I’m Back! … Canadian Production Wheel

Although I’ve continued to putter away with fibre projects over the last couple of years, I have sadly neglected both the blog and my Facebook page, as well as Ravelry. As I spent more time with grandchildren, bicycling, and so on, I found that I wasn’t taking the time to write down and chronicle my knitting, crochet, spinning, dyeing, etc. However… I have realized that writing even briefly about my hobby helped me keep track of my progress and the outcomes of my experiments and projects! So here I am, back again.

Today I am trying to decide what to do about a spinning wheel which, sadly, got knocked off a table and 2 legs got broken off, a couple of years ago. It is a beautiful Canadian Production Wheel or a copy of one… to me, it looks like an Ouellette, perhaps a 1970’s Guy O.? It is maple, and has a matching spinning chair. The lady I bought it from had them made for her many years ago. I bought it to learn to spin on… and then this happened.

I can’t bring myself to just throw the wheel out!! What do you think? What would you do??

I’m going to try to find a woodworker and ask her/his opinion if the legs could be glued with a modern epoxy, or if new legs could be made to match the old ones. What do you think?

Peek-a-BOO Pumpkin Hat

ALL PATTERNS IN RAVELRY STORE 50% OFF UNTIL MIDNIGHT PACIFIC STANDARD TIME 12 OCTOBER 2017 USING COUPON CODE:  thankful

Introducing the Peek-a-BOO Pumpkin Hat pattern… just in time to make some for the Littles in your life, to keep them warm this fall! Perfect for visits to a Pumpkin Patch, fall craft fairs, walks in the park to collect bright fall leaves.

They work up quickly, using aran or worsted weight yarn and a 5mm hook for the hats–use a 4mm hook for the little Topper cat, ghost, and spider.  The Toppers look cute in place of a pom-pom on any fall hat, or make them for little pocket pal toys–great as cat toys, too!

The Thanksgiving Pumpkin Hat has also been updated, and for even more fun I added another BONUS pattern in it!  It now gives instructions to make 2 sizes of Pumpkin Totes–perfect for Trick-or-Treat bags, or to carry little toys, or for your littles to carry their own purchases at fall craft fairs.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day! You can choose 1 free pattern with the code:

mom

until midnight tonight, Pacific Daylight Savings Time. 78 designs to choose from!! Please add to your ❤ favourites ❤ if you choose and ❤ one of my designs 🙂 Have a lovely day!
WEST COAST FIBRE ARTS PATTERN STORE

And a sneak peek at the latest design which is almost ready to add to the store:  the first in the Blossoming Shawl series!

Wild Flowers Mason Jar Posy Cosy

The Wild Flowers Mason Jar Posy Cosy pattern is available now, and for the first 24 hours there is a 50% discount, no coupon code needed…so until midnight on 1 May 2017 it is less than 50 cents!

The Flowers and Leaves of the Posy which decorates the Wild Flowers Mason Jar Cosy are made from a 1927 design I found in an Australian newspaper.  You can make it in any #4 Worsted Weight yarn–I used wool for the cosy in soft natural-dyed colours and Bernat Handicrafter cotton in the blue/purple/white.  I used a 5mm hook for the cosy and a 4mm hook for the flowers and leaves. You can make it with a short handle or a long one so you can carry your drink hands-free by putting it over your head or shoulder.

Very quick to make! The flowers and leaves can be sewn on or you can make them removable, as I did.

 

Wild Flowers Coaster

To celebrate Earth Day I designed a little crochet coaster that uses up small odds and ends of #4 worsted weight yarn left over from other projects.  I used 100% wool that I had dyed using wild flowers and plants, barks, and spices.  Each coaster can be made with about 25 to 30 yards of yarn–the most any one row uses is about 4 yards.  You will also need a wide mouth mason canning jar lid to insert between the two halves.

