MK Carroll

Anne: Crochet Lace Scarf Pattern

This quick, one-skein crochet scarf is an attractive, lightweight accessory casual enough to wear with jeans and pretty enough to wear to a party.  This scarf is an easy way to spice up your wardrobe – try a color that matches or contrasts with your favorite outfits!

The motif, commonly called Queen Anne’s Lace, is a traditional crochet lace often used for blankets and tablecloths.  This version of Queen Anne’s Lace is worked as a long strip and resembles a side view of the flower heads of a common plant by the same name (there are other knit and crochet patterns which differ but have the same name).

MATERIALS
1 skein Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton (100g/150 yds/137m worsted weight/4 Medium/9wpi/10 ply 100% cotton; color shown is Poppy), or yarn of your choice
G/8/4mm crochet hook
tapestry needle
SIZE
One size fits most.  Measures approximately 3.5”/9 cm wide, 55”/140 cm long.
GAUGE
Each motif measures about 3.5”/9 cm wide, 2.5”/6 cm long.

The pattern is currently available for purchase as a PDF download for $5.50. You will need a PayPal account or a credit card.   Full written instructions and a symbol chart are included. As of February 01, 2009, the pattern includes an additional 4-page line-by-line symbolcraft chart with written instructions, designed so that each step has a symbol chart that that looks like the piece as it is being worked in your hands. If you have previously purchased this pattern and would like the additional chart, please email me at mail[at]mkcarroll[dot]com so I can send it to you.

UPDATE May 2008: now available in UK/Australian terminology! Pattern purchase through Ravelry will include download for both US and UK versions.

This pattern looks great in different yarns, too!

Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky, (5 Bulky/ 80% acrylic, 20% wool), 1 skein (153 yds/140m)
Hook size L/0/8.0mm (this is not a common size in the US – I had to order mine online)
Measures 5″/12.5cm wide, 52″/132cm long – enough to wrap around the neck once.

Elann Super Kydd, Pink Pearl, (Super Fine 1/ 70% super kid mohair, 30% nylon, laceweight, about 3/4 of a skein (150 yds/137m)
*this yarn retails for less than USD $5 per skein!*
Hook size K/3/6.5mm
Measures about 3.5”/9 cm wide, 55”/140 cm long – the lace moves and stretches

Matilda & Tillie
Peace Fleece heavy worsted weight/aran knitting yarn (70% wool, 30% mohair), 4 oz/200 yds, color of your choice
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL (18″, 20″, 22″, 24″, 26″, 27″/46, 51, 56, 61, 66, 68.5 cm)
US 6/4.0mm dpns, 1 set of 5
US 6/4.0mm circular needle (16″)
US G/4.25 mm crochet hook

Hats for chilly seasons, these close-fitting wool cloche hats are designed to keep out cold and blustery winds. The heather mohair blend yarn enhances the vintage style; the crown and brim colors look subtly different depending on the angle and the light.  Tiny flecks of many colors make these wearable with just about any color in your wardrobe.  These hats will also travel well, easily stuffed into a coat pocket or a bag, and can be dressed up easily with pins, brooches, and other decorations.

The crown is knit from the top down, ending right above the ears. The brim is worked separately as a long bias strip with increases and decreases to shape it as you go and is sewn to the crown.  A simple knit i-cord or crocheted cord trims the hat and covers the seam.  Matilda has a plain brim; Tillie has a shaped brim with a knit-in hem, which can be worn with the narrow edge at the back (allowing for jacket and coat collars) or at the side for retro flair.

Peace Fleece can be purchased online directly from peacefleece.com, or from Kpixie.com.

Matilda & Tillie is now available for sale as a USD $5.50 .pdf download (you will need a PayPal account or a credit card).

Printed-on-paper patterns are not available at this time.

Substitute yarns: You may substitute a heavy worsted/aran weight yarn on the sturdy end of the yarn spectrum such as Vermont Organic Fiber Co. “Legacy Bulky“, Beaverslide Mule-spun “Heavy Fisherman Weight“, or Imperial Stock Ranch “Columbia 2-Ply“.

A note on gauge: Peace Fleece comes in solid, flecked, and heathered versions, which may be slightly different thicknesses, so do check your gauge and change needle sizes if necessary.  The pattern is worked at a tighter than usual gauge to get a fairly dense, slightly stiffer fabric.  If this is hard on your hands, be sure to take time out to rest and stretch your hands and arms! 

