Holly Pattern

A vintage-style, slim-fit cardigan with Fair Isle pattern and contrast coloured edgings.

PDF available here.

To fit 32” chest.
Finished measurements:
Chest 33”
Sleeve seam 18”
Length 21”

Requirements
2 x 100g balls of Sirdar Country Style DK (main colour) 318 metres / 348 yards per ball
I used shade 502 gemini
1 x 100g ball of Sirdar Country Style DK in four contrasting colours
I used shades 423 light pink, 411 cream, 609 pillarbox, 441 light navy and 595 highland burn
3.75mm and 3.25mm straight needles
8 buttons
Tension
22 sts and 29 rows to 10 cm measured over pattern.
Abbreviations
k = knit
p = purl
sts = stitches
k2tog = knit 2 together
k2togtbl = knit 2 together through back of loops
dec = decrease
m1= make 1
alt = alternate
RS = right side
WS = wrong side
yon = yarn over needle

BACK
With 3.75mm needles cast on 102 sts in red, knit one row.
Change to dark green,
Row 2 : (p2, k2) p2
Row 3 : (k2, p2) k2
Repeat last 2 rows 10 more times, then row 2 once more.
Row 25: k14(k2tog, k16) 3 times, k2togtbl, k16, K2togtbl, k14. 97 sts
Purl 1 row.
Commence Fair Isle from chart, and at the same time, decrease 1 st at each end of 5th and 3 following 4th rows. 89 sts

Pattern 9 rows.
Increase 1 st at each end of next and 3 following 8th rows. 97 sts
Pattern 17 rows (ending with pattern row 14).

Shape armholes
Cast off 5 sts at the beginning of the next two rows. 87 sts
Decrease 1 st at each end of next 3 rows.
Decrease 1 st at each end of next 3 alternate rows.
Decrease 1 st at each end of following 4th row. 73 sts
Continue straight until armhole measures 18 cm, ending with a WS row.

Shape shoulders
Cast off 9 sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
Cast off 8 sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
Leave remaining 39 sts on a holder.

LEFT FRONT
With 3.75mm needles cast on 51 stitches in red. Knit 1 row.
Break off red and join in dark green.
Row 2: (p2, k2) to last 3 sts, p3.
Row 3: k3, (p2, k2) to end.
Repeat last two rows until 24 rows have been completed.
Decrease row : k14, k2tog, k16, k2tog, k17. 49 sts
Purl 1 row.
Commence Fair Isle pattern from chart. Keeping pattern correct, decrease 1 st at beginning of 5th and 3 following 4th rows. 45 sts
Pattern 9 rows.
Increase 1 st at beginning of next and 3 following 8th rows. 49 sts
Pattern 17 rows without shaping ending with pattern row 14.

Armhole shaping
Cast off 5 sts at beginning of next row.
Work 1 row.
Decrease 1 st at beg of next 3 rows.
Decrease 1 st at beg of next 3 alternate rows.
Decrease 1 st at beg of following 4th row. 37 sts
Work 2 rows, ending with a WS row facing for next row.

Neck shaping
Cast off 8 sts at beg of next row.
Decrease 1 st at neck edge on next 5 rows.
Decrease 1 st at neck edge on next 5 alternate rows.
Decrease 1 st at neck edge on next 2 following 4th rows. 17 sts
Continue straight until armhole measures the same as back to start of shoulder shaping, ending with a WS row.

Shape shoulders
Cast off 9 sts at beg of next row.
Work 1 row.
Cast off remaining 8 sts.

RIGHT FRONT
With 3.75mm needles cast on 51 stitches in red. Knit 1 row.
Break off red and join in dark green.
Row 2: p3(k2, p2) to end.
Row 3: (k2, p2) to last 3 sts, k3.
Repeat last two rows until 24 rows have been completed.
Decrease row : k17, k2tog, k16, k2tog, k14. 49 sts
Purl 1 row.
Commence Fair Isle pattern from chart. Keeping pattern correct, decrease 1 st at end of 5th and 3 following 4th rows. 45 sts
Pattern 9 rows.
Increase 1 st at end of next and 3 following 8th rows. 49 sts
Pattern 17 rows without shaping ending with pattern row 14.

Armhole shaping
Pattern 1 row.
Cast off 5 sts at beginning of next row.
Decrease 1 st at end of next 3 rows.
Decrease 1 st at end of next 3 alternate rows.
Decrease 1 st at end of following 4th row. 37 sts
Work 3 rows, ending with a RS row facing for next row.

Neck shaping
Cast off 8 sts at beg of next row.
Decrease 1 st at neck edge on next 5 rows.
Decrease 1 st at neck edge on next 5 alternate rows.
Decrease 1 st at neck edge on next 2 following 4th rows. 17 sts
Continue straight until armhole measures the same as back to start of shoulder shaping, ending with a RS row.

Shape shoulders
Cast off 9 sts at beg of next row.
Work 1 row.
Cast off remaining 8 sts.

SLEEVES
With 3.25mm needles cast on 50 stitches in red. Knit 1 row.
Break off red and join in dark green.
Row 2: (p2, k2) to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 3: k2, (p2, k2) to end.
Repeat last two rows until 16 rows have been completed.
Change to 3.75mm needles and stocking stitch.
Increase row : k1, (k3, m1) to last 4 sts, k4. 65 sts
Purl 1 row.
Commence Fair Isle pattern from chart. At the same time, increase 1 st at each end of 7th row and 9 following 8th rows. 85 sts
Continue straight until sleeve measures 44 cm from cast on edge ending with a WS row (this should work out as pattern row 14).

