Fashionknitsta Thursday: 10/29/09

Happy Thursday, everyone! Welcome to another edition of Fashionknitsta. Today I have a wonderful assortment of things I've been waiting weeks to share with all of you.

First on the list is Shibui's Retro Tailored Cardigan by Olga Buraya-Kefelian. I have to begin by thanking Sara for putting this up on the web for me, and then continue by apologizing to her for the harassment she has had to endure because I've been bugging her about this pattern since pretty much my first entry.


I absolutely love this pattern and have been a teensy bit obsessed with it since the first time I saw it. It's done in ShibuiKnits Merino Kid, which is a yarn I love the texture of and it's reversible!

Totally cute either way you wear it, I really really like the color the sample is done in (Honey), but I have always sort of imagined it in the back of my mind done in Midnight so that is a going to be a tough choice (especially since ShibuiKnits yarns are on sale through the 8th of November).

Here is a shot of some of the details and the other way to wear it from Olga's Ravelry page:

Now, if you read last week's post you might have noticed that I featured one of Olga Buraya-Kefelian's patterns, the Akomeogi Tunic. I did not realize that both of these patterns were by the same designer until I sat down to write this post. I wish I had known before because she has a great collection of patterns she has designed on Ravelry and I really recommend you check them out.

Next on our agenda today I have a supercute (and easy!) slipper shoe to share. For a while now I have been stalking these Marc by Marc Jacobs flats on Zappos:

...and today I found a pattern for these adorable babies by FrenchPressKnits on Etsy:

Aren't they a perfect lounge around the house version? There are just so many options with these, they are so easily customizable using color and great buttons and how perfect would they be for holiday gifts?!

These are done with a worsted weight yarn and a size 15 needle and then they are felted. It looks like she uses Paton's Classic Wool, but I think they would be great done in Lamb's Pride Worsted for great color choices, or Joseph Galler Prime Alpaca doubled if you really wanted to treat your feet!

The designer's name is Melynda Bernardi and she has a great blog as well as a Ravelry account and I think both of them are definitely worth looking at. I just have to share this picture from her blog, I love it!


The final thing I have to share with you today is something I've been waiting oh-so-anxiously to show everyone. If you have been in the store, you have probably seen the lovely and ever-popular Oleana collars, like this one:

I think one of our most asked questions is "Where can I find a pattern for this?" and sadly, we have had to answer that there is not one...

...until now! I am very, very pleased to be able to announce the arrival of our newest pattern line, Art Fiber Designs, and to share with you the beautiful Ruffled & Rouched Scarf pattern that is now available both in store and on our website:


Much like the Oleana Collar, this is a wonderful accent to complement a winter coat or just over a sweater. We were so excited to find Pam Powers, the designer, that I have been having a really hard time keeping quiet about this one.

It can be done in an Aran or DK weight, and the original was made with Elsebeth Lavold Angora. I would really like to see it in Shibui Baby Alpaca DK. Sandy Kay just told me that she is on her second one using Art Yarns Silk Rhapsody, so I bet it's just luscious.

Coincidently, the Ruffled & Rouched Scarf is the featured pattern at our first Holiday Happy Hour, taking place next Wednesday, on the 4th of November from 5:30 pm-6:30 pm. If you attend the Happy Hour it costs $15 ($35 if you attend 3 of them), and we'll walk you through the double-needle provisional cast on needed to start this beautiful piece. Attending the Happy Hour also gets you a 10% discount that evening (an addedl bonus), and there are a series of these evenings listed on our classes page. Be sure to register before they are full!

And with that I leave you for another week, and hope everyone is enjoying the seasonal rain and staying warm. Until next time, stay chic blogfans!

-Lindsay

busy, busy, busy 'round here

But I thought I might mention Three Things:

1. Some lovely cashmere-y sock yarn arrived this afternoon for our lucky, lucky Sock Club members to enjoy sometime this year (not next month, though! we have something equally special planned for November...)
2. Eyebobs are on the website, including three new styles. Check out the Eyebobs page for more details.
3. Our "Ten Reasons To Love October" Sale is still going strong. If you missed our newsletter last Friday, check it out before all the yarn is go-o-one!
   

Gratis Knits: Fall 2009

Asymmetrical Cabled Collar
by Sara Morris
(this pattern is also available as a PDF)

Sizes:
13.5" long by 4" high on narrow end and 6" high on wide end.

