Posted on Leave a comment

Easy and Gorgeous Alpaca Cowl instructions

Local, natural alpaca bliss in a brown like only the best chocolate

A photo posted by Faerwear (Dori) (@faerwear) on

This came from a local alpaca ranch – we actually have several of these within an hour’s radius, and we’ve mostly visited all of them (fun for kids, and alpaca poop is BOMB for your garden, and it doesn’t burn – so you can basically just sprinkle it around whenever you want and your plants and your soil will show almost-instant happiness).

Actually though, i found this one single skein in one of the local thrift shops. I couldn’t believe it, because a thirty dollar skein of yarn came home with me for $6.50, label and all, but so it did. One single skein, which hung out in my yarn stash until recently when I began busting for gifts.

I really only knit small things anymore – hats, small shawls and triangular scarves, fancy washcloths – and I whipped this up as a gift. I of course tried it on, and it’s pretty dang sexy.

SUPER simple instructions here:

You’ll need one 220-yard skein of something luxurious in a heavy fingering/sock weight, or double two laceweights (which is pretty much what this was, handspun two-ply) and some US10 needles (I use a 16″ circular because it’s easy transport for me). You really do need something with a propensity for drape – alpaca, silk blends, etc.

Cast on 84 stitches and join for knitting in the round. Purl a row, and then knit for 12-18 inches (if you want to be able to pull this up over your head and ears, knit at least 18-24 inches). You’ll have some curl (quite a bit at the beginning) because it’s straight stockinette but eventually the weight of the fabric will pull most of it out and the rest of it just looks and feels nice. Cast off in purl and block.

Posted on Leave a comment

Christmas Knitting, Gifts and Free Knitting Patterns

free knitting pattern | Evie's Dream Scarf | faerwear

It’s no secret amongst my friends that I’m also an avid knitter, and there’s nothing like finding good free knitting patterns that endure. I’ve paid for plenty of patterns – I can tell you from personal experience that a LOT of work goes into one, even if it’s just formatting it for standards so you can post it on your own blog.

I had a crazy year though, and my knitting time was basically taken up by designing faerwear (that’s fine too – I love to knit and make jewelry, but knitting is one of those things that i do strictly for gifting and enjoyment as I am slow at it) – but it’s now the holiday season, and so I am knitting like crazy).

This is exciting because it offers the periodic excuse to visit a yarn shop (or Webs, or Jimmy Beans Wool, my two favorites for finding deals on commercially-produced yarns), have soft fluffy things in my hands for hours, watch a lot of period pieces (my favorite for knitting) and also because it means I just get to be creative, without worrying about whether something will sell.

Christmas gifts from me are generally hats, dishcloth sets and cowls – they’re all quick, easy, and always useful 🙂

That being said, I actually have several of my own patterns available, some of which are free and found right here on this website! If you’re on Ravelry, you can peruse all of my patterns together right here.

And yes, I do knit a lot of my own hat patterns as gifts – but I wanted to mention, also, two of my other favorite go-tos: the classic Felicity hat pattern, and Graham from Nutty Irishman Knits – both of these slouchy beanies knit up quickly and easily.

Eventually I will tell my very sweet and romantic story (the one that left me single-parenting all year) – but suffice it to say, that part of our lovely modern day love story saga is now over and my Canadian partner was granted a marriage visa this very morning! We will all be together as a family again in just a few short weeks – I’m so excited about the new life we are about to embark on, and all the creativity that is about to pile out of this household.

I have two more craft shows happening before Christmas – one this Friday and one this coming Monday evening (a “sip and shop” – lord help me, because I think that “sip” might mean “wine”, but that’s always a good thing when it comes to shopping). So I’m busy writing, making earrings, knitting, and mothering all at once right now and just reminding myself that January is going to be a big sigh of relief.

Happy Holidays!

Posted on Leave a comment

Bonnet Belle – Free Knitting Pattern Baby Hat

Bonnet Belle, free knitting pattern baby hat | faerwear

This was a pattern I whipped up when my daughter was six months old (she’s eight years old now) – my kiddo had (has) a massive head and she’d outgrown all her baby hats, so we did this one afternoon.

The Ravelry page is here if you like keeping your projects updated.  It’s a cute little baby bonnet that only takes short bit of time to knit – you can modify it easily to add additional flavors, and it makes a great gift or charity knit.

Skill level/required skills: Skill level: easy. Skills required: knitting in the round, basic increases and decreases.

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK (55% Merino/33% Microfiber/12% Cashmere; 120 yds/110 m; 50g/1.76 oz); 1 skein

Needles & Notions:

  • US2 dpns, set of 5
  • US5 dpns, set of 5
  • Tapestry needle
  • Stitch marker (optional)

Gauge: 5 stitches and 10 rounds to 1 inch in stockinette in the round on US5 needles, unblocked

Finished size: approx. 14” diameter, 5.25” length; fits newborn – 6 mos.

Stitches & abbreviations:
k: knit
p: purl
k2tog (decrease): knit two stitches together
KRL (increase)*: with right needle, pick up the loop directly
under the next stitch and place it on the left needle. Knit
this stitch and continue.
eor: end of round

* check out this URL for a demonstration of this increase: http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2007/05/very‐nearlyinvisible‐increase.html

Begin Pattern:
Using the long‐tail cast‐on method, cast on 96 stitches.

