Opal Little Dragon Preview Video!

Hi, Knitters,

I have completed the Opal Little Dragon design! I wanted to share the little guy with you from all angles so I filmed a short video to show him off. The pattern is debuting at TNNA at the Unicorn Books booth where I am also doing a book signing for Topsy-Turvy Inside-Out Knit Toys on Saturday, June 22nd. Please stop by for both the pattern and the signing or simply to say hello. I would love to see you!

If you can't see the video (email subscribers), please click right here to view it on YouTube.

Little Dragon is worked from the bottom-up in one piece, seamlessly! It's a very slick and simple pattern. The dragon is knit using a fingering or sock weight yarn held doubled throughout on US size 5 dpns. It used up about 40 grams of a sock yarn. There are new construction techniques included here and it is a fun and fast toy knit. I think you are going to love knitting up your own Little Dragon. 

Little Dragon will be available, at first, only through Unicorn Books (a craft book and supplies distributor) for yarn shops to purchase for their customers. I believe it will be in a printed pattern version only but they may be offering a downloadable version as well, I'm not sure. Please ask your yarn shops to order through Unicorn Books if you are interested in the pattern. 

Eventually the pattern rights will revert back to me and I will have the pattern available in my Ravelry Pattern Shop. This will happen at the first of the new year so don't worry if you can't get the pattern right away when it is released. 

This is the same thing I did with the Opal Sock Yarn Bunny and Hat. Unicorn Books released a printed pattern version for yarn shop owners to provide to their customers and then later the bunny became a downloadable pattern on Ravelry. I love to support local yarn shops and this is one way we can all help a little so please go through your local yarn shop if at all possible.

Little Dragon really is an expressive little toy, standing at 6 1/4 inches tall, with the movable head construction (a new technique I recently came up with). 

I'll post a Ravelry project page soon! Here is one more cute little photo below, I can't resist this little friend. I think this is one of the best toy designs I have ever done. There is a sweet personality that shines through with Little Dragon. I have started compiling a book list of children's literature and young adult literature with little and big dragon characters that could go along with this dragon for children. The possibilities seem quite endless.

If you have any dragon literature ideas for me, please post a comment and I will compile a list and share! Thank you.

On another subject, below is one more instructional video. I did this video for a Signature Needles guest blog post a few weeks ago.  I am showing how I cast on a small number of stitches onto 3 dpns, a technique I constantly use for my toy patterns.

Click here to see it on YouTube.

Have a great weekend! I'll be back soon with more....
best, susie
p.s. Malia (rhymeswithmaria on rav), has started a new vid-cast, Yarn Raising, that is mainly about spinning but has lots of knitting content as well, and I love it. Malia and I sat at the same table at the Knitting Pipeline Retreat and I so enjoyed her and her spinning that weekend. Please click here to watch her video podcast! 

New Noro Sheep Pattern!

(Noro Magazine Spring/Summer 2013, photo by Jack Deutsch)

Hi, Knitters,

I have a new toy design in the new issue of Noro Magazine! I happily agreed to knit a toy for the issue because I love knit toys in the beautiful Noro yarns. Remember this one? I asked if I could knit a sheep and they quickly agreed. 

The gigantic cone of yarn I received is definitely a luxury blend for Noro. It is fingering weight, Shiraito, 45% angora, 45% cashmere, 10% wool. Wow, what a treat this yarn was to work with. I can't get over how well it matched the project. You could, of course, use any fingering weight yarn including the Noro fingering weight sock yarns. The sheep is the perfect project for leftovers, too.

The sheep is knit completely in one-piece and seamlessly! You start at the bottom of the body and work your way up to the top of the sheep's head. The ears and legs are picked up and knit on. I loved this pattern and head construction so much that I actually knit two samples for the magazine (they only asked for one). The yarn made it fun, as well as the construction, because I had no idea what colors would turn up in the yarn. That is part of the fun of Noro.

