Jen Arnall-Culliford Knitwear

New design in The Knitter 45: Vita

My first proper sketched and swatched submission is published in The Knitter this week (on sale 16th May 2012). I've done well over 30 designs, but generally speaking I've been asked to "do something with this yarn" or have said, "oh, I could design a pair of socks with a slipped stitch pattern", or something like that. This was the first time I looked at a submission call, came up with an idea, and then sent off the sketch and swatch and then crossed my fingers for a few weeks. It's a nerve-wracking business working like a proper designer!!

© Future Publishing

And this is the result: Vita (Ravelry link). I can't decide how to describe it! If I talk in terms of how I would wear it, then it's a shawl. But it's a clever shawl, because it doesn't come unwrapped, and it won't fall off the way that some shawls might. If I call it a poncho, my mind fills with entirely the wrong kinds of images, although one might think of it in that way - it does after all have a neck opening! The other word that has been used is capelet, but again, in my mind this is something very fancy - for wearing to the opera - and not an item that I could pop over a top and jeans and worn everyday.

© Jen Arnall-Culliford

But as you can see in this picture - you can absolutely wear Vita over a long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans. Yesterday we had a meet-up at Loop, followed by food & drinks at Bill's in Islington, and this was the perfect outfit. It was just warm enough but not too much as the sun actually was out yesterday.

The construction of this top is quite straight forward. You start with a wide rectangle, and the split into two halves, which you work on separately. This makes the front and the back of the neck opening. And then when both sides are the same length, you join them either by grafting the stitches together, or with a 3-needle cast-off (which won't be quite as invisible). Finally, an i-cord edging is added around both the neck, and the body.

© Future Publishing

The purple version is knitted in Rooster Baby, in the Parma Violet shade. it takes between 6 and 12 x 50g balls of yarn depending on your size. The pattern is written for UK dress sizes 8-30 (bust 32"-54"), and they differ by length and neck opening length. If you plan to wear your Vita over a coat, then you might want to choose a size or two larger than your actual size, so that there's more wiggle room. Many thanks as always to Kim for knitting this version for me. You did a brilliant job, as ever!

The stitch definition in this version is incredible. It really makes the lace pattern jump off the fabric, and I'm hugely grateful to Andy at Rooster Yarns for his yarn support and encouragement with this design. If you like this version, then be sure to get The Knitter this month, as Andy has kindly donated enough yarn to knit the largest size of Vita to the Goody Bag Giveaway competition. The competition raises money for Refuge, which is a brilliant cause, so be sure to make an entry and check out both Rooster yarns (from Laughing Hens) and the work of Refuge.

© Jen Arnall-Culliford

I was lucky enough to have two brilliant sample knitters for this design - Rachel knitted up the red version using SMC Select Highland Alpaca Fino, which is a lighter weight yarn than the Rooster (which is sport-weight or heavy 4ply). It's also spun more loosely and a single ply yarn, so the fabric drapes beautifully and gives a softer finish. Rachel describes the i-cord edging that finishes Vita as being, "so relaxing". What a star! This version uses between 3 and 5 x 50g balls depending on your size (there is more yardage on the Highland Alpaca Fino but it gives a thinner, lighter fabric).

© Jen Arnall-Culliford

So whether you're looking for something more dressy, or a top to throw over pretty much anything, I hope that you'll enjoy knitting Vita! You can find all of the precise details about the sizing and construction over on the Ravelry page, which is visible to all: Vita on Ravelry.

Issue 45 of The Knitter goes on sale in newsagents on 16th May 2012, and is also available through Zinio and Apple Newsstand. Here's the cover that you're looking for (squee - I'm in the bottom right-hand corner!).

New design in Simply Knitting 92

I blogged about the blanket I designed for my nephew some months ago, and I'm pleased to announce that the pattern for the blanket has been published in the latest issue of Simply Knitting.

The blanket uses 5 skeins of Shilasdair Luxury 4ply in shade indigo, although you could easily use another 4ply yarn of your choice. The team at Simply Knitting did an interview with me about the design over on their blog here: Simply Knitting interview. So do head over there and read more about how I come up with ideas for my designs.

The blanket features a simple garter stitch centre with a wave-like lace border edging. It's not too complex and would make a nice project for a fairly new knitter who wants to try some lace.

You can find the Ravelry entry for the design here: Cosy Cuddles

This issue of Simply Knitting is on sale at newsagents in the UK at the moment, and also features a completely brilliant knitted super-hero from the inimitable Alan Dart, a lovely versatile lace wrap from Sarah Hatton and the hilarious Veuf Tricot on the perils of living with a knitter.

Patterns Available!

