Yarn Room Twist* in Artesano

Here's sumthin' else to look at.

Boy, I'm feeling the Garter Stitch Love here. Gorgeous, innit?





This is a design by Stephanie at The Yarn Room. Pattern coming soon I believe. It's knit from just over 1 skein of Artesano Aran stranded with 1 skein of Artesano 100% Alpaca 4ply. The paired colour options with these yarns are endless. Be all cool and understated with these colours or mix it up and knock yourself out.



It's luscious and soft and wrapped around twice it makes for style and warmth like you wouldn't believe. I had to replace the 1st one I made for my SIL because it was hijacked by someone living in her house. Replace it? Of COURSE!

It’s soooo soft that people run out of adjectives for ‘soft’ and go kinda weak and make ‘ooooohhhh’ and ‘mmmmmmm’ noises when they touch it.




Here's mine, almost at full length, around 130 cms long, (slightly shorter than the 153 cms specified in the original). There’s usually one of this project on the needles somewhere in the Wicklow Knitters Group. I’m on my 2nd with 2 more planned.

Next time I’ll change the colour of the lighter strand. I thought black would be nice, but the Artesano Alpaca 4 ply comes in a wonderful soft orange colour.....that's the one for sure.

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* named by the multi-talented Ms Lundgaard. Thanks!

Artesano Nicole

As promised, some info on the pattern featured in the previous post.



It's Artesano Nicole, by Azize Stirling in Manos Del Uruguay Silk Blend. It doesn't appear to be on Ravelry, but you'll find the pattern reference on this page.

I think it's also available at The Yarn Room, or they could get hold of it I guess, so if anyone wants it, (ahem, paging FibrePirateKniter!) just let me know and I'll gladly get you a copy.

No offence to Artesano, but I think L's Nicole is far superiour to the pattern photo. Maybe she should get a modelling contract!

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On another note, things will be a bit quiet around the blog for the next few weeks. Recently, I was shushing Little Monkey (for the 100th time) so I could do something on the computer and she sighed deeply and flounced* out of the room saying...

'Sometimes I think that computer is more important than ME!'

Yikes! So...until school is back, for the next few weeks the computer will be put away for daylight hours at least. Sigh! I'm sure I'll manage to sneak a peek!




* and boy is she the Mistress of the Flounce

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Crown Jewels

Introducing the Crown Jewels, a chunky hat of my own design*, in Artesano Aran. So named because it does kinda look like a crown, especially with the addition of rubies.

Modelled above by my good yarnie friend S. Look at that lustrous hair. Impressive, eh? Now, there's a fiber worth having.

Side view, sans rubies...

Pole dancing position (no, don't ask) with rubies added...

Blocking - on a dinner plate a la Ms Zimmmerman's instructions...



Yes, I know it looks like the Starship Enterprise coming in to land.




It's yarn Jim, but not as we know it.

I'm so pleased that this pattern has such a good response from my people of kindred spirit knitting pals.

On the other hand, it has also been compared with this....



...and this...







* I use the term pretty loosely as I'm such a newbie

You might have guessed...

Well, I struggled with this, I really did....but I eventually picked the same fabulous berry red colour for my own Little Bird felted bag as the one I gave away.

The other colours were lovely of course, but just didn't grab me like this one. There's a wonderful orange colour, if you go for orange stuff. A really nice pale green too.

I also have my eye on the lovely cream, grey, brown options for a birthday gift due in early Feb. Hmmmm - looks like I'm destined to have a busy knitting schedule ahead. Just can't Resist The Knit!

I'll probably try some embroidery embellishment on my version. Just to make it a bit different. Cast on yesterday and apart from a few stuupid mistakes with twisting the knitting in the round and miscounting the eyelet row, it's gonna be a snap.

(Famous last words....)

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A little bird...

Well, this was the most perfect project in knitting history. Seriously. It was PERFECT. (By which I mean the glory of the yarn and the style and simplicity of the pattern - not the knitting itself. Modesty forbids.)

Made for my beloved SIL as a Christmas gift. Cast on Dec 26th while waiting for the Christening Coat to finish blocking. (Ok. so the Christmas knitting schedule was under pressure), it travelled to France for the weekend, and was finished on 30th, felted, blocked and buttons added on 1st Jan.

It was gifted on Jan 2nd. and I’m, pleased to say that it was very well received. Like good cooking, it was really a case of getting good results from good ingredients - and then basking in the good responses.

That Artesano Aran is divine. Thru’ caution (or a fortuitius lack of nerve) I didn’t felt it agressively and it kept the wonderful drape of the pre-felted version. I really love the pattern too. I changed the loose flap to a double-button closure, partly inspired by the lovely buttons from This is knit.

Actually the drawstring-with-flap closure is not that practical for a working Mum who has to stuff things into her bag under her armpit with one hand while directing Smallies around traffic and carrying schoolbags, lunches, coats and assorted extras.

However, it turned out so lovely that I’m casting on for mine as soon as I meet StephaniesYarn this week.

Only problem is, what colour? I love this red, but can't really bring myself to knit the same thing twice. Green? Purple? We'll see.

Gusset detail.

Pre-felting

Edited To Add...Modifications:

- Knitted top down in case I ran out of yarn

- Knitted the flap and the bag in one piece

- Knitted the bag in the round

- Added buttons and loops to secure the flap closed

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