Fashion: Yarn Style

Top 5 Modern Lace Knit Patterns +Knitwear Challenge Continues

 

 

 

Day 61: Cameo by Kim Hargreaves

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/cameo

 

Variety is the spice of life. And warm weather has arrived just in time to allow me to pull my spring knits out of storage. The lighter colors and fabrics have lightened my outlook already! Of course, I will miss the sophistication of my winter knits:

 

Day 62: Alder Wrap by Kaffee Fassett

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/alder

 

Perhaps the best are the versatile pieces one can wear all year round, such as a classic white tweed

 

Day 63: Coco inspired by Jean Frost

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/coco

 

But the greatest fun of changing seasons is the change in style. When the rosebuds in my garden are unfurling their first petals, I want to wear clothes that make me feel the same I am shedding the darkness of winter as well. And nothing mirrors the delicate awakening of spring like a translucent lace knit top.

 

Day 64: Lydia by Sarah Hatton

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/lydia

 

Unfortunately, not all lace knits are finished as beautifully as they might be, with an eye to long-term wear and modern tastes, so many of my lace pieces end up becoming camisoles underneath a work jacket:

 

Day 65: Delphine by Kathleen Griffin-Grimes

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/delphine-lacy-cap-sleeve-top

 

And the fabulous, vintage-inspired lace patterns that we historians love are not always easy to pull off in a modern work setting, so they are confined to weekend wear--in this case, idly fantacizing in front of a car dealership with a display that matched my outfit. :-)

 

Day 66: Blossom by Martin Storey

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/blossom

 

Here is one of the only lace tops that I feel really confident wearing in any setting because of its modern style:

 

Day 67: Eerie by Sarah Hatton

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/eerie

 

The truth is that it is very difficult to find lace knitting designs that are modern enough to become an effortless part of our wardrobes. So many lace pieces come off looking too young (toddler) or too old (grandma). Using a sophisticated color scheme helps—white & cream lace can often look antique just because of associations, so bold colors are often best, such as cobalt blue or red or neutrals such as grey or khakhi. And as a general rule, I stay away from ribbons, bows and any other retro finishings that threaten to give a lace top a “saloon girl” style.

 

Here are my five top favorite modern lace designs that are perfect to wear in warm weather without sacrificing your style

 

Design 16 from Fatto a Mano Magazine 205

http://www.langyarns.com/Mode_und_Modelle/Modelle/?s=styles&publi=FAM%20205%20Collection

 

 

There is something very sexy about this simple lace cardigan-- the raglan construction perhaps? I think this would look amazing in navy or cobalt blue.

 

Design 17 from Fatto a Mano Magazine 205

http://www.langyarns.com/Mode_und_Modelle/Modelle/?s=styles&publi=FAM%20205%20Collection

 

This has a fun safari vibe that I love. The buttoned pockets are what make this cardigan fabulous!

 

Smoulder by Kim Hargreaves

http://www.kimhargreaves.co.uk/acatalog/SMOULDER.html

 

This pullover is the essence of chic. And yet it is so simple! I think the dark grey really makes this understated and elegant but I could imagine it in other neutrals like cream.

 

Design 8 from Lana Grossa’s Classici 5 Magazine

http://www.lanagrossa.com/magazine/magazin.php?name=Classici

 

This lace pullover on the right is one of the more practical patterns I’ve seen. How many lace camisoles have we seen with tiny, spindly straps that destroy the look of the whole piece? Lace camisole knits with thin straps are problematic for many reasons, not the least of which is that we need enough shoulder coverage to be able to wear a bra and camisole underneath without having to constantly fiddle with the straps. Also, anyone who has broad shoulders or upper arms will appear to their worst possible advantage wearing a camisole with thin straps—the thin straps make the upper body look even wider than it really is and creates an extremely unflattering shape. However, a lace camisole with a broad shoulder strap like this minimizes any upper width completely, and all you see is the beauty and delicacy of the lace design. The button up closure provides for a lot of customization—depending on whether you choose big modern buttons or smaller vintage-style ones, you could completely change the look of the top.

 

Prudence from Rowan Magazine 55

http://www.knitrowan.com/designs-and-patterns/magazines/rowan-knitting-crochet-magazine-55

 

This little, versatile top made from kidsilk haze is one of my favorites. The lace pattern is simple enough to prevent this from being mistaken for “old lace” even in white, but there is a fabulous version of this top in deep blue on Ravelry already, which I have been eyeing. I think the V neck is so flattering, and if this were knitted in a deep jewel tone you could wear it at any season. I would just lengthen this to make it more figure flattering and define the waist, but this is definitely in my queue for 2014!

 

Well, there it is, my top five picks for lace knits this spring. I am looking forward to freshening up my wardrobe with some new, warm-weather knits. In the meantime, I am continuing the 100 day challenge wearing the knits I already own, so here are the rest:

 

Day 68: Covet by Kim Hargreaves

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/covet

 

Day 69: Checked Cowl inspired by Dhurrie

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/snuggle-up-either-way-snood

 

 Day 70: Chevron Lace Top by Kim Hargreaves

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/chevron-lace-top

 

To read the next installment of the 100 Day Challenge, click on the link below--you will see photos of my hand knits in Paris as well as a review of Sherry, by Kim Hargreaves:

http://yarnstylist.com/2014/05/sherry-by-kim-hargreaves.html

 

 

Belarus: A Symphony of Color

 

 

Belarus by Kaffee Fassett

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/belarus

 

 

Belarus is finished at last! My second heirloom knitting project of the year. I am taking my time with these knitting projects and I do feel I am enjoying them more. I chose Belarus because its unusual and stunning combination of colors evokes a high-end designer piece. The colors shade all the way from black at the hip (KSH wicked 599) to an ethereal silver tinged with lavender at the shoulders (KSH majestic 589). 

 

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/opal

 

The construction has a modern style, with the diagonal fronts allowed to curl under considerably, creating soft draped edges on either side. This ingenious design by Kaffee Fasset uses 9 colors of kidsilk haze, which may explain why the pattern is free. After spending so much on 9 skeins of KSH, the mind boggles at purchasing a pattern as well! The free pattern can be found here:

http://www.knitrowan.com/designs-and-patterns/patterns/belarus

Luckily for me, The Alder Wrap, designed by Kaffee Fassett previously in Rowan Magazine 50, uses six of the same colors of kidsilk haze (579, 629, 639, 595, 627, 596) and I had some black KSH in my stash as well, so I only needed to buy two balls of yarn.

 

When you put them next to each other, you do see the color similarity in the two designs, but they are each stunning in a unique way

 

I had always loved the Alder Wrap—that is why I purchased Rowan Magazine 50, and even when I lost my half-finished wrap, which fell under my seat on a flight home from Paris, along with all the yarn, I did not give up, and knitted it all over again. Kind relatives and friends contributed towards my yarn purchase so that I could afford to buy the kidsilk haze twice, and now all the leftover half skeins from the Alder Wrap have proved sufficient to complete Belarus. Only the color Majestic, 589 requires an entire ball. In fact, I only had a few scraps of it left at the end of the project, which I knitted in a size medium. So anyone who wishes to knit Belarus might consider finding a partner in crime because you could split the yarn cost between two people and yield two cardigans, only requiring a full ball of the Majestic for each project.

 

 

The design of Belarus features dropped sleeves. I had never knitted a drop-sleeved cardigan before but decided to follow the pattern as written to achieve the same color effect that the designer intended. I think it works fine except that I would recommend making the top of the sleeve wider by an inch or at least a half inch before you cast off. That width determines the fit of the sleeve on the upper arm, and I found it a bit tight, even after I deliberately cast off the top of the sleeve very loosely using a larger needle. Otherwise, I have no complaints to make about this project!

 

One technical note: The instructions for the front are a bit confusing regarding the decreases. You are decreasing for both the front edge and the side seams at the same time, and the instructions tell you to end up with 64 stitches apparently by row 61, as that is where the instructions seem to end. Although the instructions are not specific about what happens after row 61, you continue decreasing every other row for the fronts and you will reach a stitch count of 64 on row 75.

 

Apart from that little confusion, I thought the instructions were quite straight forward, and I enjoyed each moment of knitting this cardigan. It was a bit like color therapy, honestly, as the range of colors was so intriguing and beautiful and they changed so often that my focus was principally on the symphony of hues.

 

 

 

Spring Design and Yarn Inspirations from Stitches West

 

 

Now that spring has officially arrived, it’s time to dive into spring knitting! There were some amazing inspirations at Stitches West. My favorite was the Fatto a Mano 199 Collection by Lang yarns.

 

 

You can find the details on that knitting magazine here:

http://www.woll-bachmann.com/Lang-Yarns-Fatto-a-Mano-199.php

 

For anyone who is enamored of European knitwear designs, this magazine is a must buy. And for those of us who are obsessed with kidsilk haze yarn, there is an impressive array of lightweight silk/mohair designs. One of the most ingeniosu patterns is a color-blocked pullover ranging from raspberry to sherbet:

 

Design 2 from Fatto a Mano 199

 

This captivated my imagination immediately, and fits perfectly with some of the radiant new shades of kidsilk haze that Rowan has released for Spring/Summer 2014:

 

KSH 608, 614, 606

 

Kidsilk haze #606, Candygirl, is an old favorite, but the other two shades are new. The peach color is #608 Sweet and the red is #614, Strawberry. These colors scream summer, don't they? This sweater reminds me of the sorbets and ice creams I make annually with the blood oranges and raspberries that grow in my garden. Perhaps this year I’ll hold the ice cream and knit this fabulous sweater instead!

 

There is an array of flirty little dresses in Fatto a Mano’s #199 as well, which could be easily made with Rowan kidsilk haze, or the Lang Yarns Mohair Luxe the patterns are designed for.

 

Designs 3 & 4 from Fatto a Mano 199

 

Don’t you think these could make fun beach coverups? I have beach wear on my mind because in May, my husband and I will be sharing a beach house in South Carolina with friends. Beaching is a serious endeavor there—the tent goes up on the sand first thing in the morning. If I’m going to spend most of the day in a bathing suit, I’m definitely going to want the option of a light semi-sheer dress to wear over it. Here is one possibility for the yarn:

 

Miss Babs’ Alpacacita: Naughty Fairy

 

Don't you think the tropical look of this 2ply lace yarn is just right for a beach party? Then again, this yarn is so pretty that I have an endless variety of projects for it. The Miss Babs hand-dyed yarn stand was one of my favorites at Stitches West this year. She had some really gorgeous things, and I’m afraid I succumbed to temptation! For another as yet unknown project, I purchased a few skeins of “Yummy” Hand-Painted Fingering-2ply Superwash

 

Miss Babs’ Yummy: Funny Papers

 

Anyway, back to Fatto a Mano, there are a bunch more wonderful designs in that magazine, such as this intriguing mobius-style cape:

 

Design 13: Fatto a Mano #199

 

Not to mention this extremely intriguing braided cowl:

 

Design 54: Fatto a Mano #199

 

Stitches West certainly tempted us this year with some amazing yarns and patterns. The vast market creates a unique opportunity to see a huge variety of yarns in person, to touch the fibers and combine colors and textures together on the spot. I have some ideas for a Chanel-inspired cardigan as well, which I will start swatching for next week.

 

In the meantime, I am knitting a truly inspired Spring/Summer design from Rowan Magazine, authored by Kaffee Fassett:

 

Belarus by Kaffee Fassett

 

The man is a genius with color. Now this is a project that fits with my heirloom knitting philosophy. It has been very slow going, with the stripe colors changing almost every row, but it is worth it. This color combination is so unique and beautiful that it really is a one-of-a-kind piece. Knitting unique projects like this, which look expensive and chic, is the essence of heirloom knitting. This design is available free on the Rowan website here:

http://www.knitrowan.com/designs-and-patterns/patterns/belarus

 

Farewell to Winter Knits: Day 60 of the Knitwear Challenge

 

 

 

Day 51: Isle by Kim Hargreaves

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/isla-cardigan-2

 

 

Spring is here! I’ve spent the past few weeks giving all my winter knits one last moment in the sun before I put them away in anticipation of the brightening weather.

