Estri Cardigan

Here are several shots of Estri Cardigan I finished for quite sometime. It is so much easier to just upload a photo on Instagram, so if you want to see what I'm up to in real time best to find me as 'bespokeknits' on Instagram.
As you can see it is an open front cardigan with a relaxed fitting, knitted top down.
I love the use of textures in this one and I used the stitch pattern of the shawl collar for the edging on Stephen west sedimentary shawl.
The yarns used are dk weight, Hedghog fibres Merino DK in 'rusty nail', a lovely burnt orange.
The neutral one is of Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK in 'antique lace'.
rather pleased with it, very suitable for the fall season.

Leap year Cardigan!

Chic and wearable cardigan  with some eye pleasing details designed by Suvi Simola.
I've made good use of Ysolda's blend no 1 yarn, An undyed blend of Merino (50%), Polwarth(40%) & Zwartbles (10%). It was fun choosing the contrast colour and I coupled some peach 4 ply with good old Rowan kid silk mohair.

Mods- Added pockets after seeing this version.

Very pleased indeed !

Pirouette Shawl!

Here is my test knitting for Beata Kaptur. I stumbled on the her project on Ravelry and just couldn't take my eyes off this shawl. The wavy edging is just so different and striking. I commented her about the shawl and told her she should publish it. Bea replied that first she is to test knit it so I volunteered without further due and cast on a day later...
I used lace yarn held double from stash- it was mostly club yarn from 'skein'. However I've started the shawl with a yarn that was gifted to me by the daughter of my dear talented friend Elseline who passed away recently and suddenly ,way way too young. It is still such a numbing shock to me.
It is I think a fitting way for a knitter to remember a loved another by knitting her yarn ..

Very difficult to capture om my (iPhone) camera. The colour is gently changing from light blue to sage, grey and purple grey.
The shawl is not symmetrical, Bea was using short rows to shape it , adding twisted ribbing along the way and ending with a very clever wavy border of branching double ribbing with a cute picot edge just at the end sides. The border needed a careful attention to chart but ever so worth it- very striking indeed.
Thanking Bea for letting me test knit it -so very gratifying :-)

Anthro!

Here is my Anthro by  Hanna Maciejewska which was such an interesting knit for me.
I have chosen to go for a warm jacket instead of the light weight (Madelinetosh light) used by the designer. I've made a custom order with walk collection and got three skeins of 'Bliss' in Artichoke hearts, an ultra fine merino in a pale mix of dominant cold yellow with some purple-y browns. I joined the walk yarn with Rowan kidsilk haze in 'essence' no 663 to give it some halo and enhance the yellow. The fabric looks and feels warm and lush and yellow :))

The more I knit, the more is there to know and learn :) This time I have mastered double knitting with both yarns wrapped in my left hand fingers which facilitated smooth and fast knitting. Double knitting was done for the hem and cuffs, and I chose a speckle white (hedgehog sock in teacup)for the contrast inner layer.
The fitting is flawless, short rows are knitted for the back neck line and shoulder slopes.
waist shaping is cleverly achieved with well cables motive at the back. I didn't use darts for bust shaping- no need in my case ;-)


The camera exaggerated the difference in the dye lot- it is hardly noticeable.

feeling fresh as a Daisy!

Askews me shawl!

My first attempt at Brioche stitch. I've been eyeing Stephen west Brioche stitch mania designs for a long time but was somewhat discouraged by my lack of knowledge.
It took a lovely day at Yarn Story, Bath to finally master Brioche. The tutor Renee from East London knit was very patient with me - I was developing a bit of a fever which didn't prevent me from travelling to Bath but significantly dimmed my brain power..
I chose Askews me shawl as I've seen some amazing FO's. But decided of using stash so chose lots of 4 ply  weight sock yarns to be knitted with a 3.25mm circulars.
My work was slow as I was conscious not to have mistakes which I knew were very difficult to amend in this particular stitch.

The fun bit was to choose the combination of yarns for the dark and light sides. I used a lot of hedgehog fibres speckled sock yarn for the light side and some dramatic, clashing, bold choices for the dark side. My colour choices raised a few eye brows with my knitting group ladies and family but I feel that it all pieced together in the end and now I have a pretty unique grown-up shawl to cherish.
 

Dubai Shawl!

I held the shawl photo in my Pinterest for couple of years. It reminded me of a popular middle eastern type of head and neck cover usually worn by Arab men. perhaps without the tassels :)

 The Dubai shawl can only be purchased as a printed Danish book collection 'Around' by Susie Haumann. There is no English translation as far as I know. Luckily for me I happen to know a dear knitter who speaks Danish fluently and helped tackle the way of increasing stitches in the shawl. The chart is really self explanatory.

I used the original yarn for it, double held Isager Alpaca 1, a soft alapca lace in light gray and French blue. The cast on to the shawl took few days, there are a lot of stitches to cast on and I wasn't happy with how big the shawl was so eliminated about a quarter of the stitches and also change the cast on border to a garter band to prevent it from curling. The shawl is still very big and incredibly warm with all that fair isle.

I wish I had mastered the holding of two yarns in one hand when fair isle knitting so instead it became a slow labour of love. and the results are indeed so worth it.

Big old grey coat!

This design is my favourite piece from Joji's  Authentic collection.
cozy, oversized sweater coat in worsted weight.  I knitted it with uncommon thread lush worsted in 'cumulonimbus'- grey with some random blue and dark blue spots.

It feels really comfy, springy and warm. I loved knitting it , the basket weave pattern is flowing effortlessly together with the ribbed shawl collar.

Here is a close up of the stitch detailing;

I chose a shorter version (6 skeins exactly), which is more versatile and flattering to me. I finished the sleeves with a small ribbed hem and tubular cast off. I like my sleeves' hem secure onto my wrists.

very, very pleased with it, knit one you won't regret it just make sure you've got enough yarn.

The Doodler!

I Joined the visual world of Instagram not long ago (My Instagram name is as my Ravelry's- 'bespokeknits') which is a fantastic way to get updated and inspired.

I am following of course Stephen West and was participating in his 2015 KAL - The Doodler.

After booking my holiday to Israel in December, Stephen released photo of himself in a knitting shop not too far from where I was to stay. A real shame to have missed him by few days only !

Any way I visited the Gourmet Yarn Shop and was impressed by the stock quality and attentive and friendly stuff.

This is the shop's doodler sample which I loved.

Those lovely ladies partly obscure a very decent stock of Madelinetosh vintage and Freia Ombre . Not that easy to get hold of where I come from! 

Here is my Doodler- I've used uncommon thread merino lace in toast which I had in stash and variegated yarn were purchased from Stephen's Amsterdam yarn shop- some lovely hedgehog fibres skinny dip in pink(forgot the name) and boom box. Knitting it was great fun- happy to have joined the KAL.