I had so much fun figuring out how to knit this cute little guy. I was quite pleased with how the sheep worked out. He is about 4 1/2 inches tall and about 5 inches long. 

Click here for the Noro Magazine website!

This issue is currently on newsstands.

Click here for the Ravelry project page for the #31 Sheep!

The smocking stitch pattern is a great texture for the sheep's wooly body and it's fun to do.

The #31 Sheep is knit on US size 3 dpns.

With just a bit of stuffing and black embroidery floss you are all set to go!

Erin Slonaker (I love her blog, Pepperknit), the editor in chief of Yarn Market News, emailed to let me know she was in love with this pattern and was knitting her second sheep when she emailed. That made me feel good!

Here are lots of my home photos for you. Enjoy!

The pattern, of course, is only available in the Noro Magazine (on stands now!).

Aren't they cute? I just love them and may have to make a few for myself and for gifts.

Let me know if you make a #31 Sheep!

best, susie

New Signature Convertible Needles

Hi, Knitters,

First, I selected three winners for the Little Skein in the Big Wool Etsy Shop! Congratulations goes to whitsknits, Sewbaker, and jplantgirl (all rav ids)! I have contacted the winners through Ravelry and also contacted Ann Vally of Little Skein. Ann will be contacting the winners to provide the final details. Thanks to all who entered and a huge thank you to all who visited Little Skein over the weekend. Ann is just thrilled with the response and told me her shop has had thousands of visitors (all of you!) over the weekend and she came home from camping to find tons of new orders waiting for her. She is just thrilled! Thank you!

Ann and I are cooking up a fun project together for the next holiday season so stay tuned.....

Now onto to today's business at hand. A little while ago Signature Needle Arts contacted me to write a guest blog post for them and to see if I would be interested in trying out a new product they were developing. I immediately said yes to both. I have never been given any products or needles from Signature, I found the needles through hearing others rave about them and I have purchased all of the sets I own. I simply love both the circular needles and the double-pointed needles.

I was so excited to see Signature's new needle concept, that I later found out are called Convertible Needles. The Convertibles are different than the interchangeable sets that we are all familiar with. The Convertible needle tips and cords are sold separately. Here is the difference, each size of the needle tips, called stalks, comes with size specific cords, called ferrules. I like this idea a lot. I have, for example, two US size 8 Signature circular needles (24-inch and 32-inch), two US size 7 Signature circular needles, (24-inch and 32-inch). Now I can just purchase one set of stalks and multiple cords to switch out the lengths when needed. I don't need multiple sets of circulars in the same needle size. This makes sense to me.

The cost of a set of stalks is $22 and each cord is $20 so to get a working pair of Convertibles is $42. This is the same price as purchasing a pair of the original fixed circular needles. It is less expensive when purchasing multiple lengths of circulars because after purchasing the stalks, each additional cord is $20.

If you only want one length of circular needles the new Convertibles work just like the fixed circular needles. You could purchase only one size and length and use it as a fixed circular. I am knitting the shawl pictured above, on the US size 7 Convertible 40-inch needles that were given to me to test out for Signature. I am knitting the shawl out of a hearty worsted weight yarn and as the shawl grows it is becoming quite heavy. I have not had a single issue with the join. It is very smooth, just like the fixed circulars, and it has not budged or moved at all since I screwed the stalks and the ferrules together. It is just like working on a fixed circular needle.

In my opinion, the Convertibles are wonderful. This past weekend I purchased three more Convertible needles (US 6, 4, 3 and 32-inch cords) to continue to fill out my Signature circular needle collection. I can't wait to get them. The stalks and ferrules both have lifetime guarantees so if something breaks or doesn't work correctly Signature will replace them for you. 

