Monday 21 August 2017

Published: Lotus Blossom Wrap pattern

My latest magazine commission is now available from all good newsagents!




I’ve recently had another pattern published, this time in Knit Now magazine. This is another rectangular wrap, like my Poplar Tree Wrap. It looks very different, though, and uses my new favourite stitch: lotus flower.

My Lotus Blossom Wrap pattern in situ. This features in Knit Now 77.

The brief for this was Indian summer, so I wanted something inspired by India’s national flower, the lotus. I Googled it, thinking it might bring up some images I could use as a base to create a lotus using yarn overs or different textured stitches.

Instead it came up with the lotus flower stitch. This is created by knitting five times into a knit five together. This makes a stitch that looks like a five-petalled flower resembling a lotus floating on water. I had the main body of a wrap. Next I worked out a lacy leaf edging to complete the piece.

I wanted a varigated silk yarn for this, and the one suggested by the magazine was lovely. It felt luxurious and the yellow, orange and red colour wss so vibrant. I almost changed the name of the pattern to Fire Lotus, but decided not to as not everyone would use that colour or even that yarn.

The silk wasn’t perfect, though. The dye stained my fingers yellow – I looked like I had an 80-a-day Woodbines habit. So if you do use it, take care. I would also suggest giving the finished wrap a wash to get out any stray dye.

The wrap appears in Knit Now 77, which is on sale right now from newsagents and the magazine’s own website.

A close-up of the leaf edging and lotus flower stitches.

Tuesday 15 August 2017

New pattern: Poplar Tree Lace Wrap now available

My most recent pattern is now live on Love Knitting




WELL that was quick! It was only yesterday that I wrote about my Poplar Tree Lace Wrap knitting pattern awaiting approval on Love Knitting. That same evening I received an email confirming that my pattern had been published. Indeed it has, and it can be found here.

Please do take a look, share it with any other knitters you know and, of course, you could buy it …

The Poplar Tree Lace Wrap by Idoru Knits.

Monday 14 August 2017

Poplar Tree Lace Wrap knitting pattern

My latest pattern is finished and currently waiting approval. Fingers crossed!




FIRST some exciting news: someone bought one of my patterns! My Stars and Stripes Fingerless Mitts crochet pattern is live over on Love Crochet. And just last week it was downloaded for the first time. I’ve asked in the pattern that if anyone makes the mitts to share on social media and to tag me. I really hope they do. I’d love to see their finished product and hear what they think of both the mitts and the pattern itself.

 My latest pattern was submitted to Love Knitting for approval on 11 July. It takes five working days for approval so I’m currently waiting with baited breath. This is a rectangular lacy wrap: Poplar Tree Lace Wrap knitting pattern.

I really like the way this has turned out. I originally made the pattern for Knit Now magazine and I didn’t like the yarn they chose. It was varigated, which I think is wrong for lace as it disguises the pattern, and a double knit, which I thought too heavy. So I reworked it for Scrumptious Lace by Fyberspates. This is a gorgeous luxury yarn and a solid colour. You can make the whole wrap with one skein, so it doesn’t end up costing too much. I think it works much better in this yarn.

I should find out if the pattern has been approved by the end of this week (18 July 2017). I’ll post a link as soon as I have one...

My Poplar Tree Lace Wrap. I really like this. It's a fun knit and makes up surprisingly quickly.