something old and something new

Project Update:

JULIET
the sweater is DONE. sewn together. blocked. button on. i just have not yet taken any pictures to post.

JACKET WITH RIBBED COLLAR
also DONE. well, almost. the knitting is done. but. i have had zero motivation to sew this together. reason: i have somehow managed to misplace (imagine that?) the $20 buttons i bought in chicago. fingers crossed, i'm still hoping to find them.

VOGUE DRESS
i have finished the back. i've yet to block it because, for some reason, the directions specifically say, "DO NOT BLOCK PIECES". Have you ever seen such a thing before? The dress will most definitely need to be blocked to fit right. I am interpreting this instruction to mean that you are supposed to wait and block the whole thing after it is sewn together(?), or maybe that you are supposed to block the pieces side-by-side(?) to make sure they come the same size? help please.


So, even though I technically still have two projects "on the needles", I am really only knitting one. This means... time to start planning for my next knit! Here are some of the top contenders, although, I'm not completely sold on any of them yet.

From Phildar Spring 07:



love this. i think it would look great in a really bright red or turquoise. only problem: lots of stockinette can be boring.



this has a really great '20s vibe about it. i think i would want to knit the sleeves a little smaller, and all around make it just a tad more fitted.



i have been wanting to make this capecho ever since the Vogue Knitting Winter '07 came out. the construction looks interesting and fun to play with. it's such a unique piece and it is something i could see myself paying top dollar for at a department store.



this cardigan is from the debbie bliss rialto book. it is, of course, something i would knit for my boyfriend. i know i'm going to do it at some point, but i'm waiting for him to go to the knitting store with me (!) and choose his yarn. my mother has warned me adamantly about not knitting sweaters for boys because, "i knit a beautiful sweater for your father and he never wore it ONCE!" Coincidentally, my grandma gave me the same advice a few days ago. shall i take the gamble?



last but not least: socks. socks? yes. my theory has always been, why spend so much time making something that is just going to be on your foot and no one will likely see? well, i still don't know the answer to that one. but the stitch complexity of these really appeals to me. and recently i've made a lot of garments, so it would be a nice break from sweaters and seaming. plus, i've never made socks before and it's always good to try and learn something new, yes?

introducing...

STORMY. The most magical creature there ever was.




Knitting + Kitties = Happiness.

In other news... I have finished the back of the Vogue dress. I still need to find buttons for it. I'm thinking, wooden buttons? I have some great wooden and brown leather strappy heels that I think would go juuust perfect with the whole ensemble.

anthropologie

Some knitting inspiration from Anthropologie's Spring/Summer sweaters.



Who are these knitwear designers? And why aren't they writing patterns for me?

FO: Skating Sweater

Skating Sweater
Pattern | Twinkle's Big City Knits
Yarn | Rowan Big Wool




Finally, a FO! This sweater was a fun, quick knit (in theory). If it hadn't taken me two months to finish the collar and sew the pieces together, it would have been finished in two days... Oh well, guess I must wait until the cold weather returns to sport my new sweater.



I would have liked to use Twinkle Soft Chunky, but the yarn is absolutely impossible to find around here. Although not quite as thick as the Twinkle yarn, Rowan Big Wool was a nice substitute.



As you can probably see, the arms came a little shorter than I would like. I followed the measurements in the pattern, and was skeptical as I saw the finished product materialize, but I decided to listen to Ms. Chia since she knows a lot more about chunky knits than I do. Should have trusted my instincts... Even so, I think the 3/4 sleeves look nice.

precious

Laura Irwin has just announced that she will publish a book with Interweave Press, slated to come out in Fall 2008. I absolutely love her designs - felted hats and bags - that are contemporary, practical, and have just the right touch of Portland style. Although felting is not normally my cup of tea, I can't wait to try her patterns.