My capelet Baroque is in the most recent issue of Clotheshorse. I enjoyed knitting this so much I was sorry when it was finished. I loved the rhythm of the colorwork pattern, the orchid pink lining, the assembly and the buttons (especially that cute little jigger!). In fact, I enjoyed knitting it so much I immediately wanted to make another (orange and red with a yellow-brown lining) but the local yarn store didn't have the right colors and ordering online is risky since I can't count on my browser to accurately represent colors. Soon I was working on other projects, but this capelet was never far from my mind. I was pleased (not quite the right word---more like jumping up and down clapping and squealing) that Mindy and Heather chose this piece for their magazine. I really wanted to make it, and (since they will eventually return it to me) wear it. It's very cushy, all snuggly and warm, and will be most welcome in the damp of our Louisiana winters. It also looks elegant with my orchestra black, and folds up smaller than a coat. I can't wait to try it on in January instead of June!
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Not Dave. I forgot to take my camera with me to Ithaca. Too bad, because there were several camera-worthy events that I wasn't able to chronicle. I'm sure my phone has a camera on it, but I haven't even tried to figure out how to use it and I sure don't know how to hook it up to my computer. I should really enter the 21st century one of these days. Remember Dave's period stockings? Well, Dave and I got together in Ithaca and he actually tried on the finished one. It fits beautifully! I had been worried about the fit because
Dave was thrilled with his one stocking and can't wait for its partner. He vowed to use, appreciate, and enjoy anything I ever wanted to knit for him. It's good to have devoted friends. My recently released San Graal was one of the garments featured on the Clotheshorse blog modeled at a trunk show at Yarns in the Farms. The photo at right is not from the trunk show---I just wanted to show you how great it looks with tights! We're leaving tomorrow for our molasses moon, so I expect the blog to be pretty quiet until I get back on Tuesday. Have a great weekend! My other design appearing in this issue of Clotheshorse is San Graal, a mini skirt that's oh so snuggly warm. San Graal means Holy Grail, the subject of many tapestries but significantly the tapestries of William Morris, who enjoyed "hiding images of flora and fauna within the intricate curls and swirls of a design" (quote taken from the Clotheshorse submission call). There's also a double entendre invoked here. This skirt knit up super fast in Blissful Knits Adore, even at the firm gauge required to make a skirt sag-proof. There are also instructions for making the skirt not-quite-so-mini, but I think this version is incredibly cute and the vertical elements (the alligators and bird legs and tails) are slimming. San Graal is a great project for those new to color stranding because of its small size and lack of repeated motifs which can call attention to mistakes. Why don't you give it a try? The new Clotheshorse is out, and two of my designs are included in the Tapestry section. Hestia is a shaped cashmere-blend pullover with negative ease. It fits like a glove and feels wonderful next to the skin. This piece uses an interesting method of stranded colorwork that leaves some strands visible. With careful finishing, the garment is reversible. The reverse side has the stripes showing in the opposite order from the photographed side. The Hestia Tapestry is a Byzantine work from the 6th century A.D. Hestia is the Greek goddess of the hearth and home. The stylized flowers on the pullover have a rather Byzantine shape, and the colors may be similar to the tapestry's original colors. The cuffs and neckline are a subtler version those on Hestia's robe. Next up: San Graal One of the wonderful friends from upstate New York is Dave, with whom I studied and performed Shakespeare while I was living there, and who still performs (and has recently started writing (well, not writing Shakespeare, but writing short stories and plays)). Four years ago I secretly determined to knit him a pair of period stockings, complete with garters. I had another friend secretly obtain measurements, and I cast on. I knit the cuffs using the two-at-a-time method, which I decided is not for me. Then I had a stroke. I regained my ability to knit. Slowly regained my ability to knit slowly. On size 000 needles, these were never intended to be a quick project (Dave is 6'4"). But I lost heart in the project for a while, daunted by the immensity of the task. Then I started work on them in earnest. I finished the motif on the backs of the calves and had my husband try them on. A bit tight for him. I emailed Dave himself for measurements, which turned out to match the covert figures from my friend. Here is one being modeled by someone a little smaller than Dave. They look pretty good, if I do say so myself! Yarn is Verve by The Unique Sheep. photo by Shane Baskin/Blackbox Studios One of my favorite patterns is the Meandros Hat. It features a Greek meander done in mosaic, or slip stitch, colorwork using only one color per row. It's easy, pleasant knitting and goes quickly without having to use a bulky yarn. It sits lightly on your lap while working and you can wear it different ways when finished. This fun hat is modeled at left with a little slouch in it, which looks great, especially with all that curly hair. But it also looks wonderful pulled down over the ears for warmth. The yarn is resilient enough that you can wear the same size both ways. These colors look great together, but you can check my Meandros Mittens post for other possibilities. I plan to start another one soon--this one looked so good on everyone! photos by Shane Baskin/Blackbox Studios In the spotlight today are my Meandros Mittens, cozy little items to knit for the chilly months we thirst for . These mittens are perfect summer knitting--they're small, and the sport-weight Cobblestone yarn is light on your lap (but the double layer colorwork will keep your hands nice and toasty when they're done). These mittens feature corrugated ribbing and an afterthought thumb on which the palm pattern is continued. They are pictured with the Meandros Scarf, and if you squint you just might be able to make out the pattern on the reverse side of the scarf. That same pattern is done in color on the back of the mitten (below). Other good color choices: 304 Bourbon St. (deep purple plied with gold and green variegate--Mardi Gras colors!) and 302 Beale St. (pink plied with teal, lavender and yellow--so pretty) 303 Chalmers St. (red with yellow and blue) and 308 Rodeo Dr. (blue with yellow and red) photo copyright Tangled magazine Check out my work at Tangled Magazine and Galler Yarns. I designed the socks pictured at left for Tangled about a year ago. They are named Van Halen after the band of the same name. Actually after the brothers, since the socks share a fraternal connection without being twins. While they look intense, they only call for two colors per row. The stacking of different combinations of color is where the awesomeness comes in. My Mountain Flight Cowl is a different exploration of color. Belangor Angora gives the appearance of birds flying in a spiral pattern through mountain mist. The pattern is available for free download from Galler Yarns. |
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February 2018
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