Category: Patterns

Gem Waves is here!!  I am so excited to introduce my newest shawl pattern with you!  It’s available on both Ravelry and knitgraffiti.com!  I am offering an introductory discount, so be sure to use coupon code GEM at checkout through Friday, February 8 to receive 15% off! Offer will end at midnight CT.

I have also started a new video series over on my YouTube channel called “Pattern Lookbooks”!  Here is my first one, where I show a photo collage of Gem Waves, and talk about my inspiration and the yarn I used.

I enjoy writing, but I love to talk even more, haha!!  I could literally sit and talk about yarn and knitting all day.  And probably do sometimes!  I hope you enjoy this new series I’ve started. I’m hoping to do this for every pattern release, as well as go back and showcase some of my older patterns.

Thank you so much, and happy brioche-ing!! xx Lesley.

I am happy to announce that my Gulf Waves shawl pattern is now available as a digital download, both on Ravelry and knitgraffiti.com!!  I am offering an introductory discount, so be sure to use coupon code FUZZY at checkout to receive 20% off through Friday, January 11, 2019 at midnight CT!!

This fun crescent-shaped shawlette was originally designed for Fuzzy Goat, and their Fuzzy Fix subscription box #2! The boxes carried a Southern theme, and only used yarn dyers in the South!  This shawl uses one skein of Copper Corgi Savannah Sock yarn, in Fuzzy Goat’s custom color way, Westjack Kid.  The variegated colors are so gorgeous, and really inspired the name of my shawl.  I wanted to create a pattern that would really showcase the pooling and colors in this special skein, using simple textures like garter stitch, one-color brioche, and eyelet stockinette.  The textural stripes together create different densities and beautiful waves in the fabric!  So this is a great project for that very special skein in your stash!  Just keep in mind that the pattern uses 460 yards / 421 meters of fingering weight yarn, so if the skein you want to use is less than that, I recommend omitting ONE repeat of the stripes, but still ending with the last Brioche stripe. I have included instructions to customize your shawl in the pattern!

This is how I like to style mine!!  It’s perfect to add color and texture to your outfit any time of year!!  You could even wrap it around your shoulders on a cool summer evening, or wrap it tightly around your neck on a chilly winter day.

Are you still new to brioche knitting, or haven’t tried it before?  This is a great first project!!  One-color brioche is a wonderful way to get used to the movements with brioche stitches, and is broken up with breezy eyelet stockinette to give your brain a break.

I hope you enjoy my newest pattern, and happy brioche-ing!!  xx

I would love to introduce you to the brioche cardigan of my dreams!!! La Briohème is a bohemian open cardigan with drop sleeves, long brioche cuffs, a cozy brioche collar, and a large brioche hem as the focal point. This thick, cozy cardigan is meant to be worn with 2 – 4” / 5 – 10 cm of positive ease, a perfect fit over your favorite dress for a night out or even layered over a nice collared shirt for those chilly work days. You can find this pattern both on Ravelry and knitgraffiti.com!  I am offering a celebratory discount: receive 20% off using coupon code HEM at checkout!  This offer will end on Monday, October 22, 2018.

I thought of this cardigan idea earlier this year, and REALLY wanted it to be my Rhinebeck sweater. I couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out!  I will be going to Rhinebeck (aka the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival) for the FIRST TIME this year, I am so so so so excited!! I am planning to wear this cardigan both Saturday and Sunday, so please keep a lookout for me and say hi!!

I am sort of obsessed with this chevron brioche pattern right now, and have used it in a few of my other designs.  As soon as I lay my hands on La Bien Aimée’s Merino Aran yarn, I knew it was destined to be this cardigan!  The Winterfell color way is so deep, it’s almost indigo blue.  And paired with the speckled beauty of Rose Quartz for the Main Color of the brioche accents, it just POPS!!! Brioche creates such a luxuriously warm fabric, so I wanted to keep the accents to the places where you need it the most: the waist and bottom, the collar around the neck, and the wrists.  The gigantic brioche hem (brioche hem = Briohème…get it??) is placed to accent the tiniest part of your waist, giving an Empire waistline effect.  The scalloped edge that the brioche lace stitch pattern creates is the cherry on top for me.  It is a feminine look to complete any outfit, dressed up or down.  If you would like to use the same yarn for your own La Briohème, La Bien Aimée has a few color choices of Merino Aran available for pre-order on their website, here!  Please note that these are not kits, but individual skeins.  I have listed the yarn amounts on the pattern pages if you would like to know.

