I'm a Knitter. The capital K means every day, everywhere. I started designing as co-owner of Cabin Fever with my sister Lyn. We have published over 160 patterns and 11 books. I'm also working on a new set of patterns for Any Gauge or Gauge-free knitting so you can dive into your stash and cast on for a Top Down sweater that fits, or an accessory to use up those odd balls of yarn.
I’ve published the Contiguous Drop Shoulder pattern on ravelry. It’s an Any Gauge recipe style pattern. Oh, and it’s free. I have done a couple of videos for it too. Have a great time with this pattern. My daughter loves hers.
This one is in chunky weight yarn and was very fast to knit up.
The one for me is taking a little longer. I had a different idea for the sleeves and after knitting them decided it didn’t work. Rip, rip, rip and start again. Now they are mostly done the second time around.
I knit the sleeves with all the orange yarn I have left. I still have a tiny bit of blue and grey, about 2 or 3 rounds of each and then the sleeves are done. Three quarter length sleeves it is.
I used all the one dye lot skeins of worsted weight wool I had. Yay.
I worked the bottom grey colour in a floating seed stitch pattern since that ball of wool was ripped back from another project. I didn’t want to recondition the yarn so the stitch pattern is a distraction from the crinkly yarn. I think it’s doing it’s job.
I don’t know that this stash buster is fashion forward but it is very comfy. Just a perfect winter knit.
Happy New Year everyone. 2025 Wow. My usual schedule starts today so no more lounging around in my pjs, which was lovely and much needed. My WIP clean up week went really well but now it’s time to look ahead and get this year started.
I will continue to do my blog, and hopefully, more videos. I have a few more knitting adventures I can’t wait to start. During my WIP week I had this deep stash yarn sitting out, as a carrot, to help motivate me. This is Wellington Fibres DK wool/mohair blend which I have had forever. Forever being 15+ years.
I’m going to be working on a striped top down circular yoke using the hellical knitting technique. I can’t wait.
Since one sweater on the go is obviously not enough, I’m knitting another Any Gauge Family Crewneck. I’m knitting a small one in Shelridge DKW, for my grandson, who is currently obsessed with rainbows. If you want to come along for the ride, please do.
Those two new sweaters were my reason for clearing the WIPs up. I did a pretty good job of it. I’m quite proud of myself.
I finished my fingering weight cardigan. I took a photo when I still had 1″ left on my last sleeve but it’s done now and button shopping is next.
I ripped out the bottom 4″ of my Slanting Slip-On. I went up one needle size and knit back down. I have to take this to my daughters for a fitting. How much more length is needed? Then I can cast off. As a summer knit, this one is just a tiny bit late.
My aran weight V-neck is finished, except for button sewing, of course.
This is Kraemer Yarn from my deep stash. I’m really happy to have this one to wear.
And lastly, a Carbeth which I knit as a pullover, has finally become the requested cardigan.
I’m now quite confident in the crochet steek technique. This time, after I crocheted the edges of the steek, I picked up and knit the buttonbands. Then I cut.
I think the inside edge, photo bottom right, looks fantastic. Again, the button thing is next.
I also got about 2 more inches knit on my overall twisted stitch cardigan (knitting on 2.75mm needles is so freakin’ slow).
I never wrote anything down for the stitch pattern, so I was a little nervous about picking it up after several years. The pattern was fairly easy to figure out once I remembered that I did all the garter stitch between the twisted stitches as purls on the right side, phew. This is knit in Revolutionwoolco 1 ply natural wool.
So that’s me. What are you up to? Any knitting plans for 2025?
I have decided that it’s time to finish a bunch of WIPs. Before New Years Day I hope to finish these projects.
This V-neck cardigan only needs 1 1/2 sleeves. Not a quick finish on 2.75mm needles but it’s been languishing for 8 months and I think that’s long enough. Blog post: 3×3 Stripes . I actually thought it had been sitting a little longer than that. Small needles or not, it’s going to be done. Yarn is Shelridge 80/20 fingering.
I knit this in Shelridge Summer Silk, which is a beautiful linen/silk blend. It’s for my daughter and it almost fits! It ended up a little small over the hips. I need to rip it back a couple of inches from the bottom and re-knit it a little wider. That’s OK. I’m looking forward to knitting with this yarn again.
There are still more WIPs. I don’t know why I abandoned this top down cardigan. It only needs 2 x 1/2 sleeves (I was working the 2 sleeves at the same time). I think I even have the buttons for it. I must have been distracted by a new shiny knit. I started this one in 2022 and it looks like the last time I worked on this was December 2023. It’s about time to free up those needles, right?
