A friend asked me to make a cowl for her little girl Maddison, so I thought I'd write up how I did it.
You will need: Less than 50 metres each of three different colours of double knitting 3.5mm hook
You will need to make 8 granny squares using your favourite method. I really like the Purl Bee tutorial, it is explained really well and is super easy to follow!
So you'll be making 8 squares and sewing them together into a band. You could make all the squares the same, but I like them all to be different. Have a look at the picture to see how I made them. The sizing can be adjusted at this point - my squares were a little under 3 inches - so if you want to make it smaller, make fewer squares - if you want it larger, make more!
Once the granny squares have been sewn into a band, you'll be continuing the granny pattern (*3 tr, ch1, rep from * - or in American terms it's *3dc, ch1, rep from *) remembering to make 3 trebles (or doubles if you're American) inbetween each square. Look at the next picture to see how I did it. Easy right? I did 5 rows of granny, but you could make fewer, or more if you wanted. The last row is slightly different - just do the 3 trebles (or doubles) in each ch1 space, but don't ch1 - this makes the top and bottom of the cowl ever so slightly smaller, which helps to keep it snug on your neck.
Isn't it pretty? The next time I make one I'm going to use all my favourite granny square patterns. Hope Maddison likes her cowl, and that it keeps her warm this Winter.
I designed this cowl while staying in a lovely little village in France, called Beaumont.
You will need: 22-24” 4.5mm circular needle 22-25” 5mm circular needle 170 metres DK yarn one stitch marker cable needle tapestry needle
This makes a cowl with a 24” circumference, to make it larger or smaller simply increase or decrease by 12 sts, but this size should fit everyone.
Using 4.5mm needle CO 156 sts using cable CO, join for working in the round and remember to place the stitch marker! K2, p2 rib for four rounds.
Change to 5mm needles. Rows 1, 2, 3, and 4: *K6, p1, k4, p1, repeat from * to end of round. Row 5: *C4f, k2, p1, c4f, p1, repeat to end of round. Rows 6, 7, 8, and 9: Same as round 1. Row 10: *K2, c4f, p1, c4f, p1, repeat to end of round.
Repeat these 10 rows four times, then repeat row 1 four times. Change back to 4.5mm needles and k2, p2 rib for five rounds. BO using a 5mm needle – this will help the rib to fan out and fit on your shoulders better. Weave in ends and you're done!
I use VSTs (Virtual Studio Technology instruments) in my music, and have always admired those who make their own. So last weekend, I sat down and decided to learn how to use Synthedit. I've been reading a lot about John Cage, and his early experimental music. Too much coffee and a whole day spent learning how to make a random (virtual) voltage signal, and I came up with Cassette_musik. It is inspired by Cage's 1977 work 'Cassette', and his 1953 work 'Williams Mix' (great title!)
Cassette_musik loads a .wav, and plays it either forwards or backwards, and can cut the audio (via a simple gate) or play the entire wav from start point to end point. I'd only recommend that for one shots or very short samples though. The sample plays at a random starting point each time it is triggered (using the lovely Random Voltage module). I have also added some filters to degrade the sound and make it more like a scratchy old tape. I'm still beta testing, but when it's totally finished, I'll post instructions and a download link. My first free VST, whoop!
Buoyed by my success of making a working VST, I started to make a second one (using the structure of Cassette_musik as a base). Jareth also loads a .wav file and has a random starting point generator, but it also has a granulator. The GUI is inspired by Labyrinth, a 1986 film starring David Bowie as the Goblin King, so the controls are based on things in the film. The Peach button is pitch range, Goblin controls the Grains, and Oubliet controls the Grains Range (I think). You can play the sample forwards and backwards, although reverse doesn't work very well with higher Peach and Goblin settings; you can also choose different cycles 2-16, 32 and 64. This one is still being beta tested too, but as soon as I've finished I'll post instructions and download link. I'll also make example mp3s so you can hear the original audio compared with what it sounds like run through the VSTs.
Designing the GUIs was great fun too. I wanted an old cassette for Cassette_musik as it made sense, but I was a bit more creative with the design for Jareth. I even made my own dial for the dB levels - the clock hand is a bit jerky but I still love it!
Free pattern for a modern, masculine looking wristband knitted with Turkish Rib. Although I'm sure if you used pretty wool it could look feminine too!
You will need: 4mm straight needles Less than half a ball of DK yarn (would be nice to use some luxury yarn for this, sadly I don’t have any luxury yarn so I used Sirdar Escape DK)
Tension/gauge: About 10 sts to 2 inches. Pattern makes a wristband about 7 inches in diameter (if you need a bigger or smaller size, just CO more or less sts – but make sure it’s a multiple of 2.) I recommend knitting 4 rows of K2, p2 rib and slipping it off the needle. If it fits your writs you’re good to go, if not, CO again with more sts.
CO 32 (use cable CO if you like, I made one with and one without and with a project this small I don't think it really matters). K2, p2 rib for 3 rows. K row. P1, *p2tog, yrn; rep from * to last st, p1 K1, *yf, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k1 Rep last two rows 6 times (or until desired length). P row. K12, p2 rib for 3 rows. BO loosely (I use needles a size or two up as my BO is quite tight).
Sew together into a tube and weave in ends (NB when it’s finished it’s not rectangular, it’s more of a parallelogram; just make sure you seam it the right way!) Wear with style, or give away as a last-minute gift.
*Tro means ‘turn’ in Welsh, the Turkish Rib turns around your wrist as your wear it. It is pronounced to rhyme with ‘floor’.
I made some of these for my Mam’s 56th birthday, she loved them, and has started making some as gifts for her knitting friends. They are also super easy to make! Use any wool that you like, and pretty much any size needles. I used DK with 3.5mm double pointed needles.
You will need:
Set of 4 dpns (whatever size you’re used to) Yarn (whatever type goes with your chosen needles) Tapestry needle Scissors A spare hour or two
Okay here we go: CO 30 sts. I always cast all my sts onto 1 ordinary needle, then transfer them to the double points as needed. I also CO 1 extra st, then knit the extra st and the first st together. Divide the sts as 10 on each needle, join, then K 1 round. K2, P1, K4, P1, K2 – for three rounds. K until piece is about 1 ½ inches long. Begin decreases: K2, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K2. K 1 round. K1, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K1. K1 round. K2, K2tog, K2. K2, K2tog, K1. K1, K2tog, K1. K1, K2tog. You’ll now have 2 sts on each needle, cut the yarn leaving a long tail and thread through remaining sts, remove the needles and pull to draw tight. Weave in the yarn.
Now turn it inside out. Pick up sts along a line, 1 sts every other purl bump. Slip the first sts of every row, and then stocking sts until piece measure approx 5 inches / 13cm. Garter stitch (knit every row) for another 2 inches / 6cm. Cast off (bind off) leaving a long tail. Now roll the long strip up like a swiss roll, and using the tail of yarn, sew closed at the end which is the bottom of the cup. Now you turn the cup inside out, push a knitting needle through the middle of the flower and out of the end of the cup, pull down all the way and…
Presto! You have a flower. Make loads and put them in a vase.
Please do not reproduce or sell my patterns, or items made from my patterns. Please contact me if you want to make things to sell for charity - and then I'll say yes!