Free for the first 24 hours, expiring on 23 April at midnight Pacific Time, you can use the coupon code:

wildflower

on Ravelry right here:  Wild Flowers Coaster.  When the promotion is over, the pattern is just $.95 Canadian to help me cover expenses.

There will be another Wild Flowers pattern published tomorrow night, and it will also be free for 1 day only 🙂 Watch here on the blog, or on the Facebook page for the notice and coupon code.

Prairie Farmers Winter Gifts #1

To celebrate the chilly winter season I released the first pattern in “The Prairie Farmers Winter Gifts” series:  The Farmer’s Wife Messy Bun Toque.

These are close-fitting toques that will keep you warm while you do your chores, go sleigh riding, or enjoy a walk in the woods.  A hole in the top accommodates your bun (messy or neat) or ponytail.  There are variations to make a regular toque or one for a low ponytail–and a BONUS pattern for a headband, too!

They feature my variation on a stitch pattern I found in The Prairie Farmer Weekly Journal from 1886.  It is easy to do, and creates a reversible fabric that looks knit on one side and has a pebbled, honeycomb-like texture on the “right side.”

The Messy Bun Toques are very quick to crochet, as they use #6 Super Bulky yarn and a 10mm hook (plus a 7mm hook for 2 rounds).  I used Bernat Softee Chunky yarn, readily available, soft, easy care, and hypoallergenic 100% acrylic.

Watch tomorrow for the next pattern in The Prairie Farmers Winter Gifts series…it will be a quick to knit soft stuffed toy re-written from an 1887 design, using #4 medium weight yarn and 3.25mm needles.  I used 8 different colours, but only a small amount of each yarn will be needed.  You can also use 1 or 2 colours.  It took me about 3 hours to complete.

ALL 70+ PATTERNS IN MY RAVELRY STORE ARE ON SALE 50% OFF UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER USING THE COUPON CODE winter AT THE CHECKOUT.  Maker sure the discount is applied before you complete the purchase as I am unable to refund for pattern sales.

If you need any help or spot any errors, please contact me on Ravelry or on my Facebook Page.

#messybunbeanie #messybeanhat #crochet #icantbelieveitsnotknitting #prairiefarmerswife #prairiefarmerswintergifts #lastminutegifts

Beginning With a Bonus!

Over the summer I have been working of a series of Afghan Squares which have flowers at the centre and are based on Victorian era stitch patterns, ‘antimacassar’ motifs, etc…so I am calling it the Victorian Flowers Afghan.  Instead of waiting until it is complete and offering an extra Bonus design, I decided to offer the Bonus to start with! Not only that, but this square includes instructions to turn it into a handy Project Bag…or shopping bag, or gift bag, or any other useful purpose. You can use the instructions to turn any afghan squares into a bag.

The beginning Bonus pattern is free, and I’m posting the instructions in a series on my 2 Facebook Pages: West Coast Fibre Arts and The Ravelled Hank of Yarn. When the project is complete I’ll make a pdf file available in my Ravelry Store that has the whole pattern gathered together.

NOTE: Beginning Part 2 Round 6, ch1 then begin the round; at the end of the round, join with a slip stitch to the first sc. Rounds 7, 8 & 9, please CHAIN 3 AS THE FIRST DOUBLE CROCHET; at the end of the round, join with a slip stitch into the 3rd chain.

ERROR IN ROUND 8:
Round 8 corrected– *10dc, dc inc, hdc inc, hdc, hdc inc, 2sc, sc inc, sc, sc inc, 2sc, hdc inc, hdc, hdc inc, dc, dc inc, 2dc; repeat from *.

