Archive for January, 2010

Ruffle It Up!

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Its our January thaw, with milder temperatures and a feeling of lightness as Spring peeks around the corner nudging us forward.  Fashion is slowly changing gears, the heavy coats and sweaters are beginning to disappear from store racks, making room for softer, more feminine silhouettes.  Winter’s deep luxurious shades of purples, greens, and blues are keeping company with a fresh arrival of pastels in aqua, lilac, pink, and powdery blue.  The paler side is making a comeback!  The new styles are flattering to all types, slightly gathered, draped and flowing.  Details are in the edgings- flounced, scalloped, ruffled, and frilled, translated into a light and airy mood for the season ahead.   

Louisa Harding Belle

Louisa Harding shows a fondness for rich vibrant shades in a stunning two tone Mulberry Silk cardigan.  Her newest pattern book, Belle highlights the design elements she is well known for- delicate lace insets and scalloped borders.

Louisa Harding Belle

Ruffles trim each end of this captivating scarf, a pretty openwork design knit with pure and natural Mulberry Silk, available in a full spectrum of soft and and vivid colours.

Louisa Harding Belle

 A delicate scallop pattern makes this tunic ever so flattering with long flowing lines.  Knit in a shimmery shade of ocean blue Jasmine, a dk weight yarn in a combination of cotton, bamboo, and silk.  This is a fantasy yarn with the illusion of tiny beads throughout.

Debbie Bliss Amalfi

Debbie Bliss welcomes Spring in the palest shade of green.  Her latest pattern book, Amalfi, features this flounced edge cardi which will dress up any outfit, knit in a new and naturally textured blend of cotton, linen and silk.  
Debbie Bliss Amalfi

A gently gathered A-Line jacket in a simple seed stitch shows off the subtle texture of Amalfi, available in a full selection of pastels and neutral shades.  Wait until you glimpse the surprise, a lace panel cleverly set into the back of the jacket. 

 

Posted in New & Knitworthy | 7 Comments »

Designer Chat With Jane Ellison

Thursday, January 14th, 2010
British designer, Jane Ellison speaks the universal language of knitters.  With a background in fashion and textile, her straightforward approach to knitwear design and talent for writing very sensible, concise patterns has garnered her work with leading yarn companies, Noro, Mirasol, Queensland Collection, and Araucania.  Today we sit down and chat with Jane as she nears the end of a very hectic work schedule, completing designs for seven brand new collections due out later this season.  She also offers us a sneak peek at some of her soon to be released designs.

Jane Ellison

MM:  Thanks Jane, for stopping by to chat today.  It must be difficult to catch your breath right now with all your deadlines.  Lets sit down, and have a cup of coffee or tea.
 
JE:  I drink coffee.  I used to drink tea, many cups of tea.  But now I drink  many, many cups of coffee!  I can’t do without my cup of coffee to wake me up in the morning.
 
MM:  Its evident in all your work, that you have a true love of knitting and design.  Is there a special someone who inspired you in your chosen career?
 
JE:  I do love knitting.  I was just thinking about this the other day.  At the moment  I have horrible deadlines, and am knitting 24/7.  Even through this I am doing something I love.  I don’t know if I was inspired by someone- my Grandmother was always unravelling old jumpers and re-knitting them.  It  was so exciting to  see what they would become.  My mother made all our clothes, beautiful smocks, lace cardigans, and my teddy bears and dolls were handmade with love.

The Little Book Of Nuna (new for Spring)

MM:  It must be many years since your very first sweater design, can you describe it?
 
JE: My first knitted item, was a striped scarf for Snoopy (I still have it), its a bit blurry on my first hand knitted sweater design.  I knitted loads but I can’t remember!  My very first machine knit sweater was a plain green crew neck pullover in stocking stitch with ribbing at the edges, which I wore and wore until it got a hole and unravelled.  We also did machine knitted garments at college in the first year, my design was a pale blue dress with fine metal wire worked through the yarn so that it could be pulled into interesting shapes.  The yarn was a fine viscose that looked like silk, which gave the dress a light and delicate look but the metal gave it strength that made the dress appear like it was floating around the wearer.
 
MM:  Your work with the Mirasol Project has been so well regarded, giving knitters everywhere an opportunity to participate in the building of a community.  Its a wonderful story of caring and sharing.  What has been your greatest reward from this experience? 
 
JE:  I love the Mirasol Project which was set up in 2006.  It embodies everything I believe in.  I was tremendously excited when I first heard about the project, even more excited when I was asked to become involved.  There are many, many people who make the project what it is.  I find it difficult to put it all into words, but I really hope this is just the beginning.  I’ve only visited the Mallkini Ranch (where the Mirasol Project is based) in Peru once, but I did learn a great deal, even though I cannot speak the language, being there gives me such a feeling of joy and peace.  I don’t know what my one greatest reward has been really, as I said its difficult to single one thing out.  I love working with the yarn, its so soft and beautiful, but also because I know its been made carefully and thoughtfully, every stage is created with the care of people, the environment and the animals in mind.

The Little Book Of Nuna (new for Spring)

MM:  I recently read on your blog, that you once worked in a knitting shop and enjoyed helping customers choose yarns and patterns for projects.  Do you think one day after many more books and designs, you might like to have a shop of your own?
 
JE:  Yes! I really enjoy chatting with knitters and sharing their experiences.  I also like helping people who say they would love to knit but they can’t.  Usually they can, and its great to see how proud they are of their first piece of garter stitch.  Right now, I can’t even plan a week ahead, all I can plan is how much work I have to do by the end of the day!!  Yes, I would love my own shop, I get excited thinking about the array of shades and qualities as well as lots of lovely accessories.

The Little Book Of Hap'i (new for Spring)

MM:  Knitting is really on an upswing here in Canada, what is the knitting scene like in UK at the moment?
 
JE:  For the past few months I have been designing, knitting, and writing patterns so I haven’t been out into the big wide world.  But when I do speak to non-knitters about what I do, they all seem to have a knitting story, one person told me it was a surprise to see a group of knitters in the local pub.  Even though there are not many knitting shops, it seems cafes, book shops, and pubs are all great venues for knitters who are organizing themselves and getting together.  I feel this is so exciting and hope it keeps growing.
 
MM:  When you are at home in Yorkshire, is there a favorite place where you sit and knit?
 
JE:  I don’t have a favorite place as such, generally I sit in front of the TV in my lounge watching dvds.
 
MM:  Knitters quite often say they knit for everyone else first, how many of your own creations would you say are in your closet?
 
JE:  Yes, I knit on sweaters everyday yet they don’t manage to get into my own closet.  I do have ‘Chambers’, a design from my first book- Simply Noro, and ‘Tumi’ from Mirasol Book 1, and ‘Ima Suti’ from Mirasol Book 3.  I also have a huge list of things I want to knit for myself from my collection of books.  My mom usually knits from each of my books either for herself or my Dad and my two year old niece has a sweater from each children’s book I have done.
 
MM:  Can you tell us ‘whats on your needles’ at the moment and any hints of whats to come  for Spring?
 
JE:  What is on my needles at the moment……well, I am finishing off almost all the garments for the next books I am doing.  For Mirasol, we are changing the format, instead of one big book, there will now be five little books, each one dedicated to one yarn.  At the moment, I am just putting together the Hap’i and Nuna books.  For the last two days I have been picking up around necklines, armhole edges, sewing on buttons and seaming up eight knitted garments.  There are still another twelve more awaiting my attention!  For Araucania, I am knitting with a beautiful silk, the texture of the yarn is incredible which means I have fun playing with the stitch techniques.  There is also a cashmere I am working with for a simple shawl pattern.  Its perfect for a beginner who may be a little afraid of lace knitting, but can see the basic principles with my design and still have a luxurious soft shawl floating around her shoulders.  This is all for the new Spring pattern books.  I work by myself so there is no one to help with the finishing touches.  I have the best knitters in the world, they have been great, so supportive with my tight deadlines.  Thats more than I can ask for. 

The Little Book Of Hap'i (new for Spring)

(images courtesy of Jane Ellison)

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Cosy Up With Merino

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

As the rolls of wrapping paper and ribbon are neatly tucked away and the last of the Christmas decorations are taken down, its time to shake hands with 2010 and welcome in a new decade, bright and shiny with possibility.  Reflect, Take Stock, Daydream, and enjoy the quiet days of January.

