Introducing issue ten : texas!

We traveled through Texas and curated a collection of knitwear from eleven designers around the world and twelve spinners and dyers from the big state of Texas. This issue includes two shawls, two pairs of socks, a hat, and a variety of short and long-sleeved sweaters to suit the wide temperature range from north to south, and from winter to summer. 

Each design has a name drawn from Texas inspirations, and wherever possible, we used Texas wool, sheered from sheep whose ancestors have grazed the land for generations.

Every knitting pattern is designed to be size inclusive, fitting a 28 – 60” bust, and they range in difficulty from beginner to expert. We’ve included the pattern details so you can have your yarn and needles ready to cast on. You can find print copies of issue ten : texas here, and digital copies here.

Without further ado, we present the knitting patterns of issue ten : texas!

Kick the Dust Up

Dianne Brown of Suburban Stitcher has been dyeing yarn full time just outside Houston since 2016. She lives far enough from the city to experience the joys of country living, like listening to chickens, cows, and horses. Dianne grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and moved to Texas for college; having lived along the Gulf Coast all her life, she’s no stranger to hurricanes and humidity. Dianne’s tonal colorways are wonderful – you can see subtle color variations that bring depth and beauty without distracting from the intricate details of the cable patterning.

Cally Monster of Monsterknits designs knitwear full time from her home in Murrieta, California, where she can be found knitting poolside, tequila in hand. We love her casual chic style, and she captured the Texas inspiration and spirit perfectly in this gorgeous shawl.

Size: 65” x 28“/ 165cm x 71cm. 

Needles: US 6/ 4.0mm or size to obtain gauge, circular 32”/ 80cm or longer; and US 8/ 5.0mm or 1.0mm larger than gauge needle, DPN, circular tip, or straight (for BO).

Gauge: 24 sts = 4”/ 10cm in Spine pattern, wet blocked and dried;
27 sts = 4”/ 10cm in Wing patterns, wet blocked and dried. 

Yarn: sport weight: 850 yards/ 780 meters.

Notions: 2 locking stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn, cable needle (optional), tapestry needle.

Samples knit in: Suburban Stitcher Sport (100% superwash Merino; 328 yards/ 100g) in Swamp and Chicory. Shown here in Chicory.

Marfa

Named for a small artistic town in West Texas, Marfa is worked in broken seed stitch accompanied by slipped stitches in the main color, creating a beautiful contrast without any traditional colorwork. 

Micki Christenson of Arlington, Texas, is the dyer behind A Thing for String Fiberworks. Micki finds so much joy in meeting the wonderful people of Texas, especially in the fiber community, and, like so many Texas knitters, wishes for a little bit less of the unrelenting heat of the summers, which are not kind to wool lovers. We adore her luscious Himalayan Sock; it’s a blend of Merino, Yak, and nylon, and you can see in the MC of the hat how beautifully Micki creates her colorways to coordinate with the added depth of the Yak fibers.

Julee Mackessy of Naluknits is an occupational therapist in Reno, Nevada, where she also designs knitwear and dyes yarn part-time. Julee is dedicated to reducing her carbon footprint, making most of her household products and working with sustainable materials whenever possible. You’ll see her again in issue twelve, when we’ll be traveling west!

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4); Child (Small Adult, Adult, Large Adult).

Finished circumference: 16 (18, 20, 22)”/ 40 (45, 50, 55)cm.

Finished height: 7.25 (8, 8.25, 8.75)”/ 18.5 (20.5, 21, 22)cm (standard fit), or 9.25 (10, 10.25, 10.75)”/ 23.5 (25, 26, 27)cm (slouchy fit).

Needles: US 3/ 3.25mm or size to obtain gauge, in 16”/ 40cm circulars and DPNs; and US 2.5/ 3mm or 0.25mm smaller than gauge needles, in 16”/ 40cm circulars.
Gauge: 28 sts and 48 rnds = 4”/ 10cm over Slipped Broken Seed Stitch. 

Yarn: fingering weight in two colors:

Standard fit: 73 (89, 105, 121) yards/ 67 (82, 96, 111) meters MC; and 53 (66, 78, 90) yards/ 49 (61, 72, 83) meters CC.

