Le Tissier Designs

Of Larks and Linnets and Flying Fingers

Tag: lace knitting

  • Have you ever…..

    Have you ever…..

    ….knit a moebius?

    What is a Moebius?

    Moebius Strip – from Wikipedia

    A Moebius is a mathematical concept discovered in the late 1800’s by two scientists working independently of each other.  Like the wheel, like knitting, it was it’s time to be discovered.

    Above is  Möbius strip made with a piece of paper and tape. If an ant were to crawl along the length of this strip, it would return to its starting point having traversed the entire length of the strip (on both sides of the original paper) without ever crossing an edge.  Wikipedia

    One type of Moebius – the scarf –  in knitting is often called an Infinity Scarf.  It can be created a couple of different ways.  The most common and easiest method of creation is by knitting a basic scarf and giving it a half twist before sewing the two end together.  Just like the piece of paper above.

    If you give the scarf a full twist it will no longer be a Moebius and it will just be twisted.

    And why is Cat Bordhi’s Technique so interesting?

    Cat Bordhi must have an amazing mind, to come up with such a unique cast-on and create a totally new way of looking at the way we knit!  Elizabeth Zimmermann once said that there is nothing truly new in knitting – new things to us are usually “unvented”, and just recently re-discovered!  Cat Bordhi truly “invented” something new and added to the body of work that is Knitting.

    The Moebius cast-on resembles a modified provisional cast-on; but is not provisional and becomes the two center rounds of your garment.  Like some cast-on’s, provisional or otherwise this cast-on is “un-tensioned” and requires patience for the first half of the round of knitting – the second half of the round is easy.  From the Moebius cast-on, like any other cast-on, a knitter can knit almost any kind of stitch and create a unique garment.

    Be prepared – each half of the curve is the mirror image of the other half.  For example; if every round after the cast-on is knit, one half of the moebius will appear as stockinet and the other half as reverse stockinet.  Because of this a reversible stitch is recommended for those knitters who want both sides to be visually the same.

    • River Moebius
    • Waves – Welted Moebius
    • Parquet Entre “Lace” Moebius
    • Victorian Grace Moebius
    • Tri Leaf Moebius
    • Cloisonne Moebius

    Cat Bordhi’s Collar Pattern – free pattern from Cat Bordhi

    Pop- Art Moebius – a free pattern of mine for Moebius.

    A long needle – at least 40″ – I like a 47″ – is required for the cast-on as you will be working with the needles doubled, circled around each other.  Each half round takes one half of the length of the needle.  In reality the round you are working with is only 20″ to 30″ long.

    As you knit the Moebius you will see the cords holding the two halves start to separate as each round takes them further from the cast-on and moves them closer to the final edge for cast-off.

    The moebius cast-on creates a unique shape that can showcase any type of stitch or knitting technique.

    Cat Bordhi did not limit her cast-on to infinity scarves alone.  She went on to create some amazing felted bowls and cat beds and other vessels – all starting with the Moebius cast-on.

    Once the books were out of print.  Cat Bordhi shared the cast-on on You-tube and made sure that it would not be forgotten. Cat Bordhi passed away Sept 19th 2020. I did not know her personally, but I “knew” her through her work. It was a great loss for all.

    If you have never played with this cast-on it is one that is worth exploring as it offers interesting possibilities for the adventurous knitter.  Not hard to do, just trust the instructions and try it out!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • On “Pooling”

    On “Pooling”

    Pooling in knitting is the deliberate knitting of hand-dyed yarn so that the colours stack upon each other or move in such a way as to create a definite pattern, such as Argyle. There are some machine dyed variegated yarns that can create very interesting pooling as well.

    A few years ago I tried pooling several different yarns with varying results. The resulting ebook was called Just “Pooling” Around.

    Hidden Pools Scarf and Hat, River Moebius and Delphinium Shawl are from Just “Pooling” Around

    I just finished another pooling project. A version of my new pattern Pinecones Cowl.

    From yarn to finish – Pooling Pine cones – Darlene and I both like the results. Elise too, it looks great on us all.