As for storage, I keep all of my fixed circular Signature needles in their original packaging, a zip-lock type bag with a cardboard information piece inside. I keep them on a book shelf like you would books. I use these needles so much that I don't even like to put them in a case of any sort. They fly off my shelves! I will store the new Convertibles on my bookshelf the same way with the multiple cords for each needle size in the original packaging along with the stalks of the same size. This will work out well and pretty much the same as before.

(photo from Signature Needle Arts)

The great thing about the joins is that there is no tool to use when connecting the pieces. The stalks and ferrules simply screw together and it is recommended not to over-tighten them. It could not be any simpler. This is the easiest join I have ever used and it has stayed put while I knit. The join is as smooth as can be. Signature is working on stoppers to put on the cords to hold the stitches in place when the needles are removed. I will look forward to these as I think stoppers will be useful with this concept.

I had a completely open mind while testing this new concept out for Signature Needle Arts. I didn't have to write a review, good or bad, or at all. The one set of Convertible US 7 circular 40-inch needles is the only thing I have ever been given from Signature and we have no ongoing deal or conditions of any sort. 

If you are interested at all in trying out this new concept, I suggest you do! The Signature needles are a well-designed highly engineered product that I will continue to use in my knitting life. I think they make my knitting faster and more enjoyable. Using Signature needles is like a treat.

Click here for more details on the new Convertibles straight from the Signature Needle Arts website!

best, susie
p.s. In case anyone is wondering, the shawl design I am working on is a really cool and unique project. I am working with an unusual yarn company for an early fall pattern/kit release. It is something different that I am trying out and I am hoping you might be as excited about it as I am when it is released!
p.p.s. Also, the Opal Dragon is done (knit on US size 5 Signatures dpns:). I am still working on the written pattern. It is being released at TNNA through Unicorn Books and will be sold through yarn shops in print copy initially. Eventually I will be selling the pattern for download in my Ravelry Pattern Shop.
Here is a further sneak peak below:

Little Skein in the Big Wool ~ Giveaway!

(photo provided by Little Skein)

Hi, Knitters,

First off, thank you so much for the fantastic response to the handspun yarn sale, it was sold out in a matter of hours (minutes for most of it), and to the Gratitude pattern sale. I appreciate you all and thanks for making last week so much fun.

Today I want to share a fun Etsy shop with you, Little Skein in the Big Wool. The name of the shop is what first got me interested. It's a great shop name. Ann Vally, the artist behind the shop, creates fairytale-themed stitch marker sets, gift cards for handknits, zipper pulls, and project bags. I have four sets of stitch markers from Little Skein and they are my favorites. I have never had a single stitch marker where the bead pops off (which I have had happen with other stitch markers in this style) and I love the special stitch marker with the charm in each set. It's all so sweet and well done.

All of the stitch marker sets come in tiny glass jars or vials with a cork at the top. I keep my sets right in the adorable glass vials. I love them and I think you will, too. The presentation is charming and the stitch markers feel so good on the needles in between your beautiful knit stitches.

Click here for the Little Skein Etsy Shop!

(photo provided by Little Skein)

Here is the description from the shop:

{ THEMED, ARTISAN KNITTING ACCESSORIES } Here at littleskein, you'll find artisan-quality project bags and stitch markers, handcrafted by a knitter for knitters. I design most items around a theme, usually inspired by children's literature and fairy tales. My items feature adorable and thoughtful details like extra top-stitching, a special zipper pull, or unique charm. I use materials sourced from around the globe -- particularly Japanese fabrics and European charms and findings.

 (photo provided by Little Skein)

Aren't they wonderful? They are worth a try! My newest set is Snoopy-themed. When I saw Snoopy pop up in the shop I had to get it. 

(photo provided by Little Skein)

The addition of little bunny-themed handknit gift cards and envelopes is another sweet item in the shop. I have a set of these, too, and each card is like a little piece of art. Sweet is the best word to describe everything in Little Skein in the Big Wool.

Ann Vally has generously given me the opportunity to share some of her delightful items with you! Thank you, Ann.

