:: dot dot dot ::

Trying to remember now what is that moved me to design this... Winters in Japan are pretty mild, just cold, dry and sometimes windy and rainy, not much snow where we reside. Mix of grey skies during the day and if we are lucky enough - a pretty sunset over the mountains. So being tired from dull greyness after a long winter, eye is simply begging for some color.. In anticipation for first Spring colors I became impatient and in February while perusing fresh off the runway Fall/Winter 2011-2012 runway collections I had POLKA DOTS stuck in my mind! I have purchased this souvenir yarn from Purl Soho in New York years ago while on a quick trip with Vanessa.






Mizutama (jap.) means exactly that - polka dots.
My Mizutama shawl used a perfect bright, almost acid yellow yarn. Yellow and grey combination has been one of the longest color obsessions I've had, so I thought the grey of the skies would go so well together.

The design is a triangular shawl, but in a pattern I give 2 choices for knitter to make it. You can either start from the tip and increase it, so naturally you would get more and more stitches with each row. While knitting it that way, it is easier to customize and make the shawl even bigger/wider wingspan.
The other option in the pattern is to start with the biggest number of stitches and continue working it down towards the tip of the shawl. So whichever strikes your fancy - you can do it all!

Ravel It!
Yarn: Koigu KPM 2.5 skeins or 470 yds of any other fingering weight yarn
Needle: US 6 (4 mm)

$7.00



On a nice spring day when disaster struck Japan, I was actually getting dressed to go to a local park to take photos of my new designs, Mizutama was among them, I stood in the bathroom doing my hair while doors and everything started violently shaking..
I have tried to put my stress to work, still thinking of the situation, but trying to do something that would bring some feeling of normalcy to our everyday life... This pattern was published back in March.

We did go to that park later in the day to find a gorgeous Mimosa tree in full bloom with millions of yellow globes that are were also speaking polka dots to me...

:: movement ::

I have been back to Japan for a month now and it has been so incredibly filled with events. Work to catch up on, visiting places around Japan, trying to appreciate every single day I get to spend here. We went to Kakegawa Castle and visited 7 waterfalls in Shizuoka Prefecture. Have also visited heart of Edo period in Japan which is in Kawagoe and got to see where one of the most popular shoguns was born and resided. Life seems moving forward, Japanese are so resilient and signs of disaster are almost not there, they certainly appreciate all the business and nothing makes them happier than seeing tourists and people visiting their historical places. So we try to show our support as much as possible.

As rainy season sets in, I try to find some comfortable clothing to get through it. And my rainboots... I am so happy I've invested in them last year because I literally live in them.. Last Saturday we set on our way to Hakone and Lake Ashi in the mountains. When we got there, weather looked like a hurricane and besides treacherous winding roads you could barely see anything, complete white out. And today it's raining again...

Paper crane garlands in Buddha Museum

This week was also another exciting development. I have bought a knitting machine, a Japanese one and I love it! My Australian knitterly friends have been at it recently A LOT!
With a help of my Japanese friend who helped me sort out through some Japanese Yahoo auctions, I have bought a brand new, as in very very old, but in original packaging and never been used Brother machine for almost nothing! They stopped production of Brother machines in 2000. I looked on eBay, but no one would ship them to me. I have always wanted one, I was afraid that it would eat into my hand knitting time, but fear not. It's solely for making some fine knit clothing. The kind that takes forever to knit on tiniest needles (not like I haven't already done that before). Whole concept of machine knitting is more technical and I find hand-knitting still more methodical and appealing to me. But it certainly triggered more ideas for designs. Funny thing how inspiration works.



General life of a crafter consists of dipping into other kinds of it as well. I have been really into making some funky and simple jewelry. I am sure many of your have already heard of Pinterest and it is just an amazing source for pinning all things that interest you... instead of saving all those images on your computer. You get to organize and remember them!

2 weeks ago I went to Yuzawaya, got a box of paper clips and electrical tape. $4 dollar necklace. Yes, please!

:: Ensō Vest ::

So last year around Fall time I had been mulling over an idea of making a fun new vest, but being generally not a vest person, I wanted to stick to things that I am most passionate about - versatility, something geometrical, one-of-a-kind and yet very wearable. I have been playing with basic geometric forms and pondering ideas, very much inspired by Issey Miyake and their new line of 132.5. Where all the clothing can be worn but creased at the lines that collapses/folds flat into a geometric shape... I have spoken to Cirilia who worked at Berroco at that time and she along with Norah Gaughan were very kind to make this design into reality! Thank you very much, ladies!!!








I have taken two circles and "Ensō" in translation from Japanese means a circle, it is also a very sacred symbol in their culture as it has many meanings and functions.

I have imagined a puffy vest, almost like one of those down type that you would put on over your clothes in the winter for a ride in a car or a chilly walk in the evening to keep extra warm. To make the puffy look I have decided to go with a welted stitch pattern over a solid color yarn, because it gives volume and depth and a pretty stitch pattern. I have worked out a way for this vest to be reversible without actually making 4 circles and seaming them. Ensō Vest is worked flat using short-rows and when you are done, you simply graph the live stitches together and voila - it's already folded at the outer edge and you have doubled fabric!



You even have opening all around the armholes if you wish to stuff it with fiber fill to make it more voluminous. So two identical circles, joint at the part of an outer fold to create a back seam. What's more fun is that knit fabric is so elastic it allows you various ways of styling this vest of even fold it some more and turn it in this oversized scarf.



I know timing may seem odd talking about this design today, but I have published this pattern back in January and due my hectic schedule I wasn't able to tell you about it's little story! And I'm really proud of this design. I know Winter has come to our knitter friends down under and it's never too late to start knitting for the colder season, because afterall that is the time when we need and appreciate our warm knits most.

Some specs

Yarn: Berroco Peruvia (100% wool from Peru), in Vino Tinto colorway 7153;

680 - 1240 yards (622 - 1134 m)

Needle: US 8 - 5 mm

Sizes available:
To fit bust sizes 31.5, 33, 34.5, 36, 37.5, 39, 40.5, 42, 43.5"

Ravel It!

$ 7.00