Too Good To Miss….

Vogue has done it again! Their latest Stitch Dictionary, called Lace Knitting, is #5 in their Stitchionary 5 arsenol. With this book, anyone, and I do mean ANYONE can knit lace. I know what you’re thinking, that maybe anyone can do lace but you can’t. But think of it this way. It’s just a series of yarn overs and decreases strategically placed to make intentional holes!

There are several sections in the book, the first being Easy/Mesh designs.

The next section, Edgings, gives lots of designs to dress up anything you can think of.

Chevron designs are easy too, again, with charts and row by row instructions for all of these designs. All over designs such as sweet violets and field of daisies, perfect for your summer sweaters, and leaf designs for your cooler weather items. Panels patterns are perfect for afghans. Combos section shows how to combine these awesome designs into 2 or more per item. Come up with your own unique designs! And finally Motifs, such as sea star and medallions finish out the book.

Included, of course, is a glossary, complete index and technique section to help you on your way to knitted lace. While this isn’t a project book, it’s a technique manual, if you’re interested in dressing up your standard patterns or creating your own designs, this one is a must have. From, none other than Vogue!

I don’t often share knitting patterns for pets, mostly because I don’t think of it. I don’t have a dog, and I’ve never knit for my cats except a knit couch and a little cat bed I made on a knitting machine, both of which were pretty much ignored.

I have shared some pet bed knitting patterns, and both hats and sweaters for dogs.

But I don’t think I’ve shared a pattern for a cat sweater, until now.

This one is the Bunny sweater by Sarah Zhou, so named because her cat is named Bunny, of course.

It’s a made to measure pattern because cats come in all shapes and sizes, and you can also use any yarn you like and whatever gauge you are getting with that yarn.

The design is knit from the bottom up, that is, from the tail side up toward the head. Pairs of decreases shape the body as you work toward the armholes, which are made by binding off a few stitches. Then the belly and the back are worked flat, then joined and worked in the round for the chest part.

There are some design options in the pattern, from the look of the photos they include using a contrasting color for the edging, working a scalloped edging, maybe a foldover collar? But of course you can add your own embellishments, stripes, make it in team colors or for a Halloween costume. I’m sure they’re quick to knit so you can make a bunch if you have a cat who is willing to submit to such torture.

Bunny looks like a very good and mostly tolerant girl; I don’t think either of my cats would be willing to wear a sweater. But if you make one (the pattern is available on Ravelry) and successfully get your cat to wear it I would love to hear about it!

[Photo: Sarah Zhou]

Have you read?