Add to the Project list

Don't get me wrong. I love rats. Even with all of the innards outards. From Craftyhedgehog's site on Etsy.

My, My, my eye

First, a funny story. When people ask why I sew or knit, I say it's because I have control issues. When I'm shopping, I'll always look at a garment and think how I'd change the color, or fabric, or something. Just recently, I was looking at this pattern with a friend, and said the following: "It's perfect. I would just add thiss, change this, and change this."

Lima, by Jane Ellison in Sulka by Mirasol Yarns. I said it's perfect! I would just shape it more below the bust, add a few buttons, and puff the sleeves for a more current silhouette. And low and behold, I found this:

The puff sleeve cardigan from Victoria's Secret. Sadly, no longer available in this color, but in pale pink and black for $59.

Add to my Amazon wishlist...

Jean Frost Jackets: Fabric, Fit and Finish for Today's Knits.


Wanted for: Chanel-style jackets. My other mother says that I need more "classic pieces" in my wardrobe.

Sexy Fair Isle

Further thought on bringing sexy back to fair isle (back?):
From Gedifra Highlights 072, Pattern 1026 (2nd from left, in case you don't spot it...)

BTW, I totally bought the fair isle dress from Urban Outfitters I mentioned here, and then realized I couldn't afford it. C'est la vie. I better look fierce in this dress! (After I buy the tights and the flat, black boots to wear with it... sigh.)

Knit Mice

I purchased the September? issue of Simply Knitting (UK) for $9.99 at Barnes and Noble, all for... A Noah' Ark pattern book by Alan Dart. On Ravelry.

I want to knit mice... See them by Noah and... er, uhm, Mrs. Noah's feet? And the pandas, of course.

Below is Cheese (on Ravelry) from the Spring 2006 issue. That was how I first heard of designer Alan Dart, as people became obsessed with finding back issues of magazines for his toy patterns. Welcome to the club, Jo Ann...

Potential Project

The Ingenue Blouse by Phoenix Bess reads as a very easy pattern. For a very sexy, au courant design. Except for the cost of wool (and at least three sets of circs!) I would have already cast this on... From the Fall 2007 of Knitscene magazine. On Ravelry.

Wait one minute... Why does that name sound so familiar? That's right, I read about this chick in another magazine. AND I wanted to knit these pants:At least I'm consistent...

Oh, and by "chick" I mean highly successful, confident wonderful young woman in the most respectful manner possible...

Sexy hand-knit men's sweater

This is the first men's sweater that I have seen in a knitting magazine or book that has made me say "Oh!" Dare I say, it's even sexy?Cables Milano by Sandi Prosser in the October 2007 issue of Knit n' Style. On Ravelry.

Vogueknitting 25th Anniversary Issue

Vogueknitting 25th Anniversary Issue

10 advertiser covers

What I Want:

Loop-d-Loop by Teva Durham Volume 1

I am always intrigued by the concept of convertible clothing. Two designs can be worn in more than one way: the snap tape convertible dress and baguette scarf/sleeves. Several other patterns look interesting and are worked in delicious yarns. $16.50. The Baguette, a beginner level project, requires 5 skeins of Shale, at $10.95. I think I like the grey/black as shown the best in this mohair/viscoise wrapped matte/shiny yarn. The Convertible Dress requires 13 balls of Fern at $9.95. Fern is a wool blend woven tape yarn, and again, I like the blue as shown.

Also a solid investment is Norah Gaughan V ol. 1 from Berroco, which contains two stories for $15.95. There is a beautiful, beginner level scarf worked in two styles of yarns. As Sabine FX, the scarf is worked in Metallic FX and as Luce, it is worked in Pure Merino Nuance. I'm not sure which colors I like best in Nuance - there are pretty greys, pinks, greens...

These three scarf patterns are projects that I could actually complete, and are portable enough for commuting or work. The yarn for the baguette is pricey, but I bet the Berroco yarns are reasonable.

I'd also like to try a pair of these square knitting needles by Kollage Yarns. Made of Forest Palm wood from Vietnam, they are available in a range of sizes. They also have square crochet hooks. According to their website, they placed a sample pair on display at a craft show. Many different people picked up this one swatch to try the needles. Amazingly, the stitches are uniform because of the needle's square shape. Many people also think the shape is less stressful on the hands. I grip the needles in a death grip, and have many tension issues as a result, so I'd like to try this on my entrelac scarf Special Project. I'd also like to buy the crochet hook for my friend Mary who has some nerve issues with her hand. The needles are approximately $20 for a pair.

But on the someday/maybe list are these Signature needles, custom made. Choose your own point style from stiletto to blunt and your own end cap. Truly beautiful, and I bet the choice of tip could be useful.

New designer for me to watch: Aquascutum. I was first intrigued by the knit corset top shown as inspiration, but the entire line contains interesting manipulation of textiles and construction techniques. Very Issey Miyake.

Oh yeah. The magazine had patterns, too. More supposedly beginner level scarves that I could possibly knit, also in a lovely silver grey palette to fit the motif. A futuristic pleated scarf by Fayla Reiss and a beautiful floral creation in silk and Swarvorski by (the) Nicky Epstein open the collection, and a simple open work shawl in ribbon by Laura Bryant closes it. I love the yarn, a railroad style ribbon special dyed for Vogue. And to add to my obsession with knit skirts: a neo-boho panel skirt alternating multicolors with black. but the yarn doesn't seem to be readily available. And it would require a lot of sewing. (I got nervous when the pattern said "block carefully".)

And, finally, wish I could take a 10 day cruise.

Oh yeah, knitting!

After having my boyfriend of four years break up with me and asking me to leave our home... After discovering that he had already moved on and was pursuing another woman... After hearing over and over how he didn't cheat on me just because his "intention" was to be friends with her... After moving myself and the cats back to my parents - again... Well, it's been a rough few weeks. I have decided that I NEED to knit.

The good news is that the heartbreak only lasted... a few weeks. Hmm... Much easier to get over than I thought it would be. Bye bye! Back to knitting!

I have been itching to get a project on the needles for weeks. I am determined to start and finish my first "true love" project: the Gedifra entrelac scarf. It WILL be ready by the time it is seasonally appropriate to wear. I have purchased a moderately expensive chaise lounge for my new apartment with comfortable knitting in mind. When I get to decorate (as opposed to "filling the empty spaces with furniture") I am planning to purchase some kind of handy storage for my current project so that it will be neatly and decoratively at hand. I need to make a plan to acquire the appropriate needles, and then skills, to tackle this moderately challenging project. The yarn is beautiful, and costly, and I want it to turn out well. I don't think this wool wrap will be an appropriate commuting project, however.

Having said that, I will also need to start an appropriate commuting project. Would entrelac socks be 'too much'?? I am in desperate need of some fingerless gloves for my painfully cold office. And I have some beautiful verigated merino yarn in a sock/lace-type weight in a beautiful forest-y color way that I wanted to use for a clapotis, perhaps.

But all of my yarn and needles and other happiness is currently trapped in my old, ex-apartment. Sigh. In desperation, my other-mother gave me a skein of acyclic Caron Super Soft in soft blue and a pair of aluminum size 10 straight needles. What am I going to make?

I am going to loop yarn and make a fabric. This fabric will gain its strength from the interconnectedness of each loop. And I will calmly, quietly, and all by myself follow the rules to make a knit stitch over and over. And if I follow the rules, and if all the loops stay together, well then my fabric will have strength.

And so will I.

Knit skirts, who knew?

I made a joke in an earlier post about knitted skirts being doomed to failure. Apparently, I am wrong. See this beautiful creation of the very same Indigo Ripples skirt I mentioned from Interweave Knits Spring 2007 by Eunny. She loves it. So do I.

Stitchdiva Pattern: Goddess

I'm undecided on this pattern. It caught (and still catches) my eye as sexy knitting. Plus, the description makes it sound like a good learning experience. I'm just afraid that if this project goes wrong, that it would go very wrong...

Interweave Knits Spring 2007

This issue of Interweave Knits for Spring 2007 has strengthened my desire for a subscription. Available on the bottom of the web page is an offer for 5 issues (a year plus one) for $21 for US subscribers. When I know a magazine is going to be consistently high quality, with issues worth saving to refer to again and again, then I don't mind subscribing.

First, one item I may actually some day be able to knit: entrelac socks. Here in two colors of Koigu. It uses six skeins. I probably can't afford these socks.

Here is the lovely Swan Lake Cardigan by Joan McGowan Micheal from White Lies Designs. The added touch of sewn ruffles at the sleeve and bottom edge makes this item a standout. I would love to have this in my wardrobe to dress up or dress down. Also from a favorite designer. a tank from Wenlan Chia of Twinkle and Twinkle's Big City Knits. Although I am not fond of this tank, I had an opportunity to browse this book at a local bookstore today and found it full of original and exotic ideas. But I'm just not sure I'll be able to knit anything in the book. Another item that caught my eye was a simple skirt with lace border pattern in a denim yarn. Why am I fascinated by knit skirts? Am I just dooming myself to failure? Also, seems good on paper: a knit bandeau.
Finally, file this final pattern under the category of "Wow! I can't believe I knit that!" If I made this capelet with its cables and bobbles and delicate bobble edging, I would force innocent strangers on the street to stop and admire my mad skills.