I am using a 5mm hook and aran weight  yarns to make my bags: Patons SWS, Red Heart SuperSaver, etc.  I do not have a total amount required yet because I am sharing the pattern as I design it. I am estimating 12 to 16 ounces of yarn, but I really can NOT guarantee how much it will take until my bag is finished! Options are to make the bag using more than one colour, as I am doing with the Patons SWS bag that illustrates the Instructions: I worked Part 1 in their Soy Wool Stripes, which has long colour changes; then for Part 2 I switched to Soy Wool Solids, in green. Part 1 used 1 ounce, Part 2 used 2 ounces.  Don’t forget, though–for a bag, you have to make 2 squares plus bottom, sides, and handle!  I will update the amount of yarns used when I finish each part.

#afghan #crochet #12inchsquares #freepattern #VictorianFlowersAfghan

Labour Day Weekend 30% Off

Enjoy this weekend by choosing some new projects to keep your needles and hooks busy:

30% off all 72 patterns in my Ravelry Store! NO COUPON NEEDED

The discount will apply at checkout. I’ll also be releasing new patterns that will be perfect for quick Christmas gifts or to make for yourself and your family–keep your eye out for them, they’ll be here in a few days!  There will be an exciting, fun new Pokemon Inspired pattern later this week, and The Crunchy Carrot Market Bag is will be in the Pattern Store this weekend.Slippers, socks, a scarf, a washcloth/soap sack spa set, toys…lots of new designs coming in September, as well as a MYSTERY CROCHET-ALONG and KNIT-ALONG!

If you need more inspiration meantime, you can check out the Interweave Store!

Save 30% on hundreds of crafting resources. No coupon needed. Sale runs now through 9/5. Some exclusions apply.  In addition, be sure to also check out the just released Atoll Cowl Kit. It is on sale, too, and the link is on the right, just below the “Interweave Store” tab.

Happy Labour Day…enjoy this weekend, and let me know if you need help with any of my designs. The quickest way to get help is usually to write a personal message on my Facebook Page: West Coast Fibre Arts

Pokemon Magikarp Inspired Hat

To celebrate the release of #PokemonGO in Canada, the #Magikarp Inspired Magic Carp Hat pattern and readymade hats are on sale 25% off from now until the end of July/2016!

BUY THE CROCHET PATTERN HERE

This popular hat is sure to win the prize for the funniest fish ever. If you don’t crochet… get your friend, grandma, or aunt to make you one! Use Red Heart SuperSaver and you can make 2 or 3 hats for just $20! When you buy hats for $50 to $80 plus, it is because it takes several hours to make it 🙂   If you do want to make your own and need any help, it is quickest to contact me on Facebook–the link is on the right of the webpage.  Be sure to ‘Like’ the Facebook page so you are notified when patterns and hats are available.  Watch in coming days for a new, fun Magikarp Inspired design!

O Canada! Happy 149th Birthday!

Maple Leaf Forever Lucky Penny Holder

Celebrate Canada’s 149^th Birthday by making a Maple Leaf that will hold a lucky penny! You can attach a necklace chain to the top of the centre to use it as a pendant, or just keep it in your wallet or bag for good luck! NOTE THAT THESE ARE NOT MEANT TO GIVE TO YOUNG CHILDREN, AS COINS ARE A CHOKING HAZARD.  Though the coin will stay inside the holder in ordinary use, the yarn can stretch and the coin come out.

Spend a few minutes celebrating Canada’s birthday evening making this cute little penny holder.  If you don’t have embroidery thread, try sock yarn or even size 10 crochet cotton. IF YOU WANT TO PURCHASE a Maple Leaf Forever Lucky Penny Holder for $2, I will be placing them for sale on my Facebook Page for local pickup only until we know if there is going to be a Canada Post strike.  When I’m able to mail them, they will be $3 including postage by regular snail mail.

Maple Leaf Forever Pattern $1.49 Canadian

She sells seashells…

I had hoped to have this pattern published earlier in the day–I’m just a few minutes late for the first day of summer with the “Wrinkled Shell Cloth” ! Making a cloth is a useful way to learn new stitches and this cloth is an interesting combination from the 1880s.