I wish this was all the WIPs I had but it’s not.
This one needs to be made into a cardigan. I had been putting it off, even though I have lots of the wool, because the steeking sort of scared me. I have recently worked crocheted steeks on two sweaters. They turned out really well. Not scared anymore.
This is Kate Davies Carbeth . A terrific top down knit. The problem now is that I have no idea what needle I used. Since I never get gauge, it’s not the needle recommended by the yarn. I want to rip the ribbing back, make it longer, then cut it up the front and knit the buttonbands. This could be interesting or really, really frustrating. No telling yet.
One last sweater.
I think this one got stalled in 2021. It’s on 3.0mm needles and it may be that I just got tired of the slow progress, especially since I have to pay attention on every row. Who knows after all this time. I won’t get this one done by New Years Day but I’m going to get started on it. I mean, it’s fairly close to being a real sweater.
I dare not look around any more. This is enough to get on with. I keep thinking how accomplished I’ll feel at the beginning of 2025. Here’s hoping!
I’ve decided to put my future patterns out for free. I am finding that as soon as I’ve finished the knitting and writing, I really want to get it out to you. The time involved in the publication of a properly priced pattern puts this off for many, many months. It’s more than I want to be involved in right now that I am more or less retired. My friend, Dana, has knit this and given me a couple of much needed corrections. Thanks Dana.
Here is a video tour of the Any Gauge 6×6 Cardigan pattern.
Download your pattern at my ravelry store. I hope you enjoy knitting it. I’m here if you have any questions: debgemmellmods@gmail.com. I knit mine, the purple one, in Shelridge DK and the gold one, for my daughter, is in Estelle Worsted.
It’s time to tidy up before Christmas. So here is where I’m at. Look at this. The Contiguous Drop Shoulder is almost done. I’m so excited. Only the cuffs to go. Watch for the pattern on my ravelry site because it should be up for free as soon as I can get a proper photo.
The sweater colours are a little brighter than this. At 7am,there is not much choice in lighting. I have to leave at 8 to go to curling. But I wanted to show you that the sleeves are almost done. Yahoo. Did I already say I was excited? I’m excited!
I also finished my christmas knitting. One pair of double mittens (one pair stuffed inside the other) of my Any Gauge Mittens. (discount MITTENS is still in effect).
That’s a wrap. Have a wonderful Holiday Season. See you on the other side. I am already planning my next sweater. How about you?
Are you knitting for your special people? I am. Even if you’re not, I have some mittens you might want to try.
One pair done. You might remember that I bought wool to make a chunky weight 6×6 Cardigan in burgundy colourway. I didn’t like it. So now I’m pulling it out and knitting mittens with all that wiggly looking wool. I’m going to give them a scrub when I wash them to fuzz them up a bit. They should look fine.
These are the Any Gauge Mittens, knit from the top in chunky or Aran weight (Heavy Worsted) wool for all sizes. Any Gauge Mittens, Top Down 50%Discount Code: MITTENS until Dec. 24, 2024.
I knit one pair with the recommended needle for the wool. Then I knit a second pair with a size smaller needle and the same number of stitches. One pair will fit into the other, for really warm mittens.
You start at the tippy top of the mitten, working increases to the width of mitten you want. I’ve included a size guide in the pattern.
Then you knit the thumbs as a large I-cord. Yup, an i-cord. You get those bars across the inside of the thumb.
Don’t panic. Get your crochet hook out and hook those bars up. They totally disappear. It’s magic.
Enjoy!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, this is where I’m at with my Contiguous Drop Shoulder. It’s totally working great. I tried it on my daughter and I now have measurements for how long the body and sleeve need to be. I’m on it!
I hope you are enjoying this time of year and not stressing out too much. I am trying my best to keep an even keel and my sweater knitting definitely helps.
You don’t have to look if you don’t want to. There will be cutting.
I have used a sewing machine to secure the edges of the steek pathway before but … you knew this was coming, my machine is not out and I’m being lazy and leaving it in the cupboard for now. I really want to see if the crocheted style of steek would work. So here goes. I have knit to the bottom of the armhole depth and cast off the 5 steek pathway stitches.
Now the edges of the steek pathway need to be secured. I used this crochet method. Jessica MacDonald does such a good job of describing and showing how to do this. How to work a crochet steek reinforcement video.
Here we go. This is my 5-stitch steek pathway as seen at the shoulder.
Next, baste down the centre of stitch#3.
