:: More or Less ::

"More or Less" series by Nanna van Blaaderen

SOURCE

:: winners ::

I hope all have been well and ushered the New Year of 2012 happily and properly insulated with your favorite knits. New Year here started very eventful in every sense - from a shake up earthquake on January 1st (we are well!) to exciting releases of collections and designs. I am excited to talk about them and stick to my resolution of being a better blogger.

But first I need to attend to important piece of business, the 3 winners of BSA patterns giveaway are:

Michelle
KT
Nerdy Knitter

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Each of you is getting a set of my 3 new patterns published by Blue Sky Alpacas. And thank you everyone for participating, there are more giveaways planned this year, so don't despair, keep knitting and I will make sure you have more patterns to knit from.
Meanwhile, aforementioned ladies if you could please contact me via email listed on my blog with your address information.

So to start with one thing at a time, while we are talking about Blue Sky Alpacas, the new catalog of theirs has been released in the first week of January, that included my new design with a little of a namesake, called Jazzy Cardigan. In reality it's more of a cardicoat. Made in scrumptious, air light, yet very warm Techno.

The choice of this cable pattern was not accidental, my love for anything geometric and this cable conveys the balance between organic flow of a cable yet with rather geometric shapes mixed in between.




Although looking complex, cable-making becomes intuitive throughout the process when you tend to "read" your fabric below your needles. The flowing cable bands seem to "prompt" you on the next step. The cardigan is worked in pieces, but with button bands incorporated with the fronts. Seams give enough structure and stability to the loft of the yarn while cables reflect the 3D texture of the coat. I have chosen to go with "afterthought" pockets, since they can be done as an option, but personally are very comfy to hide your hands in when it's chilly outside and you don't have your gloves/mitts. I am really keen on modern styling that BSA have chosen for this cardigan, but I can also see it styled with a pencil skirt for a more dressy look.




On Ravelry

On Blue Sky Alpacas

Happy Knitting!

Thakoon Pre-Fall 2012

photos www.style.com

:: holiday giveaway ::

Less blogging, more knitting these days. These are not particularly words to go by, but not so much of personal knitting.
Around this time last year I have been working with Blue Sky Alpacas yarn company on creating new designs for this fall/winter season.
Notice the gorgeous models that are are modeling my knitwear designs, great styles and photography too! I feel really lucky to be able to work with this company and their luxurious line of yarns.
As a result you can see 3 various garment designs using Suri Merino, Sportweight Alpaca, Brushed Suri and Techno...

Pleated Jacket
View on Ravelry

While constructing this design, I really wanted to make it with little seaming as possible while trying to incorporate this wide box pleats collar. I have succeeded in doing so, this jacket is worked top down and you only have 2 small seams to complete once you are finished knitting. Classic feminine design with modern detailing on the collar.

Fitted Lace Pullover
View on Ravelry

In wintertime it is great to have one of those fitted thermal go-to sweaters that you want to wear around all the time and depending on your color choice you can have one transition from casual to evening looks. I have chosen to use 100% alpaca yarn but the idea of wanting to balance out the heat factor, since alpaca is 30% warmer than wool, I have chosen to go with this eyelet lace pattern and evenly distribute it throughout the pullover. It creates sort of "vents" for your skin. Finished with ultimately luxurious and soft Brushed Suri collar caressing the neckline. So your choice of favorite denims, favorite slacks or a full skirt!




Aprés Vest
View on Ravelry

I was among the group of few designers who got to test this new yarn and create initial designs from BSA Techno. This yarn features amazing construction on its own - a mesh tube that has alpaca fibers blown into it, which makes this yarn air-light and luscious, as good as luxury comes! For example, if you make a cabled coat in it, it would weigh much less, it is not spun but it reminds me of woolen spun yarns, that are lofty and soft and light! The vest I have designed using Techno is suppposed to mimic one of those down type vest you wear in cold season either to layer or to throw on for a car ride. Despite being so lofty, it is very warm as it majorly consists of alpaca fibers.
And yes this is beautiful Raina from American Next Top Model modeling the vest! (She recently appeared in Bon Iver music video! Love that band!)

So as a gratitude to all my supporters and in lieu of upcoming holidays I am giving away 3 sets of patterns, each set contains a printed copy of each the designs above.
Rules are simple, leave a comment on this post by Tuesday, December 13th, 1:00AM EST
I will randomly choose 3 winners and announce them later on the blog.
For all participants, please leave a valid email address or link to your valid blog, so I can contact you later.

Good Luck To Everyone and Happy Knitting!!

:: manly knits ::

via

:: knits and pelts ::

Have you ever as a crafty person clung to fabric leftovers for years in hopes that one day you'd have just the right project to use it for? I know I have... and as much as many of your would like deny that once you deal with fabric or string or yarn.. it's hard to get rid of leftovers in general! Your mind doesn't always come up with ideas that very minute, but in some time you hope it does! This same route I've been going ever since I've discovered this faux fur! Honestly, it's the best faux fur made in the world, so I am sure you can see my point about holding on my scraps...

I have had this idea for a while, but as usual timing and whole slew of things in the way... Finally, I made it! The hardest part was picking out the color of the yarn that would match my faux fur color close enough, but yet not distract with its texture or color variation.



Faux fur produced by Tissavel is one of the best in the market, Made in France, feels and looks (most animal prints at least) like real fur. So real, in fact, one day in D.C. I was walking to work from a metro station and startled by some (PETA?) guy screaming: "Do you know what your coat is made of?!!!" To which he heard my response: "Yes, cotton and viscose!" He was stunned and I walked away winning! :) So my point is that this faux fur even with undercoat of different shade looks very real. I know if one touches it - all you'll want is to pet it all day!

I've had some Tissavel leftover pieces from my mom's work for a while now. I know even some friends of mine got bits of it here and there as well, it's really great!

But if you are not a fan of sourcing out a pieces of faux fur you like or fuss over sewing at all, you can go knitting route all the way. And you can do that using two methods:

First, you can find the yarn like Berroco Nanuk or other fluffy yarn that would make a nice cushy pelt for the center of your scarf.

OR

You can knit ANY yarn to create center rectangle using Loop Stitch technique. I suggest using some yarn with a great content of alpaca or suri, so it's even fluffier. If you wish you can even cut those loops, so it's more fur looking... Kind of like this Stella McCartney fur vest.

Fur substitute rectangle should be 12" by 14" if knit flat, when folded and seamed into a tube it should measure 6" by 14".



Now for the ends:
I've used Pear Tree 4-ply Merino yarn, which is 100% Australian merino. It's more of a DK weight and I used US 6 (4mm) needle to go with it for my knit 2, purl 2 ribbing pattern.
My gauge is 7.5 sts per 1" over Ribbing pattern.
You can choose a different stitch pattern for knit part of the scarf as long as you get the necessary dimensions.
Scarf width should measure 6" in washed and blocked form. I suggest to make a little swatch to calculate correct number of stitches to cast on for your yarn choice and needle size.

Cast on 46 sts.
Row 1: *K2, p2*, k2.
Row 2: *P2, k2*, p2.

Repeat rows 1-2 till it measures 35" from CO edge. BO all stitches in pattern. Then make a second scarf end identically. Weave in all ends, soak and block your knit scarf ends to measurements.


For faux fur insert cut 12" by 14" rectangle plus 3/4" seam allowances.



Fold the faux fur rectangle with public side facing inside, then pin first scarf end to the right edge in place between 2 folded ends of the fabric. Stitch by hand to hold in proper place, making sure that sides of the scarf do not bleed over the marks where the knit insert has to be stitched.


Take second knit scarf end and repeat as for the first scarf end only pinning it on the other side of the faux fur rectangle.
Once knit scarf ends are placed properly, use sewing machine to stitch the scarf ends securely in place. You can go over it several times if you'd like.



Then shift both ends of the knit ends to one corner. Pin, then hand stitch to hold in place along the side. Machine sew along the edge to close the side of the rectangle as much as possible with ends still sticking out. Trim excess selvedge fabric.



Carefully pull on the knit scarf ends and turn  faux fur rectangle inside out. You'll have two scarf ends attached to a fur rectangle. Last piece of business is closing that small opening. Using sewing needle and matching sewing thread hand stitch it closed by inverting the selvedges inside along the lines and sewing it shut in a manner of small Mattress stitches.

Voila!!

Now you can get one yourself as well or there is still time for holiday gifts!!
Happy Crafting!!!

:: indian summer ::

Sunset over Mt. Fuji viewed from Inomuragasaki Beach.

All past week we have been roasting here in Japan. Indian summer full on and living in a place that faces South turned my regular dwelling into a sauna of sorts, but I have been enjoying it nevertheless. Dry autumn days, spider colonies taking over many trees, orange hue of Halloween garb everywhere, faint scent of burning fireplace - all of it in premonition of cold weather taking over soon, but oh so pleasant.. To stop routine of the day with a cup of hot chocolate, couple chapters of a new book, think and reflect a little.





To be happy of the small moments and joys. Be appreciative of the present. Whether a big project coming to its final stages and feeling of accomplishment that relaxes and encourages to take on new adventures. Or just several hours of the day spent in a company of friends who understand your humanity.

The sky has been coming up with most bizarre and breathtaking patterns over colors at sunset.







And then back to the grind... so many things to knit..

a heap of sweaters

via FashionGoneRogue

:: Hado for your head ::

How did October happen already? Summer.. is if it never happened, the busiest time for knitwear designers, getting all delicious knits ready for Fall/Winter collections. But I want to still document and share my year's work.

All the way back in early Spring I have been asked by Andie of Renaissance Hand-dyed Yarns to consider creating a design using her naturally dyed yarns. That was what draw me at first, but who can pass up an opportunity working with Blue-faced Leicester wool, that is one of the softest and luxurious things in this world! While swatching and thinking of the possibilities I have decided to settle on this lovely color combination pack to create a slouch hat. Not just your regular slouch, cool enough to show off the colorwork and with some lace thrown into it..



It almost has a Missoni feel to it, but what is great - one can easily choose to customize it. I have worked it using 4 colors in this pack, but one can easily choose to make it a solid version or even transitional colors to show off "ombre" effect.



Hado Slouch

Hado 波動 (jap.) - wave motion, surge.
Colorful reflections on water surface and gentle breeze waves are recreated in this slouchy hat through intuitive lace pattern and combination of stripes to brighten up a chilly day and keep warm.
Fingering weight
24 stitches and 56 rows = 4 inches in 3 by 3 rib on smaller needle
400 yards (366 m)

$6.00



This design has great potential for leftover fingering yarn, another stash-busting project or a gift that can be loved and well-appreciated. Taking a page from recent madness over Missoni line in Target, you can easily make some for yourself if you are a fan or have missed that event. I am a known "offender" in loving chevrons, Missoni-styles, so you can also see my other designs like Serapo Hat and Palisel Hat.
Now I will be back with more once I finish some pattern writing for new designs ;)