The pattern will be available free, to celebrate the beginning of summer, for just one week.  I hope you will take the time to visit my Facebook Page to find the code you’ll need…and show support and help me by hitting the ‘Like’ button on Facebook and adding the design to Favourites on Ravelry as well  😉 Thanks!

1st day of Summer: June 20

Put June 20th on your memo pad… it is the first day of Summer and you’ll find lots of ways to celebrate.  

I’ll be releasing a new Summer Lace design…

and Interweave Store will be having a super 40% off Sale for one day only! The link is already posted on the right hand side of by blog, but the Sale is on JUNE 20/2016, so come back then to click through and browse.  [disclosure: I am an ‘affiliate’ and if you click through from my blog I will make a little bit from the sales made at that time; this helps keep my blog and my patterns going.  Thanks!]

 

“Wicker Basket”Crochet Pattern

This year for Mother’s Day I made my daughter & daughter-in-law these felted crochet Wicker Baskets.  Quick to make in Super Bulky yarn with a 15mm hook, you can felt them in your sink using a bit of dish detergent to help the process! The Baskets can be used to put a vase of flowers or a potted plant in… or how about using one in your bathroom to hold guest hand towels?

SIZE, NOTES, MATERIALS

NOTE: US/CANADIAN TERMS USED

I did not measure my baskets; they are approximately 6 inches wide and 6 inches high after felting.

You will need approximately 2 ounces of Super Bulky 100% wool. I used vintage White Buffalo 6 strand unspun roving, which is no longer available, but you can use Briggs & Little “Country Roving,” Custom Woolen Mills “Prairie Wool Bulky 6-Strand” or other similar yarns. [White Buffalo Unspun: 122 yards (112 meters); 227 grams (8 ounces)]

15mm and 6mm crochet hooks

INSTRUCTIONS for Wicker Basket

Using the 15mm hook:

Round 1.  Chain 2; in 2nd chain from hook work 7 single crochet; slip stitch in the first stitch to join; chain 1 but do NOT turn.  [7 stitches]

Round 2.  Work 2 single crochet in each stitch; slip stitch in the first stitch of this round to join; chain 1 but do NOT turn.  [14 stitches]

Round 3.  *Work 2 single crochet in next stitch, 1 single crochet in next; repeat from * to the end of the round; slip stitch in the first stitch of this round to join; chain 1 but do NOT turn.  [21 stitches]

Round 4.  Back post single crochet in each stitch to the end of the round; slip stitch in the first stitch of this round to join; chain 1 but do NOT turn.  [21 stitches; this round is worked as “back post single crochet” because it gives a really nice edge on the bottom of the basket]

Rounds 5 – 10.  Work 1 single crochet in each stitch to the end of the round; slip stitch in the first stitch of this round to join; chain 1 but do NOT turn.

Round 11.  Work 1 slip stitch in each stitch to the end of the round; fasten off, weave in ends.

FELT the finished piece in your preferred way of felting.  Though some people like felting in the machine, I prefer felting by hand in the sink or in a bowl. There are tons of photo and video tutorials for felting–try a search on YouTube or Google 🙂 I  run some very hot water in the sink, add a squish of dish detergent (I used Sunlight brand this time; Dawn works well also, for me), then roll, squeeze, etc. until felted.  It helps to rinse and squeeze occasionally in cold water before plunging back into hot–I make several changes of water.  The shock of the water temperature changes helps the felting process.

FLOWER WITH LEAF

I added a flower for trim, which I also felted.  For this I used the same yarn with a 6mm hook. It is worked in one piece.

Step 1: Chain 11; slip stitch in the 11th chain from the hook [the first chain you made]; *chain 10, slip stitch in the same stitch you made the other slip stitch in; repeat from * 3 times more–you should have 5 petals; Step 2: chain 11; slip stitch in the 2nd chain from the hook, single crochet in the next, half double crochet in the next, double crochet in the next, half double crochet in the next, slip stitch in the next [leaf made]; Step 3: chain 5 or 6 for the stem.  Fasten off.

