Ah fall...my favorite time of year. I'm so lucky to live here in Maine where the fall foliage right outside my door looks like an amazing painting. It's fleeting, but I enjoy every second of it. And what better way to welcome in Fall then with a couple of new designs! Check out all of the details below as well as some new photo tutorials, knitting tips, and gallery pictures!
What's New
I recently published a new sweater pattern, Mazzy. It's a great worsted-weight layering piece with its open-style and longer length. It features pockets and around-the-neck front band panels - this style helps to ensure the sweater stays properly around your neck and shoulders without falling off (which can sometimes happen with open-style cardigans without this design element). This sweater is a great combination of easy knitting plus interesting techniques that any skill level can be comfortable with. Plus I have created photo tutorials of the techniques you may not be familiar with (details about these tutorials are below).
I used Berroco's Ultra Alpaca yarn, a beautiful wool/alpaca blend that I have used time and time again for sweaters. Click below for more details and to purchase the pattern!
My other new pattern is the Cobbles Cowl! I love this stitch pattern - it's a fun way to play around with color and it's an interesting stitch but still simple enough to be a relaxing, mindless knit. It uses bulky-weight yarn and the pattern includes instructions for 2 versions. There's the long, infinity-style (shown in the bottom right picture) which I knit using Quince & Co's Osprey yarn. And the other is a short but tall version (that tapers towards the top and can also be worn around the shoulders), pictured at the top and bottom left images. I used Malabrigo's Mecha yarn for this version.
Click below for more details and to purchase the pattern!
A popular stitch you may have come across is the "LT" which stands for left twist. This stitch is often used as a mock-cable because of the way the twisted stitch resembles a cable twist. It's the stitch I used in the front panels of my new Mazzy cardigan, so I have created a photo tutorial that shows you exactly how to work this stitch.
Rarely is there seaming involved in any of my patterns, but in my latest design Mazzy you do need to seam down the pocket linings once the sweater is complete. For those of you adverse to seaming, don't worry - I promise this one is easy! Check out my photo tutorial on my website for detailed tips on how to do this.
Another technique featured in my pattern Mazzy that is very common in many seamless knitting designs is when you have to join your already knit sleeves to the body of your garment. This happens when you knit a sweater from the bottom-up - you'll work the body from the hem to the underarms, and then work each sleeve from the cuff to the underarms. And then you'll reach the point where you'll have to join the 3 pieces together. It's not hard at all, but having a visual of what you need to do can be very helpful so I've created a step-by-step photo guide on my website. Whether it's a cardigan or pullover, the steps required will be the same, so hopefully this tutorial can help you with a variety of projects on your needles this fall and winter!
Ever do a swatch but then completely forget what size needle you had used to swatch with? It used to happen to me all the time (too many projects on my brain!), and then I read about this tip, I believe in an Elizabeth Zimmerman book. In one of your tail ends of the swatch, simply tie little knots to represent the needle size. As you can see in the image above, because I have 7 knots then I had used a US 7 needle.
I recently did a blog post that talks about common pattern verbiage. This info is helpful to all beginner knitters, or perhaps can help as a refresher for those who haven't tackled a more detailed pattern in a while. The basics reviewed in this post are based on some of the most common questions I hear, so I hope you may find it helpful!
Here are some favorite finished projects of my patterns from Ravelry! Thank you to those featured for allowing me to use your beautiful pictures.
Stephanie from Germany knit up Clouds in my Coffee pattern - love this picture of her wearing it at the beach with her beautiful dog!
Leila from New York knit up this lovely version of Ramona Cardigan out of Madeline Tosh Chunky yarn.
Sarah from Canada knit up the Coastal Gradient Cowl using these gorgeous blue gradients from Dirty Water Dyeworks.
Kathy from Pennsylvania knit up the Ponchetta out of the Fibre Company Terra yarn. Love her whole look with this cute accessory!
Heather knit up the Margo Poncho in Knit Picks Brava Bulky. I love how she made it a cowl neck - such a great addition!
I’m Elizabeth Smith and designing simple yet stylish knitting patterns is my passion. I design under my pattern line The Brown Stitch, and my designs have also been published in national knitting magazines and with yarn companies. Originally from Connecticut, I have called the Portland, Maine area home for over 12 years where I live with my husband Jeff and two dogs Arlo & Alice.
