the knitting buzz

on the needles

What's on the needles?

A little holiday gift knitting, a Bubbles Wrap  and some swatching of a couple of lace designs that have not quite come together yet. 

Just finished and off the needles.......I thought the Pike's Peak Hat was so cute that I couldn't resist knitting one for Katie.  Shes alway looks good in hats.   Its a quick and easy knit, I was able to finish it in a day.  Wish all my gift knitting was that speedy. I knit it out of Berroco Borealis, color Selfoss (5020).

I promised my love, Xander, a "Big Boy" Blanket, not a Baby Blanket, but a Big Boy for Christmas (his request). I am knitting it with Cascade 220 Superwash Worsted in color Really Red (his choice).  Its a reversible plaid design and 7 balls of yarn or 1540 yards should do it for a approximately 42" x 50" blanket, (I hope that's "big boy" sized). I think the deadline is in reach and not stressed yet. I just started ball #4, nearly halfway.

Almost forgot, Xander asked for a Blanket for his Bear too. After seeing the swatch for his blanket, knit out of leftover Cascade 220 Superwash Sport, he asked it that was a blanket for Bear.......of course, the answer was 'yes'.....need to add that to my gift list. 

I am enjoying working on the blanket, but I really prefer working on lace. So, its October and no real holiday pressures yet..... RIGHT?.......which has me torn about perfecting lace swatches for new designs verses gifts.  Sounds selfish when its put into words. Yikes.

Sooo..... I do have a lace project or two back on the needles.  

I decided, since I had so much yarn left over from my Wicker Park pattern, that I took out the edging and decided to add some additional length, about 5 more inches give or take.

I'm a sucker for an extra long wrap...... I know I will like it even better.  lthough its back on the needles, I have not worked on it too much. So here's what I learned about myself.....once completed and published, its very hard to get motivated to go back to reconstruct it.......even when it involves sparkly earrings (blush). In time, in time....

And lastly, one lace project, Bubbles in Blue, resurrected from its project bag from 2010, I think.  How did that happen?  Its a quick and easy knit and perfect for those times when mindless knitting is required.  Its about a third of the way completed and I would love to get it finished this week, although that may be pushing it.

Can't wait to hear what's on your needles......

Happy Knitting!

 

 

 

a study in color

Obsidian Chevron Scarf is finished and published and oh so cozy.  I can't lie, I have a thing for chevrons, both in random configurations of width and color or regimental designs. I like the knit or crocheted, I like them lace-y or as fabric, I like them solid or striped, I like them here or there, I like them anywhere....sorry, got carried away.  Chevrons are always striking and always in fashion.  The Obsidian pattern is available on Ravelry.com.

Obsidian is knit with three colors of The Fibre Company, Road to China Light yarn. Road to China Light is a luxurious blend of Baby Alpaca, Cashmere, Camel and Silk.  You must touch it!

This project became a study of color and it could have gone in so many directions.  The colors I chose consisted of one accent color (smokey quartz/brown) and two harmonious colors (sapphire & apatitie/ blue & teal).

Harmonious colors schemes use colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. They usually match well and create a serene and comforting feeling.

 

Choosing complimentary colors with an accent color would look fantastic as well. Complimentary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel (like blue & orange, purple & yellow, pink & green).

........OR .......

Just two colors (a main color and an accent color) is perfect for a very sophisticated look or can even be tonal color choice (like two shades of grey, etc). Definitely a handsome choice.

However, for those of you who like living on the edge, each accent row or color row could be a different color.  A great option for using up odds and ends, using yarns with long stripes like Noro Yarn or stash busting,   

The possiblities are endless..... Don't be afraid of choosing a color......Have fun..... its going to look fantastic whatever you choose.

Just a quick side note, the pattern gives tips on how to change colors and knit in the ends as you go....eliminating weaving in a gajillion end.

 

Happy Knitting!

knitting in ends as you go

Meg, taught me this technique. Its brilliant and so much easier in the long run to weaving in ends with a darning needle or crochet hook. She truly is gifted.  Thank you Meg!

This technique can be used for doing frequent color changes and when tails are about 2 inches or so long.

The instructions are written for English style knitting (my preferred style), however can easily be adapted for Continental style knitting.

When adding a new color, leave at least a 2 inch tail and complete the first stitch.

Next insert needle into the next stitch, take the tail (of the new color) and drape it over the the right hand needle toward you, the tail will be crossing over the working yarn (shown above), then complete the stitch.

