Mystery Knit Along March Blocks - left: slip stitch texture right: intarsia colour work
Slip stitch
There was so much going on in March that I barely had time to post the two blocks for that month. The blue slip stitch texture still required counting stitches but fortunately only in uniform sets of four and after a few repeats, it was easy to read the knitting and not have to worry too much.
It's a very simple pattern and very fast to knit, maybe a couple of evenings (especially with to having to concentrate on counting). I liked the pattern, subtle but easy and could easily be added to socks or a hat or other accessories.
This was the fourth pattern of the year and I reckon the designers added it as a breather from the previous three which had required more attention. For anyone new to this series, I'm taking part in the Berroco Mystery Blanket Knit Along. There are one or two blocks each month (some are repeated) until you have twenty, and then the last month or two are devoted to putting them all together.
It's a really nice experience after several years of much more complicated knitting: just pick up the pattern released on the first Thursday of the month and get knitting. The patterns are graded over the ten or eleven months they are released so knitters build up skills. The end blanket will end up being a sampler of lots of different techniques transformed into something useful!
I found I had enough of the same kind of wool (Rowan Moordale) in a range of colours in my stash to knit the whole blanket. It was a great chance to use my stash and get to know that particular wool (it's lovely and soft and really pleasurable to knit with). I bought the yarn ages ago, most of it at a discount, so it's lovely to have a project to use it.
The yarn comes in hanks which, with the exception of one hank, I have wound into balls. They all fit into one container and I really enjoy opening the container and choosing which wool I'm going to use for each block. I especially like it when there are blocks that use more than one colour, so I can pick them from the box.
Intarsia
The second March block used intarsia, a form of colour work that has blocks of colours with two or more colours in a row, each worked separately without the other colours being carried across the back of the work.
I've been carefully avoiding this technique because of the challenges of maintaining tension as you change colour but I forced to confront it. During the month, I went to an intarsia workshop run by Georgia Farrell to promote her new collection (I wrote about here) and found solutions to the problems I was encountering with getting even stitches.
The one thing that irked me in the pattern is the double row between two of the triangles which isn't mirrored in the other side of the triangle - you can see it clearly in the image. If I were knitting this again, I would add another double row so the gold triangle on the left was symmetrical. It's a small thing and won't notice when the blanket is made up. I could also disguise by embroidering duplicate stitch over the top in the bronze colour.
I like putting several colours together and I'll probably do some repeats of the intarsia block as fillers between the other pattern blocks.
First April block - simple lace knitting with yarn overs and decreases
Lace
This month, April, is all about lace knitting, which is created by increasing and decreasing stitches. Typically, this is by putting the yarn over the needle between two stitches to create an extra stitch, which shows as an eyelet or small hole in the next row, and then decreasing knitting two stitches together to keep the number of stitches in the row the same.
This simple technique - create a stitch, lose a stitch - can be used in many different formations and patterns. This block, probably the fastest so far to knit, introduces the idea in a simple regular pattern.
Having got the hang of it lace knitting, the next block is more intricate. It's a series of diamonds knitted outwards from the centre, with increases and decreases for the lace and increases to grow the block as you knit outwards. I've decided to buy another set of three small circumference bendy double pointed needles - the knitting is set up on two needles, and then you use the third needle to go round the circle.
Resources
Helpful video for block 6 - lace stitch
Helpful video for block 5 - intarsia
Helpful video for block 4 - slip stitch
Mystery Knit Along February Blocks - Circular Knitting, Decreasing
Helpful video for Block 3 - circular knitting with decreases
Mystery Knit Along January Blocks - Texture with Knit and Purl stitches
Helpful video for Block 1 - basket weave pattern
Helpful video for Block 2 - diamonds
Berroco Mystery Blanket Knit Along - includes links to all the blocks and how to join.
If you ask me, one of the exciting moments ever in a knitter or crocheter’s life is when they are able to overcome challenges. I actually smiled so wide unconsciously after reading this. And of course, those patterns are just so beautiful. I will definitely try those patterns when I get my hooks.
As someone who has no clue whatsoever of knitting or art that has to do with needles, I looked at the pictures and said “what beautiful patterns”. You must forgive me, lol… I was reading and had no idea knitting could be this fascinating. All my life, I only thought “yarn is yarn” and “two long-ass needles crisscrossing the other” 😂😂
This is absolutely the thing, that's all that it is! For me, the magic is how you can use two sticks and some string and create so many different things. Like drawing, I guess, it's only something that makes a mark and a surface to mark and yet, so many beautiful art works.
well, now, that's not quite so simple, it comes in all shapes and sizes and different yarn has different qualities. Wool can be very springy and lightweight, cotton very heavy, alpaca has no stretch, and silk very expensive 😂
I see you published a book! Have you posted about it, is there a link anywhere?
Oh. Well I’m just knowing of that information. The yarn I mean. I tried knitting and kept messing it up. Lol. I just gave up.
Yeah I did. It was on Amazon until they came up with a new policy that I had to fulfil and I couldn’t in time so they took it down. I could send you a copy if you want. I’m going to try sending it out again with Barnes&Noble this time.
I'd love to have a copy, thank you ☺️
Ah, sorry about the knitting. It took me ages to learn how to crochet, I just couldn't keep the yarn on the hook! My niece has just started knitting, she broke her ankle and had to stay at home for a few weeks. Super-bored! So she got some wool and needles and she's made two hats and a lizard and now she's making a dachshund. We were talking about how knitting helps to alter your brain waves (a bit like meditation) and the benefits of it for mental health.
Wow! Yeah, I have read a few articles relating to knitting and its effects on mental health. So sorry about your niece. Hope she recovers soon.
I'll send you a copy on discord.
👍 😍
Oh well done, well done for real. Your blue slip stitch block looks so neat. I like the way the pattern is simple but still has a nice texture. The colors in your intarsia block go really well together too
Ah, you've made me so happy 🤗 I always been a bit conservative with colour, but I wanted to try other things, see how they turned out. I feel fairly safe with this range of wool because the manufacturers assure me that all the colours go with each other (so impossible to make a mistake) 😂.
The slip stitch pattern is nice, I hadn't come across it before.
Thank you for your nice words of support.
yep, it wasn't just to compliment you but actually the truth, very nice work ✌️ you deserve 5 star ratings !WINE !HUG
👍 😍
You did a great job. I don't know much about this stitch, but I do recognize quality when I see it. !BBH
Hello @gratefuleveryday, I don't think we've met before. How are you? Thank you for dropping by and supporting my post 😍
Pleasure to "meet" you! I've been on chain since 2017 as ironshield. It's my honor to curate this post and encourage more like it! !BBH
👍 😍
These knittings are beautiful
A simple show of talent and consistency and commitment. I like the color combi
Kinda unique from the regular
Thank you 😍 They were fun to do!
@shanibeer, I paid out 1.512 HIVE and 0.340 HBD to reward 7 comments in this discussion thread.
A perfect work of knitting art. You have done a lot of beautiful needle work and it looks really nice.