Less is More

Do you believe it?  Less is more.  Paige–fraternal twin of Pamela–is a gorgeous lace top in a shape designed to flatter, with very light blocking.  (Scroll down towards end of the post for helpful tips of making this lovely summery wear.)

This dainty little camisole top–in weighty cool linen–is a modern take on the shaped garments of yesteryear.

It has fashioned waist-shaping to darted bust.  If you prefer a simpler knit, omit the fashioned shaping and work straight to the armholes (remembering to allow extra yarn.)

The sleeveless top is knitted–in a round–from bottom up with a needle size specifically chosen to bring out the linen yarn’s subtle sheen and textural goodness.

A pretty, balanced lace pattern adorns top and bottom of the sleeveless jumper.

Although there was a fair bit of stockinette stitches, the short-row shaping and lace details kept me interested.  Another quickie, super fun to knit up–over 3 evening seating.  It went very smoothly and no errata to note.

If you are just beginning to play with lace patterns and/or short-row shaping technique, this is one to practice such skills.

Don’t care much for seaming? This one has your name written all over it.

Wait no more.  Pick out your favorite color, work the lace, and knit stitches into a flattering original design today.  This one weights 236 grams–or 638 yards–of Euroflax yarn (and pattern…available here/here.)  If you are in the Portland area, stop in Twisted–one of my favorite shops–and test try this sample for size.

As mentioned before, linen is a real pleasure to knit/work with and no dirt sticks to it! Just divine. It gets softer with every stitch while you knit…not to mention after each wash while making wrinkles look de rigeur!  The drape, malleability of it, and its subtle sheen has captured my heart…once more.  (Care tips here.)

HELPFUL TIPS/ERRATA:

• Gauge obtained with 3.25mm needles; lace work in 3.5mm needles.
• Suggest iron the stockinette part with light starch to bring out the light sheen.
• For the petite me, I would adjust the stitch counts and/or needle size to narrow the frame very slightly, particularly the neckline.
• Handle with care to not stretch out the cardigan in any way while it’s wet/damp.
• I like my lace charted so I just created one for periodic check.  After knitting Pamela, I had the intuitive/fluid 20-row lace pattern down to exact science.
• There was very little bit of ends to weave in.  Blocked to specification per diagram.

I love this simple romantic-style pattern with a few interesting finishing/shaping elements that I’d incorporate into other sweaters/tops in future.   My, oh, my…the weeks sure seem to fly by!  What to knit next?  Stay tuned…

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

Lazy…Hazy…Crazy

days of summer.

Yes, summer is definitely the best time to knit something lacy!

How about an intricately decorated undergarment or two–with lace and other ornamentation–replicating these medieval linen articles found at Lemberg Castle in Tyrol recently?  Although the linen garments were unearthed in 2008, Archaeologist Beatrix Nutz–the archeologist responsible for the discovery–says they did not make news until now.  Ms. Nutz gave a lecture on them last year, but, the information stayed within academic circles until a recent BBC history program.

Wouldn’t Louet Euroflax–wetspun linen–be a wonderful candidate to knit up a set of modern ensemble? ♥

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

Lovely Paige and Pamela

What a perfectly delightful stitch pattern!  The elegant, open design and weighty cool linen felt perfect for the partly cloudy, breezy day. (Scroll down towards end of the post for helpful tips of making this cardigan.)

Everything seems to be coming up lace here. It must be that summer thing happenin’.

I cast on Pamela, shortly after Rusted Root on July 1, with high hopes I’d get it done before (or at least during) Black Sheep Gathering weekend in Eugene.   It didn’t happen.  There were too many distraction…plus I wasn’t equipped to do the finishing after it’s knit up while away.  Following week was a wash too.  There was no time for much of anything, I was totally exhausted by the time I got home in the evenings.  Once resumed, it only took three days to coast through it (blocking and shaping took another day.)

I feel that I should be twirling about in an alpine meadow!   I like it–Pamela, the cardigan of the twin-set,  is swing-y, a looser fit in order to be worn comfortably over Paige (coming soon.)  It looks great over an evening dress or paired with a casual summer or cruise wear.

