Monthly Archives: August 2013

Review: Metropolitan Knits

Post image for Review: Metropolitan Knits

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First, the facts:

Title: Metropolitan Knits: Chic Designs for Urban Style

Author: Melissa Wehrle

Published by: Interweave Press, 2013

Pages: 159

Type: Patterns

Chapters:

1. Heart of the City
2. Urban Bohemia
3. City Gardens

KS: Metropolitan Knits

The In-Depth Look:

I kind of love this book.

The author writes in the introduction that, “For this book, I tried to capture the heart and soul of New York City, designing knitwear that will take you through the many and varied experiences the city affords to residents and visitors alike. In these pages, you’ll find just the right sweater for the occasion … While the city often seems to be always in a constant state of change and upheaval, I hope that these designs will be timeless, well-worn additions to your wardrobe that will last through the never-ending, sometimes fickle, changes in trends and fashion.”

Well … good job, there, because these designs are wonderful. Sweaters, mostly, but also accessories like cowls, scarves, fingerless gloves, wraps. But mostly sweaters, at least five of which I would like to knit right now (and two of whom I started mentally running through my stash to see if I had yarn right now that would work).

The designs largely are timeless … how can you go wrong with a striped hoodie pullover, or a cabled cowl for a chilly day? But they bring nice touches with them, well-placed buttons, eyelets in the sleeves, texture for a pocket … and what remains is a collection of designs that are totally wearable, not too trendy, but not the least bit boring, either.

Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Interweave Press. Thank you!

My Gush: I rather love this book.

Sunflower Surprise …

I didn’t realize there was a bird in the tree..

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UPDATE:  is it a bird, is it a plane, what is it?  Some people have said it doesn’t look like a bird, that it looks a reflection…. I suppose it could be …but whatever it is I didn’t realize it was there and  it looks like a bird to me :)    What do you see ?


August Fireworks …

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Lanterns Of Illumination Night …

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This Week in Pictures

McPheeMcPhee

DSC_0350Cosmo

DSC_0379Sam & Neve

Sam & Neve

CiniCini

DSC_0408Sabine

DSC_0417Lucy Goosey

DSC_0424Handsome Pig is handsome.

Charley Pig“My name is Charley. I’m a pretty good pig. I like corn husks and getting scratched behind my ears. Pleased to meet you.”

Clouds In The Water …

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Lake Mohawk – Sparta, New Jersey


Sewing Camp

Since Susan has been staying with us while we work on getting her house packed up we though it would be nice to have a weekend where we could simply enjoy each others’ company and get some crafting done.

Our friend Tanya came up from Roanoke, and our friends Lisa and Erin came in from town.

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Maddie kept little Marie occupied and happy so Lisa could work on a dress for her.

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Creative mess!

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We had plenty of good food as well, as is to be expected when this particular group gets together!  This was our brunch.  Gluten free crepes with fresh blueberries, maple whipped cream and brown sugar breakfast sausage.

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Tanya made us a delicious burrito dinner with lots of fixings.

We all worked hard on our various sewing projects, but we spent plenty of time chatting and catching up as well.  I’m not sure anyone finished any of the projects they brought, but we all made some good headway on them.

This coming weekend we are having a sale at Susan’s house to clean out all of her stuff.  It will be sad, but good.  She’s moving to a smaller property and focusing on keeping only things that are meaningful to her.

Busy busy busy!


Tagged: food, Sewing

Rafters Cardi in Twist Collective!

rafters_z_500_medium2Oh, I’m so excited about this one.  And now it’s out!  Rafters Cardi on Ravelry, but make sure you check out the entire Fall Twist Collective.  I love they chose an older model — she looks lovely, strong, & accomplished.

My favorite part?  The shawl collar. I love deep shawl collars, and with this pattern, I really wanted to accentuate that.

I loved working with SHELTER.  I loved that I could do a very cabled, very textured cardi but, because the yarn is woolen, not worsted, the cardi isn’t too heavy or bulky.

Details:

This cozy cardi is worked top down in one piece. It features subtle waist shaping and a deep shawl collar.

Saddle straps on worked first, with stitches picked up for the back, left front & right front. All pieces are joined & worked flat once armhole shaping is completed.

The sleeves are worked top down. Pick up stitches around the armhole, shape the sleeve caps with short rows, then continue in the round.

Pick up stitches for the button band & shawl collar. The deep shawl collar is shaped with short rows.

Bust: 32 (36, 39 ¼, 43 ¼, 47 ¾, 50 ¼, 54 ¾)” / 81.5 (91.5, 99.5, 110, 121.5, 127.5, 139)cm.  I’d intended several inches of positive ease, but the model is wearing it with no ease & it looks fantastic.

Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed SHELTER in Embers, 1400 – 2250 yards (1280 – 2057 m)

Needles: US6 / 4mm & US7 / 4.5mm

Gauge: 20 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch

Notions: Stitch markers, cable needle, waste yarn or spare circular needle, yarn needle.

Skills: Short rows, charts, picking up stitches, cabling

 

Wool of the Andes Contest Winner

random org 081513Congrats to Sheila!  I’ve emailed you.

New Colors!

For about the last 15 years or so, I've had the same travel watercolor set.  I had taken it with me on trips here and there and all over.  Then, without even noticing, it was gone!  I looked for it to take with me on the last couple of trips, and thought it was just misplaced.  But, after a pretty comprehensive search through the earlier part of this week, and no gold, well, I gave up the old set for lost.

I was bummed.  Really bummed.

Then, I went to the art store with a friend and she went to another part of the store while I asked a shop employee for recommendations on a suitable replacement.  The set nearest to the one I lost was a bit too compact and had a water reservoir attached to it which was cool, but it was so limited in pigment pan space, that it just wasn't right.  She then showed me the set she has herself.  It's a set with 12 pans, but with space for 24 and fits a brush of regular size, too!  I was sold.  I bought two additional pans from their Horadam line - Manganese violet and a Dark red.

I don't know about you, but when I was a kid and received a new box of crayons, I tested out each color... So that's what I did here.


Yay! New watercolor set!  

Schmencke Set 75412 AKADEMIE® Aquarell, Solid metal box
with 12 half pans and space for 12 additional half pans
And, in 15 years, watercolor pans have changed a lot!  These pans are so much smoother and less grainy than before.  The pigment cakes dry way faster, too, and the colors flow much more like ink.  I'm kind of glad the old set retired itself.  Otherwise, I might never have known!