Norah Gaughan Volume 14

The latest — and actually the last with Amy Christoffers joining the team — Norah Gaughan pattern book from Berroco was recently released, and it offers great inspiration for spring and summer.

This collection of 14 patterns is subtitled “Another Angle,” and there’s a good reason for that. All of the patterns feature triangular or diamond shapes, loads of eyelets, raglan lines that seem to go on forever, in other words, the architectural details we expect and love from Gaughan.

I love Chock (shown on the cover), an undulating lace shawl that looks so cozy and easy to wear; Shim, a roomy tank with a leaf motif running up the center and rows of eyelets for emphasis; and Camber, a cardigan with eyelets that make a sort of diamond shape emphasized by deep raglan lines.

The booklet runs $14.95, or you can buy individual PDF patterns direct from Berroco for $6 each.

Anything catch your eye? I’d love to hear about it.

[Photo via Berroco.]

Next Pattern:

Framework: Ten Architectural Knits by Norah Gaughan

I’m trying to include more knits for kids in my posts because I know a lot of people do a lot of their knitting for the little ones in their lives.

This child’s striped vest from Lion Brand Yarn is not only cute and great for kids who might find a full sweater too hot, it’s also an easy project if you’ve never knit a garment before.

Lion Brand rates it as level 2 easy/beginner +, probably just because there’s a little shaping and seaming invovled, but it’s nothing you can’t handle.

The pattern comes in three sizes that are meant to be for ages 6, 8 and 10. The finished chest measurement is 30, 31.5 or 33 inches, which is 76, 80 and 84 cm respectively. This makes the vest a little roomy and makes it easy to slip on over a T-shirt or other top.

It’s worked in two pieces from the bottom up, with the neckband and armhole bands worked in the round after the body pieces are sewn together. One benefit of knitting stripes on a project like this is that it’s easier to make sure your pieces are the same length because you can just count the stripes (it’s also a little easier to seam because you’re always lining up the stripes).

If you’re knitting the smallest size, you only need one skein each of the two colors you choose, and for the larger sizes you will only need two, making this project a pretty good value. The suggested yarn is Color Theory, a worsted weight acrylic yarn that comes in 18 relatively muted colors. Of course you can use any worsted weight yarn you like. Keep it acrylic for easy washing or use wool to make this a warmer garment for kids who live in cooler climates.

You can grab the pattern for free from the Lion Brand website, or get a kit that includes the yarn you need (and needles if you don’t have them already). I think this would be a great basic to knit a kid for back to school in their school colors, or make it holiday with red and green, or whatever colors the child likes.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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