New Design: Sencha Scarf

This is the most recent new design to debut, as part of the Tanis Fiber Arts 2012 Year in Colour Club:

Sencha Scarf

I'm really happy with this scarf- I love the diagonal eyelet, the fringe, and the drape makes this seems so classic yet fashionable. It's these sort of scarves that I end up wearing the most (except in the dead of winter), because they easily complete the look of an outfit, as well as look good with a spring/fall coat. The pattern is an exclusive for the Year in Colour Club, until 2013. But when it is live for non-club members, I'll definitely blog about it!

I had a tricky time with this design at first- I had this idea for a really textured cowl, and I was totally set on it.  I swatched many different stitches, but in this yarn (which is an exclusive merino/silk base for some of the Colour Club months) it just fell flat. Because this yarn has a lot of drape in it, and it wanted to be knitted into a drapey fabric. And I spent at least a solid week trying to force it to do something it didn't want to do.

The yarn, won in the end. The yarn always wins, because it knows what it needs to be. It had been a while since I had been reminded of that. It's knits like this that remind me that when you have the right yarn for the right pattern, it all comes together. And if you're struggling, then you've got to choose- are you going to change the pattern or are you going to change the yarn?

I'm so glad I changed the pattern. This yarn knew what it wanted to be. I just had to listen.

p.s.- Doesn't Tanis look amazing in these shots?

Design in Progress

I'm working on a new design, which isn't quite top secret, so I thought I'd blog about it a bit! It's another summery tank, and I'm hoping to have it completed and ready for launch early July. This is the teaser photo I'll leave you with:

 I can't say enough great things about this Silver Label Tanis Fiber Arts 100% mulberry silk yarn. Okay, it's not super cheap, but it feels like absolute heaven. I'd probably be finished this already if I didn't take so many breaks to stop and squish the knitted fabric, and rub it against my cheek. And even G was touching it and exclaiming, 'what's this made of? It's amazing!' It's just incredible.

Pattern: Stockholm Scarf

I did promise you all a free pattern, right?

I'm excited to introduce the Stockholm Scarf, which is a luxuriously large and cozy infinity scarf. This scarf looks good with dressy and casual coats, and adds a great pop of colour on a dreary winter (or in this case, a very pretty November) morning. This is a quick knit, and so easy to wear.

I was inspired to create this after all the great compliments I got on the big infinity scarf I bought in Stockholm in August. I was a bit embarrassed when people asked if I had made it and I had to say no (although I then got to say that I got it in Stockholm, and that part was pretty fun).

This scarf features a completely reversible stitch pattern with a 4 row repeat, and is easy to memorize. I knitted this scarf in two pieces and seamed them together, but this was because I didn't have a needle long enough for the whole scarf. The pattern is easy to knit either flat (back and forth in two pieces) or in the round. It's also a fast knit- it took me less than a week from cast on to cast off.

What are you waiting for? Grab the pattern here! Ravelry pattern link is here. It took me 4 tries to figure it out, so if there are 3 other versions of the pattern out there, my apologies. I left my cleverness in bed this morning, it seems.

A huge thank you goes to my husband G. Not just for the photos (and he always takes such great photos), but for designing the pattern layout and making it look great. In the title bar of the pattern, there is an odd shaping- that is actually an outline of a Stockholm city map. All his idea, and it looks incredible. Thanks, my love!!

FO: Folk Flowers Headband

Pattern: My own design

Yarn: odds and ends of stash, with some nameless black merino for the headband

Needles: 3.25 mm

Notes: I love headbands, and was a bit sad that I didn't have a knitted one. Since I have kind of a small head, and straight, fine hair, the wider knitted headbands I've seen sort of.... devour my head (and make me look 12 years old). I wanted something really small, a knitted one I could wear any time, any season.

The basic headband is extremely quick and easy, beginning with an i cord tie at one end, then increasing for the headband, then decreasing for the second i cord. it could be embroidered any way you wish, or knit plain in a lovely variegated yarn. I think in a variegated yarn, moss stitch would be an awesome choice for the headband. I've thought about writing up a really quick pattern, but it seems so small, I wasn't sure there would be much interest. If anyone would like the pattern, please let me know.

For Christmas, my wonderful husband got me the Dipped Infinity Scarf Kit, and I am in love! Check out the progress so far:

It's so pretty, I stopped everything to cast on for it on Christmas Day.

FO- Midas Miniskirt

So here it is- the shiny knitting I've been keeping secret..... I LOVE this skirt. Love it. It fits me perfectly, isn't too short (no panty flash when sitting down), and feels great on.

sorry about the goosebumps- it was chilly! And you may also notice I haven't blocked the skirt yet. I was too excited to block before taking photos...

Pattern: Midas (my own, free pattern to follow shortly) Needles: 4 mm circulars Yarn: Berroco Lumina in Gold Coast

Notes: This is knit from the waist down. It's a fun little skirt that is easily customized and immensely wearable. It can be as long or as short as you want, and would look gorgeous in many other yarns and fibres, although I find that the cotton gives this a nice drape.(drawstring waist detail)

This is one of those knits where the yarn inspired the pattern. I was picking up some sock yarn from my LYS, and came across an utterly entrancing basket of Lumina in all sorts of colourways. My brain immediately defaulted into 'ooh, sparkly!', and I spent half an hour standing in front of the basket petting various skeins while I fantasized about what I would knit with this sparkly, sparkly goodness. Naturally I came to the only conclusion any sane, practical, married 30-year-old could make- a gold knitted miniskirt. About the yarn: It's cotton (54%) and acrylic (36%), so it's lightweight and breathes well. The gold filament (10%) that is wrapped around the fibre is strong and holds it's position well- doesn't unravel from the yarn too easily, and held up to several rounds of ripping back while I tested out different waistbands and hems. The filament means that it isn't the softest thing against your skin, but I was fine with it and found the skirt totally comfortable. The lace edging started off being similar to baby's tears from Nicky Epstein's Knitting On the Edge, but I made so many mods that it might qualify as my own. I'm not sure what the rules are about that sort of thing, so I'll say it's 'inspired by' her edging.I loved knitting this. At first I was wondering what the heck I would wear this with, but it is surprisingly versatile- looks good with lots of different coloured tops, and does daytime or evening surprisingly well. I'm thinking of knitting another (longer) one, maybe in a DK merino tweed for the fall.

Straw into Gold- WIP

I'm not sure what happened. I went into my LYS to look for sock yarn, I swear. And somehow, I came out with several skeins of Berroco's Lumina, in Gold Coast:I have to apologize for the photos- I have been waiting for a really sunny day, so that you could truly see just how damn sparkly this yarn is, but it's been rainy and cloudy and only seems to be sunny when I'm at work and trapped at my desk. So- semi-overcast shots. It's a lot more sparkly in person. I bet you're wondering what that mysterious shining gold thing is. And I'm going to be mean and not tell you anything, except that it is a surprise, and a design of my own. I will say this- it is very fun knitting with this yarn. It reminds me of the story of Rumpelstiltskin, how he spun straw into gold for the miller's daughter. It's how I imagine spun gold would really look! And feel. It's a little scratchy, I won't lie.