Knitting: August Projects

It was pointed out to me recently that for a knitting designer, I don’t actually talk about knitting all that much on the blog. So I’ve started a project round-up once a month to talk about everything I’ve got on the needles that month. Here is a quick look at what I’m working on in August.

I finished my test sample of the sweater made out of Valley Yarns Colrain (50% Merino/50% Tencel) in the Navajo Red color. I love this one and can’t wait to wear it when the weather cools down this fall into winter. After washing and laying flat to dry the drape from this yarn is even lovelier than it was while I was knitting with it. I’m working on final pattern edits now and plan to start a test knit of it in the next week or so.

The gift socks for my mother-in-law out of Knit Picks Felici Sock Yarn in Maple Leaves are finished and gifted. They were much appreciated. But we somehow missed getting a picture of her with the finished socks. So here’s another look at them in progress.

An undisclosed project for Cascade Yarns out of their Pacific Sport in the color Deep Lavender. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy the feel of this yarn as I knit. It is so soft it feels like butter to knit. This one is due by September 1st.

A sample cowl worked in a solid color out of Knit Picks Stroll in the color Buckskin from my deep, deep stash. The cowl was designed with gradient yarn kits in mind and already has some lovely samples of finished cowls in both sizes made out of gradient yarns. I’m looking forward to knitting on this one along with my testers as the test knit progresses throughout the month.

And another Judy Hat out of Knit Picks Felici Worsted in the color Lost Lakes. I’m trying to save this project for movie knitting since simple, small projects like hats are perfect for movies. But we don’t make it to all that many movies and I really love self-striping yarn in worsted weight so I may finish the hat before we make it to our next movie. These simple ponytail hats were snatched out of last season’s Christmas basket as fast as I could knit them.

The top down cabled cloak in Valley Yarns Amherst Jungle Green that will be similar in construction to my Brianna Cabled Cloak is getting big. I’m really loving this one and I hope to have it finished and photographed in time to wear to the Renaissance Festival this year! It is a little hard to get scale from this picture – I had to put it on three needles to lay it out flat here where it is draping off both sides of my 4-foot-wide dining room table.

And finally at Knit Night the other day I realized that I almost never knit something that isn’t a pattern of mine. Thinking about it made all my knitting feel a little more like work (but really can you call doing something you love work?) than fun. So I decided to remedy that and cast on a Close To You shawl in another gift yarn from my deep, deep stash just for fun. The yarn is Mountain Colors Bearfoot in the Rosehip colorway. I’v been saving this yarn for years and decided it is finally time to get it on the needles. The reds are just beautiful and I’m really enjoying knitting on this project! I’m also loving my Star Wars themed stitch markers my husband and boys gave me. Win, win and win – gift yarn, gift stitch markers and a lovely pattern.

Knitting: July Projects

It was pointed out to me recently that for a knitting designer, I don’t actually talk about knitting all that much on the blog. So I’m hoping to start doing a project round-up once a month to talk about everything I’ve got on the needles that month. So, here is a quick look at what I’m working on in July.

First up is a batch of sample knits for submissions to various magazines. July is a big month for Calls for Submissions for upcoming Winter and Spring/Summer publications. I don’t want to go into specifics about any of these submissions since they will be copyrighted if accepted. But am giving you a quick glimpse of pieces of each so you can get a feel for what types of stitches and colors I’m working with these days. Textures and cables and twisted stitches are some of my favorites right now. And I seem to be returning to my favorite autumn colors palette.

The first sample above is a bit of twisted stitch cables worked in Cascade 220 color 8895 (Christmas Red). Cascade 220 is one of my very favorite yarns these days because it holds stitch definition so well with cables and it is a joy to work with.

The second sample features basic decreases and yarn overs worked in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Amber Heather. I love the depth of colors pulled together in this heathered brown.

The third submission is worked in Cascade Eco+ with twisted stitch cables on a background of reverse stockinette. I used to think I didn’t really love Eco. But working with this sample may have changed my mind. I don’t know if it is because I worked it on smaller needles giving me a gauge of 16 stitches per 4″ and I much prefer working it at this tighter gauge. Or if my tastes are changing or I just love the bright, green color so much.

The fourth submission is a cabled piece worked out of Cascade 220 color 7827 (Goldenrod).

This month I’m also working on several designs that will be ready for test knitting and then publishing later this year.

I’m almost finished with this sweater made out of Valley Yarns Colrain (50% Merino/50% Tencel) in the Navajo Red color. I love, love, love working with this yarn – the deep rust color is one of my favorites, the drape and feel of the knitted fabric is amazing and it shines. Tencel is a new-to-me fiber that is part of the rayon family made from cellulose. I’m adding knit and purl texture details and really enjoying working on this pullover. Almost all the sample garments I make these days are Mona-sized (Mona is the name I’ve given my dress form) instead of me-sized. But this one? This one I’m making in my size for me to wear!

 

I’m also working on a new top down cabled cloak in Valley Yarns Amherst Jungle Green that will be similar in construction to my Brianna Cabled Cloak. This particular yarn and cable have already started out as a poncho, then a swancho and just recently ripped back to the beginning for the cloak that is my final decision for this project.

 

A cabled stole worked yet again in Cascade 220 color 9600 Antiqued Heather. I did say 220 was one of my favorite yarns these days. Especially when I’m working with cables. I’m loving working on a project that feels kind of antique in a color that matches the feel so exactly. You can see in this close up that my stitches aren’t all uniform right now since I’m knitting a bit looser than my normal. The great thing about blocking a good wool is that I fully expect the stitches to be uniform and beautiful after washing and blocking this piece.

 

And a coffee inspired project out of Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage in the color Pecan. This yarn was a gift from a friend and I’m really loving working with both because it is beautiful and because it was a gift.

 

Then just for fun (nothing to do with my design work) I’m also finishing up a pair of socks for my mother-in-law out of Knit Picks Felici Sock Yarn in Maple Leaves. It might look like I picked this colorway since the colors match most of the other things on my needles, but I actually let her pick from several available choices out of my stash. I need to finish these up so she can wear them while she goes through treatments.

 

That’s it for now. I’ve actually got another couple of projects set to go on the needles soon. But I’ll save those to talk about after I’ve actually started working on them.