Purple elegance

Some time ago I bought a skein of gorgeous Drops Lace yarn, a blend of mulberry silk and baby alpaca, in a lovely purple color. I thought of making something for myself, but every time I took that skein into my hands I remembered purple is not really my color. Which is a pity, because this is some really gorgeous yarn. Oh, well, I can still have fun working with it, I don't have to wear it. So I made this, an elegant evening stole knitted in an Estonian lace pattern. And I'm loving the result.

And funny thing is it doesn't look bad on me:)

I'm blue

Today just a quick one, and entirely blue. First an elegant triangular lace shawl in silk and alpaca. Lovely, elegant, delicate and in awesome navy blue (my second favorite color). My own design.

Next two are made from the same yarn, a combo of mohair and acrylic with a shiny metallic thread.

The triangular one has a small ruffle for fun. Both are great for Christmas season, they will make you look glamorous in winter lights. Check them out!

Fine lace is fine

These shawls take a long time to finish, but it's worth it. 100% wool made especially for that kind of projects. These shawls are light and delicate, very elegant, perfect to go with an evening dress. But they also make great scarves to go with a sports jacket.

The yarn is also great for bridal shawls:

The best thing about the wool I used for these shawls is - it's really delicate. Not just as in fine, but unless you are allergic or have ultra sensitive skin, you won't feel you're wearing wool. Awesome, right?

Fixated on a pattern

That's what I call it. One of the lovely Estonian lace stitches, probably in my top 3 fave, as it's not that complicated so I can work it without constantly checking the chart. And when I like something, I repeat it. This time, three times. First, in kidsilk (love the yarn!)

This makes a great wedding shawl. And for those who'd prefer a less luxurious version I made two more in a blend of mohair and polyamide.

The first one is in greyish pink or pinkish grey or actually a color I cannot really name, but it's pretty. The other is white. The kidsilk version can be ordered (also in other colors) and the other two are ready to be shipped. Check www.KnitsDeLuxe.Etsy.com for details.




There is one more bridal shawl I'd like to show you. Also kidsilk, also Estonian lace pattern. I'm sorry about the quality of the photos, but I was working on a tight schedule and had to ship it off asap, so I couldn't wait for a better light. Excuse the flash and slightly distorted color (it's the same off-white as in the first shawl above).

I liked the result so much that I listed it in the "made to order" section in my shop. It's possible to order it in other colors, if you're interested.

Quick summer tops

Big needles, some leftover cotton & acrylic blend, a few good movies, and I got two festival tops. Both are loosely knit, on a petit person they'll look like a tunic.

One more evening and even more leftover yarn, and there is another handknit top:

Sometimes improvising ends really well:)

I'm back!

Well, I haven't been gone really, but I had a terrible bout of lazyness, hence such a long silence. But I wasn't slacking otherwise. I made lots of things. I worked with fine lace wool, summer cottons and heavier wintery combos. And I finally managed to make some sweaters for myself. Come to think about it, I was really busy:)

I'll try to show you at least some of the pieces. Since it's getting cold, let me start with a new winter collection. All one skein project, triangular shawls in variegated yarn. In other words some colorful stripes for winter.

Triangle shawls are the best! First of all they are great with all V-neck coats - they will cover what gets cold the most in those kind of jackets. You can wrap them over your head, forming a hood-like thing to keep your ears warm. Shoulders and upper back warming is obvious, but this scarves can be wrapped around the hips to cover the lower back too! Perfect accessory, I tell you:)

The shawls are available at www.KnitsDeLuxe.Etsy.com

In other news: I'm on Instagram. The plan is to show you some work-in-progress (I've already posted some), so if you're interested, follow me @KnitsDeLuxe

That's it for now. But I'll be back. Sooner than in a year, I promise:)

Shawl into poncho in just a few minutes

Remember the Faux Granny Shawl? Since summer ponchos are in I've decided to turn it into one. Just like this:)

It's quick, simple, and not permanent, so you can go back to a regular shawl if you want to. All you need is two pieces of string (or ribbon). I used crocheted chains, turning the project from "in just a few minutes" to "in under an hour" (I'm a quick knitted, crocheting is another thing;)). 

The strings are used to form the arm seams, they are tied at the desired length, puckering the "sleeve" as much as you wish.

(BTW, you can do that with every knitted triangle shawl, as long as they have the eyelets in the middle and on the edges)

And it goes like this:

Start with the middle of the shawl. Weave the string on both sides of the "spine". You don't have to go through every eyelet, just see what looks best with your shawl (some yarns may turn too bulky for that).

Then tie the string to regulate the length of the "sleeve".

Now you need to make the other "sleeve". Use the string to lace up the edges. Remember to leave enough room for your head! ;)

Then repeat the "tie to regulate the length" part. You can lace up the whole length (apart from the neckline, of course), or you can leave the very end split.

This photo shows the poncho "sleeves" - formed in the middle of the shawl (on the left), and laced up (on the right).

And that's it, the Faux Granny Poncho is ready:)

The Faux Grannies from these photos are available for sale at www.KnitsDeLuxe.Etsy.com - with strings (not) attached:)

Summer knitwear - oh, yes!

Some people think that knitting is mostly an autumn/winter thing. They hear "knit" and see hats and sweaters that are there to keep us from cold. But that is so not true! There are so many gorgeous summer yarns that just wink at you from the store shelf as if saying: "Pick me! Pick me! I can be your next top/dress/shawl! Pick me, I'm sooo pretty!"

Well, I picked:) It was Alize Miss Batik, mixing my favorite summer colors: shades of blue and bright lime green. The yarn is very thin (280 m/50 g skein), so I went with my favorite summer design - the Faux Granny Shawl. The result is this:

This scarf was made with only one skein on size 3 needles (US2.5). It's light, breezy, a bit shiny and perfect with a t-shirt on a nice summer day. 

And it is for sale: https://www.etsy.com/listing/231086148

If you'd like to make a similar shawl yourself, the pattern is available here:
Faux Granny Shawl on Etsy
Faux Granny Shawl on Ravelry

 Happy summer knitting!

Scarf season!!!

And apparently mohair season! I love the idea - it's great to cozy up with something fuzzy. And I just happen to have new mohair additions to the shop:)

Sezon na szaliki! I najwidoczniej na moher! Jestem za - fajnie jest otulić się czymś puchatym. I tak się akurat składa, że nowości w sklepie są moherowe:)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/164885778/knit-infinity-scarf-lace-autumnal-colors

https://www.etsy.com/listing/166477539/pink-knit-scarf-infinity-lace-loop-scarf

https://www.etsy.com/listing/166477961/handknit-scarf-mint-green-stole-mohair

https://www.etsy.com/listing/127320892/handknit-lace-scarf-mohair-fall-colors