Sunday, July 28, 2013

Featured at Malabrigo yarns

I was very pleased to see my pattern being showcased at Malabrigo  as one of the Patterns online for the Arroyo yarn.  There are so many great patterns and Malabrigo is a very kind company as well. You can find it HERE and it has no name for now, as I forgot in my excitement and haste.  I sent them an email letting them now the name is  "Enconium" .
Enconium Arco Iris (1)
This is also another pattern that I am working on for Malabrigo Arroyo.  It is a lace hat that may be a Tam if you change needle size and block it to size.  I decided to test the pattern repetition at a scale that was going to be easy for me.

Secret Malabrigo Hat (2)
Here you see the pattern is waiting for the test to become final. I am using Intwined Pattern Studio to create the pattern. I got to realize that it is a tool, but that I still need to test the pattern The software will allow you to put any Stitch anywhere you want, like a k3tog on the round following a 2 stitch count. So you will have to make sure that the stitch count matches, because the software does not count,lol, you need to.  Anyway I have a pair of socks that I want to work on and I need to make another 1/2 inch on the ribbing of the hat.  Hope you have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!
Secret Malabrigo Hat (1)

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

"Enconium" A lace scarf

Enconium Arco Iris (3)
This pattern has a chart and written instructions. I got inspired after reading the book by Nancy Bush, Knitted Lace of Estonia with DVD: Techniques, Patterns, and Traditions. You get to travel to Estonia and learn how this lace scarves and shawls are made, in the modern times and in the more traditional way.  After studying this subject for a while I got inspired to create my own  Estonian style lace scarf and thus, may I present you "Enconium" a Lace Scarf. This pattern was designed with Malabrigo Arroyo in mind. It uses 90 grams of one skein. It is a very versatile scarf, simple, elegant and a fast knit.  The whole scarf is made out of 27 repetitions of the main pattern, and it has a garter stitch border.  It is done flat, one piece and it took less than 100 grams.  I was able to use a different yarn  and different size needles and it works perfectly fine.  I hope you enjoy making it as well , it is for sale  at $6.00 .

 
 Enconium Dark Brown (7)

Friday, July 19, 2013

There is Lace in my Haze

Scarf Lace (2) blur
This is my latest creation. It is a lace scarf in the Estonian Style, well that is what I think. It is inspired by the readings of Lace from Estonia by Nancy Bush. It is simple and very fast. There may be more to come in the near future as I get to practice some more. The yarn was variegated in a camo colorway, but I did not like the yarn color that much. It has been overdyed with Brown and I really like the way it looks. The yarn is Oak by Fibranatura and it is a blend of 60 wool,20 silk and 20 linen. I do like the yarn, I hate the color it had, lol. It is blocking , I used this fiber to test the pattern, but the real fiber will be Malabrigo Arroyo. I can't wait until it is made in Arroyo. Malabrigo yarns was kind enough to gift me three skeins of yarn. I am hoping to create a scarf, a Crochet hat and maybe a Crochet Shawl. This guy is actually drying at the moment and once I am done with the Malabrigo version, I will post a clear picture.  This is the before and after of the yarn.

from camo to brown (1)
Thanks for stopping by.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

From reds to brown a new lens.

I am always in awe of the wonders of dyeing. This is the same bow tie from the other die in a deep brown, almost black. It turns out to be rather a deep reddish brown. PhotographyJul2013 new lens (37)
I am also working on these socks, another brethren pair. The yarn is magnificent, but I had to change the way I was knitting with it so the colors will really shine through. I am doing a row from the top of the skein and a row from the bottom. This allows for a better pooling of the colors and makes me happier.
PhotographyJul2013 new lens (26)
I am also testing my new toy, it is a 1.8 G Nikon lens. I got it at Mike's Camera, but let me tell you, not all employees are created equal. I guess I expect too much from some people, nothing like a happy employee to make your day great and maybe even motivate you to spend more money. I don't know if I will return to this place. Since I am just a $ sign, I will take my $ somewhere else, yep just like Imagiknit here in the city. Imagiknit is a local yarn store with the most yarn in the world, sometimes lacking the personal friendly touch. I use to buy a lot of yarn from them, not anymore.
PhotographyJul2013 new lens (33)
I like it when I help my friend Kyle Kunnecke at http://www.kylewilliam.com/ , I learn so much just from helping him. He is a very kind person and I enjoy working with him. We did a photo shoot last Saturday in the late afternoon, with this beautiful woman model. You have to be careful about the models you choose, if they are not lever you won't be able to showcase your product right. This lady had a gorgeous face and the garment that we were trying to showcase had a challenge to compete wither beauty. One thing was for sure, whatever she was selling, I wanted to buy. Kyle gifted me some roving which I will show on another posting and took me to dinner. He is a swell guy, he did not have to do that, I enjoy helping him out.
PhotographyJul2013 new lens (27)
From my dealings with Kyle I learn about photography and how he chooses the place and pictures, the equipment and lights. I am not sure that I will have all those extra necessary items to take my pictures, but it is fun to have the toys. I believe I am more of a DIY guy and rather than DIY guy is using what you have to take a good picture without having to spend more money, but that is a laugh. I just got a new lens for my camera and it is definitely specifically for close ups more than far. I will play around with it, as this is the only way to learn how to work this lenses. The picture above and below are the same pictures, yet the focus is centimeters apart.  The upper picture has the glass goblet in focus and the lower picture has a silver wishbone not very far behind from it,  It shows the power of the lens and the versatility that I was looking for.  This may be my travel lens, meaning when I go on a trip  Thanks for stopping by!
PhotographyJul2013 new lens (3)