Slouchy fit: 90 (110, 130, 150) yards/ 83 (101, 119, 137) meters MC; and 65 (82, 100, 117) yards/ 60 (75, 92, 107) meters CC.

Notions: 1 stitch marker, tapestry needle. 

Sample knit in: A Thing for String MCN Fingering (80% superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% nylon; 435 yards/ 100g) in Amber Waves (MC) and A Thing for String Himalayan Sock (70% superwash Merino, 20% Yak, 10% nylon; 435 yards/ 100g) in Steampunk.

Tumbleweed

Named for the blowing tumbles of dried plant stems and seeds that are released by many plant species throughout Texas, this circular yoke pullover was designed with short sleeves to be wearable through much of the year.

Dawn and Paul Brown create small-batch, land-based yarn and roving from Texas-grown natural fibers at their farm and mill, Independence Wool & Mohair, in the historic village of Independence, in South Central Texas. Their mill is sustainable and works with fleeces sheared from the Browns’ own stock of sheep and goats, as well as from producers across the state. Each skein of yarn is traceable and labeled with its “Pasture of Origin,” so you know the exact provenance of your project, from start to finish. The Rambouillet and Mohair blend used in Tumbleweed is that perfect blend of rustic strength and delicate softness.

Rose Beck of RosyPosy Designs creates knitwear in Cleveland, Ohio, where she was born and raised. You may remember her beautiful sweaters from past Nomadic Knits issues: Stowe Away from issue five and Rosa from issue six. Rose’s designs are classic and timeless.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4) [5, 6, 7] {8, 9, 10}.

Finished Bust Circumference: 30.5 (34.5, 38.5, 42.5) [46.5, 50.5, 54.5] {58.5, 62.5, 66.5}”/ 76 (86, 96, 106) [116, 126, 136] {146, 156, 166}cm. To be worn with 3 – 6”/ 7.5 – 15cm of positive ease.

Gauge: 20 sts and 30 rnds = 4”/ 10cm in Stockinette stitch.

Needles: US 6/ 4.0mm or size to obtain gauge, in 16”/ 40cm circular or DPNs for sleeves and 32 – 48”/ 80 – 120cm circulars (depending on garment size); and US 4/ 3.5mm or 0.5mm smaller than gauge needles, in 16”/ 40cm circulars or DPNs for neck opening.

Yarn: sport weight: 600 (650, 750, 850) [1000, 1100, 1250] {1350, 1500, 1600} yards/ 549 (594, 686, 777) [914, 1006, 1143] {1234, 1372, 1463} meters.

Notions: stitch holders or scrap yarn, 2 removable stitch markers, tapestry needle.

Sample knit in: Independence Wool Texas Tweed Lite (50% Rambouillet, 50% Mohair; 200 yards/ 75g) in Palest Brown.

Laredo

Named for a town in southern Texas, Laredo is a simple rectangular poncho with boldly beautiful lace details along each lower edge. The design starts with a provisional cast-on and ends with a 3-needle bind-off.

Texas in My Hands is a collaboration between Marathon Basin Wool and Wooltree Yarns, and it grew from a desire to combine real Texas components from the sheep that grow the wool to the mill that makes the yarn to the dyes that give it color. The sheep are raised throughout the Hill Country and Trans Pecos regions of Texas, then the wool is milled and minimally processed by Seth and Bonnie Warnock of Marathon Basin Wool before it is dyed using foraged plant matter. Each skein is a piece of Texas that you can hold in your hands.

Knitting has always been a huge part of designer Martha Wissings life, supporting her through all the ups and downs of life and multiple cross country moves. With every move, she’s made new friends through knitting, bringing the greatest joy to her life. Martha has recently moved back to Texas, her forever home. 

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6). 

Finished width: 32 (34, 37, 40, 42, 45)”/ 80 (86, 92, 99, 105, 112)cm.

Finished length (adjustable): 26 (28, 28, 29, 29, 29)”/ 66 (71, 71, 74, 74, 74)cm.

