Le Tissier Designs

Of Larks and Linnets and Flying Fingers

Tag: yarn

  • Bead Knits

    Bead Knits

    On the subject of beads….

    It can be said with some authority that I am more than a little obsessed with beads and the many possibilities they offer for embellishment on our knits. It is more than a pity that our society really isn’t so much into the glittering styles of the past! I would so rock those days!

    Rhiannon – knit with Buffalo Wool Co Sexy yarn and 20,000 + 24 k gold dipped delicas and crystals.

    Knitting with beads – There are several methods for placing a bead onto knitted fabric: between the stitches, on one arm of the stitch or on both arms of the stitch. Some methods require that the beads be strung on the knitting yarn before knitting. Some are placed on the stitch as it is knit and others are added after the work is finished. The size of bead will determine whether it can be placed on the stitch or whether it needs a separate strand. If you are planning to use thousands of beads on a project, do work a sampler first to determine the most efficient method of working the beads. When stringing beads make sure that there are no knots in the yarn.

    Pre-strung beads used for loops and beads placed between stitches in a garter stitch background.

    Traditional bead knitting -The bead is placed on one arm of the stitch. All beads need to be pre-strung and if using multiple colours they need to be pre-strung in reverse order.

    Bead knit gloves, mitts, gauntlets and jewelery!

    A bead is placed on an arm of each stitch, as you are knitting through the back of the loop. This style of knitting will have a tendency to bias. This is not a problem if the fabric is knit circularly. (Which is the only way I will tackle it!) Most Victorian purses were worked circularly and the biasing was not readily noticeable. The other advantage of working circularly is that you do not need to work a purl stitch through the back (try purling through the back of a loop and placing a bead at the same time!) Bead knitting used to be worked with small (think micro) seed beads and silk or cotton thread and very fine steel needles. There are still knitters who work in this way.

    I work bead knitting with small beads (not micro) and fine yarns – lace or fingering weight yarns (not threads) and small needles, anything from 2.0mm US#0 to 2.75mm US 2. I haven’t done any bead knitting for quite a while. I have taught both styles of bead knitting but always had a hard time convincing others that working traditional bead knitting was worth the effort!

    I still use a lot of beads in my knitting but they are mostly placed with a small crochet hook, and not always pre-strung as in traditional bead knitting.

    So, when I decided to knit a pair of gloves with some beautiful new yarn I also decided to knit myself a beautiful bead knit edge for those new gloves.

    Beautiful Alpaca fingering weight yarn – a soft pinky/lavender grey melange.

    I am seeing a short beaded gauntlet with either short finger gloves or mitts! But maybe I won’t be able to resist the lure of a proper pair of gloves! These gloves are my “swatch” for the yarn. From this I can learn about the yarns strength, how or if it has a “halo”. How much will it stretch (alpaca has no memory – so if it stretches it won’t go back). And I have something useful at the end of the knit. Many of my hats are gauge swatches. A trick that Elizabeth Zimmermann suggests as a means to learn your yarn and create something useful at the same time!

    The yarn is a breeze to knit with. And yes, there is a lovely halo. The yarn is also handling the weight of the beads without too much obvious stretch. So I will continue on, and isn’t it a beautiful colour?

    I was wondering if anyone would be interested in a workshop this summer to learn how to bead knit…. I would love to lead you down the garden path and introduce you to another side of working with beads and knitting!?

    Check out the Orchid! It is still kicking and has opened some new blossoms!

    Happy Knitting!

    Lynette

  • Spring Fling Shawls

    Spring Fling Shawls

    I had a couple of shawl samples come back from my test knitter in the last couple of weeks. It was planned and it worked! They both are knit in fabulous fresh Spring colours! And I hope to have both patterns out by the end of May!

    Cockleshell Love – knit in B.C. Garn Loch Lomond Lace, Eggshell and Baby Pink (more rose pink) colourways.

    Fushia – knit in Manos Fino, Topsy Turvy colourway.

    What do you think?

    Spring has Sprung!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • Life in General

    Life in General

    I had to swatch one more time for the Kate Davies MKAL. And I think it is a winner. Subject to change without notice off course!

