Colinette in the Mail!

I decided it has been way too long since I have Colinette yarn in my hands. Every once in a while you want to revisit the essential luxury of the original hand painted yarn. It has a style and colour and unique look like no other yarn. It has been very hard to find this yarn from Wales in the local yarn shops in Canada. And when I did, it was TOO expensive to indulge.

Last weekend, between golf games and sewing projects, I wandered over to the Colinette website, the mill in Wales. How surprised I was to discover they now sell merino top roving dyed to their wonderful colours! An impulse e-shop later and I had 6 -100 grams of ART (wool and bamboo) on the way, along with 150 grams of roving, both in the same colourway (bright charcoal) a lovely mix of grey, black, pink and mauve.

The thought was that I could knit a sweater with the yarn, and make a felted bag, or beret, or nunofelt wrap to match.... The planning is as much fun as the wearing! For those Canadians who have trouble finding Colinette, (or find it too expensive)... you can order directly! It arrived in less than a week! AND it was about $10 for 100 grams! Quite the steal!

Yarn Bombing.... get ready....

Just checking the net for information about yarn bombing... You HAVE to learn about it HERE.

I blogged on the other side HERE, about the concept and I put up some photos. I find it intriguing and love the photos and the silliness and the cheery spirit. I will find more photos to post and hopefully will have some new ones from June 11.... Lets see some photos from you!

Rainy, knitty, Sunday

Instead of golfing today, I chose to stay in and sew and knit. It was windy and cold and steady rain all day. Not the best outdoor day.

I started with some bridesmaid dress alterations... shortened the hemline by 5 inches, all three layers, then took the bodice in one size. One down, four more to go.

Then I took a break and met up with my daughter for some rainy day shopping! Fun.

I also did a wedding dress fitting, and worked on several inches of my knitted lace top.

Luckily there was a great golf tournament on TV, and I was entertained for a few hours with the shifting leader board.

Not a very exciting blog page, but I got a lot done, and hopefully will have more interesting stuff to show you soon!

I will leave the blog with this knitting pattern I just found (I can't believe I missed it up until now!) No one needs eyeballs in their homes more than we do! I think I should teach the Docs how to juggle them... we could have great family dinners entertained by the Juggling Docs. :)

Thought you may like to see what's on my needles now. I have a lovely linen blend in chocolate brown, that I thought may be nice in a lacy summer top. I chose the parachute top (image 26) from Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2010. I am captivated by the over sized sheer tops worn over slim tanks. It reminds me a bit of my youthful days in the eighties... just don't bring back the permed big hair, ok?

The linen is a bit crispy, and the swatch I made (photographed on the cover) set really well into the lace and does not collapse on the holes, so I think it will hold the pattern well. My gauge was bang on the pattern gauge, and although it doesn't matter to be exact on this oversize shape, it is still good to know that your yarn is close to target.

Here is the first piece so far....


And I also have had fun capturing photos of the new baby bird. She likes to sit on the beak of my wood and metal heron....

And she likes to nap on hubby's woolly socks (while he is napping too).

so sweet!

Floppy Cropped Summer Top

I wanted to design a simple to knit cotton top, to wear over tank tops in the summer (I hate over-air-conditioned stores!)

This one is knit in one piece starting at the lower back, and split at the neck, then knitted down the front to the lower hemline. Just the sideseams are sewn, and a bit of pick up knitting for the back of neckline to finish. The front pieces are mostly rectangle and it is the oversized square front that falls into a nice draped collar.

*** the key to success with the drape is knitting your yarn on one size bigger needles to allow a somewhat loose knit stitch, which will allow for a soft drape to the fabric**** Check gauge AND loose stitch feel!!

Yarn: Elann Sonata, 100% cotton, 50gm balls, 115 yards, 5 balls. (anyDK weight cotton designed to knit on 4mm needles should work!)

Needles: 5.0mm

Gauge: 16 sts , 24 rows = 4 inches

Size of mine: 19 inches across lower (cropped) back. The front is overlapped and loose fitting, should fit sizes 8 through 14! Length from shoulder to bottom edge: 16 inches.

Pattern: Bottom back edge... cast on 70 stitches. Work in seed stitch for 2 inches. Change to stocking stitch, and increase one stitch each end every 6 rows until 104 stitches are on the needle. (you are now done the side shaping) Establish sleeve edging: next right side row: work seed stitch for 6 stitches, place marker, knit across to last 6 stitches, place marker, seed stitch last 6 stitches. Work without increasing, keeping outer 6 stitches in seed stitch and remaining stitches in stocking stitch. Do this until 7.5 inches of sleeve have been worked.

Shoulder (right side facing): seed stitch 6, knit 34, cast off 24, place last 40 on a stitch holder.

You now have 40 shoulder stitches on your needles, and will knit down the front right side of the garment.

Work 1 inch in established pattern (keep the 6 seed stitches at the sleeve side).

Next row, work across the seed then stocking stitches THEN cast on 35 stitches on the center of garment edge.

Work these 35 stitches in seed stitch , keep the 34 shoulder stitches in stocking stitch and the sleeve edge (6 sts) in seed stitch. Keep this pattern for 6 rows. (this makes a nice edge for the front drape). SEE PHOTO BELOW TO GET THE IDEA OF WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

Now, change to 6 seed stitches ONLY at the front center edge AND the sleeve edge, with all the rest of the stitches in stocking stitch. **** as you continue with this pattern, measure the sleeve edge ... when you get 15 inches from the start of the back sleeve seed stitch edge, you need to stop the sleeve edge seed stitch and start decreasing for the front side seam:

Decrease one stitch at side seam every 6 rows until 17 decreases have been made. (keep working the center front seed stitch edging (6 sts) without increasing or decreasing)

Work even until the folded garment matches the length of the back stocking stitch, and finish with 2 inchesof seed stitch border. Cast off all.

Left front, pick up 40 stitches from holder.

Work one inch in stocking stitch and 6 seed stitch sleeve edge.

Right side facing: cast on 35 stitches at the start of the row (on the center garment edge), and work these in seed stitch for 6 rows, while the rest remains stocking stitch and seed stitch (6) edge. After the 6 rows, change to 6 edge seed stitches at the center front, and keep the sleeve edge until 15 inches of sleeve (back AND front) are done. Stop seed stitch at outside edge.

Decrease outside edge one stitch every 6 rows for 17 decreases.

Match up the length again and finish with 2 inches of border.

Sew up the side seams.

Pick up 24 stitches across the back of the neck, and work 3 rows of seed stitch, and cast off all stitches, sew the ends to the side of neck to tidy up.

Photos show the fronts as overlapping rectangles, above and loosely draped below.

I think this one will get lots of wear!

I have finished the cotton shrug, and it is very cute! The pattern is simple and will be posted here shortly.

The delay is mostly due to this little guy... our house guest for a week. So little and so cute and friendly, but he demands so much attention, I can't get much done!



I also am knitting a new cotton sweater that I can't show here, because it is a birthday gift and my friend is no doubt checking the blog for a sneak peek! (you know you are Jenn!). A photo will follow after the special day...
I have a stash of linen/cotton in a lovely chocolate colour, that will be on the needles shortly. Last night I decided what to make with it, and it will be a nice lacey summer top.
Sorry its so short... off to work!