    I had forgotten how much fun it could be. When it works well! Or how frustrating it could be when the “drift”, colour movement, gets out of hand! Still it was more fun than frustrating! And I am very pleased with the results.

    Have you ever tried pooling?

    Be well and knit Happy!

    Lynette

  • Time and Tide wait for No Man (or Woman)!

    Time and Tide wait for No Man (or Woman)!

    I think of that proverb often as I am something of a procrastinator! Never mind something of a procrastinator – I can and have at times turned it into a fine art!

    Procrastination, practiced properly is a time management tool that works to my advantage as I tend to work better when under just the right amount of pressure. That is what happens when I practice it consciously. When it sneaks up on me and I get distracted by the new toy – usually yarn – it can cause a bit of a disruption, which why I am releasing two patterns today – I, ummm, kinda missed last weekend somehow. It got lost in the sands of time and distraction.

    It wasn’t that I have been doing nothing. Just not the planned things.

    Two Versions of the bento box. So called because it is a little boxy with options, just like a bento box. PS – that is me in the Lapel version of the vest!

    Today’s releases are the Bento Box Vest and the Garry O’ hat. They represent totally opposite ends of the knitting spectrum.

    Garry O’

    The Bento Box Vest is knit with big needles, 10mm, (I used my super sparkly ones) and super bulky yarns and can be knit in a couple of days if you have a little time. Garry O’ is knit with much smaller needles, 2.5 and 3.0mm, and much finer yarns and will take a little time. Both are very satisfying knits for very different reasons!

    Today has been very busy! The first jam of the season – ummm, strawberry was made and Elise and I had a great photo shoot. Below is a sneak peak at some of the upcoming patterns for the Just Playing Around ebook.

    Some upcoming additions

    I hope that you have had a couple of great weeks. Working in your gardens or knitting up a storm, even working. Life is starting to feel just a little more optimistic.

    I have picked 8 whole strawberries from my pots so far – and I am seeing lots more forming. The peas are coming up almost faster than whatever bug is eating them and the beans and tomatoes are looking pretty healthy.

    It is the flowers that give me the greatest joy! Peonies, Poppies, Roses, Honeysuckle and Lavender are all blooming the thyme and sage as well. The bees are ecstatic and the humming birds as well. We are getting lots of rain right now which is good as this last Spring was way too dry. How does your garden grow?

    Be well and knit happy!

    Lynette

    A sneak peak into a fall project.

  • It’s Sunday

    It’s Sunday

    So it must be a good day to release a new pattern. Meet Pinecones Cowl. A fast and easy knit for you or for a gift. Infinitely versatile and can be used to try out a new technique – pooling.

    The pooling cowl is for me! My favourite colours all in one easy to wear piece. A rare photo of me (I never like pictures of me). wearing the pooling cowl.

    Elise and I got together this morning for a quick photo shoot! In the rain! But it was fun and went well. I love to photograph my knits in different lights and at different times of the day. Morning light, on grey days is my favourite, there just seems to be a freshness about it – the colours seem to come out better.

    The simpler version of the Plumier stole knit with Handmaiden Flyss.

    We were getting pictures of the Pinecones Cowl and of the Plumier Stole, a new pattern that will be ready in two or three weeks. There will be two versions. One version, a little simpler, was knit with Handmaiden Flyss and my favourite version, which is a little bit more challenging but I love the effect. Knit in two colours of BC Garn Bio Shetland. The lace patterns used are all Shetland in origin, my favourite style of lace if I had to pick a favourite! Really I haven’t met a lace pattern that hasn’t called to me in some way! LOL!)

    Plumier Stole – knit with BC Garn Bio Shetland – the colours are little brighter than reality.

    Today we are going to pick some rhubarb from the garden and I am going to make rhubarb strawberry pie – a favourite around here. How do you like your pie? Do you prefer it plain or serve it with whipping cream or ice-cream? We go both ways in our household.

    Rhubarb from the garden and purchased Strawberries. It should be the perfect temperature come dessert time.

