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New Pattern Release - Goldenacre Cardigan

11/5/2024

6 Comments

 
A collage of pictures of Goldenacre Cardigan by littletheorem, lace panels down back, sleeves and fronts on a backdrop of twisted ribbing with a shawl collar
Goldenacre Cardigan is here! It's a top down lace cardi with a saddle shoulder construction and a cosy attached shawl collar. Knitted in cosy worsted weight yarn, this is the perfect autumn cardi. There are two lace designs, a wide panel running down the back, with mini versions running down the sleeves and fronts, all set of with neat twisted, slip stitch ribbing. I love how much this looks like brioche stitch - but much easier to knit! There are nine, size inclusive chest sizes, plus a choice of three body lengths and two sleeve lengths so there's lots of customisation for the perfect fit!

It's available at a 50% discount with coupon code GOLDEN50, valid until midnight (GMT) on 11th November.
A view of the back showing large lace panel and smaller lace panels down the sleeves.
Here are all the details:
​Suggested Yarn:
Malabrigo Rios (Worsted) (100% superwash merino wool)
192 m/210 yds per 100g skein. Colourway: Almond Blossom.
 
Meterage
Body Length 1: (490, 530, 560) [620, 655, 1005] {1105, 1150,
1205} m
Body Length 2: (710, 760, 810) [910, 955, 1215] {1335, 1400, 1460} m
Body Length 3: (845, 905, 965) [1090, 1150, 1530] {1685, 1765, 1845} m
 
Yardage
Body Length 1: (535, 580, 615) [680, 715, 1100] {1210, 1260,
1320} yds
Body Length 2: (775, 830, 885) [995, 1045, 1330] {1460, 1530, 1600} yds
Body Length 3: (925, 990, 1055) [1190, 1260, 1675] {1845, 1930, 2020} yds
 
Dimensions (Metric):
Size: (1, 2, 3) [4, 5, 6] {7, 8, 9}
To fit chest approximately: (70, 80, 90) [100, 110, 120] {130, 140, 150} cm with around 20 cm positive ease
Across Back Underarm to Underarm: (46, 49, 53) [61, 64, 68] {76, 79, 83} cm
Length Underarm to Hem, Body Length 1: (18, 17, 16) [15, 13, 27] {26, 25, 24} cm
Length Underarm to Hem, Body Length 2: (33, 32, 31) [29, 28, 37] {36, 35, 34} cm
Length Underarm to Hem, Body Length 3: (43, 42, 41) [39, 38, 52] {51, 49, 48} cm
Upper Sleeve Circumference: (30, 33, 36) [36, 40, 44] {48, 51, 55} cm
Sleeve Length from Underarm: 45 cm (with instructions for longer sleeves)
 
Dimensions (Imperial):
Size (1, 2, 3) [4, 5, 6] {7, 8, 9}
To fit chest approximately (28, 32, 36) [40, 44, 48] {52, 56, 60}” with around 8” positive ease.
Across Back Underarm to Underarm: (18, 20, 21) [24, 26, 27] {30, 32, 33}”
Length Underarm to Hem, Body Length 1: (7, 6¾, 6¼) [5¾, 5¼, 10¾] {10¼, 9¾, 9½}”
Length Underarm to Hem, Body Length 2: (13¼, 12¾, 12¼) [11¾, 11¼, 14¾] {14¼, 13¾, 13½}”
Length Underarm to Hem, Body Length 3: (17¼, 16¾, 16¼) [15¾, 15¼, 20¾] {20¼, 19¾, 19½}”
Upper Sleeve Circumference: (12, 13, 14½) [14½, 16, 17½ ] {19, 20½, 22}”
Sleeve Length from Underarm: 18” (with instructions for longer sleeves)
 
Needles: 5.5 mm/US 9 75 cm/30” circular needle or as required to achieve correct gauge, 4.5 mm/US 7 needles for cuffs only.
 
Gauge: 16 sts and 24 rows = 10 cm/4” in 1x2 Twisted Ribbing after blocking.
 