I will randomly pick 3 winners. Two winners will each win a set of stitch markers of your choice from the available sets in the shop. One winner will win a set of the lovable bunny gift cards. Please leave one comment on this blog post. Please leave a Ravelry id or email so I can contact you if your comment wins.

Good luck! Be sure to check out this fun shop on Etsy! Click here for Little Skein!
best, susie

The Great Gratitude Handspun Yarn Sale & Pattern Discount

(Sweetheart)

Edited to Add on May 24th, 2013: The handspun is completely sold out! Thank you for the enthusiastic and quick response!! 

Hi, Knitters,

I have a couple of firsts to offer you today. I want to send out to all of you a tremendous thank you. In the next few months I will be celebrating 7 years of blogging and book writing. So much has happened in these past few years that I want to stop for a second to appreciate all of you for coming along. My sincerest thank you.

I am starting The Great Gratitude Sale by offering a 20% discount off of all of my patterns starting today, Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 and ending next week, May 30th, 2013. The sale is being run through my Ravelry Pattern Shop and the discount code is THANKYOU (type it in just like this, all caps, no space). You enter the code at checkout. Here is what it says on Ravelry on how to use this code: Your customers can use their coupon codes by using the  "use a coupon code" links that appear during purchase.

This is my first pattern discount sale. Enjoy!

Click here to go to my Ravelry shop!

The second of firsts is that due to a great response to the idea of selling my handspun hanks of yarn (thank you for all of the emails and comments).... 

I am going to sell some of my handspun yarns right here on the blog! 

I love to spin and I love the finished yarns produced but I simply don't have time to knit it all up. So it sits and sits and sits. I need to make some room on my studio shelves so I am offering up some luscious skeins of handspun yarn for purchase today. I have knit lots and lots of projects with my handspun including socks, shawls, hats, mittens, scarves, and toys. I enjoyed every minute of it and I hope you will enjoy it, too.

Let me start by saying that I am not a professional spinner. The fact is that I have been spinning for a little over 2 years at this point. If you have been reading my blog over the past couple of years you will have seen the progression and joy in my spinning. The yarns are beautiful and completely knit-worthy but I still have a long way to go!

The yarns I am selling today are beautiful and fun. Are they perfect? No. Please keep this in mind when purchasing. The yarn is what it is. I am not trying to make the skeins out to be any more or better than they really are. There will be some thick and thin areas, some lumps and bumps, and other imperfections in between the perfectly spun bits, all of which occur naturally in handspun yarns. 

Every skein is imperfectly perfect.   

I have a smoke and pet free home.

I'm happy to sign any of the tags if you'd like on request!

With that disclaimer being said here are the purchasing rules (PLEASE READ!!!):

1. You must have a Paypal account to purchase. I will invoice you via Paypal. Once the payment has cleared and I receive the payment, the sale will be considered complete. 

2. There are no returns once the sale is complete. Please make sure you really want and understand the conditions and descriptions of the sale of these handspun yarns. I will not sugar-coat the descriptions, they are completely accurate to the best of my knowledge. All sales are final.

3. U.S. mailing addresses only, please. (We'll see how it goes this time and maybe next time I will open it up to international shipping.)

4. Sales will be determined on a first come, first serve basis. Once the yarn is posted and live on this post, you will need to email me to purchase and to give me your Paypal email address so I can invoice you for the yarn. 

To purchase the yarn you must email me with the name of the skein you wish to purchase in the subject line of the email:

Email address: 4busykids@chorus.net 

5. One person can purchase more than one skein. There is no limit on the number of skeins purchased per person.

6. I will mail the skeins via USPS as soon as possible (not more than a week after purchase) and I will send you an email once your package has been shipped. I will most likely wait until I have a few purchases to ship at a time.

7. The yardage of each skein has been hand-counted by me so there may be a small margin of error. 

8. The weight of the yarn (fingering, sport, dk, worsted, bulky, etc.) is an estimation by me. I can't be exact on the weight and gauge of the yarn. You will need to try out different size needles and swatch to see what gauge you will get with each skein.