TIE FOR TRIM AND BOW

I used the 6mm hook and the same yarn, and made a long chain which I felted–don’t forget that it will shrink quite a lot in felting, so make it longer than you need it to be when finished.  I left a foot long tail on each piece, rolling it in my hands to make it more like yarn–when that was felted I cut if off the thicker chain, and used it to fasten the flower to the basket, sewing it in a couple of places.  I threaded the chain strip through the holes in the basket, then tied in a bow.

This pattern is Copyright protected.  To share, please post a link to this page or the Ravelry page.  I would truly appreciate if you shared the page on Facebook, or Twitter, added to “Favourites” on Ravelry, etc.

If you need help or find an error, please contact me–it is usually quickest to send a personal message on the West Coast Fibre Arts Facebook page (link on right on website!)

 

Happy Easter from Fiver the Rabbit

Here is a cute little Bunny Egg to celebrate Easter this year.  Fiver is named after a hero in one of my favourite books, Watership Down.  He will hop into your life in double quick time because he is made with super bulky yarn and a 6.5mm hook!

I also include the pattern for a smaller rabbit egg, and some notes for how I dyed the wool fleece in the photos using spices from my kitchen cabinet.

Hop on over to Ravelry to see how you can get the pattern free for Easter Sunday and Monday, March 27 & 28/2016–after that he is just $1.95 Canadian (a great deal for US buyers!!).  I live on disability benefits, and the income from my patterns and selling finished items helps with bills, food, and other essentials as well as making it possible to buy a little fibre and yarn to continue making new designs and items.

Fiver the Rabbit on Ravelry

Mini Mystery KAL

Countdown Shetland Style Mini Mystery KAL

A spur-of-the-moment Mystery with just this ONE clue!

I came across a cute little pattern while I was browsing through a Victorian era magazine online and as I’m watching the clock waiting for the New Year to roll in out here on Vancouver Island I decided to write it up and offer it as a mini-mystery!

I haven’t finished knitting my samples yet… when I do, I will add photos in my Ravelry Group.  When I’m fairly certain there are no errors in the pattern I will add photos and update it, too!  If you spot any errors please let me know 🙂

Please add to Favourites, queue, link to it on Ravelry, and I hope you’ll share your photos on Facebook or in Ravelry.  Let me know if you need help!

 

 

 

“Skuuzi Moi” Koozie Drink holder

This pattern is available to knit or crochet–make sure you choose the right pattern!

CROCHET pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/…/skuuzi-moi-koozie-drink-holder-cro…
KNIT pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/…/skuuzi-moi-koozie-drink-holder-knit

IF YOU WANT ME TO MAKE ONE for $20 plus shipping, please send me a message on Facebook to tell me the colours, plus get a postage quote.

Skuuzi Moi Koozie Drink Holder: Looking for a quick, fun gift to make? Pattern in crochet OR knit on Ravelry… please…

Posted by West Coast: Super, Natural on Saturday, 12 December 2015

Fleurs de Lis for Paris KAL: BONUS PATTERN

The versatile BONUS SQUARE pattern will be useful for a variety of purposes.  It uses the Insertion Pattern from the Victorian era counterpane design, it is a simple lace on a background of Moss stitch (also called ‘seed stitch’ sometimes), with garter stitch as well.

NOTE: The pattern has been UPDATED to add a “MITT 2” pattern.

Make 1 to make a cotton wash cloth, or make 2 and sew them together to make a potholder–make sure the lace insertions are not back to back, to avoid burned fingers!

You could make an afghan or blanket by knitting up a lot of squares and piecing them together in patchwork–it would be a great stash buster!

Use them in your worsted weight yarn of choice to make a pair of fingerless mitts. So that the mitts look the same on the top, there is a “MITT 2” pattern. 