Needles: US 7/ 4.5mm or size to obtain gauge, 32”/ 80cm circulars and spare circular needle for 3-needle bind-off; and US 6/ 4mm or 0.5mm smaller than gauge needle, 16”/ 40cm circulars. 

Gauge: 18.5 sts and 27 rows = 4”/ 10cm over Stockinette stitch, blocked.

Yarn: DK or light worsted weight: 1250 (1400, 1550, 1700, 1850, 2000) yards/ 1143 (1280, 1418, 1554, 1691, 1828) meters. 

Notions: stitch markers, scrap yarn, tapestry needle.

Sample knit in: Marathon Basin Wool Mill Texas in My Hands (100% Debouillet Merino; 250 yards/ 100g) in Sumac.

Caddo

Caddo is named for Caddo Lake, the only natural lake in Texas. It’s home to seventy species of fish and over fifty miles of paddling trails. Caddo, a lovely sleeveless top with a striking lace motif on both the front and back, is the perfect lightweight shirt for hot summer days. It was inspired by the image of bright sunshine streaming through long strands of Spanish moss. Worked in the round from the bottom up, there’s no worry of getting stuck on sleeve island with this pattern!

Wendy Forrest of Amanda Hope Yarn, named for her daughters, Amanda and Hope, lives on twenty acres just outside Nacogdoches, Texas, with her husband and several cats, where she dyes yarn full time. If Wendy finds herself brainstorming colorway ideas, she just has to look out her window to see the wonders of Deep East Texas’ Piney Woods. 

Fiona Munro of MunroSisters3 designs part time with the help of her two sisters. She grew up on Salt Spring Island in Canada, and now calls Aberdeen, Scotland, home. Fiona and her sisters feature Fair Isle and lacework throughout their growing design collections.

Sizes:​ 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) [6, 7, 8, 9].

Finished bust measurements: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48) [52, 56, 60, 64]”/ 81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122) [132, 142, 152.5, 162.5]cm. To be worn with 4”/ 10cm of positive ease.

Needles: ​US 6/ 4mm or size to obtain gauge, in 16”/ 40cm and 24 – 48”/ 60 – 120cm circulars.

Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rnds ​= 4”/ 10cm over Stockinette stitch.

Yarn: ​sport weight: 780 (880, 980, 1080, 1180) [1280, 1380, 1480, 1580] yards/ 713 (805, 896, 988, 1079) [1170, 1262, 1353, 1445] meters.

Notions: ​7 stitch markers, tapestry needle.

Sample knit in: Amanda Hope Yarn Aussie Extra Fine Sport (100% Merino; 327 yards/ 100g) in Fawn. 

Seawall Socks

The Seawall Socks are named for the ten-mile seawall in Galveston, Texas, which was built after a devastating hurricane in 1900 flooded the barrier island, destroying most of the buildings and killing thousands. While we stayed in Galveston this spring, we walked and jogged along the seawall almost every day, admiring the tile mosaics, painted murals, and educational plaques that line the length of the wall. The Seawall Socks are worked toe-up with an afterthought heel.

Stacie Dawson of Must Stash Yarn creates perfectly matched half skeins, which ensure a pair of socks will have perfectly matched stripes. These Must Match Sets have been her signature since 2015, and this colorway, Quince, is brilliantly gorgeous! Stacie lives in San Antonio, Texas, where the weather is usually beautiful, the food is delicious, and the people are incredibly friendly. San Antonio is warm, inviting, and amazing; it’s unassuming, without a big city attitude, despite being one of the largest cities in the U.S. They advertise “Keep San Antonio Lame” as an answer to “Keep Austin Weird,” an example of the down to Earth, casual vibe; a great place to grow a family and a business. 

Fatimah Hinds of Disturbing the Fleece designs from Scottdale, Georgia, where she also works as a middle school math and science teacher. Fatimah strives to design knitwear patterns that are unisex and body inclusive and is continuing to expand her size range, as beautiful garments are for every body, every gender, and every size. 

Sizes: Medium (Wide, Extra Wide, XX Wide). 

Finished foot circumference: 7.5 (8.25, 8.75, 9.25)”/ 18.5 (20.5, 22, 23)cm.

