I have released a Youtube video (below) of me presenting all the lovely garments I knitted and crocheted last year. I can’t quite believe how many there are and how on Earth I made more than 1 a month, as well as making everything else…oh and working a full time day job! A woman’s work is never done.
In this post, I have included the patterns and yarn I used to make them, in addition to some feedback.
1. Cream and sparkle Jumper
Pattern: Rowan | Mode at Rowan | Dream Sweater
Yarn: Rowan | Big wool | shade 048 Linen and Kremke Soul Wool | Stellaris | shade 183 Creme Gold
Yarn Weight: Super Chunky
Knitted flat
Notes: I wore this to a Christmas afternoon tea and managed to look fashionable and warm. I am so glad I ran the sparkly yarn through with the cream; it didn’t look ‘too much’. I did my own thing with the sleeve cabling, adding more rows between cable rows. Their pattern was a bit tight looking for me. On the other sleeve I put the cables travelling in the opposite direction.
2. Gold tweed jumper
Pattern: FREE Pattern by Cascade Yarns | Sigh Pullover W817 | Cindy Craig
Yarn: De Rerum Natura | Gilliatt | shade Dore and Rico | Make it Tweed | shade 001 multicolour
Yarn Weight: Worsted
Knitted in the round
Notes: I first saw this style of jumper in Dublin; I just love how the stocking stitch is designed to naturally curl. I also ran Rico ‘Make it Tweed’ through the design. This jumper is very comfortable.
3. Garter rib grey/turquoise jumper
Pattern: Tin Can Knits | Flax Sweater | FREE
Yarn: Rico | Creative Melange Wonderball | shades 006 Aqua and 008 Grey mix
Weight: Aran
Knitted in the round
Notes: This yarn resulted in a light weight garment, that will be perfect to pack in my suitcase. I alternated between the colours every two rows, which looks beautiful, however I didn’t realise I’d come a cropper when it came to the German short rows.
4. Pastel rainbow cardigan
Pattern: Tin Can Knits | Basics collection-cardigan
Yarn: Scheepjes | Chunky Monkey | shades 1026 peach, 1034 baby blue, 1263 lemon, 1130 blush, 1316 pistachio and 1432 amethyst
Weight: Aran
Knitted flat and in the round
Notes: This is an acrylic yarn and I actually really liked working with it, shh…The texture was that of merino wool, where there is fabulous stitch definition. The heavy aran yarn and seamless design back and forward (not steaked) does not make for a well structured collar. I amended the sleeves to be more balloon shaped, but not decreasing until the cuff.
5. Brioche skirt
Pattern: Alexandria Wenninger | Alaska Skirt
Yarn: Malabrigio | Washted | shades 096 Sunset and 045 Cirrus grey
Weight: Worsted
Knitted in the round
Notes: I really enjoyed this pattern and the elastic waistband is knitted into the design. The stitch is brioche, which is lovely but can be daunting is you drop a stitch on such a large piece. The yarn colours are wonderful, but I am disappointed that the yellow left me looking like Marge Simpson when I was knitting!
Arne and Carlos admiring my skirt…no biggie.
6. Crochet jumper
Pattern: Iron Lamb | Faraway Sweater
Yarn: Donegal Wool Spinning Company | Studio Donegal | shades 3709 green, 3036 pink, 3721 orange and The Fibre company | Lore | shade Confident (dark grey)
Weight: DK
Crochet in the round
Notes: Great pattern and has lots of useful diagrams which aren’t complex. I love how limitless the colour possibilities are with this pattern.
7. Orange and cream cotton summer jumper
Pattern: Carol Feller | Magilla
Yarn: BC Garn | Bio Balance | shades Natural white 01 and Orange 17
Weight: Sport (held double)
Knitted in the round
Notes: The end result is lovely and the 50% cotton 50% wool yarn has a beautiful texture and drape to it. I just didn’t get on with the pattern construction, so for that reason I wouldn’t make it again. Looks like I’ll have to plan something for the sage green and natural yarn I bought to make another.
8. Crochet V neck jumper
Pattern: Iron Lamb | Modern Granny Stitch Crochet Book
Yarn: Donegal Wool Spinning Company | Studio Donegal | shades 3758 light grey, 3036 pink, 3721 orange and 3754 gold and The Fibre company | Lore | shade Confident (dark grey)
Weight: DK
Crochet flat and mostly in the round
Notes: Again, another great pattern from Iron Lamb. This design is so wool hungry, hence me keep adding another colour to the sleeves. The original design is for light drapey yarn, however, the sturdy tweed I used makes for a cosy and robust garment.