Extras: Crochet hook for weaving in loose ends, clip type stitch markers, stitch holder or waste yarn for holding stitches, you may find a row counter useful

PictureGoldenacre Cardigan by Littletheorem, showing details of lace pattern running down sleeves and fronts
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New Pattern Release - Brocken Spectre

10/1/2024

6 Comments

 
Picture
My latest pattern, Brocken Spectre, is live! It’s a cropped cardigan with a gorgeous zigzag lace design at the shoulders. Knitted with a strand of silk blend 4ply and alpaca blend lace (Titus Fingering and Lowther Lace from Eden Cottage Yarns) gives a subtle shine, beautiful halo, and unsurpassed cosiness for the colder months. It’s totally seamless, knitted from the top down, has both charts and written instructions and comes in ten size inclusive sizes.
 
A Brocken Spectre is an optical illusion that you sometimes see at the summit of a mountain on a foggy day – your own enormous shadow in the mist with a rainbow halo. I’ve only seen one once! The zigzag of the lace pattern over the stocking stitch reminded me of misty mountaintops.

Brocken Spectre is half price with coupon code BROCKEN50, valid until midnight (GMT) on 7th October.
Picture

The knitty gritty...

Construction: We cast on stitches at the shoulders and work the lace pattern down the upper back before increasing for a little armhole shaping. Stitches are picked up at each shoulder for the fronts where we continue with the lace pattern and work armhole shaping to match the back. We then join all stitches at the underarms and work down to the hem, after making a zig-zag transition from lace to stocking stitch. Increases are worked at the inner edge of both fronts for a little extra cosiness! We pick up stitches around both armholes and work sleeves down to the cuffs. Cuffs, hem and front edges are finished with neat twisted 1x1 ribbing.

Suggested Yarns:
Eden Cottage Yarn Titus Fingering (75% superwash extrafine merino wool, 25% mulberry silk) 400 m/436 yds per 100g skein, colourway: Penine Mist held together with Eden Cottage Yarns Lowther Lace (75% Baby Suri Alpaca, 25% Mulberry Silk) 300 m/328 yds per 50g skein, colourway: Ink.
 
We recommend substituting any 4ply yarn (especially if it has a bit of a sheen) and a fluffy laceweight yarn such as a mohair/silk or alpaca/silk blend. Please check both gauges and adjust needle size as required.
 
Please note meterage and yardage are for both yarns, e.g. size 1 requires 470 m of fingering weight and 470 m of laceweight yarn.
 
Meterage: 470 (490, 525, 600) [680, 720, 760] {920, 975, 1015} m.
 
Yardage: 515 (535, 575, 655) [745, 785, 830] {1000, 1060, 1105} yds.
 
Dimensions (Metric):
Size: 1 (2, 3, 4) [5, 6, 7] {8, 9, 10}.
To fit Chest Circumference approx: 70 (75, 80, 90) [100, 110, 120] {130, 140, 150} cm.
Garment Chest Circumference: 86 (89, 96, 109) [114, 121, 128] {143, 152, 158} cm
Across Back Underarm to Underarm: 33 (36, 38, 42) [42, 46, 48] {53, 57, 61} cm
Front width level with Underarm: 26 (26, 29, 34) [36, 38, 40] {45, 48, 49} cm
Length Underarm to Hem: 30 (30, 30, 30) [33, 33, 33] {35, 35, 35} cm.
Upper Sleeve Circumference: 26 (26, 30, 35) [39, 44, 48] {53, 56, 61} cm.
Sleeve Length from Underarm: 40 cm.
 
Dimensions (Imperial):
Size: 1 (2, 3, 4) [5, 6, 7] {8, 9, 10}.
To fit Chest Circumference approx: 28 (30, 32, 36) [40, 44, 48] {52, 56, 60}”
Garment Chest Circumference: 34 (35½, 38, 43½) [45½, 48, 51] {57½, 60½, 63½}”
Across Back Underarm to Underarm: 13 (14½, 15, 17) [17, 18, 19] {21, 23, 24}”
Front Width Level with Underarm: 10½ (10½, 12, 14) [15½, 17½, 19] {21, 22½, 24½}”
Length Underarm to Hem: 12 (12, 12, 12) [13, 13, 13] {14, 14, 14}”
Upper Sleeve Circumference: 10½ (10½, 12, 14) [15½, 17½, 19] {21, 22½, 24½}”
Sleeve Length from Underarm: 16”.
 
Needles: 5.5 mm/US 9 75 cm/30” circular needle or as required to achieve correct gauge.
 
Gauge: 16 sts and 24 rows = 10 cm/4” in stocking stitch after blocking, 13 sts and 18 rows = 10 cm/4” in lace pattern (Chart/Written Instructions A) after blocking.
 
Extras: Crochet hook for weaving in loose ends, clip type stitch markers, stitch holder or waste yarn for holding stitches, you may find a row counter useful.
 
Pattern Difficulty: Moderate
 
Skills Needed: Work flat and in the round; knit and purl; knit into back loops, cast on and bind off; knitted and purled increases and decreases, yo’s, pick up and knit. 

Lace Pattern in Focus

You might recognise the lace pattern from my Aonach Cardigan, Suilven Hat and Cowl, Eyebright Shawl and Northumbria Shawl. It’s absolutely a favourite of mine. I do think it looks great in this yarn combination though, and it knits up quickly too!
Picture
Patterns clockwise from top left: Northumbria Shawl, Suilven Cowl, Aonach Cardigan, Eyebright Shawl and Suilven Hat.
6 Comments

New Pattern Release - Spring Snowfall Sweater

9/17/2024

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modern cable sweater knitting pattern
Spring Snowfall is finally here! A gorgeous top down, cabled sweater with a yoked construction. Striking cables look great with this five colour fade in DK yarn from Black Elephant Yarns, and would look lovely in a single colour too. There are instructions for nine sizes with two options for body length. It's seamless, worked in the round, with a little short row shaping in the yoke for the perfect fit.

And it's available at a 50% discount with coupon code SNOWFALL50, valid until midnight (GMT) on 23rd September.
five colour fade cabled sweater
I will never get bored of narrow, twisted stitch cables on a background of reverse stocking stitch, they look so good with any yarn. Even funky multicoloured yarns that look fab in the skein, but a bit rainbow-vomit when knitted up look great in this stitch. There are instructions on which row to change colours based on a five colour fade, so no guesswork involved.​
Cable knit pattern down sleeve
And here's the nitty gritty on construction method, materials, techniques, etc...

Construction
We work from the top down using a yoked construction. The cabled patterns have increases built in which are worked down to the underarm. Short rows are worked at the lower back yoke for an improved fit and extra stitches are cast on at the underarm. We work body stitches down to the hem with options for different body lengths, then work sleeve stitches down to the cuff.
 
Suggested Yarn:  Black Elephant Yarns Winter Fade DK
5 x 115g skeins 100% superwash merino 230m/251 yds
 
Total Meterage (Cropped Version): (575, 625, 640) [855, 900, 945] {1130, 1170, 1210} m
Total Meterage (Full Length Version): (680, 745, 800) [1000, 1060, 1115] {1315, 1375, 1465} m
Total Yardage (Cropped Version): (625, 680, 700) [930, 985, 1030] {1235, 1280, 1320} yds
Total Yardage (Full Length Version): (745, 810, 875) [1095, 1160, 1220] {1440, 1500, 1600} yds
 
Dimensions (Metric):
Chest Circumference: (77.5, 87.5, 97.5) [107.5, 117.5, 127.5] {137.5, 147.5, 157.5} cm
Yoke Depth: (19, 21, 22.5) [24, 25, 26] {27.5, 29, 30} cm
Length Underarm to Hem (Cropped Version): (34, 32.5, 30) [36, 35, 34] {37.5, 36, 35} cm
Length Underarm to Hem (Full Length Version): (40, 39, 37.5) [42.5, 41, 40] {44, 42.5, 42.5} cm
Upper Sleeve Circumference: (26, 29, 31) [35, 37.5, 40] {44, 46, 49} cm
Sleeve Length from Underarm: (44, 42.5, 47.5) [46, 45, 44] {47.5, 46, 45} cm
 
