Fashion: Yarn Style

Days 39 & 40 of the 100-Day Challenge

 

Yesterday I wore The Jules Tank by Sarah Hatton. It is knitted in Rowan Handknit Cotton and I found it perfect for the 90 degree weather.

 

Today I am wearing Cherry by Anna Bell. It is knitted in Rowan Calmer Yarn, and I still find that fabric more comfortable than hand knit cotton or any other dk/aran weight cotton yarn. 

 

 

I am still debating what to do with my new batch of Calmer. It is a big decision, as the yarn is scarce and I don’t want to waste it on anything unworthy. I would like to make a fabulous V neck pullover but have not found the right pattern yet. Can anyone recommend a favorite design at an aran gauge?

San Francisco: Days 37 & 38 of the 100-Day Challenge

 

 

Today I am wearing Semillion by Martin Storey. It is knitted in Rowan Kidsilk Haze Night with Rowan Swarovski crystal beads. I have joined my husband on a business trip to San Francisco the past two days and was enormously grateful for the dip in temperature—we went from 100 to 65 degrees in just a few hours!

 

Yesterday I wore Victoria by Sarah Hatton. It is knitted in Rowan Softknit Cotton. The water of the bay really sparkled over at the San Francisco Ferry and we enjoyed the view of the Bay Bridge

 

 

This morning I browsed fabric remnants at Britex in San Francisco and was introduced to an amazing seamstress who created the outfit she is wearing. Stunning, no?

 

 

Hand Knits Hit the Streets: Days 35 & 36 of the 100-Day Challenge

 

 

I snapped some fun photos of hand knitters wearing their creations about town yesterday.  Stephanie is wearing the Bethel Tank made out of Rowan Summer Tweed Yarn.  Isn’t the swoop-back of the tank gorgeous?

 

 

Clementine is wearing Linho by Joji Locatelli knitted in Shibui Knits Twig. Clementine says the yarn has fabulous drape and softens up a lot with washing:

 

 

And Darciae is wearing the Weekend Vest by Cocoknits. The yarn used is apparently A-111 ½.5 Tsumugi silk by Habu. 

 

 

Yesterday, I wore Shaded Flower by Kaffee Fassett, knitted in Rowan Felted Tweed.

 

 

 

Today I am wearing Tatsu again by Marie Wallin, as you can tell

from this rather lame selfie. 

 

Day 34 of the 100-Day Summer Challenge

 

Today I am wearing Aislinn by Amy Herzog.  It is knitted in Rowan Calmer yarn. I adore this cardigan and wear it all year round. The calmer yarn is SO comfortable yet durable.

 

It is true that Calmer yarn was discontinued years ago. But if you are an obsessed fanatic like me, you can still obtain it second-hand. I just purchased this lot of navy Calmer for about $4.41 per ball. But I will not consider it mine until the package arrives and is clutched in my hot little hands. Somehow, simplest tried and true yarns have become the most valuable for me. Similarly, the most intriguing and cutting-edge designs get worn less than the comfortable, figure-flattering ones. When a flattering design come together with a much-loved yarn, it is magic!

 

Hand Knits Hit the Street: Day 33 of the 100-Day Challenge

 

Today I am officially a third of the way through my Hundred-Day Challenge to wear my hand knits in Summer. If you want to read more about the challenge, click here. For a fresh perspective, I thought it would be fun to see what other knitters are wearing, so I stopped by my local yarn shop.

 

Stephanie, the owner of Uncommon Threads is wearing the Chiton Pullover by Melissa Wehrle.  Stephanie's version is knitted in Misty Alpaca Tonos Pima Silk. Isn’t the side tie adorable? If you want to see more of Stephanie’s knitted garments, her Ravelry name is Stefinitely.

 

I am wearing my newly completed Jules Tank by Sarah Hatton. I knitted it in white Handknit Cotton, and I love it! I just sewed the tank together and haven’t even posted photos on Ravelry yet. 