Knitalong?  There’s one on Ravelry!  If you’d like to start one, please feel free to! 

Errata: Corrections to the Tillie brim instructions: begin decreases Row 4 should begin: sl1, p2, sl marker, inc 1 begin increases: Row 2 should begin: sl 1, p2, sl marker Rows 26-33 (30-39, 34-45) should read: repeat rows 24 and 25 (28 and 29, 32 and 33) [note that the chart is correct; the written instructions were incorrect] For size X-SMALL (SMALL), row 34 should read: repeat row 24 Corrections to the Matilda and Tillie brim instructions: row count for both brims should be Total brim rows: 132 (156, 168, 180, 192, 204) Not an error, but but an omission: Closing the gap at the top of the crown: The cast-on will leave a small hole at the top.  After knitting the crown, thread the tail of the cast-on through the cast-on stitches and pull tight to close the hole.  Weave in the end. If you purchased the pattern as a download, you were sent an email with the corrected pages as a link or as an attachment. If you did not get an email/purchased a printed pattern through a shop, please email me so that I may send you the corrected pages.

Peace Fleece "Zarya Fog", crochet rosettes Peace Fleece "Georgia Rose"

I spent an hour today photographing this newly finished Tillie.  It’s too big on the retro-style wire wig stand I use, so I did some photos of me wearing it.  In the photos, I may be smiling, but I am sweating like crazy and really getting a "glow" on.  I’d planned to do the photos for Matilda & Tillie while I was in Indiana last month, but it was even hotter there than it was here.  When I was working on an earlier version of Matilda last fall in Portland, it was, again, hotter there than here.  Maybe someday I’ll get to wear my hats for more than a few overheated minutes!

Matilda & Tillie
Peace Fleece worsted weight knitting yarn (70% wool, 30% mohair), 4 oz/200 yds, color of your choice
XS, S, M, L, XL (18", 20", 22", 24", 26")
US 6/4.0mm dpns, 1 set of 5
US 6/4.0mm circular needle (16")
US G/4.25 mm crochet hook

Hats for chilly seasons, these close-fitting wool cloche hats are designed to keep out cold and blustery winds. The heather mohair blend yarn enhances the vintage style; the crown and brim colors look subtly different depending on the angle and the light.  Tiny flecks of many colors make these wearable with just about any color in your wardrobe.  These hats will also travel well, easily stuffed into a coat pocket or a bag, and can be dressed up easily with pins, brooches, and other decorations. 

The crown is knit from the top down, ending right above the ears. The brim is worked separately as a long bias strip with increases and decreases to shape it as you go and is sewn to the crown.  A simple knit i-cord or crocheted cord trims the hat and covers the seam.  Matilda has a plain brim; Tillie has a shaped brim with a knit-in hem, which can be worn with the narrow edge at the back (allowing for jacket and coat collars) or at the side for retro flair.

Left: Matilda, Peace Fleece "Tundra", size medium (22")
Right: Tillie, Peace Fleece "Patience Blue", size small (20")

Peace Fleece can be purchased online directly from peacefleece.com, or from Kpixie.com.

Edited 10/15/2007: pattern is now available for sale as a USD $5.50 pdf download (you will need a PayPal account or credit card).

A French press is also called a cafetiere, press pot, coffee press, or coffee plunger.  More information in this Wikipedia entry

Mug & French Press Jacket

Size:  to fit a mug or French press with 3.5″ diameter base; pattern can be adjusted to fit different sizes.
Materials:
Yarn: 1 skein Elann Peruvian Highland Wool (worsted weight 100% Peruvian wool, 109 yds/50g).  You may need more than one skein, depending on how high you want the sides to be.
Yarn subs: A smooth worsted weight yarn with good stitch definition and a little bounce; suggested subs include Cascade 220, Cascade Sierra, Plymouth Encore worsted, Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted, Southwest Trading Co. Karaoke.
Needles: US 6 (or size to get gauge), 1 set dpns or two circs [dpns or 2 circs for base, 1 circ for sides (sides are worked flat
but with built-in base, the flexibility of a circ is important)]
Gauge: 24 sts/32 rows = 4″/10cm
Notions: buttons (1 for mug, 2 for French press), tapestry needle

Basic concept:
Knit a circle from the center out large enough for base (80 sts).  Work sides for 1” or up to base of handle.  BO 2” or enough for width of handle.  Work in desired pattern (e.g. smocked cables) for about 3” or desired height.  BO all sts.  Make a loop closure and sew to one open side, sew button to opposite side (two for the French press)
Variations: replace smocked pattern with plain ribbing, replace smocked pattern with stranded colorwork and bands of ribbing or moss st at top and bottom.