9. Brown cable tank top
Pattern: Sirdar | 7140 Hayfield Bonus Aran Adult Waistcoats
Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners | Fleece – Bluefaced Leicester Aran | shade 002 Light brown
Weight: Aran
Knitted flat
Notes: I omitted the ribbing and just kept the cables; this did not affect the fit. The wool is so British and sheepy-I always feel well dressed wearing it.
10. Fair isle jumper in Icelandic wool
Pattern: Tin Can Knits | Moraine sweater
Yarn: Lopi | Lettlopi | shades 9427 Rust Heather, 1703 Mimosa and grey Heather 0057
Weight: Aran
Knitted in the round
Notes: I really enjoyed this knit, especially the lice throughout. The pattern advised to knit with no or with positive ease. I chose no ease and it looks beautiful one me, however I am still getting used to the close fit. I am usually ok with wool, however this is verging on itchy for me.
12. Sage green fair isle jumper
Pattern: Nordic Knitting Primer book | Kirstin Drysdale | Linnea Pullover
Yarn: Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk | Luna | shades 400 Unbleached White and 446 Dusty Light Green
Weight: Worsted
Knitted in the round
Notes: I really enjoyed this pattern and it was easy to follow as my first colour work garment. The fair isle yoke was just enough for a beginner and with this book, I finally learned how to catch floats as a two-hand-strander. Hoorah, no more letting go of the yarn to awkwardly twist.
13. Crochet top
Pattern: Rowan magazine 67 | Palermo | by Lisa Richardson
Yarn: Scheepjes Catona 4ply in | shade 205 Kiwi
Weight: 4ply
Crocheted flat
Notes: This was my first crochet garment and I really enjoyed this pattern; it didn’t feel too long or daunting, despite the 4ply weight. It feels a little heavy, but that’s the nature of crochet. I love wearing it, especially the zesty lime colour I chose.
14. Left over yarn slip over
Pattern: Modern Crochet Sweaters | by Jane Myska
Yarn: Rowan | Felted Tweed | shades 159 carbon, 175 cinnamon, 170 seafarer and 191 granite.
Weight: DK -held double
Crocheted flat.
Notes: This project was to use up leftover wool and it took many twists, turns and variations along the way. I omitted the sleeves because I was running out of wool, but I think it turned out great as a slipover. I worked the colours mostly in an ombre fashion and I like the hodge podge patchwork feel to the garment.
15. Rust Grandad cardigan
Pattern: King Cole | 4703 Sweater and Cardigan
Yarn: Cascade | chunky 128 | shade 858 Ginger
Weight: Chunky
Knitted flat
Notes: I love this ‘grandad cardigan’ and I think the toggle buttons add a lovely rustic finish. I had to buy bigger ones and close the holes a little-I seem to struggle getting buttons to stay buttoned! This was my first time making an integrated pocket: it was really easy to do and I love the finish (not to mention practicality).
16. Crochet cotton tank top
Pattern: Purl and Jane | Olive tank top
Yarn: Knoll Yarns | Mohair Tweed | shade 2637 henbane
Weight: DK
Crochet flat
Notes: This is a fabulous pattern which is interesting yet simple. The wool was just so smooth to use and creates a gorgeously soft fabric-which isn’t always the case with crochet. I also see this is an ideal pattern to use up DK weight leftovers.
17. Spring cotton cardigan
Pattern: Rico | Knitting Idea Compact | 1261 Cardigan and Sweater
Yarn: Rico | Creative Summer Sprinkles | shade 001 Pastel
Weight: DK
Knitted flat
Notes: I seriously love this cotton yarn and it feels lovely and smooth whilst knitting. I love the cardigan and pattern, however there are a couple of strange things. The first being the cardigan fits me rather oversized. It does look nice on and the sizing of 32-34″ chest may be why it looks a bit droopy/oversized on me as I am a 32. I sewed the sleeve cuffs down as well-they were so long! Secondly, there was over a ball of yarn left. For the first time I am using the yarn suggested for the pattern, so I expected the amount of yarn to be right. To have over a ball left is a bit much and at £8.59, it’s not something I want to have left over. Really bizarre.
So, there we have it! If you liked any of the garments I knitted and crocheted in 2023, then I hope the information provided is useful. Do let me know your experience of using the yarns or patterns in this post.
Right…I’d better get back to my first garment of 2024!
Take care, Rachel G x
Little Miss Drop Stitch 