Posted in Chart, Etrusca Top, Pattern Corrections, on 20 April 2008 - 4:28pm
For patterns purchased before today: On Row 8 of the Lace Chart, stitches #22 and #30 should be "P on RS, k on WS"; as this is a WS row, you will knit, not purl these stitches.
Posted in Design Process, Etrusca Top, Film, Gauge, Karabella Empire Silk, Personal, Random, Swatching, Tilli Tomas Fil de la Mer, Vogue Knitting, Yarn, on 16 April 2008 - 7:59am
With each of my last few projects, the number of swatches I have done has steadily increased (I hope this trend doesn't continue!). I've done multiple swatches for different reasons; for my project for an upcoming issue of Vogue Knitting,
Posted in Etrusca Top, Gauge, Karabella Empire Silk, Original Pattern, Swatching, Yarn, on 7 April 2008 - 8:00am
The intricate ornamentation of ancient Etruscan jewelry was the inspiration for this top, in which a lustrous gold-colored yarn and the varied surfaces of garter stitch, a simple lace border, and slipped stitches combine to create a richly textured fab
Posted in Etrusca Top, Karabella Empire Silk, Pattern Writing, on 2 April 2008 - 9:08am
I've finished the pattern for Etrusca, but in pursuit of perfection, I'm giving myself a few days to proofread it. Not that I mind giving out a few free patterns, but I do so hate to make mistakes (ask my husband
Posted in Design Process, Etrusca Top, Karabella Empire Silk, on 20 March 2008 - 4:57pm
When I started plotting Etrusca, I thought that I would hide the waist shaping decreases in the sections between two of the slip stitch columns, the ones closest to the sides, so that the adjacent slip stitch lines would curve in and then out at the waist. But I didn't like the way this looked, with some lines curving in and others staying straight, so what I ended up doing was staggering the decreases, one in each garter stitch section (between the slip stitch lines), starting at the sides and moving toward the center, and then staggering the increases in the opposite direction, from the center out.
The resulting curves in the slip stitch lines are very subtle (but nice, I think), but I find it slightly problematic that the decreases and increases are not invisible-- not completely. They show up in the photo as slight aberrations in the garter ridges. To a bothersome degree? Is it better to have the decreases (as in stockinette stitch) be plainly visible, rather than trying and failing to hide them completely? I can't answer that question for all knitters...which is why I'm also including directions in the pattern for doing all decreases and increases in the side garter sections only.
Posted in Design Process, Etrusca Top, Inspiration, Karabella Empire Silk, Stash, Swatching, Yarn, on 12 March 2008 - 7:22am
Well, I never again want to come this close to running out of yarn; as it was, I unraveled my gauge swatch, fished one foot-long strand out of the trash, re-sewed both side seams using different yarn so I could salvage those pieces-- and here is what remain
(More photos and pattern coming soon!).jpg)
The Chinese Lace Pullover is a perfect spring-into-summer project, as shown in cotton (or try a cotton/wool or cotton/linen blend). Lace borders on cuffs and lower hem flow into wide, figure-flattering ribs on the sleeves and body. Directions given for working flat OR in the round. See more patterns