ABBREVIATIONS:
k = knit
beg = begin
inc = increase
kfb = knit front and back (increase)
p = purl
sl = slip (in this pattern, slip stitch as it is presented: that is, slip knit sts knitwise, purl sts purlwise)
st = stitch
sts = stitches

STITCH PATTERN

Smocking (from Barbara G. Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns)
Multiple of 8 sts + 2
Rows 1 and 3 (wrong side): k2, *p2, k2*
Row 2: p2, *k2, p2*
Row 4: p2, *insert right-hand needle from front between 6th and 7th sts on left-hand needle and draw through a loop; sl this loop onto left-hand needle and knit it together with the 1st st on left hand needle; k1, p2, k2, p2*
Rows 5 and 7: Repeat rows 1 and 3
Row 6: repeat row 2
Row 8: p2, k2, p2, *draw loop from between 6th and 7th sts as before and knit it together with 1st st, then k1, p2, k2, p2*, end k2, p2
Repeat rows 1 – 8

BASE
kfb = knit into front and back of stitch
inc 1 = increase one = for this pattern, I prefer k1 into row below
With dpns or 2 circs, CO 8 sts.
Round 1: *kfb* (16 sts)
Round 2: *k2, inc 1* (24 sts)
Round 3: *inc 1, k3* (32 sts)
Round 4: *k4, inc 1* (40 sts)
Round 5: *inc 1, k5* (48 sts)
Round 6: *k6, inc 1* (56 sts)
Round 7: *inc 1, k7* (64 sts)
Round 8: *k8, inc 1* (72 sts)
Round 9: *inc 1, k9* (80 sts)
Round 10: p all sts (80 sts)

SIDES
Round 1 – 7: *k2, p2* (80 sts)
In the next round, switch from dpns or 2 circs to 1 circ
Round 8:  BO 6 sts, sl1, p1, begin smocking pattern, end p2
Next 24 or so rows : work smocking pattern.  On RS rows, replace first two sts of smocking pattern with sl1(purlwise), p1, and end the row with p2.  On WS rows, replace first two sts of smocking pattern with  sl1(knitwise), k1, and end the row with k2.
Note: work last smocked row when sides are 1″ shorter than desired, then work last 8 rows in 2×2 rib.  The mug used 2.5 repeats of the smocking pattern; the French press will probably use about 4.5 repeats.
BO all sts in pattern

LOOP: (for French press, make 2)
With dpns, CO 3 sts
Rows 1 – 28: work i-cord
BO

FINISHING
Exact placement and position of loop and button will vary depending on the design of the mug/French press.

Slip jacket onto mug or French press.  Pin ends of loop to one of the open sides and determine placement for button on opposite open side (French press will likely need two loops and buttons).   Slip jacket off and sew loop and button into place.  Weave in all ends.  To block, wash gently and then slip onto mug or French press to dry, turning mug or french press upside down.  If you are using a French press with metal components, you may wish to wrap it in a plastic bag or plastic wrap first to keep the metal dry.

A photo tutorial for Row 4 of the Smocking Stitch pattern is available on my Flickr page.

[updated May 07, 2008]
A revised and nicely formatted PDF with instructions for knitting from the top of the sides down, as well as a chart done in Knit Visualizer, is available for $5.50 (you will need a PayPal account or a credit card). $4.50 of the purchase price will be donated to Knitters Without Borders.

Ravelry Store:

The free PDF download (instructions the same as in this post – starts from the center of the base and goes up) is still available: download now

In the comments for August 01, 2007, KC asked:

Mug and French Press Jacket by
MK Carroll is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License.

Currently available for $3.50 as a PDF download through Ravelry.

This pattern has been knit by pattern testers as well as illustrated and formatted by Cindy Moore, so hopefully there are no errors. If you find one, please let me know. Enjoy!

