Celtic Earth Handbag

Celebrate Summer.  Celebrate the Earth with a natural handbag.  Upcycle and bring new life to fibers. Made of strong, recycled fibers, this favorite handbag features Celtic symbols paired with knotted eyelet lace. 

Designed for everyday use, it is large enough to hold today’s gadgets with a handy strap for hands-free mobility. It opens easily and quickly, and shuts with I-Cord to tie for extra security. It features a sturdy Garter Stitch bottom for stability.

Instructions are charted & written out, for knitter’s preference.

This handbag is a favorite for those who avoid the use of leather.

For pattern info, please visit:  www.DonnaEstinDesigns.com

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Provisional Cast On

Anytime anyone goes to the trouble to make a GREAT technique seem super easy, I jump on the chance to promote them.  And this week I want to let you all in on a secret.  Christine shows just how easy you can do a Provisional Cast On.  This is used with scrap yarn when you want to keep live stitches that will be rejoined later in the project.  Use this when you want to knit in both directions, from CO edge upwards and from CO down.  Work the back of a sweater then go back and add a border.  Or when you're working a hem, you can fold at the foldline and use the decrease stitch to hem and knit at the same time. Or for socks.  Or for so many things.  So, here it is!

Techniques - Provisional Cast On

For more amazing instructional videos by the best of the best, visit www.DonnaEstinDesigns.com

Nor'easter Pullover

Knitting an heirloom sweater takes time, but when knitted with natural fibers, can last decades.  It's something to truly be proud of and a classic like thisnever goes out of style.

This traditional Aran sweater is made with 100% natural wool and features a combination of cable patterns. Twisted stitches are incorporated in to a rib cable. A large diamond cable pattern centers the garments. Moss Stitch is used on the sides so armhole shaping doesn’t cut into cabling. Cabled collar adds to the neckline and bobbles accentuate the hem and cuffs.  Garment is worked flat from the bottom up and is charted.

Skill Level: Experienced

Finished Measurements:
Chest at underarm 40 (44, 48, 52)”/102 (112, 122, 132) cm
Length 26 (26.5, 27, 28)”/66 (67.5, 68.5, 71.5) cm

Materials:
Cascade Yarn CASCADE 220 (100 g, 220yds, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool): 8 (9, 10, 11) skeins # 8010 Natural
Size 6 (4mm) circular 16” (40cm) needles
Size 6 (4mm) needles
Size 7 (4.5mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Cable Needle
Stitch Markers
Tapestry Needle

Gauge: 24 sts & 33 rows - 4”/10cm over Moss St using larger needles.

To download PDF or for more pattern info, click here

www.DonnaEstinDesigns.com

Northern Girl's Fair Isle Tam

There's something addictive about 1) Fair Isle 2) Jamieson's Shetland spindrift yarn and 3) knitting a hat in the round.  I could make oodles of these, in all different color combinations.  These fun, lively colors and a mesmerizing pattern come together in this striking Fair Isle Tam. The hat is knitted in the round from the brim, ending with the crown and is worked corrugated ribbing around the brim, and stockinette stitch for the rest. The pattern is charted.

Size: To fit small to medium-sized adult head

Finished Measurements: Brim Circumference 21” (53cm)

Skill Level:  Experienced (knitter should be familiar with knitting in the round, corrugat

ed ribbing, central double decrease and the tips and tricks that make your Fair Isle turn out well.)

Materials and Equipment:
Jamieson’s SHETLAND SPRINDRIFT (25g, 105m, 100% Pure Shetland Wool):

See pattern for all of the awesome colors. 

Size 2 (2.75mm) circular 16” needles
Size 3 (3.25mm) circular 16” needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 3 (3.25mm) double pointed needles
Stitch Markers
Tapestry Needle

This pattern is available as a downloadable PDF for $2.50

For More Pattern Details Link to Pattern

To Start Knitting Now Click Here to BUY NOW

At your service!  As always, my email is included in the pattern, so if you have any questions while knitting, please email me.

For more patterns and information, visit www.donnaestindesigns.com

Happy Knitting!

Willoughby Cardigan

I'm in love with long cardigans.  They're comfy, trendy and fun to wear.  I'm wearing the Willoughby Cardigan with tights as a short dress.  (Could probably have added another button just above the black loop fur hem for a more conservative look when wearing as a dress, but it's really designed as a cardigan.)  Works great with tights too! 

Skill Level:  Intermediate

This long cardigan is fun to wear and with frilly cuffs and hem. It is worked from the bottom up and is charted with schematics. The bulky weight yarn knits quickly despite the long length. The marbled colors of Inca Tweed gives the sweater depths and produces a garment you can be proud of. It is soft, warm, cozy yet breathable with the lace columns and blended fibers. Finished measurements are for the blocked pieces. Selvedges stitches are included in pattern, but not included in finished measurements.


Materials Needed: 

Yarn A) Berroco, INCA TWEED (100 grams/153 yards, 50% Highland Wool, 30% Super Fine Alpaca, 14% Acrylic, 6% Rayon): 9 (10, 11, 12) hanks or 1300 (1530, 1667, 1817) yards, color # 8915 Andes.

Yarn B) Brown Sheep Co. LAMB’S PRIDE (113 grams/190 yards, 85% Wool, 15% Mohair): 1 (1,1, 1) skein, color #M06 Deep Charcoal. 