 

Day 52: Checked Cowl inspired by Lisa Richardson

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/snuggle-up-either-way-snood

 

My flowering quince bush has finished its early blooms, and the first roses are unfurling their petals in the garden. Knowing how little time I have, I’ve been cherishing my favorites.

 

Day 53: Aimee by Kim Hargreaves

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/aimee-2

 

It is a bit tragic to dwell in a temperate climate when one lives to knit with merino, angora and mohair.

 

Day 54: Striven by Jenny Atkinson

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/striven

 

This is a bit like the dilemma faced by my grandmother, who lived in Texas her whole life but owned multiple fur coats. (??????) For those of you unfamiliar with the deadly heat of Texas let me just explain that the one day a year, on Christmas, when my grandparents would light a cheerful fire, they also surreptitiously turned on the air conditioning. Clearly this obsession of enveloping oneself with warm, fuzzy things in any climate, no matter how absurd, is a family trait.

 

Day 55: Covet

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/covet

 

Of course, as Mark Twain once observed, the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. If I would just bite the bullet and move north, I could wear my knitwear all year long.

 

Day 56: Beaded Glamour inspired by Martin Storey

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/brigitte

 

I don’t think that’s going to happen. We southerners are thin-blooded by nature. Like it or not, I live in a town named SUNNYvale where wild parrots flock, living off of the exotic fruits my neighbors grow. It was once an orchard capital of California and there are still apricot and cherry orchards interspersed with retail strips and apartment complexes here. Besides, the ruthless sun that reflects off the miles of concrete and manicured lawns creates a dazzling luminosity.

 

Day 57: Shaded Flower by Kaffee Fassett

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/shaded-flower

 

Spring is here to say, and summer is coming soon. Why not? If the seasons never changed, we would miss half the excitement in the fashion world. Look at the ingenious designs Rowan produces for their Spring/Summer magazines every year! Here is one of my favorites:

 

Day 58: Maritime by Sarah Dallas

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/maritime

 

 

It is just a pity that stranding must be limited to winter sweaters in my climate. The very thought of wearing a multi-stranded wool or cotton knit in the heat of summer makes beads of perspiration stand out on my forehead!

 

Day 59: Uist by Jennie Atkinson

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/uist

 

To be honest, I feel a bit torn about seasonal knitting. Why should I put away all my gorgeous projects with wool just because spring has arrived? I can’t wear pullovers at all in summer unless they are in a 4ply silk, cotton or rayon blend, and how many summer cardigans does one person need? Then again, the hotter it gets, the more reluctant I will be to thrust my hands into a heavy woolen skein of yarn.

 

Day 60: Elizabeth by Kim Hargreaves

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnstylist/elizabeth

 

 

Stitches West certainly tempted me with some amazing yarns and patterns in vibrant colors for spring. I succumbed to temptation and bought some skeins that are practically glowing in color to celebrate my orchard surroundings this year. I’ll be sharing all my yarns and plans for warm weather knits in my next post.

 

And to read the next installment of the 100 Day Challenge, click on the link below:

 

 

http://yarnstylist.com/2014/03/top-5-modern-lace-knit-patterns-knitwear-challenge-continues.html

 

 

Vintage Buttons! A Knitter’s Inspiration

 

 

 

 

Every year I look forward to the Stiches West convention that is designed to make every knitter’s dreams come true. Knitting experts fly in from all over North America to give classes, we meet up with remote friends, and best of all, the market tempts us with hundreds of yarns, design books, and accessories. Interested in “quivut,” an ultra-soft fiber derived from the musk ox? Curious about the Japanese Habu’s steel-wrapped wool? Or lusting after Miss Babs'  hand-dyed yarn? The best day to go to the market is on Thursday, on “Preview” day, when only knitters who have enrolled in classes or events are allowed. There is usually an incredibly long line that forms in front of the locked doors of the market and when the doors first open, a giant girlie cheer goes up that reminds me of the hysteria confronting an all boy band! As the hordes of ecstatic fans stream into the market place, I direct my own hurried footsteps to the one booth that attracts me above all others—the “Buttons!” stand.

 

 

Linda Sicard, owner of “Buttons!” is an amazing person, as kind as she is discriminating about the exquisite buttons she sells. She is a jeweler as well as a button seller, and you can purchase her beautiful creations as well as an amazing array of vintage buttons spanning many eras and styles.

 

 

 

Her booth is always mobbed with people during the Stitches knitting convention, but my mother-in-law and I usually are the first to arrive. I bring my yarns and project notes with me and Linda and her son never fail in helping us find the perfect pairings for our knits. One year, I had a special button mission after I had met Jean Frost wearing her elegant version of Grey Flannel, whose questionable design photo is below:

 

 

As I explained before, Frost’s version of this jacket is gorgeous but somehow it was translated into the sad looking piece photographed above. Anyway, I was determined to knit a well-shaped version for myself like Frost’s using a delicious tweed yarn. I emailed Linda Sicard, explaining my plan, and she promised to find the perfect Chanel-style buttons for me. So determined was she to fulfill this task to the letter that she actually took the time to consult with sewing guru, Sandra Betzina, who personally picked out Chanel-style buttons for me. Can you imagine? Sandra Betzina is a bit of a legend, having pioneered the “Today’s Fit” line of Vogue sewing patterns, and she teaches sewing workshops all over the United States. For anyone who is unfamiliar with “Today’s Fit,” the idea was to poll real women across North America and use their measurements to change the fit of Vogue patterns so that it matched REAL women instead of some 1950s stereotype.

 

As a result, most Vogue patterns now have hips that are wider than the bust, as most real women’s figures do not correspond to Barbie any more, if they ever did at all. Anyway, when I found out that Sandra Betzina had personally chosen buttons for me at Linda Sicard’s request, I was absolutely flabbergasted. That is just an example of the customer service Linda excels in. Here are my buttons, perfect for a retro-inspired Chanel:

 

 

Another incredible thing about Buttons! is the price—this year I picked up several strands of gorgeous vintage buttons that averaged out to $1 a piece. These prices are so much better even than what you find at discount brands, and the buttons are so much superior that I tend to stock up every year with general types that will fit with future projects I’ll be planning over the next twelve months.

 

 

My favorite find this year was a 22-button strand with an SP logo that looks imposing enough for any top designer brand. What does the SP signify, you may ask? Southern Pacific railroad! Isn’t that a fun piece of history? I plan to make a super elegant cardigan with the SP buttons and wear them brazenly to my swankiest open houses this year, daring all passersby to question me about the designer, “SP”!

 

 

I have also stocked up on some expensive-looking buttons that I am saving for Chanel-style cardigans in future. Although this means I have currently more buttons than I need, once I do have a project in hand, I don’t want to have to go to the San Francisco stores and spend an outrageous sum. So I have spent reasonable sums instead on multiple button strands which I can now choose from any time I have a designer-inspired knit in mind.

 

 

It was particularly fun for me to shop at the Stitches market this year on my own two feet. For the past three seasons, ever since a serious foot injury four years ago, I had had to ride an electric cart in order to navigate the giant stretch of the convention center and the long lines at each booth which force one to stand in place for 30 minutes at a time. Anyone who has ever damaged foot tendons knows that standing still is even more impossible than walking if the wait is long enough. So one of the reasons that Buttons! has become such a happy refuge for me has been the unfailing kindness I experienced from Linda and her son Bryson. Every time I chugged up in my little cart, they conducted the transactions at cart level and chatted so warmly that I felt like the most valuable customer in the world. If things got to be too crowded, they would make a chair available for me to sit in while I was shopping, where my cart wouldn’t fit, or hide my purse away from other customers so I was unencumbered enough to sort through their beautiful display. Such kindness of heart is more valuable than the most precious antique buttons in the world.

 

 

Buttons! can be found at many vintage fairs as well as jewelry and yarn conventions, so keep an eye out for them. And I always have a business card of theirs close to hand in case I am seeking a special kind of button for a project:

 

Buttons!

Antique/ Unique

Linda Sicard

(415) 699-0172

[email protected]