I’m looking for a handful of testers who would like to try out the pattern right now, and tell me if they find any errors or unclear instructions.

There is a testing sign-up thread on Ravelry. If you would like to [...]]]> The pattern for the Behind Bars wrist cuff is all written up and ready for testing.

I’m looking for a handful of testers who would like to try out the pattern right now, and tell me if they find any errors or unclear instructions.

There is a testing sign-up thread on Ravelry. If you would like to test and you are a Ravelry member, please indicate your interest over there–that way, I can keep all the testing comments together and manage it more easily.

However, if you would like to test but prefer not to sign up at Ravelry, please do leave a message here and let me know how I can contact you privately.

The Behind Bars cuff, named by my daughter Eris.

I did the first version (pink and red) in Bendigo Classic 5 ply, then did another (yellow and grey) in Bendigo Classic 8 ply. The final pattern will be the 8 ply version, but [...]]]> This is the first pattern I’ll be publishing as part of the Pattern-a-Week challenge.

The Behind Bars cuff, named by my daughter Eris.

I did the first version (pink and red) in Bendigo Classic 5 ply, then did another (yellow and grey) in Bendigo Classic 8 ply. The final pattern will be the 8 ply version, but it’s easy to adapt for other yarns and weights.

Now I’m going to work on updating my pattern template, and writing up my notes into a user-friendly pattern. It should be ready for testing this Sunday, if everything continues to go smoothly.

D’oh.

While it might be fun to release the occasional simple pattern without testing, it really [...]]]> Oh dear … my ambitious, excited plan to publish the first pattern in my Pattern-a-Week Challenge has a flaw. I can design, knit and write up a pattern before Sunday, but there’s no time in that schedule for test-knitting and editing.

D’oh.

While it might be fun to release the occasional simple pattern without testing, it really would make more sense to build in some time for test-knitting and editing, right?

So, revised plan: My first pattern will be ready for testing this Sunday. I’ll post a photo and a brief description, and invite potential testers to contact me by email.

Then two weeks for testing, and two weeks for editing, and the first pattern will be published free to all comers for one week starting on Sunday, 7 June.

I’ll aim to keep designing and writing up one new pattern each week and calling for testers for each one, then editing and publishing 4 weeks after the testing call.

Not so much immediate gratification, but much more sustainable and useful, I think.

I am going to publish a new, original knitting pattern every Sunday for one year. That’s 52 patterns between now and, um, mid-May 2011.

This is inspired by Jonathan [...]]]> I have a plan. It may be a rubbish plan, and it’s not a truly original plan, but it’s mine and I’m going to share it with you.

I am going to publish a new, original knitting pattern every Sunday for one year. That’s 52 patterns between now and, um, mid-May 2011.

This is inspired by Jonathan Coulton and his Thing-a-Week Challenge, where he published 52 songs in a year.

I’ve been spending too much time reading, doodling, dawdling, dreaming and thinking. All of these things are useful, but on their own they do not result in published patterns.

I like designing and knitting socks, hats, gloves, scarves, toys, clothes for small people (babies and kids) and anything silly or pointless. So you can expect most of the patterns to fall into one of these categories.

I’m planning to offer each pattern free, as-is, for one week only. When the next week’s pattern comes out, I’ll put a price on the previous pattern ($1 to $5, depending on pattern complexity and options), and make it available for sale.

(Or if I’m not entirely happy with that week’s pattern and don’t want to polish it, I may just leave it as a free pattern and move on to the next one.)

Why am I doing this?

To learn more about how to design and write up knitting patterns.

To share patterns with the knitting community and (I hope) receive thanks, feedback, constructive criticism, and income.

To have something to show for all the reading, doodling, etc.

To see whether I can make a living out of creating designs for handknitting.

To have fun.

To stretch and challenge myself.

At the end of the year, to have a body of work that I can refine, polish and publish as a book (electronic or print, don’t know which yet).

Here is another pattern for an 8 inch (20 cm) square, suitable for the knit-a-square project.

Your gauge, yarn and needle size aren’t important. Start with 4 stitches, join to work in the round, then keep increasing every second row until the square measures 8 inches.

Materials:

A mitered garter stitch square with stripes, shown from the right side.

Gauge, yarn and needle size aren’t important. You start with just 3 stitches, increase every second row until the square is the size you want, and then cast [...]]]> When knitting squares for the knit-a-square project, I discovered the delights of the reverse mitered square.

A mitered garter stitch square with stripes, shown from the right side.

Gauge, yarn and needle size aren’t important. You start with just 3 stitches, increase every second row until the square is the size you want, and then cast off loosely.

Play around with variations, switching colours when the mood strikes.

Here is my basic recipe for a simple reverse mitered square knitted with stripes of colour in  garter stitch.