Tools and Materials:
1 pair US#5/3.75 mm knitting needles (straight or circular as you prefer)
tapestry needle
coilless safety pin or other removable stitch marker
tape measure or ruler

Tissue Box/Baby Wipe Cozy:
tissue box or baby wipe box for use as a fitting model
Stuffing (such as scrap yarn, cotton batting, polyfill) for topping(s)
Optional: reinforcement for sides (plastic needlepoint canvas, empty and clean juice carton, etc.)

Stuffed Pillow/Toy:
Stuffing (such as scrap yarn, cotton batting, polyfill) for base and topping(s) or foam padding, cut to appropriate size

Yarn
My test knitters and I used Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton for the samples in the photos. Blue Sky Alpacas Cotton is a worsted weight 100% cotton yarn that will shrink a little after washing. You may substitute any smooth worsted weight yarn of your choice; be sure to check your gauge if a close fit is important to you. Because it is knit at a tight gauge (to keep the stuffing from leaking), some test knitters reported finding it uncomfortable to knit with the cotton; you may want to substitute a worsted weight yarn with some bounce to it, like Cascade 220, Ella Rae Classic, Plymouth Encore, Lion Brand Wool-Ease or Red Heart worsted.

Maguro (Tuna):
Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, tomato (619 red), 100% cotton, 150 yds/100g, 1 skein
Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, tulip (615 white), 100% cotton, 150 yds/100g, 2 skeins

Sake (Salmon):
Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, shrimp (609 med. pink), 100% cotton, 150 yds/100g, 1 skein
Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, shell (606 pale pink), 100% cotton, 150 yds/100g, 1 skein

Rice:
Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, tulip (615 white), 100% cotton, 150 yds/100g, 2 skeins

Finished Dimensions
hard box: 4.75″ wide x 8″ long x 4.25″ deep
soft pack: 5″ wide x 9″ long x 3″ deep
please note that box size varies from brand to brand

Pattern now available for purchase as a .pdf download (you will need a PayPal account)
US $3.50

Difficulty Level: Intermediate (using Craft Yarn Council of America standards)

Skills and Techniques: cast-on, bind-off, garter stitch, increasing, drop-stitch stitch pattern, dropped stitch. For tubular cast-on, crocheting a chain and picking up stitches.
Materials Needed:
Yarn: Cascade Fixation, 1 ball (50g/1.75 oz, 90m/100yds [relaxed], 98.3% cotton 1.7% elastic, handwash), 8990 black or color of your choice.
OR
Yarn: Sock It to Me! Collection Esprit, 1 ball (50g/1.75 oz, 90m/100yds [relaxed], 98.3% cotton 1.7% elastic, handwash), color of your choice
NOTE: 50 grams will make at least two pairs.
1 pair 5.75mm/US 10 needles
tapestry needle
safety pins or removable stitch markers
For tubular cast-on (optional):
1 pair 5mm/US 8 needles
1 crochet hook, size 4.25mm/G
waste yarn, approx. 63cm/25” (any smooth worsted weight yarn will do, like mercerized cotton or even ribbon)
For tubular bind-off (optional):
2 double-pointed 5.75mm/US 10 needles (in addition to first pair)
Pattern is written and does not include a schematic or chart.

previously published in Take Back the Knit #2, an independent ‘zine published by Jae Steele (Domestic Affair). TBtK #2 is, at this writing (July 2006), still available for purchase from Jae at www.domesticaffair.blogspot.com. That pattern is essentially the same but isn’t written as clearly, as I was my own tech editor at the time. The version available for download has been rewritten by Chrissy G (thank you!) and has been expanded to include instructions for a stretchier cast-on and bind-off and step-by-step photos for some of the techniques (including how to sew up the seam).

about the yarn: this project needs a stretchy yarn to accomodate various sizes. If you use the tubular cast-on/cast-off, you may be able to use a less elastic yarn (try a swatch and get a gauge first for fit!). If you’ve never used a yarn like this before, knitting with it might feel a little odd at first. Try not to stretch the yarn too much while working with it.

the inspirational vintage pattern: The 1890’s fingerless mitt pattern is online via The Ladies Treasury . Like many patterns of that time, the instructions in comparison to modern patterns, are pretty vague, with no gauge or schematic given. I knit up a sample following the pattern, using sock yarn and US3 needles, which would fit a womans medium comfortably.