"Iva" pattern is now availble.

 Iva pattern is now available on Ravelry and my blog.
 “Iva” means willow in Russian.

The construction of the top is seamless topdown with an exception of side seams. The top features fun to knit slipped stitch lace pattern that gives a beautiful textured effect to the finished garment. The resulting lace pattern reminds one of willow branches and leaves, thus giving the pattern its name.

Finished size measurements after blocking:
Bust/chest circumference
XS(S, M, L, XL)/34(36, 38, 42) inches/86.5(91.5, 96.5, 101.5, 106.5) cm.

Yarn requirements:
XS (S, M, L, XL) requires 783(829,874, 920, 964) yards or 2(2,2,3,3) skeins of Alice Sock yarn or any 3ply or 4ply sock yarn.

Pattern includes Slipped Stitch lace photo tutorial.

More information on this design can be found in the previous post.

Happy knitting  and have a wonderful weekend everyone :-))

Diana

New Shawl design: "Afterglow".

 Afterglow is light or radiance remaining in the sky after the sun has set.

 It is a shawl again. What a surprise. ;-) What can I say, I love to knit, design and wear shawls :-) This one is bottom-up design. I am in love with the lace border :-))) It was so much fun to knit.
I have used Handmaiden Seasilk yarn for this shawl. I did not use the whole skein as I hoped. Bottom-up design starting with CO lots of sts for the border is relatively new to me and I am still learning how to figure out size/number of sts/yarn needed for that type of shawl construction. Re-knitting to a bigger size would mean starting from zero. So, even that I do not like having leftover yarn, it just will have to be as is. The shawl is a good size anyway. It is very easy to make this shawl bigger or smaller if needed. Took the shawl of the blocking pins today and I am in love ;-))) It is a nice small/medium size and drapes beautifully around the shoulders. Pictures on me will come later. I promise :-)) For now pictures on my trusty helper ;-))
My project on Ravelry can be found here.
The pattern will be available on Ravelry early April after test knitting is completed.

Happy knitting,

Diana

New design: Grandes études {Part II}

Today I would like to show you 2nd half of my third design from my planned e-book “Variations on a Theme”.
Caprice No. 24 in A minor is the final caprice of Niccolò Paganini’s 24 Caprices, and a famous work for solo violin. The caprice has provided a rich seam of material for works by many composers. One of them is Franz Liszt.
The Grandes études de Paganini are a series of six etudes for the piano by Franz Liszt. The pieces are all based on the compositions of Niccolò Paganini for violin.

For this cowl I have used ColourMart Merino/Mohair 2/16NM 4ply wt. Yarn was held double.
This project is called Grandes études {Part II} and can be found on Ravelry here.
Love how this cowl turned out :-)) I was not sure about this yarn at first. It did not feel soft while knitting with it (not scratchy, but just not very soft and somewhat rope like feeling). I got some great, nerve calming advice on the yarn from Colourmart group that I will not be disappointed and the yarn will be soft after washing :-)) After 3 rinses in very hot water and 2 washes in soapy water the yarn is now very soft indeed and drapes nicely :-)) The yarn shrank a little lengthwise, but I did block the cowl, so if just left to dry the yarn will probably shrink more.
Love this shade of gray and how the stitch pattern looks in this color and yarn.

 “Grandes études” pattern will be available with the rest of “Variations on a Theme” e-book patterns around mid March :-)

Happy knitting,

Diana

New design: Grandes études {Part I}

Today I would like to show you third design from my planned e-book “Variations on a Theme”.
Caprice No. 24 in A minor is the final caprice of Niccolò Paganini’s 24 Caprices, and a famous work for solo violin.
The caprice has provided a rich seam of material for works by many composers. One of them is Franz Liszt.
The Grandes études de Paganini are a series of six etudes for the piano by Franz Liszt. The pieces are all based on the compositions of Niccolò Paganini for violin.

 For this cowl I have used 3 skeins of Classic Elite Yarns Frescо (60% Wool, 30% Alpaca, 10% Angora, sport weight 5 ply) yarn. The yarn is so soft and pleasant to knit with. It is bouncy and shows stitches very well. The alpaca fuzz did not bother me at all. It is very slight and only visible on black.
Love how this cowl turned out :-) It folds so nicely around the neck and I love how the stitch pattern looks in a cowl. Some of you might recognize this stitch pattern from one of my previous designs "Iva". This stitch might look different from the rest of designs in “Variations on a Theme” collection, but it is not that different ;-) It is the same slipped stitich as in "Caprice No. 24" and "Rapsodiya" changed just a tiny bit. However, the resulting pattern looks dramatically different from the one used in the shawls.

My project called  Grandes études {Part I} and can be found on Ravelry here.
I am currently working on Grandes études {Part II}.
This pattern is going to be available with the rest of “Variations on a Theme” collection by mid March ;-)

Happy knitting,

Diana