My favorite Local Yarn Shop

I had an opportunity to take some photos in my favorite local yarn store. Imagine how it would be to have such a stash at home? :)
I really like that they do great work and sell some hard to find and more exclusive brands here, like Lotus Yarns (especially cashmere!), Malabrigo and Fyberspates.

And you can always just hop in, read knitting magazines or knit on this super soft sofa. They also organize different workshops and knitting events, where I haven't had time to participate yet...

If you happen to visit Pärnu, then this yarn store is located in Ringi street, close to bus station. They also have a Facebook page, search for Käsitööait OÜ.

Exclusive cashmere gloves

I bought some exclusive Lotus Yarns 100% cashmere last week, just to try if cashmere is really that good as some people are saying.
I knit this pair in two weeks, simply because I got addicted to this yarn! Seriously, if I had a lot of money, I would never buy anything else but cashmere. It is one of the softest things I have ever seen.
Fancy yarn needs fancy approach, so I used some high quality shiny beads and ribbon to decorate them.

Pattern I used is the same I use for my romantic fingerless gloves, only this time it seemed more appropriate to knit the gloves with fingers.

I already ordered some new cashmere from Ebay and can't wait to receive it.

When enough is enough?

How do you know when enough yarn is enough?

I promised about a month ago that I won´t buy new wool (unless there is a great reason for this, like custom rush project or something) before I have used some of my old stash.
Now, weeks later, I have about 2-3kg more yarn in the house, and I struggle with finding a place where to storage it.

But I´m sure that all knitters know the feeling of going to local yarn store for "just" seeing what´s new, and ending up with bags filled with stuff. I think I have NEVER left a yarn store with empty hands, except once in Slovenia when they had only acrylics in stock.

Sadly I don´t have much time to knit these days, because I need to spend my time between university and some work projects. On Monday I´m flying to Brussels for a week, to do some European Media work, and I don´t think I will take a risk to bring some needles with me, because I have never passed a security check in the airports with my needles, no matter if they´re metallic or wooden.

Autumn and gloves... more gloves

Just wanted to share those photos, taken by my friend Laura Toomesoo. If you happen to live in Estonia and need a photographer, I highly recommend her.

Little Teaser

My friend Laura made some new awesome photos of my Romantic Lace Gloves.
I´m currently away from home (I have a school week, learning railway engineering), but once I return to home, I will show you some more.

The pattern is still available on Ravelry pattern store.

Fall 2011: What fashion has to say

Seems like top designers doesn't value knits this fall 2011 season. As previously, I browsed Style.com to find some interesting knits from different collections, but didn't find much.
ADAM is one of few who has several on their collection.

Moschino Cheap and Chic

Pringle of Scotland

New patterns coming!

I'm happy to announce that my first design for Koigu Magazine arrived to Canada on Friday. Now I have 2 weeks to complete the pattern, which will hopefully be published on next issue.
I was pleased to hear that Taiu, the owner of Koigu, really liked my sweater and I'm anxious to show it to my blog readers, too! But you still have to wait a bit.

Until then, I have a plan to write a pattern for those fingerless gloves. Some people have already asked for it, so it will be done and published on Ravelry in next few weeks.

UPDATE! Pattern is finished & uploaded to Ravelry.

Autumn in colorful

I knitted some more fingerless gloves. The photo is colorful, as the autumn in Estonia :)
Still wonder if I should write a pattern for them? Anyone interested? 

Koigu progress

Katy Perry's new album "Teenage Dream" is playing in my headphones and it is a real teenage dream - I'm too old for enjoying this kind of music on Wednesday 10am.
But I write CD reviews for the newspaper and I must do it.

Anyway, I didn't want to write about Katy Perry.
You see the photo of Koigu yarn I got ... hm, last week? Or even week before.
I keep looking those beautiful skeins of yarn and think what to do with them. Yep, November is soon here and I should come out with an idea, but the brain is just not working.

I love the texture and color of Koigu KPPPM, but it’s challenging – because of multiple colors, it’s not possible to use all patterns, which I would like to, because they just don’t show up on the garment. So my secret plan is to play more with the cuts and less with the pattern.

Last night I got some inspiration and made a small, doll-sized skirt out of it. That’s how I usually plan my designs – I knit a decreased size to see how it looks like. I liked it in general, some changes should be made, but I can’t decide if to go for more classical skirt or a bit extravagant? I’m thinking of something with fluffy bottom edge…

Or maybe tunic? Or sweater? Hats-socks? For me it would be easier to make them all, and not to decide this one and only thing.

But despite of headache I get from thinking, I love doing it! The creative team of Koigu magazine – Taiu, Maie and Kathy – are fantastic and I’m glad that for my first big project I ended up with such a helpful and experienced people.



Meanwhile I made a new cotton shrug.

Romantic fingerless gloves

 

This is my vision of romantic fingerless gloves - light colour, small pearls, traditional Estonian lace pattern. 

I really enjoyed knitting them, and in last few days they have got a lot of positive feedback. 

The main patten is taken from Estonian lace book "Haapsalu shawl", which I absolutely adore. I made some changes, as usually, but the basic idea is the same. 

I used regular soft wool yarn, it took about 60-70 grams. 

So I'm thinking if I should write a pattern for them too? It would be in English.

