Welcome to our little bit of knitterly Heaven- I'm so glad you found your way here!
Our goal is to teach beginning knitters some tricks of the trade as well as to work enough swatches to have a finished afghan by the end of the year! Join along with us as we learn about patterns, cables, lace, and some other handy techniques! A new pattern will become available each month ranging from newbie to adventurous. So stop on by, pick your pattern and knit along with us!

All patterns can be found here as well as on Ravelry.com!

Friday, December 2, 2011

December Swatches

Hello Knitters!
Well, December has finally arrived!  Did you make it?  I can't believe that we've done so much this year, and I can't wait until next year!  This month's swatches look back on the entire year.  There is one texture pattern, one lace pattern (bobbles included!), and a beautiful cable.  So exciting! 
I hope you've enjoyed this year's swatches and I hope you will join me in January for 2012's Year of Swatches!
Happy knitting and warm regards-
-Lindsey

Beginner
 
Chain Link Fence

Cast on 42 stitches
Border Rows
1, 3, 5: K1, P1 across
2, 4:  P1, K1 across

Pattern Rows
Row 1 (and all odd numbered rows): (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) Knit (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K1, slip 1, repeat to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)Row 4: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Slip 1, K1, repeat to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)

Repeat these 4 rows until square is approx 9 inches.
Knit border rows 1-5
Bind off all stitches.

Easy

Bobbles and Lace
MB- Make Bobble: Knit into front, back, and front of stitch (makes 3 sts).  Turn work, K3. Turn work, P3. Turn work, slip 1 stitch, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over.
yo- Yarn over (also known as yarn forward)
k3tog- Knit 3 sts together as one

Cast on 38 stitches
Border Rows:
1, 3, 5: K1, P1 across
2, 4: P1, K1 across

Pattern Rows
Row 1: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K8, yo, k3tog, yo, K3, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo K11 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2 (and all even numbered rows): (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 3: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K7, yo, k3tog, yo, K5, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, K10 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 5:  (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K6, MB, K5, yo, k3tog, yo, K1, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, K9 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)                
Row 7: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K11, yo, k3tog, yo, K3, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, K8 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 9: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K10, yo, k3tog, yo, K5, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, MB, K6 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 11: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K9, yo, k3tog, yo, K1, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, K12 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 12: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl to last 5 stitches (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)

Repeat these 12 stitches until the square is approx 9 inches.
Repeat border rows 1-5.
Bind off all stitches.


Intermediate
 Honeycomb Cable
C4B- Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to back of work.  Knit 2 stitches then knit the 2 from the cable needle.
C4F- Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to front of work.  Knit 2 stitches then knit the 2 from the cable needle. 

Cast on 42 stitches
Border rows
1, 3, 5: K1, P1 across
2, 4:  P1, K1 across

Pattern Rows
Row 1: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) (C4B, C4F) 4 times (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) purl across to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 3: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) knit across to last 5 sts (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 4: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) purl across to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 5: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) (C4F, C4B) 4 times (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 6: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) purl across to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 7: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) knit across to last 5 sts (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 8: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) purl across to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)

Repeat these 8 rows until square is approx 9 inches, ending after either row 1 or row 5.
Repeat border rows 1-5
Bind off all stitches.

8 comments:

  1. What a fun idea! I didn't know about it until now, so I'm very glad you'll be doing it again for 2012!

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  3. I just started the 2011 swatches. I am having so much fun. I'm borderline intermediate/advanced knitter and had a hefty project or two. These are totally relaxing and fun to knit up when watching TV. Thank you for providing all these patterns. :)

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  4. I just stumbled upon this post and loved it! Honeycomb is the stitch I was looking for to knit a blanket for my first grandchild. Thanks!!
    Sonia

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  5. Happy New Year!

    I really don't know how I found this site, my pc must have become tired of FB and sent me here - and such a JOY!!

    Thanks for all your patterns and I agree with Disaster Strikes that this will be a relaxing knitting..

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