Insert the needle again into the next stitch, take the tail of the new color and drape the tail over the working yarn away from you, the tail will be crossing over the working yarn again (shown above).

Continue to move the tail back and forth over the working yarn prior to completing the stitch for 10 to 15 stitches or until the tail is too short to manipulate.  Do not cut tails until piece has been completed and blocked (either wet block or mist block). This will set the stitches, so they do not wiggle out.

Once blocked, tails can be snipped.

There are some YouTube videos showing a modified version of this technique that will also work well.......HOWEVER.....I found the results to be a bit bulkier fabric and sometimes noticible from the right-side

Happy Color Knitting!

luxurious yarn and a new technique

I love yarn and I love knitting.  

But knitting with the Fibre Companys Road to China Light takes both to an entirely new level.  Road to China Light is a sport weight yarn, that is 65% Baby Alpaca, 10% Cashmere, 10% Camel and 15% Silk. It comes in a generous 156 yard hank and the colors are irresistible.

The colors of this beautiful yarn has inspired my latest knit scarf pattern.  

I'm calling the pattern "Obsidian" a chevron inspired design and is knit using 3 colors of Road to China Light yarn.

While working on this pattern, I learned a new technique for weaving in ends when doing frequent color changes, and can be used on any color work project. 

Initially, I started weaving in ends after several color changes with a darning needle or crochet hook, depending on the length of the tail.  This was tedious and due to the soft and slightly slippery nature of the yarn, my woven-in and clipped tails seemed to wiggle out a bit.

There had to be a better way.  My good friend Meg, who is truly gifted, shared with me her technique for weaving in ends as she goes, adapted from a crochet technique.  Here is a picture of the results.

Its BRILLIANT! It looks neater and will save an enormous amout of time in the end. I will share a photo tutorial on this technique in the next post.

Happy Knitting!

one cozy scarf

A cozy scarf, no matter the color or design is a coveted item.....especially if its a hand knit gift.  

The cozy factor is more than likely, all about the yarn.  Which is completely the case for The Fibre Company Road to China Light yarn. Road to China Light is a sport weight yarn that is a blend of 65% Baby Alpaca, 15% Silk, 10% Cashmere and 10% Camel......ooolala.....you must touch it. Not to mention their range of color choices are just beautiful......whats not to love.

You just have to touch it!

 

COLORS
Cobalt	Lapis	Sapphire
Aquamarine	Blue Tourmaline	Apatite
Abalone	Malachite	Emerald
Citrine	Topaz*	Peridot
Rhodolite	Garnet	Ruby
Tanzanite*	Dark Amethyst	Carnelian
Smoky Quartz	Hematite	Grey Pearl
Agate*	Moonstone	Feldspar*
Riverstone

So this is the perfect yarn to make a very special handknit Christmas gift. It is sure to give a long winter of hugs.

 

Happy Knitting!

its bright, its green

Just released......

My newest knitting pattern design, Faceted Lace Wrap and Scarf, the model is knit with Vice Yarn Sinful Single, a hand-dyed single ply yarn of 100% superwash merino, in colorway, "The O.Z." (the name of this color makes me laugh). The pattern is available on Ravelry.com in Knitting Buzz Designs.

The pattern design and the color were both inspired by Pandora bracelets latest Murano Glass Charms. 

Faceted Lace Wrap and Scarf is a linear design of inverted triangles giving the pattern movement divided by a lacy columns.  

Its written in three sizes;  a narrow scarf, a wide scarf / medium sized wrap and a nice wide wrap.  

 

The model is the medium size and knit in a fingering weight. This pattern can be easily knit in any yarn weight by adjusting needle size accordingly. 

I really like this pattern and considering knitting the widest version for myself in a lace-weight yarn.......probably in a "calmer" color.  Looks like a stash raid is in order....ha ha ha

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What's on the needles?

 I have start my Christmas knitting and decided to take a new approach.  Instead of making something tried and true for my friends and family, I am working on some new patterns for them....hence, they are somewhat..... my knitting guinea pigs.

I have started....

 ~ a multi colored cozy scarf pattern in The Fibre Company's Road to China Light and

 ~ special request afghan/blanket in a textured pattern for my sweet Xander, in red.

My plan is to publish these patterns, as long as they pass my Buzz test.

Happy Knitting!