One thing at a time…

Tags

Artyarns, hand-knitwear design, handmade, Isager, Jade sapphire, Knit Scarf, knitting, leg warmers, Madelinetosh, Men's Scarf, yarn

My Lil One is very used to my motherly refrain “One thing at a time.”  So many times we try to squeeze things in, skipping from one thing to the next, but at the end of the day I always feel like nothing got done, because nothing individually is truly finished.  I am trying to teach my daughter that sometimes you need to slow down and focus for a bit to really savor the task and do your best.  My knitting has often been crazy like that, but for a couple of months I kept knitting just one thing.  Lil One kept asking “When will that be done?  It’s taking forever, and I need leg warmers!!”  I kept repeating, “One thing at a time.  Your little leg warmers will be next.  I promise.”  And so it went for two months.  What colossal, grand, large-scale knit was this?  Actually, it was a quite modest sized scarf.  A commission, from a gentleman with excellent taste in yarn, and a rare recognition of the beauty of a handmade item.  Here is the tri-color harlequin diamond scarf I made for him:

Size zero needles and lace weight yarn made this project long-winded, but the result was just heavenly.  I would have loved to keep it for myself, but alas, it had to move on.  The three yarns were Art Yarns Rhapsody Light (just spectacular!), Jade Sapphire Silk Cashmere 2-ply, and Isager Alpaca Merino 2.  It’s hard to see in the photos, but the green just shimmers against the other colors, and the halo of mohair is just enough to lend a kitten softness without getting fuzz everywhere.

So, naturally, when that was done, I went to work immediately on those leg warmers.  Those became the “one thing” for a couple of days, and they knit up really quickly.  She was over the moon when they were done, and put on quite a show to let me know how happy she was!

They are another pair of “Button Top Leg Warmers”, this time in cobalt blue Madelinetosh DK that she picked out.  Lil One also has excellent taste, and definitely appreciates handmade accessories.

So, now that customers and kiddos alike have been satisfied momentarily, I’ve moved on to some peaceful knitting for myself, and feeling very accomplished for sticking to one thing at a time… except for the socks I started… oh and that tunic that just needs sewing up… and I couldn’t help but swatch out an idea for a new tee.  Well, as that other Motherly motto goes:  “Do as I say, not as I do.”

New Year, New Stories!

Tags

children, family, kids, knitting, learning to knit, New Year 2014

Happy New Year!  I don’t know where the last few months went, but they sure went fast.  I begin this New Year with many resolutions in mind, one of which is to get back to blogging. I’m eager to share new stories of knitting and all things creative.  So, as my first new story of 2014, let me share something special that happened in the past few months: Lil One is now officially a knitter.

For whatever reason, on Thanksgiving Day, after the hustle and bustle of our family celebration, she decided it was the right time to knit.  I have never pushed her to knit, but she has decided now and then to try it out.  That day, after casting on a few stitches, I sat down to help her by supporting the needles a bit and coaxing her along as I had in the past, but she said “No, Mommy.  I want to knit all by myself.”  She literally pushed me away with a “talk to the hand” gesture.  Then she took up the needles and yarn and started the chant, “In through the front door…”  She struggled a bit to figure out how to keep the needles and yarn under control, but to my surprise, in no time at all, she was indeed knitting all by herself.  At just four and a half, she was sitting quietly (which is perhaps the best part of this story) knitting carefully but fluidly on her very first scarf.  She seemed in that moment like a miniature of my Grandma.  She sat neatly arranged, with her straight metal needles clicking, concentrating so hard and making faces just like I remembered my Grandma making when she was hard at work knitting.  One day, when I’m a Grandma, I can just hear me telling her little ones, “Your Mother knew how to knit before she could read!”  I guess it’s genetic! 🙂

Have to

Tags

Berroco, children, handmade, knitting, toddler, toddlers, vintage knits, yarn

I was just sitting here listening to Lil One chatter and she was reading out what she imagines my to-do list to be for today:

You have to feed the dogs

You have to pick me up from school

You have to pick up my brother from school

You have to check your e-mail

You have to fold the laundry

You have to knit my socks

You have to sort the mail

You have to do your work

You have to make dinner

You have to do the dishes

You have to ….

 

Oh my.  She’s right.  It seems like lately there have been vast lists of “have to’s” and little room for the “want to’s”.  She hears me say it all day long.  “We can play a game but first I have to _________ .”  The running around and keeping up has meant scarce time with the camera, and less time for knitting and writing.  Fortunately not all of the have to’s are unpleasant or tedious, and I did manage to whip out the camera for a few fun moments of late.

On Saturdays, we “have to” take Lil One to her dancing class.  She loves it, and she’s blossoming into quite a little ballerina.  Here she is last Sat. in her Tiny Tea Leaves sweater I knitted for this fall.

This was the sweater to replace the one she left at the zoo.  Lil One picked out the yarn herself, Berroco’s Maya, and I happened to have these lovely vintage buttons from Dusty’s Vintage Buttons at the CT Sheep and Wool Festival.  I ended up adding a few button holes, just so we could use a few more buttons.  I love the sparkle centers:

She has decided it’s pretty much ideal for dancing and loves the 3/4 sleeves so she can move and pose.  I modified the neckline a little to bring it in by crocheting in sc around the neck.  I think I did 1 sc, 2 sc tog, around to reduce the size by about 1/3.  It has worked out well and stays in place better than the first one.  Tell me this doesn’t seem like a 1920’s picture postcard:

So, even though life is busy, plenty of things make me smile. I am happy that I do have to do so much.

Jump – Double Dutch Style!

Tags

children, design, hand-knitwear design, handmade, kids, knee-highs, Knit New Haven, knitting, knitting patterns, Sock knitting, Three Irish Girls, toddler, toddlers, yarn

The chill of fall is in the air!  We’ve been getting up to cold temps in the morning, and gratefully still enjoying lovely warm afternoons.   So, in the spirit of back to school knitting and little girls who can’t quite part with those lovely dresses despite the cooler temps, I’d like to share a newly published pattern today.

Introducing “Double Dutch” children’s Knee High Socks!

This pattern has just been published by the colorful yarn dyer Three Irish Girls.  For the sample, they sent me the fantastic and colorful “Mad Hatter” colorway in Beckon Stretch Merino.  The name inspired a bit of an “Alice” moment to the photoshoot…

And Lil One was literally jumping for joy that she had new socks…

That is, until I told her they had to go back to the yarn company.

This was my first collaborative effort with a yarn dyer, and it turned out patience was the most important aspect of getting this out.  These photos were taken late last summer, and only now I’m able to share them, so I’m super excited to finally share the fun.

The pattern was inspired by my Lil One’s love of skirts and dresses, even in cold weather.  I created this pair first:

Then to my delight it was accepted as part of the collection being created by Three Irish Girls, and I got to work writing, editing and sampling in the exciting new colorway which was also unreleased at the time.

So, the details:  I went with toe up, and a twisted stitch pattern to satisfy my love of cabled knee-highs without having to break out an actual cable needle.  The accordion structure of the ribbing makes them stay up nicely, and a smooth stockinette gusset on the foot makes them comfy and fit into shoes nicely.  For a unisex look, all you have to do is stop before the calf gusset and you’ll have great basics for all your little ones.   For the size shown M (7-11 children’s shoe size) I used just about half of one skein of the Beckton Stretch Merino.  The pattern is sized for babies to pre-teens, and is mostly written with charts for the calf gusset.  You can find out more (including pictures of the construction details) on Ravelry.

I love the Three Irish Girls yarn, but if you’re looking for a more basic yarn, the classic solid version made with the easy to find Cascade Heritage Sock.  In my own LYS we just got a fantastic selection of Claudia Hand Painted sock yarn in that would be a fantastic substitute for this pattern.  Check out the delicious bins of colorful choices!

Just in case you’re interested, I’m teaching a toe-up beginner sock class this month – it has been rescheduled, so contact Knit New Haven for new dates and details.

