knitting pattern

Knitted Pants and Shorts using Fingering Weight Yarn!

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When I designed my “Cozy Up With Me” machine knitted pants and shorts pattern last year, I got a lot of requests for them to be adapted for a standard gauge knitting machine using fingering weight yarn. So here they are! “Lounging My Best Life” is a machine knitting pattern now available on Ravelry and features Knit Picks “Muse” Hand Painted Sock Yarn in Thrill. You can knit them on a standard gauge (4.5mm) flat bed knitting machine, and still use the video tutorial I created as the techniques used are the same. Paired with the “Get it Girl” Bra Top, a tank top pattern that can easily be converted to standard gauge, this makes an undeniably adorable loungewear set!

“Lounging My Best Life” is also a machine knit shorts pattern which you can make using your standard gauge knitting machine. These shorts are so cute and comfy, and I have loved wearing mine around the house and to sleep in. For this pair I used Knitcrate’s “La Brebis” Marled Sock Yarn in Grey Twist. While this particular yarn is discontinued, you can use any 4-ply yarn you like to make this design!

I know a lot of hand knitters also prefer knitting with fingering weight yarn, so these shorts and pants are available as a hand knitting pattern as well. “Keep Dreaming” is a hand knitted shorts (and pants!) pattern featuring Knit Picks “Muse” Hand Painted Sock Yarn. Isn’t this yarn gorgeous? It is the Kindness Speckle color way, and when knit up looks like a beautiful piece of art . This design is basically the same as “Ombré All Day” Shorts and Pants but using fingering weight yarn. I love how they came out, especially paired with the “Get it Girl” Bra Top (which you can adapt for any gauge). You couldn’t look any cuter while getting some zzz’s!

I always listen to your pattern requests, so if you have any please comment below!

Happy Knitting!

💜 Lauren

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

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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.

sweater top and skirt lk150 machine knitting pattern

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.

sweater top and skirt lk150 machine knitting pattern

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
sweater top lk150 machine knitting pattern
sweater top lk150 machine knitting pattern

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

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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!

Here are techniques and times in the video 😊:

Casting On: 4:10

Ravel Cord: 7:10

Mock Ribbing: 8:38

Folding and Joining Mock Ribbing: 10:25

Knitting Joining Row: 13:00

Decrease at Left Side: 14:04

Knitting Body of Bra Top: 14:54

Increasing: 15:15

Removing Waste Yarn: 17:55

First Underarm Dec Row: 19:00

Putting Left Side in Holding: 19:40

Decreasing at Underarm and Neckline on Right Side: 20:40

I-Cord Straps: 25:22

Removing Straps from Machine: 27:45

Working Left Side: 28:48

Working Left Strap in I-Cord: 32:35

Finished Front: 33:45

Remove Back from Machine: 34:40

Seaming Sides using Mattress Stitch: 35:29

Joining Strap to Back using Kitchener Stitch: 38:10

Weaving in Ends: 41:52

💜 Lauren

All You Knit is Love Sweater Pattern

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all you knit is love sweaterToday 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.

all you knit is love criss cross heart and shoulder detail croppedMy 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 🙂

Nicole-Andrijevic-Tanya-Schultz_web17 Nicole-Andrijevic-Tanya-Schultz_web9

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!

hikoo simplicity rainbow of yarn

all you knit is love back word detailExecution

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 🙂 all you knit is love intarsia insideThe 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!

all you knit is love front  all you knit is love sleeve

all you knit is love side

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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New Summer Collection “Boardwalk Beauties”!

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girly knits boardwalk beauties knitting pattern collectionI am so super excited to share with you my brand new collection of knitting patterns “Boardwalk Beauties”!  It is a collection of 5 sunshine loving designs that you will not only love knitting, but will love wearing when you’re out having fun in the sun!  Inspired by everything lovely about Summer and my favorite new fashion trends, you will love these fashionable tank top, t-shirt, and skirt designs.  They are all knitted with lightweight summery fibers like cotton and bamboo to keep you cool in the warm weather.  I hope you love these patterns as much as I loved designing them!

