the Boardwalk Collection Blog Tour Part 3

...today's my day of the Blog Tour...so...here we go!

The Boardwalk Collection has been designed to showcase Islington DK, Kettle Yarn Co.'s thicker weight yarn in the same fibre content as the popular Islington fingering - 55% British Bluefaced Leicester/ 45% silk. A digital issuu ‘look-book’ was created for the heirloom collection with each pattern available digitally from the designers direct by on Ravelry.

...and me and myself were lucky enough to be part of this journey... :)

Arcade – a sumptuous A-line top by Isabell Kraemer 

Bagatelle – a long, sensuous lace cowl by Rachel Brown

Pavilion – an opulently glamorous rectangular wrap by Renée Callahan

Promenade - a exquisite lace cardigan by Maria Magnusson

Jetty – a gently flowing, crescent shawl by Linda Lencovic

Seaward – an elegant lace and cabled hat by Rachel Coopey

When Linda offered me to work with her beautiful yarn I had some difficulties to choose from her wonderful range of bases. But then she told me about Islington DK and I knew I had to try this one....:)

Islington DK is a luxurious blend of 55% British Bluefaced Leicester and 45% silk that is robust (that's what I most love about it....quirky, I know ;)) and versatile while maintaining buttery softness. Each 100g skein measures 212m/232yds.

The collection highlights six shimmering, juicy new shades: Marigold, Padparadscha, Peony, Purple Reign, Verdigris, and Neckinger.

look at these gorgeous colours....makes me wonder why I decided to go with a grey (...not that Old Smoke isn't a stunning colourway as well) 

When I wound the first skein I knew that I had to create a sweater that showcases the elegance of the yarn, and still is casual enough to wear it with jeans

...here it is....Arcade

a jumper that can be dressed up or worn casual with jeans (...or maybe a striped shirt underneath.....hahaha). Worked seamlessly from the top down, Arcade is an easy knit that can be adjusted to your own liking (you know that you can try your garments on from time to time to check the overall fit and length of the yoke, when you work from the top down, don't you?). Just for the fun of it I added diagonal eyelet stripes to both front and back and they turned out soooo lovely...that a tester (Lydia - gypsythedog) added them to her sleeves as well (gorgeous addition....love the creativity of my 'gang')...go check out their stunning testknits here

Want to get your hands on Islington DK this summer??? You can buy the yarn online at kettleyarnco.co.uk or see Kettle Yarn Co. at Fibre East 25-26 July and the Yarn in the City Pop-Up Marketplace in London on 5 September.

tomorrow the Blog Tour stops at Curious Handmade

see ya' there ♥

The Boardwalk Collection Blog Tour Part 1

The Boardwalk Collection Blog Tour Part 2 

The Boardwalk Collection Blog Tour Part 4

 

News and older tales....

just realized that i didn't keep the promise to post right after our "meeting" at Frankfurt airport....shame on me (but i think you know me already quite well and this is no surprise)

we had some incredible hours together....when i saw Jo sitting at the table in this italian coffee shop at the airport it was like a reunion of good old friends...not faint-hearted at all, we saw each other and the minute later we were in each others arms ;)
there was a lot of giggling and laughing, loads of yarn and coffee and way too less time (but we will meet again...sooner than we both hoped for ;))

 

seams that the upcoming season will be filled with neutrals and blue (hahaha...)

in the meantime (while Jo was travelling around the world....Helsinki, St.Petersburg...)I did some knitting (haha...how extraordinary ;)

 

seashore was released 2 weeks ago, after a wonderful test-KAL

with some outstanding ladies who never get tired to help me with testing my patterns

you can see all the incredible "seashores" they made during the test here in the test thread

finished a quick in-between-testknit for Justyna (Lete)

to practice my still not-good-at-all stranding skills....

because i signed in for 2 colorwork designs for Swans Island...

 

pattern. zig-zag-wings by justyna-lorkowska 

yarn. lang-yarns touring 

col.natural/beige and dark blue

aaaaand my first (yes there will be a second one...) pattern for Yarn Stories is live!

I did the sample in early august and need to confess that i didn't like the colour they picked for my design, but......it looks so freaking cool on this beautiful model!!!!

 photo: yarnstories

photo: yarnstories

this is such a lovely batwing-sleeve jumper.....need to knit one for me too!!!!! maybe in orange? or yellow? or toffee?

they carry some beautiful colours! go and check them out here 

for today i need to leave...need to do up a parcel (sample of the first colorwork design for Swans Island)

 

looks pretty good, right? 

take care out there

love,

isa m. 

testknits part 2

....the  harder i try to keep the promise to post more regularly the less time i have to do so...

nevertheless,....here is the second part of the (latest) testknits i didn't show here

dessine-moi-un-mouton is a lovely light weight jumper, seamlesss, worked from the top down with raglan increases to shape the yoke.
an easy-peasy textured pattern makes it special and keeps you interested while knitting

 

love the stripes (and the texture) of this one!

but i think i need to redo the bottom and add a little length to this beauty, because i still feel uncomfortable wearing this cropped sweater

pattern. dessine-moi-un-mouton by LaMaisonRililie

yarn. holst-garn-supersoft-100-uld (you'll need 7 different colours) 

the next one is another winner designed by ankestrick (aka fallmasche on ravelry) 

light weight, colourful, extraordinary - just love it!

had a hard time choosing colors....so many possibilities...

