Fashion: Yarn Style

Easy, Two-Color Chanel-Style Cardigan

 

 

One of the classic Chanel pieces that I adore is the two-color cardigan. Lagerfeld has designed infinite variations on this theme, all of them gorgeous:

 

My favorite uses a grey and black color scheme—simple, understated and elegant:

 

 

I saw one like this, except without the extra long cuffs and hem, on ebay last year, which was selling on consignment for $700. It was such a simple design, that I thought I could probably knit one like it for one-eighth of the cost. Then I discovered Sarah Hatton’s design, Victoria:

 

Ravelry link to Victoria

 

This pattern can be purchased on Ravelry as a single design, although it is part of a wonderful book, Rowan Loves Handknit Cotton and Softknit Cotton. The design can be knitted in Handknit Cotton as well, and the pattern specifications include detailed instructions for using that yarn. It also includes alternate V-neck and round-neck versions, as well as a one-color version, which is a fantastic extra bonus.

 

 

Sarah Hatton’s patterns are so modern and elegant, and I think this design really embodies those qualities. I have been really enjoying knitting the V-neck version using black with grey trim, just like that sweater I had eyed on ebay last year. Here are my front and back pieces, unblocked:

 

 

I mentioned recently that knitting Temperate by Kim Hargreaves has been quite a slog due to the painstaking efforts I have been taking not to split the yarn.

 

 

So I try to alternate every half hour between that project and Victoria to give my hands a break. I often find it really helps to reduce arm and neck strain if I alternate between a project in fine yarn and a project in worsted weight, so this has been working well. Softknit Cotton has a lovely, bouncy soft quality in the hand due to its cabled construction and I do feel it is a terrible pity Rowan has decided to discontinue that yarn.

 

 

Then again, I have been hearing rave reviews about Rowan’s Softyak dk, so perhaps I will try knitting a project with that next!

 

Knitters Project Bags and “Temperate” by Kim Hargreaves

 

 

Project bags seem to be the new hot accessory for knitters. But I never paid much attention to this trend until I started watching the Bakery Bears knitting video podcast on youtube. The charming hosts, Kay and Dan, are huge history buffs and include video tours of Abbeys and stately homes in Britain as part of their podcasts. In one episode, Kay showed a beautiful project bag she had sewn using a tea towel from Chatsworth, the mansion and film site for Downton Abbey, and I longed to have the skill to sew something similar myself.

Bakery Bears Podcast

To my delight, last month Kay released a how-to video for podcast subscribers on how to sew a project bag out of a tea towel and I was hooked! Since my mother-in-law is a clever and experienced sewer, I pulled her into this project and we sewed a bunch of bags together during her visit.

 

I now seem to be addicted to sewing these little bags, and luckily Kay’s demonstration video is so well-designed and easy to follow that the whole process only takes a few hours.

 

 

I have now branched out into sewing tote bags, such as this American Glass vintage tea towel bag:

 

 

and even stocking bags for organizing my closet:

Tea  towels are a particularly fun base fabric for project bags because they depict so many interesting subjects, from souvenirs of trips abroad to Snoopy images from the 1970’s.  Now I can’t believe I used to lug my knitting around in old plastic sacks! I am currently working on a bag that commemorates Cambridge University and has a lining made of images of books, this is soooo fun!

 

 

For those of you who are fans of learning videos like Craftsy, you might really enjoy subscribing to the Bakery Bears, as they offer many fantastic tutorials including knitting, cooking, sewing [just a few on this topic so far], and yarn-dyeing, as well as gorgeous video documentaries of British landmarks mixed in with knitting fun. I believe you can subscribe for $2 a month and you will receive the online magazine, "Knitability" as well as gaining free access to all podcasts and tutorials. I am thrilled to say that I have penned an article that will be published in the July issue of Knitability magazine! Apart from that, I am a true fan because Kay is so relatable, just like the girl next door who happens to be a knitting goddess, and Dan offers insights into knitting creativity, a zany sense of humor, and a wealth of historical revelations.

 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/temperate-2

 

Lately, I haven’t had much time to knit due to a remodeling project that I will blog about soon. However, I am determined to finish my Temperate, which is a design by Kim Hargreaves. The Mohair Haze yarn is SO soft, although I am finding it quite tricky to knit with. The yarn is a bit splitty and also it knits up rather irregularly, so that some holes in the fabric are visible when you hold it up to the light. Rowan’s Angora Haze was much superior, in my opinion, although both yarns are discontinued now.

 

 

I have completed the backs and fronts of the pullover, and have started on the sleeves. It is very slow knitting with this yarn due to the problems with the splitting, and the project is taking me months. However, when it is finished I am sure I will wear it a lot, as it is such a simple, elegant top with its feminine and frilly hem. But at the moment, I confess I am happier with the quilted project bag I sewed to carry it than with the sweater itself: