Knitting Elegance KAL

Class

2009-06-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

My class with Gayle roehm was wonderful - I swatched 3 patterns and learned how to interpret the charts. Now to select a project to make.

Class

2009-03-13T07:20:00.001-07:00

I am taking a class in Japanese knitting at the Knitters Connection in June. This is a wonderful 3 day knitters convention in Columbus, OH.

The Kreativ Blogger Award

2009-02-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

Sally nominated us for the Kreativ Blogger Award — thank you, we obviously feel great about it :).

Here is what we are supposed to do, and the rules for our nominees:

1. Copy the award to your site — done.
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award — done.
3. Nominate 7 other bloggers — hmmm, I'm going to need help here
4. Link to the award recipients on your blog — easy, once Number 3 is done ( copied this from Sally's blog)
5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominate — will do it.

Now, because this blog is the collective work of the wonderful people at knittinginjapan yahoo group, next I'm going to post the news there, and also ask for help with our nominations.

Stay tuned.

Butterfly sweater finished

2008-11-03T02:21:00.000-08:00

Enough posts about books - let's have something about knitting.

Fineshed the butterfly sweater (Let's Knit Series 11 - cover pattern). This was weeks ago just that I've got a new and huge project at work, which is draining all my energies at the moment, so I've got everything else, including blogs, on a very slow burner.

The stitch pattern is really simple - the only thing which was a challenge was the crochet adventure and I absolutely loved it. I bought the Clear and simple Crochet guide and this was a perfect start.

We had a mini KAL on ravelry - I've always regarded KALs as a waste of time -well, I have to admit I was wrong, as I really enjoyed knitting with a pal.

Let's Knit Series #13

2008-09-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

New book out - beautiful lace and unusual combinations of stitches.

Links in Amazon Japan and YesAsia in the side bar.

Click the Amazon Japan icon (in the side bar) and you can look inside the book. Anyone up for the white sweater, with a high neck?

I'm in!

2008-09-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

Sylvia,
It's those little things we don't remember--like in the past when I already signed up for the Knitting Elegance KAL. So sorry for the trouble. Glad to be involved.
Sharon from Michigan

Elegance Knit Cover - Episode 3: Body Parts finished

2008-08-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

Not much to blog about this, it's going much easier than I thought. I followed the book charts for all decreases. Here is the front ready for the crochet border (did I mention I'll have to learn crochet soon?)

Knitting Patterns Book - Pattern 133

2008-08-09T06:41:00.000-07:00

It looks like this

and that's one thing you could do with it:

It does involve a very impressive stitch combination ( page 123 bottom) but in real life it's quite easy, as the symbols have quite a clear logic.

The 'hook' symbol over 3 stiches, in row 17, will be the theme of the pattern and it goes like this:

drop the third st over the first 2 sts then k,yo,k. It is well described in the book.

Row 21, first grey block ( from right to left):

First start with an yo. What follows next is a decrease symbol: two lines merging : one line is the next st and the other is the stitch coming from the far end of the block, from pos. 5. So just slip the next st on the right needle, then save the next 3 sts on a cn at front and now, that we have access to the st in pos 5, slip the stitch from the right needle back and work a left slanted decrease. Next just work the 'hook' symbol using the 3 sts from the cn.

Row 21, second grey block ( from right to left):

Save the first st on cn at back (it will be used in the decrease later on). Work the 'hook' symbol as above, transfer the cn st back on the needle, right slated decrease, yo.

Row 25, first grey block ( from right to left):

Transfer 3 sts on cn, keep at front. Purl the next st ( see the little horizontal line? that's for 'purl'), then work the 'hook' symbol as above using the cn sts.

Row 25, second grey block ( from right to left):

One st on cn at back, the 'hook' symbol then purl the st from cn.

Easy !

Elegance Knit Cover - Episode 3: The Math

2008-07-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

I needed to resize and go up a bit, so I just added two more rows of twisted stitches at each side. One row is over 3 stiches.

This gave me 144 + 6x2 = 144 + 12 = 156 stitches. It measures 49 cm unblocked and I hope to go to 53cm after washing and blocking.

And here it is what I've managed in about 6 rainy days.