9. Pricing! I have researched other handspun yarns being sold online to compare the prices of similar skeins to the skeins I am selling today. I think the pricing is fair. Considered in the final price is the cost and weight of the roving used, the amount of time spent spinning, plying, skeining, and preparing the yarn, and finally, the finished yardage and quality obtained. 

10. Flat fee shipping will be added onto the price listed for the skein. Shipping will be an additional $6.00 (this fee includes multiple skeins shipping to one address).

11. As the skeins are sold I will update the blog post with a SOLD in bold under the specific yarn.

Okay, enough of that! Let's get on with The Great Gratitude Handspun Yarn Sale!

(Sweetheart)

Sold

The first skein up for grabs is called Sweetheart. Sweetheart is a big, gigantic, squishy hank of mixed shades of barber pole pink and natural plies!

The Facts about Sweetheart:

Roving used: 

4 oz. of Dyeabolical Yarns Corriedale wool roving in the Sweetheart colorway

and

2 oz. of natural wool purchased by me at the Madison Farmers Market

How it's spun:

2 separate single plies of the Sweetheart roving were spun first and then were plied with a single ply of the natural Wisconsin wool to create a round 3-ply yarn. 

Yardage and Weight:

424 yards of a heavy-fingering weight traditional 3-ply yarn

Care: Handwash with wool wash, dry flat.

Suggested projects:

Shawl

Socks

Hat and mitten set

Price:  $55.00 + $6.00 shipping = $61.00 total

(Green River)

(Green River)

Sold

The next skein up for purchase is called, Green River. Green River is a gorgeous mix of greens and shades of teal. It is a soothing and beautiful skein of wool.

The Facts about Green River:

Roving used: 

4 oz. of Cloudlover Polwarth Handpainted Top 

How it's spun:

2 singles were spun and then plied together to make a 2-ply yarn. 

Yardage and Weight: 

294 yards of a sport to dk weight traditional 2-ply yarn

Care: Handwash with a wool wash, dry flat

Suggested Projects:

Shawlette

Hat

Mittens

Cowl

Price: $45.00 + $6.00 shipping = $51.00 total 

(Coral Reef)

(Coral Reef)

SOLD

This big, playful, squishy, uber-soft, skein is called Coral Reef. The colors in this skein have a summer day at the beach feel with a mix of coral, ocean blue, light green, tan and natural. The skein of yarn weighs in at 7 3/4 oz.

The Facts about Coral Reef:

Roving used:
The roving was 2 different 4 oz. braids of Polwarth from Springtree Road 

How it's spun:
Each 4 oz. braid was spun separately into singles and then plied together to make a traditional 2-ply yarn. Since there were two different colorways plied together the yarn has wonderful barber poling throughout.

Yardage and weight: 
268 yards of a thick and thin worsted weight yarn

Care: Handwash with wool wash, dry flat

Suggested projects:
Hat
Mittens
Scarf
Cowl

Price: $50.00 + $6.00 shipping = $56.00 total

(Little Plums)

(Little Plums)

(Little Plums)

SOLD

This skein is called Little Plums. The wonderful barber poled skein combines many shades of purple from plum to violet to lavender. The colors are rich and beautiful.

The Facts about Little Plums:

Roving used:

4 oz. of Sunshine Yarns 100% Superwash Wool

How it's spun: 

The braid was divided into 2 oz. sections. Each 2 oz. section was spun into singles and then plied together to make a traditional 2-ply yarn.

*Note: There are 3 ends in this skein so I am assuming it is not in one piece.

