Fantasy Queue: Summer 2012 Interweave Knits

May 9, 2012May 6, 2012remilyknits 3 Comments

I was casting about for a subject for this week’s Wednesday post, when what should appear but ~~a Rose-Suchak ladder~~ the Summer 2012 issue of Interweave Knits. The lace shawl on the cover is gorgeous, and I know I’ve already favorited a few patterns as they’ve popped up on Ravelry. If you’re new to the idea of a Fantasy Queue, here’s how it works: if you had a generous yarn budget and plenty of time to knit, what would YOU make? Here’s my list from this issue of IK:

The first sweater that caught my eye is in an ad — Fiona Ellis’ Cable and Rib Top, available free from Cascade Yarns. Alas, no link on Ravelry (as of yet), so I can’t easily add it to my (real) queue. I’ve worked with Ultra Pima before, and I love my Ruched Yoke Tee. Although I’m not a huge fan of reverse stockinette … I might try flipping the piece and knitting left-handed when long stretches of purl present themselves. That or Portuguese purling will get me through. I think I’d go for a rich pink, like Deep Coral.

I’ve knit a bit of beaded jewelry, and the Endira Necklace definitely looks amazing! The magazine says it’s worked in Louet Euroflax Linen, but the Ravelry page claims Louet Euroflax Paris. I hope the magazine is right, because Paris is discontinued! I suspect that the linen content is an important structural part of this piece. A quick search online leads me to believe getting this yarn may be a bit of a struggle, and (worse) I may have to buy an entire cone when this necklace only needs 50 yards. Hmmm. If it came to that, I’d probably choose a warm neutral color like Champagne, so I could make more than one using different colored beads.

Speaking of unusual yarns, the Greta Headband calls for Handmaiden Sea Three, an aran-weight silk/seacell blend. The designer describes it as “sleek and ultrasoft … drapes like a dream.” Sounds fantastic, and it had better be at $40 per 100-g skein! I think I’d go with one of the variegated colorways, like Blackberry.

I’m tempted to try the pattern in CEY Sanibel. I can see it working out ok … and I love the varied textures and colors of this yarn. Maybe Pistachio? It’s certainly a friendlier price — just $10 per 50-g skein. Even if I ended up needing two, that’s half the price of Sea Three.

I am very much looking forward to knitting Susanna IC’s latest lace confection: Summer Blooms Shawl. I have a newfound love of Malabrigo Lace, so I might pick up some of that … or perhaps I’ll use Alpaca Cloud … I have some leftovers in several colorways. Now that I think it over … I have 2+ hanks in Tidepool Heather, along with coordinating beads, that were meant for a Laminaria — I think I’ll repurpose that yarn for Summer Blooms!

Speaking of sweet little lace projects, I also really, really like the Pianissimo Mitts. I suspect they’d be light on the hands, yet warm. One might accuse me of invoking any excuse to use Madelinetosh. I already know how beautiful Jade is in Tosh DK (as used in my Evergreen Beanie) — maybe I could make some pretty matching mitts? Or, as the designer suggests, I could use up some leftover bits of laceweight, since even the larger size only requires 225 yards.

I absolutely love the look of the Seaglass Shell. So dramatic! Lace in the back, plain in the front; that swooping drape of stockinette framing the lace! If only I had the body to match, I would be bumping all other projects so I could wear this sleeveless top right away. Alas, I can’t realistically go bra-less, and seeing a bra-strap through that lace would spoil everything. I’ll console myself by speculating that the gorgeous look of the back can only be maintained by near-perfect posture, and would gap horribly in real life. I’m sorry to say all four patterns in the “clay, cotton, wood, & wool” story seem meant for small-chested girls who can leave bras at home without risking injury or exposure. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

So there you have it — my favorites from this issue. Peruse the mag, browse the patterns on rav — what would YOU make?

CO Monday: Eye of the Storm

May 7, 2012May 6, 2012remilyknits Leave a comment

This week I cast on a long-delayed design project. I’m on Knitty’s designer email list, and the reminder that Deep Fall submissions are due in June lit a fire under my rear. I have meant to work up this design — I feel like it’s perfect for Knitty, and oh how I dream of having a pattern in Knitty — but I’ve put it off, worked on other things, and so on. Of course I can’t put any photos up of the project, or even talk about it really, but I can show you the yarn. I’m working on #6’s for a lacy/drapey fabric. The edge lace pattern I’ve settled on is working up beautifully. Now all I need is commitment to THIS project (and not the lace KAL, or the cool hat, or the other design project, or the sample for the shop, or or or) so I can get it done, photographed perfectly, and written up Knitty-style by the end of the month.

