One for free and one for sale

The pattern you must pay me for (b/c while I love knitting from charts, making them is a pain in the ass):

Astoria Boulevard

Is much fun with wandering cables . . .

Knit with 1 skein (135 yds) of Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed.

Gauge is 5 sts to the inch.

Has 19" circumference, measured flat, unstretched. Will comfortably accommodate heads up to 23" around, as seen on Sam my long-suffering model.

Buy it now on Ravelry.

And one you get for free . . .

Molly

The best thing IMHO about this pattern in the cable that continues through the crown decreases. Also the simple checked texture on the rest of the hat is pretty much my new favorite stitch pattern.

Molly is knit with 2 skeins of Prism Symphony (118 yds/skein).

Gauge is 5 sts to the inch in stockinette.

The hat band is 18" around, measured flat, unstretched. It will comfortably accommodate heads up to 22" around, as seen on Miss Princess Leia, who is trying really, really hard not to laugh at me as a take this picture.

Download PDF

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Erin Ruth F*cks Up

As most knitters who know me personally are aware, I have a tendency to mock the stupid mistakes and generally crappy math that show up too frequently in commercial patterns. Well, what goes around comes around and all that . . . and today I guess I'm eating my humble pie.

I has just been brought to my attention that there is a glaring omission from my Bergen Street Mitts pattern. Somehow between writing and checking a document, and then adding all my pictures, footer, and other formatting, I managed to loose an important chunk of text. It was this:

Ruching Pattern: (over 13 sts)

1) purl

2) knit

3) purl

4) knit

5) purl

6) kfb across

Knit for 10 rows

Next round: k2tog across

Repeat from (1)

That would be the ruching pattern that is referred throughout the rest of the pattern. Yikes. The pdf has been fixed, and everyone who actually bought the thing has already been notified. I just felt the need for a little more self-flagellation so here we go: Knitters everywhere please accept my humble apologies and repentance for committing the sin of hubris and extremely poor proofreading. Mea Culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Yours,

Erin Ruth

New Patterns

Bergen Street Mitts

About, gosh, a year ago now, my friend Megan demanded a pair of hand-knit arm warmers as payment for the super comfy couch she donated to me when it couldn't fit in her new apartment.

By the time I finally got around to knitting them, I had developed a minor obsession with gathered fabric and ruching, and so this happened. Some people seem to think it's a good thing . . .

Gauge: 8 sts/in in Stockinette

Materials: 400 - 500 yards of fingering weight yarns. I used 1.5 skeins of Punta Mericash Solids.

Size 2US needles

They have deliberate shaping from elbow to wrist and through the thumb gusset. They're super stretchy and will fit on arms of all sizes - I can say this with certainty, having forcibly tried them on arms of all sizes - and can be worn over the elbow, or just up to it.

They are knit in the round, and I think you'll find it most comfortable to use a method like magic loop that has the stitches divided on 2 needles, rather than on 3 or 4 as with double points.

The pattern for Bergen Street Mitts can be purchase for $5 on Ravelry or on Etsy. As always, any questions, comments, or concerns can be addressed to ErinRuth on Ravelry, or to erinruthknits@gmail.com.

ALSO - I have updated Claudette with new diagrams for tying the knot, as well as updated contact information. Anyone who has purchased the old version can get the updated version free, just e-mail me!

Stripy Hat - Free Pattern

It's finally fall, bar none the bestest time of year, IMHO.

It's been a while since I posted last, during which hiatus

my former place of employment closed, I sat around in

dirty PJ's and moped for a couple weeks, visited Texas

during a heat wave, and got myself a brand new job at a

certain UES purveyor of exclusive cashmere.

. . . and now I'm finally returning to the most important

job of all - providing knitters with more free patterns.

Without further ado,

Stripy Hat

by Erin Ruth

Download the pdf here.

Yummy chunky quick-knit hat for fall. Great for guys and girls. Perfect accessory for sneaking out of windows . . .

Materials: 2 balls each in 2 colors (A and B) of Tahki Torino Bulky, 55 yds/ball, (pictured in #210 Black and #236 Heather Grey)

Size 10 16" circular needles or size needed to get gauge.

Size 10 double-point needles

Size 11 16" circular needles

Darning needle

Gauge: 5 sts/in in pattern stitch

This striped and ribbed hat requires a tubular cast-on. Those unfamiliar with the tubular cast-on should check out the tutorials at

Knitty or in video format at Knitting Daily.

Cast on 48 sts with scrap yarn on larger needles.

Join in round.

Purl 2 rows with A.

Purl 2 rows with B.

From this point forward make every knit stitch with A and every purl stitch with B.

Make your tubular cast on knitting with A and purling with B. Pull out the scrap yarn. You should now have 96 sts on the needle.

Continue working in (k1, p1) rib - yep, still knitting with A and purling with B - until you have 8 inches from the cast on edge.

Begin decreases: (all k2tog, and ssk are worked with color A)

Round 1: [ssk, (k1, p1)9x, k1, k2tog, p1]4x

Round 3: [ssk, p1, (k1, p1)8x, k2tog, p1]4x

Round 5: [ssk, (k1, p1)7x, k1, k2tog, p1]4x

Round 7: [ssk, p1, (k1, p1)6x, k2tog, p1]4x

Round 9: [ssk, (k1, p1)5x, k1, k2tog, p1]4x

Round 11: [ssk, p1, (k1, p1)4x, k2tog, p1]4x

Round 13: [ssk, (k1, p1)3x, k1, k2tog, p1]4x

Round 15: [ssk, p1, (k1, p1)2x, k2tog, p1]4x

Round 17: [ssk, k1, p1, k1, k2tog, p1]4x

Round 19: [ssk, p1, k2tog, p1]4x - 16 sts remain.

Finishing:

Break yarn, leaving a long tail. Draw tail through remaining 16 sts with darning needle, pulling sts closed at top of hat. Weave in ends.

Glovelies - Free Pattern

Just moving this pattern over from The Point's blog, so the free pattern goodness will live on . . . 

Glovelies
Fingerless ribbed arm warmers
By Erin Ruth

Materials: 2 balls of Sublime Organic Merino (113 yds/ball)
Size 6 (or size needed to obtain gauge!) double-pointed needles

Gauge: 5.5 sts/in in stockinette (6 sts/in in 1×2 rib)

Cast on 42 sts.
Join in the round.
(K1, p2) around for every round until you have a 12” tube.

Creating Thumb Hole:
Using scrap yarn instead of working yarn, knit the first 8 sts of round.
Turn and work back across these 8 sts, still using scrap yarn.

Pick up the working yarn again and knit in (K1, p2) rib over the 8 scrap yarn and continue on around the round.
Work in pattern for 1.5” more.
Bind off loosely in pattern.

Make Thumb:
Carefully pull out the scrap yarn, one stitch at a time. As you remove the scrap yarn place each stitch on your needle. You should end up with 8 sts on the bottom and 8 sts across the top for 16 sts total. Divide these sts on 3 needles, join yarn, and begin working in the round, maintaining the established rib pattern. When you get to the corner between the top and bottom stitch, pick up and knit one stitch in each corner for a total of 18 sts. Knit these 18 sts in (k1, p2) rib for 1”. Bind off loosely in pattern.

Finishing: Use the tail where you joined yarn at the thumb to tighten up the corners – there will be small gaps where the stitches turn. Weave in ends.

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Everything is Hunky-Dory

One more free hat pattern - this is actually mine . . .

        Hunky-Dory Hat

Design by Erin Ruth

Sizes: infant (toddler, adult small, adult large) 

Materials: 1 (1,1,2) skeins of Alchemy’s Synchronicity (50% wool 50% silk, 118 yds)
         16” size 7 circular needle
         16” size 4 circular needle
         Size 7 double-pointed needles
(Note: For the infant size most knitters will find it more comfortable to work the whole hat on double points.)

Gauge: 5 sts/in on larger needle

Hat Band:
With smaller needles cast on 88 (96, 104, 112) sts. 
Join in the round and place marker at the beginning of round. 
(p2, k6) to end of round for 3 rounds. 