Yardage and weight: 

178 yards of a dk weight yarn

Care: Handwash in wool wash, dry flat

Suggested projects:

Hat

Fingerless mitts

Toy

Price: 

$35.00 + $6.00 shipping = $41.00 total

(Grellow with a Splash of Mint)

(Grellow with a Splash of Mint)

(Grellow with a Splash of Mint)

SOLD

This skein is called, Grellow with a Splash of Mint. Grellow is gray plus yellow. I recently spun this gradient skein and I couldn't get over how much I loved the movement from fresh mint to soft gold to heathery gray. The yarn is smooth, beautiful and calm.

The Facts about Grellow with a Splash of Mint:

Roving used:
4 oz. of Dyeabolical Yarns 60% merino wool/40% bamboo viscose

How it's spun:
The roving was spun into one long singles and then Navajo-plied or chain plied to make a 3-ply yarn.

Yardage and weight: 256 yards of a heavy fingering/sport weight yarn

Care: Handwash with wool wash, dry flat

Suggested projects:
Shawlette
Cowl
Hat
Fingerless mitts

Price: $42.00 + $6.00 shipping = $48.00 total

(Whipped Mocha)

(Whipped Mocha)

SOLD

This hefty skein of Whipped Mocha has a sheen to it that is spectacular. The yarn has Tencel which is the reason for the shiny look. The name of the skein, Whipped Mocha, is spot on. The soft shades of brown with a gentle hint of gold every once in a while is so squishy and inviting.

The Facts about Whipped Mocha:

Roving Used:

Two 4 oz. braids of Sunshine Yarns, 50% Superwash Merino/50% Tencel roving

How it's spun:

Each 4 oz. braid was spun separately into hefty singles and then plied together to create a traditional 2-ply yarn

Yardage and weight: 98 yards of a thick and thin, super bulky weight yarn

Suggested projects:

Mittens

Hat (I was planning on making The Vermonter Hat with this skein. It would be perfect! Click here for the free pattern!)

Cowl

Price: $38.00 + $6.00 shipping = $44.00 total

(Leafy Greens)

(Leafy Greens)

(Leafy Greens)

SOLD

This skein is called, Leafy Greens. The photos are not doing this skein justice. It is much richer and more varied in shades of green than appears. There are many greens mixed into the yarn from light spring green to olive to dark shades. It is a very sweet little skein of yarn, one of my earliest spins if I remember correctly. That's why there are some thick and thin spots throughout.

The Facts about Leafy Greens:

Roving Used: 4 oz. braid of 100% superwash wool from Springtree Road

How it's spun:
The braid was split in half into 2 oz. sections. Each section was spun into singles and then plied together to create a traditional 2-ply yarn.

Yardage and weight: 156 yards of a thick and thin dk weight yarn

Care: Handwash with a wool wash, dry flat

Suggested Projects:
Hat
Mittens
Fingerless Mitts
Toy

Price: $25.00 + $6.00 shipping = $31.00 total

(Rusted Root)

(Rusted Root)

(Rusted Root)

SOLD

This skein, which I've named Rusted Root, is perhaps my favorite colorway out of this entire lot of yarns. It is stunning with browns, olives, rust, teal and green. I LOVE this yarn so much. It is not a super soft wool, it is rustic and hearty. It is gorgeous!

The Facts about Rusted Root:

Roving used: 4 oz. of Dyeabolical Yarns 100% Shetland Wool

How it's spun: 

The 4 oz. roving was divided into halves, each 2 oz. Each half was spun into singles and then plied together to make a traditional 2-ply yarn.

Yardage and weight: 110 yards of a heavy worsted/aran weight yarn

Care: Handwash with a wool wash, dry flat

Suggested Projects:

Fingerless mitts

Hat

Toy

Price: $32.00 + $6.00 shipping = $38.00 total

That's that! I may not ever do this again, we'll see how it goes. It is my first time doing this so please be patient with me. 

Good luck if you are ordering!

best, susie

Adding Patch Pockets to a Finished Cardigan

Hi, Knitters,

Edited to add: I have a guest blog post on the Signature Needle Arts blog with another video tutorial.

Click here to see the post and video!

