Gossamer Stars Scarf

Yesterday, the mailman delivered my Summer ’08 issue of Interweave Knits. I designed two patterns, Gossamer Stars Scarf and the Tapestry Skirt. Living in L.A. summer knitting is a natural fit for me. I can wear knitted skirts year round and I’ve always been a scarf girl. Today, I’ll talk about the Gossamer Stars Scarf. I noticed that the photograph in the magazine shows the wrong side of the scarf. Not that it matters, I mean both sides are pretty, but if you’re reading the chart you might see the difference.


For once, I managed to take a couple of photos of my project before sending it off. Maybe you can see some of the details in my backyard, knitting photo studio!
The yarn is Fiesta La Luz, luscious to knit with and touch, and the needle size is US 7 (4.5 mm).


I wanted to show my submission swatch. I don’t have the original but a scan of what I sent in. It’s worked in Fiddlesticks Knitting Zephyr Lace Weight Wool-Silk (50% Merino Wool, 50% Tussah Silk); 630 yds [576 m] / 2 ounces; Aegean Blue. I used needle size US 5 (3.75 mm).
If you’re looking for lace weight yarn I highly recommend this one. It is wonderful to work with and comes in a wide range of beautiful colors.

I’ve been asked for yarn substitution suggestions. I think it looks beautiful in both yarns and I say choose a yarn that is pretty, has drape and is monochromatic. It would probably detract from the stitches if you use a variegated yarn.

poncho style

This is hand-knit wearing in action. My kid won’t wear a sweater for five minutes but he wore a poncho all day.
He asked me in the morning, “Mommy, you made this? Did it take a lot of times?”
“Yes. I made it and it took a while.”
“Oh, mommy it’s beautiful. What’s it called?"
"A poncho. It's pretty cool, you look like you're ready to ride a horse in the old days".

Then, a few minutes later I overheard him telling our little three-year-old neighbor, when asked what he was wearing, “it’s just a dress. My mom made it and it’s beautiful.”

We ran around town today like two kids on vacation. On a weekday afternoon, we were the only riders on the train.




ETA: The pattern is Prankster Poncho from Boho Baby Knits and the yarn is Filatura Di Crosa 127 Print (#36 Teal).

My scarf hat pattern, Nomad Hat from the Interweave Knits Fall 2007 issue is now available to purchase from the knitting daily online store.

Here is a mohair version I made (different gauge, different look), and another post I wrote about the hat that includes my submission sketch.

Also, here is a link to a finished hat that looks stunning!

papillon

Papillon top in the latest issue of Knitscene (spring 2008)

and my own dimly lit photo of the stitch detail taken seconds before running to the post office to mail the finished garment.



The issue also has an article by Grumperina on how to seam your knits and I was kind of flattered that they used this top to illustrate the mattress stitch. You get to see a little bit of the inside of the sweater and where I wove the end into the seam. Seeing that tail end does something to me... I don't know it reveals something about hand made. I'm not sure what it is.

This design is very simple and is marked as a project ideal to make for your first sweater. The front and back are identical with a boat neck, modified drop sleeve and waist shaping from changing needles sizes.
Thinking about first sweaters led me to reminisce about my first sweater. It might have been 1982; I got the yarn from a designers stash after I helped organize her workroom (maybe I'm making this part up? I'm feeling old trying think back this far)...anyway it was orange bulky cotton, front and backs were the same. And it was an oversized (but short) square necked vest that I made up as I went. I gave it to my friend and she claims to still have it! One of these days I'll have to check and maybe take a picture.

Book Signing

Felix in the Painter's Smock, one of the patterns in Boho Baby Knits. I took this photo last year before I sent the sweater to be photographed for the book. Felix looks so young to me here. TIme really does fly. He still likes his shoes untied.

I love the yarn I used for the Painter's Smock, it's Crystal Palace Merino Frappe. This is one of those kid sweaters that I wouldn't mind making for myself.

I'll be signing books tomorrow December 18 at the Redondo Beach Main Library from 7 pm to 8 pm. 2nd Floor Meeting Room, 303 N. Pacific Coast Highway. (310) 318-0675,

Please come by! The event is called Knit and Chat. I'll have my current sock project with me and more importantly all the cute samples from the book.

Wave Skirt

This one is from Interweave Knits Spring 2005. It was my first pattern with IK so I remember it well. Felix was just a few months old when I knit it. He would nap in the car after I drove around for a while so I did a lot of knitting parked in the car listening to the radio. The pattern is now available for purchase at the Knitting Daily store. The Knitting Daily blog is pretty great, I love when they have everyone in the office try on the same sweater to show how one size fits most; it helps to see what size you might want to make for yourself.


