A Tease to Please #3

There are some designers whose work catches your eye again and again.  There's just something about their aesthetic that fits right into your own style. You may remember when I posted about my summer test knit called Otherside ~ I've worn this classic top numerous times since finishing it and get the nicest compliments.

When I first came upon Melanie's designs, I was so impressed: she's one of those knitters who appreciates the simplicity of what yarn and needles can do.  I was so excited when Melanie said that she would donate a pattern prize for our upcoming charity hat knitalong so if you haven't knit one of Mairlynd's beautiful accessories, you're in for a real treat.  Here's a parade of some of my favorites ... just imagine the yarns and colors you can knit these with, and I bet some of them are in your stash!

nangou

chimaira

jinlys

FO: Otherside

Just before leaving on our European holiday in August, I signed up to test-knit a new design by Melanie Berg of Mairlynd Designs.  Her new summer tank was exactly what I wanted to add to my late summer/early fall wardrobe, and the pattern didn't disappoint.

Otherside has a clever construction, and I welcomed its simplicity especially as I planned to knit this on holiday.  Wanting to be completely organized with my packing, I went in search of the perfect linen/cotton blend but I just wasn't satisfied with what I saw so I packed my needles and the pattern in hopes to find the yarn on my travels.

When we were in Barcelona, I came across a wonderful LYS steps away from the flat that we rented. I couldn't believe my luck ~ not only was All You Knit is Love filled with wonderful local yarns but the shop keeper spoke English!

I bought four skeins of Rosarios 4 Damasco which is spun in Portugal.  Two skeins were in a natural linen shade and two in a soft white, and as the pattern calls for, I knit alternate stripes throughout.

My finished top is exactly what I've been looking for ~ drapey, summery, and stylish.  

If you haven't been introduced to Melanie & her designs yet, what are you waiting for?

FO: Beacon Hill

We all have our favorite designers, and like you, I love seeing new patterns pop up on my blog reader or on Ravelry when their newest designs are released.  For me, Jane Richmond is one of those designers I keep a close eye on. Her patterns are always really well-writtten, thoughtful, and simply beautiful.  

Over the summer, in spite of my knitting ennui, I got to test-knit a couple of Jane's patterns, one of which was just released as part of this gorgeous collection.

Beacon Hill is an all-over textured seamless cardigan that is knit from the top-down.  I loved knitting the stitch pattern as it had a rhythm all its own and produced the most beautiful motif from the shoulders down to the bottom hem.

As this cardigan grew on my needles, I couldn't help marveling at the fantastic stitch definition that the yarn produced. I wanted to test-knit from my stash, and Jane was happy for me to use Patons Classic Wool as it's an affordable and easily attainable yarn.  I used four stashed skeins in the Natural Mix colorway, and I think the cardigan works really well in this neutral shade.

While both Miranda and I are on the slim side, the test-knit I did in size 28 is much too small for either of us, even after soaking and blocking.  I wanted to knit the 32 or 34 but as Jane really needed someone to test the smallest size, I obliged.  Now that I've photographed this FO, I'm definitely going to unravel it and re-knit it in size 34 as this cardigan is sure to be a staple in my fall wardrobe.

Testing 1 ... 2 ...

My computer is on the blink so it will be a little while before I can share some of my photos and stories from our incredible trip to the south of France and Barcelona. Let me just say that our time in Europe was restorative and blissful.

What I can share today are my knitting projects, one being knit with a new yarn (to me) that I bought at a LYS in the El born neighborhood of Barcelona which I stumbled upon one afternoon and was only a few blocks away from the apartment we were living in. All You Knit Is Love was such a nice surprise ~ filled with a great variety of yarns including gorgeous skeins hand-dyed in Barcelona.  I was in search of some linen and was happy to find Rosarios 4's Damasco, a perfect blend of cotton and linen that I knew would be just right for my project.

Before leaving on holiday, I signed up to test knit Otherside, a summery tank by Melanie Berg (aka Mairlynd) which she recently released.  I picked two neutrals, one with a slightly marled caramel tone, the other pure white.  The caramel is my contrast color which is knit as thin stripes while the white dominates the overall piece.  I've made a lot of progress and expect to finish it before the weekend is over.

My second test knit is by Jane Richmond, one of my favorite designers and her new design doesn't disappoint.  Knit with bulky wool, this sweater is going quickly, but I can't share any details or photos until the fall when she releases it. Trust me, it's a beauty ... and bright red! 

Screeching to a Halt

There have been two things that I've been trying to do this week. One, move on from my trial and error cardigan, and, two, find my sweet spot each day. I've been able to accomplish both but then yesterday, during a sweet spot moment, I discovered something that had me screeching to a halt!

I started this pretty scarf a while back and it has remained one of my WIPs mainly because chart reading is a slow process for me. Also, each row has its own unique set of stitches so I'm not finding myself memorizing the pattern like I usually can do.