Yarn:
1 skein of ShibuiKnits Merino Alpaca (131 yds / 120m per 3.5 oz / 100g skein)

Needles:
5.5mm/ US 9 needles

Gauge:
20 sts/ 26 rnds = 4" in St st (in the rnd)

Notions:
1” button
Tapestry needle
Cable needle


Abbreviations:

BO – bind off
CO - cast on
C4f – cable 4 sts front (slip 2 sts onto cable needle, hold in front, k2, k2 off of cable needle)
K - knit
K2tog - knit 2 together
P - purl
Pf&b - purl into the front and back of the stitch
Ssk – slip, slip, knit 2 sts together through back
St(s) - stitch(es)
YO – yarn over
W&t – wrap & turn

--------------------------------------------------------

Directions:

CO 72 sts.
Rows 1 & 3: K6, *p2, k4, (p2, k2) twice* four times, p2, k4, p2, k2.
Rows 2 & 4: P2, k2, p4, k2, *(p2, k2) twice, p4, k2* four times, p6.
Row 5: K6, *p2, c4f, (p2, k2) twice* four times, p2, c4f, p2, k2.
Row 6: P2, k2, p4, k2, p2, k2, p2, w&t.
Row 7: K2, p2, k2, p2, k4, p2, k2.
Row 8: P2, k2, p4, k2, p2, w&t.
Row 9: K2, p2, k4, p2, k2.
Row 10: P2, k2, p4, w&t.
Row 11: c4f, p2, k2.
Row 12: P2, k2, p4, k2, *(p2, k2) twice, p4, k2* four times, p6. [On this row knit the wraps together with their sts]
Rows 13 - 17: repeat rows 1 - 5.
Row 18: P2, k2, p4, k2, *(p2, k2) twice, p4, k2* four times, p6.
Row 19: K6, *p2, k4, (p2, k2) twice* four times, p2, k2og, yo, ssk, p2, k2.
Row 20: P2, k2, p1, pf&b into yo from previous row, p1, k2, *(p2, k2) twice, p4, k2* four times, p6.
Row 21: K6, *p2, k4, (p2, k2) twice* four times, p2, k4, p2, k2.
Row 22: P2, k2, p4, k2, *(p2, k2) twice, p4, k2* four times, p6.
Row 23: K6, *p2, c4f, (p2, k2) twice* four times, p2, c4f, p2, k2.
Rows 24 - 30: repeat rows 6 - 12.
Row 31 - 35: repeat rows 1 - 5.
Row 36: P2, k2, p4, k2, *(p2, k2) twice, p4, k2* four times, p6.
Row 37: K6, *p2, k4, (p2, k2) twice* four times, p2, k4, p2, k2.
Row 38: BO all sts in pattern LOOSELY.

Finishing:

Weave in ends. Block into proper dimensions and to straighten short rows. Sew button in place.

Fashionknitsta Thursday 10/22/09

Looks like it's a double blog day here at Knit Purl, as Sara said earlier last week we were all a little out of the game. Sorry about that, but it just means I have twice as much to share with you today!

I know this is a little late, but on October 9th I was lucky enough to be able to attend The Procession, a wonderfully staged presentation of Dayna Pinkham's hats paired with the fashions of local designers including our lovely neighbor Elizabeth Dye of The English Department.
Here are a few of my favorites from the show:



Just beautiful. The first image is Elizabeth Dye's Nevermore which I recommend everyone go and check out while she still has it in the store.

Now onto some more knitting related matters. A few days ago LeBrie, our sensational felting teacher, shared the most amazing Etsy Store with me. Isobel and Cleo makes truly exceptional couture knitwear garments and accessories. Upon investigation it seems they use a really nice mix of machine knits with hand knit details. These tights make me want to just knit my legs little Joseph Galler Prime Alpaca* homes and never take them off.

*yes, I know the originals are merino, but I have an alpaca problem.

There is also a lovely modern interpretation of a shirt dress done in pima cotton, which makes me really think of the possibilities of the Rowan Purelife Cotton 4 ply.

I think this is definitely a shop anyone looking for great inspiration should check out.

