Primavera Book

My newest e-book is completed and I didn’t have a chance to present it to you properly, but that can be easily emended :-)

Primavera is the Portuguese word for spring and my idea was to present five new shawls, all seamless, with different shapes, pattern stitches and levels of difficulty, ready to knit and wear during this season.

The first one is Giro, a unisex, asymmetrical shawl knitted on the bias, totally reversible with a pattern that combines the squishiness of the garter stitch with the cool texture of the elongated stitches. Its diagonal lines are accentuated by the variegated yarn but it works well with solid colors too.

I wanted a simple, fast and fun shawl to start this anthology. To better show off the colors transitions instead of being obfuscated by them, I picked a simple pattern. I also like its slightly spiral shape, which I find real cute. By the way, the word Giro has a double meaning; it refers to something cute, engaging, but also means one movement around an axis, around itself or around an object – one rotation, which is very suitable considering shawl’s silhouette.

Pattern is very flexible and size is easily adjustable – when you achieve the desired length, simply work the picot bind-off.

The second pattern is Tulipa, the Portuguese word for Tulip. It’s worked top-down (starting with a garter stitch tab) with a lovely lace stitch resembling little tulips emerging from a garter stitch background. It has a crescent shape, but it is symmetrical being worked without a centre spin or short-rows. I finished with a picot bind-off because I think it adds something special to this delicate and feminine knit, but instructions how to work a stretchy bind-off are included into pattern as well.

The design is very flexible – as any modular pattern size is easily adjustable by working more or less pattern repeats, you may use any weight yarn and adjust needles size accordingly.

The third pattern is bem-me-quer, the most challenging design of this collection, suitable for advanced knitters that like to try unusual stitches and don’t mind to have a huge number of stitches on the needles.
This textured shawl it’s knitted bottom-up with a lace edging resembling daisies. Inspired by the popular children’s play “bem-me-quer”, “malmequer” with many possible translations – “love me, love me not”, “forget me, forget me not”, where a daisy, petal by petal, reveals you if your love is corresponded or not….

 The main body is worked with short-rows creating a lovely crescent shape and the upper section is also worked in lace adding extra interest to this romantic and very spring like knit.

Pinho, the 4th design of this collection, it’s a crescent shaped shawl worked top-down, without short-rows. As Tulipa, it starts with a garter stitch tab, but has a garter stitch section followed by a lace pattern resembling little pine trees. An interesting edging adds the last touch to this sweet and easy knit that works well both with solid and subtle variegated yarns.

Size is easily adjustable by working more or less pattern repeats and you may of course choose another yarn and adjust needles size accordingly.

The last pattern is Vereda, a triangular shawl knitted sideways. It has a wavy lace pattern resembling vines or sinuous paths, depending on where imagination leads you…As any modular pattern is very flexible, being easily adaptable by changing the number of repeats.
For the first half, increases are made until desired width is achieved, then decreases are worked for the second half. I’d recommend using a fiber with at least 60% wool and wet blocking to enhance shawl wavy lines, specially the short sides. I think it’s the perfect one skein project!

For more details about each pattern click on each title, there you can see the yarn choices, number of patterns repeats worked for each shawl, more pictures and links to the ravelry.

It was very enjoyable work with different shapes and create shawls so different from each other, some are more romantic as Tulipa and bem-me-quer, others more simple and unisex as Giro e Pinho and others as Vereda, are somewhere in the middle. Each one represented a different challenge and I’m very happy how they turned out, I hope you enjoy them as well. Thanks for reading and knit happy!

Promotion's release - Vereda shawl

Vereda, the 5th and last pattern of Primavera Book has been published! And to celebrate it, is available at the promotional price of 2.90€ (from May 1 to 5th, 23h59m, Lisbon time zone) instead of 3.9 €. The discount will be made automatically when you purchase the pattern.

This triangular shawl is knitted sideways. It has a wavy lace pattern resembling vines or sinuous paths, depending on where imagination leads you...

