I am SO excited to be finally getting the Rowan New Shapes pattern book – I love the Anise jacket (shown here on the cover) and tried to make a Blythe-sized version (abandoned halfway through, boo!) over a year ago. I didn’t think I’d be knitting anything adult-sized so I never bought the book – until I saw Jenny/Wikstenmade’s beautiful cardigan on Flickr and Ravelry. That pushed me over the edge and I had to go searching for New Shapes – found it on Kaleidoscope last week and now it’s on its way to my hot little hands.
I got my copy through Kaleidoscope Yarns!
I’m a bit nervous about trying the patterns, though. First of all, Rowan yarn is not exactly cheap. About eight balls of yarn are required to make a garment, and I hesitate spending $120 on yarn that I may destroy with my novice knitting. And, I am absolutely terrible at seaming. I can’t hand-sew to save my life. Oh dear, what have I gotten myself into?!
After some thought, I’m most likely going to purchase a few balls of practice yarn (Perhaps LionBrand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick?) and do a few practice runs. At $5 a skein, it won’t break my heart too much if I mess up… right?
As scared as I am, I’m still pretty excited about trying my first Rowan patterns. I can’t wait!
My first crocheted flower!
Okay, I’m not actually knitting “Branching Out,” but I’m really branching out from knitting to crocheting! After talking about it for a few years (and accumulating quite a few books), I finally decided to take the plunge and tried my hand at crochet! Here’s the very first thing I tried, a little flower. I’m surprised it actually came out looking like a flower!
There are some knitters who pooh-pooh on crocheters, and I’ve had crocheters come up to me and my friends at a cafe and make comments on how crocheting is better than knitting(!). One thing’s for sure – craftspeople sure are passionate about their craft. I guess I am a knitter by nature, but you won’t see me put crocheters down – I think crocheting is amazing! There are so many things you can do with crocheting that just isn’t the same with knitting, and I want to try it all, especially amigurumi!
I’m an equal-opportunity crafter :)
A generous friend (Hi Barbara!) shared some of her thrifted goodies with me – vintage knitting pattern books. I have been pouring over them and marveling at the wonderful photos such as the one above. The whales on the wall are the best!
I haven’t had a chance to study the actual patterns just yet, but I have a feeling I’m still too much of a novice to give them a try. I’ll just enjoy the photos for now.
(click on the thumbnails to see bigger pics)
Mobile phone photo
EZ’s pattern took some getting used to – the way it is written is not like any pattern I’ve learned, there is a lot left open for interpretation. Plus I’m not very good at doing lace – it always takes me at least a few runs before finally “getting” any lace pattern.
This was my first EZ garment, and I have to say she is quite a writer. She is such a funny lady, and I love how much of a wool snob she is. That said, I bet she wouldn’t approve of the Berroco Comfort I’m using here, but it’s for good practice. I don’t know about the babies around EZ, but most of my friends would probably not let their precious babies wear wool in fear of allergies. Whatever happened to the good ole days when babies actually wore wool?
February Baby Sweater in progress
After a few days, it started to take its shape, but not without hiccups. I could totally see what I did wrong here too!
Here is the completed February Baby Sweater, complete with dark lilac buttons. It kind of looks cute in its own wonky sort of way. Another great learning experience! Now that I know what to do the next one will be much improved.
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Pattern from Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac
Pumpkin Capelet for Yvonne
I loved the Anthropologie-Inspired Capelet so much that I made one for my friend Yvonne. She loves the color orange, and I thought this style would look super cute on her. It took me a few days to complete, and I gave it to her about a week before Christmas.
Today she wore it for the first time and sent me a photo and it totally made my day!!!
Click to see a larger photo
Thanks Yvonne!
Circular Shrug – free pattern from Ravelry. Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in colorway Lake, on sz 8 needles.
Me in the Circular Shrug
This was a super-easy pattern but stitching it together was a pain in the butt because I found the pattern illustrations really confusing. Plus I think it’s too big on me >_< Oh well, it’s really nice & cozy though, and I love Cotton-Ease!
Another knitted gift! I made this for Caroline. The pale yellow reminds me of ducklings (she loves them)!
JoAnn Sensations Dolcetto yarn in a pale yellow on sz 8 needles. Vintage shank button closure. Pattern based on "Little Ruff" from One Skein Wonders.