String me along!

A monthly knit-along started in the String Theory Yarn Lovers group on Ravelry. The project in February was the Surya shawl: though I started full of steam with some lovely ST Caper Lace in periwinkle, I got distracted by another shiny project (the Tangled Yoke cardigan) and didn't finish the shawl...

But I stuck with the March project and finished my Java socks on time! ST Bluestocking (80% Blue Faced Leicester superwash/20% nylon)is a great sock yarn, durable with good stitch definition. The pattern was quick to knit (2 stitch cables are easy to knit without a cable needle) and I liked how the designer integrated the cable pattern into the gusset shaping.

Pattern: Java socks by Cailyn Meyer (Knitty, Winter 2011)

Yarn: String Theory Bluestocking in "Jade"

Did you see this article, fellow Boston area knitters? Two new fabric and yarn stores recently opened, Gather Here in Cambridge and JP Knit and Stitch in Jamaica Plain. I'll try to visit them in the coming weeks but if they're anything like Stitch House in Dorchester, then I'll be one happy (and poorer) knitter and aspiring seamstress!

Bohus-Inspired Knitting with the Kelbourne Woolens duo

At Vogue Knitting Live, Courtney and Kate mentioned that they would be at In the Loop in Norfolk, MA for a class as part of their book tour. Spend time with the duo of designers that distributes The Fibre Company yarns and just released "Vintage Modern Knits"? Go to a new-to-me yarn store? Learn about Bohus-inspired knitting? Please sign me up! (and that was before I learnt that Cheryl was going to provide us with breakfast -- homemade coffee cake, yum!-- and lunch)

Using the Baltic beret as the class project, Courtney (left) and Kate (right) taught us how to purl in fair isle and how to handle 3 color rounds. They were so helpful, giving tips and tinking back our mistakes! Even though I'm a slow knitter when it comes to two-handed fair isle knitting, it was quite addictive to see how the colors would play together especially with the little purl bumps. Can you spot them in the picture?

After the class, we got to try on the book samples (click on the picture below for details), appreciate the design details, and fondle the yarns. There are so many good patterns in the book but after this class and the Baltic beret and mittens, I feel confident enough to tackle another Bohus-inspired project, the Freyja sweater designed by Courtney (Interweave Knits, Fall 2009). I just need to choose which colors of Road to China Light to use!

Défi 13 de mars: Vintage

Mon interprétation du thème de ce mois-ci est un peu hors-sujet: "vintage" comme "quelque chose qui durera longtemps"! Je vous propose le Tangled Yoke Cardigan d'Eunny Jang (Interweave Knits, Fall 2007) que je compte porter beaucoup dans les années à venir.

J'ai utilisé 7 pelotes de Rowan Felted Tweed pour la plus petite taille et j'ai utilisé des aiguilles deux tailles plus petites que celles préconisées. Le patron est facile à suivre: on commence par le bas, on tricote les deux manches en rond qu'on raccorde à la pièce principale et on finit avec les épaules et le cou -- pas de couture ou d'assemblage, c'est mon genre de tricot préféré! La torsade est moins difficile qu'il n'y parait, on ne répète le motif qu'une fois et il suffit de faire attention que sur un rang sur deux.

Allez admirer les autres créations "Vintage" ici!

(et je vous préviens que je vais manquer le défi corail car je serai en voyage au mois d'avril)

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Now on to the American-English portion of this post so that I get to brag about this finished object twice! It took me several months but I finished my New Beginnings project from the 2010 KR retreat, the Tangled Yoke Cardigan by Eunny Jang.

This cardigan turned out to be much easier than I thought, mostly because the cable portion wasn't long (I knitted it without a cable needle) and the neckband and buttonbands were quick as well. According to the "Fit to Flatter" class, this is the right type of sweater for me so I'm planning on wearing it a lot and knitting several cardigans of this type, perhaps at a smaller gauge (though I was already knitting on US3 needles).