Gauge: 35 sts and 50 rnds = 4”/ 10cm over Stockinette stitch.

Needles: US 0/ 2mm or size to obtain gauge, in DPNs or preferred sock needles.

Yarn: light fingering weight: 300 (325, 350, 375) yards/ 275 (298, 321, 344) meters.

Notions: row counter, stitch markers, tapestry needle, scrap yarn.

Sample knit in: Must Stash Yarn & Fiber Perfect Sock (75% superwash Merino, 25% nylon; 450 yards/ 100g) in Quince.

Boots & Spurs

Boots and spurs are quintessential pieces of a cowboy’s getup, so we couldn’t resist using a colorway of the same name for the iconic reference. Our Boots & Spurs is knit in one piece, top-down, and is a slightly boxy, very cozy simple sweater whose miles of stockinette make the perfect backdrop for Savvy Skeins’ fun colorways.

Allison Telfer of Savvy Skeins lives in South Texas, where the fiber arts community is wonderful, tightly knit, full of fiber festivals, yarn shops, knitting guilds, and knitting groups. That, combined with the warmth of the sun and the wild thunderstorms of the springtime, make Texas a wonderful place to live.

Melissa Kemmerer (that’s me!) of Nomadic Knits (that’s us!) designs mainly from Upstate New York, except when she’s traveling to meet up with Becky, the more nomadic of our pair. I don’t enjoy seaming, so most of my sweaters are designed in one piece for my fellow unstructured knitters. This one in particular is easy-peasy, perfect for cocktails and social knitting!

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) [6, 7, 8, 9].

Finished bust circumference: 39.25 (43.25, 47.25, 51.25, 55.25) [59.25, 63.25, 67.25, 71.25]”/ 98.5 (108.5, 118.5, 128.5, 138.5) [148.5, 158.5, 168.5, 178.5]cm. To be worn with 10 – 12”/ 25.5 – 30.5cm of positive ease.

Needles: US 3/ 3.25mm or size to obtain gauge, and US 2/ 2.75mm or 0.5mm smaller than gauge needle in 16”/ 40cm and 24 – 60”/ 60 – 150cm circulars, depending on garment size.

Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rnds = 4”/ 10cm over Stockinette stitch.

Yarn: fingering weight: 800 (920, 1060, 1220, 1400) [1610, 1780, 1950, 2150] yards/ 731 (841, 970, 1115, 1280) [1472, 1627, 1783, 1966] meters.

Sample knit in: Savvy Skeins Sensible Sock (80% superwash Merino, 20% nylon; 420 yards/ 100g) in Boots & Spurs.

Lone Star

Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State because of the single star on its flag, which represents the ten years that Texas was an independent republic, between achieving independence from Mexico and accepting annexation by the United States. Much of Texas maintains that spirit of independence and a go-it-alone way of life. The Lone Star shawl is a beautiful symmetrical rectangle that is knitted outward in, to meet at a lone point in the center. 

Joshua Graff of Red Stag Fibre may be our first indie dyer without a stitching background. His wife runs their local yarn shop, Modern Skein, and Josh started dyeing yarn as a way to share her passion for fiber. His bases are luscious, and the Aran in Lone Star is warm, squishy, and featured in beautifully saturated colorways.

Antonia Cavaliere joins our collection all the way from Italy, where many early Western movies were filmed and earned the title of “Spaghetti Westerns.” Antonia’s design name, Skips A Generation, is an ode to her grandmother, a woman of many talents who mastered many crafts but did not pass on those talented artful genes to any of her children. Those talents instead skipped a generation and found a home in Antonia. 

Size: 20 x 71/ 51 x 180cm.

Needles: US 9/ 5.5mm or size to obtain gauge, in 24/ 60cm circulars and DPNs; and US 10/ 6mm or 0.5mm larger than gauge needle, in 24/ 60cm circulars.

Gauge: 15 sts and 24 rows = 4/ 10cm over Lace Pattern.

Yarn: Aran weight:
A: 228 yards/ 208 meters;
B: 373 yards/ 341 meters;
C: 431 yards/ 394 meters.
Notions: 4 stitch markers, 1 removable marker, tapestry needle.

