Design – Page 3 – Cowtown Knits

Introducing Jodi’s Sweater

June 28, 20161 Comment

Hello! Today I’d like to introduce you to Jodi’s Sweater, a cosy and fun twist on the oversized top.

This piece was inspired by my friend Jodi and this top she had with a twist on the front. As soon as I saw that twist ideas started swirling around in my head about how to make it work as a knitting pattern. The front needed to be reversible, and it had to have some visual interest without being busy. I wanted horizontal stripes, but something that was loose and drapey. I tried lots of different textures and stitch patterns – I mean lots. About a year and a half later it struck me that 2-colour brioche might be just the trick. A few swatches later, lo and behold, that was the one!

Once I had the fabric figured out, I needed to tackle construction. There were a few iterations and extensive trial and error, before I came up with the solution. The front is knit first, sideways, starting with a provisional CO. Then the back is worked from the bottom up, and then seamed with the front. Sleeve stitches are picked up around the armholes, and the rest is easy peasy.

This sweater is all about the details that make it work. And although there are lots of techniques involved that might be new to you – crochet provisional cast on (to start the front), tubular cast on (to start the back), tubular bind off (to finish the sleeves), 2-colour brioche, Latvian braid (in a sneaky little place), I-cord bind off (back neckline) – the instructions are clearly written to help you through. The pattern also includes photo tutorials for some of these special techniques.

I really hope you like Jodi’s Sweater and find it an enjoyable project. It’s been a long time coming to fruition and I’m really proud of it.

Click here here to go to the Ravelry page, or simply hit this handy button to go directly to check out.

The Pippa Toque

June 22, 2016June 22, 2016Leave a comment

I’ve decided to start hosting the Pippa Toque pattern on my website. The pattern is still the same, it’s just downloadable from here now. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the download link.

Pippa Hero cropped

The Pippa Toque is a cute little hat to keep heads and ears toasty and warm on cold winter days. The close stitches and stranded colour work make this a nice thick fabric for great insulation.

You can find a photo tutorial for making pompoms here in the Tutorials section of the website.

Suggested Yarn
Jil Eaton Minnow Merino; 100% Extra Fine Superwash Merino; 77 yds 70 m / 1.76 oz 50 g.
MC: 2 skeins of Mango (4751).
CC’s: Less than 20 yds each of Elderberry (4727), Snow White (4701), Pinque (4789), Light Blue (4747), and Peacock (4709).

Needles
US #8 5 mm 16” (40 cm) circular and DPNs, long circular for magic loop or two circulars—or size needed to obtain gauge as listed.
US #6 4 mm 16” (40 cm) circular—or 2 sizes smaller than that needed to obtain gauge.

Notions
Stitch marker, tapestry needle.

Gauge
23 stitches and 26 rows / 4 inches 10 cm in Chart 2, blocked.

Sizes
Finished measurement: 13.5 (15.75, 18, 20.25, 22.5)” / 34.5 (40, 45.5, 51.5, 57) cm circumference. Intended to be worn with 1” 2.5 cm of negative ease.
Note: Sample is shown in 18” 45.5 cm.

Skill Level
Intermediate: requires ability to work in the round, stranded colourwork, various increases and decreases.

Click the link below to download the pdf. I hope you enjoy the pattern and the hat!

Pippa Toque V3.1

Or maybe this hero

Introducing the Mount Rundle Mittens

September 14, 2015Leave a comment

Hello! Long time, no see! And boy, has life been happening since I last posted. Most of the radio silence of late was a result of a move to a new continent. My husband’s office in Calgary was closed down, and he was lucky to get an offer to transfer to the office in London. Three months later, here we are.

In order to focus on the logistics of moving a whole family across an ocean, I put designing aside until we got here. I gotta tell ya, that was not easy! Ideas were festering in my brain and I so itched to get at my yarn and spreadsheets. But there was so much else going on, I knew it had to wait.

Luckily, I had a pattern that had been completed back in June that was waiting for the right season for publishing. As the days have started getting shorter and colder here, I’m feeling confident that now is the time. So, I present the Mount Rundle Mittens.

These mittens were originally designed for an event at The Loop, my local yarn store in Calgary. They had a Craft Cruise coming through and wanted some patterns and yarns from local artists and I was fortunate that they asked me. These mittens are my homage to the tall mountains and sunny skies of Alberta.

The original sample was knit in my own hand-dyed yarn. I loved how it looked in the navy blue and silver. But, when moving, I decided that the yarn-dyeing operation was best left on hold. Then I was left not wanting to have a pattern only suggesting a yarn that wasn’t commercially available. So, I picked up some incredible Mrs. Crosby Trunk Case from The Salty Sheep while on vacation in Swansboro, NC. The new sample is knit up in Hollywood Cerise and African Grey – both stunning colours with such depth and subtle variation.

The pattern is now available for purchase on Ravelry and Love Knitting. I hope you like it, happy knitting!

Introducing the Fundy Tides Collection

March 20, 2015Leave a comment

Along with the release of Ribbon Weed, I’ve also published the first installment of the Fundy Tides Collection.

This collection features cable patterns that remind me of the shapes of the sea weeds and you’ll find variations of them on each of the pieces. The Ribbon Weed throw has large cables knit in super-bulky yarn for a dramatic effect. The cables on the Sea Oak pillow are more understated, while the Dulse pillow is a celebration of cables.

All of these patterns will be available individually or together as part of an e-book. The patterns will be priced at $5 USD each.

The e-book will ultimately be priced at $10.50 USD, a savings of $4.50 over buying the patterns individually.

But the book will be available at a lower price while it is not yet full. Each time a pattern is added, the price will go up. The introductory price, available when it only contains the throw pattern, will be $6. Once the 2nd pattern is added, the price will go up to $8. When the final pattern is added the price will be the full $10.50.

Each time a new pattern is released, the e-book will be updated with the new pattern. Customers who have already purchased the book will receive an email notifying them that the book has been updated.

So, my advice is to get it while it’s hot! Click the Buy Now button below while the book is available for the lowest price.

Introducing Ribbon Weed

March 20, 20154 Comments

Not only have I chosen my favourite set of names from the naming contest, I’m ready to announce the publication of the first pattern from the collection.

Without further ado, let me introduce you to Ribbon Weed, a super-bulky cabled throw.

You will be able to whip up this cabled throw in no time! The Cascade Magnum produces a luxurious and stylish fabric that is super cozy to snuggle under.

The throw features large double-seed-stitch-filled cables nestled in reverse stockinette stitch and a garter stitch border.

The pattern is available for purchase individually or as part of the Fundy Tides Collection, which will also include two pillow patterns. You can find more information about the collection here.

Once again, thanks go out to Eleanor Dixon for technical editing. And this time a huge thank you goes out to my mom, Pat Bostwick, for test knitting, proof reading, and coming up with the great names for the collection.