ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

Yes I know; Gaiter(s) used to describe a neck warmer does not feel quite right to me as yet. But then language is always developing, as it should. So who am I to say that the leg protector word cannot be used for a neck warmer or neck protector.

Anyway this is my gaiter for Natascha or my latest neck and shoulder warmer with my most recently rediscovered favourite stitch – good old Feather & Fan.

When I first knitted with feather and fan it was all baby matinee jackets and shawls and so on. Now I am using it for neck warmers, arm warmers, cowls, waistcoats etc. I love it.

I have been knitting for more than 50 years. Did you notice, I said that out loud. I have probably been knitting for more than 55 years, as the actual start date is lost in mists of time.

When I was a much younger knitter, Feather and Fan was used for baby things like shawls, matinee jackets and bonnets. I used feather and fan stitch when knitting for my own babies.

Since that time, until now that is, feather and fan stitch and I have not crossed needles and yarn together (or paths or swords).

I have rediscovered the beauty and the simplicity of this stitch pattern and am now designing pieces using it.

I really love the effect of it with the variegated yarns above and now as you can see, I am knitting with a cream yarn looking at the affect of the stitch on the edges of the knitting.

But my circular needle on which is sitting my wrap all excited and ready to go – BROKE – and I do not have another spare 4.5mm circular needle. And yes, I know the wrap is being knitted in cream; I know it looks like baby stuff, but when it is finished, if ever, it will look like a gorgeous, warm, sexy, delicious, and feather light wrap and I am or was enjoying the wavy affect on the edges.

BUT it is raining and the wind is blowing, and to purchase another such needle will mean adding lots of layers and walking about 20 mins along narrow Haarlem streets, across a draw bridge over a canal (the Spaarne) and along and along to the wool shop Kleinvak van der Raad where they do not mind my lack of Dutch and probably giggle at some of the yarns I buy to try. But that is okay.

And today I just do not feel like it. In short I am really and truely hacked off. I might have to open the wine!

Notes from Twitter extended a bit:

I purchased Noro “Kureyon Sock Yarn at the Handwerkbeurs (Craft show) in Rotterdam on Friday because I love the colour. I cast on last night for a waistcoat using feather & fan stitch and knitting from the bottom up – in one piece.

I found the formal description of the colours of my Kureyon Sock Yarn – Col 188 – Moss, Purples, Navy, Black, Pink on Knitting Fever. My own description of the colour was greens, pink to wine, grey to dark grey or purples. It’s rather hard to describe the colours because it is grey outside and inside the light is not that good. But at the Handwerkbeurs it looked great and it still looks great – the colour that is.

Before I left Rotterdam I talked to a couple of yarnie people who warned me that the yarn can be very thin and to not create socks from it even though it is a “sock Yarn”, because it will go into holes on the thin bits. Now that is a touch scary, but I bought it because I loved the colours, and as you already know I still haven’t managed to create the two pairs of red socks – my big IOUs, so I didn’t intend knitting socks with this yarn.

As you can see on the photos – my waistcoat is growing – but I have already met two nasty knots in the first skein. I am told that is not usual – so will see how it goes.

The design and shape and how to manage the feather and fan when I reach the underarms – I haven’t decided yet – so will have to keep you posted.

Fabulous Feather and Fan Fingerless Gloves

Fabulous Feather and Fan Fingerless Gloves

PDF pattern provided by as attachment to email – Fabulous Feather and Fan fingerless Gloves

These are absolutely gorgeous fingerless gloves, ideal for quick wintery or Christmas presents – the short version being 40 rows long only.

The Yarn is DK or 8ply, knitted on 4mm needles. The pattern is in three lengths – short, medium & long. The long ones extend about 4 inches above the elbow.

They are knitted in the round so there is little finishing to do once the knitting is completed.

This pattern is a great stash buster – the short pair 50gm, and the long version 100 gm, and they take very little time to create, and are gorgeous to boot.

You probably think I have forgotten to write up what I have been creating. I haven’t forgotten, I have just had too many things to do. SO this is a tidbit – a bit of a gauntlet that will become a pattern. The colour in the photo is not as bright as it should be, but that is okay as it will be taken again when completed. I just thought you should know that there is work in progress, in fact there is a lot of work in progress.

When my WoolOn pieces are in the post, I might list those WIP – we’ll see. It depends on just how embarrassed I could feel.