FO Friday: Alizarin Damask

May 4, 2012April 22, 2012remilyknits 1 Comment

Project: Alizarin Damask

Pattern: Damask

Designer: Kitman Figueroa

Available: $5 on Ravelry

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Alizarin

This is my second try on this particular pattern, and I’m glad I stuck it out! I love the undulating waves, punctuated by nupps and wrapped stitches. There’s a lot going on with this pattern, and in retrospect I wish I’d chosen a lighter-colored yarn … but I loved working with the Tosh Light, and I love wearing the finished shawlette. I made the small size, and it’s really more kerchief than shawl.

New Pattern Release: Elderberry Lace Cardigan

May 2, 2012May 1, 2012remilyknits 2 Comments

Introducing my latest pattern: the Elderberry Lace Cardigan! This lacy cardi is a simple and elegant layering piece, perfect for cheering up a cool fall day. Zig-zag eyelets rise in narrow columns over the skirt, body, and sleeves. Think airy, feminine, and colorful. Here’s a photo of the sample sweater on my deck at home …

… and here’s a photo on the model for the UK magazine “KNIT” (issue #49)!

I’m especially proud to report that my cute spring cardi made the cover of the magazine:

Pattern: Elderberry Lace Cardigan

Designer: Rachel Henry

Available: on newsstands in KNIT #49 (pattern will also be available for individual download late in 2012)

Yarn: Sidar Simply Recycled DK

Design/Skills Needed: The body is worked in a single piece to the armholes. The waist is nipped in by using a slipped-stitch pattern (rather than shaping), and is secured by a single large button. Set-in sleeves are worked from the top down from picked-up stitches; short-row shaping creates the sleeve caps. Hem, neck, and sleeves are finished with an easy ribbed eyelet worked as you go. Finishing is limited to shoulder seams, sewing on a button, and weaving in loose ends.

I love the button I found for this cardi:

Here’s my concept sketch, for the truly curious:

Cast-on Monday: AMS KAL 2012

April 30, 2012May 6, 2012remilyknits Leave a comment

I have swatched my Malabrigo Lace in “Olive,” with Amber TR beads (size 8):

I was at an agility trial all weekend, but my friend Chris and I cast on for the “Anniversary Mystery Shawl 2012” by GoddessKnits in a tent, using Chris’s i-phone to display the pattern. I did about a dozen rows by lantern-light before turning in for the night :).

I believe there are still a few days to sign up for this KAL, if you are interested … hint hint! 🙂

FO Friday: Evergreen Beanie

April 27, 2012April 5, 2012remilyknits 3 Comments

Project: Evergreen Beanie

Pattern: Everdeen Beanie

Designer: Tanis Gray

Available: in Weekend Hats

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Jade

Oh how I love this yarn! Oh how I love this pattern! It really is a match made in heaven. Tosh DK is squishy and wonderful in every possible way, and the non-pooling variegated greens never cease to amaze. The pattern evokes fish scales or waves, or (if you’re a truly mad knitter) you might think of the famous Pomatomus socks by Cookie A (I’ve made two pair, so I know a bit of what I speak). The body of the hat is essentially 1×1 twisted rib, with increases and decreases that make the rib swoop around so attractively. It also makes for an elastic, bouncy, warm hat — love it!

In the spirit of matchy-matchy, I opted to do the brim in 1×1 twisted-knit rib (rather than the 2×2 plain rib called for in the pattern), so that the rib would flow directly into the main body pattern. I also changed the first round — I did a regular k2tog (in lieu of a k2togtbl) on round 1, every repeat of the pattern. To my eye, this allowed the waves to flow into each other more smoothly.

CO Monday: Soft Purple Kitty Capelet

April 23, 2012April 22, 2012remilyknits 1 Comment

It’s been almost two weeks since I cast on a new project! I’m not sick, I’m not deranged–I’m just trying to whittle down my WIP count. I actually have finished a bunch of things — Eli’s orange hoodie, the knit Jasper, and the Echo Flower shawl. Yay!

My new project is another sample for the Hub Mills store: a Noelle Capelet in the called-for yarn, Rowan Lima. This yarn is heavenly, and I literally begged for the opportunity to knit a sample with it. Lucky me, I got the thumbs up! I’ve got the ribbed neckline done — the rest in just raglan increases and stockinette in-the-round. Here’s my color:

Tips and Tricks: Rodekool is Dutch for Lace Brioche

April 22, 2012April 22, 2012remilyknits 2 Comments

Back in February, I cast on for my very own Rodekool de Kool. Designer Nancy Marchant published Rodekool in the Deep Fall 2010 issue of Knitty — it’s still available (for free!) there. Keeping in mind that I’ve never done much (any?) brioche before tackling this “extraspicy” pattern, and also keeping in mind that this pattern involves not only brioche but also lace … it totally kicked my butt at first.

Getting through the set up rows and first few repeats of the lacy brioche pattern very nearly did me in. It took every last ounce of available mental prowess, kntterly skill, and concentration. Thankfully, once I’d accomplished those first few rows … things began to settle in. Here’s the RS and WS just after the keyhole:

So pretty, right? For once I used the called-for yarn, and (by accident) selected the same colorway as the sample, so if my version looks a bit like the photographs in the pattern, that’s why.

I’ve trucked right along on this project, but I find I can’t work on it at knitting group (chatting!) — at least not successfully. But, working on it at knitting group did help me learn how to tink lace brioche! Ugh. I have also learned how to fix (small) mistakes, and also pick up the stitches after ripping out several rows.

I’m nearly done with my Rodekool de Kool, and I wanted to share how I’ve been doing it. I’m not saying it’s totally right (though I believe it is) — naturally this is my interpretation of the pattern, and not endorsed by the designer or knitty, and so on. Usual caveats apply! In editing I already noticed that I keep calling the big decrease a “quintuple” decrease when I should have say “quadruple.” Oops. But, I also feel like I figured out a bit of a shortcut with the wrong-side rows — of course for all I know, brioche knitters already know my little trick, but just in case, I thought I’d share.

With all that, I’m sure you are dying to see what I’ve come up with. I split the video into three parts. First up: Row 1 (RS, MC)

Still with me? Here’s Row 1 (RS, CC):

The part that’s “mine” is next. Row 2 is just straight-up brioche — no lace — and fairly early on I decided it must be possible to work the stitches in a single pass, rather than doing first the MC, then the CC. Here’s my take on Row 2 (WS, MC & CC together):

I hope this was enjoyable and even useful! This is a great pattern with a lot to offer.

FO Friday: Hellebores Wristlets

April 20, 2012April 5, 2012remilyknits 3 Comments

Project: Hellebores Wristlets

Pattern: Hellebores

Designer: Anne Hanson

Available: $8 on Ravelry; includes matching beret pattern

Yarn: CEY Silky Alpaca Lace in #2458

Although I really like my finished wristlets, this pattern was a bit of a slog. For me, the lace never made sense, so it was tricky to follow. Ending with 24 rounds of itty-bitty 1×1 ribbing did not help my mood. But, the finished bits of lacy softness are a true delight, and help add a bit of warmth and color when tucked into the ends of a jacket or sweater. I like the idea and would make more in the future, but with a different lace pattern, I think.

New Pattern Release: Mhara Baby Blanket

April 18, 2012April 18, 2012remilyknits 4 Comments

Introducing my latest pattern: Mhara Baby Blanket! Mhara means “sea” in Gaelic.

Pattern: Mhara Baby Blanket

Designer: Rachel Henry (that’s me!)

Available: for $1.99 through Knit Picks IDP or $2.50 on Ravelry

Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Bulky in Tranquil

Design/Skills Needed: This fully reversible baby blanket is worked on the bias in garter stitch. Step-wise increases and decreases are embellished as you go with crocheted waves. Explicit directions for stroller- and crib-sized blankets are given, but the pattern is easily adapted for larger or smaller blankets. This pattern includes complete photo tutorials for the step-wise increases and the crocheted embellishment. For ease of printing, these tutorials appear at the end of the pattern. Experienced knitters may print just page 2 for complete pattern with no extraneous photos or information.

Familiarity with crocheting is helpful, but not necessary. Almost any yarn will work with this pattern, provided you use appropriately-sized needles.