EPP Diamond Star Quilt - My Process

Welcome!

I have noticed in an English Paper Piecing facebook group I am in that newbies regularly ask how to piece the shapes together. I find that this is personal, though interesting to see how others do it.

So, here I am sharing how I am putting together my EPP star quilt.

As my quilt is scrappy I start by randomly picking 3 diamonds and sewing them together as shown:

When I have a nice pile of half stars I'll sew the halves together randomly:

When I have a nice stack of stars I sew them into larger 'slabs':

This picture shows 5 slabs on top of each other. This size allows me to keep my sections flat as they aren't too large, yet I am starting to put my top together.

To make the slab I start with a star and add hexagons around it:

Next I add 5 stars around this:

Next I fill in the hexagons:

You may have noticed that I prefer to use continuous thread where possible!

Nearly there!

Now I store these until I'm ready to put the top together.  Each of these will fit together easily without having to add additional pieces and this allows me to ensure that I distribute colours, fabrics etc throughout the quilt.

I think that I am going to need 15 of these to complete my quilt top ... that decision hasn't been made yet!!

I hope this visual is useful and that you were able to follow it.

Thank you for popping by
Vicki

Twisted Rib Beanie - A Finished Project & Tutorial

Welcome,

I have completed another beanie!  This one was a request from hubby, he wanted something with a spiral so I set out to work it out!

It must have been what he wanted, as he has been wearing it!

I thought I'd share a tutorial, mainly so that I will remember what I did if I want to make another one day!

Please be aware that I have never written a knitting pattern or tutorial before, I welcome any constructive feedback

Twisted Rib Beanie Tutorial

Supplies

• 60gm/200m 4ply Merino Wool
• 3mm 40cm circular needles

Gauge
I'm afraid I'm not good with this - I don't knit practice swatches, so I'll tell you what I do know:

• my 8 stitch repeat measures 2.5cm unstretched
• my finished beanie had a circumference of approximately 45cm unstretched
• calculate how many stockinette stitches are required to make the unstretched circumferance required - you will need a multiple of 8.

Abbreviations

k - knit

p - pearl

ssk - slip 2 stitches knitwise from left to right needles. slip left needle into the 2 slipped stitches and knit

pfb - pearl front and back into same stitch

sl1 - slip 1 stitch knitwise from left to right needles

p2tog - pearl 2 stitches together

psso - pass the slipped stitch over previous stitch

slm - slip marker

Getting Started

Cast on 160 stitches (or calculated number calculated divisible by 8) ensuring the stitches aren't twisted

Place marker before proceeding

Knitting The Brim

Row 1 *k2, p2* repeat to end, slm

Repeat Row 1 until ribbing reaches 3.5cm in length

Note - if you don't want a knitted brim and want to launch straight into the pattern, knit row 1 once to avoid curling and proceed to the next section

Knitting The Pattern

Row 1 - *k2, p6* repeat to end, slm

Row 2 - *k2, p5, pfb* repeat to end, slm

Row 3 -  *k1, ssk, p6* repeat to end, slm

Repeat Rows 2 & 3 until total length reaches 18cm, finishing on Row 3

Tips

• if you lose your place, count the number of pearl stitches between the knit ahead of where you are knitting, if there are 6 you are on row 2, if there are 7 you are on row 3
• if you like a longer or shorter beanie, adjust the number of row repeats to suit the length you require

Shaping the Crown

Row 1 - *k2, p2tog, p3, pfb, k2, p5, pfb* repeat to end, slm

Row 2 - *k1, 22k, p5, k1, ssk, p6* repeat to end, slm

Row 3 - *k2, p4, pfb, k2,p2tog, p3, pfb* repeat to end, slm

Row 4 - *k1, ssk, p5* repeat to end, slm

Row 5 - *k2, p2tog, p2, pfb, k2, p4, pfb* repeat to end, slm

Row 6 - *k1, ssk, p4, k1, ssk, p5* repeat to end, slm

Row 7 - *k2, p3, pfb, k2, p2tog, p2, pfb* repeat to end, slm

Row 8 - *k2, ssk, p4* repeat to end, slm

Row 9 - *k2, p2tog, p1, pfb, k2, p3, pfb* repeat to end, slm

Row 10 - *k1, ssk, p3, k1, ssk, p4* repeat to end, slm

Row 11 - *k2,p2, pfb, k2, p2tog, p1, pfb* repeat to end, slm

Row 12 - *k1, ssk, p3* repeat to end, slm

Row 13 - *k2, p2tog, pfb, k2, p2, pfb* repeat to end, slm

Row 14 - *k1, ssk, p2, k1, ssk, p3* repeat to end, slm

Row 15 - *k2, p1, pfb, k2, p2tog, pfb* repeat to end, slm

Row 16 - *k1, ssk, p2* repeat to end, slm

Row 17 - *k1, sl, k2tog, psso* repeat to end, slm

Row 18 - knit slm

Row 19 - *k2tog* repeat until 10 stitches remain

Note - change to double pointed needle or magic loop knitting when needed

Finishing

Thread remaining wool onto a wool needle, thread through 10 remaining stitches to close hole. 

Weave in all ends

Please share if you have a go at knitting this, I'd love to see your finished projects.

Thank you for popping by

Vicki