I wanted to show you our Wheatsheaf Cowl Pattern, for sale on Ravelry. I used some wonderful Rowan Yarn Company Cashsoft Aran which is softer than butter and so warm. I made samples of the Wheatsheaf Cowl pattern using both Aran and DK weight yarns. The difference in circumference was 26inch for the Aran and 22 inch for the DK version. One of our pattern testers for the Wheatsheaf Cowl knitted the cable pattern repeat twice to make a taller cowl, you’d use more yarn, but it would be fabulously warm if you live in colder climate.
Knitted in aran weight yarn, the Wheatsheaf Cowl is a speedy knit, easily made over a few evenings of knitting. Ideal for Christmas knitting or gift knits.
A great stash buster, the Wheatsheaf Cowl is a quick knit. Easily finished in a few evenings by the fire and is toasty warm. Great for gifting and a chance to use up a bit of stash, you’ll need between 200-225 yards (depending on size) but you’ll need more if you knit a deeper cowl.
Wheatsheaf Cowl knitting pattern, image shows matching Wheatsheaf Hat
You could cast on three times as many stitches for a looped style cowl if you wanted the extra warmth, but this will use at least three times the yardage and you might need a little extra if you add depth/height to the ribbed sections. This would loop easily twice around your neck and look fabulous.
The cable pattern used in the Wheatsheaf Cowl pattern reminds me of a Wheatsheaf, hence the name, but bluesocks thought they looked like X’s for kisses. Either way, I love it. It’s a quick knit, great way to use up small amounts of yarn and you can make a matching set as a gift.
The cable pattern has both charted and written instructions to suit your preference.
Wheatsheaf Cowl on cushion
Wheatsheaf Cowl Tension/Gauge
Gauge/Tension for body of cowl in cable pattern – unstretched: 16sts x 32 rows = 3in x 4in/7.5cm x 10cm with 5mm/US8 16sts x 32rows = 3 5/8th in 9.25cm x 4in/7.5cm x 10cm with 5.5mm/US9
Wheatsheaf Cowl Recommended Yarns
I made samples using the following yarns:
Rowan Yarn Company Cashsoft Aran
Rowan Cashsoft DK
Stylecraft Special DK
My Test Knitters used
Zeeman Royal
Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK
I found the Aran weight yarn washed really well and still looks as good as the day it was knitted. The matching hat has worn equally well and is machine washable on a delicate setting.
I think you would need to use a cable needle for any of the Wheatsheaf patterns, the earlier cables in the pattern can be done without, but the central crossover cable does need a cable needle, or spare dpn.
I’ve been asked by a couple of knitters if the cowl could be worked in chunky or bulky weight yarn. The simple answer is yes. However, you’d need to go up a needle size to perhaps a 6mm needle to get enough drape to the piece and obviously both the height and circumference of the cowl would change.
I haven’t tried this myself so I can’t help you on yardage/meters required to complete the cowl.
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We recently released our Wheatsheaf Aran Socks Pattern, for sale on Ravelry. I used some wonderful Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted which was a gift from the lovely Joan Dyer. The socks use different needle sizes to achieve three sizes from Ladies Small/Child up to a Mens size with options for slim, regular and slouchy fit.
Knitted in aran weight yarn, the Wheatsheaf Aran Socks are a quick knit, easily made over a few evenings of knitting. Ideal for Christmas knitting or gift knits.
A great stash buster, the Wheatsheaf Aran Socks are a quick knit. Easily finished in a few evenings by the fire and are toasty warm. Great for gifting and a chance to use up a bit of stash, you’ll need between 200-260 yards (depending on size and if you make the longer, folded cuff.
The socks can be knitted at a tighter or looser gauge/tension and feature ribbing on the cuff, back of the leg, heel flap and sole to ensure a nice fit for many foot sizes. The socks are made for lounging, wearing around the house instead of slippers and relaxing. They’re an attractive sock for lazy days and nights by the fire.