Dimensions (Imperial):
Chest Circumference: (31, 35, 39) [43, 47, 51] {55, 59, 63}”
Yoke Depth: (7½, 8½, 9) [9½, 10, 10½] {11, 11½, 12}”
Length Underarm to Hem (Cropped Version): (13½, 13, 12) [14½, 14, 13½] {15, 14½, 14}”
Length Underarm to Hem (Full Length Version): (16, 15½, 15) [17, 16½, 16] {17½, 17, 17}”
Upper Sleeve Circumference: (10½, 11½, 12½) [14, 15, 16] {17½, 18½, 19½}”
Sleeve Length from Underarm: (17½, 17, 19) [18½, 18, 17½] {19, 18½, 18}”
 
Needles: 4.5 mm/US 7 75 cm/30” circular needle or as required to achieve correct gauge.
 
Gauge: 18 sts and 28 rows = 10 cm/4” in stocking stitch after blocking.
 
Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, cable needle, clip type stitch markers, holder or waste yarn for holding stitches, you may find a row counter useful.
 
Pattern Difficulty: Moderate to fiddly. There are separate instructions for multiple sizes included in many of the lines of the pattern. I’ve tried to make this as clear as possible, but it is a complicated pattern.
 
Skills Required: Work flat and in the round; knit and purl; knit into back loops, cast on and bind off; knitted and purled increases and decreases, including knitting into back loops. Cable knitting including knitting into back loops, pick up and knit (instructions given), work short rows (instructions given).

Coming Soon....

Two new patterns are in the works, with a little bit of luck these will be released in October and November. Although with a five month old baby at home, delays are to be expected! 
Goldenacre cardigan fake brioche lace knitting pattern
I'm going a bit girly-girly for winter. Brocken Spectre is a super fluffy cardigan with a delicate lace pattern at the shoulders. It's knitted up with a 4ply silk blend and laceweight alpaca held together for an extra cozy, fuzzy, knitted hug. Goldenacre Cardigan is knitted up in a twisted slip stitch rib pattern, designed to look like brioche lace. It's got saddle shoulders for continuous lace from neckline to cuffs and an attached shawl collar for toastiness. Let nobody say I didn't prioritise toastiness. 
modern cable knit pattern

Aaaand, one last look at how stunning these cables are!
Remember to use coupon code SNOWFALL50 before 23rd September to get the pattern for half price!
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June Update - So Pressed for Time!

6/10/2024

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So I haven't posted anything in a while because… I had a baby!! She is doing really well - super chilled, and I feel like I've made a full recovery too. She's seven weeks old now and I'm just starting to feel like maybe I should be getting back to keeping the old knitting pattern business ticking over. 

 It's a funny time, the newborn stage. You feel super busy and like you're not doing anything much at the same time. Baby's asleep cuddled up with me as I'm typing this (one handed, on my phone lol). I can't complain because she's sleeping very well at night, and I'm maybe getting an hour at most to myself through the day when she naps in her pram. Most of that time is eaten up with tackling laundry mountain…
​

I am getting time to do a row or two of knitting here and there though. I started this months ago and put it on hold to do some baby knitting. I can't remember if I've posted any pictures of it before, my pregnancy was pretty rough towards the end so I wasn't getting much done then either.
Work in progress - ribbed cardigan knitting pattern by Littletheorem Knits
Knitting WIP cardigan with ribbing and lace
Close up of twisted ribbing and lace on the back of a handknitted cardigan
The yarn is gorgeous Tribe Yarns undyed Merino Silk Yak DK. It's so plush, supersoft, a gorgeous natural colour and very budget friendly. 

