37

I'm up to row 37 on my shawl--#3 from the Elegance Knits book (Let's Knit #11).

I neglected to say in my last post, that I'm making this in Jaggerspun Zephyr (50/50 merino/silk) in the "Curry" colorway--a very nice, light, golden brown, caramel kind of color.

I'm doing fine reading the chart--it's really not any different than any other triangular lace shawl I've made--but I keep losing my place. The pattern repeat is so long. I haven't even counted the number of stitches, but you can see my stitch markers--one to mark the center, and then one each to mark the beginning and end of the repeat on either side . . .

So, I just pulled out an almost-dead highlighter and ran a line of color across every third row of my chart, so there's something for my eye to "catch" as I look back and forth. I expect that will help, as will greater familiarity with the lace pattern as I go along. In the meantime, I think this looks lovely (except for the one, glaring error that I, at least, see, but I'm choosing to pretend isn't there).

--Deb in NJ
www.chappysmom.com

Let's Knit Series #8 - Cover Sweater - Progress

Just thinking to post some progress pictures.

I expect the pattern to open up a bit after washing and blocking.
Both parts have the same size and I am going to stop here for the moment, till I get my books - as I think I need to start shaping for the sleeves now.
The yarn is lovely - if it's going to survive the washing test, I will definitely buy it again.

Now - this is a small part of my chart - just to show you that there aren't any major challenges in the pattern.

One repeat of the pattern is over 16 stitches and 30 rows - as shown at the bottom of the chart.

The background is always left blank - and every chart in this book will tell you at the bottom of the chart how to knit the blank squares (in case you can't just figure it out by looking at the associated swatch :)).

In my case, I'm purling all the blank squares (the horizontal line after the '=' sign stands for Purl) .
And more about Japanese knitting symbols here:

http://www.tata-tatao.to/knit/stitches/e-index.html

Introducing Myself

Hi, my name's Deb and I'm making the shawl (pattern #3) from the "Elegance Knits" book (#11). As in, I started it all of 15 minutes ago and am on row 14. But you've got to start somewhere, right?

--Deb
www.chappysmom.com

Knitting Elegance #11

Thanks, Silvia for the invitation to post here.

Knitting Elegance #11 was my first Japanese Book and I was hooked immediately to the patterns. I swatched for two of the models, the title model #4 and #19.

Here are some pictures:

Model #4, the Title Model



Needles 3mm, yarn produced in the Czech Republic, 70% cotton 30% wool

Model # 19



Needles 3mm, yarn produced in the Czech Republic, 70% cotton 30% wool.

Let's Knit Series #8 - Cover Sweater - Part 1

Look, this is the beauty I'm going to try next, as the first entry of this blog.



It is the cover sweater from Let's Knit Series #8.
I haven't got the book yet but the chart is published in Knitting Patterns Book 250, first book in our list, so I've already started swatching, measuring and calculating.

That's my progress up to now.



Yarn : Debbie Bliss Cathay - very nice and soft cotton blend, unfortunately it does split like hell.
Needles : 3.75 mm
Pattern : based on the chart no 152, from Knitting Patterns Book 250, page 72.

First row (RS) : purl
Second row (WS): knit
Third row (RS) : start working in chart pattern.

I am doing 7 repeats of the pattern + 2 extra stitches for the edges = 115 stitches and this measures approx. 50 cm.

My gauge was 22 stitches = 10 cm in stockinette - obviously you'll need to swatch in the pattern as well.

The chart is very easy: just plain knitting, decreases (k2tog and ssk stitches) and yos.
The symbols are well explained and illustrated in the book appendix.

The only challenge with this pattern is that you work in pattern on both RS and WS - so there will be no relaxing times in between rows.

Our Projects

Let's Knit Series #11 (Elegance Knit) - Shawl

Original pattern in Let's Knit Series #11 (Elegance Knit)

Margaret's Shawl
Yarn : Jaggerspun Zephyr (50/50 merino/silk) in Iris.
Stage : In progress.

Deb's Shawl
Yarn : Jaggerspun Zephyr (50/50 merino/silk) in the "Curry" colorway.
Stage : In progress.
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Let's Knit Series #12 - The Jacket

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Judith's Project
Stage : In progress.
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Let's Knit Series #11 (Elegance Knit) - Cover Sweater

Original pattern in Let's Knit Series #11 (Elegance Knit)

Irene's Project
Yarn : Produced in the Czech Republic, 70% cotton 30% wool..
Needles : 3 mm.
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Let's Knit Series #8 - Cover sweater

Original pattern in Let's Knit Series #8.

Silvia's Project History

Based on the chart published in 250 Knitting Patterns Book.
Yarn : Debbie Bliss Cathay.
Needles : 3.75 mm.
Stage : In progress.

Jenny's Project History

Based on the chart published in 250 Knitting Patterns Book.
Yarn : Dale Heilo
Needles :
Stage : In progress.

How to Join, Post and Blogging Rules

How to join Knitting Elegance

- Make sure you want to knit a garment out of the Let's Knit Series or Elegance Knit (Let's Knit Series #11).
- If your choice is a new project, you will be opening the way, so please
be prepared to assist others and answer all comments, questions etc. in
your posts.
- Have you got the pattern, the yarn and are you ready to swatch?

If the answer is YES to all of the above, send an email to sbutnarasu at yahoo.com, I'll send you an invitation.



How to Post on the KAL

Once you've joined and your Blogger ID is in the Contributors list, on the KAL main page, you are ready to post.

1. First 'Sign in', by clicking the link at the top of the page.

2. Fill in your username/password, then click the 'SIGN IN' Button.



3. Click 'New Post' in order to create a new post or 'Manage Posts' in order to change, delete etc. old posts.

4. The 'Add Image' feature is in the tool bar - see bellow.


Blogging Rules

1. Posts should only be related to your project.
2. Any general questions ( asking for help in understanding a pattern,
translations etc.) should be posted as a comment, to the General Enquires post or to a specific project post.

3. Please label your posts, at least with the name of your pattern book : Knitting Patterns Book 250, Let's Knit Series #no, etc.

4. Please go back frequently and update your posts, adding all new things you've discovered or learnt, in order to help others to understand the pattern.

How to use the KAL button on your Blog

Insert a new page element of 'HTML/Java script' type.

Copy this code bellow in the content field:

<a href="http://knittingelegance.blogspot.com/">
<img
border="0" width="135" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7476/1118569129936119/170/z/568616/gse_multipart53345.jpg" height="85"/>
</a>

Save the page element.
Done!

New Button for Knitting in Japan Yahoo Group.

Feel free to download it.

Thank You and
Happy Knitting

Japanese books - where to buy them from

Amazon Japan

Use the Links list, published on the right of the KAL home page, in order to see some of the books in the 'Let's Knit Series', on Amazon Japan.
Order them directly from them, or copy the ISBN number and search them in other shops.

YesAsia

Click the button above to get to YesAsia website, then search in Books by ISBN number or by keywords. 'Knit' is a good keyword to start with.
The website is all in English and they offer free delivery for most of the books.