favorite color

All the yarn looks so cute in a big pile!
Thanks to Mary Jane for suggesting to full the pot holder. I'm going to make one tonight.

I asked Felix what was his favorite color. I knew he would go for the dark pink. It's the most vibrant in the bunch.

winding

I'm not mad just tired. I finished my knitting marathon and mailed off a couple of projects that I'm really happy with. The serious look, is all about my aching hands and how much I want to start knitting something new. Next month I'm going to teach a kids learn to knit class, so I started preparing by winding small bits of yarn so that the kids can easily use lots of colors. I'm thinking of all kinds of fun projects but most probably we'll start with the basics: a striped garter stitch scarf.

Here's a question, does anyone use WOOL HAND KNIT POT HOLDERS?
I like the size, and how they are a good way to learn how to miter and practice short rows and stitch patterns, but I'm wondering if they are useful.


There are Nineteen colors here but Still I think maybe we could use some more bright ones.


Bright like Pink! and Orange!
meow >''<

family photo

Egad! We took over fifty of these crazy photos.

It was a good break in a day full of knitting. I stayed up past two in the morning knitting and listening to The Age of Innocence read by Brenda Dayne. She has a really beautiful voice. I had to force myself to turn it off.

I want to show you what I've been knitting but it will have to wait. I have other designs that have been published that I never showed on the blog, the spring and summer stuff and now it's already fall! Okay, it's not quite fall but soon!

painting together

painting together, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

Felix and I have been painting together. We’re taking a class called "the magical tree of everything" and last Wednesday we painted trees that were very different yet looked so harmonious and connected. I was inspired and Felix said he had a lot of fun. This morning he wanted to paint together. It’s so hot outside I was grateful to stay inside.

doll design sketch

doll design sketch, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

Happy Sunday everyone! This drawing is for one of my fantasy dolls that I've yet to make. I thought she could be made with hand knit pieces and fancy fabrics dotted with embroidery.

Mexican candleholder

mexican candle holder, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

I'm still not knitting. This morning, I did this painting of a candleholder that decorates my desk. Afterwards, I realized she had no hands, but flowers and then flames where hands might be.

wedding socks

wedding socks, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

Due to sore wrists and a numb thumb! I’ve taken to drawing socks instead of knitting them. Enjoy.
For inspiration I drew these from a pamphlet printed in 1931 from the Hispanic Society of America.

poof

poof, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

"Now where was I?"

new sweater

Wool Bam Boo Rickrack Rib Pullover, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

Hey what happened to July?!
I've been busy knitting new things for Classic Elite. In the mean time, this sweater pattern, that I designed a few months ago, can be found in the #9092 Autumn, Book 1.

The modeled shot:


If you're on ravelry the details can be found here.

Other ravelry news: There is some voting going on at the Sexy Knitters Club. Gay nominated me as the designer for their next KAL. The voting period starts today and ends July 30. If you're interested you can vote here!

happy 4th

sleeping, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

That's Mabel sleeping next to Felix. She came home with us a couple of days ago and we love her!
I hope everyone has a great weekend and holiday. We're taking off for a few days of vacation at the beach; where I hope to get lots of rest and relaxation.

blankets

During the heat wave last month I spent a fair amount of time knitting blankets. Working on them was kind of like taking a sauna. The weather is milder now, and all the blankets are done.


The patch blanket was for Julia!
She is expecting her baby in a couple of months - !!!!!!!!!!! -

It's a nice carry-along-project since it's made of small, manageable squares. I like this method of working. The finishing is a little tedious but not so bad since there are only 16 squares. Next time I make one I will weave in the ends as I go, then all the finishing that has to be done is seaming, and knitting the border.

The next three blankets are fast knits. The pattern is basically the Fluffiest Baby Blanket from Greetings from Knit Cafe. I went through my stash and found lots of odd balls of GGH Espirit, Trendsetter Zucca and Austermann Piuma. A friend of mine is having twins. eek!




I was on a roll and decided to knit a fluffy blanket for us. I didn't realize how well it would match our living room.

living room, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

summer goodness

Painted, Bright flowers for a bright day.


