way behind....as always

think you all know my lack of professionalism.....always way behind....
nevertheless...here we go
I did a few testknits and released two lovely patterns the last weeks

first the testknits...

I did a testknit for Sylvie (poloetcie at ravelry)...a wonderful...fantastic.... super colourful...gorgeous...and huge shawl!

mine is a tidy bit smaller than the pattern called for....

I followed the pattern until I had 345 sts (in section 4), then skipped the following rows and continued with instructions written for 377 sts (therefore only 20 repeats per half instead of 22 repeats)...no other mods

I used a lot of leftovers and single skeins....for the main colour (the grey) I used lithuanian wool I purchased ages ago ...rustic, but extremely lovey ;))

the next test was for Heleen, one of my all-time-favorite-speedy-testknitters

she designed a top that matches my Dexter cardigan 

I did mine a bit different:

due to this strange yarn I used (Moina by LANG YARNS), that was stretchy like hell and did what it wants to do...my gauge was off

I started with instructions for size XS until I reached the underarms, then I increased some stitches in the first round after Broken Seed Stitch to achieve a casual fit around the bust. On the way down to the bottom ribbing I added 4 increase rounds (no waistshaping for me....hahaha). that's it...and here it is (I love it)

 

...makes me feel like I need a matching grey Dexter in the near future...

now to the business (hahaha)

I published Edie and Reagan  (...you all know this....hahaha, but I never mentioned it here on the blog...)

I am still in love with both of them...maybe you'd like to knit one of your own and join our 'Take your pick KAL' ?

for all of you longing for news about Max (he was in hospital - myocarditis - some weeks ago)...he's doing better every day (yay!!!!), his last blood levels and ECG were fine!

altough I never, ever want to be in this situation again, it helped me to focus on the important things in life...there's nothing more important than our lovelies

isa m.

 

 

 

...another testknit...YAY

had the pleasure to do a testknit for lovely Justyna
...sometimes I am a lucky girl, right?

just loooove how mine turned out...love the colour (used two yarns held together), love the drape (think it's all about the linen...), love the whole jumper!!!

there is a little story behind my threads ....

when Justyna offered me to test her new sweater I only could say: YES!

she sent me the pattern and I (like I usually do when testing) printed the pattern to be able to write my notes into the pattern (not that there was much to write down...her testversions are ususally perfectly written...not like mine....hahaha)

I found a lovely yarn combo (Isager Bomulin and Blackhill Pacalina) and started immediately

...I was right through the Stockinette part of the yoke, and had done the first 2 rounds of the lace pattern, when we left for the birthday party of my sisters boyfriend

...it was a lovely, sunny day with lots of laughter, good food and some relaxing time to knit....I got about 15 cm of the body done...just to realize (I only had 2 pages of the pattern with me at the party...because I was sure that I know how to work the lace pattern)

that I omitted round 3 and round 6 of the lace pattern all the time....

can you believe this????????????????

sh...happens, right?

after some minutes (I needed them to cool down) I ripped back ...and here we are:

a beautiful cool jumper that will be worn to death, promise!!!

photos are taken before blocking, but you can see the gorgeous drape, can you?

pattern. Threads by Justyna Lorkowska 

yarn. Isager Bomulin and Garnudsalgdk Blackhill Pacalina held together

hope you have good days

isa m.

 

 

it's been a while.....but you all know me ....I am still knitting (hahaha)

I won't try to talk about all the crazy things that happened since my last blog post....this post would be HUUUUUUUGE, and as always time is a rare thingy at the moment

I am doing testknits at the moment...YAY!...testknitting was so rare for me the last months, and I seriously missed it
so.... the first testknit after a long time was this beautiful cardigan (finished this a while ago, but it's worth to be mentioned...!)