A closeup.

The pattern is easier than I thought. Each side of the butterfly has one yo and one decrease in each row and it's quite obvious where to place them, as the pattern flows in continuous lines.

I am using Addi Lace needles and they are GREAT for the job, with all these twisted stitches. Do not even think of attempting this pattern or anything similar without lace needles.

Intermezzo

2008-07-03T13:25:00.001-07:00

Finished the leaf white top.

and the indoor shot.

Easy knit, easy pattern.

Zarina is a bit too thin for this pattern and doesn't give much 'body' - I should have gone for a DK weight yarn but overall it's not very bad.

Elegance Knit cover - Episode 2: Swatching

2008-06-11T11:30:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

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

2008-02-17T19:55:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

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.

New Style of Heirloom Knitting

2008-01-05T02:54:00.000-08:00

It's not the Am Kamin which is the winner with me, but the oak leaf and the acorn motif.

So I had to try it - in line with my new resolution of knitting only from my stash - as I just discovered this nice green yarn ( too long forgotten).

Here it is:

and it's really easy.

Or to be more specific it became easy when I've realised that the twisted symbols (or the 'flying fishes') are NOT 'ktb's but strand increases. They are suppose to be oriented towards the right (the bold ones) or towards the left, the plain ones.

A brilliant explanation here: Strand Increase. Read this and you'll be fine. The Strand Increase(1) is for the bold twisted stitch, the Strand Increase(2) is for the plain one.

Next challenge is the mini chart A (8 stitches). It's about a small 'bobble' and a cable - because you would like to 'push' the bobble a bit away from the leaf main body.

So it goes like this: save 3 stitches on a cn at the back, knit the bobble according to the mini chart for the bobble (5 stitches reduced to one) then purl 3 from the cable needle. Easy.

Chart B is the bobble on the other side, and it is symmetrical. I trust my readers to be able to figure it out.

My swatch above has two mistakes, unfortunately I'm too lazy to go back a long way to correct anything. First there are two purled lines in the acorn pattern and I missed one - then I've lost one or two stitches from the background at some point, so my main leaf is slightly leaning towards the left. Sorry :).

Let's just call it the Leaning Oak Leaf in a windy day.

The book can be found here in YesAsia. Or just collect the ISBN number and feel free to google.

Knitting Patterns Book 250

2007-12-12T06:50:00.000-08:00

This book is probably my favourite knitting book ever. ( The links in YesAsia and Amazon Japan are listed on the right side of the page).

I did a swatch for the cover pattern - following a discussion on the knittinginjapan yahoo group - just to see how it goes. It's pattern 086, page 40.

Pretty much straight forward, but I did a mistake on row 12 - it's a WS row with a kind of 'unexpected' change in pattern.

Apart from this, there are no particular challenges, it will only require an ambitious beginner to use it.

And I guess It will only work well with a yarn with a very good stitch definition.

Vintage Knitting in Tradition

2007-12-11T05:06:00.000-08:00

Remember the famous Am Kamin sweater and the acorn leaf motif ?
Well, Shimada Toshiyuki is out with a new book.
Arans, shawls, fair isle, a bohus style sweater and the acorn leaf slightly modified.
Click on the image bellow in order to browse a few pages on Amazon Japan.

The book is available in YesAsia, as well, at this address.

There are a few mistakes in this edition, an but there is an errata available in pdf format.

Let's Knit Series new book - Autumn Winter 2007

2007-11-11T10:37:00.000-08:00

New book out.
Browse a few pages in Amazon Japan (just follow the link with the same image, on the right side of the page).

250 Knitting Patterns Book - Part 1

2007-11-06T07:21:00.000-08:00

More on the topic of deconstructing Japanese knitting symbols.

The symbols bellow are from 250 Knitting Patterns Book, which is gathering lots of patterns from the Let's Knit Series books.

I will use the 'translations' provided by the KnittinginJapan group members, your comments and any other contributions I will obtain further. (So don't think it's me being very smart :)).

The numbers on top of the symbols refer to the pattern number in the book.

