knittingisawesome.com

Mar 10
2021

How to Knit a Top and Skirt Set on a Knitting Machine – Beginner LK150 Tutorial

by Lauren

sweater top and skirt lk150 machine knitting pattern

Hi There! I’m so excited to be back today with another machine knitting tutorial! I’ve just come out with a brand new 5-part video series covering all the techniques used to make my new top and skirt set design “You Glow Girl“. This pattern comes in 10 sizes ranging to fit a 32-50″ bust and 34-52” hips, which you can find on Ravelry here! If you get the pattern you can make it alongside me in this video series where I walk you through every step. This set is also available as a hand knitting pattern here.

The yarn I use in the demo and pictured here is Lion Brand “Date Nights” in the Lapis color. It is so sparkly and fun and I absolutely loved knitting with it! It also has great elasticity which is perfect for this fitted design.

We start by making the Top, and in Video #1 we make the front of the Top. The techniques I cover are how to cast on and knit mock ribbing, how to knit the increase rows at the bust and customize the length of the top, how to bind off for the underarms, shape the underarms, put the left side and neckline on hold, and how to shape the neckline. I then show you how to knit the short row shoulder shaping, how to scrap off the shoulder and neckline, and lastly how to knit the other side mirroring the shaping and short rows.

In Video #2, we make the back of the Top and I show you how to knit this optional keyhole. I show you how to scrap off half of your knitting to create the keyhole, tips for customizing your keyhole size, how to do the short row shoulder shaping, place your back neckline stitches on hold, shape the back neckline, and scrap off the shoulder and back neckline. I then show you how to rehang your other side and mirror the shaping and holding. Lastly, I show you how to join the shoulders using a 3-needle bind off to prepare for knitting the neckband.

In Video #3, we knit the neckband! I’ve seen a lot of requests for how to knit a neckband on an LK150, and am so happy to be able to show you how it’s done in this tutorial. I cover every detail of how to pick up the neckband of your sweater, including how to pick up selvedge stitches, held stitches, the ratio at which to pick them up, and how to pick up before and after the scrapped off neckline stitches to ensure a smooth transition. I then show you how to knit the neckband and offer tips for fixing dropped stitches. Lastly I show you how to join the other shoulder using a 3-needle bind off, seam the neckband to the inside of your sweater top, and lastly seam the neckband edges together.

In Video #4, we talk about the sleeves! I cover how to knit the two decrease rows at the top of the sleeve on your knitting machine to create the puff sleeve look, how to bind off, and exactly how I seam the sleeves to the Top using mattress stitch.

Lastly, in Video #5 we cover how to knit the skirt waistband. I show you how you can use ravel cord to help you pick up your waistband, how to knit the waistband, pick up and hang the first row of the waistband, join the picked up row, then how to bind off using a backstitch bind off to finish the waistband. I then explain how the skirt is seamed together and lastly offer tips for inserting elastic into your waistband for extra support if you desire.

I’ve also made this set using Lion Brand “Pound of Love” in Maize (pictured right), which turned out super cute as well!

If you would like the pattern for just the top, it’s available that way too. The tops pictured below were made using Knit Picks “Brava Worsted” in Cobblestone Heather and Eggplant. I am wearing the 3rd size in the pattern, and the purple top is made in the 8th size.

I hope you enjoy this new design! To see all of my LK150 machine knitting patterns, check them out here.

Happy Knitting!

💜 Lauren

sweater top lk150 machine knitting pattern

Oct 14
2020

How to Knit a Lace Dress on a Knitting Machine – Beginner LK150 Tutorial

by Lauren

Hey there! I’m super excited to be back again today with another machine knitting tutorial! This time we’ll be knitting lace which is so much fun! There are so many interesting things you can do with your knitting machine, and lace is one of those techniques that it so rewarding and fun to watch take form.

In this video tutorial, I’ll be walking you through all of the techniques used in my new dress design “Wild Irises”, which is available as a Girls Dress Pattern and Adult Dress Pattern. Not only is this a machine knitting pattern, it is a hand knitting pattern as well and you will get both when you purchase the pattern!

In the video tutorial, I first show you how to cast on and do a decorative picot hem. Then I walk you through every row of the lace chart and how to read the symbols. Next I show you how to scrap off and rehang your knitting to create a gather, then how to finish your knitting with a picot edging. Lastly I show you how to add I-Cord straps directly onto your knitting, and all of the finishing techniques I used for the dress.

Here is the chart below for you to follow along with while watching the video tutorial. In the video I take you through each lace row and explain what the symbols mean, so no worries if it doesn’t make sense yet!I hope you enjoy this tutorial and that you have as much fun as I did knitting this lace pattern! If you do make this dress, please share photos on Ravelry or Instagram where I’m @girlyknits, I would love to see what you make! 😊 To see all of my LK150 machine knitting patterns, check them out here.

Happy Knitting!