Sizes:
Small US 4-6.5/UK 3-5.5
Medium US 7-9/UK 6-8
Large US 9.5-11/UK 8.5-11
Options for
slim fit: 4mm/US6 for all sock
regular: 4mm cuff, 4.5mm for sock
slouchy 4.5mm cuff, 5mm for sock.
I made samples of the small size using 5mm needles for the body of the sock in Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted, they would easily fit a slimmer foot or a wider foot due to the nature of the yarn and how springy it is.
I made the large size using Stylecraft Heritage Aran (Acylic/wool blend) and 5mm needles. They fit a wider food very well and spring back to shape after a wash.
I made the small size using 4mm needles for the whole sock, this had good hard wearing fabric and was a lovely neat fit.
Sizing and Fit of the Wheatsheaf Aran Socks
If you want a slouchy sock, use larger needles and for a slimmer fitting more hard wearing sock, use smaller needles.
Size small using 4mm needles and acrylic blend yarn would easily stretch to fit a 9 inch foot circumference.
Size small using Lamb’s Pride and 5mm needles would easily stretch to a 10 or 11 inch foot circumference, but be less hard wearing.
If you need to make a longer foot, the charts are set up so you can repeat a section or part of chart as often as you need to get the desired length. I’ve also included which chart row I ended on for each of my samples so you have an idea of how it worked for me.
There are four options for your heel pattern. I’ve used a slip stitch heel and a ribbed heel for the samples, both worked well and gave a good fit.
I’m knitting another pair for Christmas this year, using some Rowan Calmer I had in stash. It’s so soft and will make such a comfy pair of socks. I’m tempted to make them in my size and keep them 🙂
I’m sorry I’ve not blogged for a few days, it’s a busy time of year for my day job and I’ve also been helping out with the Gift Along (as I do every year). I’ll catch up a bit today with two posts crammed with goodies and ideas and a few discounts and offers I saw along the way. I’ll also show you a super little gift I bought for myself and one for a very good friend and I think is awesome. I’m not affiliated with the company and I don’t get commission, I just loved the product and wanted to share it.
Today I wanted to focus on some beginner patterns in the Indie Design Gift Along, a pattern where a total newbie can have a go and create a finished item pretty easily or where a more experienced knitter can learn a technique or skill that’s new to them. Part 1 is Knit and Part 2 is crochet.
Lots of step by step instructions and photos to take you through this gorgeous little crochet Bunny pattern. Give it a go, you’ll love it so much you won’t want to gift it 🙂
It’s rare for me to include one of my own crochet patterns in a round up for the Indie Design Gift Along 2018 but this really is an easy set of coasters, great for using up stash and you have the option of a photo tutorial or line by line written instructions.
Beginner Patterns, Knit – Indie Design Gift Along 2018
I’m sorry I’ve not blogged for a few days, it’s a busy time of year for my day job and I’ve also been helping out with the Gift Along (as I do every year). I’ll catch up a bit today with two posts crammed with goodies and ideas and a few discounts and offers I saw along the way. I’ll also show you a super little gift I bought for myself and one for a very good friend and I think is awesome. I’m not affiliated with the company and I don’t get commission, I just loved the product and wanted to share it.
Today I wanted to focus on some beginner patterns in the Indie Design Gift Along, a pattern where a total newbie can have a go and create a finished item pretty easily or where a more experienced knitter can learn a technique or skill that’s new to them. Part 1 is Knit and Part 2 is crochet.
First Up is an offer I saw when browsing beginner patterns in the Giant Bundle of Gift Along Patterns.
If you buy this one and add the Bead Drop Scarf and the Garter Eyes Cowl to your cart at the same time, you’ll only pay for Ma Cherie. I’m not on commission, I just thought it was a great deal for anyone wanting to try beads on a knitted project and learn a little bit of lace knitting while getting two patterns for free.
A good introduction to sock knitting using thicker yarn and larger needles to get you started and give an understanding of sock anatomy and all the common terms used in sock patterns. Handknit socks are the best and you can learn quickly to customise for fit and comfort.
