Fashionknitsta Thursday: 7/22/10

It's another gorgeous (and busy!) day here in Portland. I'd like to apologize (again!) for dropping the blogging ball.   It's been crazy here at the store and I just haven't had the time to scope out any of the great things the internet knitting world has to offer lately.

Now that all of these are leaving the building:

I finally have a free moment and I cannot go another day without checking in with our Fashionknitsa Knit-a-long!

If you haven't been keeping up with our blog lately, we've been doing a KAL of Ysolda Teague's Ishbel and you can read the Ravelry thread here. A few of us here in the store have been working on them.  Sara has already completed hers (overachiever!) in a limited edition colorway of Glazed Sock from Madelinetosh, and it's just gorgeous:

I talked Kristin's daughter, Anna, into modeling it for us:

Here is a photo of Eva's from a few days ago, she's using Madelinetosh Pashmina.  I'm really liking how it's knitting up, the yarn is a bit heavier that the sock weight yarns that Sara and I are both using. It's going to be so lovely to cozy up with in the winter!

I'm almost finished with mine (in Malabrigo Sock), about halfway through Chart D which is the beginning of the edging. I'm hoping to complete it this weekend!

I hope everyone has a great and sunny weekend. There will be no Fashionknitsta next week because I'll be on vacation, but check back the week after for another post. Until then, as always, stay chic, blogfans!

-Lindsay

Our Biggest Post EVER

It's in the running, anyway.  After all, it has taken me two weeks to write it.  You might want to go and get a cold drink and a comfy chair before reading this one. 

First and foremost, we have a collection of truly lovely projects - but no project details.  Why? you ask.  Well, there are several reasons: sometimes we lose them (and we're really sorry about that), sometimes knitters don't have time to fill out a project sheet, and sometimes they just don't want to fill one out.  So, after collecting up all the info-less project photos from the past month, I have made a collage:

You can see each individual image on our flickr account - and maybe even claim an image or two, if you'd like.  We're always glad to reunite knitters and project photos.

Next, we have a looong list of amazing knitters who are truly challenging themselves, and are willing to record it, too.  Whatever your particular knitting addiction is, I think we have some eye candy just for you.

Starting with Nicole's gorgeous in-progress Harika socks:

Being knit with Madelinetosh Glazed Sock in Baltic and Citrus (great color combination, right?).  The pattern is by Stephanie van der Linden and was published in the Winter 2008 issue of Twist Collective.  And, lookie, I found Nicole's socks on ravelry!

I have to admit that socks like Harika and Wallflower make me super excited for the upcoming Sock Club year, because Stephanie has agreed to design a pair of Fair Isle socks for this coming year.  I just can't wait to see what she comes up with.

But that's going to have to wait, because we have more projects to share.  Since we've been discussing socks, what a natural transition to Katie's First Socks (ever), which is always momentous:

Katie brought them in to show 'em off, as she should.  First Socks are a milestone in knitting and need to be celebrated.  We were very impressed by how well they matched.  My first socks were not so even or,  y'know... wearable.  These socks were made with "heirloom stash", so we don't have any information on them.  One can only hope that they're machine washable.  Either way, good job, Katie!

Next we have an adorable little bolero for a lucky little girl, knit by Juli:

Using Rowan Felted Tweed in Bilberry and the Knitting Pure & Simple Children's Bolero pattern.  Juli used a DK weight yarn (the pattern calls for worsted yarn) to make the finished sweater a little smaller.  I think we can all agree that the result is too cute!

And, speaking of cute - it's KITTEH time!

Sorry, couldn't resist.  The kitten formerly known as Bagheera came by for another visit and we couldn't resist.

Okay, back to the subject at hand.  We have another amazing FO to share, a beautiful shawl from The Fine Line, knit by Nora:

For her sister in Vienna.  Lucky sister!  The pattern, Dawn, is such a impressive design.  Nora chose to change the palette a little, making the color changes more striking, instead of gradient.  The finished piece is gorgeous, though, and it's nice to see a departure from the sample in the book.  Can't but love the gauzy semi-sheer fabric when the laceweight Wool 1 is knit on larger needles.

Our next project is the antithesis of dawn - twilight.  As in "Twilight Cuffs":

Knit by M, who admitted to being a closet Twilight fan, so we shall not use her full name and 'out' her.  The cuffs were knit with three different yarns: Black Trillium Sock, Rowan Kidsilk Haze, and ArtYarns Mohair & Silk.  M made them for The Author and is planning on making another set inspired by the Volturi.  The design was all her own. 

On a completely different note, I have snagged a couple of Eva's photos of her in-progress Aran Necklace Camisole:

Last I checked, she'd finished the cabling and was looking forward to lots and lots of plain knitting.  Well, I say 'looking forward'...  Anyway.  It's going to be gorgeous and completely worth the hours of stockinette.  Though, the way the weather has been acting, she might have to wear a wool sweater over it!  Here's her project journal on ravelry, for more information.

But, wait, there's more!  Up next we have Bonnie's awesome handspun yarn:

Spun single-ply, using Fleece Artist Bluefaced Leicester roving.  Which we do currently have in stock.  Lovely!  Hopefully she'll bring in whatever she knits with it.  Wouldn't that be fun?  {{hint:hint}}

Aaand, last but most certainly not least, we have Nancy's magnificent finished Girasole shawl:

Say it with me, "Wow". She used Handmaiden Sea Silk (luscious!) in Amethyst and the result is just glorious.  If you've never petted a Sea Silk shawl, you should.  It's entirely decadent (we have one on display right now, in fact).  But back to the beauty above.  I wish Nancy had posted this on ravelry, because this is a project that deserves some love. The pattern may have caused her a little frustration, but I think she was very pleased with the results.  Who wouldn't be?

