How to Buy

Learn more details by clicking on a PICTURE or PATTERN NAME below

Basic Socks in Fine Yarn -- This classic albeit basic sock design is worked from the top of the cuff down to the toe. The cuff is worked in a knit 1, purl 1 ribbing, the heel is worked in heel stitch, and the foot is stockinette stitch with a wedge toe.  Sizes include a child’s medium (for a child about 5-6 years old), child’s large/woman’s small, woman’s medium, woman’s large, man’s small, man’s medium, and man’s large.

DATE - January 2005

Beginner Knit Projects -- If you’re just learning to knit, here are some projects that you can easily do – a hat/neck gaiter, slippers, a stuffed toy, and a buttoned pouch. Two require specific weights of yarn (the hat-gaiter and the slippers), but the other two can be made in any size yarn (bunny and pouch).

DATE - September 2003.  These patterns were originally designed for Alpacas Magazine (projected publication is late 2003 or early 2004).
 

Diagonal Garter Stitch Scarf -- This garter stitch scarf is worked back and forth diagonally from one corner.  It is reversible, and the pattern looks the same on both sides when it is worked in one color.  It can be worked in a narrow width to wear as a muffler with a winter coat.  Or it can be worked loosely and wide for a lacy stole or scarf.  Both examples are shown in the picture, and directions for both are included in the pattern.  It’s a variation of the diagonal washcloth pattern that I learned years ago.

DATE -- January 2001 -- This pattern was originally designed for Alpacas Magazine for its Spring 2001 issue

Eyelet-Edged Coasters (free pattern) -- This is a square garter stitch coaster with simple eyelet edging.  It should be made with 100% cotton or other absorbent fiber (don’t you hate those stone or plastic coasters where the water just runs off or drips off the glass every time you pick it up?), and it’s machine washable and dryable, too.

DATE -- February 2001

Eyelet-Edged Placemat & Coaster --This is a square garter stitch coaster with simple eyelet edging.  It should be made with 100% cotton so it’s absorbent (don’t you hate those stone or plastic coasters where the water just runs off or drips off the glass every time you pick it up?), and it’s machine washable and dryable, too.

DATE -- March 2001

Eyelet Ridge Shawl Variations -- This pattern includes two shapes of shawl, both worked back and forth in the same pattern stitch. One version is a V-shaped (V) shawl, the other is a triangle. The triangle shawl is worked with your choice of yarn, the V shawl is designed for just one yarn weight. There are 4 edging variations: a garter ridge bind off (add-on fringe optional); a picot bind off (add-on fringe optional); a sideways garter stitch edging with short knitted-on beaded fringe; or a ruffled ribbing. The body of either shawl is very easy to knit and grows longer on each right side row. The length of the V shawl is determined by the length of the cast on row; the triangle shawl begins at the center top back and can range in size from small enough for a doll to a shoulder-sized scarf to a huge body-swaddling shawl. The stitch pattern alternates eyelet garter ridge bands with bands of stockinette stitch.  The V shawl is made in one size, the triangular shawl can be made in any size.

DATE -- September 2003

Felted Hats - This is a fitted, felted hat with a variety of brim and hat band options. The brim can be flat and narrow, wide with a slit at the back, or upward slanting with a narrow or wide "flip". The crown can fit the head snugly or be shaped – flattened (when combined with the narrow upturned brim, this style looks like a top hat), or the pinched-front fedora style.

DATE - January 2005

Felted Tasseled Purse - This pointed-bottom felted (fulled) purse pattern is has several variations.  It can be large or small with a flap to fasten over the top or with a drawstring top with no flap.  The drawstring version has a pointed lace panel edging that overlays the purse and mirrors the point on the purse.  Both purses have tassels hanging from the bottom and over-the-shoulder length twisted cord straps.  NOTE – since these purses are knitted before shrinking, they are technically “fulled” and not “felted” (felted fabrics are made directly from the raw fiber without knitting, crocheting, or weaving first).

DATE - April 2006, posted here March 2007

Garter Stitch Tote Bag -- This a two-handled, open-top, shoulder tote with optional button loop to close the top and an optional pocket on the outside center front. The garter stitch construction makes the bag stretchy enough to hold most any cargo. The design has two choices of bottom style – rectangular or envelope style. It can be made in 2 sizes. If constructed of an animal fiber yarn, it can be fulled (felted) in your washing machine. Both of the models shown in the photo are the smaller size with the rectangular bottom – one fulled version (left) and one unfulled version (right).

DATE -- March 1992, Revised July 2002.

Heart Garter Stitch Shawl -- This a triangular shawl worked in garter stitch from the center back point to a bind off at the front edge. It has two choices of small heart design at the back center point worked in eyelets. The shape of the shawl can be worked with single increases on each side edge for a narrower top edge that ties or pins in the front. It can also be made with double increases at each side edge for a wider top edge that creates longer tails to easily wrap around your body. The front edge can be finished with a loopy or simple bind off edging.  The size can range from small enough for a doll or teddy bear to huge enough to wrap around yourself several times.

DATE -- September 2003

Intarsia Heart Purse -- This drawstring shoulder purse has a diamond pattern on one side and a heart, squares, and stripes on the other. It is worked with multiple colors of yarn in a single row (intarsia knitting).  It is designed as a single long piece that is knitted back-and-forth with an eyeleted top edging worked circularly after the intarsia is completed.  It has I-cord drawstrings.  It can be felted or not. The pouch shown in the photos is the nonfelted version.

