25 September 2014

Kingsfold Dorm Room Throw

Box Hill, photo by Daily Telegraph photographer, for Blogpost by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
If you are ever touring in the beautiful Box Hill area of Surrey, South England, you might well find yourself driving through the village of Kingsfold. It is only a small place, although there's a pub called "The Owl" where you can find some old beams, cozy log‐burning fires and a warm welcome.

However, Kingsfold is famous not so much for its beer but instead as the location where the composer Vaughan Williams heard an old folk song when he was visiting in 1904. He was enchanted by the tune and arranged it as the setting for a hymn. It became known as "The Kingsfold Hymn" and has become a firm favourite for choirs and organists across the world.
Kingsfold Dorm Room Throw by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
I heard it recently at St Johns' College in Cambridge and the mesmerising melody stayed in my mind long after we had returned to the blustery quadrangle outside.

The students were making their way to their dorm rooms, coats well buttoned‐up and scarves madly flapping in the breeze. I sat in a cafe with a steaming cup of tea and started casting on what would later become the Kingsfold Dorm Room Throw
Kingsfold Dorm Room Throw by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
That first one was worked using in a two‐tone grey colour‐block pattern but I so enjoyed working on it, that I started work on a second striped one straight away. You can see a detail from that throw in the photo above and there is also another picture of it draped over the fence by a covered bridge here. ​
Kingsfold Dorm Room Throw by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Then I made a third version in a lovely bright green! I stopped then, but I might well return to this again as it looks so different in each new colourway.

I love working throws and blankets at this time of year anyway because it keeps your knees warm as you work! The knitting seems to keep pace with the weather, steadily growing as the temperatures fall. This one proved to be super‐cozy as the stitch pattern is very textural so helps to enclose small pockets of air.

The throw is a good size to go over the back of a sofa but can also be used as an extra layer on top of a bed. And of course if your dorm room is as cold as mine was, then you could wrap yourself up in it so that you keep the draughts away while you are studying!

For more details about the new Kingsfold Dorm Room Throw pattern, please click here.

Happy Knitting!

Moira
Keywords: Patterns/Blankets,
blanket, blankets, afghan, throw, reversible blanket, reversible stitch, knitting stitch, reversible pattern,

18 September 2014

In praise of covered bridges

Flume Bridge, Pemigewassat River, Lincoln NH, Photo by Tim Ravenscroft for blogpost by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Flume Bridge, Pemigewassat River, Lincoln NH
I love covered bridges. I hadn't been aware of these until we moved to the USA and came across the Cabin Run Covered Bridge in Pennsylvania (pictured below). We have roofed stone bridges such as the famous Bridge of Sighs in Cambridge, but nothing like the wooden structures we found in America.

They are truly fascinating and so individual in their design. The ones still standing tend to be constructed of large solid beams, but often seem remarkably graceful considering the weight of timber involved.
Cabin Run Covered Bridge, Plumstead PA, Photo by Tim Ravenscroft for blogpost by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Cabin Run Covered Bridge, Plumstead PA
We like to plan driving routes which include a bridge or two and it is amazing how many other wonderful sights we find along the way: the oldest country store in America, a state park filled with the sound of crickets, or an old textile factory now with trees growing out of the chimney.

Our last trip to New Hampshire included no less than four covered bridges, all within a very small area. One was a tiny bridge and we wondered if it was really strong enough to take the large builders' van we saw crossing it. Needless to say we traversed the span on foot!

Another was a very long bridge with weathered grey wood over a deep pool of green water. Scrambling down the bank (and trying to avoid the hungry mosquitoes) gave a wonderful view of the bridge with the early autumn colours reflected behind.
Cilleyville Covered Bridge, Andover NH, Photo by Tim Ravenscroft for blogpost by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Cilleyville Covered Bridge, Andover NH
However, the one that stood out in my mind was named "Cilleyville". I'd love to know how to pronounce that. Is it really like "Silly‐ville"? It certainly had a sense of fun, as someone had placed a picnic table and an easy chair inside! There was an enormous flag pinned to one side, the red white and blue showing through the spaces in the latticed walls.
Kingsfold Dorm Room Throw by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Kingsfold Dorm Room Throw, Cilleyville Bridge
I draped a blanket over the fence at the entrance to the bridge and the evening light gave a wonderful side‐ lighting for the stitches. This is the Kingsfold Dorm Room Throw, about which more next time.