 

pattern. Naima by Ankestrick (aka Fallmasche)

yarn. finkhof-merinowolle-dünn a rustic, 'sheepy', low processed wool made in germany

loooved working with it (I used this yarn before for my wanderling and for my own version of phillipa) 

a few days ago I finished a sweater testknit for Justyna....think I have to wait until I am allowed to show it...just a few words about it...it's gorgeous, it's lacy, it's casual, it's blue (hahaha...only mine is blue), and it's soooooo utterly cool - just love it

I used 2 yarns held together and I swear I will use these yarns together again

they gave me such a cool and drapey fabric! 

ok....I used 1 strand Isager Bomulin, held together with Blackhill Pacalina (a thin linen/alpaca blend ...just gorgeous)

oh...just another thing before I have to leave for work.....Dexter will be ready for release very, very soon...so... all of you waiting for Dexter, make sure you keep an eye out for a bloody red (cute) cardigan♥

or for a light pink one???????

 

 hope you all have good days

love
isa m.

 

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. 

....and the last part (testknits)

ok, ok....again it took more time than I thought to get back to this little blog (shame on me....)

here is the last part of the testknits i did

 

pattern. xanti by Hanna Maciejewska

yarn. unknown fingeringing weight from cone (merino blend)

did mine with cap sleeves and an A-Shape rather than waist shaping, also omitted the contrast colors for the hems

 

 

pattern. forever-more by Justyna Lorkowska

yarn. wollerey-schura-silk held together with holst-garn-titicaca

no major mods, i only added 1 short row section to each half of the shawl due to a slightly tighter gauge.

  

pattern. cathedrale by polo sylvie

yarn. ice-yarns-pure-alpaca 

i'm still in doubt that i can wear this bright colour....

 

 

pattern. zippety by Hanna Maciejewska

yarn. midara-angora-2 in light grey + holst-garn-coast---uld-bomuld in col. marlin (which resulted in an adorable, stunningly perfect greyish blue!!!!)

some mods to make this more "me"

shorter body

shorter zipper at the side "seam" (no front zipper)

no front pattern - plain St st for mine ;)

broken rib pattern at the sides from underarm to bottom 

...

still so much work to finish (deadlines over deadlines...)

but we currently do a testknit for this one in the group

 

and i need to say, this is so much fun (no pressure, no obligations, pure designers heaven - relaxing and fun)

after all the designs i did for companies, mags, books (the most of them secret ones with release dates later this year or in the beg of the next year)....testing the ones for self-publishing makes me feel like "coming home"

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. 

 

 

 

...it's been a while....

some of you know it already....i am still alive ;)

busy as always i couldn't find the time to come back to this little blog and tell you what's going on....sorry

so many testknits, new designs, collaborations with yarnies and yarn companies, the house renovation and the move (!!!!!) back to the house had eaten up my time...

you won't believe it (i do not believe it myself!)...since this last post i made 16 other projects...what???? 16????
not counting the ones i didn't already put on my rav project page...

so what to do now
..think the best will be to start telling you about them and trying to keep up posting until i have shown you all of them ;)

ok, so here we go:
i did a lovely lila (just because i couldn't resist, when Carrie released this fantastic pattern)

 

pattern. lila  by Carrie Bostick Hoge

yarn. lang-yarns-denim-cotton-recycled in col. 35

a wonderfully written, easy peasy bottom-up raglan sweater with an adorable and flattering shape, just love it and will do anotherone in wool for autumn (..if i ever find the time to knit all the things i'd love to ;)

 ...

next was a testknit i did for lilo

i didn't finish in time (...sometimes i am an awful testknitter, right?), but i can say, that this also looks so cool with short sleeves (hahaha!)

 

pattern. askia  by Cailliau Berangere

yarn. unlabled Sockyarn doubled

changed the neck increases to make it wider, no other mods (so far...)

...

the next and last for today was this beauty

 

this is such a beautiful, romantic cardigan (don't know how she does this again and again...Jo is a genius!)

pattern. old-romance  by Joji Locatelli

yarn. handdyed by me (fantastic color, isn't it ;)

some minor mods to make it mine:

no contrast color for the lace insets

shorter body

slightly a-shaped

picot bind-off

....i will be out for hiking this weekend (...aaaand for celebrating a good friends 40th birthday), so i won't be able to continue with this update before next week..

do i hear someone laughing???? 

anyhow i can try, right ;)

all the best and take care

love,

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.

