Marie Grace Designs

Big news!!

 

I know, I know. If blog neglect were a crime punishable by law I'd be in big trouble.

But I've been busy. Really busy!

At least I finally get to tell you about one of the projects that's been keeping me so busy:

I've teamed up with Juniper Moon Farm and have designed a whole slew of patterns to go with one of their lovely new yarn lines Sabine. 

I was so flattered when Susan Gibbs asked me to work with her on this project. It also meant a change from my normal focus on kids designs as all of the patterns for Sabine are for adult women. It was a nice challenge and great experience working with a whole team of people.

So why not have a seat with your morning cuppa and head over to see the preview of the whole collection and some more details at Juniper Moon!

Knitcircus Giveaway winners...

Time to pick some winners!

I'll be using my favorite winner choosing method as always.... Tater and hat full of names on little pieces of paper!

Don't mind the fact that she's still in her jammies and has cocoa on her shirt... she's still an awesome winner picker.

First up is a winner for a full years subscription to Knitcircus...

The next 3 winners will each receive a complete pattern collection for the Summer 2011 issue. The final of these 3 winners will also receive the yarn prize... enough Blue Sky Alpaca Skinny Dyed to knit one of my designs from the issue...

Pattern collection 1...

Pattern collection 2...

and Pattern collection 3 plus yarn...

Congradulations to the winners!

I'll be in touch with you all sometime today.

And yes, that curly font still entertains me to no end.

Happy knitting!

Knitcircus Giveaway Monday...

As promised... its Knitcircus Giveaway Day!

This issue is loaded with beautiful summer knitting and lots of other goodies like interviews and reviews.

So here's what's up for grabs...

- 1 winner will receive 1 full years subscription to Knitcircus, that's 5 issues.

-3 winners will each receive 1 full pattern collection, that's all 21 patterns, from the 2011 Summer issue

Here's how its gonna work...

-If you want to be entered to win any of the above you need to leave me a comment on this post telling me what pattern(s) in the summer issue have you all excited about summer knitting. You also must leave contact information so I can get in touch with you if you win.

But there's more!

To celebrate my favorite knitting... knitting for kids... and my 2 adorable designs in the summer issue I'm gonna foot the bill for some yarn for 1 lucky winner who wants to knit for a kid!

Winner will receive 1 of the above pattern collections AND enough Blue Sky Alpaca Skinny Dyed Cotton to whip up one of my kids' designs from the summer issue. To be entered to win you just need to mention in your comment which of my kids patterns you'd like to knit, The Girly Gansey or The Hooded Gansey Vest, AND what color Skinny Dyed you'd like to knit it with! 

Sign-ups are open until midnight EST Tuesday May 10. I'll use some really sophisticated method of choosing random winners and post those winners on Wednesday.

Good luck!

 

Knitcircus... live!

Grab your coffee and head over to Knitcircus where you can leisurely leaf through the Sumer 2011 issue.

Check out my Hooded Gansey Vest for the little guys and the Girly Gansey for the wee girls. 

There's lots of other awesome stuff as well including patterns, interviews, reviews, and from what I've heard a video or 2.

Don't forget to stop back here for your chance to score one of 3 Summer 2011 pattern collections or a full year's subscription to Knitcircus magazine. As a bonus one lucky winner will even be gifted enough Blue Sky Alpaca Skinny Dyed Cotton to complete one of my designs from the magazine!

Details for giveaway will be revealed on Monday May 9, 2011.

Ya know, I'm really excited to be getting back to some design work after taking some down time with the new baby. Things have been hectic in a good way and its a daily challenge to fit in some work time with all the baby and kid time and school time and all the rest. A welcome challenge, indeed.

A big thanks to the lovely folks at Knitcircus for including my designs in this issue!

Quick...

Before I get overpowered by a bunch of baby drool and little kids with glue and scissors here's a tasty morsel for ya...

We're just 2 days away from the May 4th release of Knitcircus Summer 2011!

 

Here's a little shameless self-promotion. I've got 2 ridiculously cute designs in the issue. 

To celebrate my return to the land of the living designing since Bubba entered the world I'll be giving away a few Summer 2011 pattern collections. One lucky winner will even be gifted with enough Blue Sky Alpaca Skinny Dyed cotton to make their choice of my designs in the issue. I'll even let ya pick the color.

Details soon!

Reese Knitting Pattern

I'm always looking for ways to combine a traditional knitting technique or style with a kid friendly, updated flare. Part of the goal is to enjoy my knitting and the other part is to end up with something functional that the kids will enjoy wearing. When I noticed my kids were having fun going through their closets looking for ways to layer their favorite clothing pieces I had an idea and Reese is the result.

Top-down? Check.

Steeked? You got it.

