Coco, Carinish, and Charley

There are people who have money and people who are rich.
– Coco Chanel


(Watch for Carinish, available from Three Irish Girls this fall!)

Coco, Carinish, and Charley

What's your pleasure? - Studying the Top 10 knitting patterns

Classic Elite Yarns Alpaca Sox

Mulling over new design ideas, I've lately found myself thinking about existing knitting patterns: Socks, mittens & gloves, scarves & shawls, sweaters, hats... I'm also wondering what knitters (and crocheters) want more of, and what gives them that "been there, done that" feeling.

These days, one can hardly think about knitting patterns without heading straight for Ravelry. After all, it's ubiquitous, a gathering place for patterns new and old. And its pattern database is so wonderfully "searchable".

So I searched.

Harrisville Designs' New England Shetland

I searched all knitting patterns in Ravelry's database (Aug. 20, 2009), filtering out those rated less than four stars (out of five). The results? Telling, though not surprising. The following patterns comprise the Top 10:

1. Fetching (fingerless gloves by Cheryl Niamath)
2. Monkey (socks by Cookie A.)
3. Baby Surprise Jacket (by Elizabeth Zimmermann, available from Schoolhouse Press)
4. Calorimetry (headband/ear warmer by Kathryn Schoendorf)
5. Clapotis (shawl/scarf by Kate Gilbert)
6. February Lady Sweater (by Pamela Wynne, based on Elizabeth Zimmermann’s classic “Baby Sweater on Two Needles,” from Knitter’s Almanac)
7. Saartje's Bootees (baby bootees by Saartje de Bruijn)
8. Noro Striped Scarf (not designed by Jared Flood; he claims only to have written up how he made his lovely 1 x 1 ribbed scarf)
9. Ballband Dishcloth (from ball bands on Pigsah Yarn & Dyeing Co.'s "Peaches & Creme" yarn)
10. Swallowtail Shawl (links to page with PDF download of this beautiful design by Evelyn Clark)

Surprised? I'll admit I was, a bit...

Zephyr Laceweight Wool-Silk

I guess I was expecting a more homogenous result, one showing mostly socks and fingerless gloves, for example. Perhaps with a few lacy knits and sweaters mixed in. Mais, non! What a lovely surprise!

For the Top 10 list includes an intriguing blend of patterns for adults and babies, laces and solids, new and old designs. Most are relatively simple, straightforward knits, proving that a design doesn't have to be complicated to be chic.

And I'm thrilled to see that these are primarily classic designs -- devoid of tricks and fads -- that will last a lifetime (with good care and a wise yarn choice, of course). By classic, I don't mean to exclude the newer designs, like Clapotis, Monkey, or Fetching. Rather, these are new interpretations of generations-old patterns, garments worn by our ancestors to stay warm in cold, drafty houses.

These new interpretations, though, were created with a nod to history -- useful, yet romantic, fingerless gloves, and a scarf inspired by those famously flaunted by Parisian women, for example.

Peach Blossom Scarf ... on a non-Parisian woman.

Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury. -- Coco Chanel

Where is all of this leading? Well, I'm not entirely sure. For me, it's reassuring to see proof that classic designs are ever in vogue, as they're what I enjoy wearing and designing. How this information will affect my upcoming creations, well, we'll have to see...

But I want to know: How about you?
What do you enjoy knitting, wearing, giving, and receiving as gifts?
What turns your head when you see someone wearing a hand-knit on the street?
What would you like more of in knitting patterns?
What designs/techniques are you tired of?

Something to think about... Feel free to PM me on Ravelry or just leave a comment here with your answers. Because while I know how I feel -- I'd love to know more about you!

What's your pleasure? - Studying the Top 10 knitting patterns

Cold Cottage Socks

A few weeks ago we spent a wonderful weekend with my mother- and father-in-law. Since their beautiful home is about three hours north of us, I just had to pack some special knitting for the car ride there and back -- you know, Vacation Knitting.

Most of the items on my needles right now require that I: (A) look at them (e.g. cabled socks) or (B) think about them (e.g. designs I'm working on). The problem? Well, I get really car sick if I have to look down...reading maps, working little cables, etc. The other problem? Sometimes knitting stuff I have to think about makes me tired.

Enter the Cold Cottage Socks -- easy to do without looking down or missing out on the latest family news. And working without a pattern kept me interested enough that I never felt the need to break out one of the other three projects I brought along ;-)

I've been wanting to make these for Chris for quite a while. The body is Peace Fleece DK-weight, and the blue-purple yarn is from Cottage Craft (a Canadian company whose yarns I love). Both yarns feel rustic before washing, then soften up quite nicely.

Peace Fleece has a goodly amount of mohair in it, which means it's strong and durable. Great for a man's boot sock. But because my husband wears out the back of the heel on all his socks, I decided to double up on color to make them twice as strong (also, it's more visually interesting than just working the heel stitch in white).

So there you have it: A pair of socks on the needles, pretty much half done now, which will keep my honey's feet toasty next time the temperature drops. And in our beloved, little-old house--with its cold, drafty floors--that will probably happen sooner rather than later.

PS. Check out this awesome deal on Cottage Craft sweater kits!!!

Cold Cottage Socks

Kittens and Yarn: A fuzzy, furry hodge-podge

Who, me?

Dear reader: Today feels like an unstructured day, which means this will very likely be a hodge-podge of a post... Yours truly, K6

I've been working on several designs, during the past month or so, but (sigh) I can't share them yet. Two are for sock clubs, and one (shown above in Adorn Sock, in the Brennan colorway) is forthcoming...more are in the works.

As you can see, I've had a little "help" from Charley, who excels at looking cute, even at his most devilish...

For example, I was taking some photos of this worsted-weight Merino. This one-of-a-kind skein's gorgeous color puts me in mind of the Indian Ocean around the Seychelles...Not that I've been there, but one can dream, right? (sigh, again...).

So I'm getting the yarn and windows arranged for photo taking, when what to my wondering eyes did appear, but -- THIS!

Just lookin'... Honest!

Oh, Charley. (Actually, at the time, I uttered something just a little stronger.)

By the way, do you like that color? What would you make with it?

And, last but not least, here's a design-in-the-works that I can show you.

I've been playing around with a scarf idea, using this fruit-punch colored yarn and some great silver beads. After knitting and ripping a few times, I decided I like the beads best on a braided fringe, rather than knitted into the fabric. What do you think?

While you ponder that, feast your eyes on some fibery eye-candy:

Zoe Sock in "Lychee"

See? I told you today would be a hodge-podge...But it's a hodge-podge featuring yarn and a kitten, which makes it totally acceptable, right?

Happy knitting!

Kittens and Yarn: A fuzzy, furry hodge-podge

Hannah Six Designs Six Shalimar Yarns Exclusives

Clover Honey Shawlette by Hannah Six

Over the past couple of months, I've designed six patterns for Shalimar Yarns. It's been a whirlwind of creating, swatching, ripping out, revising, writing patterns, and having them test knitted. In other words: It's been a blast!

In total, I did six designs for Shalimar Yarns, inspired by their delicious colors, by the scrumptious base yarns, and by Kristi, who owns both Shalimar and Eleganza Yarns, a Frederick, Md.-based store (which is well worth a side trip if you're in the area!).

One of the designs, the Clover Honey Shawlette, was particularly popular, with 20 copies sold in just a few days! Clover Honey is knit from just one skein of Shalimar's Zoe Sock (each skein has an ultra-generous 450 yard put-up!) on US #5 needles.

With a bit of shaping to ensure it hugs your shoulders and a fun beaded cast off, it's both practical and unique. What an amazing (and affordable!) holiday gift this would make! If you're interested in buying the yarn and pattern, just visit the Shalimar Yarns Web site or contact Kristi at Eleganza Yarns.

Swatching for the Shenandoah Capelet

In the coming days, I will post more info about my other patterns, which include:

• The Rotunda Baby Blanket, a Rococco-inspired confection in Honey Worsted, with an intruiguing pattern ever-increasing cables...
• The Shenandoah Capelet, knit in Missy Bulky, with soft and lofty braided cables and unique twisted-I-cord button loops...
• The Freesia Socks, inspired by the glorious Iris colorway and my memories of a freesia-filled garden at my Northern California high school...

I've even created a special pattern, named Schuylkill Punch (in honor of Philadelphia's World Series Championship), for the Shalimar Yarns sock club! So stay tuned for more photos, more pattern information, and more about Shalimar's wonderful yarns and colorways...

And meanwhile? Happy Knitting (of course)!

Hannah Six Designs Six Shalimar Yarns Exclusives

Yarn Stew

Handspun Leftovers: Yarn Stew, anyone?

For the past few years, I've been collecting random bits and bobs of my handspun yarn, throwing it in a baggie with other leftovers. Recently, I pulled the baggie out and realized my collection of handspun ends makes for a pretty combination. So, I've been thinking: Randomly striped scarf? Fingerless gloves? Hat? What do you think?

Shalimar Yarns' new bulky weight yarn--soft as butter. Mmmmm...

I do want to say "Thank you" to those of you who haven't given up on me over the past few entry-less months! In August and September, a tendonitis-type injury sidelined me. No knitting for two months? Horrors! (Just ask my husband...)

For a fiber-holic like me, not being able to knit is like giving up cigarettes. I couldn't spend time around knitters, in knitting stores, or even on Ravelry--being completely unable to join in was just too painful. So I withdrew for a while.

During the past five weeks or so, however, my shoulder, neck, elbow, and wrist began to feel a better, little by little. At first I could knit for five minutes, then 20 minutes, and finally to an hour or two (max) here and there. Believe me: Taking regular rest breaks and doing a few hand and wrist stretches makes all the difference. If you feel discomfort, pay attention! The alternative is awful.

Gorgeous Zoe Sock from Shalimar Yarns in a gorgeous clover-honey color

Since my injury began improving, I've focused on much more "original knitting" (AKA: designing), and am spending a bit of time (health permitting) writing my patterns down. Soon, I hope, they'll be available via my Etsy store, and maybe someplace else, as well ;-) Stay tuned!

Shalimar Yarns Zoe Sock in a color I think of as "Country Lane."
Warm socks (new pattern) coming soon!

Happy knitting, all! See you soon...promise :-)

Oh, and yeah: GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!

Yarn Stew