💜 Lauren

Here are the links mentioned in the video:

Girls Dress Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wild-irises-girls-dress

Women’s Dress Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wild-irises-lace-dress

Yarn Used in Demo: Lion Brand Low Tide

Yarn used for other Dresses: Knit Picks Brava Worsted

7-Prong Transfer Tool

Handheld Steamer

Aug 31
2020

Knitted Shorts and Pants!

by Lauren

In my last post I shared how to make knitted shorts and pants on a knitting machine, and they turned out so cute that I decided to make them into hand knitting patterns too!

These knitted pants are shorts are super cute, and are so much fun to make. They are the same as the machine knit designs, but are knitted in the round from the top down so that they are seamless and you can try them on as you go. A much smaller needle is used for the waistband so that it creates an elastic-like fabric so they can stay up on their own, with instructions included for inserting elastic if you wish, or adding eyelets to insert a drawstring because drawstrings are super cute too!

The pants have a relaxed fit and are so comfy and cozy, you won’t want to take them off! If you want them to fit more like leggings (perfect for Winter outings!) knitting them a size down will do the trick 😊

The shorts feature Knit Picks Chroma Twist Worsted which is a new Superwash Merino Wool yarn that comes in 10 fabulous color combinations. Each colorway has a twisted color changing gradation that is so much fun to watch take form. This yarn is super soft and luxurious and was such a delight to work with. I bought a couple skeins because I was obsessed with the pink and purple Lupine color (💜 💕!!) and ended up making these shorts, which I think are the perfect project for it!

If you would like a non-wool yarn, Lion Brand Ferris Wheel is a great alternative. I used this yarn to knit the pants in the Carousel colorway. Like Chroma Twist Worsted , this yarn naturally forms a gorgeous color changing gradient, and comes in tons of fun color combinations. Any option you choose will guarantee you a beautiful and unique pair of knitted pants that you will treasure. Both the shorts and pants use a worsted weight yarn, so either yarn can be used for either pattern.

You can find the patterns for the knitted shorts and pants on Ravelry or Etsy as “Ombre All Day” Shorts and “Ombre All Day” Pants.

You could of course knit these designs in solid colored yarns as well and they would be just as cozy and cute! For inspiration, here are machine knit versions of these designs. The dark grey pants were knitted using Lion Brand Pound of Love in Charcoal, the burgundy leggings were knit using Knit Picks Brava Worsted in Currant, the grey shorts the same yarn in Cobbestone Heather, and the pink shorts were made with Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca in Blush.

Hope you enjoy these fun new patterns!

💜 Lauren

Jul 15
2020

How to Knit Shorts and Pants on a Knitting Machine – Beginner LK150 Tutorial

by Lauren

Hey Guys! I’m super excited to be back with another machine knitting tutorial! This time we’re talking about shorts and pants, woohoo! I have two brand new designs, “Cozy Up With Me” Shorts and “Cozy Up With Me” Pants. They come in sizes 0-26 and have tons of options for making them custom to you. The techniques used for both designs are the same so you can use this video tutorial for either pattern. And, if you’re a hand knitter, I’ve got you too! These are also available as knitting patterns (featured in fun colorful yarns!) as “Ombre All Day” Shorts and “Ombre All Day” Pants.

In the video I demonstrate making the size Small Shorts, and walk you through every step including how to cast on with waste yarn, knit and join the bottom leg bands (including how to do a picot hem), how to bind off for the crotch, shape the front and back, do short rows at the top of the shorts, knit the waistband, add an eyelet for a drawstring, how to fold and join the waistband on the machine, and bind off using a backstitch bind off. I then show you how to seam the 2 legs together, and finally demonstrate the steps for knitting an i-cord drawstring on your machine. I hope you find this video tutorial helpful and that you learn some new things!

The yarn I use in this tutorial is Lion Brand “Touch of Alpaca” in Blush, the grey shorts pictured use Knit Picks “Brava Worsted” in Cobblestone Heather, and the yarn I used for the knitted pants is Lion Brand “Pound of Love” in Charcoal (and I only used 1 skein!) These are all great options that come in beautiful heather colorways, but any worsted weight yarn you like will work.

If you make either the of these designs please post a photo on Ravelry, or tag me on instagram, @girlyknits! There is nothing I love more than seeing your creations! To see all of my LK150 machine knitting patterns, check them out here.

💜 Lauren

May 19
2020

How to Knit a Bra Top on a Knitting Machine – Beginner LK150 Tutorial

by Lauren

Hey y’all! Today I am super excited to share my very first machine knitting tutorial! This past Fall I took an intensive machine knitting course at FIT here in New York, and have been obsessed ever since. I purchased an LK150 knitting machine and have had so much fun learning what I can create with it. You can finish most projects in a day which is AMAZING!

I wanted to create a tutorial for the beginner machine knitter, covering some basic techniques that you can do with your machine. I’ve adapted one of my most popular knitting patterns, the “Girly Knits Bra Top”, as it is a great piece to learn and practice on, and it’s super cute!

In the video I show you step by step how to make this design, including casting on, doing mock ribbing, increasing, decreasing, putting your knitting on hold to work one side at a time, and knitting in I-cord (so fast and fun!) I also cover seaming your bra top and using Kitchener stitch to join the front to the back. See the bottom of this post for the times in the video of each technique! The yarn I use in the video is Lion Brand “Pound of Love” in Oxford Grey.

If you don’t have an LK150, no worries at all! These techniques apply to any flat bed knitting machine, and if you get the pattern, I have instructions for adapting this pattern for any yarn/gauge you’re working with. The pattern is called the “Get it Girl” Bra Top which you can find on Ravelry here! To see all of my LK150 machine knitting patterns, check them out here.

I didn’t want to leave anyone out, so this pattern is available as a hand knitting pattern too! As this pattern is based off of the “Girly Knits Bra Top“, it is very similar, though this pattern now includes extended sizes, a different back making joining the straps easier, instructions for knitting the pattern flat if you don’t have circular needles, tips for measuring your bust to adjust the pattern to fit your personal cup size, and instructions for how to adapt this pattern to any yarn/gauge. Want to use fingering, sport, or bulky yarn, or create a size not listed in the pattern? No worries! I have included a guide for calculations you can do so you can plug your numbers into the pattern and make it work for you.

I also have a new pattern for a tank dress that uses the same machine knitting techniques covered in the video, available as a machine knitting and hand knitting pattern called the “Dream On” Tank Dress. For this dress I used Knit Picks “Brava Worsted” in Cobblestone Heather.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial! If you make either the “Get it Girl” Bra Top or the “Dream On” Tank Dress, please post a photo on Ravelry, or tag me on instagram, @girlyknits! There is nothing I love more than seeing your creations!

💜 Lauren

Apr 9
2020

My Online Courses with Interweave are Free Right Now!

by Lauren

Hi There! I’m super excited to share with you that my 2 courses I taught for Interweave, “Learn to Knit: My First Hat and Glove Set” and “Learn to Knit Cables: Mug Cozy and Cowl” are currently free!

During this challenging time I was thinking about what I could do to help. I was thinking about all of you currently at home looking for an activity to do with your kids or in search of a new skill to focus on to calm your nerves. I reached out to Interweave asking if they would consider making my courses available for free, and to my delight they agreed!

These courses are great for all ages, with step by step video instructions on how to knit a hat, fingerless gloves, a mug cozy, and cowl. I have added these patterns to Ravelry so that you can add your projects, but please note that the patterns are included for free as part of the course!

If you are already a seasoned knitter, I invite you to share this post with somebody you know who has been wanting to learn, or who has a child who might enjoy taking up knitting. I learned to knit when I was 9 and it has been a lifelong gift!

Sending love to you and hoping you are staying safe and healthy during this time.

💜Lauren

P.S. For a fun look at the behind the scenes of filming these two courses, check out my other blog post here 😊

Mar 15
2017

All You Knit is Love Sweater Pattern

by Lauren

Today I am so excited to share that “All You Knit is Love” is now available to download on Ravelry! This sweater pattern was originally designed for The Fiber Factor Knitting Design Contest Challenge #2 “Knit Inside the Box”. We were challenged to design a boxy sweater that incorporated creative colorwork, using up to 8 colors. I thought it would be fun to revisit this design and give you a behind the scenes look at my creative process and inspiration. Hope you enjoy!

Inspiration

When we first got this challenge I was a little overwhelmed with possibility because I LOVE colorwork. If you are familiar with my designs you know that I use colorwork quite frequently, and just love color in general! Because of that, I wanted to experiment with some new techniques that I had not seen done and had never tried out before, and really push myself to be creative.

My first idea was to create a heart argyle pattern using cables. I hadn’t seen it done before in knitting the way I was envisioning it, so I thought it would be fun to try out. Off to swatching I went, and after much trial and error, I figured out a technique I was happy with. Basically there are 2 single cables, and when they cross, there’s an intarsia heart behind them. It’s kindof like you’re knitting love into your sweater, and I loved the idea of that! 🙂

The other inspiration I had for this sweater was to use big block letters to create a bold statement message, a popular trend at the time. I had seen this image of a storefront in Barcelona that I had previously posted about, and it stuck with me – the perfect phrase would be “All You Knit is Love”! I thought it would be fun to play with colorwork inside the letters, and was also very inspired by the trend of bright pastel colors. I had seen images of artwork by pip & pop in one of my trend reports at work, and I was obsessed with the color scheme and wanted to use a similar palette for my design. Fun fact – even though I designed this sweater in 2013, I am still loving pastels! They really stuck with me 🙂

ombre sweater

I had also seen this sweater at Urban Outfitters and loved the idea of creating a similar ombre effect for this challenge. Now that was the challenging part, because we weren’t offered color changing yarns for this challenge. Hmmm….but onto the next step, choosing colors!