 

 

Caroline, on the left, is wearing an adorable striped tank called Red Bud Isle by Courtney Cedarholme.  She knitted it in Berrocco Modern Cotton, and added an additional stripe to the pattern. If you want to see more of her knitted garments, her Ravelry name is Loudon. Clementine, on the right, is wearing the Furrowed Vest, designed by Nora Gaughn. It is knitted in Lang Yarns Lino.  If you want to see more of her knitted garments, her Ravelry name is Wintercitrus.

 

 

Day 32 of the Hundred-Day Summer Challenge

 

 

Today for Knit Night I wore Goldfish Memory by Casapinka.  This is pretty much my favorite knit for summer because the shawl goes with most of the items in my wardrobe and allows me to go from a work to evening look. I am joined in this photo by Stephanie, the owner of my local yarn shop, Uncommon Threads

 

Stephanie is wearing the Channeling Gabrielle Necklaces, which she just crocheted.  She used Habu merino yarn combined with Habu steel-wrapped silk, I believe. Stephanie is my partner in crime in plotting and knitting fashionable garments and jewelry, and I am hoping to start including more photos of her wearing her elegant knits into my 100 day challenge. I am now a third of the way through the challenge, and I need some inspiration to keep going, which I am sure Stephanie will supply. And thank you so much to all my dear readers for your comments and encouragement!

 

 

 

Day 31 of the Hundred-Day Summer Challenge

 

 

Today I am wearing Osaka by Sarah Hatton.  It is knitted in Rowan Kidsilk Haze yarn. 

 

Are you enjoying the Solar Eclipse? NASA is offering live coverage here: 

 

My father and father-in-law are out at Jackson Hole Wyoming right now, wearing special glasses to watch  the whole thing. We  have contented ourselves with a pinhole camera here in California.

 

I could tell this was a special day the moment I woke up, as a little rainbow appeared on the wall, just hovering over the toilet. What a juxtaposition of the sublime with the ridiculous. Perhaps I should write a little song, “the rainbow over my toilet….?” Hmmmm, perhaps not.

 

 

Day 30 of the Hundred-Day Summer Challenge

 

Today I am wearing Blithe by Kim Hargreaves.  This is such a versatile top—it can be worn unbuttoned with the edges folded into a V, like this, or it can be worn like a conventional button-up Henley with short sleeves:

 

 

It is knitted in Handmaiden Sea Silk. Today I met up with my French-speaking girlfriends, “Les Belles Tricoteuses” as our francophone knitting group is called. We are brainstorming the idea of a Chanel knit-a-long for fall. What could possibly be better? I will post photos of the designs we choose as soon as the final decisions are made. In the meantime, here is a closeup of a scarf I saw at Chanel yesterday:

 

 

 

Day 29 of the Hundred-Day Summer Challenge

 

Today I am wearing Touch by Kim Hargreaves.  It is knitted in Rowan Felted Tweed. This is one of my favorite knitted jackets everywhere, so I decided to wear it to San Francisco when I visited the famous fabric store Britex and the Chanel boutique to look around and find inspiration.

 

Isn’t this model fabulous? Unfortunately, photos are not allowed inside the Chanel boutique. But we stared at many amazing and beautiful things that I hoped to store in my memory! I’ll try to find photos of a few of the things that stood out to me online soon!

 

Input Needed on Stranded Colors for Fishlake + Day 28: 100 Day Challenge

 

Today I am wearing Blossom by Kim Hargreaves.  It is knitted in Rowan 4ply cotton.

 

Can you believe Rowan Magazine 62 is out already? I wonder how long it will take to reach the US? I am really pining to get it and cast on this pattern:

 

 

The pattern name is Fishlake  by Marie Wallin and it has a beautiful elegant, modern vibe combined with classic fairisle. The original pattern uses the brown tones of Rowan felted tweed in Camel, Cinnamon and Phantom. But I am thinking of using Frozen as the light, background color:

 

 

Paired with a darker shade such as Bilberry

 

Treacle

or Carbon.

Readers, which combination do you like the best?