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Blog EntriesLook what came in the mail last week!
Posted on | December 19, 2011 | 22 Comments
My books from Interweave arrived last week and it’s so exciting to finally be able to hold a physical copy in my hands at last. In the coming weeks, I’ll be talking about the designs that make up the book as well as the design process for some of them. Post any questions you might like answered in the comments. I’ll also do a book giveaway after the new year, so stay tuned!
Buttons = candy
Posted on | December 9, 2011 | 2 Comments
I bought a little mini-collection of buttons for future baby designs on my way home from work last week. Don’t they look scrumptious?
The Carlmont Hoodie is now available
Posted on | December 8, 2011 | 4 Comments
Because I spent the last year or so, elbow deep in work on my book, it feels like it’s been forever since I’ve released a pattern. I am so happy to finally do that with a design I did way back in May for the Fibre Space’s Indie Indulgence Club.
This fun pullover is worked in Tosh Merino DK (a rounded single ply yarn dyed in Madelinetosh’s gorgeous, glazed color palette) and combines two of my favorite designs elements — henley plackets and hoods. The placket with cable and garter stitch flourishes is closed with rustic wooden buttons, amping up the garment’s versatility. The generous hood is trimmed in the same cables that dot the placket while deep garter sleeve cuffs and body side slits are just the right details. Worked in the round up to the placket and back and forth thereafter, the Carlmont Hoodie requires minimal seaming. Sleeves are picked up and worked from the top down, making it easy to adjust their length to suit your tastes. More detailed specs and photos taken by the talented Parikha Mehta are below. I hope people like my latest offering.
Stats/Specifications:
Finished Size: 32½ (35½, 37¼, 39½, 41¼, 43½, 47½, 51½)” to fit bust sizes 31 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 50)” with a suggested ease of 1 to 2”. Sample measures 35½”.
Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK (100% superwash merino wool; 225 yards, 100 grams): Gilded, 5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 
skeins.
Needles: Size 6 and Size 7 32” circular needles.
Notions: Markers (m); stitch holders; spare US 7 needle for 3-needle BO; Size H crochet hook; tapestry needle; 10 (10, 10, 11, 11, 11, 11) 1/2” buttons; sewing needle and matching thread.
Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4” in St st.
Baby designs on the brain
Posted on | December 7, 2011 | 4 Comments
Not surprisingly I suppose, I have baby designs on the brain lately. My mind is constantly churning with what might look cute on my daughter, Olivia — who is already somehow 9 months (how did that happen?). My philosophy with baby knits is scaling down and incorporating elements of design that I already gravitate towards in adult knits. I’m not a huge believer in overly cute baby clothing…though I do admit being charmed by babies in garments with cuddly animal touches. Who doesn’t love little bear ears on a baby onesie like the ones Debbie Bliss makes?
I have two upcoming baby designs I’ll release soon. One is the Wee Austin Hoodie (which I’ve posted about previously), a kid-friendly version of the adult Austin. It’s been tech edited and is just waiting for more photos and the layout. The other is a double breasted coat in a gorgeous pale pink. The yarn is Quince Lark, a wonderfully basic — in the best sense — wool yarn which incidentally, comes in a wide variety of pleasing shades.
Handknitless No Longer
Posted on | November 23, 2011 | 7 Comments
Several weeks ago, we visited Ithaca and we stopped by my favorite yarn shop, Knitting Etc. Olivia picked out her color which was then promptly overruled by me. A few short weeks later, a cardigan was born*.
* Actually, the real story is I knit the sample (pictured) for the Wee Austin in the weeks leading up to Rhinebeck, but the resulting garment (in Tart!) was slated for a friend’s new baby. I re-knit the cardigan in a bigger size in the Cousteau colorway (a gorgeous seaglass blue) for Olivia.
A Look of Reproach from a Handknit-less Baby
Posted on | October 3, 2011 | 12 Comments
No, I haven’t knit her anything since her coming-home cardigan months ago. Yes, I am working on something for her for Rhinebeck. Maybe I’ll even get it done in time.
