Elegance Knit cover - Episode 2: Swatching

I've swatched today and here is the result.

The pattern asks for a provisional cast-on, that's the blue border. At some point I will start the new adventure called 'crochet' and I'll try the border.

My swatch is over 28 stitches (needles size 4 mm) and measures between 9 and 10.3 cm - so I guess more or less I got the pattern gauge...

I need to achieve 55 cm across my hips, so I'm going to start the chart for the front part the way it is in the book( 5 repeats of the main pattern plus those filler rows) , PLUS 2 extra filler rows at each side. If this will still be small, then I'll declare it to be the 'back' and I'll start another front with another 2 extra rows of filler stitches. Obviously I could do a diet instead.

If this is still going to be too small (!) , there is always the magic of blocking. After all, we are talking lace here.

I 'kind of' like the yarn - apart from the fact that it splits badly in between the yos rows. I have no idea what to do about it - it happened with all yarns I've tried before ( Rowan 4ply soft, Jaeger extra fine merino and Zarina). I can't keep buying and trying new yarns, so this will have to do. But I am bit upset about it.

Otherwise it looks good.

A few words about the chart and symbols. Well, the pattern is easier than you might think, but challenging, as you'll work in pattern on both sides.

Here is a small part of the chart for the sake of discussing the symbols.

The 'swimming fish' is a twisted stitch : knit tbl.

The leaning 'swimming fishes' merging into a short line are decreases, where the stitch on top needs to be twisted. My general approach to this is to first twist the stitch that needs twisting by doing a 'slip knitwise - slip back' operation, then perform the decrease.

Apart from the twisted left leaning decrease, which is easier done with a k2togtbl.

Confused?

Elegance Knit cover - Episode 1: Yarn

I'm definitely getting closer and closer.

The pattern is from Let's Knit Series #11, Elegance Knit. The book is listed on the right side of this page, you can collect the ISBN etc. but it looks like it's not available any more. Neither in Amazon Japan nor in YesAsia. How many times did I tell you to buy it???

So, received the original yarn this morning : Tasmanian Merino , colour 701 ( off-white, light cream), 14 balls, 40 gr each.
I've ordered through JAA Japan Auction Agency ( which is a bit cheaper then Crescent) and from this Japanese yarn shop.
Here it is:

Prior to any knitting, I feel we need a good strategy with this pattern. Maybe getting in a proper Tasmanian mood first...

Anyway, bit more about the yarn.
The gauge is 22 on 5-6 needle size. The only yarn with identical gauge in my stash is Jaeger extra fine merino DK.
Comparing these two yarns : the Tasmanian Merino is a bit thinner - I would say 15-20% thinner.

That's how they got the same yardage in a 40g ball.

Stay tuned, next episode will be about swatching, the chart, and the twisted decreases.

Let's Knit Series #3 - White top

Decided to revive this blog a bit - here is a top I've started a few days ago.
It's from Let's knit Series #3 - the book is listed in the list on the right side of this page.

I'm determined to reduce my stash before jumping into buying new yarns again. Nice, isn't it? I mean knitting from the stash.



More about the 'leaf' challenge here.
The yarn is Zarina (Filatura di Crosa) ,on 3.5 mm needles and it looks very good up to now.

The problem is I only have 7 balls - I'll have to see how far is this going to take me, the firts ball is already gone, I'm into the second one.

It will certainly have very short sleeves.

Elegance Knits again

I am absolutely obsessed with this top and I'm desperately trying to find out the original yarn.

For those of you who asked, the book is called Elegance Knits, Let's knit series 11 and it's listed on this page, on the right side, where all the other books are, - with links in Amazon JP and YesAsia.



Here are the requirements


hopefully somebody will help me translate this.

Up to now I've tried Rowan 4 ply soft - too thin, Zarina - didn't like the twist in the twisted stitches, Debbie Bliss cotton blend - too splitty... call me fussy, but I need to get this right as I will be probably knitting it for the rest of my life :).

Keito Dama 135

Just received this Keito Dama magazine this morning.
The link above is in Amazon Japan, unfortunately the book is out of stock in YesAsia.

It has lots of unusual cabled patterns and delicate combinations of lace and cable motifs.

This vest bellow is my favourite and hopefully I'm going to start it very soon as it is, or a a short sleeve cardi.

And on top of everything I was so happy to find an article dedicated to our Romanian lace point tradition.

Can't describe my surprise to open a Japanese magazine in England, and see a picture of my Romanian hometown.

Lace point is really popular in Romania, probably the most popular handcraft - and everybody is designing and creating their own patterns.

My mother is a real expert, needless to say my house is full of similar doilies and tablecloths.

I'm glad somebody finally got an interest on it.

Shawl #3

Finally, after nine months, I finished my shawl.

This is Shawl #3 from the Let's Knit Book 11.

I started it last May, and just finished it this week . . . and even that would have taken a lot longer if I hadn't eliminated two of the pattern repeats (grin).

The yarn was Zephyr's silk/wool in color, "Curry." I used JUST over one skein. (As in, about 3 yards of yarn from the second skein--just enough to bind-off the last 30 or so stitches.

I'm relieved to have this done (finally), but have enjoyed working on it . . . mostly. As much as I love the look and feel of Zephyr, we just don't really get along. (It's a long story.)

It sure came out pretty, though....

--Deb

Beautiful knits

I recently came across Ishi's Knitting Diary. Most of her patterns are from Japanese magazines and I thought they'll be a great inspiration for us. Just pay a visit and you'll be in for a treat.

With Ishi's permission, I will publish here her latest FO - this beautiful sweater - pattern from Let's Knit Series.


The motif is very similar with the one I've used for my white top - but heavily modified towards the neck line, in order to achive the overall decrease. Ingenios and elegant.