knotionsmag.com

Have you heard about this, or am I the last one again? On August 4th Savannahchik.com will launch her new on-line knitting magazine Knotions. Check it out. Spread the word. I'm so excited!

Memories

Oh, I'm having so much trouble with my computer. So Ill just leave you with this short post. My husband, we'll call him HandyMan, inherited this chess board from his father. His father made it about 70 years ago. He hand carved each chess piece. He made a wooden carrying case that also acted as the board. He painted and stained it too. He would play chess in the train on the way to Boston. He was going to Wentworth College. My husband, HM, also played with this same board in high school and college, so now the tradition is being passed down to Son. HM and Son have been playing chess together making new memories. Oh the stories this board could tell. It's a family treasure for sure.

Anthropologie Inspired Cardigan

I found this beautiful cardigan at Anthropologie. It is in a wool/angora blend and angora makes me itch all over, so I had an idea and it inspired me to create my own version. The original cardigan has set in sleeves and really cute pockets that look like a flower vase. It is in a pretty bubblegum pink color with silk flowers that look like orchids. Very sweet! As any knitter knows the price ($98) is not really that high considering the yarn, embellishments and labor that went into it. It was just an inspiration - a starting point. My version is knit in an Elsebeth Lavold DK weight silk/wool blend which makes it perfect for any season. I used top-down and seamless construction with a simple pocket. The color (#12) is called Dawn Rose. It is more of a lavender/pink color. I picked up some red silk flowers (not as nice as the Anthropologie version) at Joanne's. They were made by Wright's, but you could really embroider your own or add buttons or beads. The possibilities are endless. A few lazy daisy and back stitches for leaves and stems with some leftover green yarn and it was finished. This is my first written pattern. It is written for a finished size of 36 inches. It can be worn with negative or positive ease. I hope it is easy to follow. Please let me know if you find any errors or have any questions. BTW it only cost $25 to make. Enjoy!

Anthropologie Inspired Cardigan

A simple top-down seamless cardigan that is perfect for all seasons.

It’s really the details that make it Anthropologie inspired. Silk flowers and embroidered stems and leaves flowing from the pocket are what make the difference.

Materials:

Yarn – Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool (191 yd/skein); color: Dawn Rose; 3 skeins
Needles – 1 US #6/4mm circular needle, 32 inches or longer
1 set US #6/4mm double pointed needles or 2 circular needles
Notions – 4 stitch markers
3 1 inch diameter buttons
5 silk flowers
a few yards of green yarn for stems and leaves
tapestry needle
sewing needle
thread

Gauge - 22 stitches/30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Finished Bust - 36 inches

Instructions:

(Yoke)
Using US 6 circular needle, cast on 46 stitches as follows: CO 2 (front), PM, CO 4 (sleeve), PM, CO 36 (back), PM, CO 4 (sleeve), PM, CO 2 (front)

(Begin Raglan Increases)
Row 1 (Right side) [K to one stitch before marker, K1F&B, SM, K1F&B] 4 times, knit to end. 8 stitches increased.

Row 2 (Wrong side) P all stitches

Repeat these two rows 3 times.

(Begin Front Shaping)
Row 9 (RS) K1F&B, [K to one stitch before marker, K1F&B, SM, K1F&B] 4 times, knit to last stitch, K1F&B. 10 stitches increased.

Row 10 (WS) Purl all stitches

Continue as follows:

All odd rows (RS) repeat row 1, except on rows 17, 25, 33, 41, 49 repeat row 9

All even rows (WS) purl all stitches

(Body)
Row 57 [(RS) K1F&B, K to first marker, remove marker and slip next 60 sleeve stitches onto waste yarn, remove marker, knit across back 92 stitches to next marker, remove marker, slip next 60 sleeve stitches onto waste yarn, remove marker knit to end. (164 stitches)

Row 58 and all wrong side rows, purl all stitches

Row 59 and all right side rows, Knit all stitches, increase one stitch at the beginning and end of the row every eighth row 6 times (row 65, 73, 81, 89, 97 and 105)

You should now have 176 stitches on your needle. The front shaping is now done. Work even knitting all right side rows and purling all wrong side rows for three more inches. Body should measure 9 inches from underarm.

(2 x 1 Ribbing)
Row 1 (RS) K2, [P1, K2] repeat to end.
Row 2 (WS) P2, [K1, P2] repeat to end

Repeat these two rows until you have 2 inches of ribbing (about 14 rows).
BO in pattern.

(Sleeves)
Work in the round with US 6 DPN or 2 circular needles, transfer sleeve stitches from waste yarn to needles. Start K2, P1, rib. At end of round pick up and knit 3 stitches at underarm gap, PM for beg. Of round. Next round K2, P1, to end. Repeat 2 times more. BO in pattern.

(Buttonhole Band)
With right side facing, begin with bottom of right front, pick up and knit 72 stitches between bottom right front and first raglan increase at shoulder, pick up and knit 3 between right arm raglan stitches, pick and knit 35 across back, pick up and knit 3 between left sleeve raglan, pick up and knit 72 along left front.

