Knit for your little princess!

With the birth of the new Princess Charlotte, I have seen more pretty and free knitting patterns for lovely baby shawls and bonnets.

Here is a free pattern for a lace baby shawl.

Here is a free pattern for a bonnet and another here

I have read that the bonnet was placed on the baby's head upside down and you can see that from this photo below. The square on the top of her head should be at the back...but it still looks cute!

Send over pictures of your princess in these lovely fashions!

Enjoy, Debby

Free lace shawl pattern

Pretty Sophie Shawl from TahkiStacyCharles.com is offered as a free download.

I like the combination of lace on the sides and then the interesting panel down the center. Looks like there are some cable twists in it too!

Happy knitting, Debby

Knit some more shawls....more free patterns

Have some fun with these light and lacy knit shawls.

Enjoy, Debby

Sale- Trio of $1.99 shawl patterns

Check out my sale on Ravelry. 

I have marked down 3 shawls to $1.99 for a limited time. 

You do not need to be a member of Ravelry to purchase patterns. Their shopping cart is easy to use with PayPal. Your pattern is immediately downloadable from your email receipt from Ravelry. 

Happy knitting!

Easy Garter Stitch Diamond Lace Shawl 

Summer Picot and Bobbles Shawl

Easy Self Fringing Shawl

Craftsy is having a flash sale this Friday & Saturday on Yarn and Fabric products at up to 80% off! You can check out each sale here: 

Craftsy yarn sale! Save up to 80% on yarn for 48 hours, November 15 & 16.

Craftsy fabric sale! Save up to 65% on fabric for 48 hours, November 15 & 16.

The sale only lasts 48 hours and products will sell out fast, head over to Craftsy today and check some items off your crafting wish list! 

I love this lace shawl-free knitting pattern

I love this lace shawl. The pattern is free on this site. PDF can be downloaded here.

Enjoy, Debby

Hand knit shawl in Fuchsia cotton

I have been knitting up a storm and have this first shawl listed for sale on ETSY.

This hand knit shawl was made by me using my Gypsy Lace knitting pattern. The yarn is a very soft cotton called Flake Cotton from Ironstone Warehouse. It is thick and thin with nubs which creates a nice textured fabric that looks comfortable and casual. The color of this shawl is a rich fuchsia.

I also have more of this yarn in Teal, Crocus yellow and Peach. Please contact me if you are interested in a shawl in any of these colors. I will send you a photo of the ball of yarn so you can see the color.

It is a semi circular shawl with eyelet rows and a lace border drawn out to points.

It measures approximately 17 inches from the center back to the bottom edge and 40 inches tip to tip along the top edge.

Hand wash, lay flat to dry. Press lightly and block to re-establish the shape and points of the lace border.

Traditional knit shawl patterns from 1950

I love lace baby shawls and this booklet has a lovely collection of traditional knit shawl patterns and a few lace head coverings. You can find this booklet at the Antique Pattern Library.

Here are a few photos to get you going.

Now that's a border!

And a crocheted item as well.

Enjoy, Debby

New Paton's Lace yarn...with sequins!

I like Paton's Lace yarn. It a reasonably priced product. It is made of a combo of acrylic, mohair and wool. (80% Acrylic, 10% Mohair, 10% Wool).
Then, I couldn't find it anywhere.... 

Now they have Lace with Sequins. I just ordered some from Joann.com and I have a shawl on the needles now. The sequins are small but they add a nice sparkle. I like the little bit of fuzziness that the mohair adds WITHOUT itchiness.

I designed my Garter Stitch Diamond Lace shawl with Patons Lace. Give it a try with the new yarn with sequins.

The scarf and wrap version of this pattern can be made up in Lace with Sequins too.

I am going to make a Dripping with Lace shawl with this yarn next.

Use coupon code ILUVBLOG15 for 15% off at my ETSY store.

Have a safe weekend, Debby

Let's take a closer look at Prince George's lace shawl

Britain’s new Royal Baby has been named George Alexander Louis and will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge. The third in line to the throne appeared in public for the first time yesterday escorted by his proud parents The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, enshrouded in a luxury knitted lace shawl believed to have been knitted by Nottinghamshire, UK, based manufacturer G.H. Hurt & Son. - See more at: http://www.knittingindustry.com/knitting-for-a-future-king/#sthash.KrN2VYW6.dpuf

Here is a link to G H Hurt and Son. 

The OUR HISTORY page is very interesting showing the development of the knitting industry over the last 400 years!

Enjoy, Debby

Knitting pattern for a lace heirloom shawl

Want to knit an heirloom shawl for a new baby in your family? Here is a beautiful pattern from Women's Weekly.

Better get started now! This one will take a while...

Enjoy, Debby

NZ gift for new Prince and singlet pattern

It is always good news when a family has a new baby but this one will be a king! So what do you give a baby Prince? An heirloom shawl! Here are some links to articles about the shawl designed by Margaret Stove and spun and knit by Cynthia Read!
Article one, article two, article three.

As mentioned in the third article, here is a pattern for a singlet from Plunket.org. They can be knit and donated for other families with a new baby.