Lace is always beautiful

Today's sunny weather was perfect for taking new photos.
I have them more, but I want to show you the lace shawls first.

Estonian knitters have been making light lace shawls with traditional patterns for hundreds of years.

Sock collection success story

I've been giving hints about new sock collection for months.
Sorry, it's still not completed, but some designs are photographed! And probably I'm not able to finish this project now, because first pairs I listed to Etsy got a positivse feedback and will be soon hopefully sold in NY retail stores.
First pairs are sent to them for review and it's pretty sure we're going to work together, if the customer decides the colours and patterns they like most.
If it goes as planned, knee high socks will be in the stores on November.
I will keep you updates!

I still dream of flying to London Knitting and Stitching Show next week, to meet creative team of Koigu. But not sure if I can afford it at the moment...

 

A paradise

Do you know how a paradise looks like? I know, but I don't have my own paradise. But if I did, it would look something like this:

.... or like this

.. or something similar to this:

Got the point?
At the moment I wish I could knit full time...

Once in a lifetime opportunity

Yesterday I received once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, for making some designs for new Koigu magazine.

If you have read my blog previously, you know how big Koigu fan I am. Taiu, who is one of the owners of this yarn company, found me some time ago from Facebook and turned out she’s Estonian like I am.
She sent me some Koigu yarn and their first published book, “Knits from a Painters Palette”.

Yesterday, when I came from fittest club and opened my mailbox, I found e-mail from Kathryn Merrick, who’s a knitting designer in Interweave Press and puts together Koigu’s new magazine.
Taiu recommended me to make some designs there! Can you believe it? I can’t!

But they’re both very helpful and I’m going to do this. We agreed that they will send me some yarn and after receiving them I start working.

It’s a challenge for me, because English is not my first language and so far I’ve done only simple patterns, like fingerless gloves.
Garments with different size calculations are a big work for me, but I already have some ideas and I’m eager to try.
But it all depends on yarns and they texture. I don’t know what I will get and all my ideas may not be perfect for them.

Anyway, I’ll keep you updated and I’m so happy to get this opportunity. Now, when I’m not completely satisfied with my work in newspaper, a new challenge is definitely something which keeps me motivated.

Here's some works I've done before with Koigu yarn:

Second pair of socks

To be honest, it’s not ready yet, but last night I finished first sock with Norwegian pattern.
This time I used pattern from DROPS and didn’t think it out myself. I haven’t knitted multicolored patterns before, but I’m quite satisfied with the result. I could wear a pair like this. 

Seems like there’s something wrong with my camera’s auto focus. Photos are not clear, but I’m working on fixing it!

Sock collection preview

As I mentioned before, I started knitting my knee high sock collection.
First pair is almost ready and here's a sneak peak photo for you.
Keywords are neutral colours, natural materials and wide range of patterns. I plan to do at least 8 different pairs and present them all together in late September.
If I can complete it, it will be my biggest project in last few years!

Never too early to prepare for winter

First very important announcement:
TipJunkie is hosting mygiveaway on July 27th and then will be 3 winners! It lasts only 24 hours, so don't be late!

But even if it's +30C outside, I'm preparing for fall/winter season. 5 pairs of fingerless gloves are ready, more coming soon!
This morning I took some new photos of them. I don't have a good camera at the moment, but I can borrow one from work and I used this opportunity for pimping up my item photos.
I like to photograph in open air, because there's more light than in my tiny dark apartment, where sun shines only in the morning.
But it's hard to do it alone. My friend, who helped me with the photos by being my model, moved away for couple of months and I need to do it myself. I don't know anyone else to ask for help, but if here's someone from Pärnu, Estonia (still, most of my readers are local) and is willing to do it, please drop me a line! Small present is guaranteed :)

All gloves are listed to Etsy of course.

Latest projects

The dress is made for my newborn niece. Her 4 year old sister already has one similar to this from past summer.
I would like to make more of the dresses for selling also. Do you think it's a good idea and what kind of colors combination would you like?
I'm thinking of yellow/green, pink/green, but I'm ready to try more.


The shrug is not a new thing. It was finished some months ago, now I just have a cute photo I wanted to share with you :)

You have seen similar tops in my blog before too, but this is a bit different.
The story is funny too. I went to local yarn shop and bought the cotton yarns for this project. 5 balls, because it's usually enough and if I need more, I can always go and get it.
I was choosing the color very carefully, but after I had knitted half of the top, I discovered that the colors are totally different! 2 balls were light beige and 3 balls light brown. I didn't see it in the shop.
First I wanted to unravel it, but I think 2 colors looks maybe even more interesting than one? I had to change the border pattern too, so it would make sense in different shades.

Now I'm dreaming of a dress with similar pattern...

Something cute

I have to thank Cammie for the blouse I just finished.
Cammie is amazing woman from US, who has given me so many new ideas lately. I've knitted 4 different items to her and found a lot of inspiration on her thoughts...

So Cammie wanted a shrug with princess puff sleeves. I haven't done anything like this before, but it sounded like a great challenge. At the same time, ArtMind won the last week's EST challenge and picked "cute" for new topic.


I decided to mix those 2 things- cute and puff sleeves- together and here is the result.

I'm not sure how I should call this knit? Blouse, cardigan, shrug? Any ideas?

What fashion has to say part 3

First: Isaac Mizrahi, Second: Betsey Johnson