Time to tackle my stash!

So the move from Cambridge, MA, to Berkeley, CA is complete.  We're moved in.  And I have an office/studio now!  It feels great.

The move communicated to me, however, just how much yarn I really have (too much).

Therefore, I've resolved to begin sorting through my stash and using these wonderful yarns to create garments of both my design and from designs I've admired in various publications over the years.

Project #1:  Gabriele Shrug

This gorgeous pattern is from the booklet Rowan Winter Warmers (2011), and I'm knitting it with Rowan Lima in Machu Pichu (orange/brown).  I'm making size Medium, and I will need six balls of yarn.

I only have five balls of Lima in my stash, so I will purchase one more.  I'm not too worried about the difference in dye lot, as I think the design will accommodate the new ball of yarn in the sash, collar, and cuff sections.  If the color is slightly different, the garment will still look balanced.

Reykjavik Yarn Bombing

Just beyond where Lækjargata and Bankastræti cross is a fabulous yarn installation:

Book - Knitting with Icelandic Wool

While in Iceland a few weeks back, I purchased the book Knitting with Icelandic Wool (Vaka-Helgafell, 2011; ISBN 978-9979-2-2110-4) / Prjónað úr íslenskri ull. It contains 65 patterns for making garments with Icelandic wool. It also contains a history of Icelandic knitting traditions.

I purchased the English language version at the bookstore Mal og Menning in Reykjavik. A cool find!

Icelandic Knitting - Glöfi Woolen Factory Outlet in Hvolsvöllur

I recently returned from a wonderful trip to Iceland with the mom. We spent a week touring the countryside in a rented car, seeing Reykjavik on foot, and visiting the Blue Lagoon. Iceland is beautiful.

I had a special experience visiting the Glöfi Woolen Factory Outlet in Hvolsvöllur in the southwest coast region (http://www.randburg.com/is/glofi/). The helpful staff at Hotel Rangá pointed me to the outlet when I expressed in buying yarn from a local seller. I had seen a farm along out journey that advertised wool yarn, but it was closed. The Glöfi outlet turned out to be a yarn and knitwear factory with a retail room in the front. The retail section offered sweaters, wraps, hats, and mittens. I asked about buying skeins of yarn.

I was in luck. A very nice women lead me to the back of the factory, where I was offered my choice of yarn. I chose four colors in natural tones in approximately sport weight. Was I in heaven!

I can't wait to design and knit a special sweater with my new icelandic wool.

Boston Yarn Bombing

There is a wonderful spot in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood where yarn bombing has been a fixture for the past several years.

Various yarn creations adorn the concrete barriers where the SW Corridor Path meets Newton Street between the Orange Line's Back Bay and Mass Ave. Stations.

The first set of photos is from July 2011.

I took the second set of photos in January 2012

New Patterns for Cloche and Mittens

Just out in December are two new knitting patterns from Seaside Knitting for the Tulip Cloche and Tulip Mittens. The cloche comes in two sizes - child and adult - and the mittens are one size fits most.

With a pretty, scalloped edging, both the cloche and mittens will add a feminine touch to any ensemble.

The cloche and mittens pictured were knit with KnitPicks Wool of the Andes yarn for a cost of under $15. The patterns are for sale through www.seasideknittingpatterns.com and Ravelry.com.

Tahki Cotton Classic Lite Yarn

So, for the Ruffle Sleeve Pullover, Interweave sent me Tahki Cotton Classic Lite in #4447 (Light Mauve). This is a sport weight (#3) yarn, approximately 6 st/inch.

I had originally created the pattern with GGH Scarlett. Both yarns are 100% mercerized cotton; both have a lovely sheen and lend themselves to elegant knitwear. And both offer good structure and drape once the garment is underway. Tahki Cotton Classic Lite comes in wonderful colors - it's like a candy shop of possibilities.

I enjoyed working with the Cotton Classic Lite. It is comfortable to knit, does not fall apart, and looks smooth in stockinette stitch. I also did not find knots or other bothersome features in the skeins.

For the Ruffle Sleeve Pullover pattern, check out the Premier issue of knit.wear magazine, available for order through Interweave.com or in bookstores.

Lion Brand Tiger Lily Tank - Free Pattern using Cotton Bamboo

I received an email from Lion Brand Yarn today. Usually I open these emails, browse, and go away empty-handed. But today..... Lion Brand caught my attention with their new Tiger Lily Tank free pattern. Knit with Lion Brand® LB Collection^® Cotton Bamboo, it is a winner. Beautiful, simple, summery, and classic in shape and design.

Go Lion Brand!

Knitting for Charity

Do you knit? There are a plethora of wonderful charities that could use your help. From donated knitwear to skeins of yarn to cash donations that benefit both individuals and communities.

For a list of many of these charity organizations, go to http://www.interweaveknits.com/community/charities.asp

Tweed Yarn Suggestions for Ballybrae Fingerless Gloves

I knit my first pair of Ballybrae Fingerless Gloves with Paton Ballybrae, a rough, but visually stunning yarn. This yarn has long since been discontinued. And I've knit subsequent gloves with Cascade 220. Cascade 220 is great substitution (nice feel, good price, abundant skeins), but this yarn is not a tweed.

If you are looking for a lovely tweed for your next pair of Ballybrae Fingerless Gloves, I suggest the following yarns:

• Rowan Scottish Tweed DK. 100% Wool. 20 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need four balls of yarn (50 grams and 123 yards each) and will have left-over yarn. Work pattern as written.