US Size 8 (5 mm) needles
US Size 9 (5.5 mm) needles 
or size needed to obtain gauge
Cable Needle
Tapestry Needle
5 Toggles or Buttons approx. 4cm in length  
Note—buy buttons after buttonholes are finished
Stitch Markers (optional)

Size:Women's S (M, L, XL) 
Finished Measurements: Chest at Underarm 36 (40, 44, 48)" / 92 (102, 112, 122) cm


Gauge:  16 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch

This pattern is available as a downloadable PDF for $4.99

For More Pattern Details Link to Pattern


To Start Knitting Now Click Here to BUY NOW

At your service!  As always, my email is included in the pattern, so if you have any questions while knitting, please email me.

For more patterns and information, visit www.donnaestindesigns.com

Happy Knitting!

New Designer with Patternfish

Donna Estin Designs has made our debut in Patternfish!  The April 2016 Newsletter for Patternfish features our introductory collection under the New Designers section. 

Patternfish APR 2016 Newsletter

Editor Gayle Clow has compiled another amazing selection of creative knit idea and as usual, the newsletter is packed with oodles of ideas and patterns.  For more information about the patterns for sale, visit Donna Estin Designs Introductory Collection on Patternfish.com

For a complete list of all patterns available, visit www.patternfish.com



Happy Knitting!

Arm Pain and Knitting

Knitting is a way of life for many of us.  It has meditative qualities, allows you to be productive while watching a movie in the evenings, is relaxing, is a great way to solve problems, and allows you to be creative and produce one-of-a-kind garments that are uniquely yours.  The more you knit, the more you want to knit.  Knitting 3+ hours a day, every day, of every week of every month for years and years can take it's toll. 

Having received diagnosis's for 2 Frozen Shoulders over the years, and having experienced constant pain irritated by knitting, I have made some observations and found remedies which may help other knitters.  It has been my experience, that knitting in certain people and conditions, can cause shoulder, bicep and elbow tendinitis.  When you continue to work through the pain, the inflammation builds, the pain intensifies, and adhesive capsulitis can set in. 

Before we begin, observe your body after you've been knitting for awhile.  Freeze your position and you'll notice your arms are tense.  Shoulders are elevated, upper arms are tense and elbows have been in a bent position while working for awhile. Your head is often held down and the center back of your neck is tender.  Crocheters tend to have issues with carpal tunnel because of all the wrist movement.  It's been my experience that knitters usually don't have a problem with their wrists as much as they do with their forearms, upper arms, and shoulders. 

1.  If you exercise regularly (by exercise I don't mean knitting) you are less likely to experience pain.  Even 100 jumping jacks every day helps strengthen the arm muscles and provide joint stability. 

2.  Stretching after exercise and while knitting is essential.  Take a break from knitting every 30 min. and stretch your arm (bicep, tricep, forearm, shoulder, - move everything around and hold the stretches).

3.  Switch to circular needles which allows the weight of the garment to rest on your lap instead of being held by your arms.

4.  Wear reading glasses while you knit which allows you to hold your fabric lower and avoid the temptation to work with the garment held mid-tummy or chest level, which adds weight to your arms.

5.  Check your posture.  Sit up straight and place a pillow behind your back to help with this.

6.  Place pillows under each elbow to support arms and take tension off your upper arms. 

7.  When you have pain, stop.  No really, stop knitting.  It's a death sentence for addicts, BUT, it's temporary.  Take a break for a few days, or however long it takes for the pain to subside.  Do something else.  Look through books and pick out your next pattern, buy yarn, learn a new technique from a reference book, add a new reference book to your library, make a list of things you want to knit, inventory your supplies, wind hanks of yarn into skeins, visit your LYS and immerse yourself in all things knitting, look online at knitting tutorials, take an online knitting course from Craftsy.com, organize your knitting supplies.  Just stop the motion of knitting for a short bit.

8.  To alleviate pain: 

1. stretch
2. rest
3. take ibuprofen as anti-inflammatory
4. take turmeric capsules (natural anti-inflammatory)
5. take magnesium supplements (600 mg. daily for a month, then taper down to 300 mg/day)
6. ice the area for 20 min. at a time, (a great tip is to use a heating pad for 15-20 min. then ice 15-10 min. and repeat.  Begin with heat, end with ice.)

9.  Knit with finer yarns and smaller needles.  You won't work as hard knitting with a size 1 needle and flexible fingering yarn as you will with size 10 needles and bulky, stiff yarn.  

10.  Knit with natural fibers.  Pure wool is elastic and easy to work with.  Alpaca slides through your fingers effortlessly and is light as air. 

11.  Avoid cotton.

12.  Work on lace patterns and try to stay away from large cables which require more muscle effort as you twist and pull stitches.


Knitting without pain is a given for some people.  But for those of us who do experience pain, and sometimes you're just genetically predisposed to tendonitis, there are ways to alleviate the pain the still knit.

By being aware of what's happening, changing your posture and habits, you can continue to knit for a lifetime.  Know that if you experience pain, and develop tendinitis, after you rest, stretch, ice, etc .and the pain goes away, it will just come back again after you get back into your knitting routine.  This is why improving your posture while knitting, and the way you knit is so important. 

I hope you find relief from some of these tips.  And please share other tried and true remedies and tricks of the trade that helped you.

A good resource for tendinitis is http://www.tendonitisexpert.com/tendonitis-of-the-arm.html