A lovely introduction to cables, working a piece flat and changing to working in the round, it’s soft, warm and super smooshy. A really great starter pattern if you’ve never worked in the round before. It’s not scary and it’ll open up a whole new world of knitting to you.
An easy, boxy sweater with some nice finishing touches, so you can learn icord finishing, afterthought pockets – all optional and have a sweater that’s a relaxing, fun knit.
There is a youtube video tutorial to go along with this beginner shawl pattern, absolutely brilliant for someone starting to knit and who wants to make a pretty shawl for themselves or a gift.
This simple cowl pattern can be knitted at virtually any gauge, with any yarn. The stitch pattern is an easy mix of knits and purls, nearly identical on right and wrong sides, which produces a textured fabric that is suitable for both men and women. It is knitted in the round, in one piece with no seaming.
A cute slip stitch pattern creates a fabulous and complex looking mitten with beads, when actually it’s all simple techniques, well explained with a photo tutorial and you get to take all the credit for it 🙂
Simple knit and purl combination creates a great checkboard effect suitable for men and women. A very easy knit and the chance to add some buttons from your vintage stash is an added bonus.
Last of all, I wanted to show you this product, from Fobbles, it’s called Stash n’ Store and I’ve been sticking my scissors, tapestry needles, cable needles, crochet hooks and stitch markers in mine since it arrived. I’ve never been so organised. Bev is closed until the New Year, so this’d be an ideal New Year treat for yourself.
Part 2 will be along later today with Beginner and New to You Crochet Patterns.
Indie Design Gift Along 2018 Slipper and Bootie Favourites
Today, I thought we’d have a look at some of the awesome Slipper Patterns available in the Indie Design Gift Along this year. I’ve picked designs from the Indie Design Gift Along 2018 that caught my eye, had interesting stitch patterns, techniques, were quick or just simply too cute that I had to include them.
I’m actually making these for myself, I’m using some Stylecraft Special Aran in silver grey and cloud blue for the sole/trim. They are super warm and I’m half way through the right slipper, having made the left one.
I’ve made an exception with this pair of adorable slippers to show you two photos, why? Well, the bottom image shows a tiny version made with 4ply/fingering weight yarn and it makes a perfect baby size bootie OR the most adorable Christmas Decoration!
Time for some crochet and crochet fair isle so you can play with colour and have toasty warm feet. I absolutely love these and her designs are such fun.
I’ve made these, originally for myself but within hours of being finished, my Mum had tried them on, claimed they fit her better than me and disappeared into the sunset with my new slippers. They’re made with super bulky yarn and very quick, I think the smallest size took me around 45 mins a slipper.
Yeti Slipper Socks are a quick knit in super bulky yarn. The colour pattern is achieved with a simple slipped stitch technique so that only one colour is used at a time. Great for using up odds and ends of stash.
What girl doesn’t want a pair of Ruby Slippers? A quick and easy knit, great or using up small amounts of yarn or those variegated skeins you have kicking about. Carolyn is a Mod in the Indie Design Gift Along 2018 event.
I couldn’t resist adding this cute pair of knitted slippers, partly because I love the name Betty and also because the cable and garter pattern on these will be a) cozy and b) stylish. They’ll make an awesome gift. As with all the patterns, you can find them on Ravelry.com and in the Indie Design Gift Along Group.
I know the designer of this marvellous and mad-as-a-box-frogs pattern, it’s edgy, urban and modern. All words suited for someone younger than I, but I do love it. it’s a quick knit, thick, warm cables and several ways to wear it, your Teen or Twenty Somethings will love it.
Awesome example of playing with colour, some Fair Isle stranding and a texture collar, this really is a stunner. Kits are available in a variety of colour options.
A simple but stylish crochet poncho with lots of opportunities to add stripes, play with colour or just make it in a single colour to contrast with your winter coat.
Last one for today and it’s another modern, edgy and urban piece with an awesome shape and texture. I can see my Teen Ogre nieces loving this and wanting one in every colour.