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.

Antler testknit

had the pleasure to do a testknit for Anke (aka fallmasche)
...aaaand had the pleasure to use TML again (love this yarn!!!!)

worked from the top down using contiguous set in sleeves method

developed by SusieM, this sweater has a stunning, beautiful 

neckline...love the garter st parts and the slightly rounded hem

had to alternate skeins from the very beginning, cause my skeins were so different (one was heavily darker than the other)

but i think it turned out nice, even with this differences in color

pattern. antler by ankestrick 

yarn. madelinetosh merino light col. gossamer and nutmeg

purchased here 

now i will need to take my sofa (...had a long day at work...)

happy creating out there and have a great sunday

love,

isa m.

a new hat!!!!

had again the pleasure to testknit for Rililie 

we had so much fun while testing this little hat... ;)

in case you're in need of some fun today, check out our

conversation in the testing thread 

the key word is: swatch (hahaha!)

was the first time with this yarn (masgot fine) 

and what can i say.... immediately ordered some more for

a fair isle sweater i have in mind for a while....

i love the feel of this rustic, low processed, sheepy yarn

and i love Sylvies dyework (she will dye up some yarn for me

today...YAY!!!...so exciting!)

now to the pattern

a well thought and clearly written pattern, that leads you

through the pathlessness of basket weave worked in rounds

though i need to confess, that i am no basket weave knitter

(i know this by now!!!)...not that i do not love the look and

the behavior of this stitch...i need stitch patterns with

at least 1 or 2 rows of mindless knitting in the repeat...

i am a lazy knitter, you know  ;)

G. is hiking with the guys today, so i will have the day off ;)

....the plan is to work on my new cardigan

cables

garter

ribbing

contrast coloured trim

classic (but cool...i think)

have a great day out there

isa m.

beccs and some testknits

finally beccs has left the building!!!!
we had a good time testing the pattern - thank you ladies!
you all did such great jobs

beccs is an open front cardigan designed for upcoming autumn days

little cable panels travelling down the fronts make this cardigan

unique and fun to knit

knitting starts in the middle of the back neck, the back piece of the collar is worked first, then sts are picked up from the long side of the collar to work the cardigan top down with raglan increases.

get the pattern here

...working on some other new ideas (all at the same time!!!!

sometimes this makes my head spinning...)

there will be a rustic cabled cardigan in collaboration with 

De Rerum Natura (Thank you, Solenn!)

and a new sweater with .......stripes! what else ;)

aaaaand a little dress/ tunic will be ready within the next days

i also have a few finished testknits to show

first:

Cosy (me) designed by nadia

this perfect little cardi is part of an eBook called emmitouflage(s)

the eBook contains some wonderful garments for women and kids

all worked with De Rerum Natura yarns

sorry for this bad photo.....the light situation in the flat

is awkward! 

pattern. Cosy (me) 

yarn. gilliatt in col. poivre (this yarn is divine!)

needles. 4.5 mm

second:

laelia designed by Hanna 

a lovely lace flower pattern makes this cardigan so beautiful

i enjoyed the knitting from the very beginning to the end

pattern. laelia 

yarn. wollknoll-kammgarn 20/6 handdyed with ashford dyes

needles. 3.5 mm and 3.0 mm

third (and dearly beloved):

lipstick designed by my dear friend Jo 

a cute flattering cardigan....mine wanted to be a jumpper ;)

it was quite easy to modify the pattern:

i joined the front pieces with 3 additional sts to work in rounds

at approx. 20 cm from underarm

ktbl the center st of the front to match the front pattern

longer sleeves (plain Stockinette stitch)

pattern. lipstick 

yarn. wollknoll-strickgarn 8/3 handdyed with ashford dyes

needles. 5 mm and 4.5 mm

maybe i'll find the time to keep you updated... ;)

love,

isa m.