Le Tissier Designs

Of Larks and Linnets and Flying Fingers

Tag: tassels

  • Knitting a Colorful Blanket: March Square Tips

    Knitting a Colorful Blanket: March Square Tips

    Year of Blanket Squares

    The old saying for March is:

    In like a Lion and out like a Lamb.

    I have often wondered if the opposite is true. I should pay more attention. Right now March is coming in like a Lamb. It is beautiful out there today in my neck of the woods. So clear, and a little warmer, it is really feeling like Spring.

    The March square consists of bold cables that are offset each other to create a very textured surface. The garter stitch background helps highlight the texture. The cables are wide and round and all twist the same way. One cable is traditional the other cable has a lace faggoting center. It looks complicated but is very easy to knit.

    March Square 2026Download

    The March Fancy is a tassel. Not an ordinary tassel but a dressed tassel. Tassels as embellishments have been around for a long time. They can be very simple, or not so simple. Why create a tassel that is covered like this? It keeps the tassels neater for the long hall. Wouldn’t it look great on our Blanket, or maybe a a cushion.

    All Dressed TasselDownload

    I hope that you enjoy the March square and Fancy Tassel.

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • Life in General

    Life in General

    I had to swatch one more time for the Kate Davies MKAL. And I think it is a winner. Subject to change without notice off course!

    This year I am trying to widen my horizon beyond knitting books and knitting everything in general. It is going to be a year of recovery after my last year of coping with everything life was throwing at me. So I will be knitting someone else’s pattern and reading a new to me author, Margery Allingham! All good things. While checking out a couple of local second hand book stores – no lucking finding any of Margery Allingham books – but I did find a beautiful book on the history of and the making of tassels! So much fun!

    Knit a Dress with Me is on hiatus as I catch up with the pattern writing that I need to do! Classes, yarn and pattern samples need to be created and/or written. I am also submitting pattern ideas to a couple of yarn companies/magazines etc., as I get on with the business of paying for my yarn habit!

    • Tasseled Brioche for class – knit with Brooklyn Tweed Shelter
    • Allingham Fingerless Mitts – knit with Knitting for Olive Soft Mohair and Merino
    • Smitten – two versions – grey knit with Juniper Moon Santa Cruz and pink knit with Malabrigo Worsted
    • Rainbow Chullo – knit with Brooklyn Tweed Tones
    • Boho Mitts – knit with Estelle Eco Shetland Worsted

    All patterns are under construction and will be coming out soon!

    Yesterday we got out into the garden. Tom has been tidying up and pulling weeds for the last week or two, so I got out there are we got some planting done. Potatoes, Peas and lettuce went in. When it warms up we will add a couple of tomatoes!

    I also planted a new peony and have a couple of new lavender plants and a french tarragon still to put in the ground. Hopefully this weekend.

    Happy Knitting, Gardening, and Reading!

    Lynette

  • Knitting a Dress and Other Projects

    Knitting a Dress and Other Projects

    I am now at the point where the skirt is growing, at what seems like an agonizingly slow rate. I must focus on the fact that the skirt is growing and the pattern is repeating and that is what is supposed to happen.

    I switched to a 3.75mm needle about 12 rounds ago to start the slow shaping of the skirt. I will most likely drop the needle size to 3.5mm in about 40 more rounds. So between the changing the size of the needles and shaping the panels I am hoping for a lovely, gradual shaping the skirt to the waist. At that point the needle size will be 3.25mm for the bodice of the dress.

    Dry blocked the skirt is 10 inches deep from the top of the 4th pattern repeat to the curve of the hem. The points are not included as length. I think that three more repeats will get me to the start of shaping panels (approx 15 inches) which will reduce the stitch count of the skirt. The reducing section will take about 45 rounds.

    I work at Mad About Ewe and I get to play with the yarn. We are now carrying Brooklyn Tweed Shelter and Tones Light. I have been playing.

    Wait there’s more! More hats, cables and hearts; double knit fingerless mittens and just so much more to do and create!

    Below is “Smitten” A cabled hat with the “hugs and kisses” cable and the tree of life pattern. Classic in Grey and no bobbles, knit Juniper Moon Santa Cruz in the Palladium colourway! And Wild in with everything – cables, bobbles and hearts, knit with Malabrigo Worsted in the natural and Very Berry colourways.

    Straight forward and cozy these double knit wristers are super cozy and super easy! These Cozy Wristers can be knit in any dk or sport weight wool that you might have to hand.

    Because they are double knit they are also totally reversible.

    I hope that your knitting adventures have been moving along with lots of colour and texture to keep your mind occupied and your hands busy!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • New and Noteworthy

    New and Noteworthy

    I have been busy!

    I am currently working on a few patterns for Gathering Yarns –

    • Cats in the Cradle – baby blanket or shawl with coordinating beanies.
    • Funky Brimmed Hat with Bad-dana Cowl – Hat modelled by Glorious Gertrude
    • Caahh…shmere with beads swatch – lusious lace tank in the future.
    • Cashmere beaded Fingerless Mitts – The Bee’s Knees!
    • Cable Cool Balaklava and Mitts
    • Cable Cool vest.

    For fun times in the future – beautiful handmade glass buttons.

    Ada made the beautiful buttons – Ada Babys Beads on Facebook – and I made her this hat with her favourite hearts! I finished the hat with one of her buttons.

    Well, I got the first box from the Beyond Merino Club (hosted by The Small Bird Workshop and Sweet Paprika. It contained 2 hanks of gorgeous, soft Corriedale sheeps wool from the Falkland Islands, one a natural grey and the other a beautiful deep Lagoon blue. Sweet Paprika did the dyeing. I made a half hap shawl. I finished it with I-cord edging and a couple of big, fat tassels. It will be part of the Happiness Hap pattern – coming soon!

    We are planning the next session of classes for Mad About Ewe Fine Yarns. I am planning to teach Mosaic Knitting. The first sample is done – a funky little Cloche – finished with a little tassel. I do love tassels. It is knit with Fleece Artist BFL DK and some Drops Kid-Silk.

    For myself – I am working on a sweater. I just started it last night. And like most sweaters for myself it will most likely get stalled along the way! You never know! I might surprise myself! LOL!

    It is pretty. Some soft mohair from Fleece Artist and a just a few little beads for show!

    Be well and knit Happy!

    I am trying to stay mellow and keep with the flow that comes with knitting. I hope that works for you too!

    Lynette