Fiddle Knits Designs | Beautifully detailed patterns for the hand knitter and crocheter
Created by Erica Jackofsky
Type: Knitting
Pattern Details
Pattern Details
• Yarn:
4(5, 5, 6, 6, 7) skeins Knit Picks Simply Cotton Sport [100% organic cotton; 50 grams; 164 yards] Color: “Magenta”
• Needles:
2x #US 2(2.75mm) 24-32” circular needle.
• Gauge:
24 sts & 32 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch
22 rows = 3” in lace pattern
• Extras:
6(6, 6, 6, 7, 7) buttons approx. 14mm diameter
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle
• Finished Bust Sizes
30(34, 38, 42, 46, 50)”
• To Fit Bust Sizes
28-30(32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50)”
4(5, 5, 6, 6, 7) skeins Knit Picks Simply Cotton Sport [100% organic cotton; 50 grams; 164 yards] Color: “Magenta”
• Needles:
2x #US 2(2.75mm) 24-32” circular needle.
• Gauge:
24 sts & 32 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch
22 rows = 3” in lace pattern
• Extras:
6(6, 6, 6, 7, 7) buttons approx. 14mm diameter
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle
• Finished Bust Sizes
30(34, 38, 42, 46, 50)”
• To Fit Bust Sizes
28-30(32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50)”
Pretty Polly
Pattern Notes
Before casting on it is advisable to read through the directions and make sure you have a clear understanding of the structure. Take time now, save time later.
Once you complete the lace edge you begin placing button holes at 1” intervals. At the same time, when the piece measures approximately 3” from cast on edge you will begin working decrease rows.
Getting gauge. Make sure to check both your stitch and row gauge for this pattern. Much of the math in the shaping is based upon achieving specific 8 rows/rnds per inch. If you find you are off of this count you may find it necessary to rework the shaping math to account for your gauge.
Why 2 needles? I use a second circular needles to hold my stitches when separating the front & back (noted in pattern). If only one needle is available in necessary size you may use scrap yarn instead.
The ballad of Pretty Polly is an old English folk song that made it’s way across the ocean to the Appalachian mountains. It tells the story of a beautiful young girl, Polly, who was being courted by Willy. When Polly became pregnant Willy first promised he would marry her, however, he soon changed his mind. One day Willy showed up at Polly’s door and asked her to go riding with him. They made their way through hills and valleys and finally came to a freshly dug hole in the ground. Polly recognized this for what it was, a shallow grave. Willy stabbed poor Polly in the heart and buried her. Once back in town he sought work as a carpenter on a ship and left immediately. On the ship mysterious events began to happen. The sailors reported to the captain that the ghost of a young woman holding a baby was haunting the ship and whispering Willy’s name. The captain summoned Willy to his cabin to question him, but Willy denied ever knowing such a woman. Before he could leave the captain’s cabin the ghost of Polly appeared frightening Willy into confessing his crime. He was locked up in the brig and the ship turned around to return to England for Willy to be placed on trial and face the murder he had committed. However, before they were able to reach land Willy mysteriously died.
Behind the Scenes:
Pretty Polly Design Process
First came the yarn as is fairly typical for me. (knit picks simply cotton sport in "magenta".) next came the idea. I was happy the idea followed yarn acquisition relatively quickly, like within the day. I selected the perfect lace stitch for the bottom edging, drew myself a [very bad] sketch, and wrote some [highly undetailed] notes in my design book. I [thought I] had all the math worked out and cast on. I made it through approximately 18 rows of the pattern before I had to put the project aside due to impending deadlines for other samples and submissions. The Pretty Polly top sat languishing on my desk taunting me with the brightness of it's yarn. Eventually I completed the other designs and was able to begin courting Pretty Polly again. I checked my sketch. What was I thinking? I read my notes. Huh? I started recalculating numbers. It seemed the original numbers were off. I'd noted the design as having an a-line shape, but I forgot to take that into account for the cast on. Oops. The 18 finished rows got ripped out. I started over... With 30 stitches more than I originally had. Oh bother.
This time around I decided to graph the lace before I began since following a chart is my preference over written instructions. I was very glad I decided to do this because in "seeing" the lace I realized there were some changes to be made, rows to discard and some to add. After the lace was worked I realized there was something else I needed to change from my original sketch. Thankfully this change didn't involve ripping out everything I'd already knit. (I might not have had the courage to begin again if it did.) It was here that I decided to apply buttons to the lower portion of the shirt.
I am pleased to say that from this point forward the design gave me little trouble. I had some miscounts of buttons, but that was easily sorted out. The boatneck (which is a style I'd never played with before) was super easy, especially since I didn't want any more detail than a simple rolled edge. No extra fussing or finishing, just casual and pretty.