    This year I am trying to widen my horizon beyond knitting books and knitting everything in general. It is going to be a year of recovery after my last year of coping with everything life was throwing at me. So I will be knitting someone else’s pattern and reading a new to me author, Margery Allingham! All good things. While checking out a couple of local second hand book stores – no lucking finding any of Margery Allingham books – but I did find a beautiful book on the history of and the making of tassels! So much fun!

    Knit a Dress with Me is on hiatus as I catch up with the pattern writing that I need to do! Classes, yarn and pattern samples need to be created and/or written. I am also submitting pattern ideas to a couple of yarn companies/magazines etc., as I get on with the business of paying for my yarn habit!

    • Tasseled Brioche for class – knit with Brooklyn Tweed Shelter
    • Allingham Fingerless Mitts – knit with Knitting for Olive Soft Mohair and Merino
    • Smitten – two versions – grey knit with Juniper Moon Santa Cruz and pink knit with Malabrigo Worsted
    • Rainbow Chullo – knit with Brooklyn Tweed Tones
    • Boho Mitts – knit with Estelle Eco Shetland Worsted

    All patterns are under construction and will be coming out soon!

    Yesterday we got out into the garden. Tom has been tidying up and pulling weeds for the last week or two, so I got out there are we got some planting done. Potatoes, Peas and lettuce went in. When it warms up we will add a couple of tomatoes!

    I also planted a new peony and have a couple of new lavender plants and a french tarragon still to put in the ground. Hopefully this weekend.

    Happy Knitting, Gardening, and Reading!

    Lynette

  • A Little Summer Entertainment

    A Little Summer Entertainment

    I have been a fan of Kate Davies ever since I first discovered her patterns and books! I love her sense of style and secretly covet every piece of her wardrobe! Her sense of style resonates with me. Over the years I have participated in several clubs, collected, yes collected with no real purpose in mind, multiple balls of her yarns, especially the Milarrochy Tweed, and have a significant stash of her books.

    So when she started advertising her new club I was immediately interested!

    Summer of Mystery Club

    Seriously, how could I not join? Books, with a new to me Mystery writer, essays, conversations and knitting and a Mystery KAL if you want to knit along with it. Something to think about and look forward too after a long winter. The Mystery writer is one of the Vintage queens of the Mystery genre, Margery Allingham. The themes or inspiration for the patterns, including the MKAL and essays will be taken from the time period of Margary Allingham’s writing career, from the 1920’s through to the 50’s.

    I love vintage patterns. Kates’ designs will be vintage inspired, but with her own little twists. I also love to read mysteries and have never read any Margery Allingham! But I am so looking forward to discovering her books!

    The yarn Kate will be using for the designs is her Milarrochy Tweed, which is one of my personal favourites – wool and mohair blended with tweed flecks spun into the mix. This creates a beautiful yarn with body, a slight halo and colour combinations galore, thanks to the tweed flecks!

    The KDD forum on Ravelry already has three very active threads going, all about this particular club. I am really enjoying it all. Tracking down the books, playing with my yarn and anticipating what I may want to purchase (OK, I don’t need any more yarn. I have already put together 2 possible options for the Mystery KAL. But you never know what might jump into my shopping cart!).

    Option 1 :Lochan, Smirr, Garth, Stockiemuir, and for pop Foxglove.

    Option 2: Bruce, Hirst, Backen’, Asphodel and for pop, Ardnamurchan.

    I am thinking of trying a couple of other swatches as well. The first swatch is easy and may end up being what I knit, but it is too easy – I wear all of those colours and I am begining to think that it will look like everything else in my wardrobe. I think the second is my favourite so far, is is closer to the colours of the time period and possible moodiness to the novels – but there is something not quite right.

    While starting my collection of books I learned a valuable lesson. On-line book stores also sell postcards. Vintage stock, that look exactly like a book and were just as expensive! So I am now the proud owner of a Vintage Postcard! It will become my place holder for the Mystery MKAL! The Goff Place Mystery KAL.

