the remaining stitches 7(8,10,11).  Work even until piece measures 12 inches.  At neck edge (opposite of armhole edge), bind off one stitch every other row 5(6,7,7) times.  Work even until piece measures about 17-20 inches (where your stretchy gauge swatch comes in---add the stretch to this to get total.  In picture, large sweater knit 20 inches and has stretched to 26 inches).  Put remaining stitches on a holder (should have 2(2,3,4) stitches) for three needle bind off to shoulder stitches from sweater back.

Back Neck:

Join yarn at the armhole edge that is next to the completed front section.  Bind off one stitch at the beginning of the next 2 rows -14(17,18,21) stitches.  Work even until the piece measures about 16-17 inches from cast on edge.  Knit 2(2,3,4),bind off next  10(13,12,13) stitches, knit across 2(2,3,4) stitches.  Work even until piece measures approximately 20 inches.  Put remaining 2(2,3,4) stitches on a holder to work the three needle bind off to the Left Front Side. 

Left Front Side (as worn):

Beginning at armhole edge, bind off one stitch and knit across.  Work even until piece measures 12 inches.  At neck edge, bind off one stitch every other row 5(6,7,7) times.  Work even until piece measures about 17-20 inches-match right front side length.  Put remaining stitches on a holder for three needle bind off to back.

Sleeves (make two):

Cast on 13(15,15,17) stitches.  Knit every row for 6-7 inches (for ¾ length sleeves; go 12-14 inches for longer sleeves, include your stretch measurement).  Bind off 2 stitches at the beginning of the next two rows 9(,11,11,13).  Knit two rows.  Bind off one stitch at the beginning of the next 6(4,4,4) rows until 3(7,7,9) stitches remain.  Bind off 0(2,2,3) stitches at the beginning of the next two rows, then bind off the remaining 3 stitches.  This is the top of the sleeve cap.  

Finishing:

Using three needle bind off, attach front panels to shoulders.  Set in sleeves using a smooth, worsted weight yarn and any stitching you would like (decorative, hidden stitches, etc).  Since this sweater carries a lot of weight, make sure the stitching secure.  Crochet lock spun yarns onto edges for a fun look, and use extra around the neck and fronts to build up the area.  Wear and enjoy!

Snowfallen Scarf

This scarf uses Homestead Wool's Wensleydale lash yarn plus a thick and thin merino wool to make a cozy scarf with lash yarn to spare! You are making this the width you want, so cast on as many stitches as you would like if you would like to wrap it several times.  This was made to be shorter, and to incorporate a pretty pewter button.   You only knit the lash yarn every few rows, but feel free to use it on more rows if you would like more drama!

MATERIALS

• 1.  90 yds thick and think merino (I used Aslan Trends Del Sur (Discontinued), but maybe try some handspun too!
• 2.  25 yds.  Homestead Wool and Gift Farm Wensleydale Locks (I used less than half)
• 3.  Size 17 circular needles, at least 24 inches long (casting on for length in this scarf)

PATTERN

Cast on 70 stitches with the thick and thin merino.  Work in Stockinette Stitch (knit a row, purl a row), for two rows.  On the next row (knit row) add in the lash yarn, and knit it along with the merino. 

On the next row (Purl), drop the lash yarn and continue in SS for two rows.  Repeat knitting with both yarns for the next knit row. 

Repeat this sequence until the scarf is as high as you would like it (Sample is 15 rows high) 

Bind off using Merino yarn only. 

Sew on a button, or use a shawl pin.

Block with Unicorn Fibre Rinse.  Gently pat dry, reshape and dry flat.