    Well the pattern is up on Ravelry and the kettle is on for tea. The pie is out of the oven and I am ready to sit down and knit for a couple of moments before I contemplate making dinner.

    What’s for dinner at your house? Today I am cooking a roast. Sunday I always try to cook something that will produce enough leftovers for at least one meal – keeps life easier after work.

    Be well and Knit Happy!

    Lynette

  • Memories Shawl

    Memories Shawl

    Memories last forever – even when we don’t want them too! But the good memories, the ones you never want to lose, never want tarnished or never want shadowed, are the ones we cling too!

    Memories Shawl is to celebrate those memories – a gift from a special friend to commemorate an important event. A visit to an amazing yarn store while on Vacation; with a yarn you had never seen before in a colour that just made you drool! We all have those yarns in our stash! I will remember the event and the people I met every time I wrap myself in the Rhinebeck Shawl.

    Rhinebeck Shawl

    Memories Shawl is designed to take advantage of multiple skeins of yarn. Maybe two skeins that are similar or two the same, or three the same. Some of those skeins might not show lace as well as we want – the pattern in these shawls is small and repeating, perfect for a highly coloured yarn. It is the edgings that need to be more subtle. They will set off the body of the shawl – in all its coloured glory.

    Rhinebeck shawl was made with a larger skein of hand-dyed yarn so the body is bigger and the lace edging is more intricate, because it was for me and my love of lace knitting.

    The B.C. Shawl is smaller and celebrates where I live! Something I know you can all relate too. Most of us have a place that means more to us than anything – a place in the past or the right “now” place.

    B.C. Memories

    The B.C. shawl was made with smaller hanks of yarn and was embellished with buttons. You know how much I love embellishments. But you can knit it plain, the knitting itself is fairly simple and not a bad option for a beginning lace knitter with a little experience under their belt. The edging gets its impact for the sharply defined edge and pop of colour – not an intricate lace pattern.

    The Memories Shawl is the latest release in the ebook – Just Playing Around.

    Be Well and Knit Happy!

    Lynette

    It was a good week, making more memories.

    Night Sky this week at bedtime.
  • #Never Not Knitting

    #Never Not Knitting

    Is a hashtag that I use all the time, because, you know, I knit all of the time! LOL!

    As a crafter I really appreciate the hand work of other makers, like this gorgeous Pear Wood bowl by Terry Marshall of Bowled Over Woodturning. Sorry he is not on the Internet, but his bowls can be found at Mad About Ewe Fine Yarns.

    Not a yarn bowl, but a notions bowl, something to keep all my bits and bobs in line. Made of Pear wood with brass filings filling a crack in the bottom of the bowl.. Very cool..

    This week I have been working on the eb00k, Just Playing Around. and today I added two hat patterns to the book. Just Playing around is still available at half price until May 14th or 15th.

    Practically Perfect and Perfectly Practical, a aran weight simple cap that is a free download for all. Knit with Noro Kureyon.

    And Medieval Star, a classic toque with a romantic brim. Knit with Drops Alpaca Boucle and BC Garn Loch Lomond GOTS.

    I started a pooling project for the Just Playing Around ebook as well. Have you ever tried pooling – it is deliberately setting up your hand-dyed yarn to stack and form columns of glorious clear colour.

    Pooling with Llama Lace and Pine Cone lace pattern.

    Jana, my test knitter has finished her version of the stole, Plumier 2 and now I need to finish my version, Plumier 1! No rest for the wicked. Plumier 2 is knit with Handmaiden and Fleece Artist Flyss in the Tourmaline Colourway – look for this pattern to come out sometime early June.

    BC Garn Bio Shetland GOTS for Plumier 2. I am well into the second half, but still have about 2-3 weeks of knitting left.

    So that is what I am up to! What about yourselves? I hope that you are all making up a storm of things to eat, wear and share!

    Be Well and Knit Happy!

    Lynette

    A beautiful Pink Dogwood Bloom to celebrate this glorious Spring Day.