Many other countries have covered bridges, of course, and some of these are centuries old. If you have the opportunity to look for covered bridges in your area, then do plan an excursion! They are well worth the effort.

I'll come back to knitting next time and will include more details of this new pattern then!

Until next time – Happy Knitting,

Moira 
Reversible Knitting Stitches by Moira Ravenscroft & Anna Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Last Blogpost: Henley Blanket
Next Up: Kingsfold Dorm Room Throw

Our book: Reversible Knitting Stitches
My Website: www.wyndlestrawdesigns.com

Many thanks to my husband Tim for his great photographs. If you'd like to see more of his work, then please see his Flickr page.
Keywords: Travel Notes,
bridges, covered bridges, NH, New Hampshire, PA, Pennsylvania, USA, blanket,

23 August 2014

Henley Blanket

Henley Blanket by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
I have just uploaded a new pattern onto my pattern store, the Henley BlanketThis is a versatile blanket featuring a lovely reversible stitch from our Reversible Knitting Stitches book. The stitch is called Ridged Rib and gives a wonderfully warm cellular structure which traps the air for a cozy blanket.

The stitch is also easy to memorise and to work. I love this type of stitch pattern when I am knitting a large project. It becomes almost meditative as your hands work across the rows. Before you know it, another repeat has been done and then another. Then very soon the whole blanket is finished!
Henley Blanket by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
The body of the blanket is worked in one colour while the turn‐back is in a contrasting shade, giving a modern feel to a classic design. I have used a rich plum colour for the body of the blanket and a cyan blue for the turn-back, but the design would lend itself to being worked in a variety of different shades and contrasting tones for a very different 'look' to each project.

The blankets are worked in 100% wool – always the best choice for warm and cozy throws and bedspreads. I like Cascade 220 for this type of project as it is freely available and comes in a wide range of colours. It is also nicely soft and has great stitch definition. However, you could use any similar yarn if you have a personal favourite!

The pattern features three different sizes of blanket to fit a Single/Twin bed, a Double/Full-sized or a Queen‐sized bed. Whichever size you make you are sure to be able to keep the worst of the chills away during the winter ahead.

For more information about the Henley Blanket pattern, please click here. The pattern is available for immediate download from the site.

Happy Knitting!

Moira 
Keywords: Patterns/Blankets,
blanket, throw, afghan, bedcover, reversible blanket, reversible stitch, knitting stitch,

08 August 2014

Blanket coverage

Henley Blanket by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
It's 31ºC outside (that's 88ºF) and steamy too. Yesterday there was an evening rainstorm but it didn't actually manage to take the temperatures down – if anything it just seemed to make things feel even stickier. However, we all know the summer heat won't last. Already the sun is setting a little earlier each evening and the nights can have a bit of a cool edge. Before you know it you'll be looking for a cozy rug to spread over your knees or a blanket to throw on the bed as an extra layer.

So now's the time to start planning your autumn blanket knitting. Of course, it can be difficult to plan for the winter when it's quite so warm outside, so think back to last year for inspiration. Perhaps you would have liked a lap rug when the first of the cooler days arrived. Or a super‐cozy blanket that would tuck in securely and keep all the draughts away. That's always such a comforting feeling, isn't it. I suppose it reminds us of our childhood to be well tucked-in against the winter chills.

Blankets need to be soft and warm if they are to do their job well, but it is also really important that they are the right size. A narrow blanket that lets cold air in every time you turn over will not be your favourite item! And that applies to short lap‐rugs too. You don't want your feet to be getting cold every time you pull up a little bit of extra material to snuggle underneath while watching TV.

So I thought I would compile some sizes of blankets that work well for hand‐knitted projects. Compare these to some of your old stand‐bys and make any adjustments so that your next blanket will be your favourite of all time.
Ennismore Lap-Rug by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
1. Knee-Rugs & Lapghans:
​Lap‐Rugs are great for throwing over your legs at any time you need a small amount of extra warmth, but they do need to be wide enough so that draughts don't creep in. I find that a width of 100cm/40" works well for most situations and gives warmth without bulk.

