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:)

Sparkle time

Winter - there is no better time to wear shimmering accessories. They look magical in Christmas lights, on a cold snowy day. And there is some elegance about them. This is such a thing - a big, wide and log scarf, handknit from a black/grey/white yarn with silvery metallic thread.

There are other shimmering things at www.KnitsDeLuxe.Etsy.com - check them out!

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.

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!

Shimmering scarves - seasonal specials:)

OK, so it's almost winter, Christmas just around the corner - time to bring that festive shimmering to your wardrobe. I usually go with greys, but this year I've opted for more seasonal colors: red and green. And I went for things I like most - a big cozy scarf, a ruffled wrap and one more simplicity triangle shawl.

Now, I just love this one. It's big, cozy, structured, shimmering and gorgeously green. Too bad my camera just won't catch the color right. It's emerald. Deep juicy emerald. A tricky color, even the producer's photo on their website is off. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/211376648/oversize-knit-scarf-shimmering-emerald

https://www.etsy.com/listing/211376648/oversize-knit-scarf-shimmering-emerald

https://www.etsy.com/listing/211376648/oversize-knit-scarf-shimmering-emerald

The other color photographs much better - it's amaranth red. Also with a shimmering yarn. I used it to make two items: a Simplicity scarf and a Fiver (both my own designs).

Simplicity is a triangle scarf with lace edging, you've seen a few of those here. It's great for winter to keep your neck warm and look stylish. I also wear it indoors, on the shoulders, it works great in cooler rooms.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/215374292/knitted-triangle-scarf-lace-shawl

https://www.etsy.com/listing/215374292/knitted-triangle-scarf-lace-shawl

Fiver is probably my favorite winter shawl - it's easy to knit (I promise I'll write the pattern down one day), easy to drape, feminine and just a bit different than ordinary shawls and scarves.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/211377606/red-ruffle-shawl-shimmering-wrap-cozy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/211377606/red-ruffle-shawl-shimmering-wrap-cozy

So these are the latest additions to the shop, but I have other fivers there, too. This one is slightly larger, the same yarn, but a different color - ecru.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/199399893/ecru-bridal-shrug-wrap-shimmering

And this one is made from different yarn, without the shimmer, but it has a few rows of beads added:)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/173129039/purple-ruffle-shawl-beaded-scarf

https://www.etsy.com/listing/173129039/purple-ruffle-shawl-beaded-scarf

That's quite an update, right? I feel a bit excused for being so quiet for such a long time:) Oh, one more thing - I'm running a Xmas sale in the shop. Enjoy!:)

Here comes the bride

They say summer is the best season to get married. I say they're 25% right:) But it's true that summer gives you great clothing opportunities. Ah, all those romantic accessories you can wear outdoors...
Niektórzy mówią, że lato to najlepszy czas na ślub. Ja twierdzę, że mają 25% racji:) Jednak to prawda, że latem łatwiej się na taki ślub ubrać. Ach, te wszystkie romantyczne akcesoria, które można narzucić na siebie przy zabawie pod gołym niebem...

Here are some of the bridal shawls from my shop.
Oto kilka ślubnych szali i chust z mojego sklepu. 

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/150527422/ecru-silk-lace-shawl-wedding-stole-made

25% silk, 75% merino wool. In the words of my lovely customer: "gorgeous and super soft".

Made to order, also in other colors.

25% jedwabiu, 75% wełny merino. Słowami przesympatycznej klientki: "Piękny i supermiękki". Dostępny na zamówienie, także w innych kolorach.

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/155622581/luxury-lace-bridal-shawl-ecru-stole

25% silk, 75% merino wool. Just listed. Traditional Estonian lace stitch pattern with nupps. 

25% jedwabiu, 75% wełny merino. Nowość. Tradycyjny wzór koronki estońskiej - z "bąbelkami".

https://www.etsy.com/listing/106100519/luxury-knit-lace-bride-shawl-large

Big, soft, triangular. 100% Italian merino wool. Very delicate and non-scratchy.

My own design, inspired by Estonian lace.

Duża, miękka, trójkątna. 100% włoskiej wełny z merynosa. Bardzo delikatna i niegryząca.

Projekt własny, inspirowany koronką estońską.

 

How about adding some color to the wedding?

A może by tak dodać trochę koloru?

 

Something blue

Coś niebieskiego

 

Both shawls were knitted from a blend of kid mohair (62%) and polyamide (38%). They're very light and have a delicate halo effect.

Obie chusty zostały zrobione z mieszanki moheru i poliamidu. Są bardzo lekkie i mają delikatny włosek.