  • A New Sweater for Me – Maybe?!

    A New Sweater for Me – Maybe?!

    Ok, it really isn’t new. I started it eight years ago and have picked it up and put it down so many times as I have gotten distracted by other knitting projects – nothing is better than that next project sometimes.

    It was pointed out to me on Friday, as I reviewed my 5 + started sweaters for myself, that if I just gave myself a little push I could have a new sweater in a couple of weeks. A sweater perfect for this weather and something that would actually co-ordinate with my current wardrobe of slacks.

    Well the straight black sweater wasn’t ever going to happen. I need to rip that one back! Why did I ever even start? Well – what goes better with a wardrobe of hand knit colourful shawls than a basic black sweater? I really should knit myself one, just a plain one, one that would be a great backdrop for anything. In DK. Well between boredom and possible blindness I gave that one up. And it is staying that way.

    The cabled and lace Aran Riding Jacket is just a little too complicated for right now and even on the larger needles will take a fair bit of knitting. I am knitting it with some 35 year old Sunbeam Bainin, a traditional lanolin infused Irish wool.

    The fingering weight bohus yoke sweater in Solje is gorgeous and is supposed to be my travelling project as I am on the absolutely plain body. Who knew that travelling was suddenly not an option!

    The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry.

    Robbie Burns

    Seems appropriate for our times.

    Well, the 4th sweater option I just can’t find. It would be perfect! A boxy, short, big fat cabled sweater knit in Prairie Wool on 10mm needles. It is currently lost in my stash and I am not willing to do the deep dive it requires. Which just leaves me with one option…. The Cathedral Sweater.

    It was started 8 years ago when this absolutely gorgeous hand-dyed dk weight merino from Madeline Tosh came into the store! I bought it all and started the sweater right away. It was going to be a top-down raglan with easy lace details. I really loved it! And then…. it got put down. I picked it up again a couple of years ago and really got into the body of sweater, it was going to be an A-line shape with a bit of swish, and down it went again….

    I knit for about 4 hours on it yesterday and this morning and added almost 3 inches to the length of the body! Only 5 or 6 inches left. That is motivation enough to keep me knitting. Then the sleeves. They will be fast! Lets see how fast this sweater will finish.

    I seem to be into fast knitting right now. I just finished a cowl and hat combo. Started Thursday evening and finished Saturday morning. Textured Bricks, I love the deep cushy feel of the yarn and slip stitch patterning. The yarn is Slubby Mix by Fleece Artist, in the Boreal and Earth colourways. I added this pattern to the 7 Hats More ebook as well.

    Today is a cooking day. I really do love to cook and some Sundays just seem to lend themselves to the task.

    I made whole grain waffles for breakfast and a Wacky Cake is already cooling on the counter. The recipe that I linked is pretty close to mine I think. I didn’t realize that there were so many versions! It was our family favourite when we were growing up! It was also perfect for my grandson as he was born with egg and dairy allergies, which he is growing out of now. But for a while it was the only cake I could make for him!

    I think that I will make Spanakopita (recipe from Greek with Gusto) to go with supper – finger foods in front of the TV! The Football playoffs have started and my husband is a big fan! And it gives me the excuse to cook something a little different!

    And of course I will be knitting on my sweater and winding yarn for a new project. A fair-isle vest in the Bio Shetland! I have brought home 12 different colours so far to play with – though there is this turquoise that I haven’t brought home yet! LOL!

    The Bio Shetland is the yarn I have been working my new shawl with, it works into lovely stitches, with crisp pattern definition. The first half of the shawl is resting while I contemplate my next move. There are two ways I can work the center, not sure which one I want to use yet.

    I will start with a hat to play with the colours and see what works and what doesn’t. This will be the biggest fair-isle project/pattern that I have attempted to date. I am not much of a garment designer, that requires a lot more patience and sizing expertise than I usually practise. But this year is going to be a year of trying new things I think, expanding on what I already do and just trying new variations.

    Be Well and Knit Happy!