The cardi itself is top down with an attached shawl collar. The stitch pattern looks like brioche, but it's just twisted ribbing with increases and decreases. Keeping things simple! 
​

Fingers crossed that at a row a day I can get it done by autumn!
Here's a few pictures of the baby knitting I got done too. I finished work at 38 weeks pregnant and then baby ended up arriving nine days late so I had a bit of time for knitting. 

Newborn Vertebrae by Kelly van Niekere, knitted by Littletheorem Knits
Chevron Baby Blanket - pattern by Espace Tricot, knitted by Littletheorem Knits

The cardi is a Newborn Vertebrae (warning: link is to Ravelry) by Kelly van Niekerk and the blanket is a Chevron Baby Blanket  by Espace Tricot. I absolutely did not have the mental bandwidth to design any baby knits myself!

Somewhat unbelievably, I have also managed to arrange a test knit for my Brocken Spectre Cardigan pattern. The pattern was written pre baby but I'm super proud of myself that it only took me two months to do the post tech-edit redraft and put it up online. 

Brocken Spectre Cardigan Test knit by Littletheorem Knits. Open front cardigan with lace detail at the shoulders
Cardigan knitting pattern, close up of the back shoulders with a zig zag lace design
Open fronted cardigan knitting pattern. Shows zig zag lace and vee neck front
It's a cute, slightly cropped cardigan with lace detail at the shoulders. There are ten sizes and the lace had both written instructions and charts. You can volunteer to test in my Ravelry Group, or drop me an email/pm me on social media if you don't use Ravelry.
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Valentine's Day Mini Sale

2/12/2024

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Knitting Pattern Hearts. Fairisle Hearts. Lace Hearts knitting patterns
We're having a little mini sale to celebrate Valentine's Day! Our three most heart filled patterns are half price with coupon code VALENTINE24.

Here's a wee description of each of the patterns..... 

Loveheart Crop

Heart lace cropped tee knitting pattern
Loveheart Crop is a super cute cropped tee with little "double nupps" that look just like hearts. It's a yoked top, but worked from the bottom up (so the hearts aren't upside down!) There are nine sizes to keep things inclusive, and it's the perfect Spring knit in 4ply yarn.
heart shaped double nupps
Heart shaped double nupps

Fairisle Hearts Sweater

Heart pattern fairisle sweater knitting pattern
Rather than lace, this time the hearts are stranded colourwork. Fairisle Hearts is a top down, seamless yoked sweater with a classic fairisle design. Just like Loveheart Crop, there are nine sizes to choose from.

Alpinist Hot Water Bottle Cozy

Fairisle heart knitting pattern
Another fairisle design, my Alpinist Hot Water Bottle Cozy is incredibly quick to knit in super chunky yarn. Always a great option for gift knitting, a true heartwarmer!

You can find all these patterns on Ravelry as well, they're grouped into a Valentines Day Bundle. Use the same coupon code - VALENTINE24 for a 50% discount.
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New Pattern Release - Arnprior Cardigan

2/1/2024

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Arnprior Cardigan knitting pattern by Littletheorem Knits
Arnprior is live! This super cosy cardigan is the perfect "quick to knit" pattern for winter wear. Living on Scotland's seemingly permanently cold and rainy west coast sometimes it seems like winter will never end, this is a great one to knit when you need something toasty and you don't want to spend a month knitting it! The simple but stunning lace pattern looks great at shoulders and cuffs,  and the twisted ribbing adds interest to an otherwise easy stocking stitch knit.

Arnprior Farm becomes a fabulous pumpkin patch in the Autumn and is a firm favourite of my daughter. This cardigan is so quick to knit that I managed to finish the bulk of it on the drive to and from Arnprior this year. The beautiful pink and orange tones of the yarn are perfectly reminiscent of sweet treats at the pumpkin patch.
Lace knitting with superchunky yarn
The cardigan is knitted from the top down. We cast on stitches across the upper back and work down to the underarm, knitting the lace pattern as we go and working armhole shaping at the outside edges. Then stitches are picked up at each shoulder and worked down to the underarm, with armhole shaping to match the back and increases at the inside edge too. There's a little twisted rib edging at the inside edge to stop the fronts curling.

