Brenda Castiel has been knitting on and off since she was in her teens but became somewhat obsessed with it in 2007. She loves squishy wools for the short, mild Los Angeles winters, and likes cottons and blends for the rest of the year. Brenda firmly believes that even beginner knitters can create something beautiful and useful, so she strives to keep patterns simple yet original.
See http:www.ravelry.com/designers/brenda-castiel for additional designs.
You are invited to join her Ravelry Group at http://www.ravelry.com/groups/brenda-castiel-designs for contests, knit-a-longs, and fun.
She blogs about knitting and life at: http:knitandtravelandsuch.blogspot.com.
She has sold her designs to Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, Creative Knitting, Classic Elite Yarns, Knit Picks, Knit Now, I Like Knitting, and Three Irish Girls Yarns.
Twitter: @brendacastiel
She has sold her designs to Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, Creative Knitting, Classic Elite Yarns, Knit Picks, Knit Now, I Love Knitting, The Sanguine Gryphon, and Three Irish Girls Yarns.
From the October 2021 issue
This stylish bag shows an oversized classic houndstooth check in a lively rainbow gradient yarn. The bag is begun by knitting a rectangle for the bottom of the bag, picking up stitches around the other three sides of the piece and joining to work in the round.
View ProjectFrom the October 2020 issue
The classic houndstooth pattern gets an update with a pop of color in this modern scarf. Two options are provided: knit it in a tube in the round so all the floats are hidden, or knit it flat and add a sweet lining to cover the back side. Either way you’ll have a lovely piece, for yourself or for gift giving.
View ProjectFrom the June 2020 issue
Show off your favorite self-striping yarn with these quick-to-knit socks. These cute socks have bare heels and toes and are designed to be worn for yoga, Pilates or dancing. Ribbing along the sides gives them a nice smooth fit and they’re light enough to be worn all year round. These make the perfect gift for all the yoga lovers in your life!
View ProjectFrom the June 2020 issue
Practice makes perfect in yoga AND knitting! Master this swatch and you’ll be well on your way to knitting your own Namaste socks and beyond.
View Project
Cate features a decorative knotted tie which also gives the benefit of providing an adjustable and perfect fit. The knitting begins with the tie, worked flat in reverse stockinette stitch so it naturally curls inward. The ends are tapered for a graceful look.
View ProjectFrom the December 2019 issue
This cowl, perfect for the cold Midwestern weather, is covered with fun, colorful non-traditional fair isle designs, such as checkerboards, diamonds and chevron stripes. Based off of the classic Southwestern Splendor Colorwork Cowl, this project is worked in the round with deep, ribbed borders in a 2×2 rib. It can easily be made longer by casting on more stitches and the changing patterns and colors give the knitter enough of a challenge to keep it interesting.
View ProjectFrom the June 2019 issue
The Bowtie Tank from the August 2014 issue gets a new summer update with the Coralia version! Featuring knitted-in bows at the shoulders, a scoop neck, and a yoke with a softly gathered “skirt” below, this version is a winner for sure.
View Project
Cozy wool socks are made for lazy weekends, when you just want to relax and chill. In warm worsted weight wool, with a touch of cashmere, these comfy socks feature cables down the sides for a bit of style. The ribbed cuffs, heels and toes are in a contrast color. She won’t want to take them off!
View ProjectFrom the December 2017 issue
The Celesta, a new instrument that Russian composer Tchaikovsky discovered in Paris, was famously used in the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Inspired by the “heavenly sweet” sound made from this instrument — words Tchaikovsky used to describe it — this crescent-shaped shawl is easy to wear and lays nicely without a shawl pin.
View ProjectFrom the February 2017 issue
The blanket is comprised of four rectangles, each bisected into a black and a white triangle, created by a simple intarsia technique. Using increases and decreases along the diagonal, you get a nice smooth line at the color change. The blanket is worked in two pieces for ease of handling, and these are sewn together at the end. It’s knit in a cozy bulky weight yarn for the maximum in warmth.
View Project