Something even the boys will wear? Absolutely!

 

 

  From the pattern...

Here’s a combination of a classic yoke shape and stranded color-work with an undated finish. As you work from the top down you’ll progress through 3 bands of color which are nestled between 3 rounds of increases resulting in a classic round yoke. A steek paves the way for a zipper and the short sleeves make this a great layering piece for those busy boys and girls.

Sizes
Children’s 2-4 (6-8, 10-12) years.

Finished Measurements
Chest: 28.5 (32.25, 35.75) inches.
Length: 14 (18, 22) inches.
Note: always choose which size is best by the measurement in inches rather than the number size.

Yarn
Vermont Organic’s O~Wool Classic
100% organic Merino wool
3.5 ounces / 100 grams per skein
198 yards / 181 meters per skein
3 (4, 4) hanks MC.
1 hank each of 4 complementary colors.
Sample shown in Main color “Evergreen” with “Sage”, “Cornflower”, “Sky”, and “Natural”.

Needles
24 or 29 inch* US #7 (4.5 mm) circular needle.
24 or 29 inch* US #6 (4.0 mm) circular needle.
*Needle length based on garment chest width.
US #7 (4.5 mm) double point needles.
US #6 (4.0 mm) double point needles.
OR the size needle you need to obtain appropriate gauge.

Extras
Stitch markers, tapestry needle, 1 separating sport zipper.

Skill level
Experienced.

Skills Needed
Working in the round, stranded color-work, working from a chart, short-rows, steeks.

Gauge
18 sts / 25 rows = 4 inches over stockinette stitch.

Note: Wash your swatch as directed on the yarn care label and carefully block it. Let it dry completely and then measure for gauge.

Price: $6.00
Your printable pattern will be immediately downloadable in Adobe PDF (v5.0 or later) format

Wintersweet Knitting Pattern

Sometime back in the fall I became fascinated with the idea of knitting a round yoke sweater with a V-neck. For some reason the idea of carving out a V in a circular field of knitting just sounded like fun.

By the time I started fiddling with the idea the holidays were approaching and snow was falling. It seemed fitting to knit the sample with a silvery-grey yarn that so closely matched the color of the sky as the snowflakes fell and instead of my usual embroidered flowers I was inspired to create snowflakes following the curve of the yoke. I can just as easily picture a spring colored cardigan with tiny flowers dancing around the curve.

Wintersweet is a round yoke cardigan knit from the top down. The V-neck is shaped as the yoke is worked back and forth and is ultimately finished off with a pretty collar and trim. The sleeves have folded cuffs finished with trim to match the collar. 3 simple buttons serve as closures while leaving the slight A-line free to fall gently aside.

 

 

 

   

Sizes

Children’s 2 (4, 6, 8, 10, 12) years.

Finished Measurements
Chest: 25 (27, 29, 30.5, 32, 34) inches.
Length: 14.5 (15.5, 16.75, 18.5, 20, 20.75) inches.

Note: always choose which size is best by the measurement in inches rather than the number size.

Yarn
Green Mountain Spinnery’s Sylvan Spirit
50% Wool, 50% Tencel
2 ounces / 57 grams per hank.
180 yards / 165 meters per hank.
4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) hanks main color.
Small amount contrast color.
Sample shown in main color “Sterling” with contrast color “Peridot”.

Needles
US #6 (4 mm) circular needle.
US #4 (3.5 mm) circular needle.
US #6 (4 mm) double point needles.
US #4 (3.5 mm) double point needles.
OR the size needle you need to obtain appropriate gauge.

Extras
Tapestry needle, 3 buttons. 

Skill level
Easy +

Skills Needed
Basic shaping, working in the round.

Gauge
22 sts / 32 rows = 4 inches over Stockinette stitch.

Price: $6.00
Your printable pattern will be immediately downloadable in Adobe PDF (v5.0 or later) format

Have you seen it?!?

Twist Collective Summer '09 is up, up, up!

I can't even put into words how totally stoked I am to be part of something as awesome as Twist. 

Check out the sunny summer issue... and don't forget to have a peek at my new design ... Pop Rock!

Maggie Knit Blouse Knitting Pattern

 

I truly believe there is nothing in the world sweeter than a little girl dressed in gathers.

 

And piping? Don't even get me started on piping.

 

Combining gathers and piping in a knit version is something I've been dreaming about for a while now. Some of  my very favorite things all knit up together in watery colors and a soft cotton blend is more than I can stand. The piping couldn't be simpler... just a few garter rows to contrast against the smooth stockinette, but it is so perfect in its simpleness.

 

I had spring skirts and soft breezes in mind when I chose the yarn from Vermont Organic in a natural color. "Balance" is a 50/50 blend of organic cotton and merino wool and is some seriously soft, light stuff. Tater has very sensitive skin so I'm careful about things she'll wear directly against her skin and Balance is one of my favorites for her. Its a perfect blend of body and drape and the color range reminds me of water colors and Beatrix Potter stories.

 

 

I left this first sample as is but can easily see stitching a little embroidery across the bodice or along the hem or maybe adding a tiny bow or some dainty buttons on the front instead.

 

 

Do take care when choosing a size to knit. Base your choice on the "to fit" measurement and the cross shoulder measurement on the schematic as the gathered bodice makes measuring the finished chest width a bit tricky.

 

 

 

From the pattern cover:

 

This little smock is my knit version of a little gathered blouse which is one of my very favorite garments to sew for a little girl.

Just like the sewn version the details include a gathered bodice and knitted “piping” along with slightly gathered sleeves and a single button at the back. A gentle scoop neckline and set in sleeves keep it proper yet comfortable in a soft cotton blend.

Sizes:
Children’s 2 (4, 6, 8, 10, 12) years.

To fit chest: 21 (23, 25, 26.5, 28, 30) inches.

 

Finished Measurements:
Length: 12 (13.5, 14.5, 16.5, 18.5, 20) inches.

Yarn:
Vermont Organic’s Balance
50% merino/50% cotton
1.75 ounces / 50 grams per skein
130 yards / 120 meters per skein
3 (3, 4, 5, 5, 6) skeins main color.
1 skein contrast color.
Sample shown in main color “Natural” with “Opal” for contrast.

Needles:
US #5 (3.75 mm) knitting needles.
OR the size needle you need to obtain appropriate gauge.

Extras:
Tapestry needle, waste yarn, one small button.

Skill level:
Easy +

Skills Needed:
Basic shaping, seaming.

Gauge:
20 sts /30 rows = 4 inches over stockinette stitch.

 

Price: $6.00
Your printable pattern will be immediately downloadable in Adobe PDF (v5.0 or later) format

 

 

 

My Wooly Valentine Knitting Pattern

I don't think its a big secret that I'm partial to the general shape of a raglan. Be it right side up or top side down there's just something about the regularity of the raglan seam that either grows to its full measure one step at a time or dwindles away little by little.

So it won't be any big surprise when you get a good look at my newest design; a cabled raglan. This one is worked in the classic bottom up method joining the in-progress sleeves and body together at the underarms. From there the raglan lines establish a central meeting place for the cable panels as they are decreased bit by bit. Here they meet, mirror images of one another, keeping that balance that so attracts me to the shape in the first place.

I've tinkered with the X's and O's that remind me of childish love notes for some time knowing they are part nostalgic and part cheesy but unable to stop myself from doodling them amongst design sketches. They finally took shape in this deeply textured raglan. My initial swatches were in a gorgeous blue wool but when it came time to gather the wool for the full project I just couldn't bring myself to use anything other than a rich red... again nostalgic with a slightly cheesy undertone as Valentine's Day was fast approaching.

If you're at all familiar with cables and traveling stitches you'll find this to be a rather straight-forward set up. Charts are full body width and include the ribbings for both body and sleeve cuffs. The chart keys are given for both traditional cable needle crossings and working the crossings without a cable needle. This is a new feature I'm trying to see what sort of feedback it might bring. I've also included individual panel measurements on the charts to make dependable swatching easier.

And yes, I know its too late for Valentine's Day but I've always believed in doing something special for someone special any day of the year rather than waiting until the calendar reminds us. I can see this design in that original deep blue, or a soft pink, or a spring green and it would still be full of hugs and kisses.

Sizes
Children’s sizes 4-6 (8-10, 12-14) years.

Finished Measurements
Chest: 29.5 (35, 39) inches.
Length: 19.5 (22.5, 24.5) inches.

Note: always choose which size is best by the measurement in inches rather than the number size.

Yarn
Green Mountain Spinnery’s
Wonderfully Wooly
100% New England Wool
4 ounces / 113 grams per skein.
250 yards / 228 meters per skein.
4 (5, 6) skeins.
Sample shown in color “Trillium”.

Needles
US #7 (4.5 mm) 24 inch circular needle
US #7 double point needles
US # 6 (4.0 mm) 24 inch circular needle
US #6 (4.0 mm) double point needles
OR the size needle you need to obtain appropriate gauge.

Extras
Stitch markers, cable needle, waste yarn or stitch holders.

Skill level
Experienced.

Skills Needed
Working from a chart, working in the round, cabling.

Gauge
17sts/25 rows = 4 inches over stockinette stitch.
*See charts for specific cable panel measurements.

Price: $6.00
Your printable pattern will be immediately downloadable in Adobe PDF (v5.0 or later) format