Sample knit in: Red Stag Fibre Estate Aran (100% superwash Merino; 181 yards/ 100g) in Stone Gate (A), Passport (B), and Antique Linen (C).

Bluebonnet

“The bluebonnet is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France, the rose to England and the tulip to Holland.” – historian Jack Maguire.

Bluebonnet is a relaxed lace tunic perfect for warm weather and a great layering piece for cooler seasons. It features an interesting all-over lace pattern reminiscent of flowers budding. With a classic two-piece construction for a quick-to knit project, this is a flattering, easy-to-wear garment.

Carolyn Jones knits, crochets, weaves, and runs Chicken Coop Dyeworks in North Central Texas, where she lives with her family and their flock of Rambouillet sheep. Carolyn provides unique and interesting colorways using a variety of dyeing techniques on luxurious bases including Merino, Polwarth, Blue Faced Leicester, and will soon add her own Rambouillet to the list. 

Susanna IC’s knitting design company is ArtQualia, a fusion of “art” and “qualia,” which is a subjective conscious experience, or, more simply put, the way that things seem to each of us. Susanna is a little bit of a nomad; originally from Europe, she’s now lived in two European countries and seven US states, including her current home state of Maryland.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) [6, 7, 8, 9].

Finished bust measurements: 27.5 (33.75, 40, 46.25, 52.5) [58.75, 65, 71.25, 77.5]”/ 68.5 (84.5, 100, 115.5, 131.5) [147, 162.5, 178.5, 194]cm. To be worn with 0 – 12”/ 0 – 30.5cm positive ease.

Needles: US 5/ 3.75mm or size to obtain gauge, in straight or circular (for working flat); US 3/ 3.25mm or 0.5mm smaller than gauge needle, in DPNs or 16”/ 40cm circular (for working in the round at neckline).

Gauge: 23 sts and 30 rows = 4”/ 10cm over lace pattern, blocked.

Yarn: fingering weight: 630 (775, 935, 1085, 1255) [1430, 1580, 1770, 1925] yards/ 576 (709, 855, 992, 1148) [1308, 1445, 1618, 1760] meters.

Notions: stitch markers, removable stitch markers, stitch holder or scrap yarn, tapestry needle, blocking pins and wires (optional).

Sample knit in: Chicken Coop Dyeworks Tail Feathers (80% superwash Merino, 20% Silk; 600 yards/ 150g) in Olive Oil.

Luckenbach

Luckenbach, Texas, is stitched together with folklore and legends. This tiny, almost-ghost-town sits about 75 miles west of Austin in the German-influenced Hill Country of central Texas. Named for Jakob Luckenbach, a German nobleman who helped establish Hill Country, Luckenbach sprang into existence in the late 1840s.

Beautifully cabled and designed to fit up to an 18-inch calf, the Luckenbach socks are equally adept at being shown off in walking shoes or keeping you cozy in cowboy boots. The cables are simple yet elegant and suitable for anyone with a solid grasp of sock-knitting basics. The knitting pattern includes directions for both standard height and tall. We were lucky enough to be able to feature two indie dyers in this pattern.

Lauren Mattinson of Treehouse Knits finds her time filled with dyepots, knitting, and chasing after her toddler. When she finds the time, Lauren loves to take a good long hike with her dog, River. She feels so at ease in the greenbelts around her hometown of Austin, Texas, where she was born and raised. Her brilliant dark red has so much depth and highlights the winding cables.

Natasha Sills of Gritty Knits lives in Houston, Texas, and loves its big city vibes and a population so large and diverse that one can always find like-minded people to share life with. Natasha’s artistic interests span much of the fiber arts: knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, and sewing, but also venture away from fiber to include painting and photography. She loves to photograph tiny things – whether it’s a close-up of a strand of yarn, or a strange, fuzzy insect. Natasha’s Yak blend sock base has a wonderfully soft and sturdy feel.

Sarah Dawn of Sarah Dawn’s Designs pulls her inspiration from wanting a world where the default setting is inclusion for everyone. She started designing after she was turned away after many interviews due to her dependency on a cane or wheelchair, and she lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with her roommate and two kitties, who frequently show up in her photo shoots.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4).

Finished foot circumference: 6.5 (7.25, 8, 8.75)”/ 16 (18, 20, 22)cm.

Finished calf circumference for 10”/ 25.5cm high socks: 11.25 (12, 14.5, 16.25)”/ 28 (30, 36, 40.5)cm.

To be worn with 0.5 – 1”/ 1.5 to 2.5cm of negative ease.

Needles: US 0/ 2.0mm or size to obtain gauge, in preferred sock needles.

Gauge: 40 sts and 52 rnds = 4”/ 10cm over cable stitch pattern.

Yarn: fingering weight: 

standard (6”/ 15cm): 325 (350, 400, 425) yards/ 299 (321, 367, 390) meters;

tall (10”/ 25.5cm): 560 (640, 720, 800) yards/ 512 (585, 658, 732) meters.

Notions: cable needle, tapestry needle, 5 stitch markers (1 in contrasting color).

Samples knit in: Gritty Knits Hombre (60% superwash Merino, 20% Yak, 20% Silk; 400 yards/ 100g) in Catahoula (tall); and Treehouse Knits Fingering (80% Merino, 20% nylon; 400 yards/ 100g) in Rusted Berries (standard).

Big Bend

With almost half a million visitors each year, Big Bend National Park is one of Texas’ most popular attractions. Approximately 304 miles of roads meander through over 800,000 acres of and in what is the largest characteristic representation of the Chihuahuan Desert in the United States. Its mountains, deserts, and river support upwards of 5,000 different species of flora and fauna. 

Big Bend is a lovely loose-fitting pullover featuring wide three-quarter length sleeves and a straight, borderline boxy shape. The big bold cable on the front and back of the sweater adds a sophisticated feel and fun, interesting stitches to the project. It’s knit bottom-up, in the round, seamlessly.

Dawn Barker of Chasing Rabbits Fiber Co. has called Amarillo, Texas, “home” now for nearly eighteen years; there is just something about the wide-open spaces, flat, arid landscapes, and rolling canyonlands that sets in and captures your heart.  Where many see flat and barren terrain, Dawn sees a peacefully minimal landscape with room to rest, to think, to create, and to dream. 

Adrienne Larsen is a knitwear designer and yarn guru based in Fargo, North Dakota, where she and her husband are renovating their 1900s Victorian-style home. Adrienne’s design company name, The Yarnslayer, comes from her passion for challenging herself. Her designs push the envelope into the boundaries of the impossible, with yarn as both her favorite tool and most gifted adversary in her quest to find the next challenge, the next dragon to slay. Adrienne has designed several gorgeous garments for Nomadic Knits, all of them beautifully strewn with cables and precisely designed.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) [6, 7, 8, 9].

Finished bust measurements: 37.25 (42, 45.75, 50.5, 54.25) [58, 61.75, 66.5, 70.25]”/ 93 (105, 114.5, 126, 135.5) [145, 154.5, 166, 175.5]cm. To be worn with 10”/ 25.5cm of positive ease.

Needles: US 9/ 5.5mm or size to obtain gauge, 16”/ 40cm and 40”/ 100cm – 60”/ 150cm circulars (depending on garment size).

Gauge: 17 sts and 24 rnds = 4”/ 10cm in Stockinette stitch;
Lace Motif = 5”/ 12.5cm wide.

Yarn: Aran weight: 870 (940, 1060, 1190, 1270) [1360, 1430, 1640, 1650] yards/ 800 (860, 970, 1090, 1160) [1240, 1310, 1500, 1510] meters.

Notions: 8 stitch markers (including 4 to mark lace panels), 2 cable needles, tapestry needle, stitch holders.

Sample knit in: Chasing Rabbits Fiber Co. Merinolux Aran (100% superwash deluxe Merino; 182 yards/ 100g) in Fireside.

 

Thanks so much for checking out our Texas issue! We’d like to think there’s something for everyone in this collection, and we hope you found a design that leaves you itching to cast on.

xo

Melissa and Becky

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