What's New on Ravelry

Well, hello there blogger friends! As I anxiously await the arrival of summer weather here in Portland (I've been teased by a couple of sunny days, but nothing's sticking yet), I have been collecting more summer patterns to add to the queue. And well, I must admit, some of these are more suited for early fall. But nothing's wrong with knitting a season ahead, right? Now, on to the patterns!



Sheer, from Kim Hargreaves' Whisper

Last week, Knit Purl was bestowed with copies of Whisper, which (rather appropriately) took my breath away. The garment I can't stop making eyes at? Sheer, a tunic/dress with lovely details like puffed sleeve cuffs and delicate eyelet edging. I think this will work itself well into fall, and is probably pretty cute over patterned tights or solid-colored leggings when the breezes get a little much to bear bare-legged.

It calls for the warm-weather friendly Rowan Pima Cotton DK, but I think it might look really interesting in Rowan Purelife Revive.

I take pleasure knowing that the yarn is recycled, and the tweed created from the silk/cotton/viscose is truly delicious. I imagine the silk in the blend will give a nice drape to it. All in all, it will be a truly stunning piece!

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Lexi vest, by Celeste Varner / Shibui Toddler

Kids need fun transitional garments, too, so I must share my next favorite: The Lexi vest from the soon to be released Shibui booklet, Shibui Toddler. It’s a super cute hooded stripy vest that would work well as a little summer cover-up, and also a good layering piece in the fall over a turtleneck. Knit in Shibui Sock, I love the bright primary colors (Finch and Midnight) paired with a neutral color (Ivory). If I am ever to make multiples of these, I would also like to use sock yarn scraps for the stripes (a self-proclaimed fingering weight yarn addict here – I have a LOT of scraps!) to make a more multicolored version. Fun! Would this work in an adult size? Hmm...

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For those wanting to get a jump-start on their fall knitting, I have a couple of things I wanted to share:



Brownstone, by Jared Flood/Brooklyn Tweed

Not wanting to leave the men out, I wanted to share a semi-recent pattern that I really want to knit. It’s of course, designed by the prolific knitter/designer/blogger Jared Flood. I don't think you could get any more dapper than this. Shawl collar? Toggle buttons? SHELTER? Yes, please. Sign me up!
Of course, I am well aware of the sweater curse, and the only other man in my life I'll knit for is my dad, who lives in Sunny Southern California. Seeing as how he doesn't have much need for a wooly pullover, I guess I just have to make one for myself! I'm planning on fiddling with the numbers to make it fit me in the chest and also include some waist and bust shaping. It's definitely worth a try, right? Yes. Now, if only I could decide between Soot and Long Johns...

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Darrin, by Laura Chau / Knitty First Fall 2011

Last, but not least, the Knitty First Fall edition came out a couple days ago, and of course I am in love with the simple grey sweater, Darrin. Knit in the luxurious Road to China Light, it’s sure to be soft, cozy, and wonderfully drapy. I think that ribbed bit on the shoulder is crying out for some vintage buttons.
Sure, it’s a looooot of stockinette stitch, but that wonderful yarn will make it all worthwhile. My color pick? Well, besides the original Hematite (which I love!), Smoky Quartz.

That's all I have for now, but stay tuned for the next version! And as always, feel free to leave me a comment if there's anything you think is worth mentioning in my next post. Happy knitting! (And queuing!)

A Jumbo WIP Wednesday!

Hey there, blogfans! WIP Wednesday is back with a vengeance this week! We're all working on some fabulous summery projects that we're clamoring to share with you, some you've seen before and some brand new to the blog.

But first off, a big round of applause for Lindsay, who just bound off her Featherweight Cardigan yesterday--her first completed full size sweater! It's knit with one of our favorites, Madelinetosh Tosh Sock in Charcoal, and Lindsay improvised the textural seed stitch collar and trim. So gorgeous!

Anna also recently finished a project: her delightfully airy Citron shawlette, knit with Madelinetosh Prairie in Earl Grey. The color is magnificent, and the ruffled edge is pretty and feminine without being overly twee. Having knit one of these lovelies myself over the winter, I can say that this pattern is utterly addictive and so much fun to wear!

And now for some brand new beauties! Sandy is making great progress on Flynn, an adorable, richly cabled Grandpa-style cardigan from Rowan Summer Baby. The yarn shown in the book is Rowan's lightweight Cotton Glace, but Sandy decided to treat herself to a project made of one of our absolute favorite yarns, Marion Foale 3-Ply. It's a soft fingering weight wool that knits like a dream and is machine washable to boot!

