ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

2010 Woolon entry 1

Some of you may have followed my Woolon entry story a little. I kept making mistakes in my knitting; I had problems getting it to New Zealand on time and I didn’t write the patterns properly as I went and so on.

The ensemble was entered in the Out there / Streetwear category. It looks great on the model, the first time I have seen it together as I sent the various pieces to New Zealand in 2 parcels as the top wasn’t completed in time for the first parcel and post from the Netherlands takes an age. WoolOn may have had a topless ensemble. But as you can see I got there in the end.

I am a little sad that the arm warmers were not worn from over the hand to above the elbow as I had intended – in the rush to send the parcel I probably didn’t describe it well enough for WoolOn to work out just what I meant. It would have looked much more funky then.

WoolOn entry 2010

WoolOn Here I come

Sometime Twitter a story makes

Skirt and top were created with Touch Yarns, Magic Merino Sock yarn. Various yarns were used for the Beret / Slouchy hat and the Moebius Scarf/Cowl. And then those funky feather & fan, fingerless gloves / gauntlets – they were in a variegated yarn.

The top does have a dramatic keyhole centre front and is sleeveless, knitted in k2 p2 rib.

The skirt increases were done using the hyperbolic plane method – that is every # of stitches increase 1. now I am writing it I cannot remember how many stitches were between the increases) I do have it in my notes, but I was just excited to get up to these photos this morning. Thank you Karin.

Gosh now I am checking there were many references to the WoolOn event, I won’t add them all here though. WoolOn link

Cowl

The cowl is knitted from the neck down, on 7mm circular needles. As it is knitted in the round it can be tried on to view progress and make decisions about the length very easily and because it is knitted with a chunkier yarn it is a quick knit and there will be time to complete one for a Christmas gift if you are in wintery climes that is.

Dutch Homespun - for Cowl

I am finishing another using a Dutch homespun that I purchased at the mediaeval market here in Haarlem last year. It still has that lovely hint of sheep in it when you smell the yarn.

The cowls may be photographed on my mannequin only for the pattern as I am without a model still.

I have been knitting for more than 50 years. Did you notice, I said that out loud. I have probably been knitting for more than 55 years, as the actual start date is lost in mists of time.

When I was a much younger knitter, Feather and Fan was used for baby things like shawls, matinee jackets and bonnets. I used feather and fan stitch when knitting for my own babies.

Since that time, until now that is, feather and fan stitch and I have not crossed needles and yarn together (or paths or swords).

Feather & Fan Waistcoat knit in one piece

Funky Full length (opera) Fashionable Fingerless Gloves

I really love the effect of it with the variegated yarns above and now as you can see, I am knitting with a cream yarn looking at the affect of the stitch on the edges of the knitting.

But my circular needle on which is sitting my wrap all excited and ready to go – BROKE – and I do not have another spare 4.5mm circular needle. And yes, I know the wrap is being knitted in cream; I know it looks like baby stuff, but when it is finished, if ever, it will look like a gorgeous, warm, sexy, delicious, and feather light wrap and I am or was enjoying the wavy affect on the edges.

Feather & Fan wrap Work in Progress with Broken circular needle

BUT it is raining and the wind is blowing, and to purchase another such needle will mean adding lots of layers and walking about 20 mins along narrow Haarlem streets, across a draw bridge over a canal (the Spaarne) and along and along to the wool shop Kleinvak van der Raad where they do not mind my lack of Dutch and probably giggle at some of the yarns I buy to try. But that is okay.

And today I just do not feel like it. In short I am really and truely hacked off. I might have to open the wine!

I am staggered that my waistcoat which I am knitting in one piece to the under arms – is working out as a striped one. That is the colour changes are almost so correct that each set of the 4 rows of Feather and Fan (Shale) stitch pattern is in an individual colour. Now that isn’t a problem, I just didn’t expect it to be quite so distinct.

The problem I have now is what to do when I divide for the armholes. Do I cut the yarn and maintain the stripes more or less, or do I cut the yarns and use a different colour more or less for each front and for the back? I am having trouble visualising the end result and it is unusual for me to have a problem visualising colour on a piece I am creating, but this is such a surprising result that I am having a minor conniption.

I know! I carried on knitting, not believing my eyes – but now I must believe the camera.

Has anyone created a waistcoat using Kureyon Sock Yarn and made some decisions on where to go to from here? Please.

I found on the internet that there are 2 Noro Kureyon yarns and one is described as a gorgeous self striping 100% wool yarn, and mine being Kureyon Sock yarn contains 30% nylon yarn. It is also described as having long, subtle color changes, which is not happening on my waistcoat – where the stripes are clear not subtle – but that is to do with the width I have chosen to knit, not the yarn.

I have a real passion for the cloak and cape. They are elegant garments and can be dressy, sexy or plain comfortable. If they are created with a flowing shape they will move well with the wearer and can be created with a yarn or fabric that suits the personal style of the wearer.

Here in winter of 2010 there is still a fashion trend for the cape, and this gallery contains some of the capes and other creative coverings that I have created.

If you want to buy yourself a cape

If you would like to knit yourself a cape