Skacel provided us with these awesome swatch cards to choose our desired colors, which they would normally offer to their wholesale clients. It’s not always that we would get the actual yarns to look at and play with, sometimes it was just pictures of the colors, so this was especially nice for this challenge. You could actually take a small cutting of the yarn off the page and place it next to another one – this was beyond helpful in creating my pastel rainbow of colors!

hikoo simplicity color swatches

So I ordered my yarn and hoped for the best. Much to my delight, the colors were beautiful and went really well together!

Execution

Now to figure out how to create the ombre effect I was hoping for. I charted out the block letters and was playing with ideas. My first idea was to have a stippling effect where the colors changed – kind of speckled and fair isle looking. This indeed turned out to look more like fair isle than ombre so I tried again.

I had seen some knitted designs where the yarn was held double with the same color, then held together with the transition color, then to double of the transition color. This technique really seemed to be the most successful in creating a smooth gradient. I hadn’t planned to double ply my yarn with this design though, so I thought, what if I un-plied the yarn to half the plies, did that with the transition color, and then held them together and knitted them?! I tried this out and indeed it worked. Now, this isn’t the easiest or most practical thing to do, but it was a creative solution to the problem and it looked great!

In case you’re wondering what the inside of this sweater looks like…here it is! Needless to say, finishing this chart felt like a HUGE accomplishment! I had a lot of fun, however, watching it take form 🙂 The heart argyle or “heart-gyle” as I like to call it 😉 became a theme in this pattern, which I incorporated into the front, back, and a fun elbow patch!

I also enjoyed adding this mesh lace shoulder insert for some fun and flirtiness 🙂 Now, I have to admit, when I finished this design, I was like yeah, there’s a lot going on, and the judges confirmed that worry! I honestly did just have so many ideas and wanted to use THEM ALL. While I do love all of the bells and whistles and think they ended up working together in a special way, the great thing is that because this is a knitting pattern, you can customize it however you want!

I think it would be fun to have a plain stockinette front with just the words to speak for themselves in the back, to use the heart argyle pattern all over the front and back, or to make the the entire sweater in stockinette and just have a fun pop color of mesh lace at the shoulder inserts. It’s really like you’re getting 3 sweaters in 1 as there’s so many ways you can knit this sweater! You could even knit the shoulder inserts in stockinette in the base sweater color for a more toned down look.

I’ve posted about this sweater a few times on Instagram recently and the message was clear – you want to knit this design! I appologize for not getting it out sooner, I honestly didn’t realize so many people would want to knit it! I am thrilled that you do and CAN’T WAIT to see how you interpret it! The pattern is now available on Ravelry for download here:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/all-you-knit-is-love-heart-gyle-sweater

Happy Knitting!

💜Lauren

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Dec 4
2016

“It Was All a Dream” Knitted Dress Collection

by Lauren

I am so excited to share that by brand new collection of knitted dresses, “It Was All a Dream” is finally here! This collection has been a year in the making, and I’m thrilled to now be able to share it with you.

“It Was All a Dream” is a collection of 7 stylish dress designs that will have you and everyone around you falling in love with knitted dresses. From warm cozy cables for the Fall and Winter to light and breezy laces for the Spring and Summer, you will never be without a knitted dress to wear for your next occasion with this collection.

“It Was All a Dream” features many fun and feminine knitted details to explore from beaded lace, to a convertible cowl, to elegant cables, to the addition of ribbon, ruffles, and bows to your knitting. 3 out of the 7 designs in the collection are versatile 2-piece sets that can be worn together as one amazingly awesome knitted ensemble, or as separates paired with other items in your wardrobe!

All of the dress designs in this collection are knit seamlessly in the round for ease of finishing, with detailed instructions on how to customize the length of the dresses and tops to suite your style perfectly.

The collection is available on Ravelry for $28 here, or as individual patterns for $8 each. Here are more details on the 7 designs included in the collection!:

“Sweater Weather” Raglan Cable Knit Dress

Get ready to get super cozy and cute this Fall and Winter with your new favorite cable knit dress, “Sweater Weather”! Not only is this dress stylish, it is the definition of comfy and totally fun to knit too. Featuring a top down raglan construction, there is zero seaming, and you can knit the dress and sleeves as long as you please! The intertwining cable pattern down the front offers a fun twist on a basic knit dress. Pair it with tights and boots, and it’s the ideal Winter ensemble! It will work for anywhere your day may take you, from the office, to a date, to a night out on the town with your girlfriends. This pattern also features an option to make this design a long tunic style sweater, perfect for pairing with skinny jeans or leggings. The Dress features Knit Picks “Preciosa” in Crest and the Tunic Knit Picks “Swish Worsted” in Marine Heather. Get the pattern and learn more here!

“Cowl Me Later” Textured Cowl Neck Dress

What do you get when you combine a cozy knit cowl, and your favorite sweater dress? This fabulous wooly wonder that is sure to impress! This classic cowl neck dress is a wardrobe staple, and while wearing this dress you will look nothing but graceful. While the drape of the cowl says elegance and class, the cut out in the back offers some sass! This incredibly versatile cowl can be folded to cover your arms and back in the cold, or to keep your ears warm by being worn as a hood! The flattering open back offers a sweet surprise that is sure to turn heads, while the dazzling diamond knit and purl patterns will get you knitting street cred. Knit with 100% Baby Alpaca that is incredibly soft, it’s so cozy and warm you will never want to take it off! Cowl me maybe? Cowl me yes! This design features Knit Picks “Andean Treasure” in Royal Heather. Get the pattern and learn more here!