I've been test knitting this scarf and originally had won two skeins of this yummy wool. The designer knew that she wanted the design to be knit with three skeins so generously sent me one more, already caked and ready to go. I cast on with the ready-made cake and just recently added on a second, one of the skeins that I won. I've been humming along, knitting this during a sweet spot in my day when I spend my lunch hour in the campus library. And then I discovered this:

Oh dear! The designer thought she had sent me the additional skein in the same dye lot as the ones I won but apparently that ain't so. I'm a little down-hearted -- will nothing go my way this week? -- but I really can't bear to frog this project as well. It's a truly lovely and innovative design, and once I get rolling, it's a lot of fun to knit. At this point, I'm hoping that with soaking and blocking, the color discrepancy won't be so harsh.  At least, that's what the optimist in me is trying to believe!

Momentum

First of all, thanks to everyone who commented the other day on the progress that I've been making on this charted test-knit pattern.  I really loved reading your thoughts about this piece and feeling the support.  I double-checked and the charts/pattern is correct so I guess it's me.  What I mean to say is that I think it's the way my knitting transitioned from Chart A to Chart B -- because the design is extremely clever (and it truly is!), the piece shifts from a strict triangle slowly to a rectangle.

It might also have something to do with the yarn which is, as Julie once said about another new yarn that had recently joined my stash, a bit crispy.

I've almost completed half of the required repeats of Chart B which will give the scarf its length and then I'll be in the home stretch.  For those of you who wrote that blocking will probably smooth out the rough spots, I tend to agree.  

Making progress

I'm making some nice progress on my Jaavesi and have gone onto Chart B.  I'm not very experienced in lace or chart knitting but I'm feeling pretty proud of what I've accomplished so far.

What's interesting in seeing these photographs is the obvious area where Chart A transitions into Chart B.  Can you see where I mean?  It occurs 3 1/2 diamonds from the bottom.  

I'm not sure how I would have prevented that but if any of you are more experienced in this type of knitting, please feel free to offer some suggestions.  I don't think I have to heart to frog back but I'd love some pointers. 

Chart Love

Do you remember when I won the fabulous giveaway that French Press Knits held in December?  If you don't, I'll remind you ... I was the lucky recipient of these:

Yarn by Annie Claire is a small indie spinner and dyer and the yarn I won is an organic wool that is a bit rough but extremely textured which is a real pleasure to work with.  When I thanked Annie for these beauties, I found out that she was working on a new pattern, and I volunteered to test knit it for her.  My other two test knits haven't been very successful -- neither worked out for me -- but I haven't wanted to give up on test knitting for designers as I think of these projects as great learning experiences for me and I like the idea that I might be helping someone finalize a creative idea.

Toyon

The pattern is Jaavesi, and I'm happy to say that this test knit is fantastic!  I was a little apprehensive at first since the pattern is only charted, and I'm a real novice at chart-reading, but Annie was really supportive (and her chart is perfectly written).  I just may be a convert now.

Chart A completed

A New Cardigan

Before I dove deeply into my Christmas gift knitting list, I received an email from Jennifer Dassau with a call out for test knitters.  I've admired her work for a while so I jumped at the chance to test a new design, and I'm so glad that I did.

River Union Cardigan - test knit

I'm determined to continue challenging myself in this bright and shiny new year and Jennifer's new cardigan is a top-down raglan construction which I've been anxious to try.  I wanted to cast this beauty on before the end of 2011 but, as many of you know, I was a little busy finishing up knitted and other hand-made gifts.

Super Aussie in Ruby

On New Year's Eve, I found myself with a bit of breathing space as Christmas was officially done in my house (I'll be posting a blog about my family's Christmas celebration later this week) and gathered all my materials for this cardigan.  I'm knitting with a new yarn (to me, that is) which has a nice lofty feel.  It's a merino called Super Aussie by the Queensland Collection, and I'm really happy with both the color and the fabric that's developing.


So far, this test knit is humming along without any real hiccups so I expect that I'll come in way before the FO deadline this coming weekend.  I'll keep you posted!

A first....

In spite of all the years that I've been knitting, I've never test knitted for a designer before. That is, until now.  Over the weekend, amidst multiple birthday celebrations (my son and husband), end-of-school excitement, and a welcome chance to garden (we put in a lush vegetable patch), I cast on my first test knit for Kessa.  

(Knit Picks Comfy Sport)

I learned about Kessa's need for test knitters via her blog and when I saw the photo of this pretty lacy top, I knew that I wanted to volunteer to knit it.

Unfortunately for me, Kessa already had a roster of knitters working on my size (small) but she really needed knitters to work on the larger sizes.  I wanted the experience of helping a designer work out the pros and cons of a new design and jumped in anyway.  I have family and friends who wear larger sizes than I do so I'm bound to have someone to gift this to once I'm done.

I was asked to choose a cotton blend for this summery top and having not worked with Comfy Sport before, I'm really pleased. It's soft and has a nice drape effect and unlike other cotton yarns that I've worked with, it doesn't easily split as I'm knitting. And I decided to go with a much darker color than the one Kessa used for contrast.The photo above shows the provisional cast on and the bottom band that I will eventually pick up with circular needles and begin knitting in the round.  I'm close to doing that and then starting the lace pattern which I'm looking forward to. I'll post my progress as it develops.