Reflect- On your favorite knitting projects of 2009.  Did you learn a new technique, or challenge yourself with a difficult pattern?  Are there any unfinished projects hidden behind the couch or pushed to the back of a closet?  With the best of intentions, one or two knitting projects may have been forgotten.  If you have lost interest in a yarn or a pattern, why not pass it on to someone who will finish it for you.  Yarn shops often have an expert finisher on staff, to do the work for you, and make it look professional without charging an arm and a leg. 

Take Stock- Of your knitting needles, and spend some time organizing your assortment, especially those circulars which tend to tangle into a ball of nylon cords.  A great idea from a reader is a knitting needle inventory card- make a complete list of all circulars, double pointed and straight sets, print it on the computer to the size of a business card.  If you keep it handy in your purse, the next time you shop for a knitting project, you won’t be left wondering if you have that particular needle size at home.  Gather up any odd balls of yarn, decide which to keep and which to donate, a new knitter would really appreciate a bag of practice yarn and a kindergarten teacher might be in need of colourful yarns for little hands to create with.  Make room for fresh, exciting yarns in your collection…….in with the new, out with the old.

Daydream-  Sit back, put your feet up, unwind with a cup of tea, browse through your favorite knitting patterns, search the newest designs for Spring and see what catches your eye.  Contemplate the many choices, which ones will you will be working on this year?  Winter is here for another ten weeks, and that means lots of time for knitting.

Tea Toque and Mug Sleeves

Welcome the New Year with a touch of handknit charm, in a wintry shade of icy blue Merino, and warm up an afternoon in a comfortable chair with a cup of tea and a plate of freshly baked pastries.  Knit this simple mock cable stitch Tea Cosy for Two with matching Mug Sleeves in Diamond Luxury Fine Merino Superwash Aran 

Diamond Luxury Fine Merino Superwash Merino Aran

This luxurious type of wool comes from sheep which have been around for two thousand years, raised mainly in New Zealand and Australia.  With its extra long springy fibres, merino wool has no ‘itch factor’, and rates the highest in superior softness.  It is ultra absorbent, wicking away moisture from the skin, and insulating from both heat and cold very effectively.

TEA TOQUE

Size:  to fit a two cup teapot

Needles:  3.75 mm double pointed set

Yarn:  2 balls Diamond Luxury Fine Merino Superwash Aran col # 7376

Tension:  22 sts and 28 rows = 4 in/ 1o cm in Pattern St

Cast on 50 sts.  Work in Pattern St as follows with two needles only-

Row 1- *K2, P2*, rep *to*, end with, K2

Row 2- *P2, TW2 (K 2nd st at front first, then K 1st at front, slide both sts off needle)*, rep *to*, end with, P2

Row 3- as Row 1

Row 4- *P2, K2*, rep *to*, end with, P2

Rep these 4 rows for Pattern.  When work measures 5 in/ 13 cm and ending with Row 1-

Shape Top:

Next Row- *P2tog, TW2*, rep *to*, end with, P2tog = 37 sts

Next Row- *K1, P2*, rep *to*, end with, K1

Next Row- *P1, K2*, rep *to*, end with, P1

Next Row- *K1, P2*, rep *to*, end with, K1

Next Row- *P1, Tw2*, rep *to*, end with, P1

Next Row- *K1, P2*, rep *to*, end with, K1

Next Row- *P1, K2tog*, rep *to*, end with, P1 = 25 sts

Next Row- *K1, P1*, rep *to*, end with, K1

Next Row- *K2tog*, rep *to*, end with, K1 = 13 sts

Next Row- P

Next Row- *K2tog*, rep *to* = 7 sts.  Purl 1 row.  Cut yarn and leave rem sts on a holder.  Make a 2nd piece to match.

Continue across all 14 sts of both pieces, working in knit rounds with 4 needles as follows-

Next Round- K 

Next Round- *K2tog* = 7 sts.  Knit 8 rounds.  K 1 round, inc 3 sts evenly spaced = 10 sts.  K 4 rounds.  Cast off purlways.  Roll edge back to form rim.  Sew side seams leaving opening to fit handle and spout.

MUG SLEEVES: (make 2)

Cast on 50 sts.  Work in Pattern St, repeat Rows 1-4 (4 times) then repeat Rows 1-3 once more.  Cast off.  Make a button loop with a crochet hook, attach yarn 1 in/ 2.5 cm from top along side edge, chain 5, slip st to edge 1 in/ 2.5 cm from bottom, fasten and secure.  Sew a button to opposite side.

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