Snowflake photo shoot !

Yesterday I wove in the last thread all in good order for a planned trip to Patricia Roberts yarn shop. The weather typically turned to the worst with snow forecast so the trip was delayed.  A shame as I really pushed on hard to finish it. I feel a big relief  because snowflake demanded lots and lots of knitting in a dense small gauge with islands of intarsia and mountains of fair isles knitting.

I love the feel of the fabric- the softness of the lamb wool with the halo of the angora islands. The colour scheme is pleasing with all that clutter of zigzag lines and snowflakes . The camera just is not capable of capturing that. I adore the dense rows of cables along the neck band and cuffs.

I made a few modifications mainly shaping slightly the waist  and changing pattern sequence on the sleeves- no argyle pattern on the sleeves.

You can see a close up shots in this post.

I was shivering when those photos were taken , where is the spring?? !

Happy knitting....... :-)

Snowflake-progress

Snowflake progress is slow. I'm not that fast on fair isle but I'm even slower on intarsia. There are so many other projects with my name written on them but I'm plodding on and trying to get this one finished.

I'm pleased with my neck and buttons band. I had to redo the cast off of the neck band so there is a nice tip for you- cast off two stitches together all along cable section slipping them over and go back to normal cast off , stitch by stitch when on stockinette sections. The cast off edge is much neater and not at all flared.

The camera does not do justice to the buttons. They are shell with a white gloss with gentle silver swirls. The John lewis haberdashery stocks them at the moment at an extortion price, - but just had had to have them. This cardi deserve the best with all the amount of work going into it.

I love the vertical one by one rib of the buttons band even though needed to be slip stitch to the fronts.

I still need to finish the sleeves, sew in and gentle steam the seams.
 so far so good :)

Going back memory lane - Patricia Roberts

If you happen to be on a London knitting tour do try to get an inside glance at the Patricia Roberts' knitting shop. Her website does not show case her latest designs. I've been a stoker for her knitting kits for sale link for  few years now but alas apparently its still coming soon...
Patricia Roberts was a big name in the eighties but don't be fooled by all those big oversize multi color tops , here and there you'll find some real treasures.

I've been collecting her books ( see a photo above ) and again and again I see myself  coming back to those loved , well worn books and admiring and getting inspired by the color combination , fit and stitch pattern. Some of the designs definitely in need of toning down but the potential is awesome..

My dear friend the knitting Cyclist knitted  few of her designs and is a regular visitor to her London shop. I'm having a fantastic first class updates from her. This is how I heard about 'Snowflake'. In all honesty the photo below (which my friend knitted) does not do justice to the garment. It is such a pleasing and striking combination of white-grey-black shades with islands of pop out angora.

I straight away phoned the shop and ordered the kit.

My version is slightly different. The main colour is in her own brand- Patricia Roberts lambswool 1  in flannel colour which is light grey. If you wish to sub it go for a very thin 4 ply thickness or a 3 ply yarn. The zigzag lines are knitted in other colours - mid grey and charcoal. Also the pattern calls for her angora yarn which is more like a dk/sport in weight - I chose dark purplish grey and light lemon. I love the grellow look :). The other angora colours are from my stash -Orkney 4 ply angora in white and grey .

You have to have some patience for all that intarsia and fair isle but I'm loving a very minute of it so far.

I''m currently doing the fronts but it is a slow knit .It will take quite some time to finish it - there are other knitting commitments out there of which I'm sure to post later.
Knit on ! :)