As any modular pattern is very flexible, being easily customizable by working more or less pattern repeats. For the first half, increases are made until desired width is achieved, then decreases are worked for the second half.

As shown has 9 repeats of Charts A and B and used 342.8 m (374.9 yds) of Malabrigo Lace, (lace weight yarn - 2ply) 100% merino, fuschia colorway. However, the pattern works with any weight yarn as long you adjust needle size accordingly, being the perfect one skein project.
I’d recommend using a fiber with at least 60% wool and wet blocking to enhance shawl wavy lines, especially the short sides.

More info:

Materials: approx approx 387 m – 445 m (423 – 486.4 yds) of lace yarn; st markers; size 4 mm (US 6) circular needles; tapestry needle; pins for blocking;

Level: Intermediate

Skills needed: long tail cast-on, K, P, P2tog, YO (including in the beginning of the row), K2tog, Ssk, M1R, Sk2p, BO. Wet block the shawl and woven in ends.
Pattern format:  Both written instructions (line by line) and charts are provided.

Vereda pattern

Primavera e-book

 (5 shawls designs)

Many thanks to the test group

Pinho has been published and there's a promotion running

Pinho, the 4th pattern of Primavera Book is available at the promotional price of 2.90€ (from April 17 to 25th, 23h59m, Lisbon time zone) instead of 3.9 €. The discount will be made automatically when you purchase the pattern.

Pinho it’s a crescent shaped shawl worked top-down, without short-rows. It starts with a garter stitch section followed by a lace pattern resembling little pine trees. An interesting edging adds the last touch to this sweet and easy knit that works well both with solid and subtle variegated yarns.

It all started with the idea of creating a design suitable for this yarn - Best of Schoppel-Wolle. When I bought it, I would never guess how much variegated it actually is. However, I really love all the different shades of green, blue, brown and grapevine. After testing a totally different pattern st and concluded that I really didn’t like it (not for this yarn) I went for a garter section, instead of an entire lacy shaw, followed by a simple, yet striking  lace edging.

I’ve been playing with this stitch for awhile. I find it very easy and sweet and even tried to incorporate it in piu-piu, but didn’t enjoy the wavy effect combined with all the other stitches and replaced it for the wings pattern (my own invention). However, I still had the idea of using it for a future shawl and it seemed perfect for this yarn. The stitch reminds me little pine trees, all aligned up. Also, yarn wonderful colors and the motives created by the lace patterns, recalls some childhood memories. It was common our teacher take us for long walks where we could enjoy the freedom of playing games, eat pinions or simply being surrounded by nature. It felt quite magical, the light passing through the leaves, the intense odor of plants and resin from pine trees and the joyful sound of birds singing. I think this glance of freedom made me appreciate nature early on. I went to the park to photograph this shawl and fortunately, after weeks of intense rain I was able to take some pictures. Can you see the pine trees in the background?

More info:

Materials: approx approx 458.2 m – 526.9 m (501– 576.1 yds) of fingering yarn; size 4 mm (US 6) circular needles, size 5 mm (US 8) for BO, tapestry needle; pins for blocking; stitch markers (optional)

Level: Advanced Beginner

Skills needed: provisional cast-on, garter tab, K, P, YO, K2tog, Ssk, K3tog, Sk2p, S2kp, elastic BO. Wet block the shawl and woven in ends.

Pattern format: Both written instructions (line by line) and charts are provided for the lace section.

Pinho pattern

Primavera e-book

 (5 shawls designs)

Many thanks to the test group

bem-me-quer shawl has been published

bem-me-quer it’s a textured shawl knitted bottom-up with a lace edging resembling daisies. Inspired by the popular children’s play “bem-me-quer, malmequer” (with many possible translations - love me, love me not/ forget me, forget me not/ wish me, wish me not) where a daisy, petal by petal, reveals you if your love is corresponded or not…

bem-me-quer as shown used 472.7m (517 yds) of Malabrigo lace yarn, (merino wool, 2ply - sunset colorway)

The main body is worked with short-rows creating a lovely crescent shape and the upper section is also worked in lace adding extra interest to this romantic and very spring like knit.