Determined to overcome the dreaded SSS (Second Sock syndrome) that has plagued her in the past, Eva just cast on for a two-at-a-time pair of Pallazzoo socks, a pattern from our 2010 Sock Club, in Madelinetosh Tosh Sock. The delicate traveling stitch pattern (can you see it just under the cuff?) forms an intriguing lattice all over the sock. With this technique in her arsenal, Eva is sure she'll finish this pair!

Jenny recently started working on an ethereal Still Light tunic in Isager Alpaca 2, a cozy yet lightweight wool and alpaca blend. This dress, especially in a light neutral like Isager's color 2105, somehow manages to be summery and wintry at once--a surefire wardrobe stable throughout the seasons.

Oleya's latest is another pattern that seems to bridge the gap between winter and summer knitting perfectly: a Brooklet cowl in Madelinetosh Tosh Sock in Baltic and Steam Age. This double-sided cowl is knit in one piece with separate sections (one stockinette and one chevron lace) and then grafted together. I love the novel construction--not to mention that beautifully vibrant Baltic blue!

And don't think we've forgotten about you Liesl Knitalongers! We're still hard at work on our Liesls and making great progress. Anna, who was the last to cast on for her Habu Liesl, has actually become the first to finish and wear it to the store! I don't know what kind of knitting voodoo she's been up to, but we're all very impressed! Here's my Euroflax and Prairie Liesl, just about to reach the pockets.

And that's all, folks! We hope you're having a prolific summer of knitting so far as well! We'd love to hear about your projects, or any yarns or patterns that are inspiring you lately. Happy knitting!

Swatch Watch - An Ode to Tsumugi

Hello! This week we will look at a collection of swatches (knit by yours truly) inspired by one of my favorite yarns, Habu A-1 Tsumugi Silk. My thought on knitting is often "why use one yarn when you could use two?" In most of my knitting experiments, I have found Tsumugi to be the perfect lightweight yarn to carry with another. I love the tweedy texture that a fine strand of nubby silk adds to a fabric, and I adore the huge range of color choices that Tsumugi provides.

Here is my collection of Tsumugi swatches. You can see my obvious proclivity for the earthy, mossy tones! Don't worry - Tsumugi doesn't only come in grey and brown.

Louet Euroflax in Pewter and Habu A-1 Tsumugi Silk in color 54

I made this swatch in preparation for my Aran Necklace Camisole. This was my first project working with linen, and I just love the results! The two yarns complement each other beautifully. The cabled shoulder strap and yoke are knit on a size 4 / 3.5 mm needle and the body is worked on a size 7 / 4.5 mm. I have been wearing this top on a weekly basis since I finally finished it this Spring, and it has softened up immensely. Now I can't stop myself from imagining more Euroflax/Tsumugi pairings for future projects! See Erica's Liesl in our last Liesl KAL post for a more colorful combination of these yarns.

Habu A-1 Tsumugi Silk in color 54 with Habu A-1 Tsumugi Silk in color 12 and 14

If one strand of Tsumugi is so great, how about two strands? This was an experiment to see how my favorite silk would perform when worked doubled. I knit this on a size 7 needle. The fabric is nicely filled in but not dense. Using two contrasting colors (as shown on the top of the swatch, colors 54 and 12) lends a sharply dappled "mothwing" effect. I am not totally in love with these colors here, and I think it would be nicer in two shades with a little less contrast, like the rust/brown (colors 54 and 14) on the bottom half of the swatch. I really like the hand of the fabric - very drapey and soft in a way that only silk can be. I might try the double Tsumugi for a simple summer camisole or nightgown - tweedy decadence!

Skif Cotton Tape in White and Habu A-1 Tsumugi silk in color 12

Before everyone here at Knit Purl caught "Liesl Fever" (see our Liesl fiber combination schemings here), I tried this lovely combination of cotton and silk. I measured my gauge (4.5 sts/inch) and started to ponder my pattern options. Something summery and light? How about a Liesl! These two yarns combine to make a fabric that is stretchy, light and cozy. The Tsumugi in a slightly darker tone adds a marbled elegance. I love the fresh, summery white of this swatch, but sadly, it was not a good color on me. This led me to the next two swatches.

