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My Newest Project – Ooooh I’m In Love!

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You know how some yarn is totally made for a particular set of needles and then a pattern jumps in the mix and you have Utopia? Well this is the story…

So I got some new yarn from Knit Picks, it’s the Wool of the Andes Tweed. Actually the color I got isn’t the blue that’s shown in my project, but more of a purple heather, (Indigo Heather below); not sure why my camera freaked out and changed it to blue. But, I’m totally in love with this newest yarn. It’s a worsted weight, so knits up nice and quick (as compared to the socks on 1’s and 2’s). It’s a cross between Peruvian sheep, Corriedale sheep and Merino. It also supposedly felts beautifully, this I don’t want to find out about just yet. The wool has a nice sturdy feel to it, meaning, it’s not flimsy, and it holds up really nicely to tinking (don’t ask… I’m not over it yet).

This is a lot closer to the actual color: Indigo Heather:

I’m knitting this vest pattern (more on the pattern later….):

Cool, eh? But what’s really neat is for the first real project, I’m using my new Harmony Interchangeable Needles, also from Knit Picks. I’ve used them for swatches before and to try them out, but didn’t have a “new” project to try them out on until now. (read between the lines: don’t switch needles in the middle of a project….).

I just love the Harmonys. Of course they’re pretty, but they just feel nice too. Don’t like to use steel or other metal needles, the Denise plastics are nice too but with a natural yarn, you need natural needles, no? The shafts seems to be a bit longer than other circs I’ve used (and yes, unless it’s dpn’s, I use circulars exclusively) and the tips are just pointy enough to capture the knits and purls, without being dangerous. And for some unknown reason, my hands don’t get tired quite so quick. I’ll be exploring this theory more in the future….. just sayin’……

My next project will be another pair of socks, this time on the Harmony DPNs rather than my bamboos. I’ll be excited to see if I love them as much as the interchangeables! Now, got to get back to my new love!

 

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Comments

  2. The first knitting project I ever knitted was knit with Wool of the Andes, and I too am so in love with this tweed–must get some!!

  4. If I remember right, it was Knitting off the Axis, by Interweave. I totally love how it turned out, and I wear it all the time. Very pretty!

Have you read?

Stitch Your Favorite Fruit on a Sweater

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.” 

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them. 

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits. 

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves. 

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit. 

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy. 

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]