In terms of the length, this depends on how you will use the knee‐rug. For sitting in a chair or wheelchair, then work to about 115‐120cm/45‐48". If you like to relax with your feet up on a foot‐stool, then a length of 150cm/60" will keep your toes well covered.

You can even add another 50cm/20" if you want an extra snuggle factor so that you can have a fold‐over at the top or enough length to tuck underneath your feet.

The photo above shows the Ennismore Lap-Rug which has just the right weight to keep you warm in the evening, or if you would just like an extra layer over your knees when you are sitting for a while. It also works very well as a car rug for long journeys.
Kingsfold Dorm Room Throw by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
2. Afghans/Throws:
The best size for these will depend upon the chair they are going to be draped over, but a size that works well for most sofas is 130cm/50" wide x 150cm/60" long.

If you like to use your afghan as an occasional throw for a bed, then you could make this both a little wider and a touch longer to give an overall size of 150/60" wide x 185cm/72" long. That will give a good extra layer over a quilt.

The photo shows the Kingsfold Dorm Room Throw which can be worked in a single colour or in a colour-block version as in the photo above. It can also be worked with stripes as a fun alternative.

3. Single / Twin-Sized Blankets:
A Single bed in the UK is a little narrower than a Twin in the USA. However, a good sized blanket for both places is 170cm/66" wide x 230cm/90" long.

4. Double / Full-Sized Blankets:
A Double/Full‐sized bed is usually about 130cm/54" wide. However, the depth of the mattress can vary considerably between different brands. For a standard depth of mattress, aim for a blanket that is 200cm/78" wide x 250cm/100" long to give good coverage.

If the mattress is extra‐deep, then add another 20cm/8" to the width and 10cm/4" to the length.
Henley Blanket by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
5. Queen-Sized Blankets:
Queen size beds were not available at one time in the UK but they are becoming more popular over time as they do give a little extra room without being too dominant in a small bedroom. They are about 150cm/60" wide, so a little wider than a Double/Full‐sized bed, and usually have deeper mattresses too.
So for this size of bed, work a blanket 230cm/90" wide x 260cm/102" long.

The blanket pictured above and also at the top of this blogpost is the Henley Blanket worked in a 100% wool yarn. I will be talking about this more in my next blogpost, so please click here to read more.
Ocean Currents Blanket by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
6. King-Sized Blanket:
In the UK King‐sized beds are 185cm/72" wide while in the USA they are about 10cm/4" wider. The mattress can also be quite substantially deeper in the USA.

So for a UK King‐sized blanket make this about 270cm/106" wide x 260cm/102" long.
However, for a US King‐size it would be better to be 290cm/115" wide x 275cm/108" long.

The photo above shows the King-sized version of the Ocean Currents Blanket which has been worked with many different yarns to give a lovely old-time quilt feel.

I hope this gives lots of good ideas for blanket sizes for future projects. If you would like to see all my available blanket patterns, please click here. Cozy winters are on the horizon!!

Happy Blanket Knitting!

Moira
Keywords: Patterns/Blankets,
blanket, afghan, TV rug, lap rug, lapghan, wheelchair rug, wheelchair blanket, throw, blanket sizes, 

30 June 2014

Yarn Overs I have known

FFCT Wrap by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Knitting lace is fascinating – watching the yarn overs and decreases marry together as you work to form wonderful shapes and designs. You can add small, wide‐spaced holes into a baby blanket and bring a lightness and airiness to an otherwise solid fabric. Or you can place holes in sequences to make patterns that seem truly organic, as in the tulip lace pattern for the FFCT Wrap above.

There are also some knitting patterns that seem to have more holes than material! The soft lace shawls from the Shetland or Faroe Islands are an example, just floating over your shoulders like a breath of warm air.

The holes in these designs are formed by taking the yarn over the needle, or just yarn over for short. But did you know that there are a number of ways to work these?

In fact there are four basic types of yarn overs depending on what goes before and what goes afterwards in the row as well as some special cases that I'll detail below. Knowing the differences between these different types of yarn‐overs gives you a lot of choices as you work to select just the right 'look' for your next lace project.
K-K Yarn Over diagram by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#1 ‐ Between Knit Stitches:

If you need to insert an eyelet hole between knit stitches you have two options. For a small, neat hole you can bring the yarn forward to the front, just as you would to work a purl stitch. Now take the yarn in front of the needle and over the top so that it is ready to work the next knit stitch.