Here is a closer look at the back of the collar, which is knit in two pieces and them seamed together at the back of the neck.  I know, I said SEAM!  There is very little seaming at all in this pattern, actually.  I do love a bit of seaming to add stability to a garment, such as at the top of the shoulders.  And drop sleeves are just my favorite.  But most of this garment is knit seamlessly and modularly, starting with the brioche hem, which is knit sideways!  After completing, stitches are picked up along the top of the hem to make up the body. This is knit in plain stockinette up to the armholes, which are then separated and the Fronts and Back are knit separately up to the shoulders. A Three-Needle Bind off is used to seam the shoulders to give extra stability and a clean look. The sleeves are also mainly stockinette stitch, up to the decorative brioche cuff. For a finishing touch, stitches are picked up along the hem, the edges of the body and the back neck to add a brioche collar. So there ya go, that gives you an idea of the construction.

If you’d like to see more photos, please be sure to visit the pattern pages on both Ravelry and knitgraffiti.com.

Thank you so much, and I hope you enjoy my newest pattern!!  Hope to see you this weekend at Rhinebeck!  xx

 

 

Introducing my newest shawl pattern, Just Like Honey!!  This pattern has long been in the works, and it feels so amazing to finally be able to share it with you all.  I am offering an introductory discount, use coupon code HONEY at checkout both on Ravelry and knitgraffiti.com for a 15% discount!  This offer will end on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at midnight CT.

This shawl pattern was created in collaboration with Jess of Shop La Mercerie and Carol of Swift Yarns, and I wanted to create something that would represent all three of us together in one design. Just Like Honey, we all stick together and build each other up in this community, and so I chose two different honeycomb stitch patterns for these wonderful ladies: Diamond Honeycomb for Jess and Two-Color Honeycomb Brioche for Carol, and I developed the Two-Color Brioche lattice pattern for the center panel. I am so incredibly proud to be a part of this wonderful knitting and fiber community.

A limited number of exclusive kits will be available through Shop La Mercerie starting at 9am PST!

In each kit you will receive the following:

• A digital download code for the pattern
• 4 skeins of Swift Yarns Tough Love Sock, with 3 different color options to choose from (including what I used in my original sample shown here)
• Busy Happy Hands honey hand salve
• Honeycomb stitch markers, and a bee place keeper
• Project bag with an adorable bee stamp

This pattern holds a very special place in my heart. Since joining this fiber community over 3 years ago, I have been constantly impressed by the love and support shown by all of the people involved.  It’s just incredible to me.  I stumbled upon Shop La Mercerie about a year ago, and fell in love with Jess’ aesthetic. I purchased a couple of sewing patterns from her, and we immediately started emailing and chatting, it made me so happy!  I saw that she had a few knitting patterns, and tons of gorgeous yarn.  So I knew she was the kind of person I wanted to collaborate with!  We started brainstorming and this shawl design was born.  Jess had started carrying Swift Yarns in her shop, which was a new-to-me indie dyer!! We had tons of fun choosing the colors for my sample, as well as for the other 2 kit options!

 

The stitch patterns used in this shawl were all new to me, and they might be new to you as well.  It took a bit of swatching and trial and error, but once I got the hang of them, I couldn’t put this shawl down.  Because these are new techniques, there aren’t very many resources out there to help you.  SO!!  I have put together some video tutorials, and have linked them in the pattern, as well as here in this blog post.  The stitch pattern techniques are as follows:

Two-Color Double Brioche: https://youtu.be/XlailKh30Fk

Two-Color Honeycomb Brioche: https://youtu.be/ObKGDPAnFio

Diamond Honeycomb (not my own tutorial, but a great one): https://bit.ly/2v565nE

Hopefully with these resources, you will feel confident enough to cast on this shawl, and challenge yourself!!  I have become a bit obsessed with Double Brioche, and will have some new patterns in the future using this fascinating technique.  🙂

If you’d like to join us, I’m hosting a Knit-A-Long for this shawl in my Ravelry group, here! I want to provide a safe space for people to knit together, and receive any help they might want or need!!

Thank you for following along, and I hope you enjoy my newest pattern!  xx Lesley.