Below you will find a video of me doing a show and tell of the collection, going into more detail about the inspiration behind the collection, and the different ways you can customize each design!

These patterns can be purchased through my Girly Knits pattern stores on Ravelry and Etsy, as well as through my website, girlyknits.com!   They are $7 each, or can be purchased as a full collection for only $21 here.  Here are all of the patterns in the collection and their descriptions below:

“She’s Electric” Aztec Pattern Bodycon Skirt

shes electric aztec pattern knitted bodycon skirt knitting pattern 4    shes electric aztec pattern knitted bodycon skirt knitting pattern 2

Be the belle of the boardwalk this Summer is this electrifyingly cool skirt!  The unique Aztec inspired texture of this skirt will not only turn heads, it is a blast to knit too!  The skirt is deceptively simple, composed of simple knit and purl patterns that create a beautiful knit fabric that will fit and flatter your curves.  The skirt is finished off with a fold-over waistband to enclose an elastic that will make this skirt fit you like a glove.  Made with Knit Picks Shine Sport, you are sure to emit extra super shiny electric waves!  In the words of Oasis “She is electric, can I be electric too?” the answer is YES!  Just knit this skirt 😉  For more details and to instantly download this pattern, check it out on Ravelry.

shes electric aztec pattern knitted bodycon skirt knitting pattern 6    shes electric aztec pattern knitted bodycon skirt knitting pattern 3

“Sunshine and Lollipops” Braided Strappy Back Tank Top with Geo Lace Edge

sunshine and lollipops braided strappy back knitted tank top with lace edge knitting pattern 4   sunshine and lollipops braided strappy back knitted tank top with lace edge knitting pattern 1

Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows everything that’s wonderful is what I feel a-when I’m wearing this tank top…hehe well that is how I feel when I wear this tank top, and I hope you feel wonderful and bust out into song when you wear it too!  There is lots to love with this sunshine seeking tank top with it’s super chic chunky geo lace edge and unique braided straps that show off your beautiful back!  Braiding these straps will bring back memories of Summer Camp and friendship bracelets and all that is wonderful about Summer.  An option is also included for a trendy t-strap back, as well as a cropped or regular length fitted tank to give you lots of options to suite your unique preferences.  For more details and to instantly download this pattern, check it out on Ravelry.

sunshine and lollipops braided t-strap back knitted tank top with lace edge knitting pattern 1    sunshine and lollipops braided t-strap back knitted tank top with lace edge knitting pattern 4

“Bow Crazy” Chevron Lace Open Back Tank Top with Bow

boardwalk beauties    bow crazy chevron lace knitted tank top with open back and bow knitting pattern 4

Go crazy with your love for bows and everything girly with this pretty little lacy flirty oh-so-cute tank top!  With sweet and feminine details like a lace ruffled waist, a picot neckline, and cable braided straps, this tank top is sure to make you feel pretty.  With the option of making a festival ready solid tank top, or a retro-inspired beach ready striped tank top, you can let your imagination run wild with the adventures you will have when you rock it!  Knit with a lustrous mercerized cotton, this tank not only keeps you cool in it’s sassy open-back design, but keeps you looking cool in it’s fashionable chevron lace pattern.  The bow on the back is a super sweet touch that will make you go bow crazy!  For more details and to instantly download this pattern, check it out on Ravelry.

bow crazy striped chevron lace knitted tank top with open back and bow knitting pattern 1    bow crazy striped chevron lace knitted tank top with open back and bow knitting pattern 5

“With Sprinkles on Top” Ice Cream Bow Back T-Shirt

with sprinkles on top knitted ice cream t-shirt with bow back knitting pattern 1    with sprinkles on top knitted ice cream t-shirt with bow back knitting pattern 4