Hat Body:
Switch to larger needle to begin mock- cable pattern.

Round 1: (p2, k3, k2tog, k1, yo) repeat to end of round
Round 2, 4, 6 & 8: (p2, k6) to end of round
Round 3: (p2, k2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1) repeat to end of round
Round 5: (p2, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, k2) repeat to end of round
Round 7: (p2, k2tog, k1, yo, k3) repeat to end of round

Repeat these 8 rounds 4 (4, 5, 6) times (or until hat is desired length - try it on! - just make sure to end on round 8).

Crown Decreases:
As you decrease around the crown, switch to double-pointed needles when there are too few stitches to knit comfortably on 16” circulars.

Round 1: (p2, k3, k2tog, k1) repeat to end of round
Round 2: (p2, k2, k2tog, k1) repeat to end of round
Round 3: (p2, k1, k2tog, k1) repeat to end of round
Round 4: (p2, k2tog, k1) repeat to end of round
Round 5: (p2tog, k2) repeat to end of round
Round 6: (k2tog, k1) repeat to end of round
Round 7: k2tog all the way around
 You will now have only 11 (12, 13, 14) sts left.

Finishing: Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Using a darning needle thread remaing stitches onto the tail and off of the needles. Pull yarn tight drawing the stitches closed at the top of the hat. Weave in ends. 

Super Bobble - Free Pattern

This one's not mine guys; it a product of the mind of one Alyssa Kabel. I'm just providing the space. Without further ado: 

       The Super Bobble

Designed by Alyssa Kabel
Finished Size:      Adult 20 -22” (50-60 cm)
Yarn: 1 ball of Twinkle’s Soft Chunky (83 yds, 200 grams, 100% wool/Super Bulky). I used the color Hazel.
Needles:       #13 16” circular needles,  #17 16” circular,   #17 DPNs
Gauge:     2 sts = 1” in stockinette
Notions:     Jumbo Marker, Darning needle


Abbreviations:
CO: Cast on
K: Knit
P: Purl
P3tog: Purl 3 stitches together
KFBF: Knit stitch leaving it on the left needle, knit into the back loop of this stitch, do not slip the stitch off, knit into the front of the stitch again and slide all three off together. 
Bobble: KFBF, turn, P3tog, turn, K1
K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together
M1: Make 1 increase.  From the back, lift the loop between the stitches with left needle, knit into the front of loop.
Psso: pass slipped stitch over
DDC: Slip 1 stitch, K2tog, psso

HAT PATTERN:
CO 36 sts with smaller needle.
Place marker.
 Join in the round being careful not to twist.
Next row: *K1P1* 
Repeat ribbing for 4 rows, slipping the marker as you come to it.
Following row: *K2, M1* repeat between *’s. (54 sts) 
Change to larger needle.
Knit 1 row, increasing one stitch. (55 sts)
Row 1: * Bobble, K4 *. Repeat between *’s.
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: K3, bobble *K4, bobble*. Repeat between *’s. End K1. 
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: Repeat Row 1.
Decrease for the Crown:
Row 6: *K3, K2tog* (44 sts)
Row 7: *K3, Bobble* Repeat between *’s.
Change to #17 DPs.
Row 8: *K2, K2tog* (33 sts)
Row 9: *Bobble, K2*. 
Row 10: *K1, K2tog* (22 sts)
Row 11: K2 *Bobble, K4*  
Row 12: *K2tog* (11 sts)
Row 13:  K2tog *DDC* (4 sts)
Cut yarn, leaving a 6" (15 cm) tail. Thread tail onto a tapestry needle, draw through remaining stitches, and pull tight to close top of hat.  Weave in loose ends.  

Claudette is now on Etsy!

I've successfully set up the Claudette pdf for sale on Etsy. At the moment my Etsy store is pretty darn bare, buts it's a start yeah?

Alyssa looking sexysexy in Claudette:

Edit 5/15/09: N0w for sale on Ravelry as well. 

