Blog « Golden Apple Threads

Whitman Fingerless Mitts

November 12, 2013

I love these fingerless mitts. I originally created these to use up the remainders of yarn left over from the Whitman hat, but they soon had a life of their own and the pattern went from short, to long. I spend a lot of time playing with different designs for the forearm ribbing, I thought 1×1 or 2×2 ribbing would be too boring. After much trial and error, I settled on combo of 3 stitches of the Whitman textured stitch and three stitches of a slipped stitch ribbing.

Just for the heck of it, I also knit a version with 1×1 ribbing and found that I actually enjoyed this simple forearm more than the 3×3. I love how the 1×1 ribbing adjusts to fit the forearm and wrist so nicely, while creating a clean design line as well. When it came time to publish the pattern, I did a poll to see which forearm design was most popular. The result was that they were equally popular, so I wrote the pattern with both options. In addition to this design option, there is also an option for short/long, small/large, and a 1×1 rib stitch for the thumb or a thumb done in pattern. Wow, that comes out to 64 possible combinations. The challenge of this pattern was how to work all these options into a simple, clear and concise pattern. Thanks to suggestions and help from my test knitters, I was able to get the pattern instructions into only one page. I call that a success!

: Whitman Fingerless Mitts, copyright Danielle Morgan Designs

: Whitman Fingerless Mitts, copyright Danielle Morgan Designs

: Whitman Fingerless Mitts, copyright Danielle Morgan Designs

: Whitman Fingerless Mitts, copyright Danielle Morgan Designs

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Tutorial: Invisible Sewn Bind-Off in Pattern

November 9, 2013

The Invisible Sewn Bind-Off is a little known, but incredibly awesome, bind-off. It’s similar to Elizabeth Zimmerman’s sewn bind-off, but I find it easier and more adaptable. One of my favorite things about this technique is that it can be used to bind off “in pattern.” This means knit stitches get bound-off knit-wise, and purl stitches get bound-off purl-wise. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, it’s also incredibly stretchy and will not cause your cast-off edge to curl. What is not to love!

The technique often elicits eye squints and lip biting the first few minutes, but once you understand the technique, it becomes very easy to memorize and goes fairly quickly. Essentially, the second stitch from the right determines how you will bind off the first stitch on your needle (i.e. the stitch sitting at the end, waiting to be safely wrapped and finished off). Whatever the second stitch is, you will do the opposite of that to that second stitch, then you will do the opposite of that to the first stitch. Clear as mud, right? Just follow along with a project in hand and I promise it will all work out.

1. Measure out a length of yarn three times the length of your cast-off edge. Do this by wrapping your yarn loosely around the length (or circumference) of the edge to be cast-off, then measure this length out twice more. I always add a few extra inches for good measure.

2. Thread the tail into a tapestry needle. With working yarn on left needle and right side facing you, begin the following sewn stitch pattern.

If the second stitch from the right is a knit, then:

* pass the tapestry needle (from front to back) purlwise through the second stitch

* then pass the tapestry needle (from front to back) knitwise through the first stitch, slipping it off the knitting needle

If the second stitch from the right is a purl, then:

* pass the tapestry needle (from front to back) knitwise through the second stitch

* then pass the tapestry needle (from front to back) purlwise through the first stitch, slipping it off the knitting needle

So easy!

(Photos, and video tutorial coming very soon. Please feel free to message me on ravelry.com or send me an email using the contact link if you have any questions).

This bind-off is ideal for cable work, for 1 x1 ribbing, 2 x 2 ribbing, or when you need a stretchy bind-off for fingerless gloves and socks. It is featured in the Whitman Fingerless Mitts pattern.

Tags: 1x1, 1x1 bind-off, 1x1 cast-off, 2x2, 2x2 rib, 2x2 ribbed bind-off, 2x2 ribbed cast-off, 2x2 sewn bind-off, bind-off tutorial, bindoff in pattern, cable work bind-off, cast-off, cast-off in pattern, elizabeth zimmerman sewn bindoff, fingerless glove bind-off, knit bind-off, knit purl bind-off, knit purl bindoff, knitting, knitting tutorial, knitwise, purl bind-off, purlwise, ravelry, ribbed bind-off, ribbed cast-off, ribbing, sewn bind-off, sewn bindoff, sewn cast-off, sewn knit purl bind-off, sock bind-off, stretchy bind-off, tutorial

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Sweater Weather – Yep!

September 28, 2013

September 28, 2013

Last Saturday I blogged about the Rhinebeck Sweater collection. A few days ago, details on my other “favorite” sweater from forthcoming “The Rhinebeck Sweater” was released. This amazing design is Artichoke French by Laura Nelkin. You can visit her blog nelkindesigns.blogspot.com for insight into the process of inspiration to sweater.

Laura Nelkin’s Artichoke French, photo by Ysolda Teague

Knit buttom-up, in the round with some sweet-ass cable action the most bad ass thumb-holes, this sweater is also at the top of my queue. Unfortunately (fortunately?) I don’t have an appropriate SQ (sweater quantity) of Aran in my stash and don’t have the funds at the moment. But you can bet I will be keeping my eyes peeled next weekend at the Taos Wool Festival for the perfect Aran for this must-have pullover.

In the meantime, my yarn arrived for Ysolda Teague’s Pumkin Ale. The recommended yarn seems awesome, but the colors are sort of limited and I had a very particular shade of gold in mind. I found the perfect shade in Dream in Color Classy, a 100% superwash Merino. Meet Gold Experience:

Dream in Color Classy “Experience Gold” (c) Danielle Morgan

Tags: aran, artichoke french, autumn, cables, dic, dreamincolor, gold, green, knit, knitting, laura nelkin, nelkin designs, pullover, rhinebeck, sweater, sweaterweather, wool, ysolda

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The Rhinebeck Sweater Lookbook by Ysolda Teague and Friends

September 21, 2013

Pumpkin Ale by Ysolda Teague

I am so inspired by Ysolda Teague’s newest sweater. The pattern is not even available yet, but already it has created quite the stir on Ravelry (and in my own heart – be still my beating heart). The fabulousness of this design cannot be summed up as a collection of awesome parts. We can point to the incredible back panel, the stylish / modern / simple design of the front, the details at shoulder, collar, forearm . . . the pockets! This is one of those timeless designs that is more than the sum of parts: the coherence of the whole radiates beauty, comfort, and intelligent design. Good on ya’ Ysolda.

And the best part – this is just one of the many FABULOUS! patterns in the forthcoming book “The Rhinebeck Sweater by Ysolda Teague and Friends”. Click on the link below to see the fabulous lookbook just published! The Rhinebeck Sweater Lookbook

Slideshow of Pumpkin Ale on Ravelry

Tags: comfort, designer, fall, fall sweater, knit, knitting, knitwear, lookbook, pockets, ravelry, rhinebeck, sweater, sweater weather, sweaterweather, ysolda, ysoldateague

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Designer All Star Circle of Lurv

September 17, 2013

It’s been less than 24 hours since I launched my first pattern. I’m thrilled. Beyond words. Already the pattern is approaching 200 favorites (I like to call them “hearts”) and has been in the Ravelry’s Top 20 “Hot Right Now” patterns most of the day. It so incredibly rewarding to see something that makes me happy bring happiness to others. Of course I hoped for this, but honestly I was preparing myself for my pattern to sell 30 or so in the next year. I’ve sold twice that in one day . . .

Okay, okay, I also totally did armflail when I say this:

Yep, that’s my pattern . . . next to Stephen West’s Mystery KAL (how fun does that look?) Amy Herzog is just above and Jared fucking Flood just below. Maybe I’m totally delusional, but I’m just going to enjoy the warmth of this Designer All Star Circle of Lurv . . .

Until next time,

Be Your Beautiful Self

Tags: amyherzog, brooklyntweed, bt, jaredflood, loft, ravelry, stephen west, westknits

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Whitman is Finally Here!

September 16, 2013

I’m thrilled to launch my first pattern! The photo shoot was a totally new thing for me. Usually when I take photos of my finished knit items it’s me taking selfies on my iPhone. Luckily, I have some fabulous friends that jumped on board to make a real photo shoot happened. I was able to borrow a real camera from my friend and brilliant artist, Ali Silverstein, Michael did the shooting and my model is the lovely Jacqueline Stuart.

This is one of my favorite shots, not the best for the covershot for the photo, not enough detail of the hat and her look is “severe” (or so I’m told). But honestly, that’s why I really love this shot. Honest, no-bullshit beauty with a touch of melancholy. Such is life.

In the meantime, you can see photos, pattern info and a buy it now link on the Pattern page.

Tags: design, dk, golden apple knits, golden apple threads, goldenapple, goldenapplethreads, hat, jacqueline stuart, knit, knitting, madelinetosh, model, pattern, ravelry.com, slouch, slouchy, slouchy hat, thread, threads, tosh dk, traveller

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A Motely Fool

August 31, 2013

September 12, 2013

I was furrowing my brow, worrying over some tricky wording in the instructions for the Whitman hat, when I got a pleasant surprise in my inbox. Rachel the Oracle of Verdant Gryphon pm-ed me on Ravelry to inquire about using some photos from my Great Divide Shawl. She was so inspired by my Bugga! combination of Praying Mantis and Atala Butterfly she decided to make it the feature of next week’s shop update. She’s offering $5.00 off when you buy both Atala Butterfly and Praying Mantis on Bugga! Visit the Verdant Gryphon Blog to read all about the update and drool (then impulse buy) this gorgeous yarn. Verdant Gryphon is my favorite hand-dyer, I am so psyched to get a shout-out from them!

This project was inspired by Act II, Scene 7 of Shakespeare’s As You Like It
for a Nerd Wars challenge. (Yep,

Nerd Wars. That’s how I roll . . . )

A fool, a fool! I met a fool i’ th’ forest,
A motley fool. A miserable world!

As I do live by food, I met a fool,
Who laid him down and bask’d him in the sun,
And rail’d on Lady Fortune in good terms,

In good set terms- and yet a motley fool.
‘Good morrow, fool,’ quoth I; ‘No, sir,’ quoth he,
‘Call me not fool till heaven hath sent me fortune.’
And then he drew a dial from his poke,
And, looking on it with lack-lustre eye,

Says very wisely, ‘It is ten o’clock;
Thus we may see,’ quoth he, ‘how the world wags;
‘Tis but an hour ago since it was nine;
And after one hour more ‘twill be eleven;
And so, from hour to hour, we ripe and ripe,
And then, from hour to hour, we rot and rot;
And thereby hangs a tale.’ When I did hear
The motley fool thus moral on the time,
My lungs began to crow like chanticleer
That fools should be so deep contemplative;
And I did laugh sans intermission
An hour by his dial. O noble fool!
A worthy fool! Motley’s the only wear.

Tags: bugga, color, color combo, coupon, golden apple, golden apple knits, gryphon, hand-dyed, knit, knitting, knitting shawl merino color, merino, nerd wars, pattern, ravelry, shakespeare, shawl, T8, verdant gryphon

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Golden Apple Threads