Classic Elite Does It Again!

You Need This Book:
Classic Elite Knits, 100 Gorgeous Designs For Every Occasion.
But before I convince you how much you need this book, check out this link; you can actually see the projects in the book: http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/pattern_detail.php?patternID=65
And you can see who’s knitting them on Ravelry!

Ok, ready? Here’s my take on this book.
The cover is interesting in the fact that they have combined a warm orange with a cool purple/mauveish shade and totally made it work.

If you check out the link above, you’ll see sweaters, vests, scarves, mittens, bags, coats, t-shirts to fit every size human! Even the cutest little princess socks.
These projects are easy, these projects are design intensive, these projects are all consuming. One book, every type of knitter. Make the Bulky Ridge Cardigan quickly and easily. Or, go all super knitter and tackle lace, cables, short row shaping, embroidery, and colorwork. Classy or sassy, whatever you like, it’s in there!

This is what the publisher, Taunton, says: “This exciting collection features patterns by well-known names in the field, including Melissa Leapman, Annie Modesitt, Michele Rose Orne, and Kathy Zimmerman, along with the work of up-and-coming designers. So much variety.”

Knit these design in Classic Elite’s yummy assortment of yarns and you can’t go wrong. This book’s a keeper, sorry local library!

Obligatory snowflake pattern post:
Augh! I’ve exhausted the knitted snowflake patterns on the net. If anyone knows of any, please send them along. I’m interested in just knitted snowflakes, like the kind you’d block out, starch and then display.
Today I’m going to pour through my collections of patterns and magazine clippings for ideas, yes, I’ve been known to tear out a picture or pattern in a magazine.
Looking forward to all of your wonderful snowflake patterns…… (HINT!)

Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

Have you read?