Category Archives: designing

Open Test Knit for Ulia

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Interested in being a Test Knitter for the Ulia sweater? This post is to give you information so you can decide if it’s the right Test Knit project for you. First I will describe the sweater, then I will describe the test knitting process.

Ulia is a textured, structured, crew neck sweater with a classic fit.

Construction: Ulia is knitted from the bottom up, in the round, until you get to the armholes. At that point the front and back of the sweater are knitted flat. The sleeves are knitted in the round until the underarms and then knit flat as you shape the shoulder caps. Both the body and the sleeves start with a tubular cast-on to create a tidy, long-wearing ribbing. The raglan sleeves are sewn to the sweater body. Stitches are picked up around the neck to create the ribbing for the neckline. Lastly, a tubular bind off is worked to keep continuity of all edges.

The pattern is charted and there are written instructions of the charted sections for those who prefer it. This pattern is for experienced knitters. It’s expected that the knitter maintains gauge while knitting both in the round and flat. The bobbles are what I call “quickie bobbles” because you do not turn your work to create them.

Sizing: Choose your size according to the largest measurement around your chest, plus 4-6 in/ 10-15 cm of positive ease. Example: if your chest measures 34 in/ 86 cm and you want 5 in/ 12.5 cm of positive ease, you would knit the size 2 that has a 39 in/ 98 cm circumference at the chest. The chest and waist measurements are the same so pick a size that also fits your waist.

Materials: Harrisville Designs Highland Yarn
Color: Russet
100% wool, Worsted weight
Approx. 200 yds/ 183 m to 100 gram skein
Amount needed: 6 [6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9] skeins
Substitution can be made with other worsted weight 100% wool yarn.
Amount needed: 1150 [1130, 1232, 1320, 1406, 1493, 1601, 1695] yds/ 961 [1034, 1126, 1206,
1286, 1366, 1464, 1550] m.

Supplies
Needles for gauge swatch and sweater referred to as larger needles
US Size 6/ 4mm 32 in/ 80cm circular needles
US Size 6/ 4mm 16 in/ 40cm circular needles
US Size 6/ 4mm dpns or preferred needles for small circumference knitting
Needles for Ribbing
US Size 5/ 3.75mm 16 in/ 40cm circular needles
US Size 5/ 3.75mm dpns or preferred needles for small circumference knitting
Optional for Tubular CO
US Size 4/ 3.5mm dpns or preferred needles for small circumference knitting
US Size 4/ 3.5mm 32 in/ 80cm circular needles
Cable needle, tape measure, scissors, stitch markers, yarn needle, a few yards/meters of cotton
or other smooth scrap yarn.

The Test Knit Process

Start Date: Now. The pattern will be emailed to you as soon as you are chosen to be a test knitter. End Date: Nov 5, 2026. The pattern will be published on Ravelry mid-November 2026.

This pattern has been professionally edited and is ready to knit. I do not pay for test knitters, nor do I supply any $ for yarn allowance. I use email for communication regarding the test knit.

Expectations Compete project by Nov 5, 2026 Make project page on Ravelry (exceptions may be made for those who don’t do Ravelry) Keep track of your yardage and final measurement of garment. Supply me with (or post on Ravelry) at least 3 photos, taken in natural light, of the sweater. A WIP photo is good, plus the sweater laying flat, and if you are ok with it, a photo of the sweater being worn by a person. If you don’t want to be in a photo, a picture of the sweater on a hanger will work. I will have a short questionnaire at the end of the test knit period asking about the clarity of the pattern and you general impressions.

Model is wearing size 3 with a 4 in/ 10 cm ease.

Applying: just email me at traciscott1210@gmail.com and let me know what size you want to test knit. Please read the expectations and only apply if you can meet those.

After all that time with a calculator and then going back and forth with the editor, I’m happy to be at this point. Let the knitting begin!

Blyn and the Center Double Decrease

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A few years ago I put out a free pattern on this blog called Blyn. Today I updated the pattern to make the chart easier to read. Take a look at these two blank charts. The first one, on the left, is like the old Blyn pattern and the second one on the right is like the new Blyn pattern.

The chart on the left assumes the knitter knows to read from the previous line when working the center double decrease. The one on the right is easier to understand regarding when to start the center double decreases.

Although I considered the first style of chart to be normal, it was confusing to people. I probably wont go back and change other patterns but I made an exception for Blyn. Moving forward, all my new hat patterns will be laid out with the double-center-decrease in the middle of the chart.

Here’s the free updated knitting pattern for Blyn. Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

Happy Knitting!

Blyn2026Download

Side note: not everyone uses the term “Center Double Decrease”. I see it sometimes as “double-center-decrease” or “centered double decrease”. Either way, it’s taking 3 stitches and turning them into 1 stitch with it aligning in the center of the original 3 stitches.

Five Floral Mittens

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Greetings! I wanted to write a bit here about how I ended up making an ebook called Five Floral Mittens. I have spent the last few years knitting and writing patterns that I put out for free on this blog. It was lots of fun and some of the patterns got attention and were knitted by folks that found me here or on Ravelry. Some of the patterns did not do so well but I left them up anyways since I found out that you can not delete a pattern of Ravelry. It can become “unavailable” but the photos and information remain.

