and we had knitting, too

Posted on annePosted in designing, lace/shawls, projects

even though i spent a LOT of time working in the garden over the weekend, i managed to get some knitting done as well. i took a break on saturday morning to meet up with debby and susie, which gave me a chance to finish the first of the cotton fingerless mitts i’ve had on my needles forever.

i love the way it turned out and it’s not even blocked yet; imagine how nice it will look after a bath. the ecobutterfly organic color grown pakucho cotton lace yarn i’m using truly feels like a luxury fiber—if you happen to be allergic to cashmere, this would be a lovely substitute; it behaves about the same in knitted fabric and feels lush. i’m using the deep green cotton lace (without copper)

i decided to name them sweet tea; anne marie helped me with the name and i love it. the pattern is all written, proofed, and waiting for me to get a sample done. i forget about them sometimes, because they live in my purse. while i do get some work done on them while on the go, i’ve realized that i need to pull them out and just get them done during an evening or two at home.

in fact, today i got a good start on the second one during our afternoon knitting class and now i’m through the lace hem. i’ll work on it more this evening and who knows—we could have a new pattern to release on friday (deadlines are good; this is what i needed).

i also worked on the the twig and leaf shawlette that i’m knitting in briar rose merino/silk stella lace

i think the color is closest to this one on chris’s website—oh yes looky there, she even named it Anne’s New Shawl, haha, so i guess that would be the one! but you know what? it would look great in any one of the gorgeous color ways on that page—i love 800, 802, or 810.

sigh; this is why i don’t shop.

i love how this yarn is knitting up—from a distance, it looks like all one color, a tonal blue/black/green. but when you get up close, you see all sorts of lovely streaks in shades of purple, blue, and green.

it’s a whole world in there. i know i probably sound like a stoner or something, because i said the same thing the other day about the squash plants, too, but oh well, welcome to my brain.

the hem is moving along about as fast as 450-something stitches can do in a lace pattern, yet i can see progress. and who cares anyway? speed is overrated . . . i love the way it looks, so that’s good enough for me. i’m almost halfway through the hem—once i get to the garter section of the body, it will all go a bit faster, i think and i can start taking it places, like upstairs to watch TV, haha. not that it’s a difficult pattern, but in the dark color, it’s hard for me to see, so for  now i only knit it in good light.

i’m excited about this piece; chris is having a sample knit in a heavier yarn too, which should be interesting. it will probably take more yarn, though i won’t know how much until it’s done. meanwhile, jocelyn is also knitting a sample in stella.

OH! and speaking of briar rose—chris is going to have an event in early october called yarn in the barn, which will be a yarn orgy an open house featuring briar rose fibers and other artisans and some classes as well. i’ve been invited in as the guest teacher for the weekend; chris has booked two sections of sweater fitness as well as a half-day shawl class (maybe featuring this very shawl). if you live in the midwest region and have been waiting for a knitspot teaching event within driving distance, this could be your chance. please contact chris to find out more.

talking about the new shawl reminds me that i have a new type of shawl pin to share with you—they are called knopki: pretty pointless pins and they are the brainchild of creator hattie adkins, who many of you are familiar with as a long-time and very dear friend.

anyway, hattie figured out a new way to make shawl pins that hold layers of fabric together very securely, without using any sharp points.

you can use knopki as removable buttons as well—they are perfect for that, being constructed a little like a cuff link with a button on the back, attached by a tiny covered elastic band. find  place in your fabric to push the smaller button through and there you have it; an instant closure.

i do love how nicely they hold the layers of fabric together—tight, but without squashing the folds and they don’t droop.

it’s a good solution for lace fabrics that you feel are too delicate to tear at with a pin. if you want to use them for buttons on a sweater, you might need to plan ahead to create the necessary holes in the button band. but that should be as easy as copying your plan for the buttonhole band. hattie has a page of knopki sets available for this purpose. you can also ask for custom knopki, tailored to your project.

nice right? well, hattie would love to treat us to a giveaway of a knopki pin—the winner gets the pin of their choice. so here’s what we’ll do: take a look at hattie’s etsy shop, then come back and leave a comment, telling us which knopki is your favorite. i’ll close comments at 9 pm EDST on friday, july 6th; we’ll notify the winner (and everyone else) shortly after.

