Défi 13: Entrechat

Ah les jolies petites choses toutes roses des petites filles… J’espère que mon fils me pardonnera quand il sera plus grand de lui avoir mis des trucs de fille sur le dos pour les besoins de la cause… Ceci dit… Il est pas mignonne??

Je voulais essayer une nouvelle construction (enfin nouvelle pour moi!) et tricoter le corps de ce boléro d’une pièce en relevant les mailles des raglans pour former les pans du devant. Et je voulais aussi utiliser une bordure au point mousse verticalement pour former l’encolure parce que je trouve que ça change un peu. Pour bien marquer le mouvement, j’ai placé une bande contenant un joli point texturé — facile cette fois!! le point de vannerie utilisé dans mon Latte Baby Coat serait joli aussi, mais je voulais quelque chose vraiment simple pour les tricoteuses moins expérimentées.

Enfin, un petit effet volanté dans le dos, et zou! Tricoté en deux temps trois mouvements avec même pas un écheveau de Malabrigo Merino Worsted (pour la taille 12-18 mois). Le pattern est écrit et 8 tailles seront disponibles, du 0-3mois au 5-6 ans. Je l’envoie illico chez mon “tech editor” pour contrôle… Donc je pense qu’il sera publié (en Anglais pour le moment… promis la traduction de mes patterns c’est pour bientôt) pour la nouvelle année!

Pour voir les autres défis (thème du mois: techniques jamais utilisées en tricot et couture) c’est par ici!!

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The Défi’13 challenge is a monthly knitting or sewing project in the French blogosphere. The challenge’s theme this month was “new techniques in knitting and sewing”, so I thought I would introduce my latest prototype, whose construction is a bit different — I also used a new stitch in it, which I think is so neat (and VERY easy which never hurts!) ; the pattern will include 8 sizes and should be published around the New Year!

I hope you like it 

Trico’13: J’fais des trous, des petits trous…

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… encore des petits trous!

Voici mon projet pour ce mois-ci, c’est le Cloud Bolero par Ysolda Teague. Le modèle est gratuit, ici (en Anglais, et attention, la mise en page est un peu brouillonne, ça m’a causé quelques déboires!)

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Je suis très contente du résultat! Je le trouve mignon comme tout. Et j’ai essayé deux configurations:

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Ruban en haut:

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Ruban en bas:

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Un détail des petits trous:

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Voilà! Allez zou je vais voir vos trous-trous à vous!

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Sorry about the vanishing English paragraphs, guys! This is my project for the Trico’13 challenge of this month: lace. I’m very happy with the result, I think it’s rather adorable. I could see this working really well for a little girl, too.

The pattern is Cloud Bolero, by Ysolda Teague. I used 3 skeins of Patons Classic Woold in Heathered Jade. I held 2 strands together to approximate the gauge. I highly recommend this pattern. Once you get the hang of it, it’s not too hard, even for a lace semi-novice like myself!

Pattern for the Mohair Shrug/Bolero

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A few people have contacted me to ask for the pattern for the Mohair Shrug/Bolero (blogged here a while back).

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I’ve now translated the instructions from Flemmish and thought I should share it with you guys since this is such a simple project. I might also put it on Ravelry at some point.

Please let me know if you have questions or suggestions to make the pattern instructions clearer. If you make this, please let me know! I’d love to see your versions!

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Voici les instructions pour le boléro en mohair que j’ai réalisé il y a quelque temps. Pour l’instant je n’ai pas encore fait de version française. Si vous avez trop de mal avec l’anglais, je tenterai une VF!

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MOHAIR SHRUG/BOLERO

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Yarn: The yarn I used is Gedifra Belisana, a 70% mohair yarn , knit on 6mm needles (US size 10) – I used about 5 balls I think? If forget exactly. I don’t think the gauge is hugely important, but you might want to find an alternate that produces roughly a gauge of 15st/4in.

It might be interesting to experiment with other yarns besides mohair, but I don’t know if it would produce the same kind of drape and cozy-ness.

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Size: this is a pretty stretchy garment, so I think it should fit a lot of people, but as a reference, I’m a size M, US 8-10, French size 40.

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Stitches used:
Single ribstitch (1×1 rib): *k1, p1, repeat from * until end of row
Double ribstitch (2×2 rib): *k2, p2, repeat from * until end of row

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Pattern:

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Cast on 90 st.

Knit in Double ribstitch until work measures 60 cm (about 24 inches).

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At that point, double the total number of stitches over 1 row with the m1 increase (i.e. knit in the front and in the back of each stitch): at the end of this row you should have 180 st on your needle. You don’t need to make additional increases past this one row: the knit fabric will flare out gradually on its own. Magic!

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Switch to Single ribstitch. Knit 20 cm (about 8 inches)

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Bind off loosely.

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Sew top and bottom ends of vertical edges of work together (along 8″ on each side) to make armholes
NOTE: at this point it’s best to try on the shrug and position the seams using safety needles first to insure proper fit. I didn’t want a slouchy fit, so I placed the seam pretty high on each edge. . Look at the drawing: if you want a slouchy fit, sew A to “B slouchy.” If you want a snug fit, sew A a bit higher (“B snug”). Do this on both sides.

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Voilà!

Finished Mohair shrug/bolero! – EDIT: LINK TO PATTERN

Is it a shrug? Is it a bolero? Not sure what the difference is, to be honest.

This pattern is real easy, basically it’s a 2×2 rib rectangle, then you double the number of stitches you started with over one row, and then continue in 1×1 rib. At which point you get this.

Then you just sew the thing together to make a shrug. I actually strayed from the Belgian Lady’s instructions a bit ; i thought the fit was more flattering if i positioned the seams where I ended up putting them. In the original pattern, the seams are lower on each side, more shrug-like, but then the armholes are way bigger and gape a bit around the shoulders, the fit is more slouchy. A matter of taste, in the end.

Overall, I’m really happy with this mohair adventure, it was ok to knit, a bit boring especially toward the end when you have about 200 stitches on your needles, but then it’s quick enough to finish it without getting frustrated. And so little seaming, which is always a bonus!

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EDIT: PATTERN IS NOW AVAILABLE HERE