Stainless Rock

i made a pact with myself to only knit original designs for the rest of this year - but already broke it!

stainless rock

pattern: rock island shawl by jared flood

yarn: habu xs-45 20/3 bamboo in color number 1 and habu stainless steel filament held together

needles: #5 circular

i spent an awesome day with a good friend at habu recently where we both bought some of this bamboo and stainless figuring we'd get to it sometime. but then i realized another great friend had a birthday coming up and i really wanted to make something for her. i just knew she would appreciate something handmade and especially something made out of such a funky material. the rock island shawl seemed like the perfect companion for the stainless - such an open lace that could use something to really hold the shape.

to be honest, i didn't love the pattern - i found starting with the edging to be a little boring and if it wasn't for a present a week away i probably would have put it away.

i definitely loved the effect of the metal thread through out and now have some good ideas about how to use all the other stainless and copper i bought - so stay tuned :)

Sunset Cardi

i was super upset that i ran out of yarn on the habu tank i just made and couldn't do the pockets. i really love pockets!!! so the next project definitely needed some. add those pockets into a much needed lightweight summer sweater and you get the:

sunset cardi

pattern: made up as i went along

yarn: lana grossa linea pura biosoja, 9 skeins

needles: size 5 circular

i knit to my measurements - but should be easy enough to size up or down so please leave a comment or message me if you want the full details.

inspired by simple japanese clothing, the sunset cardi is an asymmetrical cardigan fastened at the top and allowed to swing open. i started at the bottom and knit up around 9 inches where i created space for the pockets on each side. at the same time i did some slight waist shaping.

when long enough to the armholes i separated for the front and back. using the provisional cast on method, i added enough stitches to form the arms (i like long sleeves) and knit up the fronts. leaving the fronts on waste yarn, i picked up the stitches from the provisional cast on and knit up the back and then grafted the front and back stitches together, leaving a larger than average neck. the collar is just the neck stitches knit back and forth until it was a size i was comfortable with. not wanting to take away from the simplicity of the sweater, i used snaps as closures.

this was a super simple and fast knit and i am happy to write the pattern up for anyone interested. it definitely calls for a heavy, drapey yarn!

Stash Busting

i have had three cones of some habu tsumugi in my stash for a couple of years. i kept looking at it and looking at it with no clue what to make - sort of figured at some point i would make something lace out of it. but i also had been stashing the liesl pattern from cocoknits and then it clicked! i could double the tsumugi and make the tank!

habu tank

pattern: liesl by julie weisenberger

yarn: habu tsumugi in color #16, cocoa

needles: #7 circular, 24 inch

this is one of the rare occasions where i planned on making no modifications but had to. i started with no mods and knit up past the pockets but then i noticed how much yarn i had left... unfortunately not enough to finish. so i frogged back and decided to forget the pockets. i also got nervous about the yarn again when it came to the length, so that became a little shorter as well. i still really like it and i think that is due to the yarn. what amazing stuff this is - it creates such an amazing fabric and i think i have found a new favorite. now if only brooklyn general would start carrying it... definitely planning a trip up to habu in the next few weeks.

since i didn't get to add the pockets, my next project will definitely have some. not sure exactly what it will be but i picked up some lana grossa biosoja - a combination of soy, cotton and bamboo in this awesome orange.

i know what you will probably say, "a cotton, yuck!" but my friend, heather, had some knit up and it was actually nice. plus, i have a drapey cardigan in mind and this will definitely drape.

i am still making progress - slow progress - on my quilt and hope to have some photos soon.

