My Ametista

Told you I had a huge project in my knitting bag and here it is! I am quite pleased with this jacket made just for me! After several small projects, I was ready for a major piece with a little challenge and this one fit the bill. As I was just reviewing the pattern notes I noticed it was rated at a skill level "experienced"! I though, who me??? I actually knit a project with such a rating?? Now for sure there are lower and higher ranges of such a rating and for sure I would be classified as a lower class man. Anyhoooo...just knowing I finished a jacket in such a class was a real "pick me upper"!

Two areas that could be considered difficult were the collar attachment and the finishing. Thanks to Aniko's collar attachment tips, I successfully completed the collar on the 3rd attempt. To my knowledge Berroco still hasn't put up a correction for this issue. Now sewing the skirt to the bodice was a tad tricky, but I am pleased with the results. I elected to sew the two front panels first, then with an extra piece of yarn I gathered the back skirt panels and sewed to the bodice, easing the gathered skirt as necessary.

Project Details:

Ametista by Norah Gaughan

Yarn: Berroco - Blackstone Tweed

Color: Teal #2646

Needles: #8

Amount: 14 Skeins

Size: 34

I am most pleased with the design of this jacket and the Berroco Blackstone Tweed. Come to think of it, I have 10 skeins in a lovely green colorway in my stash waiting to become something fun and exciting!

This garment will see a lot of wear!

Ella's Baby Surprise Jacket

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket is magical and I could easily be one of those old ladies who knits this piece over and over. Someone is pregnant? BSJ. Someone might get pregnant? BSJ. Simply knit a stockpile of these and like Elizabeth, make buttonholes on both right and left front....and when the sex of the baby is known, like Elizabeth, I would sew up the extra buttonholes and sew the appropriate buttons on. Yeah.....better knit up a few of these.

Here is my first BSJ. This was knit for the Granddaughter of a gal that works for me. I would say this jacket would fit a 6 to 12 month old.

The pink neck band and those pink bees make for a girlie little BSJ.
This is an awesome pattern from Elizabeth's book, The Opinionated Knitter. She truly was a knitting genius and this design makes any knitter look really clever, even though all they did was knit a series of increases and decreases in garter stitch that end in "surprise" - a little jacket!

Jacket Details:
Yarn: Jojoland - Rhythm
Color: RS76
Needles: #7 & #8

there has been knitting..........and

look what's on the needles in my knitting bag! On the right is a major project, Ametista! This is a jacket knit with Berroco - Blackstone Tweed in a Teal colorway. Actually the knitting is complete and I'm ready to begin stitching the skirt to the bodice! *Giggle*Giggle* Lot's of knitting required for Ametista and now my every breathe is held in hopes for a perfect fit once sewn. Due to the fullness and weight of the knit, I knew I wanted a close fit on this one and chose a size 34....I envision this long jacket worn with tights and boots.

This pattern calls for two buttons that strike (I think) in a quite strange position right across the chest! Soooo, I decided to have only one large button and use a ribbon tie on the underneath wrap that will be tied to a ribbon that is sewn into the side seam. Check out my mother of pearl button, this is seriously a special button! Now on the knit you see on the left of my bag, Akimbo by Stephen West. Akimbo is a triangular shawl, knit in easy garter stitch and finishing with a chevron pattern. The chevron section creates a scalloped border with a crisp edge knit with a contrasting color.

I can hardly wait to begin the scalloped edging and see the seafoam blue/green ShiBui Sock Yarn with the rich mocha tones of the Madelinetosh Sock Yarn. You'll be seeing more on this project soon.

2nd time around

.....for yet another Feather & Fan Design. Remember this wrap and how I mentioned I would like to knit up a scarf in bright jewel tones using the striped Feather & Fan Design? Well....here it is.... All finished and all loved! This pattern would be wonderful for a quick and usable gift. There is only one huge problem with that thought.....once complete this knit would be most difficult to gift.

Again, I used Noro's Silk Garden sock yarn and knit the project on #9 needles. This scarf was complete with a little less than 1 skein each of colorway S321 and S324.

Seriously a delightful, fun and usable knit.

the eternity scarf

This scarf is really an exaggerated cowl. It's knit in the round with three different stitch patterns; the cartridge rib, the cartridge horizontal rib and the last pattern consisting of the simple stockinette stitch. What an unbelievably fun knit! My cowl is knit in a deep deep green/black fiber and long enough to double it up or simply drape it around my shoulders over a jacket or coat! For sure this is a fine addition to my fall and winter wardrobe.

The positives of the Rowan - Lima are numerous! It is soft and a perfect match for this pattern and is in part responsible for that heavenly drape. So much so, I purchased 3 more balls for yet another Eternity Scarf in a brownish/gray.

The Skinny

Pattern: The Eternity Scarf

Designer: Michele Wang

Yarn: Rowan - Lima

fiber: 84% baby alpaca, 8% merino wool, 8% nylon

Amount: 3 balls/ 150 grams

Color: 881 - Rich Deep Green/Black

Needle Size: #9

under construction (part 1)

The last couple of months we have been in a state of uproar at our house with lots of much needed remodeling going on. It's a pretty exciting time that has been accompanied by lots of frustration. But now that everything is complete, we find all the inconveniences of the past, well worth it!

Here is the before of our bedroom door that goes out to the court yard, isn't it s.a.d?? and here is the after.... we think it is quite an improvement and quite lovely!

Be on the look out for my Under Construction (part 2)!!