“Take a Bow” Lace Dress and Top

Indulge in your love for lace and all things girly with this adorable chandelier lace dress! This is the perfect versatile dress – you can dress it up for a date with jewelry and heels, or wear it to the office with leggings and boots. This dress has positive ease for a totally roomy and comfortable fit, with an optional added knitted bow belt that will cinch in the dress to accentuate your waist and flatter your figure. While this dress is delicate and feminine, it is knit with DK weight yarn so it won’t take forever to knit! Knit in the round, this dress is also an entirely seamless knit, woohoo! You can easily customize the length of your dress to make it longer, or you can even make it shorter to knit it as an equally beautiful lace top! This design features Knit Picks “Gloss DK” in Blackberry. Get the pattern and learn more here.

“Crop it Like it’s Hot” Sweater and Skirt Set

Stylish, chic, and oh-so-cozy, you are sure to fall in love with this super cute cable knit cropped sweater top and pencil skirt set! (Whew! That was a mouthful!) This delectable design features 2 elegant cable panels that run up the front and back of your curves for a sexy and sassy look. Not only does this versatile set look amazing together, it would look just as awesome worn as separates paired with other items in your closet. The skirt is knit from the top down with a fold over waistband to encase elastic for a personalized fit, and the skirt length is completely up to you! The raglan top is also knit to fit so that you can show as much or as little midriff as you wish, and the sleeves are knit from the top down enabling you to give your top your favorite sleeve length. Are you ready to crop it like it’s hot? I hope so! Get the pattern and learn more here.

“Sheer Elegance” Beaded Lace Dress

With a picot lace hem, a sprinkling of beads, fine eyelet details, and sparkly cap sleeves, this romantic knitted dress is nothing but sheer elegance. Knit with a sensuously soft kid mohair and silk blend yarn, it is light as can be, with a delightful fuzzy texture that will have you feeling feminine and free. The dazzling beaded details offer a hint of flair, making this dress the perfect pick for your next special occasion or affair! This design is also sure to suit your unique style with its reversibility – wear it with a high neck and sexy scooped out back (my favorite way), or more traditionally! Either way you will look sexy yet sweet, and will be sure to enchant whomever you meet! Get the pattern and learn more here.

“Twirl Of Your Dreams” Crop Top and Skirt Set

With daisies, ruffles, a ribbon bow and without seams, this knitted ensemble will give you the twirl of your dreams. This 2-piece set is not only super flirty and fun, you can wear it as separates or rock it as one! With the daisy lace top featuring frills on the sleeves, you are guaranteed a good time twirling around in the leaves. The skater skirt features a perfectly matching picot lace hem, that will show everyone around you that your knitting skills are the creme de la creme! Perfect for a festival, the beach, brunch, or anywhere there is sun, a day prancing around in this outfit will be sure to be won. This design features Knit Picks “CotLin” in Swan. Get the pattern and learn more here!

“Better Lace Than Never” Crop Top and Skirt Set

Indulge in the decadence of knitting a beautiful and unique diamond lace pattern in luxurious fingering weight yarn with this stunningly gorgeous 2-piece set. The skirt is high waisted and fitted down to the knee for a look that is both sassy and classy. The coordinating crop top features a sexy and trendy cold shoulder detail, and criss-crossed straps at the neckline for an edgy look. A delicate picot hem finishes the sleeves and the waistband for the perfect feminine touch. Wear these pieces as one outfit or as separates, they will look equally as lovely paired with a shirt or jeans. And while the intricacy of this fine knitting pattern will be an investment well worth your time, you know what they say, better lace than never! Get the pattern and learn more here.

I hope you enjoy the new collection! It is available on Ravelry for $28 here, or as individual patterns for $8 each here. I can’t wait to see what you make!

Happy Knitting!

♥Lauren

Jun 28
2016

Knitted Mermaid and Merman Costumes!

by Lauren

This past Saturday June 18th, I had the joy of marching in the 34th annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade, in none other than a hand knit mermaid costume! This is the biggest Art Parade in the nation, where over 3,000 people come out dressed as mermaids and other sea inspired creatures, and hundreds of thousands of people come to watch! I am always blown away by the creative visions people have for this event – everyone’s take is so different! The coolest part is that almost all of the marchers make their own costumes (though I think I’m the only one who knitted mine 😉 )

My costume took a total a total of 65 hours to create, and I worked on it over the course of 6 weeks. Thankfully I planned ahead and got my start back in April! I also knitted a Merman costume for my friend Ken who joined me for the parade. He likes to show skin, lol, so that went a lot quicker than mine! His ensemble took about 12 hours.