DATE -- February 2005

It's Almost A Ball -- It’s almost, but not quite, a ball. It’s really shaped like an English candy called a humbug (or so I’ve been told). But no matter what the shape is called, this is a wonderful toy for baby or a toddler, especially when it includes a rattle. And as a beanbag, it’s great for games and the small size is perfect for juggling (confirmed by juggling friends - Thanks, John & Burke!). There are several variations of the pattern – it can be small or large, it can be longer than it is wide or not, and it can also be fulled (felted) or not.

DATE -- September 2002

Lace Bookmark  -- This bookmark is a combination of garter stitch and a simple lace pattern. It is knit of whatever yarn you like and can be made in a range of lengths. Starching during the blocking process will make it stiff enough to use. The cord and tassel are made of the same yarn. The directions are both in written-out and charted forms.

DATE - September 2003

Lace Candle Sleeves -- Included are three variations of circularly-knit lace sleeves sized for glass-encased seven-day candles. The three patterns are of three levels of difficulty: from beginner to advanced. Because of the fire danger, these lace sleeves are designed for and should be used only for GLASS-encased candles! 

DATE -- June 2001 -- this pattern was originally designed for Alpaca Magazine’s Holiday 2001 issue (Fall 2001)

Lattice Bag Set -- This is a set of bags with a lattice pattern of traveling stitches, which is a variation of cable stitch and is also sometimes called twisted stitch. All bags are edged with garter stitch borders. This same decorative lattice pattern is used on a coin purse, a tiny shoulder bag, a larger shoulder bag, and a backpack. The coin purse and shoulder bags have top flaps with two buttons and are knitted back and forth. The backpack has a drawstring top that is closed using the shoulder straps and is knitted circularly.

DATE -- April 2002

Ribbed Neck Gaiter (free pattern) -- This tubular neck gaiter is knitted in a simple ribbing pattern.  It can be worn around the neck and pulled up over the mouth and nose if it’s very cold out.  It also works great as a simple hat if it’s not too cold (the open top lets some of the heat out).  I sometimes wear two -- one around my neck and one as a hat.  

DATE -- February 2001

Ribbed Wristers, Driving Mitts, & Neck Gaiter --  What I call wristers are also sometimes called mitts or fingerless mittens. These are knitted in a simple ribbed pattern. They cover the entire palm of the hand and wrist and have a thumbhole. The driving mitts are designed for holding a car’s steering wheel. The longer finger section and the partial thumbs are long enough to wrap around a cold steering wheel while still leaving the finger tips free.  The matching neck gaiter is knitted in the same simple rib. It can be worn around the neck and pulled up over the mouth and nose if it’s very cold out. It also works great as a simple hat if it’s not too cold (the open top lets some of the heat out).  

DATE -- March 2001, Expanded Version 2005

Sewn Mittens (free pattern, no knitting necessary) -- This is a cut-and-sew fabric mitten that can easily be made in any size.  It is made from shrunken (felted/fulled) wool sweaters -- check you local thrift store for such a sweater.  The mitten can be made from either 2 or 3 pieces of fabric and modified almost endlessly in style.  The mitten's seams can be machine sewn or hand sewn with yarn.   The mittens can be as crude or as decorative as you want.
DATE -- 1990, revised November 2001

Shrunken Hot Pad -- This garter stitch hot pad is worked back and forth diagonally from one corner.  It looks the same on both sides if you work it in one color.  It is the best hot pad that I’ve ever used – the garter stitch pattern makes it thick, and the fulling (felting/shrinking) makes it even denser and more heat insulating.  It’s a variation of the diagonal washcloth pattern that I learned years ago, and it’s easy and quick to make for your kitchen or for gifts.  
DATE -- January 2001 -- This pattern was originally designed for Alpacas Magazine for its Spring 2001 issue

Sideways Garter Stitch Hat With Dahlia -- This is a pull-on hat with several edging choices and an optional "corsage" of 3-dimensional garter stitch leaves and dahlia-like flower. The hat is worked sideways and is designed in sizes from premature infant to lady’s large. I developed the original hat when I was taking part in a Minnesota Knitters’ Guild public service project in 1991 to knit premature infant hats for the University of Minnesota Hospital (all preemie hats were knitted of acrylic with basic edging and no flower trim).

DATE - 1991, Revised September 2002

Simple Scarves (2 free patterns)-- Here are basic directions for two types of rectangular scarves or shawls, both of which are reversible (no wrong side) when worked in garter stitch.  They look great in basic yarns or fancy furry or glitzy novelty yarns.  The rectangular patterns can be made in any width or length.

DATE - June 2004

Spiral Ribbed No Heel Socks -- This pattern is my version of a traditional pattern. These are heavy, tall socks designed for winter wear in hiking or ski boots or ice skates. The spiral rib makes them fit quite well even without heel shaping, and the sock may wear better than a heeled sock because your heel isn’t in the same place every time you put it on.  These are socks that you can make for anyone, by using just an estimated size - and they always fit! The photograph shows both the largest and smallest socks.

DATE -- May 1992, Revised July 2001