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream during the Summer? Vanilla with multicolor sprinkles? Mint with chocolate sprinkles? Plain chocolate? Show it off in this super fun perfect for Summer t-shirt! Made with Knit Picks Comfy Sport, it is not only knit with a lightweight cotton yarn, it is soft, comfy, and machine washable too! The ice cream intarsia chart is a blast to knit and wear, and the bows on the back offer some flirtiness and flair. Adorn the bows with your favorite buttons and your back will be the talk of the town.  The bow on the back is a super sweet touch that will make you go bow crazy!  For more details and to instantly download this pattern, check it out on Ravelry.

with sprinkles on top knitted ice cream t-shirt with bow back and buttons knitting pattern 2    with sprinkles on top knitted ice cream t-shirt with bow back and buttons knitting pattern 4

“Heart to Heart” Embellished Tank Top with Heart Cut Out Back

heart cut out heart back knitted tank top knitting patternIf you want to sparkle this Summer and show off the amazing knitting superstar you are, “Heart to Heart” is your one stop tank top!  Featuring two of fashions hottest trends, jewel embellished necklines and heart cut out backs, you will have everyone saying “Who is that girl?  I want to know her!”  Knit with your choice of sugar cane or cotton yarn, you will be keeping cool and looking fabulous.  Warning: I would recommend making 2 of these beauties, because you just know your BFF is going to want one too!  For more details and to instantly download this pattern, check it out on Ravelry.

jewel embellished neckline knitted tank tops knitting pattern     south beach knitted tank top pattern

Thanks so much for checking out the “Boardwalk Beauties” collection!  These patterns can be purchased through my Girly Knits pattern stores on Ravelry and Etsy, as well as through my website, girlyknits.com!   They are $7 each, or can be purchased as a full collection for only $21 here.  I hope you enjoy!

♥Lauren

New Girly Knits Pattern “Ruffle Me Up” Lace Caridgan

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“Ruffle yourself up in girly cuteness in this colorful lacey ruffley cardigan! Made with Lion Brand’s stunning “Amazing” color changing yarn, the cardigans beautiful textured lace panel ruffle is made even more interesting with variations of color in the yarn. The ruffle gathers at your natural waist to flatter your figure, and is long enough to just cover your bum. This cardigan can be worn open for easy style, buttoned, pinned, or even with a knitted belt. This design is a great way to spice up an outfit, and would be just as cute in a solid color for everyday wear. I hope you enjoy this pattern and when finished prance around and spin in it in girly delight!”

This pattern was designed, made, and modeled by me, and is now available on Ravelry here!

 

 

 

  

  

 

New Girly Knits Pattern “Blossoming Beauty” Daisy Lace Tank and Dress

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“Just as flowers bloom in the Spring and Summer, so can your knitting! No need to put your yarn and needles away with this design, made with 100% cotton in an airy daisy lace pattern, it makes the perfect layering garment for the warmer months! It can be worn over a tank with a cardigan and jeans, or as a cover up for your bathing suit at the beach! With 4 different length options from a cropped tank to a dress and everything in between, plus a choice of regular or racer back, you are sure to make this sweet summery design work for you! Enjoy the sweet breeze as you blossom into the beauty you are, enjoy!”

This pattern was designed, made, and modeled by me, and is now available on Ravelry here!

  

This design was inspired by Girly Knits facebook fans! I did a poll on what girls wanted me to design with the Patons Grace neon orange yarn, which turned out to be a tank top, then gave them options of tank tops and they liked a racer back lace striped tank best. Check out the poll here!

  

New Girly Knits Pattern “Putting on the Glitz” Lace Hem Evening Dress

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“Put on the glitz and head down to the Ritz in this sparkly glamorous dress! With it’s curve hugging silhouette, scooped out neckline, and strategically placed zig-zag lace pattern you are sure to stop traffic! Made with Vanna’s Glamour, this dress knits up into a super sparkly fabric that will keep you shining as the radiant goddess you are all night long. The braided straps and lace hem are additional fashionable details that are sure to turn heads. I hope you show your friends how very sexy knitting is and get compliments for you awesome knitting skills at your next formal event rocking this dress! Enjoy!”

This pattern was designed, made, and modeled by me, and is now available on Ravelry here!