Le Tissier Designs

Of Larks and Linnets and Flying Fingers

Tag: sweaters

  • Next UP!

    Next UP!

    My Sunrise sweater is finished! I am quite pleased with it! And it fits perfectly!

    In tidying up my workroom I have stumbled across a couple of other sweaters for myself. The Pink Juniper Moon Beatrix is the next one on my list to finish. I love the softness of this yarn. It is sooo light and sooo soft! And it knits up so quickly! The other sweater did not pass muster and was quickly ripped back and rolled into a ball, waiting for a different style to work into. 🙂

    You may note a bit of a trend here… most of the sweaters I knit for myself are tunic length. I hate to be cold and a longer sweater keeps my back nice and toasty! I do have a plan for another piece, most likely a vest, longer, with split sides, a knit belt, and colourwork, colourwork in the Muhu style. Which is bright! Oh so bright! Just my style.

    I will have to revisit my pattern Knitting and Estonian Garden, for some Roosimine patterns to add to the vest. Roosimine is an embroidery style technique from Estonia that is worked on your knits as you knit. It is quite common for knits to have surface embroidery to add details.

    I will not be using a fine yarn. I am going to work with a new Chunky, Eco Scandinavian Chunky. It is new this year from Estelle and it is a lopi style yarn. You can see the colours I picked. I may need to add a green or blue. Still thinking on it! Swatching should commence this week.

    And Finally! I have written up a little pattern that hightlights my current mindless, evening or travelling project. i hope that you will like it.

    Crystalline Lattice

    This Cowl, Wimple or Scarf pattern is the perfect project to mop-up of all of the left-over bits of laceweight silk mohair that we all seem to be collecting.  This is a tube scarf, that can be something different at different lengths.  Right now it is only Cowl size, but as it becomes longer it will grown to be a Wimple (a tube that covers both neck and head) and then a scarf.  I am aiming for a scarf myself.  So, until it is a scarf the pattern will be free.

    The very basic atomic shape of a natural crystal as it grows is a lattice.  So here we are growing our own crystal.  Mine shows as shades of purple.  What will your Crystalline Lattice show?

    It is a super simple pattern, 7 rows, slipped stitches, stockinette and little garter stitch.  The slipped stitches are twisted as we slip them, it gives them a very linear, ropey appearance.

    As you work through the repeating pattern you can change up the colours of the mohair/silks.  I am working with 4 close shades, and rotating them from lightest to darkest.  But I am thinking of making a second scarf, and picking up all sorts of bits to make a really wild colourway with no stripe the same and/or no pattern to the colour stripe sequence.  Or maybe I should get some earthy tones and make something a little more organic.  This pattern could go so many places.

    So Happy Knitting!

    Lynette

  • What’s Now? What’s Next?

    What’s Now? What’s Next?

    Tomorrow we are going to Surrey (across the big water). The World Men’s Fastball Championships are there. So we are going for a day of ball! I am going to be knitting as well as watching and there is nothing like Ferry travel to enhance one’s knitting time!

    I will be taking a half knit sweater for myself. I started it a couple of years ago with some beautiful Italian Wool from Gathering Yarns. Just a basic top-down v-neck and since the yarn was limited I had to get creative with the colours. Just some simple striping but it is very effective with the slightly varigated colours.

    It is such a rich yarn, full of texture and the two colours are blending beautifully.

    Why wasn’t it finished a while ago? Well, one time when I tidied, the project went in one place and the yarn went in another. I would find one and never the other. So this time when I found the extra yarn I put in on my desk, after I had cleaned it up and had a clear surface! Remember that big clean up? Yesterday I stumbled across the project! A match! And it is so close, arms and maybe a third of a body and it is chunky!

    Looking for the next project? I seem to be in constant search lately. I have several projects on the go. My main focus is the Greenman Shawl and it is really taking over. I am already planning the next section. But I do need to look to my classes for work as well. What is your next project?

    I am working on the thrummed mittens to go with the headband. I do enjoy thrumming such a relaxing way of working in colour. And I love the wool I am using, Shelter, by Brooklyn Tweed.

    Look deep into my mitten. Doesn’t it look warm and cozy?

    And for something new I am going to try to finish off the sleeves of an old sweater. Knit with Mountain colours hand dyed Weavers Wool it is gorgeous. It is now slightly felted and starting to wear at the end of the sleeves. So I am going use an old English (or European Technique of finishing things that wear with leather. I found an absolutely stunning piece of leather from Gala Fabrics last time I was there. It is a glorious shade of blue and is perfect!

    Has anyone tried this technique? Any tips!?

    I hope that you are having a great day!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • Summer Days

    Summer Days

    In the Summer I always try to finish up a project for myself. A sweater or vest, something new that I can wear to work.

    This year I have at least two things on the go. A light and airy mohair sweater knit with Amitola Brushed by Louise Harding. This is a heavier mohair and silk blend and I am knitting it quite loosely. I love mohair’s loft when the you let the fuzz fill in the stitches. It makes the garment light but still cozy! This sweater is underway and will be knit from sleeve to sleeve. The Amitola has a long, slow stripe and it is showing beautifully. I am barely through 60 grs of the first ball. I think that I will have plenty of yarn. I am knitting on a 6.0mm US #10 – this sweater is knitting up fast!

    The Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed yarn is going to take much longer to knit. Right now it is going to be a vest. But I am loving it so much and I think I have enough yarn, so it might turn into a full sweater. I am loving the stitch pattern. Time, as always, will make the final decision. And yardage, where is the rest of the yarn? Somewhere in my stash!

    Summer is also when I make tea cozies. They are small and fun and I think I might design a class around a new idea I have.

    Last week I bought a new toy. It is designed to hold my phone as I video myself knitting a new technique. You have already seen it at work as I ripped back my last hat!

    The weather here is back up to being hot again. So I am looking at small projects as well. Beading something, anything, is always good for hot weather knitting.

    I also love to knit shawls in the Summer. Tomorrow I hope to have the Green Man motif ready to show.

    Do you have a “colour” ? Something you know you love to knit with. Something that you “lean” towards. Something you sometimes are unaware of. I do. Apparently I wanted a co-ordinating set. LOL!

    Don’t they look great together? I guess I will have to finish the gloves sooner rather than later!

    Below are some random images of this Summer and Summers past! They are part of my inspiration as I dream up new ideas.

    I hope that you enjoy your long weekend!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette