Villette Fingerless Gloves: A new pattern (Also: A Noro Vienna Shrug)

My newest pattern--well, actually, a couple of new patterns--will debut at Sock Summit, at the Shalimar Yarns booth: The Villette Fingerless Gloves are today's pattern-of-the-day...


Sweet and just a bit nostalgic, these little gloves are just the right weight for autumn and spring. They're also the perfect size to wear in a chilly office (I've worked in places where the A/C was so cold I couldn't even type!) or in a drafty, older home. The Villette Fingerless Gloves were a natural extension of my Villette Socks pattern (which will also be available at Sock Summit).

The gloves begin with a knotted picot cast on, which incorporates a "nupp-like" stitch, then flow into the simple-yet-effortlessly-lovely Villette Lace. Yarn-over increases shape the thumb gusset, mirroring the openwork pattern. The result is a delicate floral scallop at the wrist, and a stretchy lace fabric that moves with your hand.

Charley says: These Villette Fingerless Gloves are the cat's meow!

Certainly, you could do a picot bind off, too, but I chose instead to use a pretty twisted rib, which won't get in the way of busy fingers. You can customize the Villette Fingerless Gloves so easily: make the arms longer, incorporate beads into the cast on edge...these possibilities are just part of the pattern's charm.

To see the Villette gloves--as well as my other sock-yarn-based patterns--head on over to the Shalimar Yarns booth at Sock Summit.

A Silk Garden shrug, Vienna-style
You remember Vienna, right? Here's a little reminder, modeled by the lovely Kristi...

On the past two Sundays, I've led a workshop (one of Eleganza Yarns' Sunday Sojourns) based on my Vienna Shrug pattern. Kristi loves this lacy little piece of knitting (which I made sure to offer in a wide range of sizes!), and writes on her blog:

This is possibly the most perfect shrug...Totally customizable for any season, the Vienna Shrug is a great entrée into lace knitting, picking up stitches, provisional cast on, and seaming. Besides being lovely, the Vienna Shrug doesn't use much yarn...

Customize the Vienna Shrug by increasing the ribbing to cover more ribcage and produce a lovely foldover collar. Currently a three-season shrug, the ribbing on the three-quarter length sleeves can be extended to the wrist, making a wonderfully cozy garment for chilly midwinter days.

Having already knit a sample in the luscious Damson color (above), I decided to see what magic would result from combining Noro Silk Garden with this simple side-to-side garment. Here's a peek at my project, which I hope to finish in time for my trip to Sacramento later this month:

I do think it's going to be a very pretty little sweater. Not that I'll need one in the 100+ degree weather with which Sac is blessed this time of year. But airplanes and restaurants are always chilly, so I think I'll be glad of a silky little shoulder warmer.

Coming up, I have a new sock pattern to show you, named Kamille (Norwegian for Chamomile). It's chock-a-block with twisted stitches that loop their way from tip to toe. And it's ready just in time for Sock Summit!

I'll also have a bit of yarn porn for you. We all love looking at other people's stashes, right? So c'mon back and check it out later this week. Till then: Happy knitting!


P.S.
Do plan to spend some time at the Shalimar booth if you're heading to the big gathering in Portland, Oreg. Kristi and Paul will have a slew of gorgeous yarn, some sock-needle-sized "Needle Bangles" (stitch markers, mady by moi, for this special occasion), and other great items.

Not going to Sock Summit? (Neither am I, sadly...) That's OK! You can also purchase my patterns directly from Shalimar Yarns at: ShalimarYarns@aol.com

Villette Fingerless Gloves: A new pattern (Also: A Noro Vienna Shrug)

Sock Yarn Love!

OK, you just have to see this gorgeous hank of Neighborhood Fiber Company yarn that Karida delivered a week ago...I can't get enough of these colors:
It's named "Brookland." Teal-green and purple sock yarn--lovely, stretchy, puffy superwash merino sock yarn! (Yes, it's Gems Fingering, my utter favorite.) Thanks, Karida!

And, speaking of sock yarn, I received my Cherry Blossom yarn from Sundara yesterday!!! It is SO luscious, I could absolutely EAT it! No photos yet, but soon, I promise. (Since every hank is a little different, I think a picture is in order, just to celebrate the pink prettiness sitting on my coffee table, don't you?)

All of which leads me to socks...
This is about 10 rows short of where I currently am on Waving Lace (first sock), from Favorite Socks. (For more, check out the Favorite Socks KAL...)

The Lorna's Laces is working out nicely with this pattern, though the yarn's natural stretchiness may be exaggerated by the stretchiness of this particular lace. At any rate, I tightened up my knitting a little bit, and was happy with the results.

Have I mentioned that It's hard to find a true US #1 circular needle these days? (I haven't been feeling so great, and so can't remember what I've said lately.) Well, most #1 needles are actually US #1.5, but are not labelled that way--kind of irritating, actually. I wish we could get needles in UK sizes.

Measuring needles in millimetres instead of random numbers allows a broader range of sizes. I know I can go to DPNs, and I have many #1 sets, but I wanted to do magic loop so I could carry these in my purse without losing needles. Plus, I was craving the mindlessness of it.

So here you have it: Yummy new yarn and a new pair of socks in a really fun pattern.

Life is good.

Sock Yarn Love!

Orchid Socks: Finis!

I cast off on Sunday, and blocked them to make sewing the picot edge at the top a bit easier. Trying to wrestle a rolling edge into a nice, neat hem is a real pain. Sewing will probably happen today, but in my book this is now a finished project!
Pattern: Orchid Socks AKA Simply Lovely Lace Socks (IK Spring 06)
Yarn: Koigu (Can't find the band, but I'll try to remember to look up the color #)
Needles: Addi Turbo 32" US #0 (magic loop method)
Mods: None! This was a simply lovely pattern, and came out perfectly!

I must say, I really enjoyed knitting these. The stitch pattern is SO easy to remember, so you can just relax and knit. They were a wonderful project for knitting in public, since I love people-watching and don't like to have to watch my knitting instead. Of course, I keep a close eye on what I'm doing, too...Dropped stitches aren't a disaster, but they slow you down!


Last Friday I found myself in Georgetown after a doctor's appointment, waiting for my husband to meet me for dinner at Old Glory. BUT I'd forgotten to put my knitting in my purse! Oh, my God, what an emergency. And it was such a beautiful day. All I wanted to do was find a garden bench at the Old Stone House and knit in the sun. So...I made a quick trip to Stitch DC, spent money I couldn't afford to spend, and emerged with two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Watercolor and a rather cheap set of DPNs (US #1).

I cast on for the Waving Lace socks, which you can see on the cover of Favorite Socks. I chose to do a twisted 1x1 rib instead of the prettier pattern shown in the book's photos. Ribbing is just more practical for me...I like pretty socks, but they have to stay up or I know I won't wear them.

(Maggie's feeling MUCH better--YAY!)

Waving Lace sock #1 is much farther along now, so I'll take more photos today and get them up here. Meanwhile, you can also follow this project at the Favorite Socks KAL: Just click on the button in my sidebar.

Have a great day, everyone!

Orchid Socks: Finis!