Fichu

The Yarner April 10, 2015
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The Triangle Fields test is progressing nicely, but since there’s nothing I can do until my testers have finished knitting, I’ve been playing around with a new crochet pattern. I still have to work out some of the math, where I fudged it on the protoype while I changed my mind about how things should look and what stitch to use next. And then, of course, I’ll have to write out the pattern and *sigh* chart the whole thing. But just to give you a little sneak preview – tada:

Fichu on blocking pins

The prototype on blocking pins. The yarn is Art by Ana, one of her House Sock party cakes. Lovely gradients, definitely worth checking out.

 

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Testers needed

The Yarner March 13, 2015
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So far fibre Friday are a success. I managed to write up the pattern for my latest brain child, Triangle Field, which comes in two versions (see below). I didn’t blog last week, but did finish the second prototype. \o/

So, now I need testers for both versions.

The slightly longer version takes 1 skein of Shirley Brian Yarns:
Triangle Field (long)

The slightly shorter version takes 1 skein (about 400 yds) of fingering weight:
Triangle Field (short)

Deadline: April 15th
(I knit each of these in 4 or 5 evenings, so they don’t take long.)

If you’d like to test knit either of these, please mail your email address to buntart(at)babyl(dot)ca
so I can send you the pattern and a short (1 page) survey.

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Making time

The Yarner February 27, 2015
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The second half of 2014 has been extremely busy, jobwise, which is good, but didn’t leave me a lot of time for yarny goodness, and I’ve sadly neglected the blog as well.

2015 promises to continue in the same vein, and since, according to an old adage, the only way to have more time for what one wants to do is to make time, I’m resolved to carve out a day for my fibre obsession here and there. I’ll try to keep Fibre Fridays. This might not always happen, or, when it does, I might not have time to blog about it, but something is better than nothing, right?

Today I managed a Fibre Friday. I’ve bought a couple of skeins of Shirley Brian’s lovely gradient yarn a while ago and have been working on a new knitting design for these slightly larger skeins. Today I finished the protottype. It’s a one-skein, asymmetric triangle shawlette with pattern stripes running the width of it, just like the plow or plant rows in a field, thus the pattern name ‘Triangle Field‘.

I’m really happy with it. The Shirley Brian yarn is juuust a tad finicky to knit, because the plies are not twisted, but it has a beautiful drape, and I can’t wait to see it blocked.

Now I have to write down the pattern, and then I want to work up a second prototype for the more standard 400 yd fingering skeins. After that, I’ll be looking for testers.

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The Gradient patterns are up!

The Yarner September 1, 2014
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I know, it’s been a super long time coming, but I finally got my butt in gear, went through all my tester feedback, and finished writing up the pattern. They are available as a pattern download on ravelry, either separately, or, with a bit of savings, all three together as a booklet. Click the image to go to the page:

Gradient booklet

I also finally finished my world cup Folded Lace Tank, second edition:

top

It was so worth re-knitting. It fits perfectly now, and I just adore the drape of this yarn (Estelle Cadenza, for those who are dying to know).

Didn’t feel much like heavy yarn knitting in the heat, so August’s charity knit had to be a small one:

hat

The pattern is the Top-Down Timothy Cap by Splindarella. The beginning is a tad fiddly, but once at the straight down part, it’s an easy 3-4 rib, I love the top down construction, because with the donated skeins (usually without ball bands), I never know how much yardage I’m getting. Already thinking about making another one.

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January’s off to a good start

The Yarner February 11, 2014
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I didn’t realize how busy I was until I checked my finished projects.

We started the year off in style with a knit-along of Jared Flood’s wonderful Juneberry pattern. I knit mine in the no less wonderful Madelinetosh Pashmina:

Charity knit of the month was a Tunisian crochet scarf:

Test knit another fantastic Dagmar Mora pattern – Deco Mitts:

And finally finished the prototype for a crochet design that had been confounding me for a long time. I give you ‘Zephyr’:

I still have to write up the pattern, but I’m super pleased with how it turned out.

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Busy October

The Yarner November 6, 2013
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I finished the medium and large Gradient prototypes, and the tests for all are in full swing.

Medium Gradient:

Large Gradient:

I also started a test for the text version of my Telegraph pattern,

and I’m hunting around for someone to make professional charts for me.

Things are looking really good this month.

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What happened in August?

The Yarner September 2, 2013
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I don’t have any pictures for you, because *gasp* I didn’t finish anything.

First I managed to catch the summer flu bad enough that I didn’t have the brains to knit for nearly a week! I know, right?

Then, I’ve been working on two more sizes for the Gradient pattern, and ran out of yarn on the large one. Good thing my LYS still had that dye lot; I just have to go pick it up. In the meantime, I started the medium Gradient to tide me over.

I’ve also been playing with the idea of a lacy side-to-side jacket in crochet for a while now, but for the longest time couldn’t find the right stitch for it. I think I found one. I’ve been swatching with a lovely flower pattern that I really like. I’ve picked Fleece Artist Saldanha II in a deep midnight blue/black for the jacket and recently started a sleeve. It’s not very far along though, because I’ve been working on the Gradient shawls almost every night. Hoping to start testing very soon.

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July

The Yarner August 2, 2013
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I finally finished my felted bag, liner and all, and love it to pieces. It has all those nifty little pockets inside from an old pair of jeans turned inside-out. And the colours just make me happy:

I’ve also been working on a new pattern, and finished a first prototype. Meet Gradient:

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Looks like I needed the second skein after all

The Yarner August 5, 2012
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… so I bought that, too. I’m about half way thru the border and have a pretty good idea what the finished shawl will look like now.

Meanwhile, I got sidetracked by my Olympic WIP-wrestling project:

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I’m working on a new design

The Yarner July 22, 2012
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A while ago I came into possession (there was a sale, I swear) of a skein of sock yarn in amazing hues of blue that immediately reminded me of the Mediterranean, especially as condensed in the town of Sidi Bou Said. Which reminded me that I’d always wanted to play with the beautiful patterns in Tunisian doors and window covers in a design.

On Thursday the unthinkable happened, and I ran out of yarn on my current project during knitnite (lousy planning, I know). But I have a stunning LYS and was allowed to take another of the blue sock yarn balls to have something to play with (remind me to return the one I have at home). After four or five false starts I decided on a hook size and a very simple Tunisian (come on, it had to be) stitch for the body that will focus all attention on the edge (just like the simple lines of the buildings focus attention on the trims).

It’s a super shallow side-to-side triangle that will have a wide added-on lace edge. I’m still playing with the specifics of the edge – in my mind it has the background mesh, scroll work and arches of those stunning Tunisian trims. Stay tuned.

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