And, a Super, fantastic gift to make a summer day brighter, and better! Habu yarn, a silk boucle, indigo, hand dyed by Michele!

Thank you. I’ve been knitting blankets in the heat and am pleased to have something small and silky to hold and create with.
I got started on a new scarf, something with enough stockinet to show off the crunchy, slippery texture and a little lace (worked on right and wrong side rows). It’s just enough action to keep the knitter awake.

This knitter is awake, well rested and very pleased.

Knit So Fine

Today is day 4 of the Knit So Fine blog tour and I’m chatting with one of the authors, Laura Grutzeck. Her coauthors are Carol Sulcoski of Black Bunny Fibers and Lisa R. Meyers of Rosie’s Yarn Cellar.

Knit So Fine Designs with Skinny Yarn is a collection of twenty-one designs all worked in fine yarns. The designs are grouped into chapters titled: Simplicity, Speed, Style and Shine. The collection includes a wide selection of long sleeve sweaters, and also a stunning wrap dress, a skirt worked sideways, a ruffle scarf, a lace stole, and a beret; it’s a great collection of classic, wearable designs.

Kat: Laura, have you always been primarily a fine yarn knitter?

Laura: No, when I first started knitting I rarely used yarn finer than worsted weight. It was actually kind of hard to find thin yarns in the stores back then. I remember going into a yarn store a long time ago (BK: Before Koigu) with a vintage knitting pattern from the 40s. I think it called for fingering weight yarn knit on 3mm needles. The store owner told me that they didn’t carry such fine yarn, and besides, “no one knits like THAT anymore.” She made it sound impossible!

Kat: Was there a bulky knit disaster in your knitting past that sent you over the edge?

Laura: Ha, no, I don’t think I ever had a disaster. I was infatuated with the bulky yarns just like everyone else, but I eventually realized that I never used the bulky yarn in my stash. Every time I swatched with it, I wasn’t happy with the way it looked, so back it went to the stash. I guess we just grew apart. J

Kat: Having worked in a yarn store did you get frustrated when people would shy away from the skinny yarns?

Laura: Yes. It can be very frustrating when people wont even consider using a yarn just because it is thin. Even when customers loved a pattern that called for fine yarn, some of them would either refuse to knit it, or ask us to re-write the entire pattern for a thicker yarn! Luckily most of our current customers have seen the light, and have no fear of thin yarns. I think Koigu convinced a lot of people to try fingering weight yarn, and after that, there was no turning back.

Kat: Do you have a favorite design in the book?

Laura: I don’t have a favorite, but I really want to knit Lisa’s legwarmers, Carol’s Bohus sweater and either my asymmetrical cardigan or the lace stole.

Kat: Was there a particular yarn that really spoke to you?

Laura: We got to use a lot of nice yarns for the book; I really enjoyed working with the Blackberry Ridge Cotton Blend, the Regia Silk and the RYC Cashcotton 4-ply.

I noticed that you do a lot of fine gauge knitting yourself, like the beautiful Gossamer Stars scarf in the Summer 08 Interweave Knits. What are some of your favorite thin yarns to work with?

Kat: The other day, I started knitting a lace triangle shawl with
Black Bunny Fiber Laceweight and have to say, that the night I cast on, I stayed up past three in the morning. I couldn’t put it down. Is there magic mixed into those skeins? The colors really made me happy! I did that obsessed knitter thing, talking to myself, and saying, “oh I have to go to sleep, I’ll knit just one more row, just one more row…” Good times! It brought me back to those fun days when I was just catching on to knitting lace and that great feeling of being so excited by the rhythm of the stitch work.


Laura: I’m so glad you liked it!! Carol’s colors really are amazing. I am lucky to know her, because otherwise I don’t think I would be able to get my hands on any of her yarn; she always sells out so quickly. The Lace Stole was knit with the Black Bunny Laceweight, and I think it turned out really well. The yarn has some toothiness to it that I really like. The lace pattern in the stole has a lot of garter stitch in it, and in a drapier, more slippery yarn I don’t think the garter would have worked as well.


