New design: Kvetka.

Today I would like to share my new design "Kvetka".
Kvetka means flower in Belorussian.

I love how this sweater turned out. It was fun to design it and to knit. The stitch pattern looks like little cables, but it is not cables at all, but a lace stitich that looks like little flowers. Very addictive lace stitch that keeps the project interesting throughout.
The sweater knitted seamless topdown and has raglan sleeves. Sleeves and body knitted seamless in the raglan area, but after separation for body and sleeves, body is knitted seamless and sleeves are knitted flat and later sewn. The sweater also has fake side and raglan seams.

 For this project I combined two different yarns. I have used 1 strand of SIŪLAS Lithuanian Linen and 2 strands of ColourMart 100% Extra Fine Merino 2/30NM Laceweight. 
I love the resulting ink color which resulted from combining two different shades of purple/blue yarns.

My project can be found on Ravelry here.
Pattern will be available after test knitting is completed early September.

Happy knitting,

Diana

New Design: Etude in Stripes.

~Etude~ is a musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.

I love the color combination of grey and yellow and wanted a simple cardigan with yellow and gray stripes for a while.  I also wanted to practice knitting seamless top-down raglan construction. I have originally started to work on this project 5 month ago by  using single strand of each yarn. I was not completely happy with the way it was coming out…a little too thin and flimsy. However, I loved this color combo a lot and decided to give this cardi another go by knitting with 2 strands of each yarn and designing my own cardigan instead of "Amiga" pattern I originally started.

 
Project called " Etude in Stripes" and can be found on Ravelry.
Yarn:
Grey:  2/14 Alpaca Silk by Valley Yarns ( Lace / 2 ply 80% Alpaca, 20% Silk)
Yellow: Supersock Lace by Cherry Tree Hill ( Lace / 2 ply 100% Merino )

I love how this cardigan turned out and the whole process of knitting it. It took a little longer then anticipated, since I took some time to work on my “Layered” shawl design, but it was an easy and unproblematic knit. Basic top-down raglan construction. Sleeves knitted seamless to the armholes and then knitted flat and seamed. I do love seamless everything, but came to realization that it is much easier for me to knit sleeves flat after separation for the sleeves and the body.

 I loved both yarns used in this project. Knitted both of them in 2 strands. Variegate yellow yarn (Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Lace) knitted up makes some lovely stripes. I think this type of yarn is perfect for stripes and make them come alive due to all the shades of the yarn. Alpaca silk from Valley yarns is a wonderful yarn too. The finished cardigan feels very silky and soft to the skin. I really enjoyed knitting this cardigan with the lace yarn held double. I will knit this way in the future for sure, because there were very few loose end to hide (lace yarn just comes in one big skein) and also the whole project cost was just $30.00 :-))

Happy Knitting,

Diana

Shopping for knitwear.

Yesterday I did some shopping at Ann Taylor Loft and was amused to come across a cardigan with the stitch pattern similar to the one I have just used in couple of my designs. One being "Fly me to the Moon" shawl and the other one "Accidental vest".

Вчера я была в магазине Ann Taylor Loft и с интересом там разглядывала  кардиган с похожим узором на тот что я использовала недавно в двух моих дизайнах: шаль "Fly me to the Moon"  и жилет "Accidental vest".

This got me thinking, that ever since I have started to knit actively in 2007, I cannot shop for knitwear items the same way I did before. Now, I only buy lace-weight knits, that impossible to knit by hand. When it comes to heavier gauge items such as sweaters and cardigans and especially scarves and other accessory items, I find myself passing them by in the stores. I will look at those items in terms of construction and stitch patterns used and think to myself  "I can make it myself, why buy?"  Especially in the case when the yarn used by the store brands is mostly synthetic fibers, which I personally dislike and do not wear. Of course, if a particular piece of clothing of a good quality and is sold at the right price I will buy it if I need that item and love it, since I do not have time to knit everything I want :-)))
What about you? Has being an avid knitter changed the way you shop for knitwear?

Это меня навело на мысли, что с тех пoр как я стала активно вязать в 2007 году, я стала по другому относиться к покупке трикотажных изделий. Конечно, я как и прежде покупаю тонкий трикотаж, который невозможно связать своими руками. А вот свитера и кардиганы из более толстой пряжи, я частенько прохожу стороной. Вернее, я обращаю внимание на конструкцию изделия и использованные узоры, но обычно говорю себе " Я могу такое и сама связать, зачем покупать?" :-)) Особенно это актуально, когда та или иная модель связанна из  синтетической пряжи которую я не люблю и не ношу. Конечно, всё что мне бы хотелось связать, мне просто не под силу :-)) Нет достаточно времени на воплощение всех моих идей и хотелок. И когда я вижу трикотажное изделие что мне нравиться из хорошей пряжи за хорошую цену и оно мне нужно в моём гардеробе, то я его покупаю.
А как умение вязать изменило ваш подход к покупке трикотажа?

Have a wonderful week and Happy knitting,

Diana