Noro Chunky Silk Garden Coat

The yarn was the inspiration. Noro Silk Garden is the softest yarn with the most interesting colours, and I found such a great deal on the Chunky version at the Needle Emporium this year, I could not resist... I have loved the idea of an oversized lapel that folds on itself in waves and designed this coat to do just that. Using the seed stitch allows it to look the same whether right side is facing or wrong side as it folds back and forth. It also leaves a nice flat finish to the edge. No need to add a ribbed edging to finish the garment! You could use a shawl pinto close this in many ways, but mostly I like it just open and free flowing.

The unusual shoulder shaping on the front is intentionally designed to add to the drape of the lapel.  It creates more folds in the way the front hangs.  See the drawing for details.

Chunky Silk Garden Coat

Size:  xSmall[Small, Medium, Large, xLarge]  actual size of oversize coat: 32”[36”, 40”, 44”, 46”] measured at bustline.
Yarn:  Noro Silk Garden Chunky: 13[15, 16, 17, 19] balls, Shown in colour 6 (45% silk, 45% kid mohair, 10% wool. 50 gram balls- 60 meters)
Needles, 6mm (US 10)  Preferably circular but knit without joining in circle.  It makes it easier to knit the collar.  *** or size to achieve exact gauge AFTER knitting a swatch and washing in gentle cold water.  Lie flat to dry then measure.

Gauge: 11 sts = 4 inches. (knit in stocking stitch)
Stitch holders

Seed Stitch:  Row 1: [Knit one, purl one] repeat across the row.  Row 2: purl the knits and knit the purls.  Repeat rows 1 & 2 for the pattern.

Stocking Stitch: Row 1: knit all stitches.  Row 2, purl all the stitches.

Back:  Cast on 44[50, 55, 60, 64] stitches.  Work in seed stitch for 3 inches.  Change to stocking stitch and continue until the piece measures 13[14, 14, 15, 15] inches.
Shape armhole: Bind off 5 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows.  Decrease one stitch each side every other row 3[3, 4, 4, 4] times.  Work straight until total length is 22[23, 23, 24, 24] inches. 
Shoulder: bind off 7[9, 9, 11, 13] stitches at the start of next 2 rows.  Place remaining 14[16, 19, 20, 20] stitches on a stitch holder.

Right front: Cast on 36[38, 41, 41, 44] stitches.  Work in seed stitch for 3 inches.  Next row (right side facing) work 12 stitches in seed stitch, place marker, work the rest in stocking stitch. Continue to work the front center edge with 12 seed stitch, and the rest in stocking stitch AND AT THE SAME TIME  increase one stitch every 2 inches at the center front edge only.  Incorporate that stitch into the 12 seed stitch pattern and move the stitch marker over, converting the 13th stitch into stocking stitch as you do.  Make 6 increases like this then continue evenly for the rest of the front.  (still keeping the 12 seed stitch edge)
Work like this until the piece is 13[14, 14, 15, 15] inches long from start. 
Armhole:  Bind off 5 stitches at start of wrong side.  Bind off one stitch at armhole edge 2 times more.  CONTINUE TO WORK THE 12 STITCH SEED STITCH BAND.  Work even until 4 inches from the start of armhole decreases.  Begin increases: cast on one stitch at start of armhole edge, every other row until 9 increases have been made.  Work one row until wrong side is facing you (starting at armhole edge.)  Make shoulder extension:  Purl across 16[17, 18, 19, 20] stitches .  Place rest of stitches on a stitch holder.  Right side facing: Knit 2 together,  knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together.  Next row purl.  Continue to knit 2 together at start and end of each right side row until one stitch is remaining and fasten off.  (see drawing – you are making the triangular shoulder extension)

Work left side:

 Cast on 36[38, 41, 41, 44] stitches.  Work in seed stitch for 3 inches.  Next row (right side facing) work 24[26,29,29,32]sts in stocking stitch, place marker, work the rest in seed stitch. Continue to work the front center edge with 12 seed stitch, and the rest in stocking stitch AND AT THE SAME TIME  increase one stitch every 2 inches at the center front edge only (the seed stitch edge).  Incorporate that stitch into the 12 seed stitch pattern and move the stitch marker over, converting the 13th stitch into stocking stitch as you do.  Make 6 increases like this then continue evenly for the rest of the front.  (still keeping the 12 seed stitch edge)
Work like this until the piece is 13[14, 14, 15, 15] inches long from start. 
Armhole:  Bind off 5 stitches at start of right side.  Bind off one stitch at armhole edge 2 times more.  CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE 12 STITCH SEED STITCH BAND AT THE CENTER FRONT.  Work even until 4 inches from the start of armhole decreases.  Begin increases: cast on one stitch at start of armhole edge, every other row until 9 increases have been made.  Work one row until right side is facing you (starting at armhole edge.)  Make shoulder extension:  Knit across 16[17, 18, 19, 20] stitches .  Place rest of stitches on a stitch holder.  Purl one row.  Right side facing: Knit 2 together,  knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together.  Next row purl.  Continue to knit 2 together at start and end of each right side row until one stitch is remaining and fasten off.  (see drawing – you are making the triangular shoulder extension)

Sew shoulder seams (drawing : match A to A and B to B and sew in between)
With circular needle, pick up the stitches from right front holder, pick up 8[9,9,10,10]sts  from right shoulder extension, sts from back holder, 8[9,9,10,10]  sts from left front shoulder extension, then sts from left front holder.
Work seed stitch across the collar, back and forth until 2.5 inches are worked, then cast off all stitches in seed stitch.

Sleeves: (make two) Cast on 26[28,30,30,32] stitches, Work in seed stitch for 3  inches.
Work in stocking stitch, increasing one each side, every 6 rows 10 times.   Continue without increasing until total length is 15 inches (or whatever length you would like). 
Cap shaping: Bind off 5 stitches at start of each row.  Decrease one each side every other row 8 times, then one each side EVERY row 3[3,4,4,4] times.  Bind off 2 stitches at the start of next 4 rows, then bind off all remaining stitches.
Sew cap of sleeve into armhole curve of front/back.
Sew sleeve and side seams.  I like to wash gently in cold water and lay flat to dry... this softens the garment and gives a nice halo to the fabric.  This also makes it a little more relaxed and bigger, so keep it in mind for sizing.  The coat I made has long enough sleeves to roll up.  You could make the sleeves shorter if you don't want the rolled cuff.

If you tuck one lapel under opposite shoulder, you get this different look!

Update

ay behind on my posts. I have finished two sweaters and started a third without a word to you! SHAME! I have just posted a golf club cover sock monkey... on my sewing blog ----)

and you can see there that I am happily quilting too.

Here is a sneak peak of what is on the needles now.....

and here is a quick photo of one of the most fabulous garments I think I have ever made!!!

Noro-licious.

This pattern will be posted soon!

Seriously Awesome

My dear knitting and quilting friends invited me to a stitch-a-thon. Not sure what I was signing up for, I joined in. It was brought about by some truly heroic women, who are going to change the world (or at least a little corner of it!).

Jane is awesome. She and her team had a huge factory underway as I arrived. We were making washable sanitary pads and liner for her trip to Nicaragua in January. We used flannel, waterproof liners and quilt batting... and cut, stacked, stitched, turned, pressed, serged and stacked again... each of us had a different task. I tried the machine sewing of the liners, then did some turning right-side out. We surpassed the goal of the day, and you can read about the adventures HERE.

Stacks of liners ready to sew....

My knitting posse have also promised to make dozens of the preemie caps to take (they will be visiting a hospital) AND we have promised to teach Jane to knit these (she claims to be a beginning knitter-but I have a feeling she'll be a natural) and in turn Jane will teach the women she meets in Nicaragua. She is already planning to teach them quilting, but feels they may want another project to do when they have their (frequent) power failures!

Oh Oh, Ruth is missing a tiara....

There, that's better....Me with some Preemie Caps ready to go...

The amazing Jane...

I will try to post information where you can donate to this effort, or you can email me directly if you would like to help ($ or knitwear?)

See the note? It says 90 in here! We made over 150 with lots of extra liners!

Preemie Caps

Our little band of knitters have wanted to find a way to knit for our new hospital, opening next year. The thought was to start knitting preemie hats for the nursery ward. I was of course designated to design an easy, quick knit, so here it is....

Yarn: Sport weight baby yarn (label says 4mm - US6 needles recommended)
Use 4 double point needles 4mm.

Cast on 60 stitches. (20 stitches on each of 3 needles) join without twisting, rib (knit2, purl2) for 2.25 inches. Change to stocking stitch, and work for 1.5 inches more.
Decrease as follows: [ Knit 8, knit 2 together] repeat around the row.
Knit next row.
[Knit 7, knit 2 together] repeat across this row.
Knit next row.
[Knit 6, Knit 2 together] repeat, knit next row.
[Knit 5 , knit 2 together] repeat, knit next row.
[Knit 4, knit 2 together] repeat, knit next row.
[Knit3, knit 2 together] repeat, [knit 2 , knit 2 together] repeat, knit 2 together .
Continue to knit 2 together until 4 stitches remain.
Run yarn through the last stitches and fasten off OR work 4 stitch I-cord for one inch, then bind off. Stitch in the ends.

Fushia Rag-Tag

I actually finished this a week ago, but took a while to pick buttons, and a while longer to find time to model and photograph the finished cardigan.

This is the raglan design for the Colinette Tagliateli in fushia. It is my favourite yarn, and makes a light but thick cardigan. Today is cool, feeling a bit of fall weather, so the perfect day to sit on the deck modelling the bright rag-tag.

It is a simple knit, designed with Sweater Wizard. This is a super easy knitting softwear program, where you knit a swatch to get precise gauge and plug that information in, along with size and type of sweater you intend to knit. Out pops a simple pattern including estimated yardage requirements. It even has drawings of the pieces with measurements and stitch numbers beside the pieces. You should try it!

I won't post the pattern here, because I think there is not much Tagliateli out there, it seems to be discontinued where I am searching. If there is enough demand, I can post the pattern, but it won't work well with other yarns, Tag' is pretty unique...