Category: Lace

2013, Knitting, Lace, short rows

Knitting in Brighton

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I am at Brighton at the moment on a work related travel. The weather in Brighton is beautiful: bright and sunny during the day and cooler temperature late in the day. Took a walk down the beach and got to witness the exuberant night life here. Stag and hen parties all around with men dressed up in bikinis was worth a sight. The bikini-clad man did look ridiculous, but that’s the point I think. Have fun while you can, who knows how marriage will work for you, yeah?

While I am sick to the stomach that I am away from home and family for three weeks, I am trying to keep myself engaged with knitting. I am almost done with my lace shawl using the gorgeous yarn SweetGeorgia’s CashSilk. That is helping a little in keeping my spirits high. I am on the last few short rows now and the rows are just getting longer and longer with every iteration. Can’t wait to finish this.

Talking about knitting in Brighton, I was surprised to see Britain’s first woolen hotel is in Brighton.

Courtesy: The Gaurdian

The room looks cozy with the telephone cozy and lamp cozy. The bedspread is umm… epic. I wonder how long it took to knit the curtains! Don’t miss the stockinette print wallpaper! May be I should ask my office to book this room for me, huh?

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2012, Child, Girls, Lace, New Design, New Pattern

New Pattern: Tara Shrug

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I am so excited that my Tara Shrug is published as part of Knit Now October Issue.  I worked on this design almost 6 months back and just when I was ready to self-publish it, I saw the call from Knit Now and they were looking for quick knits. Since then I have been patiently waiting so that I could show this pattern off.

Photo Credit: Knit Now

Tara shrug is a great last minute gift for the little star in your life. The lace is simple and easy to memorize with all wrong side rows being ‘resting rows’. The shrug is knit flat as a rectangle in the openwork diamond lace pattern. After working the sleeves ribbing, the shrug is seamed at both ends to make sleeves. The body ribbing is knit in round.

Sizes: 2 (4, 6, 8, 10)
Chest sizes: 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) inches

The shrug is intended to be worn with 1-2” of negative ease as the lace section stretches when worn.

Photo Credit: Knit Now

 

Ravelry Pattern: Tara Shrug
Yarn Suggested: Fyberspates Scrumptious 4ply
Needle Size: US #3 3.25 mm for the body

 

2012, Flat knitting, Lace, New Design, New Pattern

New Pattern: Quilla Stole

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I tried my hand at dyeing some time back and got two hanks of beautiful mohair yarn. I was very grateful to Di for hosting the dye-a-long and also for the moral support. When she announced she is moving to Kolkata, I decided I had to make something for her from the dyed yarn. She is a super talented knitter and crocheter, so I couldn’t just make a set of coasters, so I thought of coming up with something of my own. A quick skim through the stitch dictionaries gave me this beautiful lace stitch which looked great with mohair yarn. Thus, Quilla was born.

Pattern: Quilla Stole
Yarn: Lace or fingering or sport weight
Needles: Depends on the yarn weight you choose
Sizes offered: 10″ x 70″
Yardage: ~430 yards

I used laceweight mohair and I think it looks good. I might be biased, though! The lace pattern is open enough to accommodate the mohair’s halo.

One of my test knitters made this using Knit Picks Chroma Fingering and I think the stole looks beautiful, don’t you agree? The long color changes and the lace pattern go really well together. Quilla can be knit using lace, fingering or sport weight yarn. You can try heavier weights too, but the resulting stole might not have the drape that you see in pictures.

The lace is a simple 2-row repeat stitch pattern and is ideal for newbie lace knitters. If you can do yarn-over, k2tog and slip-sts, then you can knit this one. This is great for mindless knitting and the stole will be done in no time.

Happy Knitting! Hope you enjoy knitting this as much as I did.

2012, Cardigan, Flat knitting, giveaway, Lace, Spring, Summer

Name it and Win it: Pattern Giveaway

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I have a new design for a girl’s spring cardigan which is in test knitting phase right now. As always, I had very little trouble in deciding on the yarn and the stitch pattern, but I am unable to come up with a good name. I turn to you all for help again to find a name for this design.

This cardigan is intended to be worn open. The collar has quilted lattice stitch pattern which can be worked plain or using beads. See the pictures for inspiration and let me know your suggestions. There will be two winners this time. Read on for details.

