I am a lucky knitter. I have a close knitting friend from Germany. She is always up for a knitting “adventure,” and we are often off to conquer a difficult pattern. On one of her trips to Germany she returned with a few cards of stunning buttons. One was a present for me! We decided to design our own vest to showcase these special buttons. Writ...

I was thrilled to get the go-ahead to write the article on earflap hats. There are so many fun ideas for earflap hats to choose from. I finally decided to design an Andean Chullo style hat. What a deep rabbit hole it turned out to be to explore. The colors and motifs are fun, and there is quite a bit of freedom for design.

Aran sweaters developed and became popular in the 1920’s in the Irish Aran Islands. There are two important elements that set a traditional Aran knit apart. First, the various stitches used have meanings associated with them. The second is the yarn used to create the knitting.

Pillow pattern for the Stitch Anatomy Lesson.

Pillow pattern for the Stitch Anatomy Lesson.

This is the second pattern in the series exploring Open Selvedge Treatments and accompanies the article on Picot Selvedges. The project is a baby-sized blanket worked on the bias in a diamond shape, or point-to-point, making the project edges mainly selvedges with only a few cast-on and bound-off stitches. The blanket can be made larger or smal...

The pattern includes a lesson plan for knitting instructors to teach basic cardigan construction over five weeks. The lesson plan can be shortened or lengthend to your needs.

Hand knit socks have rapidly become a popular knitting project for many of my students. Trying to teach socks over a three week period was a challenge for me. I have found that there are several obsticles that students face when attempting that first pair.

Inspired by nature, this sweet summer sweater uses two types of leaf lace. It’s worked from the bottom upward. Easy to work armholes adapt for the ruffled sleeve.

This is an old pattern I wrote for This & That when I began working there, years ago. The sample above has long since been sold but the pattern is still available.

This pillow with it’s wild fringe is an easy and fun project.

Two skeins will make a hat and a pair of mittens in all sizes. If making just hat, one skein will will make size small or medium, but additional may be needed for size large.

This is one of my most popular patterns at This & That. Numerous students have made several pairs.

I’ve gotten some requests to size the Cherry Tree Hill Socks for Men.

A quick, easy, but unique hat to knit.

This pattern accompanies the Fashion Framework Lesson on Cowls. The lace is worked from the base upward in an open lace pattern. The lace creates an undulating pattern that serves as an edging at both top and bottom. The cowl is tapered at the base to allow it to sit comfortably on the neck.

A great summer shawl. Using large needles, it knits up very quickly.

Many knitters share their passion for knitting by crafting gifts for family, friends and charity. Pets are among the most appreciative recipients for knitted gifts, and a dog sweater is a wonderful way to share your knitting with your family’s best friend. If you don’t have a dog in your family, a lucky shelter dog would love to be the recipien...

A great summer shawl. Using large needles, it knits up very quickly.

Fana is an easy and fun pattern to knit. This vest uses elements from the traditional sweater with updated colors to create a cute, seamless baby vest. The vest is worked in rows from center front to center front and divided at the armholes. The remainder of the back and the two fronts are finished separately. The shoulders are joined using thr...

The following pillow illustrates one type of loop stitch to accompany the Stitch Anatomy article. This pillow shows traditional loop stitch. Worked in a yarn that has slight changes in the lumen width, the yarn and stitch pattern simulate sheepskin and illustrate how loop stitch can be used for fur.

This fun vest can be worn year round over a long or short-sleeved tee shirt. The fleck stitch adds texture and keeps the knitting fun. The armholes are extra long and do not have the typical bind- off followed by a slope, and the back is 2” longer than the front. Decreases, made in a similar fashion to a V-neck, at the base of the armhole are u...

Giardino is a study of diamonds and triangles. It is an inspirational lace garden of colors and shapes.

Pillow for the Stitch Anatomy Lesson.

Pattern Description from Cast On, February-April 2010: “Houndstooth check prints originated in Scotland. Traditional houndstooth fabric was woven with alternating bands of dark and light threads. Today the pattern is created in many ways with different mediums. Houndstooth is easily recognizable and can be found in all types of fabrics and garm...

This pattern accompanies the “Learn Something New” article on the Punta Cast On. I came across this interesting technique when I wrote Fashion Framework article on Earflap Hats and designed an Andean-style earflap hat for the Winter 2017-18 issue of Cast On. This cast on is part of the Andean Knitting tradition and makes for an interesting edge.

This is a fun infinity scarf both to knit and to wear. It uses lace, texture, and fringe. Knit the scarf, along with the fringe, back and forth in rows. Release the fringe! Then block the scarf to open up the lace and enhance the texture. Blocking will also un-rumple the fringe. Use your hands to gently straighten the lengths of yarn. After blo...

Cashmere lace beaded cowl is nothing but luxury. If you like to bead and work with wonderful yarns, you will love this pattern.

This scarf is the project associated with the Stitch Anatomy article on Mock Cables. It demonstrates three types of mock cables.

This shawl is worked from the neck down in two triangles. The stitch pattern is a simple textured lace pattern. It’s a quick and easy knit.

Learn or teach how to work bridged steeks. The lesson include information on how to make and cut steeks.

This vest uses two beautiful purples along with a contrasting light green to create a flower themed vest in the Scandinavian tradition. The edging is worked in reverse Stockinette stitch which rolls to the wrong side creating an edge that turns under.

Based on the Little Arrowhead Lace pattern, this hat serves as a pattern for instructors to introduce students to yarnovers and lace.

This baby sized Aran uses Trinity Stitch to create four sizes and complements the Stitch Anatomy Lesson.

This is the third pattern in the series exploring open selvedge treatments and accompanies the Yarn Over (Picot Edge) Selvedges article. Yarn over edges complement lace well since they resemble the holes within the lace and carry the theme through to the edges. This project is a lace table runner. It begins with a few stitches which expand usin...

Here is an easy and fun project for Valentine’s Day or any day you want to feel loved. Each heart works up quickly and the project is very versatile so you can change it up however you want. Make as many or as few hearts as you like. Add bows or other ornaments to make it your own.

A fast knitting lace blanket, worked in the round with large needles and bulky weight yarn. The project is worked from the center out.

A wrap for you and one for your favorite horse!

An easy fast knitting vest that works up into a simple but elegant sleeveless top. Great for all levels of knitters.

This pattern takes an indepth look at slip stitch knitting. You’ll see the different types of fabrics that can be made and how slipping stitches can be combined with other types of knitting.

This plus size anklet/sock is knit using a unique ribbed cuff. The foot is finished in stockinette stitch and the toe is grafted using Kitchner’s grafting stitch. It is the perfect pattern for plus size beginners to learn to knit socks.

LEARN ABOUT THE FELTING PROCESS

This is a wonderfully soft, short scarf, perfect for wearing under a jacket or coat next to the skin on your neck to keep out the cold or as a rich accent piece.

I came upon this interesting stitch while looking for ways to minimize the pooling effect often seen when using variegated yarns. The use of increases and decreases disguises the striping and pooling. The increase and it’s corresponding decrease are made in the same stitch elongating the stitches to create the flower shape. This stitch can also...

A This & That oldie, but always popular. A great project for learning entrelac.

Sagittaria is a study in softening triangular vertices through juxtaposition with other poly- gons. The end result is a luxurious shoulder shawl. The arrowhead lace is worked vertically adding a linear element. Alchemy Sanctuary creates a warm shawl with beautiful drape.