Over time I felt uncomfortable about some not-so-good patterns and wanted to fix them. I reknitted and rewrote a few patterns and they did look better. In the mean time I was starting to work with an editor for my new pattens and anything I had edited I would charge money for. No more free pattern. The more I learned while working with the editor the more I cringed at my old patterns.

I went back to work on Carmelita Mittens. I actually changed the yarn/gauge and fixed some awkward elements in the design (long floats, ugly thumb, etc.). I set them aside and started working on one another pattern called Wild Flower Mittens. Again, the thumb was difficult with long floats, so I change that and reknitted them. I kept the basic design the same. At first glace, they look like the same mitten, but they knit up easier than the original pattern.

After re-working the Wild Flower Mittens pattern I started looked for the next in line of poorly written patterns. I thought Floriculture Mittens needed some help. But WAIT! This is when the idea came to me. There was theme to these pattern that I was rewriting. Floral designs. 2 colored stranded knitting. Same front and back, so all mittens are not designated left or right. All fancy thumbs!

I looked through my patterns and decided that Flowerfest Mittens needed to be in the group. My plan was to compile all these patterns and send them off to the tech editor. I arranged them as an ebook with a plan to sell them on Ravelry. Since it was a little odd to take free patterns and turn them into for-sale patterns I thought I’d take them time to create something new. The new pattern is really what you are buying and the others are kind of thrown in for the editing. I was planning on charging the price for one pattern and the other four were kind of a bonus.

Floria Mittens were designed with the same elements as the others: floral motif, fancy thumbs, same pattern front and back, 2 colors.

The ebook has been edited and Five Floral Mittens is now available on Ravelry. I have taking down the links for Carmelita Mittens, Flowerfest Mittens, Wild Flower Mittens, and Floriculture Mittens. You can find them, plus Floria Mittens, in the ebook. I’m listing it for $8.50.

For more info and to purchase: Five Floral Mittens.

Twoolen

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Today I posted my first sweater pattern for sale on Ravelry. I started designing this is April 2025. It took about 3 and a half weeks to knit, then I wrote the pattern. It went to my editor, then back to me—then back to the editor and so forth. Finally it was ready for the test knitters. I found the test knitters on the Stranded Knitting group on facebook. The timeline for them was 14 weeks or so. That process was very helpful to me. So here we are in October 2025 and it’s ready!

Twoolen uses two strands of wool yarn at a time to create a sweater with Fair Isle style. Knit in the round, this drop shoulder sweater uses steeks to form the armholes and shape the neck. Worked bottom-up, the sweater starts with a generous colorwork ribbing that matches the cuffs of the sleeves. Follow the colorwork charts and a beautiful pattern with 6 colors will be revealed. Finish off with a smaller colorwork ribbing for the neck.

Each size has it’s own chart for the sleeves so it’s easy to keep track of your decreases while working the colorwork pattern.

Sizing
Choose size according to the largest measurement around your chest. There should be 6-10 in/ 15-25 cm of positive ease.
Chest circumference of finished sweater:
Size 1 34.75 in/ 88.5 cm
Size 2 39.75 in/ 101 cm
Size 3 44.75 in/ 113.5 cm
Size 4 49.75 in/ 126.5 cm
Size 5 54.5 in/ 138.5
Size 6 59.5 in/ 151 cm
Size 7 64.5 in/ 164 cm
Size 8 69.5 in/ 176.5 cm

Materials
Knit Picks Palette 231 yds/50 grams, fingering weight 100% wool
Light 1/cream Cream (MC) 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) balls
Dark 1/rust Autumn Heather 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) balls
Light 2/tan Coriander Heather 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) balls
Dark 2/dark blue Abyss Heather 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) balls
Light 3/light gray Finnley Heather 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) balls
Dark 3/brown Grizzly Heather 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2) balls

Substitutions: Always use 100% wool in fingering weight. Superwash yarn is not advised due to the steeking sections. For alternative colors, choose 3 light colors and 3 dark colors to achieve the desired contrast.

For more information and photos from the test knitters, see my Ravelry page. To purchase this sweater pattern click on the link in the right hand column of this website.

Big News

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I’ve dropped a few hints that I’ve been designing a sweater and working with an editor. My plan was to publish the sweater pattern this fall and I’m on track. I’ve had 5 test knitters working on the sweater over the summer and I will put that pattern out on Oct. 11th. It will be for purchase on Ravelry.

But that is not all I’ve been working on. Since I’m making the jump to having an edited pattern in which I charge money for I figured I’ll go all in and publish several patterns in that fashion. The sweater feels like such a big deal I thought I should start with something I’m familiar with– accessories!

I designed and wrote the pattern for the Darrington Set while in Darrington, Washington this summer. I had brought a bag a yarn and was going through the colors when I became inspired by this palette.

Although there are 8 colors involved in these colorwork accessories, you can make all 3 items with only 1 ball of each color. The pattern for the Darrington Set will be for purchase on Ravelry in a few days.

The sweater that will come out in a few weeks is called Twoolen. It’s an all over colorwork sweater that comes in 8 sizes. I’ll leave you with this little sneak-peak 🙂

17 years of blogging

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It was August 2008 when I got the idea to start a blog. I opened up the page to create a blogspot account and it asked what I wanted to name my blog. I gave it ZERO thought and the words Fleece Love and Happiness popped into my head. Knitters on-line tended to use puns—okay, I like puns. I didn’t plan to stick with it, I was just seeing if I could figure out how to get a free blog at the time. (Ah, remember when blogs were free.)

In the old days I wrote about spinning, carding, and dyeing wool. There was a time that I blogged about weaving. I always knitted and blogged about that too. All those old post are still out there on the internet. I ended up losing that account, changing my last name, changing my email address, but I kept my knitter “handle”. I moved over to wordpress—and here I am. Still Fleece Love and Happiness after all these years.

To celebrate the anniversary of my blog, I decided to put out a free pattern. A gift to you! Sleeping Bear Hat was designed and knitted this summer while we were traveling. I made it with 3 different color schemes and decided to put them all in the written pattern. I’m assuming people will use their own scraps of fingering weight yarn if they want to make this hat. The colors I chose are just a jumping off point. There’s so many color combinations that would look good with this pattern.

Sleeping Bear Hats are fun to knit to the very end!

Here’s the FREE KNITTING PATTERN for Sleeping Bear Hat. Happy Knitting!

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

Sleeping BearDownload

A Little Warmer

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Back in 2023 I wrote a knitting pattern called A Little Warmer Mitts and posted it to Ravelry. It holds the record for my least popular knitting pattern that I have published with a total of ZERO people knitting it. I thought I’d take it down so my “portfolio” of knitting patterns looked good. It turns out once you post on Ravelry it’s there forever. That was news to me!

My next idea was to knit a new pair with more interesting colors and post new photos. I chose these natural colors: dark dray, medium tan, tan, and cream.

This was also a chance for me to update the pattern. I’ve been writing patterns for a few years now and I’m getting more skilled at it as I go. I’m going to slowly go back through my old patters and update them. I’ve already updated Golden Hour Mittens and it feels better having something out there that I’m proud of. Here’s the new and improved free knitting pattern for A Little Warmer Mitts. Happy Knitting!

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

A Little Warmer Mitts, updatedDownload

Lit Mitts

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When I write a pattern I search the name I’ve chosen to see if anyone else has used it. I’d been calling these little mitts “Lit Mitts” since I started working on them. When I did a name check I came up with my own pattern Star Lit Mitts! Oh, right, I forgot about that! I decided to stick with “Lit Mitts” anyway.

I thought it would be fun to incorporate Latvian Braids—plus it’s a good use of colorful scrap yarns. I chose Hollyberry and Fuchsia for the accent braids but any bright colors for this trim would work.

Most of the mitten and mitts that I’ve designed lately have the same pattern on the palms and backs of hand. I like the idea that there is no left or right. Here’ the FREE pattern for Lit Mitts for you to enjoy.

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

Lit MittsDownload

Flower Field Legwarmers

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Flower Field Legwarmers were fun to design and knit but it took forever to get the pattern in order. The problem was the photographs. I’ve given up and have decided to present it all as I have it now— even with my not-so-great photos. I do not like modeling. I don’t mind putting on some mittens and taking a few photos but modleing legs is another thing all together.

I took photos with 3 different kinds of shoes/boots to show how one could wear these. Wearing them with my rubber boots if my favorite for sure.

Here I am with my slippers and sleeping shirt! Woah… lots of leg showing.

Enough about modeling! Let me tell you something about the actual leg warmers. I designed them with a 7-stitch stripe up the back, kind of the way socks are designed. There’s lots of color changes in this pattern and I’m hoping people will use those 7 stitches to weave in the color changes as they go. Sometime people post photos on social media of their stranded color work with dozens of tails that need to be woven in. At that point it’s too late for anyone to suggest to weave in as you go. But let me say now, before you begin this project—weave in your color changes as you go! I designed this pattern specifically so you can do that on the back of the legwarmer.

Here’s the free pattern for Flower Field Legwarmers. Enjoy!

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

Flower Field LegwarmersDownload

Favorite Mittens

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I spend a lot of time thinking about color. I shuffle my yarns around to see what looks good together. Then I get on my computer and work it out in a grid pattern. I use Stitchmastery software which gets the job done but I can’t say I love it. It’s doesn’t save my colors which is unfortunate. I mostly use Knit Picks Palette line and my old on-line program had those colors all imported. Sadly I can not use an on-line product like Stitchfiddle due to the time I spend in places without internet. So Stichmastery it is.

Here’s a photo that includes my first attempt at this mitten. I got pretty far before deciding to chuck it. Regarding the half-finished mitten on the left: I love these colors together, but I didn’t like the lack of contrast with the blue and dark brown. With the second attempt I made the flower section very high contrast with light and dark gray (basically black and white).

I think Favorite Mittens would look good with lots of different color combinations. You could use the colors I’ve worked out or pick some of your own. Below is the free pattern.

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

Favorite MittensDownload