Starting at the shoulder, I crocheted into the left leg of stitch#1 and the right leg of stitch#2, using a crochet slip stitch.
I used a crochet hook 2 sizes smaller than my body-sized knitting needle, and for this worsted weight sweater, sock yarn. My crocheting was not elegant. It was awkward and rather slow going but the result is surprisingly tight. I have no worries about it coming apart.
My best tip is to fold the fabric so the stitch line you are crocheting is on the top.
Next go to the bottom of the steek and work again with one leg of stitch#4 and stitch#5.
Here is the steek with both crochet reinforcements done.
OK, here we go. Scissors out. Cut up the centre of stitch#3.
Ta, da. That wasn’t too painful. The wrong side is ok too.
I’m starting my new colour and then I’m going to pick up for my sleeves. Can’t wait.
Steeks, scary!!! I know, scissors and knitting don’t usually mix. I’m doing it anyway.
I’m doing my armholes as steeks so I can knit round and round and round. I have knit the shoulders so they are wide enough. This pullover is going to have 10″/25cm of ease so the Front and Back of this chunky weight version for my daughter, are both 21″/53cm wide.
Here’s how I start my steek. At the end of the shoulders I cast On 5 sts for the steek pathway.
Now I knit round and round. Yay. I think I will make the armholes around 8-9″/20-23cm deep.
I’m so happy and relaxed. Isn’t this yarn fun? It’s King Cole Hedgerow Chunky. I’m loving the stripes.
Short Rows are the best. To drop the front of your neckline you basically work back and forth, working more rows across and Back of Neck and never working across all the Front stitches. Every time you turn from the right side to the wrong side at the end of a short row, you create a gap.
Different kinds of short row systems are all about how to close these gaps.
When you cast on for this neckband you cast on many more stitches on the front. The short rows I use end with a decrease: SSK, K1, Turn OR P2tog, P1, Turn (if you knit cuff down heel flap socks you will recognize this short row system). The decreases take care of all those extra Front stitches.
Now the fun part begins, not that knitting short rows isn’t fun, because it totally is.
To knit the shoulders, simply knit round and round, working an increase before and after each of the shoulder markers. That’s an increase of 4 stitches every round until you reach the desired width. That’s the contiguous way.
Almost to my desired width on this chunky weight one. The Short Rows on the worsted weight version are complete so round and round I go. I’m so excited to see it grow. Cheers, Deb
I can’t sit still for long. I have another sweater to knit. This time I’m going to redo one that I have tried before but not to my total satisfaction.
This is a over-sized drop shoulder with contiguous shoulders. You can see the slope that the contiguous line creates. The great thing is that once the V-neck is completed it’s knit round and round, not flat for the back and flat for the front.
So I tried again and thought I had figured out an easier way to get it started.
The neckband done. This is going to be a crewneck worked with short rows to drop the front.
Then I tried out a new idea. You can see that the slope coming down the shoulder is w-a-y too steep. The second slope is much better. So that’s good information. Also the amount of drop in the crewneck was too much.
So that got ripped back to the neckband. No problem, no tears, it’s just part of the deal.
I started again with a shallower crewneck drop and the flatter shoulder slope.
Now I’m off to the races. Just knit round and round until I reach the width I want it to be. How easy is that!
Let me tell you a little about it.
I’m going to offer the recipe for this pullover for free. Once I have my short rows tested I will post it and update it as we go along. This is an Any Gauge pattern. I’m knitting one in chunky weight and a second one in worsted weight. I will be figuring it out as I go along. Do you want to knit along with me?
Do you knit socks? I do and now it’s my in-between project while I contemplate my new sweater.
I’m teaching a traditional cuff-down flap heel sock class. They are knitting a worsted weight pair and I am trying to get ahead of them with two sock yarn socks.
I have 3 students working with double pointed needles (that surprised me – I didn’t think that many people still used them), one student with Magic Loop and another student with a 9″ circular. It makes things interesting when we get to the flap heel!
I must admit that’s it for me. Two pairs were enough.
My favourite is the short row heel, toe up or cuff down. This is a double wrap short row heel. I also love the shadow short row heel.
This is on the wild side. The Over Easy Sock by Holli Yeoh. This sock is knit flat and the bottom of the foot is attached to the top of foot as you go. I love that I can use my left over odd balls for the top of the foot. I messed up the heel but I’m ready to give it another shot.
There are many more ways of knitting socks. Do you have a favourite? Do you know of a wild and wonderful sock I should try?
Deb Gemmell: Top Down, Gauge Free and more 