Major Knitter

Actual Knitting Progress

BF and I went to a wedding in Lima, Peru just after I started my latest Outlander project.  I knew that the vacation would throw a wrench in my productivity because when I get distracted from a project, it's really hard for me to find that passion again.  

So while my Claire's Jacobite History Vest may not look much different from the last time you saw this, it has grown several inches.  I'm now at the point where I need to start the armhole openings.  That's definite progress.  I'm knitting a size small for convenience's sake and speed.  Hopefully, with the puppies and a little focus, I can finish this up in the very near future.

My Outlander Vest

So did you guess correctly?  My swatch from the other day was just enough so I could make Claire's vest from Outlander.  I call it The Jacobite.

 

I'm knitting a medium vest as my test.  It's actually a pretty quick and easy knit.  But I've been distracted by puppies... so I'm slowing down a bit.  Hopefully I'll have more progress to show you over the next week.

 

Outlander - Donalda Gilchrist's Wool Waulking Mitts

My favorite scene, well, one of my favorite scenes from Starz Outlander based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon, is the wool waulking scene where Claire helps Donalda Gilchrist and the women of the village set the dye in the wool with ammonia, er, hot pi$$.  

It's really hard to get a good look at these mitts but this is what I came up with for my version.

You can find this pattern in my Ravelry store - aka Major Knitter's PX.

Once again, you'll notice that I used my favorite Outlander wool, which is readily available across America:  Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool in Brown Heather.  

For the mitts, I used a US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles. 

And of course, there's always a freebie.  I worked out a miniature version of the Wool Waulking Mitts to fit my American Girl Doll or any 18" doll.  I included those directions in the pattern, too.  These used a bit of fingering weight yarn (Knit Picks Palette Hale Heather) and US Size 2 (2.75 mm) needles.

I hope you enjoy knitting the Outlander Series patterns as much as I enjoy creating them.

 

Sale on Critter Hat Patterns

Hello my friends.  I wanted to tell you about a sale I'm running on all my critter hat knitting patterns.  From now until the end of the year (December 2014), the critter hat patterns will be on sale for just $2.99 each.  You could knit them up now in time for the holidays. They make great gifts for family, friends, children or yourself.

I currently have four critter hat patterns in my Ravelry shop - Major Knitter's PX so please check them out.

Eagle Hat

 

Fox Hat

 

Beaver Hat

and last but not least, my Bear Hat.

 

Mid-Season Finale for Outlander

Tonight is the mid-season finale for Starz Outlander.  I can hardly wait. 

I may be getting into the highlander spirit a bit too much.

I found 5 yards of green calico fabric in my overflowing stash and turned it into a gathered drawstring skirt.

Now look how we match.  I think we both might consider getting curly perms next.

Anyway, I wanted to let you all know that I've finally published the pattern for the Rent Collecting Shawl in my Ravelry store - aka Major Knitter's PX.  When you purchase the pattern, you'll get the bonus gift of notes and adaptations to make a matching shawl for your 18" doll, too.

Check out the pattern HERE.

I've also created a separate Ravelry group to follow my patterns and designs - Major Knitter's Designs - where it will be helpful to discuss and questions people might have for individual patterns.  I find that to be very helpful to have a community to discuss tips, techniques, suggestions and show & tell.

And when you're done knitting up your adult sized shawl, you can make one for your favorite doll.

Check it out.  

 

 

Please Join my Ravelry Group

I've been publishing more and more patterns through Ravelry so I decided to create a discussion group to open the conversations about each particular pattern.  Community chatrooms can be so much more helpful than trying to contact the designer.  Someone else might have a better solution for a problem, modification or question posed by another knitter.  Also, it can often provide the quickest answer - given the chance that others are online more regularly than I am.

So you can check out my Major Knitter Designs Group by clicking HERE.  Please join along in the fun.

Hi I'm Jennifer and I'm an Outlander Addict

I *might* be slightly obsessed with Starz Outlander based on the books by Diana Gabaldon.  But you knew that already.  I'm having way too much fun.  I decided my American Girl Doll needed a green plaid outfit to match her new Rent Collecting Shawl.  I vowed I would NOT purchase any green plaid material, but if I happened to find some in my basement fabric stash, I would see what I could do.

Guess what?  I found a few scraps of green plaid.  SQUEE!

I cut a piece approximately 48 x 14 inches.  I folded a 1' hem on the top and bottom of the fabric and sewed it.  I left an opening at the top to pull the drawstring through.  My finished dimensions are approximately 48 x12 inches.

