New Patterns

The latest patterns just out include the Smocked Daydress, Swedish Sailor and Elfin Stripes, all worked in my yummy CottonTail Yarn. You can find these patterns at your local yarn shops, or on-line – just google the pattern and you will find many resources. Happy knitting!

Baby Brit Sailor

Spring is the time to knit with cool cotton instead of warm wools…my Baby Brit Sailor is the perfect project for spring knitting. This pattern is knit in my lovely CottonTail yarn, a cabled cotton produced in one of the finest mills in Italy. There are myriad colors to choose from, and because it is cabled it doesn't split as many cottons do. Happy spring!

Coming Attractions

My latest pattern project, Elfin Stripes, is available soon…One row stripes make this sweater and hat a charmer, and it comes with a matching blanket. The yarn is Jil Eaton CottonTail, in 7548 Lagoon and 7501 Bright. CottonTail is machine washable and dryable, perfect for babies and toddlers.

All Dressed Up!

We find that my dress patterns are always best seller, and I have an e-book available on my shop on Ravelry…called All Dressed Up! Six patterns for dresses for parties or play for your chic little one…

Snow, snow, snow!

We have had a blizzard and two major snowstorms in the past week – and it is truly a winter wonderland. Here is a mitten pattern for your little ones perfect for playing in the snow!

Materials: Jil Eaton MinnowMerino, MC 4731 Turquoise, 2 balls

and CC  4755 Cerise, 1 Ball

Needles size US 7 (4.5 mm) or size needed to get gauge. Crochet hook size G-6. Stitch holders.

Gauge: 18 sts and 30 rows = 4” in pattern stitch

Garter Ridge Pattern Stitch

Work 4 rows in St st with MC

Work 2 rows in Garter st (knit every row) with CC

Rep these 6 rows for pattern stitch

MITTENS

With MC, cast on 26 sts. Knit 2 rows. Work in St st until piece measures 1” / 2.5 cm. Then, work in pat st for 1” / 2.5 cm, end with a WS row. Next row (RS): Cont in pat, work 11 sts, k1f&b into next 4 sts, work 11 sts — 30 sts. Work 3 rows even. Next row (RS): Work 13 sts, k1f&b into next 4 sts, work 13 sts — 34 sts. Work 13 sts and place on holder, work 8 thumb sts, work rem 13 sts and place on another holder. Cut yarn.

Thumb, next row (RS): Working in pat, on thumb sts only, rejoin yarn and inc 1 st each edge — 10 sts. Cont in pat until thumb measures 1.25” / 3 cm, end with a WS row. Next row: K2tog across. Next row: P2tog twice, p1. Cut yarn and pull through rem 5 sts. Sew thumb seam.

Hand: With RS facing and keeping to pat, work sts from holder, pick up 4 sts across thumb, work sts from other holder — 30 sts. Work in pat until mitten measures 4.75” / 12 cm from beg, end with a WS row. Cont in St st with MC only. Next row: K2tog across. Next row: P2tog across, end p1. Next row: K2tog across. Next row: P2tog across. Cut yarn and pull through rem 2 sts. Sew side seam.

Rep for 2^nd mitten.

Ties (Make 2):  With crochet hook and A, chain approx 10” / 25.5 cm. Fasten off. Weave tie through cuff at 1” / 2.5 cm from bottom and tie bow.

Pompoms (make 4): Wrap B around 3 fingers 75 times. Remove fingers and wrap 12” / 30.5 cm strand of yarn around center twice, pull snug and tie. Cut loops and trim ends to form a pompom. Sew to each end of tie.

January Give-away!

Here in Maine January brings freezing temperatures and lots of snow, so I am offering my Pom Pom Dog Sweater kit as a give-away…a girl’s best friend needs a sweater in January! Leave a comment here or sign up for my MinnowNotes to enter…enjoy!

A Present for You

 It’s almost Christmas, and here is a present for you, my Bon Bons baby hat. Enjoy!

Sweater Bookmark or Ornament

1 ball Classic Elite La Gran mohair

(the best mohair on the planet!)

#6527 Chinese Red

# 7 needles

18” of ribbon of your choice

Cast on 12 sts. P one row and cont in STst (K on the RS, P n the WS) for 1.5 inches, ending on the WS. CO 5 sts, work across row, then CO 5 more sts for sleeves. Work even in STst for 1”, ending with a WS row. P on RS and bind off middle 4 sts. P to the end of the row.  Next row P and work to the BO sts, CO 4 sts and cont to end. Cont in STst for 1”. BO 5 sts at the beginning of the next two rows. Cont in STst for 1.5” and BO. With RS facing sew side and sleeve seams. Turn right side out, and attach the ribbon to the collar of your miniature sweater. Can also be used as a tree ornament.

Voila!

When we’re knitting all is right with the world!

A hand-knit for your iPhone!

Here is a pattern for you, which in a few hours will cozy up your iphone in cabled comfort. It’s also perfect for that last minute gift. Enjoy!

iPhone Cabled Cover

Materials

• 1 skein Jil Eaton MinnowMerino in 4758 Rouge
• Needles, size #8 and #4 and #8 cable needle
• Tapestry needle
• Place Markers

Gauge

18 sts and 22 rows = 4” over stockinette stitch

• Cast on 26 sts.
• 1^st row: p
• 2^nd row: k3, p1, k6, p1, k to end of row.
• 3^rd row: p3, k1, p6, k1, p to end of row.
• 4^th row: cable row – k3, p1, CB6, p1, k to end of row.

(CB^, Cable back 6, place first 3 sts on cable needle and hold in back of work, k next 3 sts, the k the 3 on the cable needle) Work this row on the RD every 8 rows.

Work in patterns for 5”, ending on the RD. K next 3 rows and BO.

Sew seam. 

• With#4 needles pick up the 6 middle stitches on the back of your iPhone sweater – this will be easy if you insert your iPhone. Work in garter stitch for 1.5”.
• Next row BO the 2 middle sts for the button hole.
• Next row CO the 2 middle sts. K 2 rows and BO.

Voila! When we’re knitting all is right with the world!

Baby Hats

Baby showers are always delightful and my Bon Bons baby hat patterns make the perfect shower gift. Knit up in my Jil Eaton Cottontail, they are washable and perfect for newborns.

The patterns are available on my Ravelry shop. Happy knitting!

New Website Design

Hi everyone, after being on the DL with eye surgeries I'm back in the studio and will continue my weekly blogs. We're delighted to announce our newly redesigned website minnowknits.com. There are many new features including my Classics pattern collection available as downloadable pdfs as well as two ebooks, All Dressed Up and Park Avenue Kids. Let us know what you think!

New Ebook: All Dressed Up

Party Frock

After doing a survey of knitters receiving my MinnowNotes newsletter we found that more than 50% of you were only interested in epatterns and ebooks. In response I've put together two ebooks available as downloadable pdfs on my website. The first, All Dressed Up is a collection of six dresses for little girls in Jil Eaton CottonTail yarn. Easy, comfortable silhouettes with design details that add a touch of sophistication. Classic designs with a modern flair, in worsted weight.

Here are the projects included in All Dressed Up. Enjoy!

Apron

Petite Chic

Swedish Day Dress

Sweet Pea

Swing Set