I promise I will have two FOs to show you by Friday.
I wanted to add that you can still buy some of the older, out-of-print Dale of Norway pattern booklets if you buy them as kits from Allegro Yarns. They do have St. Moritz, Norge 2000 (There is also a Norge 2002 which is a different design.) and the #7912 embroidered cardigan in another colorway using Tiur called #10404 Larvik. As the older out-of-print Dale booklets are now so expensive on Ebay you could probably even come out ahead by buying the kit at Allegro, knitting the sweater, then re-selling the booklet on Ebay.
Apparently not every design I showed yesterday is of out print. The #7912 cardigan is has been re-released in a new pattern booklet #8307 and different colors (PDF HERE) at Bea Ellis Knitwear. She is also now selling the 8501 Commemorative Collection that includes the Canadian Whistler sweater design I'm going to knit.
Yarn Barn also is selling booklet 8501 Commemorative Collection and if you go HERE you can see all the sweaters in all their colorways. Yarn Barn has the original St. Moritz pattern booklet HERE.
I credit Dale of Norway for making me addicted to stranded color knitting. When I started knitting seriously they published the most beautiful knitting patterns. I can't even wear boxy ski sweaters and we live in a warmish climate so heavy sweaters aren't really practical. But the first time I knit a Dale pattern I was hooked. I experience complete joy when knitting their patterns. So far I've knit six of their sweaters and plan to knit more even though we rarely wear them.
When knitting became really popular a few years ago and Dale stopped publishing stranded patterns in favor of easier designs it was by far the saddest thing that has happened to me as a knitter. I don't know if the new Whistler pattern means they're returning to complex stranded designs or if it is just a fluke. I've also heard rumors there is a Dale Christmas stocking book being released.
Dale is the reason I blather on here about multi-color knitting rather than lace or cables. All of their old booklets are unfortunately long out of print and expensive but I thought I'd put some photos of some favorite Dale sweaters through the years.
St. Moritz
#7912
Norge 2000
#12406
#6101
This last cardigan is still in my queue if I ever find some yarn to use. I do love knitting with Heilo but if I used it I could only wear this as a coat.
When knitting became really popular a few years ago and Dale stopped publishing stranded patterns in favor of easier designs it was by far the saddest thing that has happened to me as a knitter. I don't know if the new Whistler pattern means they're returning to complex stranded designs or if it is just a fluke. I've also heard rumors there is a Dale Christmas stocking book being released.
Dale is the reason I blather on here about multi-color knitting rather than lace or cables. All of their old booklets are unfortunately long out of print and expensive but I thought I'd put some photos of some favorite Dale sweaters through the years.
St. Moritz
#7912
Norge 2000
#12406
#6101
This last cardigan is still in my queue if I ever find some yarn to use. I do love knitting with Heilo but if I used it I could only wear this as a coat.
Dear Elizabeth, how about a February Beret... FREE PATTERN
If you asked my husband who my favorite author is, he would answer without a moment of hesitation, Elizabeth Zimmermann. I have read, and reread her books, and seem to each time learn a little more.
One of my favorite projects is the February baby sweater. The gull lace, and the simple garter stitch are just lovely, a timeless classic.
The other day, I was working at Windsor Button, and we had just received a shipment of Manos Silk Blend, and I was assigned the job of twisting the skeins. Each color was more beautiful than the last, and soon enough, I started making a little side pile just for me. I did exercise some restraint, and settled on 2 skeins of color 300X, a lovely ochre.
What could I do with the 2 skeins? A February Beret!
I chose an i-cord to edge the beret as opposed to a rib. I did not want it to detract from the fluidity of the gull lace. The gull lace starts right after the cord, and like in the inspirational sweater, the project is finished with a simple garter stitch crown. I chose to make the beret large enough for it to have a slight slouchy, relaxed appearance.
Knitting the beret was so relaxing, the pattern easy, and the yarn silky soft.