now, you might think that this ends the post, but you’d be wrong!

i’ll show you the next thing if you promise not to laugh—i was having a very busy day and not only had i not washed my hair yet, but i forgot to remove my glasses. so just ignore all that, cuz despite my being a mess, i think you might want to see this anyway . . .

i got david to snap a few photos of me wearing the finished caïssa sweater.

i like it a lot; the fabric feels just lovely. it’s hard to believe this garment is 13 inches bigger than i am, isn’t it? but it fits a range of sizes—we tried it on several people in class today to be sure.

it’s ok the way it is, too, but i do want that  collar band to sit up higher, so i’m correcting that in the pattern, but other than that, i’m happy. i know i will wear mine a lot, once winter comes. right now though, it’s a bit too sticky.

alright now, time to get to work—stay cool and have a very happy 4th of july. we’re going to spend the day with friends who have lots of kids about; i can’t wait.

125 thoughts on “and we had knitting, too”

  1. Great idea! I especially love the crystal clear one. Oh, the new sweater is lovely too!

  2. Absolutely adore the new sweater. Am planning a road trip with a friend for Yarn in the Barn, and hope to finally meet you.

    The big button with the Frank Lloyd Wright look to it – my favorite!

  3. wow — what a great post — it makes me realize that I am not alone in the ‘doing too much” this summer department ROFL — gardening, summer home cleanup and more. I’ve been lucky enough to win here a couple of times, but will still post my favorite “button”.

    The knopki are fabulous — what a great idea. I think they are all lovely, but feel for me personally the Black Faceted Knopki would be the best — it would go with ANY shawl I make. Love the name — Knopki is actually the Russian word for “button(s), and I’ve spent some time in Russia. Hattie has a “vintage” one up, and it reminds me of the silver buttons on the uniforms from Catherine the Great’s time. They were hefty, and in silver, and were passed down in families.

    I have do a plug here for Knitspot though: I’m trying to “de-paper” my printed knitting patterns by making sure they are in a Ravelry format or downloaded on my computer — so I can get rid of most of them on paper. I am reminded that the knitting industry on the internet was not nearly so sophisticated in 2006-2007 as it is now. But thankfully good bookmarks, easy download PDFs and Ravelry.com came along. Many patterns that I printed “eons” ago look dated/have been updated. Knitspot patterns? They still look perfect — Anne certainly got a good format at the very beginning and stuck to it, along with good color photos. In the middle of the chaos I am making to ‘clean up,” it has been fun to look at my Knitspot patterns 🙂 Now…. to find the time to knit them up LOL

  4. What a great post, Anne, I love everything in it! Through various trades, I just managed to secure a second skein of the cotton lace with copper – I wonder if it will be enough for Wandering Thyme and Sweet Tea? (I love the names, too:)

  5. The red flower knopki has summer written all over it…and my name as well!! Had to choose just one, they are so pretty & clever!

  8. Ok, how could someone possibly chose just one of the knopki??!!?? What a wonderfully clever idea!! I love the black kitty — as I have two of my own, but I think the zebra wood heart, in medium, is lovely and more versitile.

  9. OMG, that Caissa is awesome! I Really really really want one! I want to cast on this minute!!!!

    I Love Hattie’s Black Faceted Knopki. That would work with anything!

  12. I love it when someone comes up with a clever new solution to an old need. She’s really done something for almost everyone, but that Blue Bubble Knopki is a stunner.

  15. I’ve been waiting to SEE this sweater on a body. Thanks for modeling, Anne

    Fingerless mitts with the pakucho cotton lace is beckoning me ! ! ! ! !

    Visited Hattie’s shop and fell for the wood hearts and the owlies. She’s come up with a terrific way to preserve our shawl’s yarn and keep the drape in a stylish manner. Congrats to Hattie!

    hugs

  17. It is hard to choose a favorite Knopki. I like the pansy followed by the vintage silver or the silver woman.

  18. I love your caïssa sweater! I hope the sizes come close to my own very large person, with so much ease and given your usual generously ample range of sizes in your patterns I am very hopeful! If so, this would be the very first garment I’ve knitted for myself. Since I’ve been knitting almost every day for more than a decade, about time too!