Materials:

• small amounts of DK (8-ply) yarn, preferably wool, in 2 or more colours
• 4 mm knitting needles
• larger needles (if needed) for loose bind-off
• 1 stitch marker
• blunt needle for sewing in ends

You can use any combination of yarn and needles that results in a fabric you like. If your squares are for knit-a-square, wool yarns are best for warmth and fire retardant properties, but other yarns are okay too.

Abbreviations

Instructions:

Cast on 3 st.

Row 1 (right side): K1, YO, place marker, K1, YO, K1.

Row 2 (wrong side): K1, K1 tbl, K1, slip marker, K1 tbl, K1.

Row 3: K to marker, YO, slip marker, K1, YO, K to end.

Row 4: K to 2 st before marker, K1 tbl, K1, slip marker, K1 tbl, K to end.

(These two rows make up 1 ridge in garter stitch.)

Repeat rows 3 and 4 about 15 times, or until you feel like it’s time to change colours.

Bring in a new colour on a right-side (odd-numbered) row.

(To change colours, I normally just drop the previous yarn and start working with the new yarn, leaving the ends long enough to for easy sewing in later. The changeover stitches are floppy as you work them, but you can neaten them up  when you weave in the ends. Alternatively you can loosely knot the new yarn to the old, at the end of a row, then undo the knot before you weave in the ends.)

The reverse side of the mitered square shown above.

If you make the garter-stitch stripes no more than 4 rows (2 ridges) wide, save yourself some weaving-in time by carrying the colour not being used up the side of the work — no need to cut the yarn and re-join.

When the square measures 8 inches (20.5 cm) on a side, cast off.

(I use a larger needle size so that the cast-off edge stays stretchy and the square doesn’t distort. For a square knitted with 4 mm needles, I cast off with 5 mm needles.)

Sew in ends and block if desired. My sample square is not yet blocked.

A pair of shorty Marywarmers that I made about a month ago, and that I've worn almost every day since.

For a KAL, a bunch of knitters decide to knit the same pattern at the [...]]]> Much to my delight, the Fingerless Gloves Fanatics group on Ravelry has chosen my Marywarmers pattern for an Autumn KAL (knit-a-long).

A pair of shorty Marywarmers that I made about a month ago, and that I've worn almost every day since.

For a KAL, a bunch of knitters decide to knit the same pattern at the same time. They share tips and advice, help each other through any tricky bits, and show off their efforts.

If you would like to participate in this KAL, check out the thread in the Fingerless Gloves Fanatics forum.

If you’re not a Ravelry member, why not join? It’s free and fabulous.

Clandestine by Cookie A. Another ornate, decadent sock design that may be a challenge to knit but will certainly turn out gorgeous. One of these days I will buy her book, Sock [...]]]> The Fall issue of Knitty.com magazine is out. There are new patterns from two of my favourite designers. Straight to the queue they go!

Clandestine by Cookie A. Another ornate, decadent sock design that may be a challenge to knit but will certainly turn out gorgeous. One of these days I will buy her book, Sock Innovation, but right now I still have too many other patterns to knit.

Colonnade by Stephen West. This new designer has been producing some incredibly stylish shawls.  His shawl shaping is innovative yet still quite simple.  I especially love how his shawls look good on men and women — not an easy achievement.

Mad Color Weave socks knit in Crystal Palace Bamboo Silk

The pattern is Mad Color Weave by Tina Lorin, and it’s available for free. I love the way the stitch pattern shows off the intense bright colours of [...]]]> I must show off these lovely socks made of Crystal Palace Bamboo Silk in the Persimmon Tones colourway.

Mad Color Weave socks knit in Crystal Palace Bamboo Silk

The pattern is Mad Color Weave by Tina Lorin, and it’s available for free. I love the way the stitch pattern shows off the intense bright colours of the yarn. The heel construction is interesting, too — it’s a method I hadn’t tried before, and I like the way it cups the heel.

We don’t have the Persimmon Tones colourway in stock at the moment, but there are several other enticing shades of Crystal Palace Bamboo Silk that could look fabulous in this pattern.

I knitted these socks for the winner of a charity auction in aid of the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009. Many thanks and love to the Red Cross and community volunteers for all the work they have done and continue to do to support those affected by the bushfires.

Jill's Domino Diamond Socks

Jill used a free pattern from DROPS Design, and Noro Kureyon Sock yarn. Isn’t it a gorgeous combination? I wouldn’t have thought to try that pattern from the photo on the DROPS site, but Jill’s socks have me drooling.

You can see more socks [...]]]> Check out these wonderful socks made by Jill Scheetz.

Jill's Domino Diamond Socks

Jill used a free pattern from DROPS Design, and Noro Kureyon Sock yarn. Isn’t it a gorgeous combination? I wouldn’t have thought to try that pattern from the photo on the DROPS site, but Jill’s socks have me drooling.

You can see more socks made from this same pattern at Ravelry, showing how they look with various types of self-striping and self-patterning yarn. I think they’d look good in Mini Mochi too.

Thanks Jill for sending me the photo and giving me permission to share it!