The goddesses of knitting are truly smiling upon me. The swatch behaved just as I thought it would, giving me a gauge per pattern.   Knitting primarily with 3.25 needles did take a bit longer than usual to complete the project.   Ugh.

This was a fun knit for driving to the valley and attending festivals.  A great pattern–despite miles of stockinette.

Linen is a real pleasure to knit/work with and no dirt sticks to it! Awesome. It gets softer with every wash while making wrinkles look de rigeur!  The subtle sheen, drape, and malleability of it has captured my heart.  (Care tips here.)

Making buttons with beads and matching yarn is definitely most economical and pleasing when a sweater calls for 11 buttons or more.

Thankfully, the hanks came with extra yardage/weights than labeled.  I used up every inch of the four hanks–409 grams or 1104 yards.  Whew!  Cutting it close would be an understatement, wouldn’t you say?   (Below reflects best the true Terra Cotta hues.)

The sweater has a beautiful shape, fits great for a true medium-size figure (chest to 37″,) and may be washed, dried, and ironed!   I knew I had to show it off before sending it off.  Everyone at Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show loved it.  Talk about great advertising.

HELPFUL TIPS/ERRATA:

• Gauge obtained with 3.25mm needles; lace work in 3.5mm needles.
• Suggest iron the stockinette part with light starch to bring out the light sheen.
• For the petite me, I would adjust the stitch counts and/or needle size to narrow the frame slightly, especially the neckline.
• Handle with care to not stretch out the cardigan in any way while it’s wet/damp.
• I like my lace charted so I just created one for periodic check.  It only took a minute to memorize the 20-row lace pattern–very intuitive and fluid.
• Made buttons with 8mm pearl beads instead of 7.5mm beads.  Personally, I felt it’s a better fit for the band and fiber used.
• There was a bit of seaming and weaving in ends.  Be care with lining up sleeves for seaming.  This linen didn’t hold up well during unraveling tight stitches–at least that’s my experience.
• After first 16 rows completed, K54 , place marker on next stitch (not between stitches) for left underarm, K108, place marker  on next stitch (not between stitches) for right underarm. There are 110 stitches for center-back piece.
• After switching to smaller needles and 4-stitch increase, stitch counts are as follows: 55-112-55 (222 sts)
• DIVIDE for FRONTS and BACK:  After first bind-off, work in pattern across back 7 stitches (instead of 6.)  Key is to make sure there are 98 stitches for back, centered between two fronts. It’s essential, during this bind-off for armholes row, the 16-stitch lace repeat has 21 stitches if you are stitch-counter/knitter.
• RIGHT FRONT:  When decreasing on RS, knit in pattern to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. On WS, slip first stitch.  It will make seaming/picking up stitches a breeze with clean finishing.
• LEFT FRONT:   When decreasing on RS, K1 SSK, knit remaining row in pattern. On WS, slip first stitch.  Same effect as Right Front.
• Had some issue with shaping back neck sections, tinked, and worked again.  Instruction isn’t too clear.  Suggest you study the back shoulder pictures before proceeding.

I love the Euroflax yarn (and pattern…available here/here.)  Every penny well spent.  I love everything about this project.  Just wish I didn’t take that long a break to finish it.

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

Meaning of Life

Life’s meaning is to find my gift.

Purpose of life is to give it away.

Sometimes I just hear, see, read, and experience the right thing at the right time.

This was one of those things.  ♥

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

Renew. Refresh. Recharge.

Simply too much going on in life to tackle anything new or creative.

It’s Downtime.

I may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly.

I will never lost sight of the reason for the journey. ♥

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

One Thing

Sometimes what seems like surrender isn’t surrender at all.

It’s about what is going on in my heart. About seeing clearly the way life is and accepting it and being true to it–whatever the pain–’cuz the pain of not being true to it is far, far greater.  ♥

Today, I choose to let the true me out…with no apologies…only then will true beauty radiate and make a difference to those around me.

I am grateful.

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)