Enjoy, Debby

Knitting samplers and free pattern

Like other handicrafts, knitters can create a sampler of knitting stitches to display their skills or merely to document a stitch. Many knitters did this in the 19th century to document and preserve stitches they had learned or obtained from other knitters.

Here is an example of a sampler at the Powerhouse Museum:

Knitting sampler, 1876

Franklin Habit wrote a great article at Knitty.com and offers his version of Miss Lambert's Lace Sampler.

The lace patterns used for this sampler were taken from My Knitting Book (1843) by Frances Lambert available on Google Books.

It makes a nice scarf!

Enjoy, Debby

Need something to wear to a wedding?

I just finished another Dripping with Lace Shawl. It is the perfect accessory for a wedding. I wanted to make something that wasn't too hard to knit but still had some features of a lacy Shetland shawl.  I love the border and picot edging. 

This shawl is made up as a simple half round design in repeating rows of eyelet then at the bottom a border of Old Shale that has been blocked to accentuate the scalloped border. You can make it with most weights of yarn or thread, lace to worsted, but thinner yarns will look lacier. 

You can purchase this pattern at my ETSY store and download it immediately. You will also receive help files and freebies as well. Get 15% off with ILUVBLOG15 coupon code.

Send over your photos if you make one!

Enjoy, Debby

Try a new method-Moebius cast on

I am always researching new ways to cast on and bind off. This one just landed in my INBOX from Knitting Daily. They provide very clear instructions on how to do a moebius cast on from Cat Bordhi. 

There is a video from Cat on YouTube

I need to practice this one!

Once you have that on the needles, you can knit a moebius scarf or shawl in one piece without grafting. 

Here is a pretty free shawl pattern from DROPS. You can use the moebius cast on this one. Send over your photos if you make this!

Enjoy, Debby

Free Patterns and Recipes!

• Free Embroidery Patterns at Craftsy!
• Free Knitting Patterns at Craftsy!
• Free Sewing Pattern at Craftsy 
• Free Quilting Patterns at Craftsy
• Free Cake Decorating Recipes at Craftsy!

How to knit the garter stitch tab cast on

Have you tried starting a triangular shawl and the starting stitches look anemic? Try using the Garter Stitch tab cast on. It makes a huge difference in the strength and appearance of the top of your shawl.

There is a great video and explanation of all the steps on the New Stitch a Day website.

This site features knit and crochet stitch instructions with videos to demonstrate the techniques used. I love this site for its simple and clear directions and layout.

Happy Knitting, Debby

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Great online crochet and knitted lace resource

Here is a great booklet with a variety of crocheted and knitted lace patterns. Lace-making with crochet hook and knitting needles. The entire book is available online. There are edgings, insertions, doilies and a shawl/mantilla.

Enjoy!

Check out these new classes at Craftsy!
Sandra Betzina - Sewing on the Bias (Sewing) 
Janet Pray - Sew Better, Sew Faster: Garment Industry Secrets (Sewing) 
Frieda Anderson - Machine Quilting the Home Sweet Home Quilt (Quilting) 
Maggie Austin - Sugar Berries, Leaves, and Blossoms (Cake Decorating) 

New Diamond Path Lace scarf, cowl, mobius loop and shawl & COUPON

My most popular knitting pattern to date has been the Garter Stitch Diamond Lace shawl pattern. Many knitters have asked for a scarf version and now it is ready.



Here is the latest addition to my knitting collection, the Diamond Path Lace Scarf!

Now you can knit this easy lace pattern and make a 6 inch wide flat scarf, cowl or mobius loop. With more repeats, you can make a shawl the desired width and length you need.

For the sample shown, I used No. 5 (US) needles with Red Heart Fashion Crochet thread (100% cotton) Size 3, 125 yards. Using the entire ball, this produced a strip approximately 26 inches long and 6 inches wide. This length is suitable for a mobius or cowl. 3 balls would make a scarf just over 6 feet long.

Gauge: Not too important! Use the yarn and needle combo that not only works with how loose or tight you knit but also results in good looking lace. Yardage of yarn/thread depends on how long and wide you decide to make your garment.

You can make this easy to knit garment in any weight yarn.

Use this coupon code on ETSY to get 15% off this pattern or your entire order:

ILUVBLOG15

Hurry, this coupon will expire May 31, 2013.

Thank you and happy knitting! 

Pretty old fashioned looking shawl-Free knitting pattern

I love the design of this shawl...two similar colors are a great idea for a lacy look.

This should be a fairly easy to complete project. Wouldn't it look great for a wedding or prom cover up?

Click here for the link to the web page at Classic Elite Yarns

Enjoy and happy knitting, Debby

Heirloom knitting resource....free patterns

Check out these fabulous patterns for round knitted doilies. These can be used to make more than doilies...how about a lacy washcloth or even a round shawl with some alteration. I love this style of doily since it is knit on two needles then grafted at the end to the first row.

There is more to see at this site which is a resource for Judith McLeod-Odel's book, Heirloom Knits. 

There is a notice that Judith has passed away but the site will remain for an undisclosed period of time. Check it out now and save the information that you want before it is shut down.

Happy Knitting, Debby

Video: How to wear a lace shawl

I loved this video from KnitPicks. I am inspired to knit and wear more shawls!


Wearing Lace Shawls

All the best, Debby