knitting – Page 3 – Elliebelly Knit & Dye Works

Cats. Yarn.

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Joyce Makes Art

It could have been a disaster. But thankfully, it wasn't. And they are just so stinkin' cute.

Usually, I'm meticulously good about putting up my things before I go to bed, but I wanted to knit a last row before I turned off the lights last night, and left everything on the floor, thinking it would be okay.

Our new kittens, Wingus and Dingus, are masterminds of chaos, so I should have known better. And really, for them, this was quite restrained. Fortunately, they were far more interested in a piece of kleenex and a pile of the Judge's dirty clothes (or at least they found them first), so the carnage was far worse there.

No more good yarnz for kittens in our house. But I will leave a few scraps strategically place around the house for them to discover, so they can enjoy the sensation of being naughty kittens. They are extremely pleased with themselves right now!

Vodka Lemonade

Posted on June 7, 2015December 28, 2016 by Joyce Makes Art

No, it's not an alien mutant or a sweater for a small elf in Santa's workshop. It's the adolescent phase of my Vodka Lemonade. It looks a bit wonky, with the collar unblocked, the sleeves partially done for later pick up, and only a couple of inches worked on the body. But it's P-R-O-G-R-E-S-S and I'm really happy with it. I'm hoping that it will blossom as I get a bit more work done and become the sweater of my dreams.

On the plus side, this color, The Plucky Knitter's Fiona on Crew, is everything I could have hoped for!

My decision to alternate two skeins was a good one. The yarn has just enough variation that not alternating would have been an issue. I think it might have been even better with three skeins in the rotation. It has been relatively easy to get a nice, clean, edge, carefully bringing the alternating skeins up the side of the project. And the color looks lovely knit up like this!

The Zissou Hat

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Joyce Makes Art

If you know someone who loves Wes Anderson movies, then this is the perfect Father's Day (or any day) gift.

Anderson's movie The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is a comedic take on Jacques Cousteau, sea explorer and icon of my childhood (oh the Sunday afternoons spent watching Jacques take on creatures in exciting underwater locales!) And this hat, the classic Cousteau/Zissou hat, is a lovely reminder that even guys with no fashion sense whatsoever can sometimes start a trend.

Since "guy with no fashion sense" is pretty much the guy I married, this hat should be perfect for him (she said lovingly). Modeled here by one of our boys, it's sweet and charming, and just a little bit silly. Everything a good hat should be.

Hold your breath along with me — he's notoriously picky about presents. I'm hoping this one will make the cut!

New Knitting

Posted on May 26, 2015December 28, 2016 by Joyce Makes Art

I'm violating the rule of "one project off the needles means one new one on" this week. My Frostline is finished, but I've started two more projects.

First, a Zissou Hat. It's for the Judge for Father's Day. Ssssh. Don't tell him (I'm pretty sure he doesn't read my blog). I've got some lovely red Plucky Knitter Bello Worsted yarn and I've played with the math-fu to convert a pattern meant for a much finer weight cotton yarn. This probably means d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r, but I'm game. When finished, it will (hopefully) look something like this.

Reminder: If you haven't seen Wes Anderson's movie The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, DO! Just drop whatever you are doing right now (take along your knitting) and get it on Netflix or Amazon.

Second new project, and still in the swatching stage, is a (hopefully) quick tank top I want to knit for the ballerina before she goes off to her summer program.

The yarn is a fascinating Linen tape yarn from Quince, one of my favorite yarn makers and definitely my favorite for all things linen. This will require me to sew pieces together with mattress stitch, which will likely take more time than all of the knitting combined. I'm already trotting out my mantra: I love finishing up my knitting projects. Because really, like most knitters, I'm a bit adverse to finishing. But, having managed to weave in untold ends on my Frostline, I think it was something like 24 ends, this should be cake.

A New Start & A Near Finish. And Something in Between.

Posted on May 17, 2015 by Joyce Makes Art

In this week's knitting:

A new start. The Forest Park Cowl in The Plucky Knitter's Primo Aran in Heirloom Green. With all of its bonny cables, this pattern feels like it fell right off the pages of Outlander. I've started this as an easy project to carry around, but plan on finishing a few in-the-works projects before I get serious about it.

An "almost there." Frostline is all done and just awaiting its lace edging. And I'm in love!

Vodka Lemonade. Will it ever end?

Just kidding Vodka Lemonade. I really do love you. The 7" of seed stitch in the collar on all 300+ stitches was sort of a bummer. And then keeping the various columns of seed stitch and ribbing straight, along with the right side increases, as I worked from the top of the shoulders shoulders down to the point where the sleeve stitches can go on a holder and the body be worked alone was a bit of a challenge for me. But I'm almost to that point, and it should be quite simple from here on out. I'm looking forward to the lace bits at the bottom.

Fit is still a challenge for me with sweaters. But I'm going to work on that. In September I'm going to a knitting retreat and taking "Knit to Flatter" with Amy Herzog. In the meantime, I'll give Vodka Lemonade my best effort, because I love the pattern, the yarn, and the color.

Knitting: In My Carry On Bag For Spring Break

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Joyce Makes Art

A small confession. I jammed a couple of pairs of pants and some tee-shirts in my son's suitcase for spring break. This left my roll on board and my carry on bags free for knitting. Because that's what spring break is about, right?

I've got the following projects along with me:

March Monkey – I don't like the fidgety double points and color changes for airplane knitting, but I'll work on him once we arrive.
Frostline – I had to set this Plucky Knitter project aside while I waited for Dandy Lion and Sticky Toffee, the next two colors I needed, to arrive. Ultimately, I decided to substitute a skein of Cornucopia for Sticky Toffee, but now I'm all set to go.
Drachenfels – I don't expect to make lots of progress on this, but brought it along for "insurance" knitting (I know, I know).
Vodka Lemonade – I'd like to finish the shoulder increases, so I can work on the body on a long flight later this month. I love this sweater! The color, the yarn (Plucky Crew), just everything about it is wonderful. At the lighter dk gauge, it has been a slow, but very enjoyable, knit so far.
Tipperary – I had hoped to finish this, but a couple of busy weeks mean I haven't had much time for knitting, so I'm still a few rows shy. This is first up for airplane knitting, and hopefully I can finish it by the time we arrive.
Antarktis – The Adventurous April KAL starts on April 1, so although this yarn is currently tucked away in my suitcase, I can't wait to get started! I may even stay up late and cast on at midnight, because after all, that's what spring break is for.

Expect a few quick pictures and updates on knitting as the week progresses.

Clapotis: An Old Knitting Favorite

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Joyce Makes Art

In 2009 I knit a Clapotis out of linen. To be precise, that is Elliebelly Chemise in the Nassau Colorway.

Every year, around this time I take my summer clothes out of storage, and fall in love Clapotis all over again. Kate Gilbert's brilliant pattern stands the test of time. And, in linen, Clapotis is decorative, protective from the sun, a little bit of extra warmth – all as needed.

It's interesting how some knits remain favorites for ever. This Clapotis, my second one, knit up much more quickly than the first. It's much smaller and I understood the pattern going into it. It's very simple. And yet, I reach for it constantly.

What knits have stood the test of time for you? What patterns do you see out there that you think could achieve that status in your knitting? My other knit in this category is Lida, which I finished just last year, and which I wear constantly.