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/150334910/blue-lace-shawl-triangle-handknit

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/127371942/royal-blue-lace-shawl-triangle-handknit

And some in pink. Same yarn as in the blue ones.

I jeszcze na różowo. Ta sama włóczka, co w niebieskich.

 

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/79005973/wedding-stole-delicate-lace-candy-pink

 

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/128188479/lace-shawl-bridal-heather-pink-triangle

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/130396730/pink-lace-shawl-bridal-wedding-triangle

There are more shawls, more models and colors at www.knitsdeluxe.etsy.com. And there is a special section with items on sale. Check it out, maybe you'll find something you like.

Na stronie www.knitsdeluxe.etsy.com jest ich więcej - więcej fasonów i więcej kolorów. I jest też dział z wyprzedażą. Zapraszam, może znajdziecie tam coś, co się Wam spodoba.

Shimmering red (just because it's too early for a "Merry Xmas" in the title;))

But that's what I call it - it is the "Merry Xmas shawl":) Not a complicated pattern - no lace, no cables - a semicircle shape with a ruffle. But the real beauty comes from the yarn, and to be precise, from a golden metallic thread that makes it shimmer in the light. Red and gold, two Christmas colors, make it a great accessory for the holiday season.

Za wcześnie na "Wesołych świąt" w tytule, ale właśnie tak brzmi nazwa tej chusty:) Wzór prosty, bez ażurów czy warkoczy, gładki, ale za to z falbanką. Półkole. Ale cały urok tej chusty bierze się z włóczki, a dokładnie z metalicznej nitki, która delikatnie połyskuje w świetle. Czerwień i złoto, dwa bożonarodzeniowe kolory - ta chusta do idealny dodatek do noszenia w święta.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/113455110/knit-red-scarf-shimmering-semicircle

 

Luxurious Simplicity

Old and popular pattern, new type of yarn. Result: supersoft and delicate shawl, easy to drape and with a subtle silky shine. The yarn - a blend of 70% baby alpaca and 30% mulberry silk, made in Peru - will keep you warm when it's cold and cool you down when it's hot.

Stary i popularny wzór, nowy rodzaj włóczki. Co z tego wyszło? Supermiękka, lejąca i delikatna chusta z lekkim jedwabnym połyskiem. Włóczka - mieszanka 70% alpaki i 30% jedwabiu, wyprodukowana w Peru - grzeje kiedy jest zimno i chłodzi w upał.

70% baby alpaca, 30% mulberry silk
 162x76 cm
https://www.etsy.com/listing/115544775/luxury-alpaca-silk-shawl-triangle-grey

For sale here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/115544775/luxury-alpaca-silk-shawl-triangle-grey
Other color available as made to order.

Do kupienia tutaj: https://www.etsy.com/listing/115544775/luxury-alpaca-silk-shawl-triangle-grey
Inne kolory dostępne na zamówienie.

Update part 4: ruffles and different shapes.

I'm looking for new forms and new ways to build shawls. So I'm experimenting. How about semi-circles? Well, a bit more than that, and not a perfect circle, but it is some geometric form. Oh, and it has a ruffled edge. It's not very big (150x58 cm / ca.59x23"), but it wraps nicely. And it's very warm.

Szukam nowych form i nowych sposobów tworzenia chust. Eksperymentuję. Może półkole? Cóż, niezbyt "to pół" i niezbyt "kole", ale forma na pewno jest inna niż dotychczasowe. Z pewnością bardzo ciekawa. A na dole jest falbanka. Ta chusta (szal? owijacz?) nie jest zbyt duża (150x58 cm), ale można się nią ciekawie owinąć. I jest bardzo ciepła.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/113303826/knit-semicircle-toffee-honey-shawl-with

Next shape is a rectangle, but knitted from the middle of the longer side. It's knitted like a triangle, but stitches are added in different places, so the shawl gets a different shape. This one also has a ruffle - on one long and both short sides.

Drugi kształt to prostokąt, ale robiony od środka długiego boku. Zaczęty jak chusta trójkątna, ale oczka dodawane są w innych miejscach, przez co chusta robi się prostokątna. Ta też ma falbankę - na jednym długim boku i obu krótkich.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/114577159/knit-ruffled-wrap-striped-in-colors-of

These shawls are slightly different from what I used to make. But the purpose is the same - to keep people warm and stylish in the winter.

Te chusto-szale są nieco inne niż moje wcześniejsze prace. Ale ich cel jest ten sam - mają ogrzewać i dodawać szyku noszącym.