Armhole shaping
Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 79 sts
Decrease 1 st at each end of next 7 rows.
Decrease 1 st at each end of 5 following alt rows.
Decrease 1 st at each end of following 4th row. 53 sts
Decrease 1 st at each end of next 4 alt rows.
Decrease 1 st at each end of next 7 rows.
Cast off 6 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 19 sts
Cast off remaining 19 sts.

MAKING UP
Darn in all loose ends.
Join shoulder seams.
Set in sleeves and join side and sleeve seams.

NECKBAND
Using 3.25mm needles, dark green yarn and with RS facing pick up and knit 40 sts from right front, knit across 39 sts from back neck, pick up and knit 39 sts from left front. 118 sts
Work 7 rows in k2, p2 rib.
Break off dark green and join in red. Rib one more row. Cast off in rib.

BUTTON BAND
With 3.25mm needles, dark green yarn and with RS facing pick up and knit 94 sts up left front of cardigan.
Row 1: (p2, k2) to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 2: (k2, p2) to last 2 sts, k2.
Repeat last two rows 2 more times, then row 1 once more (7 rows completed in total).
Break off dark green and join in red. Rib one more row. Cast off in rib.

BUTTONHOLE BAND
With 3.25mm needles, dark green yarn and with RS facing pick up and knit 94 sts up right front of cardigan.
Row 1: (p2, k2) to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 2: (k2, p2) to last 2 sts, k2.
Repeat row 1.
Buttonhole row (row 4): k2, p2, yon, k2tog,[ (p2, k2) x 2, p2, yon, k2tog] 7 times, p2, k2.
Work 3 more rows in rib.
Break off dark green and join in red. Rib one more row. Cast off in rib.

Sew 8 buttons onto button band to correspond with buttonholes.

Mini Christmas Trees

Here are some lovely little Christmas trees I made as a surprise for Christmas Day. 

They are about 5 inches tall.  They are knitted and decorated with star-shaped beads (from old bracelets the girls used to play with when they were very young).  They would also look good with round sparkly beads or sequins.

The pattern is available as a free Ravelry download, here.  OK so you may not want to make them right now - but you could add the pattern to your queue for next Christmas!

I used the trees to decorate the Christmas table and propped some name cards up against them to mark each place setting. 

9 Days of Christmas?

Only one day to go - and I've only completed 9 of the 12 knits of Christmas.  Here's the dancing lady for the ninth day of Christmas. 

No point worrying about the last three days of Christmas - they'll wait until next year.  It's now time to relax and enjoy the festivities.

A big thank you to you all for visiting my blog throughout the year.  I very much appreciate all the kind comments. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful time over the holiday period and

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL.

Sherlock Holmes

Night out, last night, to the pictures.  We saw the new Sherlock Holmes film. 

Robert Downey jnr was wonderful again. 

I thought I might have been disappointed because I was expecting so much.  The first film was brilliant - and this one was just as good.  Lots of over-the-top action, plenty of laughs and a really nasty villain. 

Another film to add to my favourites list. 

Christmas Cards

Time's flying and I need to slow down and start relaxing into Christmas.  But before I run out of time, I thought I'd share with you some pictures of the Christmas cards I have made this year. 

I used various Christmas papers in three different sized squares and made simple origami modular shapes to form a layered Christmas tree. 

I added a little wooden star - and Hey presto - nice and easy, but charming little cards. 

Tonight we're off to the pictures to see the new Sherlock Holmes film - can't wait - I'm so excited - probably too excited, but I've been waiting for so long for this film to come out.  I'll let you know what we thought of it. 

Christmas Cardigan

Some months ago I made a colourful Fair Isle cardigan - but I wasn't happy with it.  I've now reknitted the sleeves and the button bands - and - I love it. 

It's a lovely slim fit - plenty of colour and pattern - and a perfect cardi for Christmas. 

I'm calling the pattern Holly - this seems appropriate as the colours are green and red. 

Bear with me whilst I finish writing up the pattern - I'll publish it as soon as I can - but it will be after Christmas.

Hugo

Eve and I went to the pictures last night and saw the film Hugo, directed by Martin Scorsese. 

It's not your usual Martin Scorsese film - this one was charming and whimsical.  Set in 1930s Paris, it's about an orphaned boy living in a train station who is trying to repair a broken automaton.  It's full of details about the history of the film industry, lovely little romantic scenarios and surreal moments. 

A beautiful film that warms your heart. 

The Twelve Knits of Christmas Part 2

Making slow progress with the Twelve Knits of Christmas.  During the day (when everyone is out) I'm busy with all my secret makes, so I only have time for these in the evening.  Next year I am definitely going to start preparing for Christmas earlier!

Anyway, here is part two of the Twelve Knits of Christmas.

Five Gold Rings...

A Goose (not a-laying) ...

A Swimming Swan...

A rather scary Milk Maid...

The next four may take a bit more time to finish but I'll do my best. 

Christmas Wreath

Time's flying and I've still so much to do and make.  In between projects I thought I would share with you a couple of pictures of the wreath I have decorated for Christmas. 

The letters are crocheted.  I used the wonderful patterns in Melody Griffiths' book 201 Crochet Motifs, Blocks, Projects and Ideas.  Regular readers will know that I use these letters on a regualr basis for decorations - they are so versatile. 

The red and yellow flowers also come from the book - based on a primrose pattern - and are quick and easy to make. 

Nice and jolly - the wreath is now hanging up in the porch to welcome visitors to our home. 

Harry Potter Puppet Pals

As a little treat and a surprise for Eve, I knitted some Harry Potter puppet pals for her to have fun with with her friends. 

The patterns are by Darlene Polishak and are avaliable for free, here, here and here. 

They are quick to knit but it's the making up that takes time.  Having said that it was worth all the fiddling around to see the look of delight on Eve's face when she opened the box with them in - she's worth it.