Hieta

I love challenges when it comes to knitting. Though, sometimes the challenge can be to set out to design something truly simple.

What: Hieta / Own pattern

How: Circular needles 3.25 and 3.5 mm

From: WalkCollection Cottage Merino, 211 g

That's what I set out to do and I think I nailed it.

Hieta is a wonderfully simple sweater for fingering weight yarn. It's worked seamlessly top-down. The pullover has a round yoke with a couple simple lace bits on it. The rest is stockinette stitch.

The sweater has no waist shaping and the 3/4 length sleeves make it super light to wear. I can't believe I almost managed my sample with two skeins.

The lace rounds on the yoke are easy to work. I especially love the elongated stitches that are worked by wrapping the yarn around the needle several times and then dropping those extra yarn overs on the next round.

It was really fun to get to work behind the camera for a change for some of the photos as my summer trainee was willing to try modeling.

Little Woodland

Back when I started working on Strands of Joy book, one of my first ideas was for Woodland cardigan that has this amazing enchanted forest on the hem. Many thought at first that it was a kid's design but no. I wanted it all for myself but now, I've gone and done a kiddo version as well.

What: Little Woodland / Own pattern

How: Circular needles 3.5 and 3.75 mm

From: nurja merino sock 3ply, 116 g

It was fun to do a new version of an old pattern. For kids, I chose a softer yarn that can be machine washed - hence the superwash treatment. I also turned the cardigan into a pullover because buttons can be tricky with children that don't want to stay put.

The pattern comes with sizes from 6MO to 12YO. The hem pattern features the same trees and animals as in the adult version but for this pullover, I fitted the patterns in every size such that it goes around the sweater unbroken.

The neckband worked with the contrast colour is a fun little detail. The neckband stays stretchy enough with using tubular bind-off.

I made my little sample in the size 18MO and one skein of MC was plenty enough for that.

Krumeluuri

Inspiration strikes often, a stroke of genius is more rare. Some times you get lucky and get both at the same time.

What: Krumeluuri / Own pattern

How: Circular needle 2.25 mm

From: Vuonue Wilhelmi + Louhittaren Luola Väinämöinen, 77+45 g

So this is what happened: I was hosting my Tea Time on Instagram and I always ask my followers what knits they are wearing. Sanni said she was wearing knee-high brioche socks made from Finnsheep wool and they sounded delicious! I wanted a pair for myself.

Except that it wasn't that simple. You see, the socks she had made had brioche only on the legs, and just basic brioche with no tricks. If you've been following me for a while you'll know that I always have add a trick or two.

So I had the idea that I would work two-color brioche lace on the legs. I could use the same brioche pattern as on my Vieno dress. It's so easy to make brioche look extra stunning with simple increases and decreases.

But then, I thought what if I were to continue the brioche lace on the instep as regular, non-brioche one-color lace. But why stop there? Couldn't I just continue the brioche lace with just one color? And then, I had a master stroke idea of how I could actually continue the two-color brioche lace on the instep while working one-color stockinette stitch on the sole. I couldn't cast on fast enough. I had to find out if my idea could work in practice.

And so Krumeluuri socks came to be. They're worked cuff-down. The socks start off with a tall twisted rib. Then you get to enjoy two-color brioche lace all the way to the ankle. There are also a couple calf decreases to shape the socks. 

Once you reach the heel, that's when the trickery starts. I wouldn't say these are difficult to make but I do recommend you know your brioche before casting on so you can easily follow where you're at. The feet are worked with knitting magic that allows for two-color brioche lace on the sole and one-color stockinette stitch on the sole with no floats to carry at the WS. You will need to slip stitches back and forth - although, if you switch to dpns at this point instead of magic loop you can get rid of slipping altogether. 

I was super happy to find out my grand idea worked. Once I got to the toe, I realized the brioche on the instep stretched much further than the stockinette stitch sole but even that was easily fixed: the toe decreases are worked with short rows so that only the sole grows longer. 

My brain loved designing and knitting these socks so much that I've already cast on for a second pair. And what would be better than a little exercise for both the brain and the hands while ending up with a most beautiful pair of knee-highs? 

You can find the pattern on my webshop, Ravelry and PayHip. Use the code TRICKERY to get 15% discount through December 6th.

Gladiolus

I know, I know, it's yet another colorwork yoke but it's just so darn cute.

What: Gladiolus / Own pattern

How: Circular needle 3.75 mm

From: John Arbon Textiles Alpaca Supreme

A while back, I was contacted by John Arbon Textiles on whether I might be interested to design something in their new sport weight Alpaca Supreme base. And as you can see, I very much was. I fell in love with the lovely colorways and was instantly inspired to work a three-color sweater where the background color changes at the bottom of the yoke.

Gladiolus was named after a flower as the yoke is adorned with adorable flower petal pattern. It starts out with two contrast colors and the background color changes into the main color at the end of the colorwork pattern. The best part is that this beautiful effect doesn't require a single three-color round so it's all easy knitting.

I love combining colorwork with corrugated ribbing. It gives a sweater a truly neat finishing touch. The cuffs of the sweater have one petal motif on them before moving onto the corrugated ribbing. As always, the design is worked top-down so you'll get to start with the best part.