 

Here are the rules:

1. Leave a comment on this post with your suggestions.
2. No limit on the number of names you can suggest
3. If I decide to use the name you suggested, you will win a copy of the pattern, sent to you as Ravelry gift or PDF e-mailed to you.
4. Contest ends on June 20 2012.
5. Winner will be announced once the pattern goes live.
6. As a thank you to the other participants, I will draw a name randomly who will win a copy of this pattern.

Put on your thinking cap and let me know what you would name this cardigan.

2012, Cardigan, Flat knitting, Lace, New Design, New Pattern

New Pattern: Aviva

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Aviva, Hebrew word for springtime, is a lacy spring cardigan. The elegant lacy body is accentuated by German rib collars and hems. Aran weight yarn combined with a simple 2-row repeat of lace pattern makes this cardigan a quick knit.
Aviva has a very different construction. The back is knitted up and the neck stitches are bound off. The two fronts are knitted separately and then seamed to the back. Collar is knit by picking up stitches along the fronts and the neck.

This was the first time I used a model for a photoshoot and had a great experience. Shristi, a friend and a budding model, graciously accepted to model for my cardigan. The photographer is Ajo who is again a friend and an upcoming photographer. The combination was perfect: designer, model and photographer – all amateurs and trying to establish in their respective worlds.

Here are the pattern details.

Ravelry Pattern: Aviva by Anjali M.
Yarn Suggested: Knit Picks Swish Tonal
Needle Size: US #7 4.5 mm

2012, Lace, Shawlette

Dewdrop Annis

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Knitting Shawlettes has been on my goals since ages, but when the year 2012 came around, I officially added it to my ‘Things to accomplish in 2012’. The dainty lace, the drapey fabric, shiny beads, gorgeous colors – there was no reason not to ogle at shawl(ette)s and wish I could knit one just like that. I took part in a KAL where things were flexible: Relaxed time frame, choose any pattern you want, start and end whenever you like (within 2 months of course), so this was the perfect KAL for me.

I chose Susanna’s Annis because it is free, it is a shawlette so will get done in less time and the lace is only at the border which was not that intimidating. Casting on 300+ stitches was not easy. Even with careful counting and placing of markers, I had to cast on thrice to get the right count. I added a row of purling before starting the lace, which I regret now because the lace border has a rounded look and I don’t like it. I replaced the nupps with beads and added beads on every SK2P stitch on the WS row.

My Ravelry Project Page
Pattern: Annis by Susanna IC
Yarn: 2-ply acrylic laceweight, held 2 strands
Needles: US 6 4mm

Knitting the lace part was super fun, stitch markers were a  big help. Knitting short rows part was boring and it took me longer to knit than the lace part. Blocking this beauty was the most satisfying step. I used acrylic laceweight yarn and once I steam blocked it, the yarn bloomed and the stitches were more defined. The yarn relaxed, giving a nice drape to the shawlette. It is so lightweight and drapey, I don’t want to take it off my shoulders.

I had so much fun knitting this shawlette and am so in love with the result that I want to knit more of these beauties. Any favorite shawl pattern you recommend for me?

2012, Cardigan, Flat knitting, giveaway, Lace, Spring, Summer

Name it and Win it: Pattern Giveaway

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I have a new design for a woman’s spring cardigan coming out in the next couple of days. While zeroing in on the yarn, colorway and the lace pattern was easy and even though knitting the prototype and grading was relatively difficult, what has me flummoxed is what to call this design. I had a lot of help from you guys the last time around when I couldn’t find a suitable name for my summer tee design, so I am turning to you all again for help.

This spring cardigan is intended to be worn open, though the lace is so stretchy, you could shut the cardigan close and fix it with a pin. It has a very different construction and a very delicate ribbing to complement the lace. See the pictures for inspiration and let me know your suggestions. There will be two winners this time. Read on for details.

Here are the rules:

1. Leave a comment on this post with your suggestions.
2. No limit on the number of names you can suggest
3. If I decide to use the name you suggested, you will win a copy of the pattern, sent to you as Ravelry gift or PDF e-mailed to you. You will also be credited on the Ravelry pattern page.
4. Contest ends on March 25 2011.
5. Winner will be announced once the pattern goes live.
6. As a thank you to the other participants, I will draw a name randomly who will win a copy of this pattern.