Fade Your Pattern with This Fun Sweater Knitting Pattern

I love the idea behind the Igneous Sweater from Knitting Expat Designs. We probably all know about the trend of fading yarns to produce an ombre effect or just to combine colors in a harmonious way in a project, but have you ever thought about “fading” the stitch pattern in a project?

That’s what she did in this design, and it’s really pretty cool. The pattern starts allover the bottom of the sweater and fades to Stockinette at the top. You could probably fade colors as you went, too, if you wanted, though the effect in a single semisolid yarn is nice, too.

The design comes in 14 sizes ranging from a chest measurement of 32 inches to 66.5 inches and was designed to have 4 or 5 inches of positive ease.

The base price on Ravelry is £10 but there are codes on the pattern page for a pay what works system. (You can also buy it on Etsy if Ravelry isn’t working for you right now.)

[Photo: Knitting Expat Designs.]

It’s a common complaint among women and femme dressing folk that our clothes do not include enough (and enough useful) pockets. And even if your clothes do have good pockets, there’s always a chance that you’d rather have another pocket to put some essentials in rather than having to carry a whole bag.

But because we are knitters, we can take this problem into our own needles and knit ourselves some auxiliary pockets.

Beatrice Mase did just that, with a kind of fancy toolbelt pocket accessory that they call VELVET Pockets.

The stitch pattern has a plush, sort of velvet effect, thus the name, but it’s worked with regular fingering/sock weight yarn. (The sample uses wool, but you could experiment with other fibers, too.) It calls for 776 yards of 710 meters, which you might just have in your sock yarn stash.

The pattern includes several pockets of different sizes, with the main body of the pocket worked flat in one piece and the exterior pockets sewn on at the end. You also have the option of adding screw rivets and a coordinating clasp that make it look even more toolbelt chic.

The design is worked with a loop of knit fabric at the top so it can slide onto a belt. The pattern includes explanatory diagrams, photo and video tutorials and is adjustable to fit different sizes of belts.

It’s almost enough to make me want to start wearing belts again, even though I haven’t for years. Because who wouldn’t want a few extra little pockets to hold things when you don’t have enough to really justify carrying a bag around?

The pattern is available in English and French on Ravelry and you can also buy a kit complete with the yarn, rivets and clasp (the pattern is not included in the kit) direct on Etsy.

[Photo: Beatrice Mase]

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