    Lynette

    PS – while looking for my partly finished sweaters I found a another purple sweater, also half done and a great many of my stitch markers!

  • It’s a New Year

    It’s a New Year

    And its a new plan. There is no Retreat this year. It is kind of odd to have that space vacant. I have no planning to do, no sample knitting, my time is free.

    Not that I won’t knit, or plan or even have that much free time. I am bound by my creative nature to keep on creating – a new yarn, a new colour, an idea that blooms as I experience a walk, or a book or a conversation – I never lack for ideas! But I won’t have that event to shape any of those ideas around. Some what freeing from my regular focus at this time of the year!

    So what shall I knit in the next months? I do have a couple of projects that I need to finish.

    Serenity Wave – the pattern is complete except for the cover picture – I need to finish the edging. It will be done before the end of the month.

    7 Hats More – there are a couple of small projects left to finish for that book. They also will be done before the end of the month.

    I need to complete the patterns for two shawls – Roamin… or Lizzie’s Hap and the Georgia West Hap. I am also aiming to have those done by the end of the month.

    Hmmm…. Busy month! Maybe I should add a few extra days to the timeline – anyone know how?

    I did muck my initial plans up a little by adding another shawl. A Shetland styled lace stole in BC Garn Bio Shetland. Scrumptious wooly wool with a great crisp hand that creates well defined stitches. I gave myself this last week to work on it and I am almost halfway. It will be hard to put down as I work on the planned completions!

    I am not sure what happened to the last couple of months of the last year – not really sure what happened to the last year. I have been struggling to cope – keeping busy does help me deal with the stress I feel. Writing usually helps – but I was too busy knitting – I am working on a balance. Funny – when I read my last post I was working on balance then too! Maybe this year I will be more successful.

    My Schiehallion yarn has become Failte – a cozy beanie!

    What are you working on? How do you balance life and stress right now? I would really like to know.

    I haven’t walked every weekend – but more than I was before. I am watching what I eat! Way more than I should this last month! But it is my favourite time of year! And I did do some Christmas baking – I have a little dark cake and shortbread left. Just a little lingering sweetness to extend the Christmas Season. The tree and decorations came down yesterday and the lights today.

    So today I start my planning for the New Year – you are part of my plan! Talk again soon!

    Be Well and Knit Happy!

    Lynette

    PS – I baked a blackberry pie today – my husband picked the berries this last Summer. So we are smelling the sweet smell of summer blackberries as the pie cools on the counter. I hope that you can smell the sweetness of the pie and of life too.

  • Working on Serenity

    Working on Serenity

    The title this week is perfect on a number of levels:

    a.) I am finally able to work on the edging of The Serenity Wave Shawl. I have had a back issue for the last few weeks that required pain killers and muscle relaxants. Apparently drugs, knitting lace edging and adding beads to said edging do not work well together! Who knew!? So the shawl edging had been on hold for a couple of weeks. I got back to it this week and I am at about 40% of the edging done. I can hardly wait to finish the knitting and block the shawl.

    b.) I have been working on my own Serenity. Peace of mind in this crazy time has not been easy for any of us. And I had been having a rough time of it lately.

    So I took this last week off. I napped. I rested. I knit. I visited one of my favourite relatives, my Aunty Evie, and really tried to work on looking after myself. It has been a good week.

    My auntie and I share a love of sewing and fabrics. So I had to show her my new purchases from Gala Fabrics – the best fabric store and another reason to visit Victoria. They have this vintage woolens section…. $10 a metre. It was so much fun!

    My back is starting to feel better, my shawl edging is finally under way and my ebook, 7 Hats More is slowing growing.

    I added a new pattern on Tuesday, Diagonal Spin and will be adding another one tomorrow.

    Usually my knitting keeps me sane, but some weeks are more challenging than others. I have been feeling challenged lately.

    Do you have tasks or activities that you indulge in that helps you look after your sanity?

    For me – I knit – first in line. I bake and/or cook – second in line. And I love to walk on the beach or in the woods – third in line. And lately harder to do, harder to make time for, simply harder.