• Tahki/Stacy Charles Tweedy Alpaca. 15 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need five to six balls of yarn (50 grams and 81 yards each). This yarn will make thick gloves, and you will need to reduce palm rows. Suggestions for pattern: cast-on 80, complete 36 rows before thumb hole. You will need more yarn if you want to make the gloves longer/bigger.

• Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed. 100% Wool. 18 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need three balls of yarn (100 grams and 183 yards each) and will have a good deal of left-over yarn. Work pattern as written.

• Berroco Blackstone Tweed. 65% Wool/25% Superkid Mohair/10% Angora Rabbit Hair. 18 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need four balls of yarn (50 grams and 130 yards each) and will have left-over yarn. Work pattern as written.

• Plymouth Paca Tweed. 50% Alpaca/ 40% Merino Wool/10% Donegal. 18 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need three balls of yarn (100 grams and 191 yards each) and will have a good deal of left-over yarn. Work pattern as written.

• Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran. 85% Wool/15% Angora. 18 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need five balls of yarn (50 grams and 97 yards each) and will have left-over yarn. Work pattern as written.

• Alpaca with a Twist Highlander. 45% Baby Alpaca/ 45% Merino Wool/8% Microfiber/2% Viscose. 16 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need three balls of yarn (100 grams and 145 yards each) and will some left-over yarn. This yarn will make thick gloves, and you will need to reduce palm rows. Suggestions for pattern: cast-on 80, complete 36 rows before thumb hole. You will need more yarn if you want to make the gloves longer/bigger.
  
  

Pattern Book Reviews: Knitting New Mittens & Gloves

As we enter Autumn, I've been thinking about knitting a new pair of mittens. As I discussed in my previous post about my beloved and well-worn Latvian mittens, I may need to add a fresh pair to my collection of daily-wear mittens.

One of the books I have been looking to for this project is Knitting New Mittens & Gloves by Robin Melanson. I could create my own pair, but I happen to actually really like a few pair Ms. Melanson has already designed, so....... support my fellow knitwear designer instead.

I have Raynaud's disease (Primary Raynaud's), so need really warm hand- and foot-wear. Fingerless gloves, while beautiful and lovely in Autumn, just don't cut it for me in the Winter months. In addition, gloves are the wrong choice for me too, as they keep the fingers separated and do not allow the same heat sharing space that mittens do. I have found mittens to be the most effective for Raynaud's in tandem with a good hat (I wear fleece lined wool), multiple layers of wool and down clothing, and doctor prescribed medication.

Returning to Knitting New Mittens & Gloves, Robin Melanson offers 28 patterns for gloves with and without fingers, cuffs, and mittens. There are designs using colorwork, cabling, beads, buckle and button accessories, and lace. There are no shortage of cool projects. The two I have been thinking about are Chevalier and Ceangaltas.

The Chevalier mittens in the book are knit with yarn from Garnstudio - Eskimo and Puddel. Both look like they would be very warm. In considering the pattern, I have also looked into using Filatura di Crosa Ricciolo for the cuff and Debbie Bliss Como for the mitten. The gauge is the same as the Garnstudio and the colors are more varied in these two yarns. I've also located the kilt straps on eBay.

As I am a fan of tweed yarns, I've also been considering the Ceangaltas mittens. The pattern calls for Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed, which is a mix of wool, cashmere and silk. Yum! However, these mittens don't look a thick as the Chevalier mittens, so they may be better for me as an occasional pair, rather than everyday mittens. I found the yarn on Jo Sharp's own website. Another place I often look is www.yarn.com (WEBS). However, as last look, they had only a few skeins left of a few colors.

I'm looking forward to knitting one or both of these patterns from Knitting New Mittens & Gloves. I'll post photos and comments when I get going on the projects.

Cheers!

More from Bear Brand - Bucilla

Bear Brand - Bucilla made wonderful 1930s and 1940s fashions as well.

The pamphlet on the left is dedicated to Gloves and Mittens (volume 19, 1944) and the one on the right (volume 310) includes designs for women, men, children, and pets (see bottom):

Pictorial Review - Book of Crocheting and Knitting

One of my favorite vintage pattern books is the Pictorial Review: Book of Crocheting and Knitting.

The photographs are so elegant and stylized, and I just want to knit and be adorned in their knitwear.

Pictorial Review

Book of Crocheting and Knitting

Number Nine

Corticelli Knitting and Crochet Pattern Books

Along with pattern books from Bear Brand - Bucilla are those from Corticelli.

This company offered yarns and fabrics, and their pattern books are lovely to look through.

I purchase old pattern books and pamphlets from eBay and other dedicated vintage knitting pattern sites.

Bear Brand - Bucilla

Inspiration can come from anywhere. I get mine from old knitting books and pamphlets. One of my favorite brands from the 1920s is Bear Brand - Bucilla.

The two yarn companies merged, and their Blue Books from the early decades of the 20th century are just lovely. They offered womens’, mens’, and children’s fashions, along with gloves, military wear, and accessories.

I don’t read through these books in order to find items to knit. Many of the fashions are too conservative for me today. However the feeling that I get from looking at the pictures and sense of style and elegance that the models exude are what I try to translate into my own designs.

In addition, these volumes remind the knitter that there is more to the art than just sweaters, mittens, hats, and the like. Check out the marksman’s glove in the picture at the bottom.

Box-pleats are featured on this capelet from the Bear Brand Bucilla volume 64 book titled Knit or Crochet Your Own Fashions for Beach - Town - Country