New Hat Tricks

Tags

crochet, Crochet Hats, handmade, Knit Hats, knitting, knitting patterns, Manos del Uruguay, O-wool, String Theory, yarn

My Lil One and I are huge fans of the hat.  We both have many, and somehow there’s always room for one more, or five or six!  A hat is easy on the wallet, and the schedule, so I love putting one on the needles and having something to wear in just a couple of days.  It seems I’ve been on quite a bit of a hat making spree lately, and we’re both thrilled to have so many new styles to try out… if only it weren’t hot outside!

So here’s a little review of the latest FO hats:

First up, the Purple Asbury, for Lil One.  This one I made just for her.  It is based on a Spanish Doily pattern, and I thought it would be a great fashion hat for her to dress up with, even if it isn’t very warm.  The pattern is Asbury Beret, adapted by Beth Nielsen, and I worked it up in String Theory’s Bluestocking.  I do like the yarn, but it’s halo didn’t yield a super crisp texture to show off the lace work.  I think if I made it again I might try a Cascade Heritage Silk or String Theory’s Caper Sock instead.

Then we move to the other extreme – warm and wooly.  I’ve had the privilege to sample knit a few patterns recently.  The first one I have to show you is from Jocelyn Tunney, over at O-wool.  The pattern is called “Picholine“, and this one is made up in a lovely dark red shade called “Pomegranate” in O-wool Legacy Bulky.  It is warm and cozy, but the slouch keeps it from feeling stuffy.  I plan on making several more of these.  They are one day knits, and would be great last-minute gifts too.  Alas, samples have to go back to the yarn company, but I always try to grab a quick picture before I send them on their way.  Lil One begged to model it, so she got the job of course – who could resist those dreamy green eyes?

The third hat is also a sample, this time for Manos del Uruguay.  The design is by Melissa LaBarre, and called “Peasleeville“, and the yarn is called Maxima, from Manos of course.  I loved the color they chose, “Zinnia”, and the yarn was soft and squishy.  The cable band was engaging to knit, and then the top of the hat gets picked up and knit up in seed stitch.  I got to wear this one for my photos, and I have to say, I think it would make a great hat for me this winter.  Again, just in love with the color!

Here’s looking forward to hat weather!

Yarn Along: Clearing the Decks

Tags

Alana Dakos, children, Childrens Books, kids, knitting, toddler, Yarn Along

Joining in for the “Yarn Along” over at small things:

So, the knitting and reading for the past few weeks has been varied and plentiful!

I guess my goal at the moment is to kind of “clear the decks” so I can get back to one nice involved project at a time to relax with for the summer months.  I have been “multi-knitting” for weeks now.  In progress right now are a gift knit (nearly done), two sample knit hats, my “omg this is taking forever” plum cardi, and a lovely cheerful crochet shawl that I’ve been toting around as my portable project.  Oh, and I’ve swatched to begin another Tiny Tea Leaves for my Lil One who LOST the one I made her!  (I just keep reminding myself it never would have been lost if she didn’t love it so much and take it with her everywhere.)  I’ve also finished up several things that were in the way of my summer agenda, so I am actually making progress on getting to summer knitting.  Here’s the thing – I’m absolutely chomping at the bit to start a new sweater project just for me:

The yarn is a delicious, soft yet textured yarn from Anzula called “Oasis”. What could be better for a relaxing summer knit?  The pattern is from a recent issue of Interweave Knits, and it’s called the Open Eye Tunic.  I’m still on the fence about the little side bits, but they are sewn in at the end, so I might make it as just a tunic and see how it looks.

OK, one more little “WIP” – I am creating a new knitter!  No, seriously.  My Lil One got the book “Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf”, by Alana Dakos and Neesha Hudson, for her birthday.  We’ve been reading it now and then, and she’s been inspired to learn to knit, as well as learning that “practice and patience” are the key to learning anything new.  Now, she’s only 4, so progress is slow.  It will be a while before her little hands can really control everything, but none the less, she’s been sitting in my lap and repeating the little rhyme from the book:

“In through the front door,

once around the back.

Peek through the window,

and off jumps Jack!”

She knows exactly how the yarn moves and just needs me to help steady the needles and sometimes pop the stitch through the “window” for her.  We had cast on just ten stitches about a month ago, and every week or so she’ll say “can we practice knitting”, and so we do.  Sometimes it’s only been three stitches, sometimes we’ve gotten all the way across the row and she proudly exclaims “Look!  We made a whole row Mamma!”  So, now I present you with Lil One’s very first FO – a little tab necklace in Malabrigo Silky Merino:

As for the reading list, I’ve been taking time when deadlines are not looming to really indulge in reading my new novel, “Code Name Verity”, by Elizabeth Wein.  I love the writing, and the women in the story are so captivating.  I really recommend this one!  In addition, I’ve indulged in a couple more knit lit. purchases including more Alana Dakos in the form of “Botanical Knits”.  I want to make every single thing in that book this fall.  Oh dear, I’m gonna need more yarn money… better get back to work!

So what’s on your summer reading list?

She Never Stops Moving!

Tags

Cardigan, children, handmade, Kirsten Kapur, Knit New Haven, knitting, spring, Spud & Chloe, sweater, toddlers

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say – where do little ones get all that energy!?!?  It’s spring finally, and my Lil One never stops moving (or talking) it seems!  I went outside to grab a few pics of my latest FO on her, and it seems like the phrase “action shot” applies to nearly every one!

She is wearing a shop sample I made for Knit New Haven in a new favorite yarn – Spud & Chloe “Sweater”.  The design is from Kirsten Kapur, and it’s called “Turtle Pond“.  Of course, I couldn’t resist the little duck buttons we had in the shop, so this one is named the “Duckie Pond Cardigan“. It was easy knitting, and pretty easy to follow the pattern.  I did change the sleeves from working in the round to working flat.  I cast on 2 extra sts. for the seam, then seamed them up (and effectively removed the 2 extra sts.) before setting aside the underarm sts. and joining to work the yoke section.  I’m not sure if it was totally necessary as the sleeve “jog” wouldn’t be very visible, but it was good for me to do the mental gymnastics.  The seams came out very neat, so it made me happy to know that if they did show, they’d look fabulous.  Good practice.

Even though it’s still a little big for her, she put on her favorite fairy princess layers, and away she went!

I did manage to get her to alight on a bench for a moment, and the forsythia provided a lovely spring backdrop for us.

In moments she was off again.  I wish I could bottle that up!  If you’re thinking about making this pattern for your little energizer toddler, keep in mind that it’s designed for the long and thin toddler, which was ok for Lil One.  She’s a size 4T, with a 20″ chest, and the sweater is the size 6.  If I were to start again, I might shorten the sleeves just a touch for the body size.  I think when the sleeves really fit it might be too small around.  If she weren’t wearing a shirt to kind of stick the sleeves to, you wouldn’t be able to see her hands!  All in all, a fun project.

Happy Spring!!

Paradigm Shift

Tags

3 Half Double Mobius, design, free-pattern, hand-knitwear design, handmade, Knit New Haven, knitting, knitting patterns, Miss Adler's Cowl, Scarlet Sparkler, Sorella Robina, spring, Spud & Chloe, sweater

Hello again.  I know.  What happened to all those posts on the show, and patterns and new ideas, and… well, designing?  As I celebrated my Spring Trunk show coming together, I also began working more hours both at the store and at home on the actual designing and knitting.  It has caused what I would consider a paradigm shift.  The rules of what we have grown to expect and rely on have changed.  I can’t say it is bad or good, just a change that we all have to get used to.  For me, it has meant experiencing for the first time since Lil One was born, being away from my family to work.  I love being more involved in the “knit scene” and getting a little bit of the social side of myself in gear again, but I do miss the ease of being strictly at home and being able to act a little more impulsively.  Hmmm…. I think I’ll go write a little something for the blog now.  You catch my drift, no?

Yup, that’s what it is. I feel strangely disorganized in my new more regimented schedules.  My creative side is always chugging along, but sometimes the hours and opportunities do not materialize to make it all happen fast enough and share it with everyone.  Somehow the flow of how things happen has gotten knocked out of whack.  So, I apologize for the delay, but I promise I will find my footing again and hopefully blog more things than ever down the road.  For now, bear with me, and let me catch up on a few things.