A couple of weeks ago I washed two cardigans. I soaked them one at a time in the Phil Basin filled with lukewarm water with Soak Wash in the Celebration scent. Each cardigan sat for 20 minutes or so after which I gently squeezed out the excess water and then rolled in a clean towel to get more water out. I gently spread the cardigans out on blocking boards and turned a fan on them to speed the drying. When the cardigans were still damp I placed each separately and at different times in a mesh laundry bag and tossed in the dryer on the delicate cycle. Using the dryer while the garment is still damp helps the superwash wool bounce back into shape. Superwash wool gets very stretchy when wet, frighteningly stretchy, and that's why I use the dryer at the end. You can wash superwash wool in the washing machine (thus the name superwash) but I prefer to wash by hand.

Both of the cardigans are knit in Madelinetosh DK. Here is the information for both cardigans.

The dark blue cardigan:

Yarn: Tosh DK in the Thunderstorm colorway purchased at Nina's in Chicago

Pattern: Calligraphy Cardigan by Hannah Fettig (great pattern - highly recommend!)

Buttons: Purchased at The Sow's Ear in Verona, WI

The green cardigan:

Yarn: Tosh DK in the Burnished colorway, purchased at Nina's in Chicago

Pattern: Tea Leaves Cardigan by Melissa LaBarre (great pattern - highly recommend!)

Buttons: Purchased at Purl Soho

The funny thing about both of the Tosh DK colorways, Burnished and Thunderstorm, is that they look very different in various lighting and photos. I think that is both interesting and kind of fun.

After the washing and drying of the cardigans I decided it was time to add the pockets to the Calligraphy Cardigan, something I had been planning on doing for a long time. I had plenty of leftover yarn. I couldn't remember the size of the needle I had knit the Calligraphy on but it was probably the recommended US size 6 now that I look back at the pattern. I just guessed and pulled out my US size 7 Signature Needles and thought it seemed close enough. It worked fine but I would recommend using the same size used for the body of the cardigan. (Don't do what I did!)

First things first, figure out where you want your pockets located. I tried on the cardigan to see where my hands would naturally expect a pocket to be on the fronts and kind of eyeballed where that would be in reference to the button bands and bottom ribbing. It's all very scientific and make sure you point to the spot you want your pocket to be placed. It will bring good luck.

I put the pockets 10 rows up from the bottom ribbing and 10 stitches in from the button band ribbing. This seemed to be about the perfect placement. I also decided on the width of the pocket which turned out to be about 5.5 inches.

 

With the circular Signature Needles (you could also use two dpns to work back and forth), I picked up the right leg of each of 30 consecutive stitches. I did this working from the right to the left and then pulled the circular needle back to the other side to begin the work.

I held the yarn at the point of the needle and began with a knit row on the picked up stitches. I left a long enough end to use later for stitching up the side of the pocket. For this basic patch pocket, work back and forth in stockinette stitch (you could slip the first stitch of each row, but I didn't) until the pocket measures about 4 1/4- inches above the pick up row. Then continue in a K2, P2 rib (I worked a K2 on each end) for another inch making the pocket measure 5 1/4-inches in total from the pick up row. Bind off in the rib pattern. Leave a long enough end to place on a yarn needle to whipstitch the side of the pocket to the cardigan front. Stitch up the other side of the pocket in the same manner. Weave in the ends to the inside seam of the pocket and trim.

I love the new pockets! They look super clean and perfectly placed. The new pockets were meant to be.

Here are a few finished pocket photos for you to enjoy!

The process for adding afterthought patch pockets is simple and quick.  I hope this helps a little if you are thinking of doing the same. I am very pleased with the final results and the cardigan is even better if that is possible. Who doesn't love a good pocket or two?

I added this post to the tutorial list on the sidebar of the blog, under Tutorials, if you want to refer to this information later.

Take care, Knitters. I can't believe it is already Wednesday....

best, susie