Talise Pattern

Photos by DJ

Last summer the nice folks at Knit Picks asked me if I'd be interested in designing something in one of their new yarns. I chose to work with Capra, a DK weight yarn of merino and cashmere. Needless to say, the resulting sweater is extremely soft.

Talise is a close-fitting, tunic-length pullover. Worked in the round from hem to yoke, front and back are then separated and knit flat. Sleeves are picked up around the armhole and knit in the round. Bold cables extend into the collar which is seamed in the back.

This pattern is available for $5.99 as a pdf download via Ravelry.*


You may also purchase a copy through Knit Picks.

Errata notice, 3/24/2011: The original pattern contained errors in the chart legend and in the written chart directions (page 5). Many apologies!

For 2/1 RPC it should read: Slip next st to cable needle. Hold in back. K2, p1 from cable needle.
Written chart directions should read: Circular: work every rw from right to left. Flat: Work odd numbered rws (rs) right to left, even rws (ws), left to right.

sizes: 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54)

finished bust: 32¾ (35¼, 36¾, 39¼, 40¾, 43¼, 44¾, 47¼, 48¾, 51¼, 52¾, 55¼)"/83.5 (89.5, 93.5, 99.5, 104, 110, 114, 120, 124, 130, 134, 140.5)cm

finished length: 27¾ (28, 28¼, 28½, 28¾, 29, 29¼, 29½, 29¾, 30, 30¼, 30½)"/70.5 (71, 72, 72.5, 73, 73.5, 74.5, 75, 75.5, 76, 77, 77.5)cm

Zero to 2"/5cm positive bust ease. Sample shown with 1"/2.5cm ease.

needles: 24"/61cm and 16"/41cm circulars in US 6/3.75mm and US 7/4.5mm. Dpns in US 6/3.75mm and US 7/4.5mm. If necessary, change needle size to get gauge.

yarn: 10 (11, 11, 12, 12, 13, 14, 14, 15, 16, 16, 17) skeins Knit Picks Capra, DK, in Platinum, 85% Merino Wool, 15% Cashmere, 123 yds/112 m, 50g.

Approximately 1182 (1272, 1326, 1417, 1471, 1561, 1615, 1705, 1759, 1850, 1904, 1994) yds/1081 (1163, 1212, 1296, 1345, 1427, 1477, 1559, 1608, 1692, 1741, 1823)m total.

other: cable needle, tapestry needle, stitch markers, scrap yarn or stitch holders.

gauge: 20 sts and 28 rws in ST st over 4"/10cm.

Center panel for sizes 32-38, is 34 st over 5¼"/13.5cm, for sizes 40-46, 38 st over 6"/15cm, for sizes 48-54, 42 st over 6¾"/17 cm.

stitches and skills: 2x2 rib, cables, decreasing, k2tog, ssk, straight stitch, knitting in the round, picking up stitches, seaming. See page 4 for details on 3-needle bind off and short-rows.

* The buy now button will take you to PayPal. After entering your payment information, you'll receive an e-mail with a download link, or if you're a ravelry.com member, the pattern will be placed in your library.

Click image for larger schematics

Adagio, a Tunic Vest Pattern

Feel at ease in Adagio, a fitted tunic vest in a luxurious blend of Merino and Alpaca. The braided cables in the center panel are graceful and elongating. The drapey cowl keeps you warm while creating a lovely frame for your neck and face.

Adagio, in Knit Pick's City Tweed, is rustic when layered for a rainy afternoon at the beach. It is refined when worn on its own as a sleeveless shell. Versatile, simple, elegant, Adagio is relaxing to knit and to wear.

Adagio is worked in the round from hem to armhole, then separated at the yoke and worked in rows. The shoulders are joined with a 3-needle bind off. Cowl collar and armbands are picked up and knit in the round. There are no seams to sew in this tunic.

This pattern is available for $4.99 as a pdf download.*

You may also purchase a copy through Knit Picks.

Sizes: 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46

Finished bust size: 32.75 (35, 37.25, 38.75, 40.75, 43.25, 45.25, 47.5) in/83.5 (89, 94.5, 98.5, 104, 109.5, 115, 120.5) cm

Choose a size that will give you from 0 to 3"/7.5 cm positive ease. Sample shown is worn with about 1"/2.5 cm positive ease.

Techniques and stitches: 2 x 1 rib, 3-needle bind off, cables, decreasing, increasing, knitting in the round, stockinette stitch

Gauge: 22 st and 28 rws over 4"/10 cm in ST st. Center panel is 6.25"/15.5 cm for sizes 32 through 40, and 8"/20.5 cm for sizes 42 through 46.

Yarn: Knit Picks City Tweed DK, 7 (8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10) skeins in Plum Wine, 55% Merino wool, 25% superfine Alpaca, 20% Donegal tweed. I recommend buying 1 extra skein to accommodate gauge differences and swatching.

Substitute yarn of similar weight and composition in the following approximate amounts: 827 (884, 940, 978, 1028, 1091, 1142, 1199) yds /756 (808, 860, 894, 940, 998, 1044, 1096) m

Needles: US 5/3.75 mm and US 7/4.5 mm, 24" and 16" circulars, US 6/4 mm, 16" circulars. You will need a third needle in US 7/4.5 mm to work the 3-needle bind off. If needed, change needle size to get gauge.

Misc: cable needle, stitch markers, tapestry needle

* The buy now button will take you to PayPal. After entering your payment information, you'll receive an e-mail with a download link, or if you're a ravelry.com member, the pattern will be placed in your library.

Click image below for larger view of schematics.

More Runner's Mittens

After knitting Don's mittens, I cast on for my own pair. Wool mittens are so cozy to run in. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to use them for their intended purpose. It's been too warm to wear mittens while running. I did wear them while walking around Cannon Beach.

The pattern is improvised, just basic mittens with an offset thumb for a good fit.

The yarn is self-striping Regia sock yarn. My sister gave it to my mom who gave it to me. None of us are big sock knitters. It was in the family stash for several years before I went digging around to find mitten yarn.

In a skein, the variegation was nothing to look at. But when the self striping worked its magic, it was beautiful to behold. It was only later that I realized my mittens would coordinate well with my Garmin and Buff. It's highly satisfying when things effortlessly align.

Hand-knit running garb

Don's collection of hand knits for running is growing. He needed another hat because the Well-received hat grows like crazy in the rain. He wore it in a rainy six-mile race and was in danger of running blind because it got so long.

I improvised this slightly smaller, ribby version out of the last of the Elann Superwash Worsted (discontinued) left over from the Argyle Man sweater. The Well-received hat is still useful for dry weather or sitting in a cold house.


I like these mittens. They're a generic mitten I improvised after looking at a few patterns. I made right and left hands because I think it's more comfortable to have the thumb offset rather than sticking straight out from the side. The gusset starts about 55% from the start (or end) of the round.

They are light but plenty warm enough. Anything thicker would be too warm for running in our climate. I finished them just before Christmas when the weather here was unusually cold, 10 or more degrees below freezing. I confess that I took them on a 14-mile test run before wrapping them up for Don. My hands were really cold ,and I only had polyester or acrylic gloves. I did wash them afterwards!

I knit them with Austermann Step, a lovely sock yarn. I bought it years ago and nearly feinted when the clerk gave me the total for 2 skeins. It was over $40. Since then, I've become more accustomed to the price of yarn, but for a long time I couldn't think of a worthy project for such costly materials.

I think this was the right choice. Warm hands on a long winter run are deserving of a little luxury.