Monday, December 31, 2018

2018 Pattern Recap

A year in review


What a crazy year it has been. Throughout 2018 I continued to add more knitting patterns to the blog. It was a scary process learning and introducing something new. I have also continued to add crochet Patterns. You have been a great support and encouragement. I can't tell you how exciting it is to get on the front page of Ravelry when I put up a new pattern. Us designers really appreciate all those likes and comments. It really helps us know we are doing something right.

I love designing. This coming year my goals are simple. I want to continue growing in my pattern writing skills. Even though I'm good at designing, the actual pattern writing is hard. I want to have great quality patterns for you. I plan to continue cultivating relationships with the people who have been helping me with copy editing and testing. This year I created 23 patterns. Which is a crazy amount when I think about the fact that I moved 1,000 miles back to the United States in September.

One other goal is to better define my brand with the crochet patterns. I feel that I have my brand and style for knitting, but I'm a little all over the place with crochet. It's hard to just pick one area to focus on. So for 2019 you might be seeing a lot more Tunisian Crochet patterns from me. I feel this is an area that I truly love and that I will be excited to teach and expand.

This next year I don't see myself creating that many patterns. Like I said, I really want to focus on the quality this year.  It is also the last year that Sweet Pea will be home with me before she heads to school, so want to focus on having that quality time with her. With that being said I already have the next 4 patterns lined up for 2019. 2 triangle scarves and 2 stitch tutorials. They are a knit and a Tunisian crochet version of the same pattern.

Stay Connected!

If you like this pattern be sure to subscribe to Designs by Diligence to get notified when new patterns come out. The only time you will get an email is when a new post happens on the blog, usually on Tuesday.

You can also follow me through my social media sites. I love sharing sneak peeks, wips, and fiber arts news and projects.
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Knitting Patterns from 2018




Diamond Dimensions Neck Warmer



Creating my own Sunshine



Come This way Purse



Waterways Cowl




Moondoggie Bag



Wellsley Hat



Wellsley Cowl



Diamond dimensions ear warmer and Hat




Slalom Hat

Crochet




Modern Chrysanthemum Throw



Double brimmed Hat




Tisket a Tasket Dishcloth



A Tisket a Tasket Basket



Functional Elegance Cowl



Painted Butterflies




Puddles of Love Blanket




Puddles of Love Hat



Summer Festival Clutch



Vintage Nursery Blanket



Lateral Braid Dishcloth



Becca Sweater



Rebecca Sweater

Monday, December 10, 2018

Slalom Hat

A Free Knitting Pattern


My Last Pattern of 2018. What a great year it's been. I plan on getting an end of the year post together that will highlight all the patterns added this year to the blog. There will also be a giveaway attached to that post through my Facebook page so keep an eye out for it!

I have been working on this pattern; The Slalom Hat for awhile; August to be exact. This is the project that I would take with me to the school pick-up line and work on while I waited. I think I also remade it a few times. First I used a bulkier yarn, and with circular needles, then I tried it again with this yarn and circular needles and I still was not happy. I finally decided to go with working it flat and then seaming it. The numbers just wouldn't any other way.

There is always a big debate on using circular needles or straight or double points. I personally love using the circular needles, but I know there are others out there that are just as passionate about their straight needles. If that is you, then this pattern is for you.

I love the classic lines created in this hat, I even had first named this hat the Classy Hat, but when I was all done, I couldn't help by be reminded of little skiers running a slalom course down my hat.

Also this yarn, Baby Alpaca by Lion brand is so wonderfully soft and comfortable. It comes in at a great price of $5.00. That's a pretty great deal. A whole hat for $5.00, that is made out of 100% wool.  I will warn you, you will feel like you are playing yarn chicken with the skein, but I made it twice and had enough to finish the hat.

Where can I get this Pattern?