Here is the original swatch that I sent in with my design proposal. I was thinking of surfer t-shirts from the sixties and seventies.

happenings

Meet Bobbi and Mimi my beatnik dolls from Boho Baby Knits. We had a great time last weekend at the Knit Cafe book signing. It was cool to see all the knits from the book out of storage and in the world. And it’s always fun to meet knitters and hang out in a yarn shop, especially one as beautiful as the Knit Café.
In other happening news:
The new Knitty is up and I'm so happy that they reviewed my book!

book signing

This Sunday, December 2 I'll be at the lovely Knit Cafe in West Hollywood signing copies of my book Boho Baby Knits. Please come on by! I'll have all the pretty sample pieces from the book with me.

Holiday knitting

I have two scarf patterns in the Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2007 issue. Candy Stripes Kerchief is made up with luscious angora in fun stripes and the

Huckleberry Ascot is worked in Blue Sky Alpacas melange.



There are a lot of great designs in this issue. I'm going to try to find the time to knit the hat on the cover (December Lights Tam) by Mary Jane Mucklestone. Ages ago I bought yarn for a stranded tam but I still haven't done anything about it. Maybe now's the time.

And, thank you everyone for all the warm congratulations on my book!

Edited to add: Both patterns, The Huckleberry Ascot and the Candy Stripes Kerchief are available for purchase at the Knitting Daily online shop.

my book!

Last week my advance copy of Boho Baby Knits arrived at my doorstep in a beat up box. I was so nervous to look inside. But was thrilled to find what I did. A beautiful, real book.


Here are some peeks at the back cover and inside.


A good friend of mine said when she saw the Woodland Fairy Wings, "classic Coyle"; she's familiar with my love of lace and mohair.


These darling knee socks were designed by Julia Trice. There's also a baby footie version.


Mimi and Bobbi, my beatnik dolls enjoying a day at the cafe.

Of course, there's much more! The other designers that contributed designs are Edna Hart, Mary-Heather Cogar, Beth Abaravich, Marnie MacLean and Julia Trice.

nomad hat

The new Interweave Knits is available, and it's a good fall issue filled with lots of interesting sweaters. I really want to make the Tangled Yoke cardigan. I'm pleased to be a part of the issue. My scarf hat pattern renamed more poetically Nomad Hat is featured in the Minimalist Knits section.


Just for fun, I thought I'd show you the sketch for the design submission. Occassionally, I get asked about what goes into a submission. I'm not sure if this is the right way to do it, but so far it's been working out. This particular design changed a bit from the original idea because the weight of yarn went from dk to bulky and from two colored stripes to one color textural stripes. I think the garter/stockinet stripes on the hat look great (oops if I do say so myself). Blogging is funny that way, I find myself feeling like such a show-off.

summer preview

I’m so excited to see this sneak peek of the summer Interweave Knits issue. The Lace Chuppah I designed looks so pretty!

Edited to add: The pattern is now available as a PDF download from the Knitting Daily online store.

Indigo Ripples Skirt Errata

Hello Friends,
Here is a correction for the Indigo Ripples Skirt pattern from Interweave Knits Spring 2007.

Lace Section on page 72:
Rnd 11, 13, 15, 17, 19: * Yo, k3tog, k3, yo, k1, yo, k4, sl1 – k2tog – psso, yo, k1; repeat from *.

Indigo Ripples Skirt

A preview of the skirt I designed for the Interweave Knits spring issue.

dear tulip

This is the sketch I submitted to Knits magazine that became the sweater "tulips" in the Fall 2006 Knitscene.
The lovely Julia from Mind of Winter had suggested that I might write something about the submission process as a topic for my sparse blog. My original swatch had been in two shades of linen, a melon and French blue. The fabric felt crisp and summery with lots of air and drape. Part of the design process when making a pattern for a magazine is working with a yarn different from what might have been originally imagined. The editor sent a tencel/alpaca blend yarn that was lovely and soft but created an entirely different garment. I don't feel that attached to things I make for hire. The process is challenging and exciting but I know from the start that my knitting will be packed up and sent off to another place to be photographed and live inside the pages of a magazine or book. And that’s cool! With that in my mind, I am up for yarn changes as part of the process and consider it an interesting aspect of making something new.
Most designs start with swatching. Where does that start? I might see a yarn that looks delicious, and say “ooh I must have”. Yes, that is the usual beginning. But sometimes I might get a picture in my head of something to make and then things start with the sketch. Occasionally, the steps are mushed together and there is no telling of what came first, the sketch, the dream, or the swatch.
While drawing this sketch my mind drifted to a countryside I have never been to but would like to visit, my appetites were tickled with the aromas and flavors of this distant land and it was a lovely experience.