Below I have instructions for all of the pieces I designed, and links to the patterns I used by other designers. Hope you enjoy! 🙂

Knitted Mermaid Costume

Materials:

Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) 29″ circular needle, US 11 (8mm) 29″ circular needle, US F/5 (3.75mm) crochet hook (for duplicate stitch on bra shells only, size isn’t critical!)

2 Balls (680 yards) of Patons Lace Sequin in Pale Amethyst (MC)

4 Balls (860 yards) of Loops and Threads Payette in Sterling Silver (CC)

Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4″ in Stockinette St using smaller needle and 2 strands of MC held together

Note about yarn: I held the MC and CC double for the shells and top part of the skirt for 2 reasons – 1) because it was thin, and 2) because I wanted double the amount of the sequins in the yarn to show! If you wanted to use a single strand of yarn for these pieces instead (and thus need less yardage), a DK or Worsted Weight yarn would probably work, just make sure to check your gauge!

1 yard of .75″ wide elastic for Skirt waistband

Nude bra, assorted rhinestones, hot glue (or fabric glue), and sewing needle and thread for Shell Bra

Abbreviations:

BO: bind off

CO: cast on

k: knit

k2tog: knit 2 sts together

LH: left hand

M1L: make 1 by picking up bar between sts through front and knit through back loop

M1R: make 1 by picking up bar between sts through back and knit

meas: measure(s)

p: purl

PUK: pick up and knit

rep(s): repeat(s)

rnd(s): rnd(s)

RS: right side

sl: slip

ssk: (slip 1 knitwise) twice, insert left hand needle into slipped sts and k2tog through back loop

st(s): stitch(es)

W&T: (Wrap and Turn) Slip next st pwise, bring yarn to front if you are working a k row, or to the back if you are working a p row, slip st back onto LH needle, bring yarn to back if working a k row, or to front if knitting a p row. Turn work and begin working in opposite direction.

WS: wrong side

yo: yarn over

Skirt

I made the skirt circumference 32″, 4″ less then my hip circumference of 36″. There is no shaping – elastic is inserted into the enclosed waistband to help cinch it in at the waist. If you want to make the skirt bigger or smaller to get a perfect fit for your body, take your hip circumference and subtract 4″, or measure the hip circumference of a fitted knit skirt that you like the fit of. Take that number and times it by the gauge (4.5 sts/inch). I cast on 32 x 4.5 = 144 sts. You want to cast on a multiple of 8 sts, so make sure to cast on the closest multiple of 8 to that number (in my case 144 was evenly divisible by 8).

I adapted the scale pattern from Black Sheep Wool’s “Mermaid Tail Blanket” (a super cute free pattern!)

Directions:

Note: For the Top of Skirt (Scales), both the MC and CC are knit with 2 strands of yarn held together. For the Bottom of Skirt (Netting), a single strand of the CC is used. The top part of the skirt is knitted from the bottom up. After the top part is finished, stitches are picked up at the bottom of the skirt to knit the netting from the top down. This allows for a great custom fit, as you will have the option to make adjustments after the skirt is finished to make it the perfect length!

Top of Skirt (Scales):

With 2 strands of CC held together and smaller needle, CO 144 sts. Place marker and join, taking care not to twist stitches.

Rnd 1: Knit.

Rnd 2: Purl

Rnds 3-6: Change to 2 strands of MC held together. *Sl 1, k 7; rep from * to end.

Rnd 7: Change to CC and Knit.

Rnd 8: Purl.

Rnds 9-12: Change to MC. K4, *Sl 1, k 7; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.

Rep Rnds 1-12 until skirt measures desired length, ending on Rnd 2 or 8 (I made mine 15″ long).

Waistband:

Continuing with CC, knit 4 rnds or for .75″ (or desired waistband width).

Purl 1 rnd.

Knit 3 rnds,

BO very loosely.

Break yarn, leaving a yard of one of the strands to seam the waistband. Thread longer end with a tapestry needle. Fold waistband at purl ridge, and seam BO edge to inside of skirt, catching every other stitch on BO edge/inside of skirt. Leave 1″ open at the end, and insert elastic. Determine desired ease of elastic and trim, leaving an extra inch so you can overlap the edges 1″ and seam together using a sewing needle and thread. Seam remaining inch of waistband. See pics below for how I seamed the waistband of “She’s Electric” using the same techniques:

Bottom of Skirt (Netting):

With smaller needle and single strand of CC, PUK 144 sts along CO edge of skirt.

Change to larger needle.

Rnd 1: *Yo, k2tog; rep from * to end.

Rnd 2: Knit.

Rnd 3: K1, *yo, k2tog; rep from * to end. It will be tricky to have a stitch marker to mark the start of the round because you will keep having to move it – I used a latching marker below the round and eyed where to start and end each round!

Rnd 4: Knit.

Rep Rnds 1-4 until netting is desired length, keeping in mind that blocking will add a few inches!