Fold in half and use a bodkin (yarn needle) to sew them up with the Lace Insertion forming a cuff around the top.  When sewing together: sew about 1 ½ inches, then leave about 1 ½ to 2 inches open for a thumb hole; sew the remainder.  I will post more photos tomorrow 🙂 I am still knitting mitt 2.

Needles & Gauge

8 inch square or women’s average/8 inch fingerless mitts. If you need smaller mitts, use 4mm needles. For larger mitts, either use larger needles or knit extra rows before you cast off.

Size 4.5mm needles or whichever size you need to get a gauge of 16 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch.  The 32 stitch cast on edge should be 8 inches.

Yarn

To make a kitchen accessory, use worsted weight cotton.  For a woman’s winter accessory, approximately 50g worsted weight yarn in your choice of acrylic, wool, cotton, etc.

Abbreviations

k = knit

p = purl

yo = yarn over

k2tog = knit 2 together

Instructions for cloth, afghan square, or MITT 1.

Cast on 32 stitches.

1. knit.
2. knit.
3. k2, p1, k1, p1, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k3; k16.
4. k16; k3, p1, k1, p5, k1, p1, k1, p1, k2.

5 – 10.  Repeat rows 3 and 4 three times more.

11. k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k2; k16.
12. k16; k2, p4, k1, p1, k1, p5, k2.

13 – 18.  Repeat rows 11 and 12 three times more.

19 – 50.  Repeat Rows 3 – 18 two times more.

51, 52.  Knit.

Cast off:  *k2tog, slip stitch from right needle back to left needle; repeat from * until only 1 stitch is left, fasten off.  Cut yarn leaving a long yarn tail for sewing.

MITT 2

Cast on 32 stitches.

1. knit.
2. knit.
3. k16; k2, p1, k1, p1, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k3.
4. k3, p1, k1, p5, k1, p1, k1, p1, k2; k16.

5 – 10.  Repeat rows 3 and 4 three times more.

11. k16; k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k2.
12. k2, p4, k1, p1, k1, p5, k2; k16.

13 – 18.  Repeat rows 11 and 12 three times more.

19 – 50.  Repeat Rows 3 – 18 two times more.

51, 52.  Knit.

Cast off:  *k2tog, slip stitch from right needle back to left needle; repeat from * until only 1 stitch is left, fasten off.  Cut yarn leaving a long yarn tail for sewing.

I hope you have enjoyed this bonus pattern 🙂

SORRY FOR THE DELAY FOR LAST PART OF FLEURS DE LIS FOR PARIS KAL

I deeply regret that poor health prevented me from completing the pattern over the last week.  If you were waiting for the last part of the pattern, I can only apologize for the delay and present it now.  Later today I will give you a little bonus pattern FREE by way of showing my gratitude for your patience and to celebrate the FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT.

I haven’t been able to knit for the last week, so my tote is not finished.  When I am caught up in knitting I will post photos.  If you need help, please write to me on here or (quicker response time) on Facebook.

To help you see how the insertions are sewn to make an afghan, here is the original illustration again.  If you want a Tote Bag larger than just the 2 squares, you could add insertions to each square and then sew on a longer strip to form the bottom, sides, and shoulder strap–see my note at the bottom re: that long strip.

Fleurs de Lis for Paris KAL: Insertion Stripe

Abbreviations

k = knit

p = purl

yo = yarn over

k2tog = knit 2 together

Instructions

Cast on 16 stitches.

1. knit.
2. knit.
3. k2, p1, k1, p1, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k3.
4. k3, p1, k1, p5, k1, p1, k1, p1, k2.

5 – 10.  Repeat rows 3 and 4 three times more.

11. k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k2.
12. k2, p4, k1, p1, k1, p5, k2.

13 – 18.  Repeat rows 11 and 12 three times more.

