FO: Merlot Jumper

Pattern: loosely based on Fair Isle Yoke Sweater from A Stitch in Time
Yarn: Wollmeise Lace Garn in Merlot, about 200 grams
Needles: 2 mm & 3 mm

I love, love, love this jumper! It fits like a dream and is the perfect warmth for a short sleeve sweater.
More than I love the FO, I love this yarn. It's definitely my favourite yarn ever. The colours, yardage, drape... everything is wonderful. (Just think, of what other yarn can you get a jumper out of ONE skein?).
Getting it might be tricky, but I'm sure I'll manage to acquire more before I finish another 5 jumpers.

a Stitch in Time

I was going to show you one more of my finished jumpers - based on a pattern from this book - but I got a little carried away. Tomorrow's another day, now it's time to watch the football.

For my birthday - half a year ago already - I got a Stitch in Time, a book full of rewritten vintage patterns. There is an enormous amount of gorgeous patterns in this book, but the "modernised" adaptations leave a lot to be desired. I've knit one jumper out of this book so far, and I've been very glad that the original patterns are included as well, because the rewritten versions have the odd mistake and are sometimes sized a bit strangely.

In fact, I think the word "rewritten" might be a bit too much to say, because the book simply copies the original instructions with some of the math changed for another yarn or a bigger gauge. Before I had seen this book from the inside, I had expected the patterns to be rewritten according to the current standards - even though I sometimes find those too elaborate - and more importantly, I was dreadfully disappointed that the allover lace pullovers did not have any charted instructions for the pattern repeats. This does not mean that it is a bad book, it is simply not what I had expected based on the description.

The pattern writing is actually not even my main issue, because I am proficient enough to work from the minimal instructions that are common in vintage pattern. More disappointing is that the sizing on the patterns seemed really off sometimes. The modern photographs all show the garments with a huge amount of positive ease, whereas the original photos show much tighter garments. The models are thin and gorgeous, but one specifically seems to drown in much of the clothes. She can't be much more than a 34" bust (about my size, probably even thinner), but she is consistently wearing the size made to fit a 38-39" bust.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book, but only if you are comfortable using vintage patterns, because the adapted versions are still by no means as elaborate as patterns released nowadays. Further, I'd encourage everyone to look at the photos of the older versions before deciding which size to knit, because you wouldn't want to end up drowning in your jumper.

FO: Stripes

Oh my, I can't believe more than two months have already passed. This whole thesis-writing-thing really cuts into my knitting/blogging time.

It has been a while since I've managed to convince my housemate to take pictures of all my knitwear, so I have a backlog of 4 jumpers and some other stuff to blog about. I could spam you with them all at once, but because I won't have much time to knit and photograph for another week or two, I'll spread them out. (For the truly curious, all pictures are already on my Ravelry page)

First up is the one that has been waiting for photographs for the longest. I already finished this in February.

Yarn: Malabrigo Sock (ca. 1,6 skeins of Lettuce, 0,8 skeins of Eggplant and 0,8 skeins of Natural)
Needles: 3mm
Pattern: None - or if there's enough interest maybe eventually my own.
Ravelry: here

I absolutely adore this jumper, it is nice and warm but not too hot. I knit it in the round from the bottom up with seamless set-in sleeves and a steek for the neckline. It was dreadfully scary to steek a yarn like Malabrigo, because it is quite slippery, but I handstitched a couple of layers around the edges. So far, it has survived a few trips through the washing machine with no signs of loosening up.

I really want to make another one with only two colours - perhaps a way to use up two of my single skeins of Wollmeise?

Almost finished!

I've been working on my Merlot jumper almost exclusively for the past week, so I don't have many new things to show. However, I do have an almost-finished picture for this one. I have hardly any work left to do on it. I need to sew up the underarms, weave in my ends and find the perfect buttons for the shoulder. I'm quite happy with the shoulder seam. I thought it'd be a terrible pain to sew them, with the lace pattern, but it turned out really well.

It should be ready to wear by the end of this week, but probably sooner. Finishing this is so much more fun that writing an 10-page paper, after all.