 

you can wear this one inside out, or the other way round ...it's beautiful in every way ;) i already have a second one on my needles ;)

pattern. holsten by Ankestrick

yarn. holst-garn-supersoft-100-uld (shown in col. iced, clementine, bleached white)

the next one was a very special testknit i did for my dear Jo

a worsted version of her beloved boxy  

she published the pattern for this one on her birthday...as always i completely forgot to send her a gift for this day...and so i did a little embroidery to the back of my worsted boxy (...guess she loved it ;)

 

 

i did mine without the double garter part on the shoulders, also picked up my stitches for the sleeves and the neckband from the WS to highlight the "seams"....aaaand i did a 2-color version, just for the fun of combining colors ;)

pattern.worsted-boxy by JOJI

yarn. malabrigo-merino-worsted (shown in col. polar morn and ravelry red)

...need to go back to my knitting needles now (have to keep some tight deadlines for some new designs for fall)

hope you all have great days

love,

isa m. 

 

 

 

KC and WalkCollection

...finally the pattern for KC [Kynance Cove] is published!!!!
i had so much fun with the testing ladies (...and it's way easier
to launch a test in my ravelry group, than thought ...;)
Thank you, Ann for pushing this through ;)

please, please check out all these wonderful, fantastic, uber beautiful, amazing,.....projects 
i cannot say how much i loooove every single one of them!!!!



Cathrin from WalkCollection will have a shop update today 9 pm,
with adorable yarn kits (with pattern) for pre-order

the yarn kits are up, go and grab your yarn here in the shop

maybe you'd like to have a very first look ????

...aaaaand there will be a KAL (what???? a KAL!)in the group
starting 04/01, ending 05/31 and as this is the first KAL i host, everyone (YES! everyone) who finishes by the date will win a free
pattern (all of my patterns are eligible)

so come on ladies (and gents, of course ;)
join the fun here in the group 


have a great day

isa m.

new wool ....and a new hat

lately i got to test some little gems - lucky me!
i recieved a bag full of luscious skeins from lamana yarns
and in addition their new pattern booklet 

the yarn shown above is called cusco , 100 % pure alpaca and comes in a beautiful range of 28 (!!!) colors

again .... the little girl in me wanted .... pink!

this hat is just too lovely (pattern is in this booklet)- soft and cozy (touching this yarn is like touching a cloud...though i need to confess, that i never touched a cloud so far...hahaha!)

...there are some other yarns to try out in the bag...

first pic: perla a wonderful cotton/alpaca/silk blend
second pic: piura lace weight pure alpaca (soooo soft!)
third pic: nuro a worsted weight cotton/merino blend (...maybe a little too heavy for my taste)

 
and last: nazca a bulky weight merino/alpaca/polyamid blend
(there is already a sweater in my mind...we'll see...)
i need more time! that's the one and only thing that's true
...don't know how to get all those ideas out of my head
there are way too many for one knitters life!!!!







oh, and i would love to invite you all to join my new group.
a new group? yes, a new group! - finally there is a group for my designs at ravelry!!!!

i will announce test calls there, we could do KALs or just hang around and chat....

have great days out there

isa m.

monte rosa....a collaboration with De Rerum Natura

this was a lot of work...
and it was sooooo worth it ;)

let me introduce monte rosa to you

this cardigan was created in collaboration with De Rerum Natura

(Solenn was adventurous enough to believe in me....)

more on the classic side with its cables and lace pattern, this cardigan features a modern and funny contrast coloured trim that will give you room to play with your favorite colour combinations.

the multinational testing-KAL was again so fun and pleasurable

and i want to thank my lovely testing ladies:

you all are incredible! this wouldn't have worked without you!!!

a few words about this wonderful yarn.

gilliatt is a pure woolen yarn of french merino, produced in an ecological way - i highly recommend it - it is a pleasure in every way... to knit and to wear

go and get yourself some skeins here

also exclusively available in the shop:

the french version of the pattern

hope this little baby will make its way across the globe

it's always incredible and amazingly cool to see my ideas

beloved all over the world...

hugs and kisses

isa m.

Elementary

finally finished my last sweater
and i need to confess....i am in love!!!!

worked from the top down with an navajo inspired colorful yoke

in some really girlie colors!!!!

