Monthly Archives: August 2013

Kids Knits

Little White Something

It’s been a very busy week and I’m really happy today is Friday. I’ve been working a lot trying to catch up with emails, the website and pattern writing, of course. On Wednesday I finally published “Casual Lace” and I must admit this pattern took a lot more time and work than I’d anticipated, but now it’s ready :-) In September I’ll be hosting a KAL with this design, but I’ll write more about that in the future (in the meantime you can head over here).

I’m also working on a new super secret design made in collaboration with a great handdyer. I’m really excited about this one and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Nope, this is not a sneak peek of the design but a new shrug for my daughter. Next week Agnieszka will be christened and I need a little white something to go with her not-so-white dress. Initially I was thinking of improvising something myself but after many hours spent on trying to decide on the construction, I remembered a very cute pattern by Solenn Couix-Loarer called “Artichaut”. I think I put it in my queue the moment it was published but at that time Aga was only 2 months. It’s high time I made it now. I hope it will be as cute as the original one. Fingers crossed :-)

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Have a nice weekend!

Justyna

Designs, Yarn

Vanilla Bean

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There are months in most knitters’ calendar when they can freely flock in various yarn groups and enjoy KALs, discounts, competitions or just have an excuse to knit :-) There’s Malabrigo March, Madelinetosh May or Plucky September. I took part in such a thing only once and it was Mad May. I found this to be a perfect excuse to ask my Hubby to buy me some Madelinetosh and I promised him I would make something really nice with it.

I made this sweater. Probably my most favorite cardigan ever. I wear it very often as it goes perfectly with a dress or a pair of jeans. This sweater also took part in a Mad May KAL in a competition for designers. It won! I was truly happy and proud, and when I got my prize I couldn’t stop smiling. One generous Raveler donated 6 skeins of Madelinetosh Merino DK in Vanilla Bean. 6 skeins! That’s a sweater quantity.

The yarn is beautiful, soft, with a nice twist (even though it’s a single-ply DK), but I must admit the color is really difficult. It’s really hard to capture it in a photo and it’s even harder to make it shine in a design.

I think it needs some texture and simple lines. No cables, absolutely no lace, nothing fancy.

So I swatched today. Double seed stitch, stockinette and 1×1 rib. I just love the double seed part! This stitch definitely is a must.

So now off to sketch a pullover :-)

Yarn

Playing with colors

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Don’t you just love playing with colors? I do!

Every time I have plans to destash odd balls of yarn I start behaving like a child in a toy store. I put the yarn on the floor or sofa and start mixing the colors together.

Blues with yellows, reds with whites, blacks with pinks or greens with oranges.

The combinations seem endless!

And when I get tired I come back to neutrals, which to me are as inspiring as a rainbow :-)

How about you? Do you like playing with colors or do you like to play it safe?

Happy knitting!

Justyna