Too Posh to be true

It's finally spring around here! It is sunny and warm, and I found some bright, sunny yarn waiting in my mailbox this morning. There's nothing like a Pink Posh Parcel to brighten a morning! The second installment of the Posh Cashmere Club is Eva 4ply in the colourway Tulip Time. As often in a club, it's not a colour that I would have picked myself, but it is absolutely gorgeous. It will take me a while to find a project worthy of this one.

Bandwagon socks

Pattern: Skew by Lana Holden (Ravelry link, because Knitty is down at the moment).
Yarn: Regia Color 4ply
Needles: 2.25 mm

This pattern is amazing. It seems to be working especially well with this self-striping yarn. If all goes well they will be finished before Queen's day, because of the red-white-blue-orange.

In which I have lost my mind...

... or probably will in the near future.

This is the start of a jumper. In laceweight, mainly in stockinette. It's going to be my own design, although it is heavily inspired by the silhouette of 1940s jumpers. The body will be in stockinette with a simple lace pattern on the yoke. With a gauge of 28sts/10cm it could also be made in a light fingering weight - maybe something like Malabrigo sock?

Pattern: None yet.
Yarn: Wollmeise Lacegarn in Merlot
Needles: 2mm for ribbing, 3mm for stockinette.

FO: Welcome to the Jungle

I'm usually not a big fan of heavily variegated yarns, but when I found this one in my latest Wollmeise grab bag, I decided to give it a shot. At first I was planning to make simple stockinette socks out of it, but with the needles & stitch count I wanted to use, it pooled like hell. All the black ended up on one side of the sock, while all the green stayed on the other. After a few days in the naughty corner, the yarn came to its senses and decided it wanted to be a simple, smooshy garter stitch shawl.

Pattern: Aestlight Shawl by Gudrun Johnston
Yarn: Wollmeise 100% in WD Im Dunkle Wald
Needles: 3.5 mm

The final verdict is that I absolutely love it! The knitting was fun - although the border got a bit tedious towards the end - and it is big, warm and squishy. I will definitely make another one in a supersoft red or gray.

Sneak Preview

I'm working on a sock pattern. It will be toe-up in 3 sizes (54, 63, 72 stitches around) and hopefully available early April. The pictures are taken, most of the math is done and I'm planning to finish the pattern this weekend so I can offer it for test knitting early next week.

FO: 1940s Jumper

After a rather long trip to Paris, my camera has finally found its way back to me. This means proper photos of proper FOs!


Pattern: 1940s Jumper from A Stitch in Time
Yarn: Wollmeise 100% in Sabrina - 2 skeins
Needle: 2.5 & 3.5 mm

I adore this jumper! It fits like a dream and the colour is so lively. The only downside is that the neck was a bit tight, but that was easily fixed with a frogloop closure.

I might make more jumpers according to this pattern, but I'd pick up more stitches for the neck and maybe add some patterning to the yoke.

FO: Maaike's Booties

Pattern: Saartje's Booties
Yarn: Wollmeise 80/20 Twin
Needles: 2,5 mm, magic loop
Time: 2,5 hours




Just a quick present for a friend of my boyfriend, who just had a baby. Once again, apologies for the picture quality. My camera seems to still be enjoying Paris. These are the most adorable things I've ever seen. It will definitely be a repeated gift.

Ravelympics: progress report

Only 5 days into the Olympics - which I have hardly been watching because I'm not much of a sports fan - I'm already seaming my Tempest. The knitting went remarkably fast. All the stockinette made for perfect TV knitting.

Please excuse the horrible iPhone picture. In all my generosity I let a friend borrow my camera for her trip to Paris.

One side down, one to go!

Pattern: Tempest by Ann Weaver
Yarn: Wollmeise Sockenwolle 80/20 (Fuchsia & WD Lavendel, one skein each)
Needles: 3,5mm

Swap presents

Two months of emptiness already. I should be ashamed...
Anyway, I've participated in two amazing swaps recently and couldn't resist showing off the goodies I received. Not much to say about them, just that I'm really happy with everything and feel thoroughly spoiled. I hope my swap partners enjoyed their presents as much!

First up: LSG Valentine swap.

Next: Posh Yarn's Valentine swap.

Everything edible has been long gone by now, but enough remains to enjoy! Thank you all.