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Welcome

Hello and welcome to all the friends of The Point, former Knitting Cafe. I know I'm seriously bummed to have lost that amazing community (not to mention my job); I'm offering virtual hugs to all of you who are also feeling that loss. 

Or perhaps you're just here looking for some of the great patterns that were produced for The Point over the years, and that's cool too. I'm working on getting up everything I designed for The Point up on this site, but it will take a few days so bear with me. I'll also be hosting patterns here from Alyssa, Leia, and Megan K - also formerly of The Point. 

So say tuned, more soon!

More neckwear - Free Pattern

I'm on a roll y'all. Download Amelia here.
Lace and short rows - don't be shy.



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Bowtie

Seems I've got a tie thing. Try a Bowtie.

Since I knit this one for that store that owns my soul, it is unfortunately not free. But! This is: Bowtie with Jazze Pha, Outkast, & Sleepy Brown.

EDIT 5/9/09: Due to The Point's unfortunate demise, this pattern is now being offered for free. Download here.

Knitting with Duct Tape

That's me, brazenly going where no knitter has gone before. . . 

DIY: Tear the duct tape lengthwise so you have a strip about a quarter of the width of the roll, and fold it in on itself. Keep pulling this narrow strip off of the roll in one continuous piece and folding it on itself to create your "yarn". Try to cover all the sticky side when you fold it so it will stick to your needles as little as possible. Use large (size 15 or up) plastic or metal needles, and go to town. I did have to clean off my needles midway through the project - some of the adhesive will get on your needles regardless.

Repair, Before and After

For some reason I've obtained a reputation at the store as the go-to girl for repairing knitted stuff. On one memorable occasion an employee of another NYC yarn store brought me a repair she felt was beyond her ken. I really wish I had thought to take photos of that hot mess. So I've decided from this point forward to document my extraordinary ability to fix other peoples fuck-ups.

Today's subject: a couple of moth holes marring a chic hand-knit alpaca poncho.Moth hole #1:Picking up stitches:
Knitting in the missing bits:
Ready for grafting (Kitchener stitch):
Grafting completed:

And, done!
Moth hole #2:
Skipping right to the pay-off this time:

Circle Obsession, Volume 2: Fun with Blocking

Oh what a blocking can do. Once upon a time this little lacy thing most resembled a discarded banana peel:

Four letter knitting - not for the squeamish

My latest knitting travesty.
Photos courtesy of the lovely Leia.

Girly Tie

Materials:
- 1 skein Schulana Sojabama (55% Bamboo, 45% Soy, 120 yds)
- Size 6 US needles

Gauge: 5 sts = 1 in in stockinette

Skill Level: Easy-Peasy

Terms:
stockinette: Knit every st on the right side, purl every st on the wrong side
k2tog: knit 2 sts together as one st
kfb: Knit in to front leg and then the back leg of of the same st, creating 2 sts from 1.

Cast on 60 sts.
Work in stockinette for 18 rows, ending with a purl (wrong side) row.

Begin decreases:
Row 1: k2tog to end (for 30 sts)
Row 2: purl
Row 3: k2tog to end (for 15 sts)
Row 4: purl

Work remaining 15 sts in stockinette until your piece measures about 25" from the point where you decreased. End with a wrong side row.

Begin increases:
Row 1: kfb to end (for 30 sts)
Row 2: purl
Row 3: kfb to end
Row 4: purl

Work in stockinette for 18 more rows.
Bind off loosely.
Weave in ends.

Wear proudly!

original pattern by ErinRuth

Yarn on my head.

Because you know that's where it belongs.

Circle Obsession, Volume 1

Lately I'm all about knitting in circles. Lace, cables, big yarn, small yarn . . . right now they all want to be circles. There's a certain amount math involved that just gets me hot.
I've got a roomful of fantabulous Triple G Romney dyed just for me set aside for this project. It will (one hopes, and hold me to it please) eventually be a sweater. You're currently looking at the center back. No plan, no pattern - and there will never be one, not for this. It's very freeing to be able to make it up as I go and not having to interrupt my knitting to plan or record what I'm doing.



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It has a name. and I will rest.