And, with that, we have been brought up to date with all the lovely projects that enterprising knitters have brought it and shown off.  With luck, our regularly scheduled blogging (including tutorial!) will resume next week.  Of course, be sure to look for another edition of Fashionknitsta this Thursday.  Lindsay might just be closing in on finishing her Ishbel.

Until next week, watch out for La Niña!
Sara M.

Fashionknitsta Thursday: 7/9/10

Ok, ok! I know it's actually Friday, sorry for my absence yesterday! Time really got away from me and it's looking like today is going to be the same kind of story.

So, even though I don't have a huge post for you today, let's check in with how our Month o' Lace Ishbel Knit-a-long is going. I'm really excited by how many of you are participating in our Ishbel KAL. If you haven't already, check out the Ravelry thread here!

Here are Eva's (in Madelinetosh Pashmina) and my (in Malabrigo Sock) in progress Ishbels:

Eva (on the left) is almost through the stockinette center and I've just begun chart B. I've been having a great time knitting my Ishbel, it's going so quickly! By next Thursday I'm hoping to be through Chart C at least, maybe even getting ready to start the edging. I really have been surprised by how fast this is going, I've already begun contemplating yarn choices for my next Ishbel!

Here is Sara's, she's using Madelinetosh Tosh Sock in the limited edition colorway 'Skinnamarink' from last year's Sock Summit:

This photo is from a couple of days ago, I think at this point she was finishing up Chart B, so by now she's probably working her way through D!

I do have one really neat thing I just cannot wait until next week to share, the 365 Clock by Industrial designer Siren Elise Wilhelmsen.

Siren exhibited her knitting machine clock at the DMY International Design Festival in Berlin last month. This really interesting design seeks to make time a physical, tangible object. While at times minutes, hours, and days can seem subjectively long or short the '365' physically manifests those moments into a knitted cloth, always growing at the same rate like our hair or nails. One round is completed over the course of a day and after a year of use the clock creates a two meter long scarf.

For more information about Siren, or her projects, visit her website here - it's definitely worth checking out!

Sadly, I shall have to leave you with this for today. Please check back next week for another edition of Fashionknitsta. Until then, stay chic, blogfans!

-Lindsay

Fashionknitsta Thursday: 7/1/10

Hello and happy Thursday, everyone! It's finally summer and gorgeous here in Portland, I hope it is wherever you are as well! Sorry for my absence last week, I forgot that I would be in California celebrating my brother's graduation. I'm very excited to share the final photos of my sev[en] circle with you and to kick off our Month of Lace Ishbel Knit-a-long!

Before we get into all of that I do have a few patterns to share today. Starting with a gorgeous project Eva found and shared with me, the Lace and Pearls Necklace (pattern by Marta Costa) made by Dogged on Ravelry. The pattern was originally published in the May/June 2010 issue of Crochet Today:


I've posted a few patterns like this one before, and I still love this look. This one especially reminds me of a piece out of the Japanese book Knot. Most people used cotton crochet thread to make them, I would also do a cotton as it would hold shape better.

The next pattern I have to share you may have already seen, its made the rounds a bit on Ravelry, but I'm a big fan and I can't help myself! Manu by Kate Davies:

This beautiful sweater is knit with a Sport or DK weight yarn, I'd really love to see it in Road to China Light or Mirasol Nuna. There is a gorgeous version done in the Joseph Galler Alpaca (colorway Silver Grey) on Ravelry by Knittimo:

Absolutely lovely. According to the project details it took 1.5 skeins of the Galler Alpaca, she went without the buttons and shortened it a little bit.  I think it turned out fabulous. I would want to wear this gorgeous, feminine cardigan all the time. The rest of her projects are equally as beautiful, if you get a chance I would recommend checking them out here.

The last thing I have to share today is unfortunately not a pattern, but a great inspiration piece. The White and Lacey Lampshade by Vilma:

Detail:

She was inspired by some lace art she saw online and created this beautiful light fixture out of crocheted and starched doilies. This would be a great project and after some hunting I discovered there are a TON of free doily patterns on Ravelry. A couple I thought would be especially great in this pattern are:

The Starry Night Doily


The Mother & Daughter Doilies


and the Eight Point Star Doily

I would definitely attempt this in a cotton yarn to keep the crisp look, probably the Rowan Handknit Cotton, Cotton Glace, or the Purelife Organic Cotton 4 Ply.

Switching subjects a bit, here is the photo of my finished sev[en] circle:

and a detail shot:

I'm super excited to wear this and really happy with my yarn choice, the Mirasol Nuna, it looks so rich knit up!

Finally, the moment I know I've been waiting for, today officially marks the kick-off of our Month of Lace Fashionknitsta Ishbel Knit-a-long! I've started a Ravelry thread so we can discuss and follow along, and I'll be posting updates weekly on this blog with our progress in store. Here is a photo of mine (I just cast on this morning!) and my fellow blogger Sara M.'s (she just couldn't wait!):

Originally I was going to use Madelinetosh Pashmina, but after re-organizing and evaluating my stash I decided I would really like to use Malabrigo Sock in the colorway Turner. I'm so excited to knit with both this yarn, and colorway. Eva is still using the Madelinetosh Pashmina in colorway Terrarium and Sara is using Madelinetosh Tosh Sock in the limited edition colorway Skinnamarink, from last year's Sock Summit. I hope you'll join us!

And so, shipping calls and I'll have to leave you for today. I hope everyone has a great 4th of July holiday and will check back next week for another edition of Fashionknitsta. Until then, stay chic blogfans!

-Lindsay