This pattern is also available as part of my new e-book Primavera: a progressive Eco-friendly e-book with 5 original shawl designs.

More info:

Materials: approx 468.4 m - 538.6 m (512.3- 589.1 yds) of lace yarn; size 4 mm (US 6) circular needles, size 5.5 mm (US 9) for CO, tapestry needle; pins for blocking; stitch markers (optional)

Level: Advanced - requires experience with lace knitting, unusual stitches, short rows and managing a large number of stitches on certain rows.

Skills needed: K, YO, Dyo, K2tog, Ssk, K6tog, M3, elongated sts, knitted CO, short-rows (using the Yarn over method – explained into pattern), BO. A few more special sts, also explained into pattern - I added a tutorial. Wet block the shawl and woven in ends.

Pattern format: Both written instructions (line by line) and charts ( for the set-up and lace patterns – but not for the short rows) are provided.

bem-me-quer pattern

Primavera e-book

 (5 shawls designs)

Many thanks to the test group

Tulipa - testing crescent shaped shawls and experiment things

I’ve been knitting crescent shaped shawls for awhile; it all started with Eira – knitted bottom-up with a lace edging followed by a stockinette stitch section worked with shortened rows.

 Eira

Then I knitted Prana and Hera, the shortened rows were spaced differently creating a different effect and the pattern stitch changed too, but they both share the same formula.

 

 Prana 

Hera

 With Rosiris I tried something different – it’s also a  seamless shawl knitted bottom-up, but it has a flower stitch growing from the edging to shawl’s upper body which is also worked in lace - small flowers flow from the main pattern and its shape is made by decreases not by short-rows.

  Rosiris

I reversed things with Pétala, this time the shawl is worked top-down, starting first with the main body and shortened rows, followed by the lace edging and a decorative crocheted bind-off. All these shawls are symmetrical.

  Pétala

 Slowly, I started experimenting new stuff for my third e-book Espiral – the common denominator was knitting on the bias starting with only a few stitches to get an asymmetrical crescent shape and diagonal lines - sometimes emphasized by variegated yarns. I combined different patterns and textures- lace, ribbing, elongated sts, ruffles, (particularly evident in piu-piu), tested the modularity and the ratio of increases in more than one way – sometimes the result is slightly asymmetrical almost triangular (Outonal) others have a cool spiral shape (Espiral, Zig-Zag Spiral), attached knitted-on borders or finished with a picot bind-off, worked the lace in the inner edging and a more shallow shape (Oliva) or in the outer edging (Enleio and Outonal). In the end I integrated all I learned and finished the e-book with Zig-Zag Spiral – an entirely lace shawl with a spiral, crescent and
asymmetrical shape.

   

 piu-piu

 Outonal

 zig-zag spiral

Espiral

Enleio

 Oliva

It was very enjoyable work sideways on the bias, I like to start with a small number of sts on the needles – it’s not so overwhelming and it’s fun, maybe because you see diagonal lines and the shawl curving a bit. Or maybe because you knit lots of rows but the number of sts on the needles aren’t that great, or because I just like it. I don’t have any issues wearing asymmetrical shawls either; I discovered that if I place them on my shoulders with the tip on my back I can wrap the sides easily and I’m ready to go.

 Recently I started thinking in my next e-book Primavera, and Giro has born - it’s also knitted on the bias combining garter and elongated sts, a mindless knit with a great effect.

 Giro

And then, I felt (again) the need of trying something new - a different construction or better yet – a different way of thinking. I sampled a lovely lace stitch resembling little tulips emerging from a garter st background and started working on Tulipa (the Portuguese word for Tulipa) shawl. It is crescent shaped but it is symmetrical and worked top-down (starting with a garter st tab) without a centre spine.

 Tulipa

  I finished with a picot bind-off because I think it adds something special to this delicate and feminine knit, but instructions how to work a stretchy bind-off are included into pattern as well.

To be honest, the transition to this kind of construction wasn’t peaceful, no wonder after knitting 10 shawls in a row on the bias! The reason is simple – more stitches on the needles due to the number of increases needed to achieve this shape. Nevertheless, the result (on my bias opinion) really worth it – I enjoy the outcome and again learned something new.

 The design is very flexible – as any modular pattern size is easily adjustable by working more or less pattern repeats. As shown Tulipa has 9 repeats of Chart B, plus the set-up rows (Chart A) and is 127 x 36 cm (49.2 x 13.7”). It used 342.8 m (374.9 yds) of Skein Queen Delectable, (light fingering weight yarn - 3ply) a silk/merino blend, Misty Cobwebs colorway, but you may use any weight yarn and adjust needles size accordingly. I hope you enjoy it, Tulipa and is available at the promotional price of 2.90€ (from February 26th until March 2 5th, 23h59m, Lisbon time zone) instead of 3.9 €. 
(Eta: I've extended the promotion a couple of days)

More info:
Materials: about 342.8-– 394.2 m (374.9 – 431.1 yds) of light fingering yarn; 3.75 mm (US 5) circular needles; size 5.5 mm (US 9) for BO; tapestry needle; pins for blocking

Level: Intermediate

Skills needed: K, YO, K2tog, M1R, Kf&b, M6 (making 6 sts out of one), provisional CO for the garter tab, short-rows for the edging, picot bind-off or elastic BO. Wet block the shawl and woven in ends.

Pattern format: Both written instructions (line by line) and charts are provided (both for the set-up and main pattern – but not for the picot BO) .

Tulipa pattern

Primavera e-book

 (5 shawls designs)

 Many thanks to the test group 

Giro - first design of Primavera Book

Giro is the 1st design of of the year and also the first pattern of Primavera Book, my newest e-book in works (Primavera is the Portuguese word for Spring) and is now available and at the promotional price of 2.90€ (from February 7th until February 10th, 23h59m, Lisbon time zone) instead of 3.9 €. The discount will be made automatically when your purchase the pattern.

The challenge was to create a simple, fast and fun shawl, knitted with 2 skeins of variegated yarn (each skein has approx 50 gr) that I had in my stash: Drops Delight in a nice blue/green color way.
I went for a simple pattern to better show of the color transitions instead of being beclouded by yarn colors.

The word Giro has a double meaning: it’s the Portuguese word for something cute, engaging but also means one movement around an axis, around itself or around a object - one rotation, which I found funny considering its interesting shape.

This unisex, asymmetrical shawl knitted on the bias, totally reversible with a pattern that combines the squishiness of the garter stitch with the cool texture of the elongated stitches. Its diagonal lines are accentuated by the variegated yarn but it works well with solid colors too.

Pattern is very flexible and size is easily adjustable – when you achieve the desired length, simply work the picot bind-off. As shown has 25 repeats and used 425.9 yds of Drops Delight (fingering weight yarn, 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon), 16 colorway) and is 101 x 42 cm (39.7 x 16.5”).
You may use any weight yarn and adjust needle size accordingly.
This fun and versatile wrap knits up quickly too.

More info:

Materials:  approx 389.5m – 447.9 m (425.9– 489.7 yds) of fingering yarn;
size 3.75 mm (US 5) circular needles; tapestry needle; pins for blocking;

Level: Advanced Beginner

Skills needed: Long tail cast-on, knit, double yarn over, bind-off, picot-bind-off, M1r.
Wet block the shawl and woven in ends.

Pattern format: Written instructions (line by line).

Giro pattern

Primavera e-book

 (5 shawls designs)

Many thanks to the test group