I ironed the skirt and put a safety pin on the 5-foot long ribbon to pull it through the draw string opening.  I pulled it tight and had a nice looking pseudo pleated arasaid.  OK - go with me on this.  We're playing dolls here.  Imagination is half the fun!

Ta da!  My AGD has her very own plaid.  I thought about making a green plaid bodice, too, but I knew that would take more creativity, sewing skills, and time than a simple rectangular drawstring skirt.  Maybe later.

Add my Rent Collecting Shawl and it's not bad for a tribute to Claire.

You can call me Sassenach.

Now I just want AGD to make a line of Highlanders.  I'd love to dress up Dougal, Angus, Rupert and oh yeah, that Jamie character.  ;)

There you have it.  Since I don't have daughters, I have to play dress up dolls by creating little patterns and having fun myself.  Hehehe.  

 

Rent Collecting Shawl

Last night's episode of Outlander was so intense, realistic, brutal and disturbing.  It's the first episode (but not that last) that I will not watch on StarzPlay over and over.  In fact I didn't get much sleep last night.  

But I do have some good news to share, so that's what I'm going to dwell on.  I finished my version of the Rent Collecting Shawl. And while I don't have a green plaid skirt and bodice to wear while modeling this (Don't think for a moment I didn't consider it!) here are my photos of my latest creation.

Too bad I didn't have Mrs. Fitz to help me pin my hair.

I could definitely forego the ice-cold character building sponge bath though.

Now to block my shawl and have my test knitters get busy.  Check back next week for the finished pattern.

Tea and Knitting

I've been busy knitting industriously this past week.  I'm almost done with my Rent Collecting Shawl.... I hope to finish it tonight.  In the meantime, while knitting during my Outlander marathon rewatch of episodes 101-105, I decided a cuppa tea was the perfect accompaniment... especially since it's English Tea Time.

Tonight's Outlander is going to be a tough episode to watch.  Claire meets up with Black Jack Randall once again and it is going to make me cover my eyes with my hands and peak through my fingers.  Definitely a nail biter.  I can hardly wait!

Outlander: Rent Collecting Shawl - Working Out the Details

I've been working on this pattern all week from last Saturday's episode of Outlander - "Rent".  

It seems so easy... yet it's quite deceiving.  In fact, there has been a lot of discussion on Ravelry, Facebook and the like.  Many people have created a version of the pattern that doesn't quite get the actual costume.  Either the shawl is knit the wrong way (top to bottom, versus side-to-side), or the center line has the stitches slanting towards the bottom point instead of towards the middle of the neckline.  Or perhaps there is no neckline edge.  You can see why it's a little confusing.  Yet it really seems like a very simple pattern.

I pulled up a triangular shawl I had created for my American Girl Doll.

I thought this would be a good pattern, but I quickly saw that the stitches were going top-to-bottom, not side-to-side.  

I also thought the Oakley Shawl might work.

But once again, the stitches are top-to-bottom, not side-to-side.

So I started noodling.  I was fine until I got to the center of the back.  My stitches were still straight.  Claire's are very obviously slanting up towards the neckline.  I simply had to figure out this conundrum.  I love to solve a puzzle and this one was going to get all my attention.

 

It's very hard to see in this screen shot from my TV, but you can just make out that the garter row stitches are slanting up towards the neckline at the center line.

And the discussions back and forth about the stripes.  Oy!  Since the shawl is knit side-to-side, you get to practice your intarsia color skills.  If you go back to that first photo, you can just see the yarn twists showing where the color changes happen.  See my version below.

 

 After noodling and noodling and sleeping on it, I finally figured it out.  Eureka!

I made a miniature version to test my theory and it worked.  I needed to tweak it a bit, but had no patience for the color work, so I made a solid colored prototype for my second test.

And here's the back with the stitches slanting the proper direction.

But now I need to knit the adult sized shawl and I'll be ready to publish.  Hopefully I'll have it done by this evening.  Wish me luck.

Tulach ard!

NOTE:  I appreciate everyone's versions of all the Outlander patterns out there.  For me it's more about the journey to make the most authentic item as possible - not merely a facsimile.  It's a puzzle to be solved.  I enjoy that. I'm just trying to keep those brain cells working.
 

** My Rent Collecting Shawl pattern is now available on my Ravelry store.  Click HERE to see the pattern for both the adult sized shawl and the miniature for your doll.  It's a two-for-one!