Then: 

• For the short pieces that join your squares into a strip: repeat Rows 3 – 18 until you have knit 88 rows of the pattern, then knit 2 rows and cast off. Sew one piece to the cast on edge and one piece to the cast off edge.
• For the long piece that goes between the strips: repeat Rows 3 – 18 until it is as long as required, then knit 2 rows and cast off. These long strips are sewn up between the joined squares.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR TOTE BAG made with 2 Counterpane squares.

• For a tote bag shoulder strap/sides/bottom piece: CAST ON 16 STITCHES AND DO NOT KNIT ROWS 1 & 2. Just begin with Row 3 instead, continue through Row 18, then repeat Rows 3 – 18 until the insertion stripe is long enough to go around 3 sides of the square AND form a shoulder strap as long as you like.  DO NOT knit two rows, just cast off.  Sew the cast on/cast off edges together, being careful not to twist it; put this seam in the bottom/centre and sew to 3 sides of your 2 squares.
• If you want to, knit one short piece and sew it to the top of one square, to form a flap for the bag.
• Crochet a button loop in the centre of the top on one square (or if you want to use 2 buttons to close, make 2 where you want them!) then sew a button on the front of the bag.

Fleurs de Lis for Paris: Week 2

After the weekend off, I hope knitters are ready to complete their Fleurs de Lis for Paris counterpane square.  Whether you use it to make a counterpane, an afghan, a pillow, a tote, or even a washcloth—I hope you have found the design an interesting connection to the past.

The Fleurs de Lis “Beautiful Counterpane” is another historic design found in unrelated magazines.  The first time I saw it was in the English The Ladies Companion & Monthly Magazine, 1862.  However,  I recently came across another publication of the counterpane pattern in the United States Godey’s Lady’s Book and Magazine, 1862.  Though the illustration isn’t included right beside the pattern in the English publication, it was possibly included at the beginning of the month—and these haven’t been scanned properly so are not visible.  The only difference in the wording of two publications is in the materials—in the US version, the brand name of the cotton has been omitted.

The brand name of the cotton gives us a clue about the likely designer of the Beautiful Counterpane.  A prominent English designer, Matilda M. Pullan, also know by her pen-name “Aiguillette,”was associated with the Derby firm of Messrs. Walter Evans and Co. and many of her patterns recommend using Boar’s Head cottons–while in England, in fact, she sold the cotton both at her shop and by mail.  Mrs. Pullan was for years the “editress” of the Women’s pages of The Ladies Companion & Monthly Magazine, though she emigrated to the States at the end of the 1850s–and indeed died of ovarian cancer in 1861.  She was never associated with Godey’s magazines, though her designs appeared in them often–apparently without permission.  However, her patterns continued to be published in many magazines and it seems fairly likely that the designer of the “Beautiful Counterpane” was, indeed, Mrs. Pullan.

We will likely never know for certain how or why the pattern appeared in two unrelated magazines, but we can be thankful that it has survived for over 150 years so that we, too, can knit it!

On Wednesday I will write out the pattern for the Insertion Stripe that goes between the squares if you are making an afghan or to use for a tote handle, bottom, and sides if you are making a tote bag.

The final pdf of the entire pattern, with all the rows together, will be available next weekend in my Ravelry store.

Fleurs de Lis for Paris KAL: Week 2

The final rows of the Fleurs de Lis for Paris KAL do not need to be written out again because they simply repeat the previous rows in reverse beginning with Row 49:

after you knit Row 52, you knit Row 49 again, then Row 48, then 47, 46, 45, 44, etc. 

After you have completed Row 1, cast off.

 

Fleurs de Lis for Paris: Day 6

 

Only a short post tonight, because today there are only 2 Rows to complete:  we have reached the centre of the counterpane square! The next post will be much longer, and give you the rest of the rows to complete the centre.  Then we will just have the easy lace insertion design to put around the square–or to use for the bottom, sides, and handle of a tote bag 🙂

51. k2, p1, k2, p16, k3, p5, k3, p16, k2, p1, k2.
52. k3, p2, k16, p3, k5, p3, k16, p2, k3.