February Beret
Yarn: 2 skeins Manos silk Blend color 300X
Needles: 16" US 5, set of dpt US 5
Gauge: 6 sts/inch in garter st
Gull Lace:
R1: K1, K2TOG, YO, K1, YO,SSK, K1
R2: Knit
R3: K2TOG, YO, K3, YO, SSK
R4: Knit
1. Make a 6 stitch Icord until the cord measures 18".
Graft live stitches to the beginning of the cord, or for a simpler solution, BO, and sew both ends together.
2. Pick up and knit 126 stitches. Join the round.
Round 1: *K1, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *. You will have 189 sts total.
3. Continue in the gull lace pattern for 5" (ending with R3)
4. Continue in garter stitch as follows:
R1: Knit
R2:Purl
R3:*K5, K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R4:Purl
R5:Knit
R6:Purl
R7:*K4, K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R8: Purl
R9: Knit
R10: Purl
R11: *K3, K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R12: Purl
R13: Knit
R14: Purl
R15: *K2, K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R16: Purl
R17: Knit
R18: Purl
R19: *K1, K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R20: Purl
R21: Knit
R22: Purl
R23:*K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R24: Purl
R25: Knit
R26: Purl
R27: *K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R28: Purl
R29: Knit
R30: Purl
Gather the remaining stitches, and weave in ends.
Enjoy your beret!
One of my favorite projects is the February baby sweater. The gull lace, and the simple garter stitch are just lovely, a timeless classic.
The other day, I was working at Windsor Button, and we had just received a shipment of Manos Silk Blend, and I was assigned the job of twisting the skeins. Each color was more beautiful than the last, and soon enough, I started making a little side pile just for me. I did exercise some restraint, and settled on 2 skeins of color 300X, a lovely ochre.
What could I do with the 2 skeins? A February Beret!
I chose an i-cord to edge the beret as opposed to a rib. I did not want it to detract from the fluidity of the gull lace. The gull lace starts right after the cord, and like in the inspirational sweater, the project is finished with a simple garter stitch crown. I chose to make the beret large enough for it to have a slight slouchy, relaxed appearance.
Knitting the beret was so relaxing, the pattern easy, and the yarn silky soft.
February Beret
Yarn: 2 skeins Manos silk Blend color 300X
Needles: 16" US 5, set of dpt US 5
Gauge: 6 sts/inch in garter st
Gull Lace:
R1: K1, K2TOG, YO, K1, YO,SSK, K1
R2: Knit
R3: K2TOG, YO, K3, YO, SSK
R4: Knit
1. Make a 6 stitch Icord until the cord measures 18".
Graft live stitches to the beginning of the cord, or for a simpler solution, BO, and sew both ends together.
2. Pick up and knit 126 stitches. Join the round.
Round 1: *K1, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *. You will have 189 sts total.
3. Continue in the gull lace pattern for 5" (ending with R3)
4. Continue in garter stitch as follows:
R1: Knit
R2:Purl
R3:*K5, K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R4:Purl
R5:Knit
R6:Purl
R7:*K4, K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R8: Purl
R9: Knit
R10: Purl
R11: *K3, K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R12: Purl
R13: Knit
R14: Purl
R15: *K2, K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R16: Purl
R17: Knit
R18: Purl
R19: *K1, K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R20: Purl
R21: Knit
R22: Purl
R23:*K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R24: Purl
R25: Knit
R26: Purl
R27: *K2TOG* Repeat from * to *
R28: Purl
R29: Knit
R30: Purl
Gather the remaining stitches, and weave in ends.
Enjoy your beret!
Here's the view from my knitting chair with some baseball action on the tv. The plastic tackle box on the chair holds all my gadgets like tapestry needles. That Dale of Norway book (#100, long out of print) on the table has the most beautiful snowflake sweater with half of the snowflakes shaded in reverse. Just yesterday I realized there is also a matching mitten pattern so I'm going to start that this weekend in black and white.
I set up my music stand again right under the lamp. I put it at eye level and it is really helpful for complex charts. I'm working on a mitten pattern from the Japanese booklet in front. How did that Chocolove Raspberry Dark Chocolate bar get there on the Dale booklet?