Kat: True, the yarn does have a little grip but not at the expense of softness.
I like a lot of the designs but I especially favor the Asymmetric Cardigan. I admit I’m a little obsessed with it. How does it look unbuttoned? I’m imagining that the right front falls dramatically open.



Laura: You are correct; the right front falls forward when you unbutton it. It also looks good with just a few of the buttons buttoned. It is very wearable, I think!

Kat: Moss stitch is a great choice for this sweater. It's hard to not cast on for this immediately. Hmmm I wonder if I have enough yarn in the stash for this one? And, at a gauge of 22 sts and 32 rows to 4” it’s entirely doable.

Laura: Yes, I think this sweater has the largest stitch gauge in the book. I am thinking of knitting one for myself, is one of the projects that I was sad to send off to Interweave.

Kat: Another favorite are those amazing over the knee leg warmers by Lisa. Wow, what a beautiful display of traveling stitches!

Laura: I know, aren’t they beautiful? They are on my Must Knit list.

Kat: Can you briefly describe your design process? Do you start with the yarn, a sketch, an idea of what you want to knit, or a stitch pattern?

Laura: I almost always start with an idea. I get ideas at random times, like when I am walking the dog. Then I start sketching, because sometimes my idea is only for one part of a garment, say a sleeve or a stitch pattern, and I have to figure out what the rest of it should look like. Once I manage to get a nice clear sketch that I am happy with, I start writing the pattern. How about you?

Kat: Sometimes I get an idea and sketch it first, and then swatch for stitch pattern and yarn. Or sometimes, like when I’m designing for a yarn company I will do random swatching, which will generate an idea.

A few years ago when knitting became a popular rediscovered craft it seemed that everyone was knitting chunky scarves. I think that the people that stuck with knitting have moved on and have discovered their knitting styles. The exciting thing is that this is the kind of craft with so many possibilities for exploration.
In the chapter, The Skinny on Fine Yarns, the authors offer arguments for knitting with thin yarn. Among them, the wide range of hand dyed yarns, better fit, more flattering, less bulk, thinner seams, more economical, and the feel.

For me, the feel, is really important and I would add that the knitting experience is more comfortable, since the yarn weighs less; there is less stress on the wrists.
I sometimes dabble with bulky yarns but I always pay the price with wrist pain. So, knitting with fine yarns is good for your health!
If you love knitting at a fine gauge, it won’t take as long as you think because the process will be more enjoyable.

Laura: I completely agree! Thanks again Kat for letting me visit your lovely blog, and asking me such interesting questions!

Kat: Thank you too. It was fun!
For the blog tour schedule click here.

things

This Saul Steinberg drawing (from 1971) says it all. Is there anything else? I have (books), here are some images that inspire me.


Embroidered coverlet, Mexican dated 1786, image from American Quilts and Coverlets in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Wouldn't these characters make charming dolls?

The next few are from Knot ISBN978-4-07-257058-6. Click the photos to see them bigger.








ETA: Sources for Japanese craft books Kinokuniya. I shop at the store in Los Angeles. Here is a link to Knot on Amazon Japan. I haven't ordered from them before so I don't have advice on how to navigate the site. I also found Knot listed on Yes Asia. I have ordered books from Yes Asia before. It's pretty straightforward.

Mother's Day

Abi sent this photo that she took of my mom and me on Mother's Day. We really were that happy! By the looks of that empty cup in my hand, I just finished drinking a very strong margarita.

These are my presents for being a mom. It's not bad having another gift holiday. I love my new books!


Knot. Crochet jewelry and embellishments that are photographed and styled beautifully. ISBN978-4-07-257058-6


Aran Knit. It's hard to resist these lovely cabled sweaters and accessories. ISBN978-4-277-11401-1


American Quilts and Coverlets

doll

This weekend we helped to celebrate our friend’s 7th birthday!
We made her a doll as a gift. I employed Johnny’s help. He was the master stuffer; the parts I stuffed he re-stuffed to look better. There is an art to stuffing. After trial and error we discovered that a size 19 Daisy knitting needle was the best tool for getting to the bottoms of the arms and legs. The needle nose pliers helped in extracting stuffing that had gotten packed too tightly.
Felix tentatively named her Marcia but the naming is entirely up to the recipient.
I dug through my swatch stash and found an exact replica in doll size of my Knitty skirt. And, the best part is that the knitty skirt belongs to our friend’s mom.



Her blouse is made from two swatches I knit for the lace dress in Greetings from Knit Café. I crocheted them together with some bright pink mohair. Her necklace is a string of sequins and her hair is Donegal tweed.

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.

meme

Gudrun from the Shetland Trader tagged me. I was also tagged awhile back by creative yarn but I never got around to doing it. Both memes are kind of the same, one is answer these questions and the other is, list 7 random facts.

"The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer."

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?
Hmmm, 1997 was a big transition year for me. I broke up with my then boyfriend and moved to an apartment by myself, started a new job and met my current boyfriend. Phew. Oops! Ten years ago would’ve been 1998, not 1997. Duh. I can’t recall 1998, so it must have been okay. I was working retail in Beverly Hills, thinking about being a schoolteacher, and painting a lot.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):
Answer emails, take the kid to have his TB test checked (needs to be done for entry into public school), return the book I bought my mom for mother’s day since she already owns it (I knew she would love it!), get my ass in gear with submissions looming ever so close, and work on a doll for a present (needs to be finished by Sunday).

3) Snacks I enjoy:
Rice pudding, Pinkberry – original flavor with chocolate chips, (sounds like all I eat is dessert), a little cheese with my white wine, suddenly I love white wine but not like a connoisseur, no, I like it watered down with ice cubes, but is that a snack? I like fruit, fresh strawberries, crisp apples, and sweet oranges; and trail mix with walnuts and raisons.
Want to hear a Pinkberry story? You do! Felix and I went the other day. The day he wore his poncho. While I was daydreaming and relishing every bite, he jammed his finger into a little tiny hole (cut-out) in the chair. He says to me, “mommy my finger is stuck. It’s been there a long times.” He had crammed his ring finger at a weird angle so how ever I tried to pull it out he would scream “IT HURTS”.
So, consequently the manager heard us, ran over with lotion and I desperately squirted lotion all over the top and bottom of the chair. Finally, I got the finger out but not before I had visions of firemen and rescue workers sawing the chair in half.
Needless to say, we left hugging each other and very tired from the drama.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Hahaha. I don’t know! The typical things that people do when they suddenly have money SPEND IT.

5) Places I have lived:
Okay, I started to write down the places I lived but it is so incredibly long. I deleted it at the point where I would have been a teenager because I couldn’t deal with walking down memory lane. Let’s just say I have moved A LOT. It’s too much!

So here is the random facts part: As you may have noticed I don't follow directions very well. It's not for lack of trying. I went to therapy once and the therapist told me I was an airhead. I didn't like that!

I like to be alone but only with people around me. Doesn’t make sense? I like having the choice to be alone otherwise, I get lonely; I know I know, I sound like an airhead!

Do you want to play along? Tag, You're it!

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).

squares

I’ve been knitting squares. It means more stash busting and some much-needed mindless knitting. I really do knit to relax but I also use it to challenge my abilities to use math creatively as in writing patterns in multiple sizes.
I guess I need a little bit of both and like to alternate between challenging and relaxation projects.


Also, last week I taught a class on embroidering knits. It was great fun but a lot of work to prepare for. I knit quite a few squares for the class and had square fever afterwards.
For the class, the squares are done in stockinet stitch. I had the students work a sampler using the face from the beatnik doll found in Boho Baby Knits.


I also had the owl face ready, but we didn’t have time to get to that one. The owl face is one of the decorations on the bonnets from Boho Baby.


All these other squares are for a blanket. They are garter stitch. Ah, lovely, easy, textural, lays flat, garter stitch I love you.


I got on a kick with planning patchwork blankets and can’t stop. Right now, I’m working with what’s in the stash, Brown Sheep Nature Spun sport weight in a variety of colors that I used to make my dolls. I’ve been studying the color card and feel tempted to buy more colors. This is how THE STASH gets to be so huge, there’s always a need for more!