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • Free Patterns

    Free Patterns

    Here are a few of my free patterns that I have loaded up onto the site just for you to download as you please. All gathered up onto a single page.

    If the downloads do not work – please let me know. I have tested the links but things do happen.

    If it is purple I designed the hats for the purple hat campaign. The orange poncho is called Tears for the Children. To commemorate the lost children of the Residential Schools.

    The fair-isle hat, Filigree, was me playing with colours – as an exercise. I was so pleased with the results that I wrote it up as a pattern. The teddy bear vests were teaching opportunities. The Salmon Run hat was again playing with a new to me yarn – to see what it could do!

    The Hurry Up Hat might be my most popular Ravelry pattern. For starters, it is free! And it is a very fast knit. Perfect for last minute gifts or for knitting hats for the homeless with your scraps. Practically Perfect is the same kind of hat but knit in a colourful worsted weight yarn and really designed for beginning hat knitters!

    Braid Lace CapDownload
    purple-kisses-capDownload
    daisy-chain-capDownload
    peakaboo-moon-pdfDownload
    filigreeDownload
    tears-for-the-childrenDownload
    motley-vest-for-bear-or-doll-1Download
    salmon-runDownload
    mini-reindeer-vestDownload
    hurry-up-hatDownload
    practically-perfectDownload

    I hope that you find something you like!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • Glory in the Snow

    Glory in the Snow

    Yarn is my Happy Place. Knitting with yarn is the perfect expression of my state of mind. Knitting with yarn that is new to me and often has been gifted to me is my idea of perfection!

    I am in my heart a lace knitter – it is one of the most beautiful expressions that can be created by two sticks and some string. And right now I am extra Happy!

    Yesterday Angela Beltane of Widdershin Farm, which is just outside of Duncan, gifted me with some of her BFL, Blue Faced Leicester, fingering weight yarn… enough for a large shawl. I am thinking a large Pi shawl! This yarn is soft and glossy and Oh so smooth!

    The Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) is a remarkable breed of sheep that traces its origins back to the eighteenth century in Dishley, Leicestershire, United Kingdom. Let’s delve into the fascinating details of these woolly creatures:

    1. Appearance:
      • BFL sheep have a distinctive blue-gray face, which gives them their name.
      • Their ears are long, and their fleece is curly and fine.
      • Unlike other woolly breeds, they lack wool on their heads and necks.
      • The Roman noses of Bluefaced Leicesters reveal dark blue skin beneath their white hair.
    2. Wool Quality:
      • Their wool is one of the softest among UK sheep breeds.
      • Fleeces weigh between 1 to 3 kilograms (2.2 to 6.6 pounds).
      • Although not heavy, their wool is lustrous and prized for its quality.

    It is going to be gorgeous. I took the day off of my other projects – dress knitting, class knitting and future planning to play with my new yarn.

    Umm, just ignore the mistake in the first round of eyelets! I am! LOL!

    Today is one of my day’s off and it is rainy and gray and the perfect kind of day to knit! Rainy days also produce some lovely photographic opportunities! Check out the Scilla (Glory in the Snow) from the garden. They are the inspiration, and name, for my Pi Shawl, one of my favourite shapes for a shawl. A PI Shawl is circular and can be as big as you can knit! It is going to be full of floral, water and leaf motifs!

    I am going to work from Elizabeth Zimmerman’s basic Pi Shawl tutorial and fill it full of my own patterns!

    Can’t you just see crystal beads on the shawl? Just like the flowers!

    Happy Days! Happy Knitting!

    Lynette

  • Knit a Dress With Me – Update

    Knit a Dress With Me – Update

    If you are following the my design notes on Ravelry you will find this to be repetitive but if not I hope that you are enjoying the journey!

    Three rounds to go and then I start the panel shaping!

    Dry blocked I am at about 12 inches. The Panels will add approx 7 to 7.5 inches to the length – dry blocked.

    Things I am thinking about and would really appreciate feedback on.

    How closely fitting should the dress be? I am thinking fitted with about 2 inches of ease around the waist for comfort and to smooth out over a slip of some type. I have a pretty good idea of how to achieve the shaping as we get closer to the waist. Which will involve more panel shaping.