This is the basic, simple yarn over (yo), also referred to as a throw in older patterns and also sometimes abbreviated to yarn over needle (yon). You then continue on your way, patterning to the end of the row. On the next row, you work the yo in the same way as a regular stitch, taking care not to twist the thread as this would close the hole up again.

There is also another choice to make a lace increase between knit stitches and that it is the yarn round needle (yrn). In this version, the yarn is brought from the back where you have just been working over the top of the needle to the front, then around the needle and under to the back again. The yarn has now completely encircled the needle and is ready to work another knit stitch. The amount of yarn taken to work this type of yarn over is much greater than in the first option and produces a more emphatic hole.

A simple change like this can produce a very different‐looking item. The smaller yo might be better in some situations, but in others this neat little hole can get lost in the design and a larger yrn would be a better choice. You will sometimes be directed by the pattern designer to work one type or another, or you may see yarn forward (yfwd) or yarn back (yb) as instructions on what you should do at various points in the pattern.
K-P Yarn Over diagram by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#2 ‐ Between a Knit and a Purl:

After working a knit stitch your yarn is at the back and you need to bring it forward ready to work the purl stitch, but with extra yarn inserted to form the hole. The simplest way to do this is to take the yarn over the top of the needle instead of underneath it. This puts a very small eyelet hole in place but is not always satisfactory as the yarn can tighten up and give the effect of a distorted purl stitch instead of a hole. However, it is useful for small delicate items and can work well with care.

The more regular approach is like the yrn in the previous section. Bring the yarn forward just as though you are going to work the purl stitch without a lace increase in front. Now take the yarn up over the top of the needle to the back and then under again to the front. The action almost feels as though you are wrapping the yarn twice around the needle, but in reality it is only going around once.

​Now work the purl stitch in the usual way. Keep the yarn fairly tight through the whole of this manoeuvre to ensure that the yarn over does not become too large in comparison to other lace holes in your work.
P-K Yarn Over diagram by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#3 ‐ Between a Purl and a Knit:

After working a purl stitch, you can take the yarn over the top of the needle ready to work the next knit stitch. This will give a small, neat hole. However, as in the previous section, this is not always successful as the yarn over can get lost and look like poor tension instead.

A more satisfactory lace increase is formed by taking the yarn under the needle to the back of the work, then up over the top of the needle to the front and around underneath to the back again ready to work the next knit stitch.

​As before, keep the yarn fairly tight through the whole of this procedure from working a firm purl stitch before, wrapping the yarn around the needle and then the next knit stitch. Think of the 2 stitches and the yarn over as one unit and maintain a good tension through the whole sequence for a good result.
P-P Yarn Over diagram by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#4 ‐ Between Purl Stitches:

You can work this increase in two directions: either take the yarn back under the needle and then over the top ready to work the next purl stitch.

Or go from the first purl stitch and take the yarn over the top of the needle first. Then bring it around the back of the needle and under again to the front.

There is little real difference between the two but one may suit one person better than another. The second seems to be marginally longer than the first but this is not as marked as in some of the previous examples. You just need to be careful when working the next row so you do not twist the stitch and close up the hole. You will soon see if you are getting little 'crosses' instead of holes!
Selvedge YO, Yarn Over diagram by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#5 ‐ Increases at the start of a row:

Just occasionally, you will need to make a yarn over at the start of a row. This might be part of a pattern as in Brioche stitch, or to give a decorative finish to the selvedge. The easiest way to do this is to take the yarn to the opposite side from where you should be holding the yarn.

So to work a yo + knit stitch at the start of a row, hold the yarn to the front of the needle, insert the needle into the stitch ready to work, and take the yarn over the top of the needle to insert a yarn over. You may also see the instruction to start the row with yarn in front (wyif).

To work a yo + purl at the start of a row, keep the yarn at the back and bring it over the top of the needle before working the purl stitch. You might also see the instruction to start this row: with yarn in back (wyib) or sometimes that is written with yarn at back (wyab). These yo's can easily get lost on the next row so make sure you remember them when you work the next row.
Multiple yo, Yarn Over diagram by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#6 ‐ Multiple yarn overs:

For large‐scale holes in the fabric, the yarn can be wrapped any number of extra times. You may see the instruction: Knit the next stitch, wrapping twice or wrapping 3 times etc. To do this, start with a basic yrn and do that all over again as many times as required.

Sometimes these extra wraps are dropped in favour of a single stitch, but they can also be a way of increasing the number of stitches too. You will probably then be directed to first purl, then knit into the multiple yarn overs on the next wrong‐side row.

For shawls and capes, these various increases can be used to shape the garment, while in flat pieces of knitting such as the FFCT Wrap the increases are matched by decreases along the row so that each pattern repeat has the same number of stitches at the start.

Enjoy trying all these different types of yarn overs as you work your next piece of lace knitting!

Happy Knitting!

Moira 
Keywords: Knitting/Tips & Techniques,
YO, yarn over, yrn, yarn round needle, lace, lace knitting, knitted lace, mesh, 

23 June 2014

The murmur of a cool stream...

Red Tulips - photo for blogpost by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
The murmur of a cool stream,
Bird song, ripe fruit in plenty,
Bright multicoloured tulips
and fragrant roses.
This poem depicting an ideal garden was written in about 1258 by Sa'adi in his work Gulistan. It sounds like the perfect description of a garden even today. You can almost smell the fragrance of the roses as you walk along the garden path.

We were fortunate enough to live in Kyoto a few years back, and one of our favourite places to visit when we lived there was the Botanical Gardens. No matter what the season, it was always beautiful. We still visit Japan frequently, and always make sure to revisit the gardens when we are nearby.

On our last visit there in the Spring, we were astonished to see a wonderful display of tulips. The gardeners had been busy planting several thousand bulbs, and there was an incredible variety of different flowers on show. Some were modern varieties with multiple petals and almost looked like rose-buds.
Pink tulips at the Botanical Gardens, Kyoto - photo by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
However, the ones that impressed me most were the traditional single flowers. They just have such an elegant simplicity. Set out into their rows and grids they had an order and pattern which emphasised their beauty and structure. As I sat looking at them, I thought how lovely they would be if captured in a knitted design.
FFCT Wrap by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
I went back to the hotel and charted the idea for a new lace pattern, and as I began knitting the tulips started forming row by row, line by line just as I had seen them.

And that was the inspiration for the FFCT Wrap that I wrote about in my last blogpost. It is now one of my favourite patterns... It has just the right degree of warmth when I need it, and when I look at the design, I can see the rows of tulips in front of me in the gardens.

For more details about the FFCT Wrap, please see my blogpost here, and to purchase a copy of the pattern, please click here.

Happy Knitting!

Moira 
Keywords: Travel Postcards,
tulips, Japan, Kyoto, gardens, poetry, FFCT Wrap, shawl, wrap, stole, tulip lace, lace knitting,

17 June 2014

FFCT Wrap (Feather & Fan, Cables & Tulips)

FFCT Wrap by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Sometimes you just need an extra layer to throw over your shoulders, whether that's when the sun goes down at the end of a day, or in an overly air‐conditioned restaurant. That is when a lacy shawl or wrap really comes into its own.

This new knitting pattern, the FFCT Wrap, features tulip lace flowers topping tightly cabled stems and set on a background of a slim Feather ­& ­Fan leaf pattern. The different pattern elements combine to give a complex and eye­ catching modern design.
FFCT Wrap by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
The pattern uses a lovely cotton and merino wool mix yarn. The cotton brings a lovely crisp feel to the yarn while the wool gives the shawl just the right degree of warmth for evening strolls.
FFCT Wrap
It can be used as an every­day wrap but would also be perfect for an evening stole or for a wedding.

The pattern includes both charts and line­-by-­line instructions, and there are two sizes: the medium wrap is 168cm/66 ins long while the long one measures 182cm/72 ins. Both are 50cm/20 ins wide.

For more details about the FFCT Wrap, please click here. The pattern is available for immediate download from the site.

Happy Knitting

Moira
Keywords: Patterns/Women’s Scarves & Wraps,
shawl, wrap, stole, #summerknitting, summer, lace, tulips, pink, knitted lace, tulip lace, lace knitting,

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