Sunday, December 24, 2006

Riding Jacket and a scarf




Finally finished a couple of projects: a Riding Jacket from Teva Durham's "Loop-d-Loop", and crocheted flower scarf.
For the jacket I used one of my favorite yarns: Jo Sharp DK wool; it required some adjustments in gauge and changing a pattern somewhat.
The scarf was a product of some leftover yarn.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Norwegian Gloves



Just finished those: they are from the "Norsk Strikkedesign" book, and published there as fingerless gloves. Since I don't particularly care for such type (read: cold winters, and my fingers are always freezing), I changed the design crocheting fingers instead. They (fingers) look a little fat, but increadibly warm!

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Shepherdess yarn sweater


This is an unusual sweater because all the yarns used in it are naturally colored: not dyed. I came across "Shepherdess yarns" by pure chance, and enjoyed their selection and the quality of yarns tremendously. Debby (the owner) was very helpful, and sent me samples of her yarns to decide on sweater's color palette. I used quite a few colors: Sheep Heathers in Chocolate, Honey Beige, Rose Grey (gorgeous!), Oatmeal; and Alpaca Blend in Mahogany and Cinnamon. I can't describe the softness and incredible feel of these lanolin-rich yarns. I made two other projects using these yarns: a hat for my son and a vest for my husband - both my designs. I am now finishing a shrug using the leftover Chocolate yarn, and considering getting some black yarn for another sweater.
The cuffs of the sweater presented were inspired by Estonian cast-on techniques from the book "Folk Knitting in Estonia".

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Cardigan "Lotus"

































This project took a little more than a month and a lot of frustration: I had to start over a couple of times because I made a mistake in sizing.
The yarn used is Jo Sharp DK wool in color "Brocade" - one of my favorite yarns. There are crochet details on sleeves, and I learned how to crochet buttons!

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Bolero - a simple harmony of knitting and crochet





This bolero happened because of my stash. I had several skeins of Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed in colors Jewel and Beach, and I absolutely needed to use them: they were in stash far too long...
The pattern was simple enough, needles used # 8, and crochet hook size I (5.5 mm).
This is the result: a simple harmony of knitting and crochet, the way it meant to be.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Top "Summer Flowers"




This top was inspired by a dress pattern from one of the French magazines. I used "Petra" DMC cotton and a hook # 1.75 The project was fun, but connecting all the flowers took a while, and was not too exciting...
However, it is done, and summer is almost over...

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Spanish vest




It was named it this way because I started working on it while on vacations in Spain. Finally it is done! I used Habu textiles cotton: a very fine yarn, and crocheting hook # 1.5
The darker yarn is DMC cotton from my stash.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Crocheted vest



Surprisingly enough, this vest did not take long: about a week or so. I used Schachenmayr Nomotta Catania in color 0174 (blue) and crocheting hook # 2. For a cooler fall days it will look nice with a white t-shirt or a blouse.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Lotus Blossom Tank



I enjoyed working with this unusual yarn: bamboo! The project is from the cover of Summer 2006 Interweave Knits. I used a different color than asked for: Sky instead of Turquoise. (Thank you, Debby from "Theyarngrove" - your suggestion worked well!)
It took me around three weeks to finish the tank, but I had other projects to take care of.
The conclusion: this is indeed a summer project to enjoy!

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

The year of roses




These are my favorites: The Heritage (light pink) English rose; after I trimmed it back, it grew almost 7 feet tall! Resists black spot, and blooms abundantly. Comte de Chambord - deeper pink with an amazing fragrance, and Senior Prom - pink to red. They require some work, but I do love the results...

Thursday, June 01, 2006

“Kviten” top - picture and pattern





This top is a result of my "obsession" with Habu yarns: particularly "Gear Linen". When my son touched the yarn, he exclaimed: "It feels like a chain mail! Are you really going to knit with it?" It does feel stiff at first, but if you overcome the "initial shock", the feeling is not at all unpleasant. It is surprisingly pleasant to wear: not scratchy at all!
Apparently, it will become softer with washing; I will see. Honestly, I like it the way it is.
For those less adventurous, just use Hempathy in contrasting color.
A few apologies: I only provided measurements for one size – medium. I am giving just a very basic description of crochet elements: large and small circles and connecting chains.
Here is the pattern:

“Kviten” top by Tatyana Tadenev
© Tatyana Tadenev

The name of this sweater translates “April” in Ukrainian, my country of birth. “Kviten” literally means “a month of flowers”. I though of decorative shoulder accents being similar to flowers and giving justification to the name choice. The yarns I used complimented each other. Gear linen came from Habu Textiles. It has an unusual crinkle and somewhat stiff feel, but softens after wash. Hempathy by Elsebeth Lavold was a complimentary yarn, gently balancing the initial roughness of linen.

