Tag: patterns

Alternatives to the Hidden Gems Shawl Pattern

Hidden Gems was a popular free shawl knitting pattern. Since it is no longer available, I have found some similar patterns for knitters. Check out the list and let me know if you choose one.

Maybe at some point the creator of the Hidden Gems shawl pattern will re-release her pattern. It was listed on her website, but the website is no long up. I’ve had readers ask about this pattern.

I want to be helpful, but I no longer have the pattern printout. All I can do is try to figure out how this thing was knit. Or, I can suggest some similar patterns that may be helpful. That would be easier, and it turns out there are quite a few very similar knits. None of the patterns I found were free.

Hidden Gems shawl knitting
hidden gems shawl
begging end of hidden gems
ending edge of hidden gems
end tail of hidden gems
Hidden gems shawl
Hidden Gems free shawl pattern
Hand-spun shawl / scarf
Hidden Gems shawl knitting

Triangle Shawl Patterns

The Hidden Gems is a triangle shawl. It was a free pattern. It has a “ridge” that begins by running down the center of the knitting. Once the shawl is wide enough, decreases are made along one edge, while the other continues with increases. You can read my notes on the page I wrote while knitting the pattern. I honestly don’t think the pattern would be difficult to figure out, but I don’t have time to do that. A savvy knitter could work it out.

Instead, I am going to list some shawl patterns here that may make a good substitute for Hidden Gems. I chose them because they have that center “ridge” for at least part of the shawl. They are not free patterns, and the difficulty (and yarn amounts) will vary. I honestly don’t mind supporting a designer who has gone to the trouble of creating a decent, readable pattern. All links go to the designer’s Ravelry page.

Search For Similar Shawl Patterns

If you’d like to do your own search for shawl patterns, in hopes of finding something that is free, keep these keywords in mind.

The Hidden Gems is listed as a triangle shawl, which it is. It is also asymetrical. If you want a smaller shawl, search for a shawlette. Search on Google, Ravelry, Pinterest, and Etsy to find shawl patterns. Just be careful of free patterns by designers that are not well known.

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Fall Knitting Projects to Inspire Your Creativity

I can only imagine the cool, crisp Fall air swirling about my head and filling my lungs. I miss New England always, but especially at this time of year. Knitting season has arrived, and I know my fellow knitters are excited. I am excited also to see all the new patterns.

Before I get too far along, I want to give credit to the creator of the cute kitten in an orange scarf image at the top of my post. I just love it! The image was created by GrumpyBeere and there are more like it at the free image sharing site, Pixabay.

Prospective Projects On My Fall Knitting List

I’ve been a bit down on knitting lately, and it has nothing to do with the summer season. In Florida, it’s either hot or less hot, so I’m pretty much always knitting during non-sweater weather.

My last few finished knitting projects have not thrilled me. I’m currently knitting a big, over-sized sweater (it’s really big) that has lost my interest. The recently finished Rebel Cardigan is very nice, and I do look forward to being able to wear it.

For the sake of having something to do while I watch TV, I’m doing some colorwork on a tube scarf. I’m making the designs up as I go, which is fun.

rebel cardigan shoulder
Rebel Cardigan
Tube colorwork scarf
Fun colorwork tube scarf.

Little Projects to Consider

Mittens can be fun to knit but they need to be gifts in my case, because no one wears mittens where I live. Fingerless mitts, or fingerless gloves, are more likely to be on hands here. I would wear them early in the day, before the temps creep up. I’ve already knit some of these patterns, and others look interesting.

Mittens and Fingerless Mitts

If you know how to finish off mittens – any mitts pattern could become mittens.

  • Fair Isle Mitts – FREE colorwork pattern, using Fingering weight yarn. I have knit these – see my page (and photo below)- and love them.
  • Hiedra Mitts – Solid color, using DK weight yarn. These are in my Ravelry favorites, and would make a nice gift.
  • Bee Creative Mittens – or fingerless mitts done in colorwork. Who doesn’t love bees? As a gardener, I am drawn to this pattern.
  • Simple Fingerless Mitts – FREE pattern! Has some optional colorwork for a beginner, which could be skipped. Very simple knitting project.