The trunk show was fun, and I think, successful.  I extend my gratitude to Knit New Haven for hosting it, and to all who attended and encouraged me.  It was so rewarding to see all of the designs properly styled and displayed, and for the first time I felt I could see the Guistinello Design “look” emerging.  As I considered what it is that tied the items together, it struck me that it was a balance of delicate detail and elegance that communicate both femininity and confidence all at once.  Curiously this is a core idea of feminism I’ve always held – being a strong woman means embracing feminine traits and building on our inherent strengths, not trying to pretend we’re men!  I couldn’t be happier to see my inner beliefs start to emerge as a point of view in my designs.  I don’t consciously design to tell a story, but I find as an artist, the simple act of creation somehow eventually communicates the thoughts of the artist anyway.  Here are a few of the mannequins with some new patterns and new samples in the shop:

The centerpiece of the designs was of course the newly released “Sorella Robina“, and appropriately in the center of the photo.  On the left, a new rendition of my old favorite “Scarlet Sparkler” done up in a fresh new pale green with sparkling turquoise beads.  Lastly, on the right, is version three of a new free crochet pattern aptly dubbed “3 Half Double Mobius“, which gives all the details for the variations I’ve been developing for this form over the past few months. All of the details for yarn, sizes and pattern details are on my Designer Page on Ravelry.

I also have to send out a special thank you to my testers who helped refine and polish the patterns as well as producing beautiful samples of their own.  “Amandapalmtree” tested and made this lovely long sleeve version of the Sorella Robina:

And “nutmegknitter” did a great job putting “Miss Adler’s Cowl” through its paces and created this lovely spring version:

As I move ahead, there’s actually a lot more crochet happening, and I hope to share all of that with you very soon.  I have about 8 WIP going right now, and an equal number of FO to get photos of as well… Oh my!  One step at a time, right?

Right now, I’m headed outside to enjoy the warm spring weather and work on my second favorite thing – the garden.

Around the corner…

Tags

design, hand-knitwear design, handmade, Knit New Haven, knitting, knitting patterns, necklace, spring, sweater, Trunk Show

Hey!  Guess What?  The Spring 2013 Trunk Show at Knit New Haven is just around the corner!  I’m super excited to share all the spring knits starting on Saturday.  From sweaters big and small, to jewelry and elegant accessories, I’m happy to say, I think everyone will find something to love.  My trusty mannequin has been helping me decide how to display things, and I’m tidying up patterns, tags and ravelry entries like mad.  Here’s a little peak at the “looks” I’m putting together for Saturday:

If you aren’t a local, that’s ok!  I’ll be taking pictures, blogging and sharing as much as I can here in digital land for the next two weeks too!

Pressed Leaves

Tags

hand-knitwear design, handmade, Knit New Haven, knitting, knitting patterns, ravelry, Sorella Robina, spring, Spud & Chloe, sweater, yarn

I love my steam iron.  I love yarn that loves my steam iron.  From the very start, Sorella Robina was a design that, in my heart, I knew had to be made in a cooperative yarn that could handle my obsession with blocking and primping with steam.  Don’t get me wrong, the acrylic blend I used before was lovely and shiny, but now that Spud & Chloe “Sweater” has entered my life, I could never go back.  A cotton-wool blend that I could press my leaves with.  Yeah!  Not only is it machine washable and goes in the dryer, just look at how crisp and articulated this neckline is:

This is the final short sleeve version of the soon to be published “Sorella Robina“, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how it’s all come together. This design pushed me to learn so much, and there were times when I wondered if I’d ever get it all organized.  Perfectionism combined with creativity can be a curse.  Now that I see all that work as a final sample sweater, and all those neat little brackets of numbers in my pattern, I am just so happy that I kept at it.

So, the details:  The final pattern, for sizes 32-46 inch bust, will include a short and long sleeve version, and also modification information for both petite and tall sizing.  The sample shown took five skeins of the Spud & Chloe Sweater for a size 38 Tall.  As a tall individual, I feel that there is no “average” size, so I wanted to provide knitters with as much  information as possible to achieve a truly couture fit.  That is, after all, one of the reasons I got into this whole garment making thing in the first place – nothing store-bought ever fit right!

The pattern will be released on March 9th, and the samples debut at Knit New Haven for the Spring Trunk Show the same day!