Contemporary
hand knitting patterns
Cate designs hand knitting patterns for modern knitters.
Taking inspiration from classic styles and traditional techniques, her innovative approach to pattern design focuses on timeless items with a contemporary twist.
The Noelle socks are a beautiful pair of stockinette socks with an easy colourwork panel suitable for beginners to stranded sock knitting. Named after a Canadian friend who said they reminded her of the types of socks her grandmother used to knit as Christmas gifts, the colourwork panel of the Noelle socks features a geometric snowflake design that sits just below the cuff, while the foot of the sock is plain and easily adjustable for a perfect fit. The colourwork panel is small enough for using up some of those tiny leftover amounts of sock yarn from previous projects (we all have them!).
Size 1 for foot circumference of 6-8 inches
Size 2 for foot circumference of 8-10 inches
Size 3 for foot circumference of 10-11 inches
Foot length and leg length are adjustable to preference.
Sample socks were knitted using approximately 50 grams of main colour yarn and approximately 3 grams of contrast colour yarn. Great opportunity to use up leftovers as your contrast colour!!
The Colour Theory Raglan is a seamless colour-blocked short sleeve cropped tee inspired by vintage baseball tees. This pattern is worked from the top down, beginning with a ribbed neck band in the round before working flat (right and wrong sides) across the upper shoulders. Front and back body sections will be worked with yarns held together, while sleeves will be worked in mohair only to create a hazy, transparent effect.
Raglan Increases will be worked for both body and sleeves using an intarsia technique between the body and sleeve sections to create the colour blocking effect. Alternating balls of mohair will be used for right and wrong side rows that start at the back raglan seam of one sleeve, with yarn twisted together at the beginning of each round, and carried down the seam to be worked every second round, creating a seamless colour-blocked raglan shoulder with no ends to weave in.
Available in 9 sizes up to 158cm / 62” bust.
It is recommended that you choose a size based on your bust/chest measurement with between 2.5 - 10cm / 1 - 4 inches positive ease. If in between sizes, it is recommended that you choose a size up for a comfortable fit.
Instructions for optional bust darts using German short rows are provided to add an extra 5 cm / 2 inches of length to the front body of the tee - providing shaping for larger busts while maintaining the boxy retro t-shirt silhouette. This extra length in the front body provides gentle shaping and an even hemline up to a D-cup bust in sewing terms (10 cm / 4 inches difference between upper bust and full bust measurements).
Note that although there are no complicated stitches or charts to follow, this pattern does require strong yarn management skills to work with 4 live balls across the colour-blocked shoulder shaping section.
The Lonergan hat is a simple unisex beanie knitted in the round with a ribbed brioche brim. Perfect for beginners to brioche knitting, this classic hat design provides extra cosy warmth around the ears while still being stretchy and comfortable. Even though brioche knitting can be time and yarn-consuming, the main body of this hat is knit in stockinette on large needles, making it a quick and satisfying project to knit up!
There are two sizes suitable for teens or small adult heads, and larger adult heads respectively.
Pattern also includes an explanation of the two basic brioche stitches for beginners to brioche knitting.
The orange sample hat pictured was knit in Size 2 using approximately 50 grams of Bendigo Woollen Mills Whisper 8 ply in colour Carambola (now discontinued).
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