I used a picot bind off to give it bit of a ruffled edge 🙂

Picot Bind Off: *CO 2, BO 3 tightly, sl st from RH needle onto LH needle; rep from * until all sts are bound off.

Finishing:

Weave in all ends.

Wet block netting.

Bra

These shells were custom designed to encompass my DD boobs. The bra I attached them to is a 34DD, but they would also fit a 36D bra. If you wanted to adapt these for your bra size, you would want to do less/more inc rows and make them shorter/longer. I would suggest starting from the beginning, matching it up to your bra cups, seeing how it looks, and adapting as you go.

Shells (make 2):

Note: The silver “seams” are added after the shell is finished.

With 2 strands of MC held together and smaller needle, CO 12 sts.

Row 1: Purl.

Row 2: Knit.

Row 3: Purl.

Row 4: K1, [M1R, k1, M1L, k2] x 3, M1R, k1, M1L, k1 – 20 sts.

Work 5 rows in St st.

Row 10: K1, M1L, k1, [M1R, k1, M1L, k4] x 3, M1R, k1, M1L, k1, M1L, k1 – 30 sts.

Work 5 rows in St st.

Row 16: K1, M1L, k3, [M1R, k1, M1L, k6] x 3, M1R, k1, M1L, k3, M1L, k1 – 40 sts.

Work in St until shell meas 4.25″ from beginning, or 2″ less than desired height of shell.

Short Row Shaping:

Row 1: Knit to last 3 sts, W&T.

Row 2: Purl to last 3 sts, W&T.

Row 3: Knit to 3 sts before last wrap, W&T.

Row 4: Purl to 3 sts before last wrap, W&T.

Rep Rows 3&4 until you have worked 6 wraps on each side and there are 4 sts left in the middle.

Next Row (RS): Knit to end, working wraps with respective sts.

Next Row (WS): Purl, working wraps with respective sts.

Work 3 rows in St st.

Change to 2 strands of CC held together and purl.

Scalloped BO:

Note: To “work & BO tucked st” do the following: Let next st on your LH needle drop until 4 bars are exposed. Place RH needle through dropped st from front to back, and wrap working yarn around needle and pull through st. Place st on RH needle and bind it off tightly.

2nd Note: If you altered the amount of Inc Rows, you want the tucked sts on the BO row to fall in line with the stitch column that goes between the increases. This is so that when you do the duplicate stitch seams, they will line up with the dips of the scalloped BO.

BO 5 very loosely, work & BO tucked st, [BO 8 very loosely, work & BO tucked st] x 3, BO very loosely to end.

Finishing:

Using 2 strands of CC held together and crochet hook and starting at bottom of shell, create seams on shell by duplicating knit columns that fall between increases. These columns should align with the tucked stitches on the BO edge. When you reach tucked stitch at top, place loop over bound off st, break yarn, and pull through loop tightly to emphasize scallop.

Weave in all ends.

Using a sewing needle and thread, sew edges of shell to bra cups. I also hot glued on some small rhinestones on the shells for extra sparkle! I used a nude strapless bra with the straps attached, and glued rhinestones all along the wings and straps, and added a sparkly starfish to the center 🙂

Knitted Merman Costume

Okay, so this isn’t much of a costume, it’s more of a loin cloth with a shell on it, and an added crown because you know, why not! I’m not sure what other man besides Ken would be willing to rock this get up, but if that happens PLEASE SHARE PHOTOS 😉

Shell:

The shell is a gorgeous pattern by Dora (Bottheka on Ravelry) that you can find here. The pattern is free, but you have to contact her for the .pdf. She was very quick to respond and sent it to me right away! I used a single strand of the Loops and Threads Payette in Sterling Silver and size US 3 (3.25mm) needles. It came out to be about 4 x 4″. I hot glued on some rhinestones for extra sparkle 🙂

Crown:

I’m obsessed with this crown! All of my friends were too and now they want crowns for their birthdays 😉 Luckily it was a quick knit! It was a free pattern I found on Ravelry called “A Very Regal Crown” by Kayleigh aka marbles24 on Ravelry. I used a stash yarn that I had that is a light glittery gold and I believe sport weight (the labels are long gone!) I held the yarn double (so it would be extra sturdy) with a US 7 circular needle as suggested. I then glued on a large rhinestone at each crest and it turned out super cute!

Loin Cloth:

The loin cloth is a one size fits most thing – the side ties make it easy to custom fit! The finished loin cloth came out to about 10 x 10″, and the font and back are exactly the same.

Materials:

Needles: US 8 (5mm) straight needles, US I/9 (5.5mm) crochet hook (for side ties only)

.1 Hanks (30 yards) of Knit Picks Preciosa in Crest

Gauge: 15 sts and 22 rows = 4″ in Mesh Stitch Pattern

Directions (make 2):

CO 38 sts.

Knit 5 rows.

Mesh:

Row 1: K1, *yo, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k1.

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: K2, *yo, k2tog; rep from * to end.

Row 4: Purl.

Rep Rows 1-4 until mesh portion measures 3″, ending with Row 2.