I'm delighted to let you know that you can now purchase many of my designs for The Knitter and Simply Knitting as single pattern downloads from The Making Spot. All of my patterns that are available are found on my designer page there: Jen Arnall-Culliford 

My Golden Wheat Shawl (still my favourite of all the things I've designed!) is among the designs that have been listed, along with the fun Have a Ball Cable Hat (below).

The men's gansey inspired socks that appeared in Simply Knitting last year are also available, which reminds me that I should really make another pair for Jim...

And last but not least, the Aqua Ripples cowl and fingerless mittens set. This set is perfect for a last-minute gift. Both can be made from a single 100g skein of DK yarn (210m of yarn needed), so the perfect use for a special hand-dyed treat!

As a designer, I receive a percentage of the sales on all the patterns shown here, so do go and treat yourself if you missed any of these in print! Prices range from £1.99 to £4.99 depending on the complexity of the design.

There's still a little time to enter the Sweet Shawlettes giveaway (it closes tomorrow night), so head over to this post if you missed it last week: Sweet Shawlettes Giveaway

New designs in Simply Knitting 90

The last batch of my little straight-forward designs for Simply Knitting has just been published. I enjoyed creating these simple patterns, but I'm focussing on editing work this year. I find that doing designs means that I spend a lot more of my "non-working time" thinking about, and doing work, and I'm not very nice to be around when I have too much work on. So, for now at least, I'm going to concentrate on the technical end of patterns.

So in Issue 90 (March 2012) which has gone on sale already, you can find this snowflake scarf, worked in Wendy Merino Chunky.

It's a straight-forward design, with a plain striped back and the motif on the front. Kim did a fab job of knitting as always (thanks so much Kim!).

And if you are a subscriber, then you get a double dose of me, as my cabled cushion design is the subscriber exclusive pattern this month (this pattern is NOT available in the magazine that you buy in the shops).

As ever there is loads to read in this issue, including a piece on London Transport and wartime knitting from Ingrid Murnane, and the ever-extraordinary Alan Dart pattern is the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe. Alan's eye for detail in his designs is astonishing. Here's the cover that you're looking for in the newsagent's if you'd like to pick up Simply Knitting Issue 90.

You can find all the technical information about my designs over on their Ravelry pages: Double the fun (Fair Isle scarf) and For your eyes only (cable cushion)

FO: Lacy hat Christmas present

Just a few small pictures of a hat that I designed earlier in the year. It was published in Simply Knitting, so the pattern should be available on The Making Spot early in the new year.

I knitted this up for my lovely sister-in-law as a Christmas present.

It's knitted flat, with a seam at the back, so not too complex for new knitters or people new to lace.

I love how decreases at the crown spiral in to each other - there are twelve spokes to this particular wheel.

It is a sweet little lace pattern from one of the Barbara Walker treasuries.

Hope you are all enjoying your holidays!

Jen x

New Designs in Simply Knitting 88

Well, you could have knocked me down with a feather yesterday afternoon, when the postman delivered my subscriber copy of Simply Knitting...

© Simply Knitting

Not only is that my evening cardigan design as the main cover image, but my hat has also made it onto the cover (it's the turquoise one at the top left)! There were happy dances around the office, I can tell you!

The evening cardigan is called Cocktail Cherry, and it uses Fyberspates Scrumptious Aran (4-7 hanks depending on your size). It's sized from 27 to 55 inch bust, so covers a really good range! It has folded hems and a beaded lace edging, so hopefully will be something really smart to wear over the party season.

Here's a pic from inside the magazine:

© Simply Knitting

I was also really pleased with how the photos of my hat pattern turned out. It is a really simple design - you just knit a rectangle and seam it up both sides. So it would be great for beginner knitters, or folks who haven't tried cabling yet.

© Simply Knitting

The hat is called Have a Ball! and uses one hank of Fledgling Sock from Laughing Yaffle. The yarn was absolutely delicious to knit with, and I was sad that I had to ask Kim to knit up the sample for me, as it was really lovely. I can't wait to have the sample hat back from the mag, as I think it will be great for winter!

Many thanks as always to Kim for her invaluable help with sample knitting for both designs. You are wonderful! It is much appreciated.

FO: Noro Sweater Dress

Last time we met my Noro Sweater Dress (Ravelry link), it was the WIP that I was in love with and it looked something like this:

I finally finished sewing the sleeves into the armholes last Saturday morning, and I am absolutely delighted with how it has turned out. I was more than a little disappointed that it was too warm in our workroom for me to wear the dress straight away! What followed was a week without anyone at home in daylight hours to take photos for me, so I had to wait until Saturday to finally get some proper finished photographs.

I knitted the sweater in 4 pieces - front, back and sleeves. I didn't work in the round as I wanted the extra stability offered by sleeves, and I was also avoiding having too much weight on my needles at any one time. I'm still suffering a little with sore arms, so I've been taking it easy and choosing projects carefully.