Then we work all stitches down to the hem, and pick up stitches round the armholes for the sleeves. Hem and cuffs are worked in twisted 1x1 rib, and there's another repeat of the lace pattern at the cuffs too.
Superchunky lace cardigan knitting pattern
We've tried to be as size inclusive as possible here, so there are 11 different sizes so hopefully everyone can pick a cardigan that fits. We include guidance on ease and instructions on how to change the sleeve length.

There's a schematic showing all measurements and a disgram showing how to work the upper body too.
Twisted Rib edging on a superchunky knit cardigan
Arnprior is available at a 50% discount until midnight (GMT) on 7th February 2024 with coupon code ARNPRIOR50.
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Top Five Oversized Cropped Knitting Patterns

1/14/2024

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Picture

1. The "Mainly Garter Stitch" Oversized Cropped Sweater

Burrell Sweater Oversized Garter Stitch Lace Knitting Pattern
My Burrell Sweater is my go to comfy sweater. The body is super oversized, but the sleeves are nice and snug, and it's cropped to just the right length - so flattering. Plus it was a lovely easy knit in mainly garter stitch. The pretty modern lace pattern adds just enough interest to stop this being tedious to knit. Great with jeans or over a black jersey dress, this is cosy, flattering and easy to wear.

2. The "Classic Lace" Oversized Cropped Sweater

oversized cropped lace aran weight sweater knitting pattern
Tentsmuir is like a dressy version of my Burrell Sweater. A simple, timeless lace pattern at the neckline and around the cuffs adds a touch of class. Bracelet length sleeves make this perfect for Autumn and Spring too. This was the first oversized, cropped sweater I ever designed myself. I knitted one for my aunt (in 4ply yarn with 3mm needles - it was a real labour of love!) and she loved it, but it took me a while to come round to the idea for myself. I took a big leap of faith and knitted this while I was freshly postpartum with my daughter. Maybe I was crazy to knit a cropped sweater while I was least happy with how my stomach looked, but it really worked. Don't ask me to explain the physics of it, but this really truly is a flattering silhouette!

3. The "Showstopper Stitch Pattern" Oversized Cropped Sweater

elongated basketweave cable pattern
oversized sweater knitting pattern with basketweave cable
I am absolutely in love with the woven look of this stitch pattern. My Caisteal Sweater features a simple basketweave cable pattern that;s supersized by adding and dropping yo's at each stitch. This leads to an open, airy, elongated woven look that I can't get enough of. The sweater itself is cosy, comfortable and quick to knit, but if you're looking for a challenging stitch pattern this is the one for you. There's a video tutorial to help you master it though!

Autumn Fireside Knitting Pattern4. The "Textured Stitch Pattern" Oversized Cropped Sweater

geometric knit and purl design
knit and purl oversized cropped sweater pattern
If the last stitch pattern was a challenge, this one is more relaxing. Autumn Fireside is a basic "knit and purl" design that still looks fabulous. It's another super cosy pullover with a bold geometric design. The yarn is Eden Cottage Yarns Brimham DK, so slightly lighter weight than the other sweaters so far which have all been in worsted or aran yarn. It's a hardwearing merino/nylon blend that still feels luxurious to work with, and the hand dyed colours are saturated and rich - a joy to knit!

5. The "Summer Crop" Oversized Top

sock yarn lace summer top knitting pattern
oversized cropped summer top knitting pattern
Living in Scotland, I'm definitely biased towards warm, cosy sweaters. But the list wouldn't be complete without something for summer wear too. My Monadh Top is a flattering, drapy, long crop knitted up in 4ply yarn. Again, it's mostly simple garter stitch so perfect for relaxed knitting, but the lace detail is (in my opinion) stunning. The lace looks very complicated but it's mainly made by making and dropping yarn-overs, with one row of gathered stitches in the middle. There's lots of room for creativity in the colour scheme here, you could knit this all in one colour or add even more stripes. Who doesn't have a range of leftover odds and ends of sock yarn to use up?
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