Fall into Winter Knitting Wishlist

If you didn't know already, jewel tones are in fashion this Fall and Holiday season, which includes luxurious furs dyed in these same colors.  Louisa Harding Luzia yarn, which is 80 percent viscose and 20 percent nylon knits into fur. I am completely fascinated by this yarn. But I really want to know how this feels on my skin. I'm not a lover of synthetics. Fellow knitters, please chime in!!!

I was thinking of making one of these shrugs for this year's holiday party.  If anyone else decides to make the above shrug, I found an errata for it on Ravelry.com. You can find the errata from Louisa Harding herself HERE.

I have been squandering my last couple of mornings looking at online knitting patterns, and drooling over these latest designs. What is it about those UK designers that I love so much? Louisa Harding patterns depict the many faces of romance. It's difficult to describe until you look at her patterns. Do a Google search, and you'll know what I mean or maybe you're already a fan, and in that case, please feel free to answer my most important question...how difficult are those patterns? They look too fancy to be easy. Even though I'm tackling my first LH pattern, I have many on my wishlist that scare me.

Like I mentioned...look at the fur and trim colors on the runway. Since I'm primarily a sewists, I am seriously thinking of knitting my own fur trim. Anyone done this before? I would love to see your work. Here are examples of this season's fur and trim from Anna Sui...

The unfortunate thing however, like my Rowan fetish, there are too many books to collect, and yarn prices are at a premium. Then there's the yarn collection that I swore I would never turn into an embarrassing hoard, and it isn't...if one could look past two average box full or one big box full. It's all how one looks at life. Positive or negative? Half yarn-box full or half yarn-box empty?

Happy knitting!

Wimberry Update and Craft Supplies

My Wimberry vest by Louisa Harding is almost at its halfway point.  Maybe I shouldn't speak too soon since I'm about to start the shoulder and collar shaping.  I've been utilizing the life-line yarn at every new section, and I'm glad I did.  I had to unravel my work once,  but without losing a bulk of good stitches.  One of my G+ members from the East Bay gave me this great hint.  (Thanks Solonge!)  The back is knitted exactly like the front, so I'll be able to choose between the better looking half for the front of the sweater.  (If you look closely at the bottom of the lace, I've knitted a pink stitch marker right into the pattern.  I'll have to remember to break that off before I wear the vest. Oops!)  

This weekend, I was on the hunt for an outdoor grilling tool at my local Japanese market...which also happens to be right next door to our local Daiso store.  So of course, I had to go there too.  Daiso is a Japanese dollar store filled with little no-name home goods, and stationery supplies. They also have some unexpected items like craft and sewing supplies.  Besides picking up my usual supply of notebooks, I also found lingerie elastic, lace-trimmed cotton webbing, and a pack of cut felt in various shades of pink...all for $1.50 each.  

Daiso also has a small section of knitting supplies.  My current project needs to hold more stitches than my little Hiya Hiya holders can accommodate. So what should I find at Daiso for $1.50? Two large metal stitch holders. Love them.

If you live in California or Washington and haven't shopped at a Daiso, get over there!  Find Daiso Store locations by continent HERE.  Happy knitting!

Give Up Knitting?

Of course I'm kidding...but seriously folks, I think I'm knitting-challenged.  Maybe that's putting it mildly. I wish all patterns were written for people like me. Step-by-step instructions, that tell me exactly what might happen if I forget to do something, and reminds me to count my stitches often. All patterns basically assume that I know how to knit fairly well, and that I will be able to figure things out when a stitch gets dropped, or when I suddenly find myself with too many or too few.

Enter my newest project...

Wimberry Vest Pattern from Little Cake by Louisa Harding.

My recent discovery of Louisa Harding patterns...many, many that I am drooling over. But at the same time dreading because almost every piece has some kind of lace knit involved. I abhor and LOVE lace patterns. They are the worst to unravel and fix when it comes to errors, and I have plenty. I suppose it's about time I drag my butt over to the yarn store and find myself a teacher who will save me from knitting hell.

This Wimberry vest pattern was published back in 2010 from a pattern book entitled Little Cake. Even though it's four years old, I think all the projects still look fresh and timeless. I do want to say that the slow start of this project was not entirely my fault. There are some real guage issues that I'm not taking responsibility for. I have purchased the exact Louisa Harding yarn, even the same color, and had it shipped all the way from Canada. I've tested the gauge and it measured out correctly. After knitting the little loop bottom for the tenth time, it came out too large every time. Not by a little...like by six inches larger than the extra-large size. It was literally off the charts!

I found on Ravelry that I need to use smaller needles. I am now using a 3.5mm for the lace, which is about .5 smaller than what is originally indicated and based on the size chart, I am still three inches too wide from my intended size.  Argh!  What does this mean? It means that at the rate I'm going, the vest will still be two sizes too big when I'm done.  I'm asking myself, maybe this pattern only works in size extra small? Hmmm...back to the drawing board or give up on this pattern and try something else. After a week of not getting past the first 10 rows...I'm thinking the later.  Stay tuned.