Back On A Roll

i think i am finally back on a roll as far as knitting is concerned - i'm also starting work on a quilt. the crafty bug is finally back in this little corner of brooklyn!

first up is this little blue dress i made for myself.

pattern: jill's dress from modern top down knitting

yarn: elsebeth lavold silky wool in blue

needles: size 5, circular

didn't make a lot of modifications. the only one was to add a little waist shaping. great simple mindless pattern. didn't even mind all the crochet trim!

i was feeling much better after working on the blue dress, so much so that i decided to use up the 3 skeins of pink synchronicity i had laying around to make up a sweater for e.

pattern: e's pink "japanese" sweater

yarn: alchemy synchronicity in vermillion

needles: size 6, circular

all i knew was i wanted a little cardigan for e that she could wear in the spring (she pretty much won't wear any color but pink...) and i had just 3 skeins of the yarn so had to make something for her now before i wouldn't have a sweater's worth anymore. i was feeling inspired by japanese design and thought it would be cool to have an asymmetrical opening in the front. with that information i did a gauge - took her measurements and started knitting. i knit stockinette until i got to the armholes. i then separated for the fronts and back, provisionally cast on for the sleeves and knit up both fronts. leaving the fronts on waste yarn, i picked up the sleeve stitches provisionally cast on and knit up the back. next i grafted the tops of the sleeves and the shoulder stitches together and knit up the collar. i would have made the collar bigger but was running low on yarn. since i had so much doing the crochet trim on the blue dress, i did the same here.

i actually took really good notes while knitting this so if anyone is interested in the pattern, let me know and i can write it up. also, i think it would be a super easy pattern for me to size up or down.

Finishing Up With Winter

spring is finally here. i swear this has been the longest. most depressing winter. i have had way too much going on and unfortunately that left me with very little time to do all the crafty things that i love and that make me happy. here are two projects i can share - not the most glamourous but finished! - just click on the names to go to ravelry.

swans's island sweater

yarn: swan's island organic merino in worsted weight

needles: #7 circular

pattern: auburn top from new england knits

i didn't make any real modifications to this except to make it a little longer. the sweater is just ok but the yarn was a delight to knit with. definitely worth the large price tag :)

mom's coat

yarn: rowan felted tween aran

needles: #7 straight

pattern: audrey coat from blue sky alpacas

the major mod i made was to use a much thicker tweedy yarn. when i saw this pattern i thought it called for a tweed. i hate to say bad things about patterns and there was nothing "wrong" with this one but god was it boring! i had been working on it off and on for a year and i am so glad to be done! was originally planning on making one of these for myself as well but not anymore - so glad i didn't buy all the yarn.

the best news right now in my life is i have decided to step down as pta president from my son's school. it was making me so unhappy and i feel it left me in a way worse position to actually help out there and make a real difference. i am looking forward to this summer and then coming back in the fall. i can volunteer for only the events i want to be involved with and have a lot more time to do the stuff that puts a smile on my face and take care of my family.

i am working on a bunch of projects right now that i am actually excited about - a quilt, a knit dress for myself and i have an idea for a sweater design for my daughter.

onward!

Lace Jacket

i just love knitting lace - it is never boring and always comes out looking beautiful. now that i have very little knitting time (i volunteered to be co-president of the pta at my son's school... ugh...), it is very important that i actually enjoy what i am knitting and the end result. this was the perfect project for this.

lace jacket

pattern: #13 lace jacket from vogue knitting, fall 2010

yarn: malabrigo lace, verde adriana, 2 1/2 skeins

needles: #5 circular

i didn't make any modification. no time to think about things... but i didn't need to - i think it came out great! i did use the magic loop method instead of lots of different circulars and double pointed needles. the only real comment i have is the sleeves are really tight!

i am having a problem figuring out what to make next. for now, i am continuing to work on a coat for my mother - i have been knitting a piece of it in between each project forever. i did purchase a bunch of swan's island yarn in a orangey color yesterday at brooklyn general - i think it will inspire me.

Holiday Gifts

i know i haven't posted in awhile, i took on a huge volunteer job at my son's school and unfortunately have had very little time for knitting :(

however, i have had some time to get some holiday presents done. here are some pictures with links to ravelry for the details!

latvian mittens for my sister

latvian mittens for my mother in law

fingerless mitts for my brother, brother-in-law and father

i hope to get a pair of mittens done for me soon!