(somehow the little girl in me wanted PINK!)

lately i rediscovered the pleasure to work with

pure, rustic, low-processed yarns

love the feel of this yarn (and its smell ;))

....aaaand such yarns are perfect for those who have

not much practice in colorwork (like me!)

the pattern is now ready to test

and we have some free places in the testing pack

(maybe some of you could have fun with us testing the pattern?

deadline would be the end of january/beg of february....)

yarn. rustique fine/ masgot fine by Sylvie (PoloandCo)

needles. 3.0 mm and 3.5 mm

gauge. 22.5 sts x 30 rounds (10 x 10 cm)

you will need approx. 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) skeins in main color

and 1 skein in each of the other colors

if you like to test this pattern, please leave a comment

(make sure to leave your email add or ravelry nickname!)

with the size you'd like to test

sizes available: xs, s, m1, m2, l, xl, xxl

(bust circumference: 85 (89, 94, 100, 108, 115, 124) cm)

....wishing you all calm and merry days

isa m.

latest testknits part 1

.....there is definitely too much going on in my life
to post more regularly....sorry 
yesterday i was looking through my rav notebook and saw
that there are many, many testknits i didn't mention here..
today i have a little free time (though i have my needles
waiting for me) and thought it would be nice to post about them

funky grandpa is one of the coolest cardigans i own...

i love everything about it

the ease

the shape

the stripes (for sure!...hahaha!)

and the overall design

think Rililie has such a great style and this shows

in her amazing designs (currently on my needles: her new jumper design ;)

pattern. funky-grandpa by LaMaisonRililie
yarns. trekking-sport-xxl shown in charcoal grey (sleeves)
trekking-tweed shown in light grey (body)
mille-colori-baby shown in grey-brown-yellow (stripes)


...oh and did you know that ravello is life?

we had an amazing time while testing this pattern
was a pure pleasure to work with all my awesome testknitters!
THANK YOU again ladies!!!!!!!

isa m.

alpenglühen pattern

it's done!!!

my first pattern for purchase went online 

wanted to send out a big THANK YOU to my dearest testknitting

ladies! you all did an outstanding job - without your help

i would be lost :)

you can find the pattern here

was so scared about that and I am still scared....

but all went fine so far, ...


till this morning:

i found a mistake in the pattern,

immediately tried to fix it and updated the pattern

aaaand... had some weird technical problems with my ravelry

shop.

once i fixed the problem and sent out the update to all

my customers, i noticed another counting mistake in the pattern - 

how silly is that!

tried to upload another updated version and failed again and again; after several tries i finally got it...phew!!!

i am really sad about that and hope that my customers

aren't too upset about receiving several mails and updates

on only one day (maybe i shouldn't write and publish patterns, seams that i need to improve my skills, or need serious help)


nevertheless i am knitting (hahaha!)
yesterday Joji published her newest cardigan design
that was testknitted in december
so now i am allowed to show you my version of it
(some kind of retro coloured, old school looking cardigan) 

used unlabled yarns out of my stash (you know i need to

pack my house!.. so the goal is to minimize my stash till

april :))

pattern. Ohlala by Joji Locatelli

needles. 4 mm

yarn. unlabled merino/acrylic (80/20) used doubled

.. working through my notes of the refined driftwood pattern

[maybe i shouldn't do so (still feeling bad about my trials

and errors this morning)]

and finished a simple striped sweater

worked from the top down using contiguous method for the sleeves

actually purchased the yarn for some mittens (holiday gifts)

but each time i looked at the skeins i could see a stripy sweater

so here is a little sneak peek

...man,maybe this is the longest post i ever wrote!

think i need to calm down a bit

hope you all have a better day

isa k.

alpenglühen

a cardi like this was on my wishlist for ages!!!
classic lines (like those classy alpine jackets)
in a freaking funky colour!!

aaand .... here it is

made this little beauty bottom-up

the sleeves are worked top-down, so there are NO seams!

needles. 4.5 mm [US 7] and 5.0 mm [US 8]

yarn. malabrigo merino worsted col. sunset 

purchased at wollsüchtig 

the pattern is ready for testknitting, so i hope for

a release in mid december (hope dies last....)

there are many other knits on my needles,

fingerless mitts, scarfs and shawls .....(gifts,...all gifts!!) 

like this

pattern. the way from brighton by Joji Locatelli

yarn. merino 120 by LANG YARNS

needles. 4.5 mm [US 7]

and this

pattern. seeta fingerless gloves by Maria Sheherazade

yarn.  malabrigo silky merino col. smoke

purchased at wollsüchtig 

needles. 3.0 mm [US 2 1/2]

and this

pattern. toast by leslie friend

yarn. kauni effect

needles. 3.5 mm [US 4]

co 44 sts and decreased to 40 sts after 2 in

straight st st for another 9 in

....need to take pics of the rest, maybe over the weekend?

hope you all have good days

isa k.

fair isle

started a new project after finishing the secret testknit
i did the last two weeks


totally in love with this fair isle thingy!!!
oh, i have to practice a lot more to be good in colour knitting
but i looooove the possibilities...

this will be seriously the coolest monkey sweater in my wardrobe

[it's the only one!] hahahaha.....

only the sleeves to finish - so i think i can wear this

next week!!!

have nice days

isa k.