Gladiolus has a straight body with no waist shaping but the pattern does come with instructions for an optional bust dart which I recommend to work in case you have a fuller bust. This shaping makes sure the front of the sweater doesn't rise higher than the back.

You can use the code FLWRS to get a 15% introductory discount on Gladiolus until November 14th. The code works on annajohannadesigns.com, Ravelry and PayHip.

And that's not all as the lovely folks over at John Arbon Textiles are offering a 10% discount on Alpaca Supreme with the code GLADIOLUS. This code is valid through November 13th.

Juuri

One great thing about being a knitwear designer is that I sometimes get to try out new yarns in advance. Last autumn, I got a sweater quantity of the new Tukuwool DK. And of course, I designed a sweater pattern for the yarn but then I had to wait for the yarn release and then, for the colder weather so that you could imagine yourself wearing a DK weight sweater. But the time has come!

What: Juuri / Own pattern

How: Circular needle 4.5 mm

From: Tukuwool DK, 495 g

Since this is a new yarn, let's start there. I was super excited to try it out but also nervous since untreated Finnsheep wool in DK weight could easily be quite coarse and stiff.

But this yarn stole my heart on the first stitch. I was surprised to find it had a wonderfully loose twist which made the yarn airy and light - and somehow even a bit softer than Tukuwool Fingering. I liked it a lot! I chose Ujo color for my sweater. This greyish pink is my favorite from the Tukuwool color chart.

The thick yarn was screaming cables. Inspiration came easily and I wanted to create a lushious cabled sweater with lots of positive ease and a tall cowl neck.

Juuri is worked seamlessly top down. The shoulders are worked in ribbing while shaping them with short rows. Once the short rows are done, the ribbing starts to twist and turn into cables for the rest of the body. The long sleeves are stockinette stitch with tall ribbed cuffs. The tall cowl neck is also worked in ribbing and the hem has a slit.

Originally, we took the photos last winter but I figure we should have another photoshoot as I'm hoping there's still some time to go until snow starts falling. You can find the pattern on Ravelry and my web shop (annajohannadesigns.com) and you can get 15% discount with the code ROOT until Ocober 17th.

Limelight

Usually, designing starts with an inspiration - usually. But sometimes, a friend needs your help and you might have to design something very specific. That happened to me last autumn when I got a message from Laine team telling me their upcoming shawl book was in need of one more very specific type of a shawl and they would need the sample for the photoshoot in just couple of weeks. Luckily, I was able to help them out.

What: Limelight / Own pattern

How: Circular needle 3.75 mm

From: Black Elephant Merino Singles Fingering + Triskelion Branwen 4-ply, 91 + 70 g

What they were after was a crescent shaped shawl in SW merino in bright happy colours. I had no trouble finding a perfect yarn combo in my stash and once I paired them up it was as if they were meant for this particular shawl.

I named the shawl Limelight after the bright green colour of the silk merino that I paired up with a creamy speckle dyed merino. The crescent shaped shawl is a fun combination of garter stitch, delicate lace and stripes. The stripes are worked with short rows and are all a different length. You'll need two skeins of fingering weight yarn, one skein each colour.

The pattern is part of Laine publishing's book 52 Weeks of Shawls and now you can also get it as an individual download on Ravelry, my web shop, PayHip and Lovecrafts. Use the code LIME to get 15% discount until October 9th.

Olki

If you have been following this blog over the years, you know I'm a sucker for challenges when it comes to knitting. But sometimes the challenge can be to design something really simple.

What: Olki / Own pattern

How: Circular needles 3.5 and 3.75 mm

From: Colori Naturali Calypso + Artemisia,  253+120 g

Last autumn, I was contacted by a lovely Italian handdyer to ask if I'd be interested in designing something with their yarn. There were such lovely options that it took some time to narrow down what I wanted but in the end, I ended up choosing a wonderful combination of BFL/Masham wool and mohair silk. 

The yarn arrived in the most beautiful box and inspiration struck me right there and then. I love how the labels include not only the colorway name but also info on what botanical dye was used to create it. If you know me, you won't be the least bit surprised that I chose this gorgeous oatmeal color and then some creamy mohair silk to lighten it up even more.

Since the yarn was so special it was begging to be paired up with a really simple design - you know, to let the yarn shine. And that's how the design process started.

Olki is a simple boxy pullover worked seamlessly top down. The shoulders are shaped with short rows and the sweater is mainly just simple stockinette stitch. 

The front features these delicate vertical stripes worked with mock cables. The sweater gets its neat finishing touches from the folded neckline, hem and cuffs. Those are all bound off sewing but fear not! The pattern comes with a photo tutorial for the bind-off.

This has turned out to be one of my all-time favorite sweaters! The elegant, simple look makes sure it goes with all my clothes and the relaxed fit with warm folded cuffs make me fall in love with it again every time I put it on.

I fell for the yarn so much that I even got a couple kits for you on the web shop in case you'd like to try them too. Though, there are only couple kits so be quick! If you buy enough yarn to make the sweater you will get the pattern for free.

You can of course buy the pattern individually on Ravelry, PayHip and Lovecrafts.