Divide evenly (24 sts) between four needles and join for working in the round. If you wish, place marker to indicate end of round (eor).

Make ruffle:
Round 1 knit.
Round 2 *k4, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 80 sts.
Round 3 knit.
Round 4 *k8, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 72 sts.

Make hat band:
Switch to US2 needles.
Round 1 knit.
Rounds 2-6 *k2, p2. Repeat from * to eor.

Make hat body:
Switch to US5 needles.
Round 1 knit.
Round 2 *k8, KRL, k1. Repeat from * to eor. 80 sts.
Rounds 3- 9 knit.
Round 10 *k9, KRL, k1. Repeat from * to eor. 88 sts.
Rounds 11-14 knit.
Round 15 *k10, KRL, k1. Repeat from * to eor. 96 sts.
Rounds 16-18 knit.
Round 19 *k11, KRL, k1. Repeat from * to eor. 104 sts.
Rounds 20-22 knit.
Round 23 *k11, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 96 sts.
Rounds 24-25 knit.
Round 26 *k10, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 88 sts.
Rounds 27-28 knit
Round 29 *k9, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 80 sts.
Round 30 knit.
Round 31 *k8, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 72 sts.
Round 32 knit.
Round 33 *k7, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 64 sts.
Round 34 *k6, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 56 sts.
Round 35 *k5, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 48 sts.
Round 36 *k4, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 40 sts.
Round 37 *k3, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 32 sts.
Round 38 *k2, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 24 sts.
Round 39 *k1, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 16 sts.
Round 40 *k2tog, k2tog. Repeat from * to eor. 8 sts.
Round 41 Repeat round 40. 4 sts.

With tapestry needle, draw working yarn through these six stitches, pull tight and weave in ends. Block if you wish.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Posted on 3 Comments

Evie’s Dream Scarf

Evie's Dream Scarf | free knitting pattern, free knitting patterns, lace knitting | faerwear

Originally a free download on Ravelry, this free pattern, Evie’s Dream Scarf, now resides here!

Evie lives in San Luis Obispo, California, where it never really gets that cold, but she likes scarves and appreciates a fine fiber. I wanted to make her something that showed off a bit of technique and kept me interested long enough to get it done – hence, larger needles, a lace stitch (“Dutch Lace”) I obtained from a vintage mon tricot knitting dictionary, a simple garter stitch border and a single skein of yarn, which provided me with a four-foot scarf when all was said and done. Charts make me cross‐eyed and as this is a free pattern, I didn’t pay anyone else to generate one for me (feel free to have at it though, and send it my way if you do!). Blocking will really bring out the beauty of this stitch (my photo above was prior to blocking, but check out the pattern page on Ravelry for much better photographs!)

Use the PrintFriendly link at the end of this pattern to print a “friendly” copy of this pattern!

Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend (70% Merino/30% Silk; 150 yds/137 meters; 1.76 oz/50 g) – one skein

Needles & Notions: 

  • US size 11 needles, 16” circular or straights
  • Stitch markers (2)
  • Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Finished size: Approximately 6” x 4’

Additional notes:
Gauge really doesn’t matter here, nor does the needle size or the yarn you use – play with it and experiment.

Stitches & abbreviations:
k: knit
p: purl
k2tog (decrease): knit two stitches together
p2tog (decrease): purl two stitches together
yo (increase): yarn over the needle to create a stitch
sl1/sl2: slip 1 (2) stitch(es) purlwise from left needle to right
psso: pass slipped stitch(es) over last knit or purl stitch(es)
cross 2 R: knit the second stitch on the left needle, then knit the first stitch

Begin Pattern:
Using the long‐tail cast‐on method, cast on 22 stitches and knit six rows (garter stitch). Place markers after the first three knitted stitches and before the last three knitted stitches on each row (simply denotes the garter stitch border). Stitch count never changes by row – you’ll consistently have 16 stitches between the markers.

Row 1: k8, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k8.
Row 2: k3, p4, p2tog, yo, p4, yo, p2tog, p4, k3.
Row 3: k6, k2tog, yo, k6, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6.
Row 4: k3, p2, p2tog, yo, p4, yo, p2tog, p2, yo, p2tog, p2, k3.
Row 5: k4, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k4.
Row 6: k3, p2tog, yo, p6, yo, p2tog, p4, yo, p2tog, k3.
Row 7: k3, sl1, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k4, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, sl1, k3.
Row 8: k3, p3, yo, p2tog, p3, yo, p2tog, p1, p2tog, yo, p3, k3.
Row 9: k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k4, k2tog, yo, k7
Row 10: k3, yo, p2tog, p3, yo, p2tog, p2, p2tog, yo, p5, k3.
Row 11: k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k4, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, yo, k9.
Row 12: k3, yo, p2tog, p2, p2tog, yo, p1, sl2, p1, yo, p2tog, p4, k3.
Row 13: k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, cross 2 R, k2, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6.
Row 14: k3, p2, p2tog, yo, p4, yo, p2tog, p2, yo, p2tog, p2, k3.
Row 15: k4, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k4.
Row 16: k3, p2tog, yo, p6, yo, p2tog, p4, yo, p2tog, k3.

Repeat pattern from row 7 until you’re almost out of yarn (if using the same yarn and yardage) or as long as you want it.

Knit six rows (garter stitch) and bind off. Weave in ends, then block gently by pinning out and misting or steaming carefully.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email