I used a steek at the neckline as I wanted the stripes to match precisely at each side of the neck. Everything else was done in a straight-forward manner. The stripes are 2 rows each from two balls of the same shade of Noro Silk Garden. Starting at a different point in the colour gradation causes the contrast between the stripes. At some point I plan to sew some grosgrain ribbon over the turned back edges of the steek. They show no sign of doing anything alarming, but adding the ribbon will keep my peace of mind.

I think that I need to find some purple leggings to wear underneath!

New designs in Simply Knitting 87

It's that time of the month... The new issue of Simply Knitting has landed on my doormat, and contains two of my designs, which I'm really pleased to be able to share with you.

First up are some simple mittens (Sweet & simple). They're knitted in Twilley's Freedom Spirit Chunky, and won't take more than a couple of evenings to whip up the pair!

They feature a long cuff, so that you don't get that annoying gap between your coat sleeve and mittens. You could easily turn the cuff back if you didn't want them as long.

Next up are my men's gansey-style socks, called Hello Sailor! The name chosen by the SK team really made me giggle when I opened up my magazine. These use a pretty standard heel flap and gusset construction, with a textured leg and secret initial in the toe.

The cuff uses a garter 1x1 rib, where alternate rounds are knitted plain. I love this ribbing as it is so much less annoying to knit than standard 1x1 ribbing.

Then the leg uses some simple textured knit and purl patterns, before you work a standard heel flap, heel turn and gusset. The foot is plain until just before the toe, where you can choose to work a simple textured initial into the sock. The sample has a J for Jim.

Thanks a million times to Mélanie for knitting the Hello Sailor! socks, and to Kim for knitting the Sweet & Simple mittens.

Simply Knitting had a redesign last month, and I'm really enjoying some of the new features. The magazine feels absolutely packed with patterns and interesting stuff to read. I particularly liked the Purls of Wisdom, All about... Mittens section. I t has loads of ideas and information on how to make the most of mittens. If you'd like your own copy of the magazine, here is the cover that you're looking out for on the newsstand (mine's a subscriber copy, so the cover will be subtly different in the shops):

Amazing stitch dictionaries

I happened to be browsing the lovely Cotton and Cloud website, and came across two amazing looking Japanese Stitch Dictionaries.

 
The first is a general stitch dictionary of 500 patterns. I purchased this as I knew it would be useful for deciphering more complex patterns - if I recognise cables, bobbles, lace in here, then I can use it to work out more complicated patterns elsewhere and in some of the books I already own.

Then I purchased a book of 250 far more complex couture knitting patterns by one of my favourite Japanese designers, Hitomi Shida. And this one is a complete winner.

Although knitting from Japanese patterns might sound alarming, in actual fact if you are happy knitting from charts, it's not complicated at all. Each pattern is photographed with a good swatch and then the pattern is charted.

And when there are symbols that you might not be familiar with, they are explained with illustrations of the knitting itself. So the explanations are comprehensible as well!

Despite feeling more technical editor than designer, I'm pretty fired up for design work with these books at my side! I can highly recommend purchasing through Cotton and Cloud, even if you get taken over to their partners at YesAsia, since Kyoko at C&C is delightful and on hand to help with any order queries.

FO Jimmy's Blanket

Things are quiet here because I'm in the throes of finishing off two major book projects - A Stitch in Time 2 and a new book for Jamieson & Smith. I'm drowning in a sea of printed pages and red pen. So apologies, but normal service will resume shortly, I'm sure. I am very excited to be able to start telling you more details about both projects shortly, but in the meantime, here is my latest finished project.

It's a blanket that I've created for my lovely nephew, Jimmy. Yes, he is the recipient of lots of handmade stuff at the moment. I'm making the most of the period in time where he will wear whatever he is given. It won't last forever.

The pattern is of my own creation, and the blanket is knitted using 5 skeins of Shilasdair Luxury 4ply, which was indeed luxurious to knit with. It's a blend of lambswool, cashmere and angora, so I'm not going to earn any brownie points with Chris and Zosia, as it will need handwashing. Sorry guys! I just couldn't resist the yarn when it arrived at Marmalade Yarns in Frome. I almost got into the box in my excitement to get my mitts on a few skeins, and a blanket for Jimmy was the perfect excuse to purchase some.

It is just less than a metre square, so hopefully it will be big enough to last him a few years. The centre is worked in garter stitch and then the waves lace border is knitted on afterwards. I've logged the project on Ravelry and have written up pattern notes, but I am as yet undecided as to whether it is worth publishing. I haven't so far tried selling individual patterns online, and I'm still undecided about it.