If Interweave Knits had sent me light pink yarn instead of light yellow, who knows--maybe I would have named my lace shoulder shell pattern "Captain Kirk"!*  When it came time to send the written instructions to the IK editors,

Pattern now available for purchase!

Hey, even lichen-locked cherubs need to stay warm.  Click the link below to download the Cinnabar Scarf pattern in Adobe Acrobat format.

Download cinnabar_scarf_complete.pdf

A confession:  When I was working on the Cinnabar Scarf for the December 2006 issue of Magknits, I ran out of time, so when I judged the length to be long enough to photograph, I bound off, weaving the tail in very loosely, and took my pictures, figuring I would undo the bindoff and finish the last couple of repeats when I had more time.  So what?  So nothing...until I undid the bindoff a few days ago, started knitting, looked at what I had just completed, and said, "Hmmm, that doesn't look quite right."   I had printed my own pattern from Magknits to refresh my memory, and was following the directions there....  Uh oh. The photo at left shows the correct version, and the one at right shows the error.  Can you see it?  No?  Oh, well never mind, then. Okay, I have to admit it's not a glaring error, but it IS there.  If you examine the "Seafoam" stitch portion of the scarf--the horizontal waves-- you will note that two purl ridges separate the dropped stitch sections from each other, and for the sake of symmetry, I wanted two purl ridges to separate the entire "Seafoam" section from the "Double Ribbed Mock Cable" section, both top and bottom.  And that's how my sample scarf looks--except for the first section I knit following my WRONG instructions.  In that section, the top of the "Seafoam" section is separated from the "DRMC" section by only one purl ridge. I haven't heard from anyone who knitted the scarf and noticed anything amiss, which is why I was tempted to just leave well enough alone; ignorance is bliss, right?  (Feel free to toss in your own favorite cliche here.)  If it were me, even if I was pleased with the scarf before I found out it wasn't quite right, it would be hard to look at it in quite the same light after I had realized the STUPID designer goofed when she wrote up the pattern. At left is Cinnabar's backside, with the section with the error  near the bottom of the photo.  You can also see the backside (sans errors) in the top photo here; you can tell back from front because there are two knit stitch ribs forming the "spine" of each Mock Cable, instead of three; also, there are three purl ridges at the bottom of each "Seafoam" section, instead of two--I couldn't figure out how to avoid that.  So now it is also clear what I meant when I said the scarf is "very nearly" reversible. This has been a long-winded mea culpa, but if you're still reading, I want to make an offer to all who have completed (or partly completed) this scarf, and in their newly non-ignorant state are now less than happy with the result:  send me an email, and I will send you free of charge any one of the patterns available on this site, along with the corrected Cinnabar Scarf pattern.  ( I've already notified Kerrie at Magknits, so hopefully the pattern there has already been updated.)    Edited to add:  I checked Magknits today and the pattern has not yet been corrected, so also email me if you would just like the updated pattern.   

Pattern now available!  The rich detail and color of carved cinnabar were the inspiration for this hat (for the coordinating scarf pattern, see the December 2006 issue of Magknits).  I used a

  I toyed with the idea of giving this sweater a better name.  After much consideration, I almost chose "Suzhou," a town in China famous for its beautiful gardens and beautiful women, because that's where my grandmother is from (and she is certainly more beautiful than I'll ever be--here's proof).  My other top choice was "Meihua," Chinese for plum blossom, a symbol of China.  In the end I decided to keep the name practical and descriptive, and Chinese Lace Pullover it remains.  Worked in DK weight cotton yarn, this sweater would also be lovely in a cotton/silk blend, or all silk, or wool/silk, or cashmere--any yarn with good stitch definition that will show off the lace pattern, a modified version of "Chinese Lace" from Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns.  The fit is not overly close, but the ribs create a flattering, body-skimming line, and the raglan sleeves are also flattering for most body types.  The pattern is written for sizes S, M, L, 1X, 2X & 3X; for garment bust measurements of 35, 39, 43, 47, 51, and 55 inches.  Click here to purchase pattern!  (If using a direct payment from your Paypal account, or a credit card, make sure you click the "continue to download" button immediately after purchase.) Edited on 10/23/07 to add:  the pattern has been updated and now includes directions for working both flat, in pieces, AND in the round to the armholes; in addition, the upper body shaping has been altered slightly to allow simpler and clearer directions for continuing the 7 knit/ 2 purl body ribbing into the neckband.  IF you purchased the pattern before the above date, and want the updated version, please contact me at knititude@gmail.com, and I will email you the new version free of charge. Edited on 3/28/08 to add:   Please make the following correction to patterns purchased before today:  under "Sleeves:  Raglan Shaping,"  the first sentence should read "Dec 2 sts each side (k1, SSSK...)" etc., NOT "(k1, sl1, SSSK...)."   

