Shelda's list of possible patterns

I can think of several patterns that would work well for holiday garments. Check out Jill Vosburg's website, Just One More Row, for the “Flyaway Free Jacket” and “Shrug Me Tender,” both designs that I think would work well (not that other of Jill's designs wouldn't work, just that those looked particularly festive to me!) Jill also has a beautiful shawl and stole, if those are more to your liking for holiday wear. I can also imagine something shimmery and wonderful done with Jill's “Angel Island Shell” pattern.

Joan McGowan-Michael designs many wonderfully romantic and dressy garments for larger women, featured at White Lies Designs. Joan features both cardigans and pullovers, including “Shelley's Lace Cardigan,” the “Valentine” and the “Heirloom Lace Jacket.”

There's a lovely sparkly, shimmery vest that appeared in a recent issue of INKnitter's magazine (issue 3). It's called the “Silver Belle” and is featured in Berroco Metallica. The sweater is sized from a 38” bust to a 62” bust, so there are lots of sizing possibilities

Joan Schrouder has a pattern from K1C2 called the “Enchanted Lace Jacket” that is most lovely, knit from Douceur et Soie. It would have to be up-sized a bit for some of us, but Joan is a member of this list and I'm pretty sure she would help us out . K1C2 also offers an elegant cabled blouse knit with Douceur et Soie that looks really scrumptious. Several list members sell K1C2 patterns, just ask for sources on the list.

If, like me, your thoughts turn to lace when you think of dressy holiday garments, you might check out A Gathering of Lace, edited by Meg Swansen. This book has a several lovely garments with Ample potential. You can find this book at your local shop, or get it from the publisher, XRX, Inc. XRX also offers “Best of Knitter's Shawls & Scarves”, with many lovely patterns. And speaking of books, Myrna Stahman's “Stahman's Shawls and Scarves” has many gorgeous shawls in the Faroese style. Myrna includes a chapter on up-sizing that I've found very helpful.

A group of listers will be working on the “Rob Roy Shawl,” featured in the movie of the same name, and interpreted by Debra Matz (PotWench). You can see this pattern at Debra's Site.

If you are interested in shawls and wraps, check out Blackberry Ridge. Click on “Knitting Patterns & Kits” and then you'll see a long list of shawl patterns. Many of these patterns are from a company called “Wool You Order” and they have some very stunning designs. Their “Autumn Lace Kimono” has captured the attention of several listers, and is featured on the Blackberry Ridge site. Catherine Knits also has a wide selection of kits.

Lister Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer also has many exquisitely designed shawls, scarves, and sweaters, including some very lovely pieces with beads. Check out her patterns at Heart Strings Fiber Arts.

If you're interested in lace, do check out Helen Eisler's Knitted Lace list. Besides the list itself, Helen offers many wonderful resources on her web pages, including a listing of shawl patterns. Brenda Zuk maintains this excellent list. To access this resource, click on “Shawls & Stoles” near the bottom of the list on the left-hand frame. Brenda also offers her own original lace patterns at her own site, the Needle Beetle.

Ample-Lister Pat Kirtland has some new patterns, “Fabulous Filigrees” by Margaret Anne Halas, featured on her website. These are small shawls and collars, very elegant, which could be great for holiday items for those of us who have less time to knit or are slower knitters. You can see these on Pat's Yarn Barn pages.

And finally, if lace shawls interest you, also check out Fiddlesticks Knitting. These gorgeous patterns are making a splash on all the lace lists.

This list of possibilities is in no way exhaustive. In fact I imagine it barely scratches the surface of what all is out there. Please let me know if you have suggestions for other patterns or resources I should include on this list.

Copyright © 2002
Shelda Eggers, Owner-Ample-Knitters
Last modified: 6 June 2005