Free pattern!

So, finally, I wrote up directions for making binglebangles. Please spread the word...
It is the first ever pattern written by me, and even though binglebangles are fairly easy to make, writing up the pattern was acutally a lot of work. Anyway, here it goes:

Binglebangles
a swatchless, free pattern!

These pieces of jewelry are knitted with tapestry wool and felted afterwards. Directions are given for two types of jewelry: Basic binglebangles (w/o embellishments) and bubbly binglebangles (with 'bubbles'). The advantage of tapestry wool is that it comes in a large number of colours and hues, so you will be able to produce a set of jewelry that matches your clothing exactly. You can make sets of the same colour but in different hues. But you do not have to use tapestry wool. Any feltable yarn will do. It does not make sense to knit a swatch for this project since it is small, but in order to avoid surprises, do try to knit and felt one bracelet to find out whether it will give the required length after felting. After finding out about your unfelted-felted ratio it will be easy to figure out how long your unfelted piece must measure.

The felting can be done by just throwing the pieces in the next load of laundry in the washing machine. Note though, that some brands of tapestry wool can loose their colour when washed at high temperatures and even may bleed on the rest of your laundry.


Of course, binglebangles are the perfect project if you like to experiment with colour, embroidery, beads, yarn types etc.

Basic binglebangles


Bracelet
1 skein of tapestry wool (8 m, 8.7 yards), e.g. DMG
2 dp needles s. 2,5 or 2,75 mm, 2 (US)

measurements before felting: 34 cm (13.4 inches)
measurements after felting: 26 cm (10.2 inches)

1. CO 5 s. Knit I-cord: k one row. Do not turn the work, but slip stitches back to the beginning of the row (i.e. to the other point of your double pointed needle). Pull yarn tightly form the end of the row and k a new row. Continue this until piece measures 34 cm (13.4 inches).
Bind of.
2. with needle attach ends to each other so piece will form a ring. This does not have to be done very precisely, as the felting will obscure unevennesses.
3. Felt at 40*C, block around a bottle, glass or other fitting household item.

necklaces: short and longer

measurements before felting: 102 (136) cm/ 40.2 (53.5) inches
measurements after felting: 78 (104) cm/30.7 (40.9) inches

3 (4) skeins of tapestry wool (8 m, 8.7 yards pr skein), e.g. DMG
2 dp needles s. 2,5 or 2,75 mm, 2 (US)
1. CO 5 st. Knit I-cord until piece measures 102 cm/40.2 inch, (136 cm /53.5 inches
Bind of.
2. with needle attach ends to each other so the piece will form a ring. Do not worry about unevenness, since felting will conceal it.
3. Felt at 40*C, block around a ball or bucket, or lying flat


Bubbly Binglebangles


Follow directions for basic binglebangles but add bubbles. Inside the bubbles you place small balls of yarn, which you wind up before you start your bubbly binglebangle. For small bubbles use an amount of yarn of approximately 180 cm/70.9 inches. For big bubbles use and amount of yarn approx. 360 cm/141.8 inches. Wind up as tight as possible. You can use scrap yarn for this (I used acrylic). Place bubbles as you like, evenly (see green example) or at random (red example). Finally, you can make see-through bubbles that shows the yarnball inside.

small bubble: 1. row: k1, incr. 1 (10 st.).
Divide stitches onto 3 dp needles, as you will create a gap in your bubble if you keep it on one needle. Knit 5 rows. Insert yarnball in bubble.
7. row: k1, decr. 1 (5 st).
Place stitches onto one dp needle and continue i-cord.

large bubble: 1. row: *k1, incr. 1* (10 st.)
2. row: k
3. row: *k2, incr. 1* (15 st)
knit 5 rows
9. row: *k2, decr 1* (10 st)
10. row: k. Insert yarnball in bubble.
11. row: *k1, decr 1* (5 st)
Place stitches onto one dp needle and continue i-cord.

See-through bubble
1. row: *k1, incr 1* (10 st)
2. row: *k1tbl, p1*
repeat 2. row 4 times
7. row: *k1, allow purl stitches to drop until 1. row*, insert yarn ball in bubble.
Place stitches onto one dp needle and continue i-cord.

If you use this pattern please report errata to me at
rineke@language.sdu.dk

I will be particularly pleased if you send me a picture of your binglebangles, which I will publish here on my blog!



This pattern is free for your personal, individual use. You may print out a copy to work with. But you may not print out multiple copies, you may not reformat the pattern for commercial use, and you may not sell it or items made it, unless the profits go to charity. You may not reproduce the patterns on your website, but you can link to my blog where the pattern can be found.The copyright for this pattern belongs to Rineke Brouwer.