003 Procedure from itsacardigan:

right to left: o/ slip stitch 1 to cable needle, hold at back, knit stitch 2, yo k3t it's that funky centered k3t; you want to position the stitches so that the center stitch is on top. so, slip stitch 3 from left to right needle, slip stitch on cable needle (stitch 1) onto right needle, slip next stitch (stitch 4) onto cable needle, hold at front. you now have stitch 5 remaining on the left needle. slip stitch 1 from right to left needle, then slip stitch 3 from right to left needle, k3t\o yo and knit stitch 4 from cable needle.

Pending...

At a first glance the symbols involve a decrease (stitches no 1 and 3 merge together) - a twisted stitch (knit through the back loop) and an yo.

093 - 1 Procedure by Neel:

Slip one stitch to Cable Needle and hold back, Knit one stitch Through Backloop (right slanted 'fish' along the front), Yarn Over, Knit one stitch and Pass Slipped Stitch (of the cable needle)

093 - 2 Procedure by Neel:

Slip stitch, Slip stitch to Cable Needle and keep in front, Knit Slipped stitch Together with next one on left needle(k2tog), Yarn Over, Knit stitch on Cable Needle Through Backloop (left slanted 'fish' along the front).

Swatching in vain

2007-11-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

Remember this cover sweater?

http://knittingelegance.blogspot.com/2007/09/lets-knit-series-book.html

I did three swatches and still not sure about the yarn.

From left to right:

1. Jaeggerspun Zephyr DK - it has a certain plastic feeling - somehow I don't like knitting with it.

2. RYC Silk Wool - beautiful yarn - everything looks great - not my colour and nothing else appeals to me from their colour card. Maybe bramble ?

3. Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool - a definitely no-no for this pattern. Too thin and tweedy.

So I'm still looking for a nice DK merino-silk blend.

Any suggestions more then welcomed.

Swatch for Pattern 7 in Let's Knit 12

2007-10-28T15:44:00.001-07:00

This weekend I swatched for pattern 7 in Let's Knit 12. The gauge calls for:

27 stitches x 31 rows = 10 x 10 cm in pattern A

And I got:
30 stitches x 29 rows = 10 x 10 cm in pattern A (unstretched and unblocked)

Verdict: This is a very pretty pattern but it is unlikely I could do a whole sweater with twisted stitches (ktbl) and ptbl for an entire sweater. I think my hands would likely fall off before I completed the sweater. That said, perhaps someone else would like to knit the sweater and so I included the photo of my swatch for chart A above. The pattern as knit is quite stretchy but I am not a big fan of the large yarn overs on a sweater, maybe there is a trick to make them looks smaller. I used size 4mm (US 6) needles with Lana Grossa Merino 2000 Superfein in color 510. This is a very light sport weight yarn and I think the needle size is a bit large for it. In any case, this was a very fun swatch to knit with the wrong side being charted out as well; I did not get bored!

Next I will swatch for Pattern 8 (a vest) and Pattern 10 (a cardigan) in the same Let's Knit 12. In the magazine they are both knit up in black but I will probably swatch in a lighter color.

Scarf Completed

2007-10-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

I have been very busy over the last two weeks working on this scarf for my partner in the International Scarf Exchange 5. The scarf is from Let's Knit Series 3. The ISBN number is 4529042758. I bought my copy from The Needle Arts Book Shop. I am not affiliated with this website in any way. I am just a satisfied customer. I don't think I could have done the scarf without everyones help from the KnittingInJapan Yahoo group. Silvia did an earlier post with the mechanics of the scarf.

The scarf is worked IN ONE PIECE from beginning to end. I have never seen anything constructed this way. It's pure genius if you ask me. I did change a few things when I did the last section and edging. The edging is a crochet edging where you chain 7, single crochet in the next stitch, skip the next stitch, chain 7 etc. I did two rounds of the edging instead of 1, doing the single crochets in the stitch that was skipped the first time around. Also instead of keeping the entire scarf stitches live after finishing chart D I chose to cast off each D section and single crochet around to the next section where you would pick up the stitches to work another D section. For me, this was much easier than working it with all the stitches live. I would have gone nuts and this way I was able to do the double row of edging.

I must admit, I am very pleased with the final result. I hope the person it is intended for will feel the same way.