I usually put all my works in progress on the couch during the week. I've tried neater boxes and baskets but they still all end up on the couch when I'm knitting a lot. Oh well - I do hide them in the tv armoire on weekends in case people come over. I have a really high number of UFOs for me right now - 4 - but I plan to do a lot of knitting during the playoffs this month and hope to finish at least 6 projects.
I'm doing my Black Forest Braided Fingerless gloves in red and black alpaca, some thick bulky purple socks in multiple yarns from the basket, the Whistler hat in 6 colors of Elann's Peruvian Highland sport and the Norwegian mittens from the Japanese booklet in Cascade 220. I'm also hoping to finish another Spontaneous Scarf in handspun, the Dale reverse snowflake mittens and a pair of stranded socks from Robyn at Red Bird Knits this month. I guess that makes seven projects planned for this month but fortunately I'm almost done with three of them.
I set up my music stand again right under the lamp. I put it at eye level and it is really helpful for complex charts. I'm working on a mitten pattern from the Japanese booklet in front. How did that Chocolove Raspberry Dark Chocolate bar get there on the Dale booklet?
I usually put all my works in progress on the couch during the week. I've tried neater boxes and baskets but they still all end up on the couch when I'm knitting a lot. Oh well - I do hide them in the tv armoire on weekends in case people come over. I have a really high number of UFOs for me right now - 4 - but I plan to do a lot of knitting during the playoffs this month and hope to finish at least 6 projects.
I'm doing my Black Forest Braided Fingerless gloves in red and black alpaca, some thick bulky purple socks in multiple yarns from the basket, the Whistler hat in 6 colors of Elann's Peruvian Highland sport and the Norwegian mittens from the Japanese booklet in Cascade 220. I'm also hoping to finish another Spontaneous Scarf in handspun, the Dale reverse snowflake mittens and a pair of stranded socks from Robyn at Red Bird Knits this month. I guess that makes seven projects planned for this month but fortunately I'm almost done with three of them.
Midnight Clear Christmas Stocking
I gave up on the 30-color armwarmer idea during the Red Sox/Angels game late last night. Instead I'm just going to do some really bulky socks in some purple stash yarns. Boring but practical. For the less exciting playoff games, I'm working on a Dale of Norway hat to figure out the color combo DH likes for the Whistler sweater.
Shown here are the Midnight Clear Christmas Stockings in two color combos in Cascade 220 (pattern on Lulu, pattern on Ravelry) with corrugated ribbing, an area for personalization with an included alphabet chart, and a snowflake design. This is the last pattern design I'm going to work on for a while.
My October blog plans include another photo tour of our recent trip to Durango, Colorado, a technique post on color dominance, compiling another long list of recommended yarns for colorwork, making a video of how I weave in ends, and possibly knitting some other Dale or Rauma accessory patterns. I will probably get started on the Whistler sweater before December as I'm absolutely chomping at the bit for some good clean Norwegian knitting fun.
Shown here are the Midnight Clear Christmas Stockings in two color combos in Cascade 220 (pattern on Lulu, pattern on Ravelry) with corrugated ribbing, an area for personalization with an included alphabet chart, and a snowflake design. This is the last pattern design I'm going to work on for a while.
My October blog plans include another photo tour of our recent trip to Durango, Colorado, a technique post on color dominance, compiling another long list of recommended yarns for colorwork, making a video of how I weave in ends, and possibly knitting some other Dale or Rauma accessory patterns. I will probably get started on the Whistler sweater before December as I'm absolutely chomping at the bit for some good clean Norwegian knitting fun.
I've been thinking about what to knit during the baseball playoffs. It can't be something that requires a complicated chart because I need to keep my eye on the game. It can't be something that is too boring because I will just stop knitting altogether especially if the game is tense as it will surely be as long as the Red Sox are playing. I finally decided to do something that is simple to knit but uses a ton of colors to keep me interested. I'm going to use the 30 stash colors shown below. I haphazardly separated them into lights and darks.
I am going to do a simple 2-by-2 pattern and make some fingerless mitts that go up to my elbows. If they turn out well I'll post the pattern here on the blog.
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