Wandering Thread

Combination of two strands of Cima and Silk Cloud from Shibui Knits gives a simply stunning result! These gloves as soft as a kitten, mildly fuzzy and very warm. I imagine they would be ideal for people when they are typing, reading, driving car or just walking. Prototype of this pattern -

When I'm knitting I have to listen an audiobook. And since all audiobooks of my favourite writer Terry Pratchett are finished I had to search for another option. And here is what I have found from my Vogue Knitting subscription today - a website tryaudiobooks.com is offering a few collections of audiobooks for Runners, Family/Road Trippers, Business Traveler, Sci-Fi/Adventure /Tech lovers and Crafters. Let's see what can I find there.

Ooh! This is soo pretty! The pattern is a slightly modified version of two cross pollinated shawls: 1. Laminaria 2. Echo Flower . I used yarn from Henry's Attic - Rapunzel 1Ply - 100% Tussah Silk with a lovely golden color, it's natural crispy texture and mild shine. This yarn is surprisingly fuzzy almost like mohair. I didn't know how this wild silk will behave after blocking. It is my first tussah silk shawl. So actually the shawl became like starched after blocking but this effect didn't last long, after first photo session the fabric has become soft again. This shawl is available for sale in my LaceKnit etsy shop.

To make this shrug I used about 2 skeins of Staccato from Shibui Knits, 5 double pointed sock needles US6/4.00mm, circular needles of the same size (can use straight needles). The Staccato yarn has superwash merino wool and silk fibers, which gives to your garments an interesting shine and I like it. The yarn is perfect for knitting a jacket or sweater. But I think that Staccato can be used for socks and it will be a luxurious long lasting warm and elegant socks. I'm tempted to try. The process of knitting this shrug I would describe in these few steps: 1. Starting with double pointed sock needles I knitted in circles the first sleeve from down to top. 2. I switched sock needles to the circular ones and start knitting straight the back part. 3. Once I finished with the back I switched to sock needles again and start knitting in circles making the second sleeve from top down. 4. Then I blocked it. It's extremely important, because the fabric from Staccato yarn is st...

The pattern is published! This lace scarf Florence designed within estonian lace tradition. The scarf consists only one rectangle section. The pattern has a chart and written general instructions. Requirements Option 1. Yarn: Cima from Shibui Knits, Lace / 2 ply, 70% Alpaca, 30% Merino . Yardage: 490-510 yards. Needles: US 4 - 3.5 mm. Approximate measurements: 65" x 9.6" (165 x 24.3 cm). Option 2. Yarn: Silk Cloud from Shibui Knits, Lace / 2 ply, 60% Mohair, 40% Silk. Yardage: 400 -420 yards. Needles: US 6 - 4.0 mm Approximate measurements: 67" x 11.6" (170 x 29.5 cm). The pattern includes nupps and stitch “k5sts tog into 5sts”. Here is the explanation how to do it: Nupp - knit into one stitch, leaving it on the left-hand needle, * yarn over, knit into original stitch again*, repeat from * to * two more times - five stitches from one. Purl all 5 stitches together on the following row. k5sts tog into 5sts - knit into 5 stitches together knitwise, l...

This is another version of my newly designed scarf "Florence". Here I used 30 grams, 396.0 yards (362.1m) of lace weight yarn Silk Cloud from Shibui, color Ash. The yarn has mohair and silk fibers and it's the best mohair I have ever worked with so far, it's extremely soft and mildly fuzzy, It just can not be better.

This is my newest design. I used lace weight yarn Cima from Shibui, color Suit. The yarn has alpaca and merino fibers and it's one of my favourite yarns, it's soft and silky. The trim is actually knitted straight, but stretched this way in blocking process. I will write the pattern when I will have more time.

I made these socks using 100% wool yarn - Palette by Knit Picks. I like this yarn, it is quite rough and itchy but it's good ( see why ). I used 56 gramms of this fingering yarn for both socks. I was using square wooden needles for the first time and I liked this experience. These needles are little easier to hold and control because they are square, and they are light and will not slip out because they are made from wood. I like it. This color is gorgeous and I'm quite satisfied with how these socks look. And also I'm excited about a nice way to show this beauty by wearing a transparent rain shoes which I'm planning to do. 

The thing is - I have got an amazing yarn from Henry's Attic. It called Avalanche, 100 silk, an extremely soft and smooth yarn. And of course I wanted to start to work with it right away. The project must be something as spectacular as this yarn. And that was a problem. I started by searching Ravelry. The closest garment for this yarn I could find was Date Night by Nikol Lohr . But I just can't follow any pattern without changing it completely. So all is left from the Date Night was seamless top-down technique. Then I draw a few sketches of what I would like to knit in the future. As result of all I finished recently this quite successful top I called Flower Dance. The work was exciting and pretty satisfying at the end. Find it on Ravelry.

It has become colder in Seattle. I like this rainy season, air is getting thinner, rain is making people calm. It's also a perfect time for meditation, because rain is helping you to look inside. My hands are often getting cold very easily. I have an old cotton gloves I knitted two years ago, but they are not warm enough. So I decided to find a window between my projects and knit some gloves for myself with fluffy mohair. It's incredibly warm! See My Patterns tab to download the pattern for these gloves for FREE. Find the pattern on Ravelry

Forest Glade  is a nature-inspired square shawl. It is worked in all-over floral lace. The style of the lace motifs is based on traditional Estonian techniques. The main square part of the shawl has a simple, yet charming floral design which creates a “glade.” The edge worked around the main square represents a “forest.” Hence, Forest Glade. A special FREE offer for my customers only!  Wider border is available on your request.  However, it is presented in a chart only, and it is not tested, nor photographed. It consists of a square main section and the lace edging is knitted onto the center part using circular needles. The pattern has charted and written instructions and tutorials. The pattern has a decent amount of nupps around the edge. The shawl can be knitted with different yarn weights - lace, light fingering and fingering.  Yarn used: 2 strands of Henry's Attic Moriah Fibers: 100% Merino wool. Yarn weight: light fingering. ...

I have to share this recently finished shawl. I used merino wool yarn (light fingering weight) and 3.25 mm needles. The pattern is coming soon.

Evenstar Shawl by Susan Pandorf. Published in "Fellowship of the Ring Series" , "Elven Delicacies" , "Sunflower Designs" . Yarns suggested: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silk Thread II The Unique Sheep Eos. Yarn weight: Lace / 2 ply. Needle size: US 3 - 3.25 mm. Yardage: 1450 - 1500 yards (1326 - 1372 m). Sizes available: 60 inch diameter. Galadriel Hooded Dress by Nikol Lohr. Published in "Literary Knits" . Yarns suggested: Araucania Ranco Solid Frog Tree Brushed Suri. Yarn weight: Fingering / 4 ply (14 wpi). Needle size: US 8 - 5.0 mm: US 7 - 4.5 mm. Yardage: 2000 - 3500 yards (1829 - 3200 m). Sizes available: S, M, L, XL. Aniron tunic by Luise O'Neill. Published in Impeccable Knits Ravelry Store and In Tune . Yarns suggested: Knit Picks Swish DK. Yarn weight: DK / 8 ply (11 wpi). Needle size: US 7 - 4.5 mm; US 6 - 4.0 mm. Yardage: 984 - 1353 yards (900 - 1237 m). Sizes available:36.75 (38.5, 40.75, 42.5, 44.7...