Time to close the book...

I'm sad to say that it's time to close the book on this blog.

I began it December 2006. For many years I've let you take a small peek into my life as well as sharing my designs with you.

As demands on my time have increased these past few years, I have only posted announcements about my new designs. Looking at my pattern sales and where sales come from, only three patterns have been purchased through my blog since the first of the year. Sigh, it doesn't make sense to spend time updating it anymore. This has led me to make the difficult decision to close it down in the next few months. I will not be posting any new information here.

You will still be able to find me on Ravelry. If you haven't joined Ravelry already, I strongly encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful (and free) resource for knitters and crocheters.

I sincerely hope you will visit Ravelry, friend me (SimpleKnits), and join my Simply Simple Knits group. My SSK group is where I post information about my new designs and invite members to help test my new knit and crochet designs.

Links to my Ravelry pattern store and my Simply Simple Knits group can be found below.


Click here to go to my Ravelry pattern store.

Join my Simply Simple Knits group on Ravelry by clicking here.

Keep those needles and hooks flying! I hope to see you on Ravelry. :-)

Vicki

Blast Off Scarf to knit

Blast Off with a rocket ship shaped scarf with chevron detailing. The design begins with a few stitches to form a point and grows until it is as wide as you like. Work even until you run out of yarn or add a flare when your yarn ball is getting smaller. I've folded the scarf up a bit in the picture above so you can see both ends.

This design really shows off yarns with long color runs. It is knit in garter stitch and shaped with easy increases and decreases. The more yarn you have the longer your scarf will be. Use any weight of yarn by changing the needle size to suit the yarn. No blocking required!

244 yards of light worsted weight yarn and size 7 knitting needles produced, after washing and laying out flat to dry, a scarf measuring 60” long x 6.5” wide. I used 2 skeins of Classic Elite Liberty Wool for the pictureds scarf. The three page pattern has written instructions and help to figure out how much yarn to save back for the flare and bind off.

For more information, visit my Ravelry pattern store to see all my available designs, current pricing information, and purchase pattern downloads.

Echoing Waves Scarf to knit

Introducing my Echoing Waves Scarf. This chevron shaped scarf starts with a few stitches and uses a stitch pattern that creates textured lines across the face of the scarf. It’s easy to knit with only one purl row out of every 4 rows knitted. Carefully placed increases and decreases give the scarf its shape as it grows. Make it as small or large as you like and use any weight of yarn by choosing a needle size to compliment that yarn. 150-200 yards should give you a nice size scarf and 500-600 for a shawl size. No blocking required. The scarf should be washed and laid out flat to dry on a flat surface to relax the stitches.

The pictured scarf was made with one skein of Tahki Yarns Tandem (107 yards Aran weight) with size 9 (5.5 mm) knitting needles. Finished size after washing and laying it out flat to dry is: 27" along center x 20" along last row. This made a shorter summer scarf. You'll need more yardage for a longer scarf.

For more information, visit my Ravelry pattern store to see all my available designs, current pricing information, and purchase pattern downloads.

Mai Tai Scarf - bet you can't knit just one!

Mai Tai Scarf is a cute, little crescent scarf that knits up fast on big needles using novelty yarn. No short rows! Makes a nice little scarf to dress up a simple top, blouse, or dress. The pattern is super easy to knit and a great one to use for gifts or holiday bazaars. Dig out those single balls of bulky weight novelty yarn hiding in your stash and a pair or size 11 (8 mm) knitting needles, cast on and knit until you only have enough yarn to bind off. A 54 yard skein of Sensations Radiance (a 3 strand yarn of eyelash, railroad, and smooth) made a scarf that is 40” wide x 4” deep. Here's a picture of what it looks like laid out flat.

For more information, visit my Ravelry pattern store to see all my available designs, current pricing information, and purchase pattern downloads.

Balancing Act Shawl to crochet

Balancing Act is a crocheted shawl with a unique sail shape. Increases, decreases and the use of different height stitches create this shape. The shawl has a simple two row repeat that can be worked until you run out of yarn.

This is a one skein wonder project that can be made with a 400 yard skein of sock yarn and a size G (4 mm) crochet hook. It’s easy to make larger if you have more yarn or substitute a different weight of yarn with a hook size that works with that yarn.

Blocked size of blue shawl is 54” neckline x 47” last row x 66” lower edge. It looks great in a solid color, a tone-on-tone yarn, or a yarn with a long color run. 

The three page pattern has written instructions and a crochet chart for $5.00. Buy it through my Ravelry pattern store.

Rocking the Curve Shawlette to crochet

Rocking the Curve is an easy to crochet shawlette shaped with increases, decreases, and different height stitches. The simple two row repeat can be worked until you run out of yarn. Though the pattern is written for sport weight yarn with a size G crochet hook, it can be made with any weight of yarn by changing the hook size to suit the yarn. Blocked size with 328 yards of sport weight yarn was 51” down the center x 28” along the last row worked.

The more yarn you have, the larger your shawl will be. The three page pattern includes written instructions and a crochet chart. You can find it in my Ravelry pattern store.

 For more information, visit my Ravelry pattern store to see all my available designs, current pricing information, and purchase pattern downloads.

Skyrocket Scarf -- a crochet pattern

Blast off with Skyrocket, a rocket shaped scarf that is quick-to-hook using fingering/sock weight yarn and a size G crochet hook. A simple two row repeat with increases and decreases form the shape of the scarf. I used one skein of Lang Yarns Mille Colori Baby (208 yards) to make the pictured scarf.

 The scarf washed and laid flat to dry measured 33” down the center x 16” along the last row. You can add a tassel to the starting tip or a pretty button near any point and button through the stitches.

This versatile pattern can be made any size, with any weight of yarn by choosing a hook size to suit the yarn you choose. The three page pattern includes written instructions and a crochet chart can be found in my Ravelry pattern store.

For more information, visit my Ravelry pattern store to see all my available designs, current pricing information, and purchase pattern downloads.