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Bow tie completed

Bowties (9)
This is the Bow tie on top of some lace.  I have to say that I would make this bow tie again.  I  did not know how much I was going to like this pattern until I finished it. This pattern is very tricky , it has double knitting  in an unexpected way.   The pattern is  a bit confusing until you understand what it is trying to do.  It has decreases and increases, you make two sides and graft them.  The pattern calls for 40 stitches and there was no way I was making it 40, I did a test drive and it looked like a propeller, I went down to 30 and US 2.  Next time I make this pattern I will go to US 1 and 30 stitches.  If you are interested in making this pattern, I will say go with 100% wool, it will make a magnificent bow tie.  The blend that I am using, is an 80/20 superwash wool / nylon.  It is going to work ok, but is not the best choice for this pattern in my opinion.   If you want to get this pattern, go to Knit Picks and grab it.  I used 25 grams of yarn at about 92 yards of material , fingering weight. Thanks for stopping by!
Bowties (8)

Friday, July 12, 2013

Beaded crochet border



evenstar border

Happy Friday everyone. I am working on a wedding veil, which is my gift to the bride. I finally blocked it few days ago and I love the design, but the border looks sloppy. This pattern was to be made in wool, but I wanted silk. This is for a wedding in the Caribbean, so silk and lace work perfect. I am crocheting the border and while doing this centering the beads with the crochet. I am also adding a bead to the center of the point. I also forgot that the border was grafted a little, so you will see the grafting unless I devise an applique that I will crochet and make four or eight, very lightly crochet flowers to be sewn into the veil. Anyway I am still working on the crochet border it is not hard, but it takes time. Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, July 07, 2013

A study in Estonian Lace

Web of Lies

I have always been impressed by lace.  Lately I have been studying Nancy Bush 'Knitter Lace of Estonia Techniques, Patterns and Traditions' . In the reading of this book, the traditions , the construction, the techniques and Nancy's perspective, you get an idea of what it really is.  This book is a great investments for those who have a little understanding of Lace and want to venture into this world.
 
I am creating a new pattern in lace, it is a beginner's style Lace Pattern that incorporates some interesting techniques.  I have been testing different techniques of casting on and binding off.  Some of them make sense to me, some of them I find intriguing, but with no real use.  In the end it is your creation, from the way you slip your stitches, to the way you make a Nupp. A "nupp" is a small "bobble" made out of one stitch and in my opinion can be made in many ways. It's an Estonian knitting technique used in creating knitted lace. The pattern went through many shifts and changes, there were two swatches and I changed needle sizes twice.  I am actually using a yarn that I dislike, but that I find it's fiber content acceptable.  In the end I may overdye the resulting garment in a brownish hue, it will cover the colorway.
 
A great investment for me has been the 'Intwined Studio' , a software that helps me chart and test my theories for a pattern in knitting and sometimes it helps me chart color work for crochet.  Anyway, it is Sunday and as promised to myself, I am blogging more often to let you know what I am up to. 
 
There is a Crochet shawl/scarf that I will be publishing with malabrigo as they were kind enough to gift me the yarn, even a hat if I can come around to it.  For some reason this Summer has been a very busy mentally and physically for me.  Lots of information, lots of new endeavors and lots of chanting for world peace.  Thanks for visiting my blog and for stopping by!

Thursday, July 04, 2013

Odinn by Ragnheidur Eiriksdottir

Odinn Sweater (10)
I have always wanted to make this kind of sweater.  A Lopapeysa, but the weather in San Francisco is never that cold.  I have made this sweater using Encore, which is a blend 80 Acrylic/ 20 Wool and it is really good. 
Odinn Sweater (14)
I started this project June 22 and finished it July 4th.  This pattern is a very quick knit as it is made with a chunky yarn.  I was very glad to finish it and get my  photographer , Michael Heylin, to help me with the photo op. I hope you enjoy the pictures and that you get motivated to make one of this babies.  It is easier than you think, but you have to mind your color-work tension and gauge. Thanks for stopping by!
Odinn Sweater (7)

Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Odinn has a tubular hem

Tubular hem (2)
Odinn has a tubular hem.  I have never done anything like this, I have done some tubular cast on and bind off, but never understood the idea until now.  This sweater is a great opportunity to make this technique second nature. I left that needle in place as a lifeline until I was done with the tubular bind off.  I wanted to be sure I did not have to rip it off lol.
 Tubular hem (3)
The tubular bind off is a modified kitchener grafting of a 1 x 1 ribbing.  Your Purl stitches on one needle and your Knit stitches on another.  Thanks for Techknitting.com for the quick explanation of the technique. I was talking about you the other day and I had a reason to visit you today.  What a great blog to visit and read so much good help.
Tubular hem (1)












 The edge of this sweater looks very nice.  I know that I will have to have a lot more practice than just one sweater.  I am now confident I can do a toe - up sock without the fear of what the bind off will look like.  I like this tubular bind - off a lot.  It is definitely very stretchy, stretchy enough for a sock ribbing. Thanks for stopping by!

Almost two years without blogging August 2020

Life can be a bowl of strawberries when cheries are not available.   It has been almost two years since I have been in this blog.  I have s...