    Perhaps because it means leaving the house – leaving this very safe place and entering a not so safe environment. I use up all my courage heading out the door every weekday morning to go to work! Don’t get me wrong – I love my job, but in these Covid times everytime we step out our doors we are adding a little risk to our lives. I am newly risk adverse. Well not newly – I am not much of a risk taker in any way, but I have never before considered walking out my door risky business.

    Perhaps I am channeling my inner Bilbo.

    “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,” he used to say. “You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.

    Lord of the Rings

    So I am determined to add a walk to every weekend. We will see how I do. The payback is worth the risk.

    Earlier this week, between the rains we went for a short walk at Departure Bay Beach, just down the hill. It was the morning after the big windstorm and there was debris, shells and leaves on the beach. The skies and views were still very grey, so that the colours of the leaves and shells popped!

    I also practiced a little yarn therapy. Never heard of it? I thought not. It is also called retail therapy. I bought some new yarn. Technically I ordered new yarn and it arrived this week.

    Kate Davies is one of my favourite knitting writers and she also creates wonderful yarns. Schiehallion is her new yarn and it is a bouncy, wooly, dk weight yarn that comes in all of my favourite colours (I added a little extra purple as well)! How could I resist?!

    I hope that you manage to find some serenity in your life.

    Be well and knit happy!

    Lynette

  • Every Cloud…

    Every Cloud…

    … Has a Silver Lining!

    Right now, as we are looking for the light at the end of this Covid tunnel and only finding deeper gloom, we need to hold on to the good things that we know are there! We need to hold on to our own Silver Lining!

    I think that the silver lining for most of us might be time. The extra time we have at home while we are not doing the busy things that we usually do.

    Time to reconnect to our families from work and home. Our extended families as well. Many of us are getting in touch with those that we have lost contact with.

    Time to rediscover our hobbies – those that we maintain or those that we have revisited (my bread baking skills are much improved!) now that home is our remaining haven. And the things that we do in our homes.

    My haven is knitting! Always has been! It got me through a bad marriage and a worse divorce, it was my sanity as a single mom going back to university, it helped me deal with the death of my mum and myriad other life experiences. So I knit!

    Knitting is helping me deal with Covid – in the most positive way I can. Making things helps occupy my mind so I do not dwell on the things that I cannot change!

    Covid Be Damned was my first response. The happiest colours, a rainbow of course, and 10,000 of the most sparkly beads.

    And right now the Serenity Wave KAL. Calming colours and a few less beads, and wavy repeating patterns.

    And in progress as well are many hats and accessories in 7 Hats More. Lots of quick gift knits, Lots of finishing, lots of satisfaction – again keeping mind and hands busy.

    So, on Thursday, I released,

    Every Cloud… the third hat in the 7 Hats More collection. It is knit with Milano, a light as air Merino/Cashmere blend fingering weight yarn.

    Every Cloud… is a lace patterned hat embellished with silver lined beads and topped with a little bead pom-pom. It is lined with a bright white to make the patterning pop!

    Right now I am knitting a pair of gloves for 7 Hats More. I haven’t knit gloves in a couple of years – it is time.

    These are the Mendenhall Gloves, very much still under construction. Lace, beads, a slouchy long cuff, they are going to be so elegant. They will have a hat and small shawl to co-ordinate with them, and even though this is a hat book – I feel that these glove are the feature item of the Mendenhall collection, not the hat! Sometimes the accessories are the most fun to knit. They are already my personal favourite item from the collection to date – and I haven’t even finished them!

    I love gloves. Yes – they are a little fiddly to knit – but they fit! I have broad hands and short fingers and no commercial glove has ever fit me. I make all gloves to fit my hand. They simply make me feel well dressed.

    There is something so elegant about gloves, even the most basic. They look great, keep your fingers warm and in me evoke thoughts of the classic fashion photography of years gone by… When no elegant dresser was seen without a pair of gloves – women or men!

    Be Well and Knit Happy!

    Lynette