Mitts I’ve Knit

Fair Isle Mitts colorwork pattern
Fair Isle Favorites
Oulu mitts
Oulu mitts
Oulu Mitts
Fingerless mitts Stellar Parallax pattern
Stellar Parallax Mitts
colorwork little flowers fingerless mitts knitting project
Fun made up pattern – with lots of mistakes!

Just a word of advice here about knitting with wool. Mittens and mitts should be knit in wool, IMO, because of the warmth factor. Choose a good wool too – like Jamieson, Shetland, or Rauma come to mind. These brands have nice, consistent yarn, basically without knots. The wool creates a lovely project.

Shawlettes

A simple little “shawlette” works perfectly for keeping a neck warm. Knit it in warm wool, and keep it handy for the southern winter season. A small shawl will work up quickly and may use only one skein of yarn.

  • Interisland Shawl – this one is on my needles, but has been neglected. It begins with the lace edging and I’m not a big lace knitter. I do plan to finish it!
knitting lace
Lace edging of Interisland Shawl.

Bigger Projects: Namely Sweaters

  • Fallow – Yoke colorwork with deer / woodland design. This one is at the top of my sweater knitting list because it is so cute.
  • Schneeflocken – lots of pretty colorwork on this pullover.
  • Shake a Tail Feather – Colorwork pullover
  • Low Tide – a new pattern by Rachel Illsley is absolutely stunning! It’s on my list, but I’m not sure I can handle all the lace knitting.

That’s about it for my list, and it changes all the time! There is a new yarn (new to me) that I’d love to try. It can be machine washed on a delicate cycle. This would be a game changer for gift giving. Schachenmayr Regia Premium Merino Yak (link goest to the Ravelry yarn page) is the name of the yarn, and it is not cheap. People don’t like it for knitting socks apparently because it pills. But, I read a review by a test knitter who uses it often and recommends it. I plan to buy it at some point and see for myself.

What do you have on your knitting roster for this Fall and coming year?

cat and yarn image

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Sweater Knitting Projects in the Queue For 2024

Planning some new knitting projects for the upcoming new year. I’m still on the sweater knitting spree and these four patterns will be challenging in their own way for me.

As we close out 2023, I’ve been gathering some sweater knitting projects to complete in 2024.

Ravelry has a “queue” area for us and although I have not used it much, I’m beginning to. When one project is not enough (always) it’s nice to have an accessible list of knitting patterns to view. Find it in the “My Notebook” dropdown, if you are logged into Ravelry.

How to Use the Ravelry Queue

The queue section is meant to hold favorite patterns to knit soon. They can be listed in order of importance with information and ideas for the project. Any pattern found on Ravelry can be added to the queue from the pattern page, purchased or not. 

Each pattern added will list the suggested yarn with a space for the knitter to list the yarn that will be used. I find this helpful if I am buying yarn on sale (yay for year-end sales!) and need to match it up with my intended patterns. Also include any notes in a separate space.

Four Sweater Patterns in My Queue

This is my tentative list, in order of current interest, of patterns that have caught my eye over the last couple of months. Each section contains a link to the pattern page.

Number One

The first pattern in my queue is the Autumn Alpine colorwork yoke pullover by Boyland Knitworks / Caitlin Hunter. After knitting the Eva Cardigan in all one color, I had a hankering for some stranded colorwork. This project is in the works already. I’m knitting it along with my gold Calliope.

autumn Alpine colorwork sweater
Sonder Yarn Sunday Morning French press color
Color “French Press”
Knitting Autumn Alpine sweater

View the Autumn Alpine Pattern Page

Number Two

The pattern in the second position in my queue is the Rebel Cardigan, pattern by Ankestrick. It is a buttonless sweater with a unique shoulder construction. A worsted or DK yarn is used, or hold two yarns together for the gauge. I’m not sure yet which yarn I will use for this one.

View the Rebel Cardigan Pattern Page

Number Three

The third pattern in my list is the Sunday Cardigan by PetiteKnit. I chose this one while searching for a use for my Alafosslopi yarn. This sweater is knit top-down with wide ribbing at the yoke area. It calls for a bulky yarn, or combination of yarns to equal bulky. There is a button band but it is “knit simultaneously with the rest of the cardigan” so there is no picking up of stitches for the band… hurray!