    Are you thinking of something that could be pulled over the head?

    If fitted there will need to be an opening of some type in the side seam or up the back. I am thinking side seam buttons under the arm and down past the waist – no zipper – zippers and knits are very chancy. I love the vintage feel of the side seam opening – very old fashioned dress finishing. I am not a big fan of buttons up the back – besides then so much of the dress would need to be knit flat as opposed to circularly. Though there is something about a long swath of tiny buttons up the back of a dress….

    If fitted, then after the waist area there will need to be darts. I chose the panel approach to make it easier to add waist darts if I wanted. But then will I need to add bust darts? If so, how? Short rows are the traditional way, but that would interrupt the lace pattern. I could end the lace pattern on the side of the front after the waist and just have panels in the front, but my vision is still of all over lace. Things to think about as I knit.

    If you are looking for a pullover style of dress – the option will be there and quite easy to make work – let me know.

    I am going to see how far I can get in the next week, after that I will be working on a sample and pattern for a yarn company which will slow this down for a couple of months!

    I will be changing needle size on round 15 of the decreasing chart. Just another quarter point from 3.75mm to 3.5mm (US#4).

    I am not sure when I will go to the 3.25mm. Most likely before the waist area.

    As for shaping the bodice depending upon your shape you may need bust darts or you may not – but you will need some shaping if you want it fitted – even if your bust only has a gentle curve.

    If you want a waist line and would like your dress to be a pullover style, we can add a double knit tubular channel for a belt or Gathering cord. Knit a fine belt in i-cord or 1×1 ribbing to run through the channel and we have a waistline. Alternatively we could run elastic through the channel. Anything to gather to the waist.

    For a more fitted style, then back to the buttons along the side seam. Or maybe an A-line shape with a slow, gentle line of decreasing stitches.

    But before we get there…

    At round 29, if you want a shaped waist, stop knitting. We may be adding more shaping panels. Not sure when I will be able to work those out.

    If you want a waist that is gathered into the belt or elastic, knit until your skirt is your desired length, and then wait for me to get there.

    Double markers for double tracking! I started my first shaping round!

    Spring flower popping up through the Lavender!

    We are facing a glorious weekend of sunshine here! And the flowers are starting to come. The buds are on the trees and the cherry blossoms are starting to bloom! I love the colours of Spring!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

    The lacy tracery of branches and leaves against a blue sky! How wonderful is nature.

  • Knitting a Dress and Other Projects

    Knitting a Dress and Other Projects

    I am now at the point where the skirt is growing, at what seems like an agonizingly slow rate. I must focus on the fact that the skirt is growing and the pattern is repeating and that is what is supposed to happen.

    I switched to a 3.75mm needle about 12 rounds ago to start the slow shaping of the skirt. I will most likely drop the needle size to 3.5mm in about 40 more rounds. So between the changing the size of the needles and shaping the panels I am hoping for a lovely, gradual shaping the skirt to the waist. At that point the needle size will be 3.25mm for the bodice of the dress.

    Dry blocked the skirt is 10 inches deep from the top of the 4th pattern repeat to the curve of the hem. The points are not included as length. I think that three more repeats will get me to the start of shaping panels (approx 15 inches) which will reduce the stitch count of the skirt. The reducing section will take about 45 rounds.

    I work at Mad About Ewe and I get to play with the yarn. We are now carrying Brooklyn Tweed Shelter and Tones Light. I have been playing.

    Wait there’s more! More hats, cables and hearts; double knit fingerless mittens and just so much more to do and create!

    Below is “Smitten” A cabled hat with the “hugs and kisses” cable and the tree of life pattern. Classic in Grey and no bobbles, knit Juniper Moon Santa Cruz in the Palladium colourway! And Wild in with everything – cables, bobbles and hearts, knit with Malabrigo Worsted in the natural and Very Berry colourways.

    Straight forward and cozy these double knit wristers are super cozy and super easy! These Cozy Wristers can be knit in any dk or sport weight wool that you might have to hand.

    Because they are double knit they are also totally reversible.

    I hope that your knitting adventures have been moving along with lots of colour and texture to keep your mind occupied and your hands busy!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • A Shetland Lace Project

    A Shetland Lace Project

    It is no secret that I love to knit lace, the more complex the better. I love to design the lace first and then dive in and explore what I think the design should do.

    I have knitterly friends who love to aid me in my process. Anne is one of those friends. We really got to know one another about 10 years ago at one of Mad About Ewe’s Retreats and have talked a few times over the years. She came in recently and asked If I was interested in working with some Gossamer Cashmere yarn from Heirloom knitting. She came back a few days later with the yarn and some vintage knitting books! Such a wonderful gift.

    And of course, I am interested!

    I received the yarn on Monday. This beautiful yarn, a 2-ply cashmere that weighs in at 25 grs with 1230 yds in the ball is going to be a challenge!

    Monday evening I was swatching. I felt a little like Goldilocks, it took three tries before I decided on the correct needle size to get the look and feel I wanted. I am going with a 1.75mm and I am using the beautiful lace needles from Heirloom Knitting. They have such smooth joins and a great cord.

    Right now I am pouring over my Shetland Lace Books. Looking at the patterns and thinking about the shape – I am pretty sure that I am looking at a half or three quarters circle – but I might also need more yardage. So I have things to consider.

    Another knitterly friend gave me her copy of the Sarah Don’s The Art of Shetland Lace. It has a lovely inscription from Jeanie and I treasure the book. 

    The Art of Shetland Lace was published in 1980 and includes photographs of some of the amazing lace work from the the (Lerwick) Shetland Museum and Archives. It was an amazing book for its time. It is notorious for all of the pattern mistakes. But it was for a long time the only source of Shetland Lace Patterns. It was last reprinted by Lacis in 1991.

    At the same time as I was contemplating this new project I was also getting messages on instagram that a new Shetland Lace book was coming and will be available at the beginning of April –Shetland Fine Lace Knitting. This is book is written by Carol Christianson. It was written to assess and chronicle the Shetland Museums Lace Collection and will have pictures, swatches, charts and some of the history of lace knitting, most from the Museum. I am so excited!

    Shetland Museum and Archives

    Just a note on the price of knitting books. This new book is just under $50 and is over 200 pages. The Sarah Don book still has the original price ticket. It was $26.95 and has 100 pages. The current buying power of $26.95 from 1980 today is $100.00. Sobering thought. Books are not really that expensive today if you look at it in this manner.

    So I have started the set-up for the shawl, but is going on hold until the new book is here. I might knit just a little bit more, because I can always add to the design! 

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • A Knitterly Start to the Year – part 2

    A Knitterly Start to the Year – part 2

    So the Three Skein Project is almost complete – just patterns to complete for it.

    So where to next? 

    Well, I have lots of samples that need patterns – it could be that my computer and I will become best buddies. That is very real. I completed one pattern and started two more this weekend!

    Well the classes are coming up;

    I am thinking and doing a Double Knitting Class – lovely little cozy cuffs or wristers. They are totally reversible and quite easy to knit. There is no shaping so the only technique to learn is basic double knitting.

    And the other class will be some kind of specialized colourwork – entrelac maybe or intarsia in the round.

    Do you want see a beading class? A finishing class? A cable class? Our options are so wide and varied – sometimes it is hard to choose.

    Now is the time to make a suggestion!

    I have started to plan a Spring KAL for the store and I am looking for ideas. It would start in the Spring – after Easter. A shawl, a vest, some kind of relaxed garment I think.

    I am starting another sweater style garment for myself – have I finished the last one – well no – but you know – this yarn is calling. I blame it all on Darlene. She just finished a lovely scarf in the same yarn! And another shawl. I really like the way the shape is building up. There is never an end to inspiration!

    So how is your knitting year starting? Are you happy with your choices or looking to scrap it all and start anew? Are finishing one before you start another? Darlene has to finish two items before she starts a new project! We both wonder how long that will last! LOL!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette