Scotts Shawl

One of my favorite trips I've been able to make post college is a trip to Scotland and England with my sisters and mom. With the pandemic I've been leaning on these memories of travel since we haven't been able to travel around much. 

This is the second time that inspiration has come from an actual object not just from my brain. The Scotts monument in Edinburgh was the inspiration behind the Scotts Shawl! Below is a photo of the monument...

The slip stitches moving up the shawl remind of the lines and spires on the monument. I used a beautiful merino/yak/silk blend that has the most amazing drape and was purchased on the same trip! I visited Ginger Twist Studio and purchased this yarn. 

This is a great shawl to try new fibers or stick with your regular fingering weight blend. It also would be very easy to adjust the needle size and weight of yarn if you would like to knit with something heavier. The stiffer the yarn blend (100% non-superwash wool) the more your slip stitches will stand out the more structured your triangle. 

Happy Knitting! -- Sierra 

String of Purls

I love succulents! They don't love me quite as much. Previously I wrote about the plants that I knit and how I don't love to water and I'm not great at it. Well, me and succulents just can't seem to get on the same page. 

I was inspired to design with this gorgeous yarn (a gift from a friend) and I had the String of Pearls in mind when looking at stitch patterns. This wrapped stitch pattern was perfect to imitate the leaves/pearls of one of my favorite succulents and along came the String of Purls cowl! 

I used a single skein of fingering weight yarn which was 380 yards. The base I used, from Sundara Yarns, is a Merino/Cashmere/Nylon and it was so plump and delicious to knit with. I would definitely knit with this base again if I have the chance. 

For this project I would suggest a fingering weight yarn that you enjoy the feel of around your neck. This doesn't have to be a luxury skein of yarn but as this has full contact with delicate skin make sure you like the way it feels. I also think that a highly variegated yarn will hide the stitch work. The tones of the sample yarn are all close enough that it doesn't obscure the stitch pattern but enhances it. 

I hope this cowl inspires you knit this for a plant lover in your life! 

Out the Window

 You know when you stick your hand out the window and it automatically starts waving up and down with the air movement? I love that feeling and definitely still do it when I'm a passenger. These socks and stitch pattern remind me of that movement! 

Out the Window is my newest sock pattern release. As with the majority of All Knit Up Designs patterns, Out the Window is easy to memorize and super fun to knit. The yarn I used is a speckled 80/20 (Wool/Nylon) blend but I had a few testers use self-striping and it looks so good! I will definitely have to knit a pair for myself with some Felici. 

I designed this pattern with cast on for 56, 64, & 72 but I found this a very stretchy pattern so if you usually knit with a missing size I would pick the cast on smaller than your normal (if you usually knit 68, cast on 64.) 

I hope these socks bring you great joy as you knit them and I hope they bring back great memories as they did for me! 

Happy Knitting! - Sierra 

Rochester Socks

 Hi Sock Knitters! 

Are you ready for a new sock pattern from All Knit Up Designs?!? Perfect! I have a new one for you. Rochester is a simple design that looks sophisticated enough for anyone on your knitting list. Easy to memorize (with only two rows) you can pick almost any sock yarn from your stash and it will look fabulous. 

Rochester was named after my trip to Rochester Minnesota for the Zombie Knitpocalypse retreat. When I'm traveling I always want to have knitting with me for security as well as wait times. Rochester is the perfect take along project and I cannot wait to knit another pair. 

The yarn I used is Adorn Lux by Three Irish Girls and it's a 85/15 blend of Merino and Nylon, so as usual, pretty much any sock yarn in your stash will work. I enjoyed and laughed at the difference between the two sock legs in the photo below, same ball of yarn, just halfway through the ball. That's the nature and beauty of hand dyed yarn. Can't wait to see what colors you pick! 

Fringy Cowl

A fun new cowl that uses drop stitches for the fringe?!? Why yes, I did just publish that. Fringy was designed in 2020 with the idea of pulling together a collection of all my drop stitch pattens. My mom (Susan) and I had discussed the different shawl shapes and techniques I've used and brainstormed on how I could add a cowl to the collection. 

Fringy is a quick and easy knit that uses a few unique techniques to really elevate the project. I designed the cowl with only a single skein of sock yarn in mind and then I added just a little bit of a pop. Fringy uses a provisional cast on and is knit flat and then put together with a three needle bind off. Stitches are then dropped to make the fringe; so fun! 

The yarn I used is a 75/25 Merino/Nylon blend so any fingering weight will work! Using an alpaca or mohair blend may be a bit harder to drop your stitches but will still work. 

I hope you love knitting this new cowl! -Sierra 

Trellis Socks

A new pattern release is always exciting, it's doubly exciting when someone has asked you to design for them! Trellis Socks are my brand new sock pattern and I designed them for KnitCrate! 

KnitCrate is a monthly subscription service that sends out a yarn and pattern to knitters each month. I had previously designed for them in 2018, so I was beyond excited to be asked again. 

It's interesting working with others on my design process because I usually find my inspiration from the yarn but when working with a company they want to see plans ahead of time. KnitCrate sent me a mood board with the theme 'Romance/Romantic' so I brain stormed and got stuck on the idea of roses. 

Roses are seen as an ultimate romantic gesture (I prefer wildflowers but whatever...) so when I saw the stitch pattern inspired by the lattice work of a trellis I knew that this is what the socks needed to use. 

If you are interested in purchasing a subscription from KnitCrate you can do so here (this is an affiliate link and I receive a small payment at no cost to you, if you use this to sign up) if this is your first time signing up for KnitCrate you can receive 20% off with the code ALLKNITUP20 

Trellis features an all-over lace design on the front of the sock and 1x1 ribbing along the back. I like the idea of the ribbing because it allows the sock to fit a wider range of feet. The yarn used is a Merino/Silk/Nylon/Stellina blend so anything from 100% wool to wool/nylon would work great! 

The pattern available for individual purchase here on Ravelry if you are interested (I do not own the rights to this pattern so it does not use my Pay What Works system of payment.) Thanks for reading! Sierra 

Christmas Socks

 I never made a stop into the blog and gave you a look at my Christmas socks for 2020! This year I was able to complete 1.5 pairs of socks (well 2.5 if you count my Bauble Extravaganza pattern). The pair I completely finished was from a swap package from 2019. 

I love this color named Nutcracker as it reminds me of performing in The Nutcracker when I was a kid. The nostalgia and the unusual color combinations made these socks so fun. 

This is the half pair that I finished, started these just a few days before Christmas and knew that I wouldn't finish them but I was still in the spirit. This yarn is Oh Christmas Tree from Leading Men Fiber Arts. This one is a BFL sock base which is a little bit woolier and so yummy. The sock and ball of yarn have been put away until the holiday season later this year! 

Happy Late Holidays!