View the Sunday Cardigan Pattern

Number Four

The last sweater in my queue is something completely different. The Clotilde Cardigan, by Pernille Larsen / Knitting for Olive, is knit in worsted weight yarn and is a lace pattern. 

This one will be a challenge for me, as I almost never knit any type of lace. The pattern is charted only. The sweater is really beautiful and I hope it’s something I can manage. The New Year should bring a challenge, right?

See the Clotilde Cardigan Pattern

More to come, including new yarns purchased for these patterns. Have you found any good yarn sales this December? Do you have some knitting patterns ready to go in January? I love to hear from fellow knitters, so please say hello.

Cat drawing (minus the tree which was added by me):Image by Richard Duijnstee from Pixabay
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Knitting I’ve Done in 2022

Knitting projects finished in 2022 and my thoughts on each one.

This year, 2022, has not been an especially good one. Knitting has been a great way to escape and be at peace for a while. Looking at my list here, I’ve done a lot of that! I have not checked off “learning brioche”, but I bought a book. I have not steeked anything, but maybe next year.

In the order in which they were finished knitting, here are all the patterns (two were mostly my own) I used this year. My thoughts and info on each come after the title. Each link goes either to my blog post where I review the pattern, or is a direct link to the pattern download / purchase. I will have a link to the actual pattern (if one exists) on the post pages.

  • Solstice Glow Hat, by Bunnymuff (January) – Love the colorwork hat even though this type of hat doesn’t look good on me. End product is so cute.
  • Two by Two ribbed hat (January) – Quick and FREE. Didn’t like the yarn I used, but the pattern is easy to follow.
  • Wrist Warmers (February) A fun & FREE project to play with colorwork.
  • Meadow Moon, by Jennifer Steingass (February) Excellent designer, fun pattern, great sweater.
  • Slouchy Watchcap in Blue (March), by Churchmouse Yarns – Great hat! Long project that was quite boring to knit, but end product is worth it.
  • Lopi Wool Pullover (May) I created this pullover to use up my wool yarn and use some unique colorwork designs.
  • Hidden Gems shawl (June) A fun & FREE shawl to knit.
  • Bonnie Isle Hat (June) The recent, yearly Shetland hat. Mine is horrible and I don’t look good in this type of hat. Last one for me.
  • Warm Up Sweater, by Espace Tricot (June) Free pattern and worth it – great directions. I used up some Lettlopi yarn.
  • Honey Cowl 3 (July) Knit this simply to use up some yarn. Very easy pattern.
  • Kate’s Poncho (August) Fabulous pattern, loved the yarn. Made as a gift.
  • Cumulus Sweater, (September) Nice pattern, I changed the yarn weight to use up yarn. End product is okay and is probably better using suggested yarn.
  • Bulky Turtleneck (September) – my own creation to use up Alafosslopi.
  • Venlig pullover (October) Beautiful end product pullover, and awesome yarn, but pattern is a bear…!
  • Slouchy Watchcap 2 in Orange (October) Wonderful and versatile hat. Same as blue one above. Wearable for sure.
  • Playdate in Blue (December) Knit for a friend’s grandchild. Second time knitting this fun little baby cardigan – pattern by Tin Can Knits – you can’t go wrong.
Solstice Glow chicken hat
Solstice Glow
Goldenfern
Warm Up sweater knit in Lettlopi
Warm Up
Orange flowers sweater
Lopi Wool Sweater
Bonnie Isle
Hidden Gems shawl knitting
Hidden Gems
Construction of neckline
Cumulus
Blocking poncho to dry
Kate’s Poncho
Re-knitting the body ribbing
Venlig sweater try-on with one sleeve complete
Watchcap finished
Finished October 17th, just in time for Halloween!
Playdate

So how did I remember all this? Of course I didn’t. I went to my Ravelry page that shows my projects in order! I found this info in my “projects” section under “challenge”.

I’m finally getting around to posting this on December 25th. It is very cold here in Florida, and I know it doesn’t compare to many places that are suffering with snow and REAL cold, but for us it’s extreme. The banana trees and other tropical plants can’t easily survive teens and twenties. By next week we will be back to normal with temps in the 60s and 70s. Happy knitting all my fiber loving readers.

Merry Christmas!

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My Turn to Knit the Sophie Scarf

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