Next Row: Ssk, *yo, k2tog; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2tog (make sure to end with k2tog x 2 – don’t put another yo before the last k2tog or you won’t get the intended decrease there!)

Next Row: Purl.

Rep last 2 rows until there are 4 sts left.

Last Row (RS): Ssk, k2tog, BO last st and pull yarn through loop.

Finishing:

Measure out 48″ yarn (or longer if you want longer ties) and fold in half. Starting at either top corner of loin cloth, place crochet hook through loin cloth and pull center of yarn through so you’ll be crocheting the yarn double ply. Work in chain stitch until yarn runs out, then pull yarn through last loop. Repeat for other side.

Place shell on center front of loin cloth. Using a sewing needle and thread, attach shell to loincloth, catching stitches along the edge of on the back side of shell so that thread is not visible. Tie sides and enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed these patterns, and if you would like to check out more of my knitting patterns click here! If you make any of the above, please share your photos on the Raverly page! 🙂

May 10
2016

Design Your Own Animal Sock Contest!

by Lauren

design your own animal sock contest Hey There! Today I am super excited to announce a new contest – Design Your Own Animal Socks!

You may or may not know that the oh-so-cute and beloved animal sock patterns “Pawsome Pals” and “Check Meowt!” actually have blank charts in them so that you can plot out your own unique animal face design. So now it’s time to tap into your amazing creativity and knitting prowess, AND have the opportunity to win some awesome prizes!

Here’s how to enter this contest:

1) Pick up “Pawsome Pals” or “Check Meowt!” (or the full sock collection they’re apart of!) If you already have one of the patterns, perfect!

2) Use the blank chart in the pattern to design an animal face that hasn’t already been created (see the 6 animals above for the animals that have already been created, and the Q&A below for more ideas!)

3) Knit a pair of socks in any size (child or adult) using your design, and take some awesome photos of them! Post your finished project with at least one pic on Ravelry by July 18th and you will automatically be entered to win!

The two winning designs will be added as options in the patterns (with due credit of course!) so that everyone can make your winning design too!

Prizes

First off, everyone who enters is a winner! Woohoo!! If you complete an original pair of animal socks and follow the instructions above by July 18th, you will automatically get a free Girly Knits pattern of your choice! Any pattern you like is yours 🙂

Grand Prize:

The Grand Prize Winner (determined by a panel of judges) will win this awesome goody bag from Knit Picks!

knit picks project bag knit picks prize goody bag

This goody bag includes:

1 super cute “I Love Knit Picks” project bag

2 balls of the brand new Knit Picks Paragon in Rouge

2 balls of the colorful Knit Picks Felici in Peachy (a special reserve yarn that is no longer available!)

2 balls of the gorgeous Knit Picks Palette in Regal

Runner Up:

The Runner Up will get a super special limited edition Girly Knits Cupcake Knitter’s Tool Tin from The Sexy Knitter’s Etsy Shop! The cupcake on the cover of the tin is a close up photo of my “Sweet Treats” Knitted Wall Art pattern 🙂

This Knitter’s Tool Tin is the new Deluxe version, which includes all of the handy tools you will need while knitting. Newly added tools to this tin are the wooden yarn ball needle size checker, and a stitch marker that doubles as a row counter! To see a detailed list of everything included in the tin, check it out on Etsy here.

Questions:

Here are some additional questions you may have with answers! Please comment below if you have any further questions!

I can’t think of another animal besides a cat, panda, owl, koala, pig, and fox which have already been done, what else can I do?

Here are some ideas: Dog (so many breeds to choose from!), Lion, Tiger, Bear, Raccoon, Bunny, Cow, Elephant, Hippo, Monkey, Mouse, Moose, Penguin, Giraffe, Deer, Horse, Zebra, Frog, Bee, Unicorn…I’m sure there are many more, I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

What’s the difference between using “Pawsome Pals” and “Check Meowt!” to create my design?

“Pawsome Pals” is an ankle sock, and “Check Meowt!” is a knee high sock. Note that the knee high sock chart has more room for plotting out your animal face since that sock is wider at the top than the ankle sock. You can make either sock length in any size to enter though!

What yarn should I use?

The recommended yarn for these patterns is Knit Picks Stroll Sock Yarn, which I would highly recommend since it’s super soft, affordable, and comes in TONS of the different colors which is perfect for color work! If you want to use your own yarn choice, that is acceptable too!

Do I need to do a heel design like the pattern has?

Nope! If you decide to do one awesome, but it’s surely not required!

Can I make modifications to the pattern?

I’m hoping you will stick to the basic sock pattern as written so others can recreate the winning design by simply using your color chart, but if you want to do a different stripe pattern or another easy modification, that’s fine!

The patterns include a pointed ear and round ear option which covers most animals – but if you want to create a different ear shape that’s totally cool, just make sure to write down what you did so I can provide instructions in the pattern in case you win!

When will the winners be announced?

By July 25th! 🙂

I can’t wait to see your animal socks!!