Pattern now available for purchase! As this dress took form, its violet color and the waterfall effect of the lace border brought the cascading blossoms of Wisteria sinensis to mind. And since W. sinensis means Chinese wisteria, and the lace border is a variation of "Chinese Lace" from Barbara Walker’s 2nd Treasury of Knitting Patterns—well, the name seemed perfect. Wisteria is a sleeveless dress worked in the round to the armholes, and the pattern includes instructions for girls’ sizes 3 months through 10 years. The Chinese Lace forms a wide, graceful flounce at the hem, and the vertical ribbed columns give a lean yet non-clingy fit, then curve gently around armholes and neck to echo the undulations of the lace. Difficulty level:  adventurous beginner to intermediate; stitches used include k2tog, k3tog, SSK (or sl1, k1, PSSO), SSSK, and YO.  Pattern requires chart reading, and the neckline finishing uses an applied I-cord. Sizes:  3-6 mo [12-18 mo, 2 yrs, 4 yrs, 6-8 yrs, 10 yrs], for chest sizes 16-17 [18-19, 20-22, 23-24, 25-27, 28-29] inches, or 41-43 [44-49, 50-56, 57-62, 63-69, 70-74] cm. Garment measurements in inches/cm:  Chest circ:  18.5/47 [21/53, 24/61, 26.5/67, 29.5/75, 32/81]; length in inches/cm:  18/46 [19/48, 20/51, 22/56, 26/66, 29/74]. Materials:  Classic Elite Provence (100% mercerized cotton; 205 yds/186 m per 100 gm skein), color #2622, Japanese lilac.  2 [2, 3, 3, 4, 5] skeins; US #6/4 mm circular needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE, 16-24 inches longdepending on size worked. Even after dividing for front and back, I like to work on circular needles, but if you don’t, (optional) 1 set US #6/4 mm straight needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE; 1 set US #6/4 mm double-pointed needles (dpns) OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE; stitch holders or waste yarn; tapestry needle. GAUGE:  21 sts/26 rows = 4 inches in rib patt (*p2, k5; rep fr *), slightly stretched.  CHECK GAUGE ON BLOCKED SWATCH. Some possible yarn substitutions:  Tahki Cotton Classic; for an all-seasons version, try Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, and for a cool weather jumper, Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Superwash or Karabella Aurora 8. Purchase pattern here!  Includes full written instructions, schematic, and chart for Chinese Lace, in the form of a pdf file which will be sent via email.

The spiraling columns on this hat remind me of the spinning trajectory of a falling maple seed, and if you look closely at the columns, the shape of the maple seed’s wing will emerge.

Don't you love zippers for kids' clothes?  Easy on and off, no worrying about buttons that can pop off and find their way into a toddler's mouth.  And they're easy to insert--honest!  I did it for the first time when I knit the prototype for this pattern, now available for sizes 6 months to 6 years. At left is a photo of the sleeve detail, "Mirror Cable" from Barbara Walker's Charted Knitting Designs.  The same accent cable encircles the sweater at the waist, as well as running vertically up the back.  The pattern includes instructions for crossing the traveling stitches in "Mirror Cable" (and for working the baby cables) without using a cable needle.  Although this sweater has a sporty apres-ski look, it also makes a perfect spring or fall outer layer; I used merino wool, but a cotton-wool light worsted-weight blend such as Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece would also work beautifully (just be sure to check gauge on a blocked swatch).  The photo at left shows the back view. DIFFICULTY:  Easy to intermediate SKILLS USED:  Twisted stitches, crossed stitches, three needle bindoff (for side seams), inserting zipper, reading charts. GARMENT MEASUREMENTS in inches: (To fit sizes         6 mo    12-18 mo    2 yrs    4 yrs    6 yrs) Chest                   21           23            25        27        29 Length                 10             11          12        13        14 Sleeve length       6.5            7.5          8.5     10.5   11.5 Purchase pattern here!  Includes full written instructions, schematic and charts for pattern stitches, in the form of a PDF file which will be sent via email.  Note:  pictured cardigan has a horizontal garter stitch hem; to simplify construction, the pattern instructions call for the hem to be worked along with the body, with the garter stitch rows running vertically on the finished garment; take a look at the front bands (turned 90 degrees) to get an idea of how this will look.   

I thought I was clever coming up with that title, but I Googled it after it popped into my head, and am compelled to admit that someone else thought of it first.   Anyway, yesterday was a day filled with tinking, as I knit, tinked and re-knit Chinese Lace, trying to get it to