So by now I think everyone knows that in addition to my alpaca addiction I also have a ruffle problem. I'm so glad that Sara shared this top from Anthropologie:


and brought this pattern for the Akomeogi Tunic by Olga Buraya-Kefelian from the Summer 09 Interweave Knits back onto my radar:


When I first saw this top I immediately fell in love. It's done in Louet Euroflax Sport Weight linen and because I love the look and drape of this as-is, I think I would stay with that yarn (but I think I would choose French Blue...or maybe Charcoal).

I'm really glad that Sara has an Anthropolgie addiction (and also glad we haven't ever shopped together because I can see that would be dangerous) because she also brought this dress to my attention:


Then she shared this pattern with me for the Maid Marion Dress by Sarah Wilson and I almost fell out of my chair:

and I have to include a shot of the back because really love the drop:


I know that this isn't an exact match, but I think the resemblence is uncanny. For a few weeks I have been searching for a great pattern to fill what I think is a lack of cute knit dresses (the cabled turtleneck styles a-la Michael Kors do not count, we've seen those) and especially cute knit dresses that can work for spring. The original was made with Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solids, I think I would probably do some combo of Shibui Sock and play with the colors. Maybe the do the body in Midnight and the band in Honey with stripes of the Honey at the bottom? Hmmmmm... I could really get into that.

So as a final inspiration of the day, I will share with all of you something that our wonderful graphic designer Jenny showed me this morning:



These treasures are the work of designer Patty Benson of Papaver Vert. Jenny showed these to me via a feature about her on Design Sponge (a really fantastic blog I really recommend you checking out), and then I went on to check out her website and she really makes the most amazing felted home accessories. Sandy Kay saw me oohing and aahing over these and brought to my attention the pattern for these great little bowls featured in the brand new Interweave Holiday Gifts 2009 which we just got in stock:

These would be so fun to make with or without the lace detail and I think they would be almost easy enough to come up with without a pattern just using Lamb's Pride Bulky or Cascade 220 doubled. I'm really inspired to go home and knit covers for all of our plants now, I hope you are too.

And so with that I leave you for today, thanks for putting up with our tardiness and stay tuned next week for another Fashionknitsta Thursday. Until then, stay chic blogfans!

-Lindsay

And we're back!

I apologize for my/ our absence these past two weeks, we've been taking turns getting sick out here at the LYS, which has thrown everything off-schedule and out-of-whack. But we're all back (and all well, never fear!) and rearing to get back to our old schedule. So, without further adieu, let's start with a customer project that just has to be shared. Prepare yourself for the "Wow" factor...

Susan came in wearing her recently finished Wisteria sweater (pattern by Kate Gilbert), and we had to get a photo:

Do you want to hazard a guess at what yarn she used?

Handmaiden's Sea Silk (in "Straw"), held double, making this the most delectable Wisteria on the planet (unless, maybe someone's made one out of cashmere...). Just... wow! I didn't get to see it in person (see the intro paragraph), but Lindsay and Kristin couldn't stopped sighing over it when they told me about it later.

Alas, I couldn't find Susan's project on ravelry, so we'll just have to love it from afar.

Next, we have a vampire that's cuter than Edward Cullen (sorry, couldn't resist), because Sandy Kay has finished Victor the Vampire!

(he even has a handknit cape!)

And he's on display in our side window. The next time you drop by the store, be sure to check out the creepy/ cute Halloween display we've set up. I'll take a picture of the finished display (we're missing a pumpkin and some handknit bats), and post it in next week's post for all of our lovely out-of-town blogfans.

Finally, on the project front, we have Lindsay's in-progress alpaca blanket:

That she's making with Joseph Galler Prime Alpaca. It's soooo soft, you (okay, we) just want to roll in it. Mmm, alpaca.

Anyway, lest I start to drool, we also have some announcements this week...

First and foremost, we still have a couple of spots left in our upcoming Mad Hatters workshop. If you've ever been interested in learning to knit colorwork or design your own colorwork projects, this is the class for you!

Second, did you know that Julie Weisenberger of CoCo Knits is coming to Knit Purl?? It's true, she is! And she's going to be teaching three awesome classes: What Not To Knit, Finishing/ Design Techniques, and CoCo Knits Cornucopia. If you're a CoCo Knits fan be sure to register early (this news is going out in the Newsletter tomorrow!), because we expect these classes to fill up fast.

