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November 24, 2010
Sophia
It's a wonderful thing about the very best designers - you can refer to them and refer to them and years later they are still 'right'. Sophia was my attempt to interpret the Alexander McQueen (rest his soul) cardigan coat from 2006.
It's no McQueen, but by my reckoning a pretty successful version of a cabled cardigan coat. The yarn is Jaeger EFM Chunky (I'm sure I'm not the only one still mourning the line - yes there are good substitutes for fibre content and twist, but not for the colour range). I'm a big fan of chunky yarns for larger pieces like this or Flicca. It puts them within range of reasonable knitting time - probably no more time consuming than a 4ply sweater.
I know that bobbles divide knitters. Personally I am pro, but respectful of other positions. For the anti-bobblists, I'd suggest filling those medallions in the cable pattern with a little patch of moss stitch.
My final word on this piece: it is warm. The great big collar effectively gives a double layer of fabric over the shoulders - where I feel the cold most. Wear with a sweet little slip of a dress and boots for winter fashion style - or over fine knits, chunky socks, long johns and thermal undershirts for when winter really digs in and chic is a consideration for more clement times.
More pictures, and the pattern, soon.
Posted by Anna at 09:55 PM | Comments (8)
November 21, 2010
Sedna
Apparently I'm not yet busy enough (parenting a three-year-old, working a full time job, working on a collection of new designs) because I'm still unable to ignore that terrible lust we occasionally get for knits. I don't know what it was about Sedna that drew me in - perhaps my failed attempt at the February Lady Sweater meant the style/construction had not left my system (not that the pattern failed, nor the knitting - I enjoyed it immensely, but the finished item did nothing to flatter me. Luckily the shape and the colour (Dream in Color 'In Vino Veritas') both suited my ma to a 't', so as soon as she said she liked it it was off my back and onto hers).
It started when I was working at Ally Pally earlier this year, I kept picking up Yarn Forward 8 and flicking back to it; when I remembered I had a sweater's worth of Kilcarra Aran Tweed in stash, the deal was sealed.
The process was not without its problems: the horizontal band around the hips was far too short when I sewed it into place so instead I unpicked the cast off and reworked the band as one would an applied edging, working ssk on RS rows and slipping the first st of WS rows so there are actually two rows of band to each stitch of body. It makes the cardigan flare out slightly which may not be flattering to the top-heavy but is OK for someone as straight up and down as me.
It's more difficult, now, approaching 40 and having changed shape. Inevitable, of course, after childbirth and a certain age, but I'm still not used to it. In my 20s I could really rely on being able to wear anything, and now that I can't, I'm far less confident about the choices I make. But my sister said she likes this on me, so for now, at least, it's in wardrobe rotation.
One day I will unpick the bands at the wrists and knit an extra half a repeat on the arms' lengths before sewing the bands back on - the sleeves are just an inch too short, that I feel I must keep tugging them down.
Posted by Anna at 07:14 PM | Comments (6)
November 19, 2010
Bridie pattern
The pattern for Bridie, originally published in Knitknit: Profiles and Projects from Knitting's New Wave by Sabrina Gschwandtner, is now available to buy as a download.
Sizes to fit bust 32 [34: 36: 38: 40: 42] inches
Finished size 34.5: [36.5: 39: 41: 43: 45.5] inches
Knit in a wool/cashmere DK blend - 50gm (140m [154 yards]) 7 [8: 8: 9: 9] balls
Tension: 22 sts and 34 rows in stitch pattern to 10 cm (4 inches) using 4mm needles.
Posted by Anna at 08:24 PM | Comments (26)
November 17, 2010
We are still knitting
Or perhaps, 'we have resumed knitting'. Not only knitting, but also writing, designing, and planning.
'We' in this case is not the pluralis majestatis nor the 'editorial we'. No, a literal 'we': Needle & Hook is now two. My sister has joined me - the hook to my needle - and her input and encouragement has motivated me to get more done in the last month than I have in the last year. Isabel has a practicality and tenacity where my strengths are elsewhere. Together we are unstoppable.
Our first order of business will be to make available some of those patterns now back in my copyright or which have been previously published but for one reason or another made unavailable. Sally, Bridie, Argyle and more.
But that is not all... oh no, that is not all...
Posted by Anna at 04:46 PM | Comments (26)