Skif Cotton Tape in Black and Habu A-1 Tsumugi silk in color 74

It amazes me how different this swatch is from the previous one. A similar color concept and identical yarns can give such an incongruous result - all the more reason to swatch. I thought I would like this one more than the first, but not so. The Tsumugi gets lost in the overpowering darkness of the black Skif tape. On the bottom on the swatch I switched out the color 74 for Tsumugi in color 54, but it didn't quite remedy the situation. I would try this again using the Skif tape in Black and Tsumugi in color 2, a mottled charcoal grey.

Skif Cotton Tape in Banyon and Habu A-1 Tsumugi silk in color 75

This color combination was inspired by a customer shopping for a nice summery yarn. I showed her my two previous swatches and she asked me if there was a similar combination in an olive green. Genius! I swatched it that night (in the round, even) and I just adore the results. Now I am knitting these yarns into a lovely summer dress that I can't wait to wear!

That's all for today. If you have any swatches you would like to share with us, please email your photos to eva@knit-purl.com. Until next time, Merry Swatching!

Next time: Shibui Swatches

What's New on Ravelry

Hi all!

I've been hard at work scouring the web and Ravelry for my favorite new patterns over the past two weeks. While I battle my seemingly endless WIP basket, I can't help but daydream about casting on for something new. Here's what I have for you this week:



The Jan Sweater, from The Knitter Magazine Issue 32

I'm always excited when I hear the newest edition of The Knitter is out. I love The Knitter for its fascinating articles and charming patterns. This month's issue was no exception, as The Jan Sweater caught my eye. I love vintage (and vintage-inspired) patterns, but often I am unsure about sizing and the way it will work with the yarn I have in my stash. This one has been revised by Susan Crawford, and uses sizing I'm familiar with and a modern yarn. It's so hard for me to decide what yarn I'd want to use for it (it uses a fingering weight), but Madelinetosh sock in one of the semi-solids or Sanguine Gryhon Eidos would be good candidates. Yum!





Nova, from Petite Purls, Spring 2011

Sometime last week, I was browsing Ravelry for patterns that used fingering weight silk/wool blends, and happened upon Nova from the Spring Issue of Petite Purls. While it's not a totally new pattern, it is a cute pattern that can pretty much be worn year round by kids from toddler to age 10. I love the stripes and buttoned flap - this tunic is totally cute! I think the hardest thing about this pattern is what color stripes to choose. Here are some combos I came up with in Shibui Staccato:

Suit + Ivory


Tide + Butter



Cotton Candy + Raspberry




Sothia, by Robin Ulrich

As if I don't have enough fingering weight shawls in my wardrobe already, I couldn't help but add Sothia to my queue. I love the three distinct sections: stripes, eyelets, and ruffles. It seems so light and delicate, but it's also a pretty substantial shawl, with the final dimensions measuring 60" wide x 20" height. Instead of going for the usual superwash sock yarn route, I might opt for Isager Alpaca 2 in some great neutrals.


402 & 100, perhaps?



Josefin, by Elin Berglund

Finally, I am very eager to knit Josefin, a much anticipated pattern from Elin Berglund. This simple stockinette pullover is elegantly edged with eyelet hems, neck, and cuffs. Not only is the pattern cute, but it includes 14 different sizes from 30" to 56". I appreciate the work that goes into including the large range of sizes. More patterns should do this, in my opinion, since we come in so many shapes and sizes. Hopefully other garment designers will take note! Designed in Madelinetosh Pashmina, it will look good and feel great to wear!

Well, that is all the pattern news I have for you here. I hope I have left you inspired. Check back in two weeks for the next installment. And as always, please share your latest pattern obsessions with me - I'd love to hear about them. Until next time!

Just a Little Knit: iFelt Cozy

It's been a bit of a hectic week at Knit Purl HQ and much to my dismay, we didn't have a chance to get everyone's projects together for the usual WIP Wednesday.

But don't fret! We still have something new (and dare I say better?) to share today! As much as we love sharing our knits in progress with you, we thought it might be fun to go a little deeper into a few of the projects we make and love, and give you all the tools you need to make them yourself. We'll be sharing some brand new patterns with you, as well as our personal tips and tricks to help you along.

Today, meet the iFelt Cozy.

I designed the first version of this iPad case for my boyfriend, whose love of handknits is outweighed only by his love of shiny gadgets. The essential criteria: it had to be soft, to protect that impeccably glossy screen, it had to be simple in looks and simple to use, and it had to be the perfect hand-selected color. The iFelt was met with high fives of appreciation on all counts. Plus, the cozy is such a quick, simple knit that I had it finished and felted in less than twenty-four hours! You can tweak the size a little by felting more or less, and the pattern is easily adaptable for smaller devices, like cell phones or MP3 players (please feel free to email me if you need some guidance on miniaturizing your iFelt!)

I used one of my personal favorite yarns for the project, Shibui Merino Alpaca. It's beautiful knit up , so I wasn't surprised to learn that it felts gorgeously as well. The fabric is extraordinarily soft, but firm enough to protect the precious cargo within, and it has a slightly nubby texture that keeps things interesting. Pictured here is Merino Alpaca in Peacock, one of Shibui's classic watercolors, but the new solid line would be really stylish here too! One of the things I like best about this pattern is that it's sort of a blank canvas--the knitting is so simple that you're free to do fun things with color and decoration. Try stripes, variegated yarns, even some post-felting embroidery!

A disclaimer about felting: the pattern has only been tested using this yarn, and every yarn felts differently. Keep in mind that if you substitute yarns, they might shrink at a different rate and your results might vary a little from the iFelt shown here. That said, I would love to hear about your experimentations in the felting realm! Most wool yarns or animal fiber blends felt well, but just make sure you're not using superwash wool that has been treated to resist felting--exactly the opposite of what you want to do!

The pattern is available as a free download on Ravelry, and the yarn is available here on our website. I hope all the tech-lovers among you enjoy this project as much as I did!

Vintage Modern Knits Extravaganza!

June is always a month full of excitement. School is out, summer is starting, and the days are getting longer and warmer . And now, we have another thing to look forward to: the ladies behind Kelbourne Woolens and Vintage Modern Knits are making a trip to the West Coast! That's right, superstar designers Kate Gagnon Osborn and Courtney Kelley are coming all the way from Philadelphia to visit Knit Purl for the first time, bringing with them an abundance of knitting knowledge and a whole lot of fun!

Courtney and Kate at a book signing

WHAT: A weekend of education and entertainment with Kelbourne Woolens
WHEN: Friday, June 24 - Sunday, June 26
WHERE: Right here at Knit Purl! (1101 SW Alder, Portland, OR 97205)

If you haven't already checked out Courtney and Kate's classes, now is the time! The pair will share their novel approach to vintage techniques and aesthetics with a fun, fresh twist through four unique classes centered around patterns from their book, Vintage Modern Knits. Each class will focus on teaching a different technique in an engaging group environment.

Entranced knitters at a Bohus-Inspired Knitting class

The weekend itinerary is as follows:

Friday, 5 pm - 7 pm: Book Signing with Kate and Courtney
Saturday, 10 am - 1 pm: Roositud Inlay, featuring Yvette Roositud Beret
Saturday, 2 pm - 5 pm: Setesdal Knitting, featuring Telemark Legwarmers
Sunday, 10 am - 1 pm: Fair Isle Stocking featuring Whitby Stockings
Sunday, 2 pm - 5 pm: Bohus-Inspired Knitting, featuring Baltic Beret

The classes are $75 for the first student and $25 for each additional person you sign up ($100 for two people, $125 for three, and so on). Try a class with a couple of friends for huge savings!

Plus, stop by during the free book signing on Friday evening for a chat with the awesome women behind those gorgeous designs! We will be serving delicious refreshments and we'll have plenty of books on hand, so if you haven't picked up your copy yet, pop in to have it signed by the designers themselves!

A very happy knitter with her newly signed book!

And as if you needed more to anticipate, Courtney and Kate are also bringing along their Vintage Modern Knits trunk show! Admire all the beautiful garments from the book up close and personal and get yarn and sizing advice right from the designers! If you've seen the book, you know these pieces are seriously a sight to behold (if not, you can see pictures of the patterns on Ravelry!). Come and get some inspiration for your own versions of the designs!

We hope you are as excited as we are to welcome Kate and Courtney to Portland! Whether you're taking classes or checking out the garments, we're sure you'll be inspired by their creative energy and style. Stop by any time over the weekend to take part in the fun!

Swatch Watch - Rhombus Wrap

Welcome to the first installment of Swatch Watch! I am Eva, ardent yarn enthusiast and filler of online orders. I love experimenting with new yarns and playing with color and fiber! I know not everyone agrees, but for me, swatching is one of the most exciting parts of the knitting process.

Every other week I will post a collection of swatches from the staff here at Knit Purl. With so much inspiration around here (and knitters with itchy fingers), I'm sure we will have plenty to talk about!

This week we will look at Sandy's swatches made in preparation for her Rhombus Wrap. This versatile vest is from Ori Ami Knits, a beautiful book that uses a wide selection of yarns from Habu Textiles. Sandy did a great job of trying out some really unexpected combinations and the results are gorgeous!

