Showing posts with label gedifra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gedifra. Show all posts

WIP Weekend and Superbowl Knitting...

by : MarinadeDesigns
Hi Everyone! I hope you are all gearing up for a fun Super Bowl this year! To be honest, I'm not as big a football fan as I am a "Glee" fan so I am mostly excited for the new episode that is airing tonight right after the big event. You can be sure to find me relaxing on the couch with some knitting this evening and enjoying some good TV viewing. I figure we deserve it after such a busy week! :)

We had a few great projects finished this week! Sharon finished her first Koigu Beret from the Koigu Beaded Beret pattern by Churchmouse Designs. She whipped this up quickly in a couple evenings of watching Zombie movies with her bf. It only took 1 skein of Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino and was a really fast knit! In fact, Sharon has already started on a 2nd one!


Nicole finished a Potato Chip Scarf in her "Nicole's 1st Anniversary" color-way of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport. Her scarf was the envy of the shop for a couple of days which led a few other folks to cast on as well. Sharon cast hers on in Tosh Merino Light, and Sandy chose to do hers in Merino Light mixed with a bit of Lana Grossa Silkhair which is similar to Rowan Kidsilk Haze. These are both going to be beautiful as well!


So this weekend I got it in my head that I needed to start a new quick garment project. It had to be something that I could finish in a short period of time and wear right away. A few months back I had padded my stash with about 15 skeins of this lovely Gedifra Highland Alpaca. I fell in love with the soft fluffiness of it as well as the color. I have been wanting to make this awesome vest-tunic garment I saw in an issue of Knitscene about 3 years ago, and just never got around to it or found the right yarn. Well, that search ended last fall when I bought this Gedifra yarn.

I have put off making this because I swore to myself that I would finish some other projects first. Finally, this weekend, I came to the conclusion that I needed a quick cozy knit to help motivate me to finish my other projects. Thus began the Poncho Vest project designed by Kat Coyle! I knit almost the whole back section yesterday and will probably finish it and begin working on the front today! At this rate, I should be wearing it by the end of the week. Hurray! Just the motivation I need to finish a few other projects before the winter is out!


Another WIP this weekend is something I have been wanting to start for a while now. A few weeks ago, I was on a Live Chat with a customer at here at the shop, and she showed me a beautiful version of the Saroyan Shawlette knitted by Tanis (of Tanis Fiber Arts) in Koigu. The pattern is beautifully written by Liz Abinante (who also designed the Traveling Woman Shawl that Jeanne knit in Mushishi a few months back) and is part of the same series of free patterns Liz offers.

I loved Tanis' fingering weight Koigu version and decided that I must do one myself. I thought about using Koigu like she did, but then decided I probably had something in my stash already that I could use. I dug up 1 skein of Mansfield's Garden Party in Tosh Merino Light, and got to work.

I am knitting this lightweight version on size 6 needles (the pattern calls for worsted weight on a US size 10 needle) and I think it is working up nicely so far. I've only knit 2 repeats of the increase section, but I really love this pattern. I really like how Liz includes both written and charted instructions! I think it is going to make the perfect lightweight spring scarf. It's definitely the kind of project to work here and there, one section at a time in between other projects.

So I guess that's it for us "Beans" this weekend. Hope you all enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday (and/or Glee) and have a fabulous week!

Happy knitting!
Kristen

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Let The Post-Holiday Knitting And Crocheting Begin!

by : Leanne
I hope you all had a safe holiday, finished all your knitting and crochet gifts and were able to enjoy a relaxing day surrounded by family and friends! My Christmas Eve was spent feverishly finishing all of my hand knit presents, but by some miracle I had them wrapped and under the tree several minutes before everyone awoke to the smell of coffee brewing :) My most coveted present this year (thanks Dad!) was Modern Top-Down Knitting by Kristina McGowan, a book I've been obsessed with since it was released. I can't wait to start knitting the Jill's Dress (featured on the cover), the Feather Dress, or really any of the projects in this mind-blowingly awesome book. You may remember it from Kristen's blog a few months ago also featuring Rosemary, one of our in-store customer's FO from this book, the Promenade Dress. If you're also jonesing to get started on a project, exchange that unique shade of wool for something a little more "you", or preventing that JBW Gift Certificate from burning a hole in your proverbial pocket, be sure to check out some of the latest additions to our website!

I'm going to jump right into the good stuff with Valerie's Cardigan, one of the newest patterns from Blue Sky Alpacas! This lacy crochet cardi uses as little as 6 hanks of the lightweight Skinny Cotton and can be worn year round to dress up any outfit! If crochet isn't your game, BSA just released several new knit patterns as well, among them the the rustic Ida Vest and elegant Kaw Valley Wrap!

For those of you hoping to augment your knitting library in 2011, Dolce Handknits: Simple, Sophisticated Designs is a great place to start! Author Kim Dolce, owner of Dolce Handknits (her individual designs are available as patterns), has compiled 16 of her most popular patterns in this stunning book. Every project in this volume has a timeless, contemporary theme and each design is the perfect combination of casual comfort and classic sophistication.Whether you're knitting for yourself or a loved one, you can't go wrong with a Dolce Handknits design!

If yarn is what you seek, well, you know we have plenty of that! Alpaca 2 is one of our newest arrivals, and boy are we exited to have/see/feel it! This sumptuous alpaca and wool blend from Isager is a light DK weight yarn that comes in a rainbow of gorgeous, naturally dyed hues. Its soft hand and excellent drape make Alpaca 2 great for lightweight sweaters, delicate wraps, fingerless gloves and more! Use it for one of the whimsical Ilga Leja patterns such as the Urban Goddess wrap or Never Not Knitting's popular Cedar Leaf Shawlette.

Prefer a yarn that works up a bit faster? Give Gedifra's Riana and Riana Big a try! This single ply wool, acrylic and viscose blend comes in a bold palette of heathery solids flecked with tweedy bits that add a unique visual texture. Whether you're hoping to knit a work-worthy cardigan, cabled sweater vest for the hubby, or a rustic wrap for the chilly winter months, Riana fits the bill! And if you're in a hurry just pick up some Riana Big, the bulky big sister of the worsted weight Riana! Big works up in no time on US 15 needles making it a great choice for chunky cowls and ultra warm sweater coats!

Have a safe and spectacular New Year, and as always happy knitting and crocheting!
Leanne :)





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