Learning New Ways - Distitch Ties

My copy of Assia Brill's Distitch: A New Knitting Concept arrived on Monday and I love it! It's full of interesting techniques, beautiful pictures, and inspiring projects. It's a great addition to my needlework library.

Assia Brill builds her free Distitch Edge Coaster and Distitch Edge Scarf patterns with ways to incorporate distitch techniques into the body of the knitting, either as the whole cloth or as a reinforcement. I want to try the sock pattern, with its distitch heel and toe.

I hope to try the brioche patterns, too. I especially like how Assia Brill includes careful explanations for how to correct errors, something I’ve found difficult in past brioche projects.

I'm making distitch chains today to get practice for the two-color distitch cast-on, bind-off, and selvedges I'll be using to make four matching sides for double-knitting Assia’s Perfect Edge Coasters.

These distitch chains are taking the place of the 3-stitch i-cord ties or crocheted cords Elaine Fitzpatrick suggests for her Dog E. Dog baby bib pattern.  The crocheted cords Elaine makes are about the same width as a 3-stitch i-cord. She describes the process she uses to make these attractive, sturdy chains on her blog, Down Cloverlaine, here, noting that crocheting the chains, and slip-stitching back to make them sturdy, is much faster than knitting i-cord.

Here is my Bunny Bib with its distitch ties. 

I love learning new ways!

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Double-Knitting Adventures - The Blue Bunny Lovey

Ok, I admit it. I love patterns with short-rows. The way they shape knitting into curves just seems miraculous to me. And it's no surprise that I'm crazy for double-knitting...

...so today I was looking for a lovey pattern to knit for a baby shower, and what did I find?

A bunny lovey with short-row ears and a double-knitted face! Oh, my!

The Bunny Blanket Buddy is a free pattern from Lion Brand yarns (here is the Ravelry pattern page). I knitted one in an afternoon and called it Blue Bunny Lovey.

It's garter-stitch squishy, with floppy ears, and arms with little knots for paws. The face is in reverse-stockinette, created with slip-stitch double-knitting (also called tubular knitting).

I still need to embroider on the eyes, nose, and mouth - a nice safety feature for a baby's toy.

Many thanks to the Lion Brand Design Team for a great pattern with just enough challenge to make it fun.