Here are all the swatches together. These were all knit on a size 7 needle and give a gauge of about 5.5 stitches to the inch. The stitch pattern used is called Float Stich, composed of stockinette and slipped stitches.

2 strands Habu Aresco Cotton A-134

This is the yarn specified in the pattern. It has great stitch definition and lovely drape. I had the good fortune of trying on the sample vest when we had the Habu trunk show here last March, and I fell in love! Sandy is currently knitting her Rhombus Wrap in this yarn. You can see her progress in the last WIP Wednesday post.

Other yarn ideas: Habu Cotton Gima, the unspeckled sister to Habu Aresco, would be a lovely option for a solid Rhombus.

1 strand Louet Euroflax Sport in Eggplant, 1 strand Madelinetosh Prairie in Duchess

I love this swatch. The linen adds sheen and structure and the wool is soft and drapey. It would be wearable year-round in our temperate Portland climate, over a tank top in the summer and long sleeves in the winter. I might have to make this one for myself!

Other color ideas: Louet Euroflax Sport in Natural with Madelinetosh Prairie in Calligraphy

1 strand Punta Yarns Montoya Beach Linen in Navy

This linen is a little heavier and more loosely spun than the Louet Euroflax. With additional washings, this fiber would soften beautifully. A Rhombus wrap in Montoya Beach Linen would be a summer staple!

Other color ideas: A marled colorway of Montoya Beach Linen would give more depth and interest to the finished fabric.

2 strands Madelinetosh Prairie in Duchess, 1 strand Habu Wool Stainless A-148 color 49, 1 strand Habu Tokken Viscose silk A-165 color 27

What a unique blend of fibers! The Habu Wool Stainless adds fiber memory and the Tokken Viscose silk lends some toothiness to the finished fabric. The Madelinetosh Prairie (a staff favorite) is soft and cozy. Knit together, these fibers create a gorgeous fabric that is soft and light.

Other yarn ideas: 2 strands Isager Alpaca 1 knit together with 1 strand Habu Silk Stainless and one strand Habu Tsumugi N-76 would make similar (and equally interesting!) fabric.

1 strand Habu N-24 Paper wrapped with Raw Silk, 1 strand Louet Euroflax Sport in Aqua

Crisp and light. This combination would be great for structured, modern garments. I think the N-75 adds an interesting texture to the finished piece.

Other yarn ideas: Habu Shosenshi Linen Paper held with Isager Hoere would give a similar effect. Knit it in black for a unique and dramatic fabric!

That's all for today. Until next time, happy swatching!

Eva

IOU Thursday in lieu of WIP Wednesday...

My sincerest apologies, blog fans, for dropping the ball on WIP Wednesday this week. Most of us are hard at work on our Liesl knitalong projects, but unfortunately we haven't been able to get all the projects in one place! Rest assured, however, that you will get a peek at our projects tomorrow, in addition to an exciting new blog column by Eva!

Thanks for your patience! More tomorrow!

WIP Friday: Liesl Madness

Welcome to a very special edition of WIP... er, Friday! As you may know, Wednesday marked the official start of our summer knitalong, Liesl by Cocoknits, and we want to show off our new projects to all of you! We have been summer-starved for far too long here in Portland, so this quintessential summer project has given us a chance to pretend that it's warm and sunny outside... no wonder we can't get enough!

Eva, one of the forerunners of the knitalong, cast on about a week ago, and she's making amazing progress on her SKIF and Habu A-1 Tsumugi Liesl! Instead of the mitered decrease in the pattern, Eva is doing an improvised mirrored decrease for a very tidy side "seam." This springy, tweedy yarn combination will make for a soft and stretchy garment.

Another Tsumugi fan (this time with held with Louet Euroflax Sport), Erica is moving right along on her Liesl as well. Erica's linen and silk combo has a very beachy vibe; the vibrant aqua color suits her beautifully and just screams summer!

My Liesl has become my bedtime knitting project, and despite my drooping eyelids, I can never seem to put it down! The combination of Euroflax and Madelinetosh Prairie is highly addictive. This is my first time knitting with linen, and I love the stiff but soft dichotomy the yarn presents.

And Anna, suddenly struck by inspiration, just cast on today for her Liesl in Habu A-1 Tsumugi and N-75 Fine Merino. It's super lightweight and airy, the perfect warm weather project!

Have you cast on for your Liesl yet? Share the love in the comments! Wishing everyone a happy and yarn-filled weekend!