Last, but not least, be sure to check back tomorrow for another installment of Gratis Knits! Yes, that's right, we're bringing back our popular quarterly free pattern series.

But, until then, keep knitting!

Fashionknitsta Thursday: 10/8/09

Welcome to another Thursday and another edition of Fashionknitsta.

I have to thank a couple friends today for sharing some great pieces with me. In fact, my first inspiration piece comes from within my own home, a wonderful bag my roommate agreed to share with us. She got this a few seasons ago at Urban Outfitters and I have always thought it would be a really fun project.

I found this, the Posh Purse by Robin Chachula, on Ravelry and, though it isn’t exactly what I’m looking for, I think I’m on the right track. I’m not great at manipulating crochet patterns; but, I think done in chunkier yarn like Shibui Highland Wool Alpaca, perhaps, this would be a really close match. If any of you have seen a pattern that matches more closely, please let me know!


The next piece I’m looking at today also comes from a friend. I was sent a link to this cute cashmere/wool blend vest at Nordstrom:


It immediately brought to mind a project I actually bought yarn for just last week. This vest is a design from Helga Isager’s Amimono Spring/Summer 09 collection:



This vest is done with Isager Wool 1 and Alpaca 2 held together, and while this pattern is in the Spring/Summer 09 book, I think its a perfect layering piece for fall. I've seen several of them made up (the second image is actually one from Leslie, one of our wonderful customers) and they are just beautiful in person.

Color choice was a seriously hard decision, because I love the neutral look of these samples, but I decided to step out of my comfort zone and go for blues with color 23 of the Alpaca 2 and color 101 of the Wool 1. I'm really excited to start this project, I just wish I had thought about it in July! This book is full of fantastic patterns, so if you're interested get it while you can as the ever popular Amimono Fall/Winter 08 is now sadly out of print.

(Just a note: that vest from Nordstrom costs $198, while the Amimono version only costs $108 including the book with the pattern.)

My final inspiration to share with you all today is actually a sneak peak of a pattern coming for Knit Purl this holiday season. Last year while blog-cruising I saw this lovely accessory:

I immediately fell in love with it, but could not believe that it cost something like $120. I could hardly wait to share it with my coworkers, and Sandy Kay and Sara began whipping up their own versions. You may remember seeing this previously on the blog, but here is Darcy modeling Sandy Kay's sample:

Sandy knit this little treat out of Handmaiden's Swiss Mountain Cashmere in colorway Moss. With a fiber content of 65% cashmere 35% silk, this is definitely something I'd love to use to keep my ears warm with this winter. Check in next month for the release of this pattern, I know I'm excited!

As always I wish you all a lovely weekend, see you next Thursday for the next edition of Fashionknitsta. Until then, stay chic blogfans!

-Lindsay

Sweater weather is here!

Admittedly it's more Featherweight Cardigan weather than cabled raglan weather, but we'll take what we can get around here. In fact, we're sooo excited about the leaves turning and the temperature dropping, the latest Newsletter features a variety of ideal cool-weather garments. Also in this issue are several new books, patterns, and yarns. Check your inbox for more information! (or click here)

Let's see. Not in the Newsletter this week (because it just arrived yesterday!) is Leigh Radford's new book:


One More Skein, a collection of one- and two-skein projects. My favorite is the most stinking cute (to quote a coworker) thing ever - Sadie's Capelet:


It even has a hood (which you can't see in this photo, unfortunately). I wish I'd had this pattern when my niece was still baby-sized... It's just so adorable. And practical. No sleeves to try and get on a squirming baby. Very clever.

The book's not on the website (like I said, just came in yesterday!), but it will be very soon. If you desperately want a copy, drop by the store or contact us.

Next on the "Not On The Newsletter" List, the Danger Crafts trunkshow:

Yes, that IS a knitted robot. As well as a collection of knitted toys that range from silly to tongue-in-cheek to just plain cute. The patterns will be on the website in the next couple of days, so look for them!

Moving on to my favorite part of the store blog - a customer project. Walrus (a.k.a. Hannah) dropped by on her was to the Button Emporium to show us her Chemo Chapeau...

Made with Malabrigo Sock in "Stonechat". She needed a bow and button to complete the look...


Which we think is lovely (and a nice use of sock yarn in a non-foot-shaped way). It's also a chemo cap, which makes it double awesome. The fact that the pattern is by Portlander Marnie MacLean might just make it triple awesome, right?

In less interesting news (for me, anyway), I finished Tegan's bolero over the weekend and only have to sew on the buttons for it to be ready-to-wear:

(And a close-up, for those of you who are really bored.)

The pattern is Knitting Pure & Simple's Children's Bolero, the yarn is (well, was) ShibuiKnits Merino Worsted in "Peony". The buttons are from The Button Emporium and have, ha!, peonies on 'em.

And that is everything I have to blog about. Next time, we'll reveal the true nature of our blue mystery. If you can guess what it is before then, we might just have a prize for the winner... Until next Tuesday, enjoy the cool weather!

Fashionknitsta Thursday: 10/1/09

It's Thursday again which means time to share with all of you some great fashion forward designs I've been looking at over the last few days. Fall is upon us and I hope all of you are feeling the wonderful inspiration I am that comes with the cooler temps and changing leaves.

I don't know about you, but I love a good cardigan. Even as a kid growing up in Southern California you would have found me in the middle of July in a cardigan. So, now that I'm an adult and I can make my own, I need to find the perfect one. My instinct right now says shawl collar and with a wrap tie, BUT will I like that next year? If I'm going to put the work (not to mention $$) in I want to like it for a very long time, of course, though I also don't want to put the effort into something plain that I could get at the Gap. Well, I found this sweater by Tory Burch:

Love the ruffle and I think I will continue to love the ruffle for quite sometime. Ok, so style is decided, time to find a pattern. Flo by Kim Hargreaves is the first to come to mind. I know I referred to the wonderful book Thrown Together last week, but I'm really in love with it. The patterns are classic, but with a twist which I think is perfect.

I think I would make the sleeves a touch longer (need to keep my hands warm once the rain starts) and not gather them, but otherwise this fits my vision wonderfully. Now yarn? The book calls for Rowan Cashsoft 4ply and Kidsilk Haze, but I think I would do Isager Alpaca 2 in a grey, and a Shibui Silk Cloud in Mist or perhaps Mulberry for a bit of saucy contrast. Or now that I'm thinking about it, it would be lovely (and washable!) in Shibui Sock. Hmmm....

Another Option I found for this is from Vogue Knitting Fall 2007. This Ruffled Jacket by James Coviello, is really adorable.

Again, I would make the sleeves a little longer but I love the shape of the bottom and how the ruffles follow the whole edge. The original calls for GGH Bel Air and GGH Soft Kid held together, I think I would do Malabrigo Worsted and a strand of Shibui Silk Cloud.

A while ago my roommate asked me to find her a good free pattern for a Mobius scarf. I keep telling her to sign up for Ravelry because it will change her life, but for some reason she still hasn't. This is beside the point though, and I'm quite glad she hasn't gotten her own yet because whilst perusing Ravelry for said Mobius pattern I stumbled upon an amazing collection of patterns I had never seen before. Jane Richmond is a designer from Vancouver Island and I am absolutely in love with her patterns! A few highlights are her Cozy Bolero:

Which I think would be beautiful (and quick!) done in Shibui Highland Wool Alpaca held double. She also has a number of lovely hat patterns, each with the perfect amount of slouch; though I think I'm leaning towards Pasha as my favorite. Probably because I'm a big fan of the yarn it's done in: Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK, which I wish we had on the website, but I don't think it's quite made it there. Although, it would also be quite luscious in Catherine Lowe Alpaca 6.

You should definitely check out her Ravelry page and blog for these patterns and much much more.

For my last pick this week, I didn't have to wander far. I've always been a CocoKnits fan but last week we got in a new pattern, Yvonne that is absolutely fantastic.

I've already expressed my love of the cardigan, but this sweater would also satisfy my wardrobe needs when all I feel like doing is wrapping myself in a blanket. I think it might just be fate that this pattern entered the store right around the same time the Fibre Company's Road to China Light did. I'm so anxious for that yarn to make it onto the website, it is amazingly soft (not to mention the colors! Oh the colors!) and just the perfect gauge for this pattern.

Once again I wish you all a great weekend, and check in next Thursday for the next edition of Fashionknista. Until then, stay chic blogfans!

-Lindsay