Narrow Latvian Flower Band

This is a simpler Latvian Flower Band than the one I posted last year (Feb. 2016).  This was the first inkle band I had made, and the pattern was from a Ravelry Winter Belt WAL (Weave along) in the Knit Like a Latvian group.  The pattern is in the book Latviesu Jostas.

                                                                    Latvian Flower Band

This band has a single flower in the center, so it's easy to weave.  The colors should be red, green, blue, and yellow.  I didn't have red, so I used purple.  I used Sugar 'n Cream.  At the time, I didn't have any weaving threads.  I like using size 3/2 weaving cotton now for inkle bands, and I think the pattern would look clearer.  The yellow is so light, too--I would use a darker yellow.

I used purple for my shuttle thread (weft thread), but it should be red.  Whatever you use for your weft thread will be the center color of the flower.  If you look above, the flower is the horizontal purple line surrounded by the yellow petals. 

There are 23 threads, and you warp the band as usual: heddled, open, heddled, open, etc.  But, where you have a "doubled" thread, you can either use a heavier thread, or Two threads as One Thread.  Make sure to heddle doubled threads together as one or leave them open together as one thread.

Here is the color order for warping: 2 red, 2 green, 2 yellow, 2 blue, 2 yellow, 1 doubled green, 1 yellow (this is center of band), 1 doubled green, 2 yellow, 2 blue, 2 yellow, 2 green, and 2 red.

So, you warp it like this: 1 red heddled, 1 red unheddled, 1 green heddled, 1 green unheddled, etc.  You can start with a heddled thread or an open thread; it doesn't matter.

Weave several shots of plain weave--just as you weave a regular inkle band to begin the pattern.

Then for the pattern, you weave the band as usual except for the doubled threads.

*So, when you open the first shed for the pattern, if the green doubled threads are in the "down shed" pick them Up to the top and pass the shuttle through the shed.  Then weave 2 shots of plain weave as usual.

Then open the next shed and the doubled green threads should be "up".  Push them Down to the down shed and pass the shuttle through.  Then weave 2 more shots of plain weave as usual.*

Repeat from * to * over and over for the length of the band.  End with some rows of plain weave.

If you open your first shed for the pattern, and the green doubled threads are UP, then push them down and pass the shuttle through.  Follow with 2 rows of plain weave.  Then for the next row, open the shed and the green doubled threads should be Down.  Pick them up and pass the shuttle through.  Then follow with 2 rows of plain weave.

Repeat by either pushing down or pulling up the doubled green threads and passing the shuttle through and then do 2 rows of plain weave.  And Repeat.

Azzu's Shawl

The Fiber Arts Guild that I belong to is having a KAL (knit along).  We're knitting Azzu's Shawl by Emma Fassio, which is free on Ravelry.  It's a long shawl that can be twisted around the neck and knotted in front. 

                                                                        Azzu's Shawl

I used Berocco Ultra Alpaca Light, which is a sport weight yarn.  I had 3 skeins (432 yards), and I used most of it.  I used a size 7 needle.  Gauge was 5 stitches/inch in stockinette.  The pattern calls for fingering weight yarn, but this will be a bit warmer.

The shawl increases in width because every row increases at least 2 stitches on both the right side rows and the wrong side rows.  I added 5 rows to the end of the shawl, which added two extra eyelet rows: Row 5, star row, row 5, star row, row 5. 

I blocked the shawl on play mats with pins.  It blocked out to 72 inches wide.

I used the Russian bind off, which is also called Knitted Lace Bind off.  This is a stretchy bind off, which allows you to block the shawl out easily.

You knit the first 2 stitches, then place the LH needle into the front of the 2 stitches and knit them together from that position (K2togBL).  *Knit 1 stitch, place LH needle in the front of the two stitches, and knit them together from that position (knit 2 tog through back loop).  Repeat across from *.  Take the tail through the last stitch on the needle and then weave the tail in. 

The worksheet that is available with the pattern is very helpful for checking off rows as you work them.  It also provides stitch counts so you know you're on track. 

I did a garter stitch tab to begin the shawl so it looks similar to the garter stitch edging around the edges of the shawl.  Work 4 (or 5*) rows of garter stitch (Knit every row).  Turn your knitting sideways and pick up and knit 2 stitches (one stitch per garter row).  Turn sideways again and pick up and knit 2 stitches in the cast on edge.  6 stitches total.  Begin on row 3.  * Some directions say to knit 1 additional row before turning sideways.  This makes it easier to turn sideways and pick up and knit the stitches in the garter stitch rows.

This was a fun Knit along!

Flower Garden CAL (Crochet Along)

The Knitting Network website recently hosted a CAL for a really pretty crochet afghan.  The pattern is called Flower Garden CAL.  The pattern was released in 4 parts: 3 different crochet blocks, and part 4 is assembly and borders.

The afghan squares are a beautiful Flower Square in the center surrounded by Circle in a Square blocks, which are then surrounded by Sunburst Granny Squares.

I love the flower blocks, and I haven't seen another crochet flower exactly like it.  

                                                                         Flower Squares

Part 2 is the Circle in a Square Block.

I'm using a variety of yarn colors from Michael's new yarn brand called Colorwheel.  It comes in lots of colors in small balls of 90 yards (1.75 oz.) each.  It's acrylic worsted weight.

Part 3 is the Sunburst Granny square, which I'm working on now.  This square has puff stitches and cluster stitches, which make it really pretty.

I think it will be a really colorful pretty afghan for my granddaughter when it's finished.

My notes:
For the white, I’m using the larger balls of Michael’s Loops and Threads yarn in cream color.
The colors I’m using are these: mid pink, bright gold, deep purple, pool blue, lavender, purple, turquoise, fuchsia, and mid green.
I think I will make 6 flower blocks, 14 circle in squares blocks, and 22 sunburst squares to make the afghan longer. So, it will be about 45.5 x 51 inches instead of 42 inches wide and long. My squares are 5.5” long and wide. Flower squares will be 2 per row with 3 rows in the center of the afghan.
   Block 3 (Sunburst Granny) 4th round: Slip stitch in any chain space. Chain 3 (1 hdc) and 1 hdc in that space (2 hdc)
   Next space: 3 DC, chain 3, 3 DC in this space for corner. Next space 2 hdc. 1 sc in top of next cluster, 1 sc in next chain space, 1 sc in top of next cluster. 2 hdc in next chain space.
  Then next will be the corner again, and repeat around. It ends with the sc in the top of the next cluster and slip stitch into the 2nd chain of the first hdc.
This is more symmetrical than the original pattern directions.