I have been asked why I didn't use a 3-needle bind off for the shoulder seams. No reason. My personal preference was to sew the very short shoulder seams, however, if you would rather leave the end bits live and work a 3-needle bind off then I say go for it! As I have said numerous times before, I tend to approach my knitting with much the same frame of mind as I do music, and that is that a tune or pattern is simply a guideline. Never feel obligated to follow either exactly. If you would like to follow every detail that's fine too, but a design is not set in stone, so go ahead and make it yours!
Before casting on it is advisable to read through the directions and make sure you have a clear understanding of the structure. Take time now, save time later.
Once you complete the lace edge you begin placing button holes at 1” intervals. At the same time, when the piece measures approximately 3” from cast on edge you will begin working decrease rows.
Getting gauge. Make sure to check both your stitch and row gauge for this pattern. Much of the math in the shaping is based upon achieving specific 8 rows/rnds per inch. If you find you are off of this count you may find it necessary to rework the shaping math to account for your gauge.
Why 2 needles? I use a second circular needles to hold my stitches when separating the front & back (noted in pattern). If only one needle is available in necessary size you may use scrap yarn instead.
The Story of Pretty Polly
“Oh Polly, Pretty Polly, come along with me. Polly, Pretty Polly, won’t you come along with me. Before we get married some pleasures we will see.”The ballad of Pretty Polly is an old English folk song that made it’s way across the ocean to the Appalachian mountains. It tells the story of a beautiful young girl, Polly, who was being courted by Willy. When Polly became pregnant Willy first promised he would marry her, however, he soon changed his mind. One day Willy showed up at Polly’s door and asked her to go riding with him. They made their way through hills and valleys and finally came to a freshly dug hole in the ground. Polly recognized this for what it was, a shallow grave. Willy stabbed poor Polly in the heart and buried her. Once back in town he sought work as a carpenter on a ship and left immediately. On the ship mysterious events began to happen. The sailors reported to the captain that the ghost of a young woman holding a baby was haunting the ship and whispering Willy’s name. The captain summoned Willy to his cabin to question him, but Willy denied ever knowing such a woman. Before he could leave the captain’s cabin the ghost of Polly appeared frightening Willy into confessing his crime. He was locked up in the brig and the ship turned around to return to England for Willy to be placed on trial and face the murder he had committed. However, before they were able to reach land Willy mysteriously died.
Behind the Scenes:
Pretty Polly Design Process
First came the yarn as is fairly typical for me. (knit picks simply cotton sport in "magenta".) next came the idea. I was happy the idea followed yarn acquisition relatively quickly, like within the day. I selected the perfect lace stitch for the bottom edging, drew myself a [very bad] sketch, and wrote some [highly undetailed] notes in my design book. I [thought I] had all the math worked out and cast on. I made it through approximately 18 rows of the pattern before I had to put the project aside due to impending deadlines for other samples and submissions. The Pretty Polly top sat languishing on my desk taunting me with the brightness of it's yarn. Eventually I completed the other designs and was able to begin courting Pretty Polly again. I checked my sketch. What was I thinking? I read my notes. Huh? I started recalculating numbers. It seemed the original numbers were off. I'd noted the design as having an a-line shape, but I forgot to take that into account for the cast on. Oops. The 18 finished rows got ripped out. I started over... With 30 stitches more than I originally had. Oh bother.
This time around I decided to graph the lace before I began since following a chart is my preference over written instructions. I was very glad I decided to do this because in "seeing" the lace I realized there were some changes to be made, rows to discard and some to add. After the lace was worked I realized there was something else I needed to change from my original sketch. Thankfully this change didn't involve ripping out everything I'd already knit. (I might not have had the courage to begin again if it did.) It was here that I decided to apply buttons to the lower portion of the shirt.
I am pleased to say that from this point forward the design gave me little trouble. I had some miscounts of buttons, but that was easily sorted out. The boatneck (which is a style I'd never played with before) was super easy, especially since I didn't want any more detail than a simple rolled edge. No extra fussing or finishing, just casual and pretty.
I have been asked why I didn't use a 3-needle bind off for the shoulder seams. No reason. My personal preference was to sew the very short shoulder seams, however, if you would rather leave the end bits live and work a 3-needle bind off then I say go for it! As I have said numerous times before, I tend to approach my knitting with much the same frame of mind as I do music, and that is that a tune or pattern is simply a guideline. Never feel obligated to follow either exactly. If you would like to follow every detail that's fine too, but a design is not set in stone, so go ahead and make it yours!
Modeled by Annalee Jackofsky
Photos by Erica Jackofsky