Note: I enjoy working with Habu yarns. However, if you are not in adventurous mode, you can substitute Gear linen with Hempathy of contrasting color.

Gauge: 22 sts over 4 inches / US # 3 needles

Yarns used: Gear Linen A-17 1/4.5 (# 11 Grape) 4 oz (S, M), 5 oz (L);
Hempathy 005 (Off White) 2 balls

Yarn substitution: any linen/cotton yarn that gives the same gauge.

Materials: US #3 circular needles; US size 0 crochet hook,tapestry needle

Abbreviations:

Sts – stitches
St - stitch
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
K – knit
P – purl

Patterns used:

Garter stitch: all rows knit

Back and Front:

Cast on 92 sts on size 3 needles using Long tail cast-on and Gear Linen.
Work even until piece measures 10 ins.
Switch to Hempathy yarn and continue as following: 42 sts of Hempathy, 8sts of Linen Gear, 42 sts of Hempathy. Continue for 12 rows. Cable cast on 5 sts at the beginning of next two rows for sleeves. Cable cast on another 3 sts at the beginning of rows 14 and 15. In row 51 continue with the Linen Gear across all sts.
In row 73 cast off middle 34 Sts. For the neck opening. Continue working on shoulders. In row 15 of the shoulder continue in the following manner: knit 9sts, cast off 10sts, knit another 9 sts. In row 26 close all remaining sts.


Finishing:

Iron front and back lightly to prepare for seams. Use mattress stitch to sew shoulder seams. You will have to rectangle openings on shoulders to insert crochet elements.

Crochet elements (make two):

Crochet 1 large circle (about 2 ins. in diameter), 2 medium circles (1.8 ins), and 2 small (1in). Connect them in freeform using chain st. Sew in position.

Optional: Use crochet hook #0 and “Crab Stitch” to decorate the neck.
“Crab stitch” or reverse single crochet: I did not use a foundation single crochet row, but started crab stitch over the cast-off neck edge. With the right side of the work facing you, working left to right, insert hook in next stitch to the right; yo, draw yarn through the stitch; yo, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook (1 reverse single crochet completed).

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

French sweater




















I've found this summer sweater in one of the Phildar magazines. The yarn used was Dalegarn Stork. Loved the yarn: soft and forgiving. The pattern is crochet, and it is one of the cases when crochet pattern shines. Knitters will probably tell me that you can accomplish similar results in knitting, but this was done fast! I love to crochet, and use any opportunity to practice.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

"Haiku" top




















This project was inspired by Japanese art - meditative and deceptively simple. I used my old favorite: Maggi's Linen. It gives interesting stitch definition and is available in a wide variety of colors. For "Haiku" (a mode of Japanese poetry) I decided on a quiet combination of Creme, Natural and a touch of Chocolate for accents.
The design dictated my stitches selection: the linen and the garter stitch. "Haiku" is my debut design in
The Knitting Vault. If interested, click the link and select Kloobok (my blog's name) from the list of the designers.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

French Market basket


I ordered this basket from Le Pin Parasol (here is the website http://www.lepinparasol.com/baskets_french.htm)
It took about two weeks to arrive (from Australia), and it is lovely! I can think of a million things to put in it, including my knitting. Catherine (the shop owner) kept me updated on my order, and I highly recommend her online store.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Vest "Simplicity"



I finished this vest in just three weeks. The yarn used is Sheep Heathers in Chocolate and Cream. (Here is the link to the site http://www.shadysidefarm.com/)



The yarn is amazingly soft, almost silky, and has interesting irregularities and that special yummy smell that only a farm yarn can have. I used two skeins of each (not quite).
For the ribbing I used long a tail two-color cast-on (can be found in Nancy Bush's "Folk Knitting in Estonia"), and for the Fair Isle part - various Scandinavian patterns.
The name "Simplicity" comes from the simplicity and beauty of the yarn. I am planning to start asweater using these yarns in broader palette.