Lights, Camera, Action — Knitting Daily TV
Posted on | September 23, 2011 | 1 Comment
I was at the Knitting Daily TV studios last week to tape two short segments promoting my upcoming book — Textured Stitches. I was really nervous about having to talk in public — or in this case, in front of hosts Shay and Eunny, the TV crew, and a bunch of cameras — but everyone was so welcoming and friendly that I felt more relaxed about the whole thing in no time. I flew in the day before the taping to get my bearings, see a few shows from the same season being taped, and knit a few last minute swatches. My taping was bright and early the following day and after a quick lunch, I was on my way home. I only wish I had more time to chat with everyone. I was also bummed to find out that I missed seeing Courtney and Kate, who were just there for their segment, by one day.
Angela Hahn’s Bunny Yoke Pattern Available Now!
Posted on | August 21, 2011 | 5 Comments
I was hoping the next time I posted I’d have some knitting progress of my own to report, but alas, I’m stuck in a bit of a rut. My top-down design with Canopy Fingering is languishing a bit as I try to decide what to do about the hems. I’ve knit and ripped out several iterations already and the project is currently on a brief time-out while I try to decide what to do next.
But as lazy as I’ve been, my friends have been industrious. Angela just released her adorable bunny yoke pattern the other day. She gifted this crazy cute pullover to my daughter Olivia, who was born in the year of the rabbit. I love the whimsical and inventive yoke of bunnies at play. Today I managed to coax a little smile out of her and snapped two quick modeled photos. And while the sweater is still a bit big for her (which means it’ll be perfect for the fall and winter); at 5 months, she’s an easier model now to photograph then when I first attempted to take pictures.
I wish the yoke was more visible; since it’s still on the big side, it tends to get scrunched up in places. I’ll try another set of photos in a few months.
Yellows on my mind
Posted on | July 12, 2011 | 4 Comments
My mother always warned me away from yellows, saying they brought out the sallow pallor of our Asian skin. But I’ve always been drawn to it, in all its many shades and nuances. I made Olivia’s coming-home Tern cardigan in Buoy, a rich golden yellow, banking on the possibility that she’d inherit my husband’s yellow-friendly complexion. Although she has my skin, I think the hue still complements her nonetheless:
I’m slowly getting back to my indie designing. My current vacation project features top-down construction, lace, and a truly delicious yarn – the Fibre Company’s Canopy Fingering in Cat’s Claw, a pale and delicate yellow with just the barest whisper of its hand-dyed roots. Canopy Fingering is also the only alpaca blend yarn (50% content) that I’ve worked with that doesn’t seem to shed. I’m knitting happily away on it while my in-laws cuddle with Olivia. This is a long overdue sweater. I received the yarn from the great gals at Kelbourne Woolens last spring and intended to release the pattern in the fall, but the pregnancy-day job-book combo ground all my indie design plans to a virtual halt.
Two posts in one week? and baby sweaters (!)
Posted on | June 7, 2011 | 7 Comments
There’s something extra special and sweet about welcoming a baby into this world with handknits. Between my job and finishing up my book with Interweave, however, I only managed to make a few socks and her coming-home cardigan. Fortunately for Olivia, her mom is lucky to count amongst her friends some very talented knitters and designers.
I tried taking some photos of Olivia today in her brand new knits. She was a little unhappy this morning, so after two mini-photo shoots, she was done. I’ll take photos of the other knits she received at another time.
The first sweater is a darling bunny yoke sweater designed and knit by Angela Hahn. Angela posts some details about the sweater on her blog and I think she’ll post again when she makes the pattern available. I fell in love with the sweater as soon as I saw it, but lamented that my color knitting skills suck. But the sweater is so cute, I was determined to make a go of it whenever Angela released the pattern. So imagine my delight when she told me that she actually had knit the sample for Olivia. I just love how the colors work so well together and Rowan wool cotton is a wonderfully soft yarn, but most of all I love how the different bunny poses make it look as if there’s a bunny hopping across the sweater. There’s so much motion and fun in this sweater. It’s a little big for Olivia right now, but it should be the perfect size in a few short months.
Continuing with the animal theme, the next sweater is a wee version of Chickadee, one of the gorgeous designs from Ysolda’s eagerly anticipated Little Red in the City. The design scales down so naturally to baby sizes and like Angela, I believe Ysolda will also make the pattern available at some point. The color combination Ysolda chose for Olivia’s cardigan is great — unexpected (blues are usually reserved for boys, but I love its use here) and very sophisticated. I wish I had a bigger version for myself!
For those who are curious, Olivia’s chest size is 17 1/2″ at 3 months. Baby sizes are so hard because there’s so much variation, but I’m delighted that I finally have a reference to measure!