Row 1 (WS) P2, [K1, P2] repeat to end.

Row 2 (RS) K2, [P1, K2] repeat to end.

Repeat these two rows 7 times (14 rows total) with the exception of Rows 6 and 7 (buttonholes).
Work buttonholes as follows: Mark placement of 3 buttonholes and BO 2 stitches at each buttonhole continuing in the ribbing pattern Knitting the Knits and Purling the Purls. On Row 7 CO 2 stitches at each buttonhole.

Row 14 (RS) BO in pattern.

(Pocket)
CO 14 stitches.
Row 1 K2, [P1, K2] repeat to end.
Row 2 P2, [K1, P2] repeat to end
Repeat these two rows one more time.
Row 5 K4, M1, K3, M1, K3, M1, K4 (17 sts)
Row 6 P all sts.
Row 7 K all sts.
Repeat rows 6 and 7, 2 times
Row 14 P all sts.
Row 15 BO

(Finishing)
Weave in ends, block, sew on pocket, sew on buttons, sew on flowers, embroider stems and leaves.

Enjoy!

Inspiration

I received a new Anthropologie catalogue a few weeks ago and found plenty of inspiration inside the pages. I love that catalogue. It is made out of nice paper and is full of beautiful pictures. I can't wear or afford many of their clothes, but the few that I have bought I really love. It inspired me to make an embellished cardigan. It's a top down seamless raglan v-neck cardigan (Say that ten times fast!). I could not find any patterns for one on Ravelry, so I'm making up my own. I hope it works out. I'll will share the pattern with you when I'm done.

mmmmmornings

I love the mornings during the summer months. Enjoying a cup of coffee while knitting or reading is so relaxing. I've been checking out the new Knitscene Magazine. There are a lot of great patterns in this one. I love Connie Chang Chinchio's hoodie pattern Riding to Avalon, and then there is Wendy Bernard's Opulent Raglan and Kat Coyle's Burnished Tunic.

Knitting History

I have been in love with crafts for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl, I loved coloring books, making loop potholders, and baking in my Easy Bake oven. I would take little pieces of string and cloth and make clothes for my Barbie dolls. In the summer, I would make gimp bracelets. I loved Brownies and Girl Scouts because we always tried new crafts. When I was about 10 or 11 years old my Aunt Mary came to stay with us for the summer. She was knitting an aran sweater full of cables and fancy stitches. I would just sit in awe and watch her knit. She got out some extra yarn and needles and taught me how to knit. I made a garter stitch potholder.

I would not really knit again until I was newly married and working with other women who enjoyed crafts. They taught me cross stitch and then helped me refine my knitting skills. One of my first sweaters I made was for my son when he was a baby. Of course I still have it. It's a sentimental keeper. When I brought it out, I was surprised to see a zipper in it, and the seams looked so nice. This is something I would be afraid to attempt now. My co-workers must have helped me through it.

Again it would be over 10 years before I would pick up my knitting needles again (except for a few scarves). I had heard knitting was good for your memory and I was having a lot of brain freezes. I really think it has helped. It's my creative outlet and I can't imagine my life without it!

Lotus Cami

Amy Butler's Lotus Tunic pattern has a choice of three lengths. I chose the cami length, The pattern was well written and easy to follow. The only problem I had was adding the bias around the bottom of the sleeve. It called for stitching in the ditch. I had to rip it out the first time and try again.

I used some fabric I had in my stash.

The cami length called for buttons down the back. All the other lengths have zippers.

I made covered buttons using the contrasting fabric.
Overall I'm please with the cami. Amy Butler's patterns are flattering to so many figures types. Each one I've seen on Flickr looks great! Next time I'd like to try the tunic length in some of Amy Butler's wonderful fabric.

Stash Enhancement

While on vacation I had the chance to enhance my stash with some beautiful hand painted yarn from String Theory. They were having a yarn sale. I bought some worsted weight merino wool in a wonderful green color for the February Lady Sweater. I also bought 1100 yards of Mosaic Yarn in a very pretty mauve color, I can't remember what I bought it for, but I'm sure it will come back to me. I just couldn't resist it (being on sale and all). I'm sure you know what I mean.

I've been inspired to do some sewing. I was inspired by this and this . Of course I'll let you know how it goes.

Destination: Blue Hill, Maine

Highlights from our vacation:

Fourth of July!

Beautiful views of the bay.


Boating

Some knitting of course!

Sunglasses anyone?

Yard sale finds.

Finished Monkey Socks, pattern by Cookie A., yarn Regia Canyon Color Mineral on sale at Jimmy Beans Wool. Loved the pattern, but I guess I'm not the only one. I am the 5917th project on Ravelry. Clearly I'm a follower, not a leader! The pattern was easy to follow, and easy to remember, so it was a good traveling pattern.