Tips and Tricks: Winter Beach’s m5-3b

November 27, 2013January 16, 2017remilyknits Leave a comment

People are making Winter Beach! This makes me ridiculously happy. I wrote up some swatching directions to help knitters succeed. In addition to the customary stockinette gauge swatch, I give directions for a shaping/lace swatch, to practice the techniques used in the pattern. In particular, the “m5-3b” stitch (found at the base of each flower) is new to many. Whenever possible, I try to practice any totally new stitch on a swatch, instead of risking my garment.

I made a quick video for m5-3b (aka, make 5 stitches, 3 rows below), and today’s blog post includes a step-by-step picture tutorial. Learn whichever way suits you best!

Here’s the practice swatch, first in Kenzie and then in Inca Alpaca.

The quick tutorial video:

And now, for your tips-and-tricks pleasure, the photo tutorial for m5-3b!

Stitch definition for m5-3b: Make 5 sts by (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1) in stitch 3 rows below first stitch on left-hand needle (after m5 is complete, drop stitch off left-hand needle, allowing three rows to ladder down to m5 row)

Step#1: Identify the target stitch, into which we will be working. The first stitch on the left needle is “zero” — count down 1, 2, 3 holes. In this photo, the right needle is beginning to enter the target stitch.

Step #2: Knit 1 through the target stitch

Step #3: Yarn over

Step #4: Knit 1, then yarn over

Step #5: Knit 1 (this is the fifth and final stitch made)

Step #6: Drop the first stitch off the left needle — allow 3 rows to ladder down (they are secured within the (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1)

Step #7: M5-3b is complete!

CO Monday: Design Project in Alpaca Sox

November 25, 2013November 25, 2013remilyknits Leave a comment

This week I cast on for a new design project, for Classic Elite’s Fall 2014 collection. I can’t tell you much about it, but I will say that it uses two colors of Alpaca Sox (one handpainted, one solid) and that I am so pleased with how it’s coming along.

FO Friday: Firebird Rhea Silvia

November 22, 2013November 21, 2013remilyknits 1 Comment

I finished, finally! 🙂 I give you … a very BRIGHTLY colored cowl/wrap:

Project: Firebird Rhea Silvia

Pattern: Rhea Silvia

Designer: Sara Morris

Available: $6 on Ravelry

Yarn: A Hundred Ravens Iachos in “Midst Her Fires”

Two skeins of Iachos ends up being not quite enough yarn for a Rhea Silvia. If I’d read the pattern thoroughly, I would have know this. Instead, I got caught off guard … fortunately, I was able to bind off a row or three early on both edges, and it still looks pretty good. Even with blocking, I’m finding the border flares more than I like. If I make another Rhea Silvia, I’ll probably decrease more when transitioning from the cabled body to the border in order to limit/eliminate this flare.

That said, I’m delighted with the end product! Kate’s yarn shines (glows, even!) in this pattern. The striping and pooling of hand-dyed yarn can be SO much fun! I’ve been wearing it doubled-up (see below) and getting lots of compliments.

Tips and Tricks: Knit Shopping List

November 20, 2013November 19, 2013remilyknits 2 Comments

Dear reader … how do you manage your shopping at big yarn festivals and fairs? Inquiring minds want to know!

At both the New England Fiber Festival and Stitches East, I armed myself for efficient shopping my own specially-formatted list of projects for which I would permit myself to buy yarn. Although I was chuffed with myself for being a brutally deliberate buyer-of-yarn, I didn’t think the list itself was anything particularly special.

Well, color me wrong! Yet again. I showed the list to people, hoping to get congratulatory pats on the back. Heck, I’m only buying yarn for projects I might actually someday make! But, they were more interested in the list itself. For each pattern, I have a picture to remind me what it looks like (stolen from Ravelry and shrunk to 1″ high), info about the yarn required (mostly weight and yardage, plus any other details), and room for comments.

Here’s my list for NEFF:

Don’t you love how I’m permitting myself to speculate in sock yarn, but only up to two skeins worth?

I bought yarn for some of these projects at NEFF, so my list for Stitches East has some repeats and some new items:

You can download my knitting shopping list as Word doc, pre-formatted for your knit-shopping pleasure. I’ve even put in specs for several Remily Knits patterns. You know, just in case.

Cast-On Monday: Handspun Twist & Shout, Farfalla in Fall

November 18, 2013November 18, 2013remilyknits 5 Comments

I’ve been doing a lot of spinning since the New England Fiber Fest — I’ll save the details for a FO Friday post, but for now feast your eyes on my long-draw woolen 2-ply from Spunky Eclectic’s hand-painted Targhee roving:

This was my first time with a new spinning technique, so the finished product is a bit unevenly spun and is definitely “thick and thin” in weight. I chose a simple pattern for bulky yarn that would let me wear the sumptuously soft, pretty blue yarn right by my face: Twist and Flounce by Sharon Dreifuss. I love how it’s working up so far:

I also started a project with the test skeins from the gradient dyeing day with Kate. I met Christiane Burkhard (of Lismi Knits) at Fiber Festival, and got to see her Farfalla in person. It had been in my queue for quite a while, and seeing it in person made me bump it up in my queue. I had had plans to knit some faux-isle mittens and hat with the coordinating/contrasting skeins of bright fall colors and slate gray, but the yarn was perfect for a Farfalla. The design here is so clever, and it’s an enjoyable knit so far:

FO Friday: Winter Track Mitts for Seth

November 15, 2013November 14, 2013remilyknits 1 Comment

I made some mitts!

Project: Winter Track Mitts

Pattern: Fried Chicken Mittens (modified)

Designer: Ellen Mason

Available: FREE on Ravelry

Yarn: Longmeadow Farm 100% Merino Wool

The Fried Chicken Mittens pattern is one of my favorites. The mittens fit great, and the pattern is quick and easy to followp So, when my eldest son asked for a pair of warm mittens for outdoor track practice this winter, I knew exactly which pattern I’d use. Yarn choice was fraught — he wanted “dark blue or dark grey” with little or no color variation. I showed him some tweedy blue from my stash, and he wanted to know what “all those white flecks” were for :). No go on the tweedy blue. Fortunately, I found the perfect skein of plush worsted merino at NEFF:

I was a little afraid it would be TOO heathered for his delicate sensibilities, but lucky for me — he gave the subtle colorway the official teenage thumbs up. Since he had originally asked for mittens, I started making mittens. About halfway through the palm I did a fitting, and he asked if I could “stop making them before the fingers closed.” After a quick conversation I realized he was asking for fingerless mitts, so that’s what I made.

He liked them so much, he let me take a picture or two!

Stitches East 2013

November 14, 2013remilyknits 2 Comments

Oh my, is it Thursday already? I feel like I’m only just barely recovered from my two-day stint at Stitches East.

I should say up front that it was a BLAST helping out at at Kate’s booth for A Hundred Ravens. I drove down with Donna and about half the booth stuff on Thursday for setup, and then Lauren and I left Friday and stayed the rest of the weekend. We described ourselves variously as booth babes, helper monkeys (my favorite), groupies, and ??probably other things too?? :). The booth was beautiful and inviting, and we had lots of traffic.

It was so fun to meet all the shoppers, many of whom had never seen Kate’s yarn before! What a pleasure to share my love of the colorways of A Hundred Ravens.

Because there were three of us staffing the booth, everyone got to steal away for a little bit from time to time. Armed with my shopping list and a map of the show floor with certain booths highlighted, I was able to get around to everything I wanted to see.

In bought yarn for four projects (left to right):

100% Romney worsted-weight yarn (in blue and silver) from Glenfiddich Wool (for a Themisto hat, possibly two with reversed color schemes)
Traveller (in Rhinebeck and Vitebsk) from The Verdant Griffon (for a Portsmouth, NH scarf/shawlette)
Opalescent (in Sugar Plum and Orion) from Wandering Wool (for a Hedgerow Jam sampler cowl)
Plush DK (in Peacock’s Pride) from Apple Tree Knits (for a ruffle-y button-y Coat Scarf)

I also picked up some not-yarn goodies:

the PERFECT button (from Dimensions) for my Carillon Cloche (currently first in my queue)
some adorable Hiya-hiya stitch markers (oh dear, can’t remember which booth)
an awesome project bag from Erin Lane Bags
my new favorite (non-knit) hat from Carole Amper Toucan Hats

I was especially excited to visit the Skacel booth, which featured the designs from The Fiber Factor. I visited my things, and chatted with Cirilia and Jodi. Both are lovely & delightful — so glad to meet them in person. Jodi almost let me steal my hat, but that would have been wrong. Besides, I already have yarn to knit one for myself! Once or twice someone visiting the booth recognized me from the show — that was cool! I also got to check out the other contestant’s designs in person! It was great to get my hands on them and see the answers to questions I’d had about construction and technique :).

On Sunday I roped in some friends to help model my entries:

This same awesome group of friends stayed until the end of the day on Sunday, and then helped Kate, Lauren, and me break down the booth in record time. Kate and I pulled into the loading dock line as the 2nd and 3rd cars, and still had to wait 20-ish minutes before entering the building (did I mention we got to drive inside! whee!). By the time we had packed the cars and headed out, the line was at least two dozen vehicles long … HOURS of waiting, no doubt.

Winter Beach Pattern — Now Available!

November 8, 2013remilyknits 4 Comments

Well, I am literally leaving the house in 15 minutes — working at Stitches East all weekend in Kate’s booth (A Hundred Ravens — come say hi!!).

BUT — I couldn’t leave without sharing the good news — Winter Beach is now available for purchase on Ravelry. I’ll be hosting a KAL in the Remily Knits group on Ravelry. Please join us there!

I’ve also made a mailing list for Remily Knits — if you want timely announcements about KALs, new patterns, test knitting opportunities, and the like — join the list! I promise not to abuse your email.

FO Friday: Morticia Raven

November 8, 2013November 7, 2013remilyknits 3 Comments

I made a Boo Knits shawl!

Project: Mortica Raven

Pattern: Morticia

Designer: Boo Knits

Available: £4.00 GBP on Ravelry

Yarn: A Hundred Ravens Alfar in “Smoke”

Beads: A: Miyuki Triangle Seed Bead 8/0 Metallic Gunmetal from Auracrystals.com MY-TR08-0451; B: Miyuki Round Seed Bead 8/0 Transparent Crystal AB from Auracrystals.com MY-08-0250

I think this kind of lace speaks for itself. I thoroughly enjoyed this Mystery KAL. I managed to keep up, which is saying something! “Morticia” is just plain beautiful — a totally fun and challenging knit. I loved ALL the beading. I thought I might die from the final cast-off … took me the better part of two solid evenings … but I did finish, and it was completely worth the effort.

Fiber Festival of New England: 2013 Trip

November 6, 2013November 5, 2013remilyknits 8 Comments

On Saturday last, seven of us packed into my minivan and we drove down to the Big E to touch, covet, and even acquire some of loveliest yarn, fiber, and animals I have yet to see. I shared a bunch of photos as we went via instagram — here are some of my favorites…

Kate’s gorgeously colorful booth for A Hundred Ravens: