:: HARI ::

This idea was one of those "lightbulb" moments and I just ran with it. Ever since getting a gorgeous test skein of Tosh Merino Light in Cloak from Amy (Madelinetosh) at TNNA I have been thinking of what goodness can come out of it.. After some time and contemplation I decided to give this yarn a try and the amazing nature of the stitches formed Hari. This was just what I wanted and hoped for... Hari in translation from Japanese means "needle", to me it's a needle, spike, peak... which can be a fanthom once heavily stretched...



Knit simply straight following the continuous repeats, I had the yarn and stitches dance into peaks and valleys with a lovely zigzagged edges... what was most cool is that the make up of this is so easy.. yet I got the intricate landscape growing. Rhythm of lace making, which is not very elaborate, but can be a great training for your short-term memory.

In the end it had to become more than just a scarf.. By using several hook and eye closures this fabric is manipulated, morphed and naturally expanded its wearability.

Scarf
Long cowl - close the loop
Short cowl - twisted it once and close it in a loop, arrange around your neck
Snood - just close it in a loop by twisting once,arrange around your neck and head
Shrug, Shawl or Stole... as the design comes with 2 length and width variations - the wider one can easily become the later.




Yarn:
Tosh Merino Light - 1 skein for shorter-narrower version, 2 skeins for wider-longer version

Finished measurements: 9" x 45" and 13.5 x 66"
Needle: US 5 (3.75 mm)
Notions:
hook and eye closures

The pattern comes with clear written instructions and a chart as well as some tips. The pattern has been test knit in 2 other weights (dk and worsted).

For what it's worth and if you are knitting from stash.. this can work great because Hari can be made with Any weight yarn (I'd still suggest to stay within fingering, sport, dk, worsted, maybe chunky range). Just reconsider your yardage calculations if you are substituting it.

pdf knit pattern download

USD $6.00

:: Gareth Pugh ::

Spring Summer Collection for 2011
edgy genius..

:: The Dreamer excerpt ::

Anna Maria Jagodzinska by Laura Sciacovelli for Vogue UK, October 2010

:: Urban Jungle excerpt::

Ten Haken:: Urban Jungle for Vogue China

:: miura cowl ::

Miura Cowl is named after a folding method of origami tessellation. It represents positive and negative spaces, but naturally gathering and keeping the voluminous look and while stretched it exposes textural beauty of knit and purl stitches arranged on it's surface. It's completely reversible as both inside and out have same patterning. I can visualize wearing this with a basic peacoat or a coat to bring up the interest to the neckline and balance out the outfit. Truth is it might have been getting real cold in some regions, but today it's 85F and just two days ago it was 50.. Autumn is creeping in slowly in Japan but surprising Indian Summer days are the only reminders that are left of the past heat. It's been steadily raining and I had a chance to wear my cowl out (with my new rainboots no less). I'd recommend avoiding busy prints to go with it. Polished minimalism and texture is what this accessory is trying to convey.. But also switch around the yarn weight, it would add more volume and expressed texture.

I certainly had fun taking photos, one can only imagine how creative you can get in order accomplish something all by yourself!



Materials
Habu textiles Lambswool linen, 52gr or any DK weight yarn approx. 210 yds. Color Lavender grey #11

US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle

Queue it on Ravelry

The pattern contains chart as well as written instructions for those who don't like or don't feel comfortable with charts.

USD 3.50

:: obsessing about ::

My obsession of the moment.. soft luxurious sweater to cocoon myself in, the softest embrace of fibers... as you might have notices the upcoming season relays sooo much of fur, faux or not, I like to think I'm going to have best of all of them.. as it is real fur but cruelty free.. say impossible?
I have been saving a very special birthday gift from couple years ago of Mink Cashmere yarn and I think I finally have found a perfect sweater it needs to become.. Nothing fussy, basic form, minimal shaping.. something like either of these..

photo from here



photo from here



photo from here

And looking into forecasts for next year I've seen so much of yarns as mohair/furry looking ones making a come back.. I know personally pure mohair is a bit scratchy, but very warm... just remembering those Orenburg shawls made from mohair goat down.. so amazingly warm but thin as an entire shawl passes through a wedding band! That type of yarn can be extremely hard to source, but for the lovers of soft and non-irritable I can suggest to point your shoes towards Blue Sky Alpacas Brushed Suri ! It has no mohair in it, it has baby suri, merino and bamboo (last two pretty much create the core to hold baby suri) which in yarn and knit looks like a loftier mohair but is much softer.. I have recently swatched some of that yarn and I took a little natural brush to my swatch! The result.. it's amazing, it's fluffy without the bulk, drapey and still very lightweight! I think a whole sweater in this yarn will look just as real fur if that is the look that you are seeking for. And believe me after seeing and touching tons and tons of jackets and sweaters knit in acrylic boucle in stores of Japan.. this would be a real treat to work with, own and wear!

Speaking of mohair, my mom has requested a birthday gift this year to be knit. She really wanted Arcus pullover, but asked for it to be a bit more cropped and hit the length of hip bones. I have had some Kidsilk Night in creamy white in my stash for a while.. and of course, when I finished I washed and blocked it, tried it on... packed and mailed it off .. forgetting to take photos!
But it came out so warm and silk presence in that yarn definitely made working it up more pleasurable! The photo below is from the Ori Ami Knits book and the original Arcus pullover has been knit using Silk and Mohair blend yarn from Habu textiles. The perk - it's transformable!