    I should know to get my wish list book mark folder ready whenever I visit your blog. I don’t know how many times I flipped back and forth on Hattie’s shop pages but I finally decided I liked the vintage Knopki best :-

  19. Wow what a great post! I love the Frank Lloyd Wright button, carved olive, black shimmer, oh and blueberry sparkle!

  22. I liked the crystal clear swirl kropki that I bought it! So if I’m lucky enough to win ill have to find another favorite!

  23. The Caïssa sweater is looking really nice; I bet it’s going to be the perfect everyday winter comfort item!

    The Knopki seem like such a good idea, and there are so many pretty ones–I think my favorite would have to be the sleepy kitty.

  25. Hattie’s pins are wonderful! I’m still in love with the pearl one. I gifted one like it to a dear friend. I hope Hattie’s business is a huge success. She’s such a nice person and very talented. : )

    Anne, you look great in your new sweater. I know this release will make me break my yarn fast.

    Hope you and David have a very happy 4th of July.

  26. All of the Japanese fabric ones are my favorite! 😛 Little Bird if I have to narrow. They’re all amazing!

    The sweater is gorgeous!!!!

    Happy and safe holiday!

  27. The blueberry sparkle Knopki is my favourite!

    Oh Anne, that sweater is gorgeous! Every time I see a new sweater pattern of yours, I get closer to knitting one. Eep!

  28. I love the carved coconut Knopki. It reminds me of snorkling on the beaches of Maui with the turtles —-the best vacation ever! I also love coconut oil as a moistuizer!

  32. I love the new sweater. 🙂 I’m looking forward to the pattern.

    As for the knopki — as others have said, it’s hard to choose just one. But I’m a sucker for the color of ‘blurple’, so I’ll go with the blueberry sparkle one.

  33. Pretty and practical buttons! My favorite is the antique pearly finish round.

  34. gorgeous sweater! love the drape.

    I love these all and have been looking at them – today, my pick would be Carved Olive Knopki

  35. Wow! Hard to decide…..they are all so beautiful….I guess I would have to pick the black faceted knopki. I love the way it plays with the light. They are all beautiful. What a great idea!

  37. Love the sweater (great color) and fingerless gloves !

    My favorite would be the frank Lloyd wright one, then second would be the antique silver lady one. Terrific idea!

  38. What a fantastic idea for a shawl closure.

    My favorite one is Antiqued Silver Woman Knopki- Medium.
    Love how that cardigan has come up!

  39. I love the idea of rhe Knopki. I like the Hawaiian flower and cream tapestry Knopki.

    The sweater looks scrumptious. I am looking forward to the pattern release.

    Have a Happy 4th!!!

  42. My favorite is definitely the Antique Pearly Finish Round Knopki- Medium!
    Can’t wait to see more of the new shawl!
    Happy 4th of July to you!

  43. The Knopi are such a clever idea! And so very pretty! I just want to collect them all! I thought I liked the vintage ones best, but then I saw the flower ones, and then I saw the Japanese fabric ones… If I had to choose only one, it would probably be the black cat one… But if you wait five minutes, I’ll probably change my mind!

  45. I love the very one you have on your shawl!! Very different and contemporary looking. I don’t see it on the website but that would be my choice.

  46. I like the Black Faceted knopki! I think it could go with a great variety of shawls/wraps when you want to dress them up. I really like the knopki concept.

  47. I also like the pin on your shawl, but just LOVE the zebra wood heart pin in her Etsy shop!

  48. I love this sweater. During winter, if my neck is cold, I’m cold all over, so I like the idea of a comfortable, casual sweater with a high back neckline. I never thought I’d ever knit another sweater, but…..
    The Knopki is a clever idea. My favorite is the antique pearly round.

  49. I like the carved white flower pin. They are all nice choices. I like the one in your picture a lot. Didn’t see that on her site though. Your garden looks great. Wish I had more room for a bigger garden.

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