This is a free knitting pattern found right here on Designs by Diligence. Just keep scrolling down to read the pattern. If you would like to purchase an ads free, printer friendly PDF you can through my Ravelry Pattern Store for $3.00.
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Stay Connected!

If you like this pattern be sure to subscribe to Designs by Diligence to get notified when new patterns come out. The only time you will get an email is when a new post happens on the blog, usually on Tuesday.

You can also follow me through my social media sites. I love sharing sneak peeks, wips, and fiber arts news and projects.
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Designer: Julia Schwartz

Yarn: Lion Brand LB Collection Baby Alpaca 3 light, 100% baby alpaca, 50g/ 1.75oz, 146 yrds/ 133m,  color tan, 1 skein

Needles: 6/ 4.25mm

Notions: yarn needle for weaving in your ends

Gauge: 24 sts x 30 rows = 4 inches Size: 19 inch circumference (stretches to fit an adult head. My head is 23 and it is perfect)

Stitches used: k (Knit), p (purl), RT (Right Twist), LT (Left Twist), k2tog (knit 2 together), k2togb (knit 2 together though the back loop), PM (place marker)
Special Stitches:

  • Right Twist (RT): Knit 2 together keeping both stitches on the left needle, knit into the first stitch, then pull both stitches onto the right needle, stitch complete. 
  • Left Twist (LT): Knit through the back loop of the 2nd st, keep the stitch on the left needle, knit in the first stitch, then pull both stitches onto the right needle, stitch complete. 
Notes: This pattern is worked flat and then seamed together at the end, so you can use straight needles for the whole pattern.

Copyright Julia Schwartz. Do not reproduce, copy, distribute, or sell this pattern without permission of the designer. This pattern must not be translated, reproduced, or circulated in another language without prior consent. If you have questions about this pattern please contact Julia.diligence@gmail.com.



Cast on 110 sts with straight needles leaving an extra long tail.

Row 1: (K2, P3) repeat for all 110 sts, turn
Row 2: (K3, P2) repeat for all 110 sts, turn
Rows 3-10: repeat rows 1 and 2
Row 11 and all odd numbers until stated: p all 110 sts, turn
Row 12: K5, RT, (k 9, RT) Repeat (to) 8 x, k 4 (110 sts), turn
Row 14: K4, RT, (k9, RT) repeat (to) 8x, k5, (110 sts), turn
Row 16: K3, RT, LT, (K7, RT, LT) repeat (to) 8x, k6 (110 sts), turn
Row 18: K3, LT, RT, (K7, LT, RT) repeat (to) 8x, k6 (110 sts), turn
Row 20: K4, LT, (k9, LT) Repeat (to) 8x, k5, (110), turn
Row 22: K5, LT, (k9, LT) Repeat (to) 8x, k 4 (110), turn
Row 24: (K9, LT) Repeat (to) 8x, k11 (110), turn
Row 26: K10, LT, (K9, LT), Repeat (to) 7x, k10 (110), turn
Row 28: K9, RT, LT, (K7, RT, LT) repeat (to) 7x, k9 (110 sts), turn
Row 30: K9, LT, RT, (K7, LT, RT) repeat (to) 7x, k9 (110 sts), turn
Row 32: K10, RT, (K9, RT), Repeat (to) 7x, k10 (110), turn
Row 34: (K9, RT) Repeat (to) 8x, k11 (110), turn

Rows 35- 58 repeat rows 11- 34

Crown Decrease

Row 1 and all odd number rows: p all sts, turn
Row 2: K4, k2tog, (k 9, k2tog) repeat (to) 8 x, k4 (110sts), turn
Row 4: K4, k2tog, (k 8, k2tog) repeat (to) 8 x, k4, (100 sts), turn
Row 6: K3, k2tog, (k7, k2tog) repeat (to) 8 x, k4, (90 sts), turn
Row 8: K3, k2tog tbl, (k6, k2tog tbl) repeat (to) 8 x, k3, (80 sts), turn
Row 10: K3, k2tog tbl, (k5, k2tog tbl) repeat (to) 8x, k2, (70 sts), turn
Row 12: K3, k2tog tbl, (K4, k2tog tbl) repeat (to) 8 x, k1 (60 sts), turn
Row 14: K3, K2tog tbl, (k3, k2tog tbl) repeat (to) 8 x, (50sts), turn
Row 16: (K2tog) Repeat 20 x, (20 sts), turn
Row 18: (k2tog) repeat 10 times, turn
Row 19: p10

Cast off by clipping a long tail and sewing it through the stitches left on the needles with a yarn needle. Pull all the stitches tight and secure your end.

Seam the hat up with the long tail from your cast on using the mattress stitch.

Weave in your ends.

More Knitting Patterns You Will Love

Diamond Dimensions Hat

Swift Swirl Cowl

Pin for Later!







Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Rebecca Sweater: Part 2

A free crochet pattern


Welcome back to the Rebecca Sweater. If this is your first stop you should know that part one is found here. In Part 1 of the sweater we talked about how to swatch and take measurements for the sweater. Then we made the body of the sweater and divided the front and back panels for the arm holes.

In part 2 we are going to finish the sweater. We will seam the shoulders, and make the hood, sleeves and border edging.

For a reminder here are the schematics of the pattern:

Designer: Julia Schwartz
Yarn: Lion Brand A Touch of Alpaca
Hook: G/6 4.00mm
Notions: yarn needle
Size: make your own size, most examples used in the tutorial are for extra large
Gauge: 15 dc X 8 rows equals 4 X 4 inches
Stitches Used: ch, dc, foundation dc, lateral braid stitch (I made a tutorial for the stitch, just follow the link), sc
Special stitches:
  •  Lateral braid stitch: yarn over, insert your hook right under the v of the stitch you just finished stitching into, and around the post of the next stitch. so it looks like you are straddling both "v's",
    yarn over, pull hook back through the stitches, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through 2 loops 

Notes: The pattern is worked from the bottom up.

Copyright:
Julia Schwartz. Do not reproduce, copy, distribute, or sell this pattern without permission of the designer. This pattern must not be translated, reproduced, or circulated in another language without prior consent. If you have questions about this pattern please contact Julia.diligence@gmail.com.

And this is the example of the notes that you took:
body of sweater: 153 stitches and 34 rows 
arm holes divided for sweater: 16 rows.
front right panel: 35 stitches,
skip 7 stitches,
Back panel: 69 stitches,
skip 7 sts,
Front left panel: 35 stitches.


Seaming the shoulders:

In Part 1 we finished off separating the body of the sweater, now it is time to seam the shoulders together.

With front sides facing each other, fold the front sides in so that they are touching the back piece. See picture for reference. Sew together the top shoulder seams for half of the stitches on each side with a wip stitch. So if you had 35 sts you will wip stitch 17 sts.

when you are done it will look like this

Sweater Hood

Row 1: Starting with right side facing up, attach yarn at the right corner of your last row, ch 3, (counts as dc), 2 dc in the next dc {sk dc, 2 dc in next dc} repeat {to} t the last 3 sts, sk 1 dc, dc in each of the last 2 dc.  Note: 

Row 2(wrong side): Ch 3, turn, lateral braid st in each dc. 

For this next row, Things might not come out perfectly even and that's okay. You are shooting for 1/2 the stitches for the body of the sweater. So for me I had 153 sts, so for my hood I wanted to increase to 77 stitches. You might have to play around a little to get the stitches evenly spaced. 

Row 3: Ch 3,turn, {sk 1 st, 2 dc in the next st, 1 dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st} repeat 13 times(or to the last 3 sts), sk 1 st, 2 dc in the next st, 1 dc in the next 2 sts,  (77 sts)

Row 4: Repeat row 2 

Row 5: Ch 3, (counts as first dc here and throughout), turn, 2 dc in the next st, {sk dc, 2 dc in next dc} repeat to last 3 dc, sk 1 dc, dc in each of the last 2 dc. 

Row 6- 47: Repeat row 4 and 5. 

Row 48: Ch 1, turn, fold the row in half and working through both halves of the row, sl st in each of the stitches across for a total of 39 times.

Finish off.

You might want to add more rows or less it's totally up to you it's your sweater. You have the power to make it what you want. 


Sleeves (same on both sides)

This is probably the trickiest part of writing the pattern for me to make it fit for everyone. So bare with me. 
There are 3 man areas that you need to make decreases on the arms, Right at the arm pit, the elbow, and down to the cuff. 

Everybody's arms are different, so you may find that your deceases need to be in different rows, or maybe you don't need as many rows as me. At this point you can keep trying it on to see that it is correct. 

Row 1 (front side): Attach yarn in the 3rd (4th) stitch of the 5 (7) open sts from the last row of the sweater body, ch 1, sc in the same stitch, sc in the next 2 (3) sts, 2 sc in each post of each dc moving around the arm hole, sc in the next 2 (3) sts, sl st into the starting sc. 

Row 2(wrong side): Ch 3, turn, lateral braid st in each sc, add a lateral braid stitch to starting ch, for an extra st. (We are now needing an even number of stitches instead of an odd number)

Row 3: Ch 3, turn, dc in same sp, (sk 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st) repeat (to), {sk 1 st, 2 dc in the next st} repeat {to} to the last 5 sts, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st, sk 2 sts, sl st into the starting st. 

Row 4: Repeat row 2 

Row 5: Ch 3, turn, dc in the same space, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st, {sk 1 st, 2 dc in the next st} repeat {to} the last 3 sts, sk 2 sts, sl st into starting st. 

Row 6: Repeat row 2 

Row 7: Ch, 3, turn, dc in the same sp, {sk 1 st, 2 dc in the next st} repeat {to} last st, sk 1 st, sl st into starting st. 

Row 8: Ch 3, turn, lateral braid st in each dc.


Row 9: Ch, 3, turn, dc in the same sp, {sk 1 st, 2 dc in the next st} repeat {to} last st, sk 1 st, sl st into starting st. 

Row 10 - 20: Repeat rows 8 and 9

Row 21: Ch 3, turn, dc in the same space, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st, {sk 1 st, 2 dc in the next st} repeat {to} the last 2 sts, sk 2 sts, sl st into starting st. 

Row 22- 23: Repeat rows 8 and 9 

Row 24: Repeat row 8 

Row 25: Ch 3, turn, dc in the same space, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st, {sk 1 st, 2 dc in the next st} repeat {to} to the last 2 sts, sk 2 sts, sl st into starting st. 

Row 26: Repeat row 8

Row 27: Repeat row 25

Row 26- to your wrist: Continue repeating row 8 and 25. Decreasing to your wrist. 

Last 4 Rows: Ch 1, turn, sc in same st and sc in each st, sl st into first st.

Finish off. Repeat on the second sleeve.


Sweater Edging Band

Round 1: Attach yarn at right front corner (with the front side facing up), ch 1, (sc, ch1,  sc) in same st, 2 sc in each st post around the right front, hood and left front, (sc, ch 1, sc) in the corner st, 1 sc in each st of beginning row, sl st in beg. sc.

Round 2-5: Sc in each sc, (sc, ch 1, sc) in each ch st.

Finish off. Weave in your ends.

Follow and Subscribe 

If you like this pattern be sure to subscribe to Designs by Diligence to get notified when new patterns come out. The only time you will get an email is when a new post happens on the blog, usually on Tuesday.

You can also follow me through my social media sites. I love sharing sneak peeks, wips, and fiber arts news and projects.
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Instagram

Pinterest

More Patterns you Will Love:

Becca Sweater

Double Brimmed Hat

Pin for Later!