Have you seen the newest Creative Knitting?

If you have you've seen two of my new patterns! Firstly on the front cover is a little vest called Azteca, simple to knit and striking to wear I was inspired by an updated modern and slimfitting poncho. I know right? updated slimfitting modern and poncho in the same sentence, and yet here we are. Azteca is worked by creating the band of ribbing which is worked sideways, then picking up stitches around the band and working them to the shoulders. Stitches are increased on the back to create a v that matches the opening in the front and but both fronts are worked evenly without increases or decreases and the armholes are simply slits.

This pattern is part of the ribbing and surface texture section of the magazine and I thought of the vertical ribbing as working a pinstripe like on a suit when I was knitting it. Azteca is worked in Cascade 220 worsted weight wool and there are endless available yarns for substitution.

Pay special attention when picking up the stitches from the band; the pattern indicates to measure a specific distance and then pick up stitches within that distance, this is so that the side seams and back increases are located at exactly the sides and back of the garment. Otherwise your garment may be skewed and twist funny around the body.

Customize this with a dramatic button choice or work in a variegated yarn.

My second pattern in the March 2012 issue is Aria, a lovely cardigan with a touch of lace and subtle shaping. I love Aria, I love cardigans that fit in the right places to emphasize the right places and flow in other areas to disguise them. Aria is worked in Cascade Yarns Woodland, an interesting mix of wool and nettles that was a bit stiffer to work with than I anticipated but softened up after blocking and draped beautifully.

Aria is part of the Lace section in the magazine and has a small amount of easily memorizeable lace at the bottom of the sleeves and up the front bands of the sweater. I say easily memorizeable as it is only a 4 row repeat and has logical yarnovers which are easy to follow. The front edges of the sweater are pleated at the armhole depth to create a draped front, and the sleeves are 3/4 length for a younger modern look.

This cardigan has a lot of side shaping and is worked all in once piece to the armholes, the sleeves are worked to the armhole depth and the sweater is finished with raglan shaping to the open neckline. After the raglan decreases are finished the neckline stitches are bound off but the neckband stitches are left live and worked independently to fit around to the back of the neck, seamed with a 3 needle bind off and sewn down.

Pay special attention to the raglan decreases, as this sweater is worked bottom up the eyelets along the raglan shaping are not as simple as a yarnover increase. Instead they are a yarnover and double decrease, and some sizes have a triple decrease for a few early rows.

Customize this sweater with a shawl pin to close the front or work in a wool bamboo for ultimate drape.