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.

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: a bit of luxury

Odrobina luksusu, czyli chusta z moheru i jedwabiu, zrobiona wzorem estońskim, w kolorze burgundowym.

A bit of luxury: kid mohair and silk, Estonian lace stitch, burgundy red.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/111792185/luxurious-kidsilk-lace-shawl-in-cherry

Jutro: falbanki i inne formy

Tomorrow: ruffles and different shapes.

Update part 3 - power to the stripes!

I love these one-skein projects. The recipe is simple - find a nice, variegated yarn (this is a blend of 40% mohair and 60% acrylic), light, so there are about 500 meters in a skein. Cast on and just knit, and when you start running out of material, figure out the edge. I love wearing such shawls, too. They are perfect, especially when you wear them cowboy style (ladies, these are the best to protect you from the cold, especially when you wear some sort of low-cut neckline or V-line jacket).

Uwielbiam te jednomotkowe projekty. Przepis jest prosty - znaleźć fajną kolorową włóczkę (tutaj mieszanka moheru z akrylem 40%-60%), lekką, taką żeby w 100 g było minimum 500 metrów. Nabrać oczka i zacząć dziergać, a jak motek mocno zmaleje, to wymiślić jakieś fajne wykończenie. Uwielbiam też nosić takie chusty, zwłaszcza w stylu kowbojskim. Drogie panie, to jest doskonały sposób na ochronę dekoltu przed chłodem!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/112540279/knit-grey-heather-triangle-shawl-lace

https://www.etsy.com/listing/111793616/knit-scarf-grey-blue-white-triangle-warm

Next: a bit of luxury.

W następnym wpisie: odrobina luksusu.

Update part 2 - add a little color to your life

Dzisiaj będzie kolorowo. Zimowo- tęczowo:)
  
Today I'm gonna show colors. This will be wintery-rainbowy:) 

Dla chustolubnych - kowbojka w żywych kolorach, robiona prostym wzorem, żeby pokazać cały urok włóczki. Moher z akrylem (40/60), ciepła, miękka, niegryząca. 160x79 cm.

For those who like triangular shawls - a cowboy shawl, knitted in a very simple pattern to show all the beauty of those rainbow stripes. 40% mohair, 60% acrylic, warm, soft, neck-friendly. Ca. 63x31".
 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/111338252/knit-scarf-rainbow-triangle

Dla tradycjonalistów - ta sama włóczka, ale w szaliku.

For those who prefer a more traditional approach - same yarn, but in a scarf:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/111561248/handknit-rainbow-scarf

Szalik ma 190x25cm (ca. 75x10"), jest miękki, puchaty i fajnie się układa.

Size: ca. 75x10". The scarf is soft, cozy and easy to drape.

Jutro kolejne proste pasiaste chusty:)

Come back tomorrow for more simple striped shawls:)

Return of the Queen

Well, it's fall again, so the Queen is back. The Queen of the Forest, to be more specific. This time it's apple green and cherry red (I sense a fruit theme here;)) Both knitted with kidsilk, although from different producers. The green one is 25% silk, 75% kid mohair, the red one is 30% silk, 70% mohair. The first one is listed on Etsy, the second was made to order and is about to be shipped off.

Dzisiaj będzie jesiennie i owocowo: zielone jabłuszko i wiśniowa czerwień;) Dwa nowe szale wg wzoru The Queen of the Forest. Oba wydziergane z kidsilków, ale od różnych producentów. Zielony to 25% jedwabiu i 75% moheru, czerwony ma proporcje 30-70. Pierwszy trafił do Etsy, drugi już ma właścicielkę.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/110843453/big-triangular-kidsilk-lace-shawl-apple

I probably shouldn't be saying this, because this is my design, but I love this model.and I love combining it with kidsilks. It's big, cozy, soft, light (it's under 75 grams, and about 200x90 cm!). I could work with it all the time, so if you want to buy it in a different color, let me know. And if you are a knitter and want to make it yourself, the pattern is available on Raverly and Craftsy (links below).

Pewnie nie powinnam tego mówić, bo to mój własny projekt, ale uwielbiam ten model! Zwłaszcza w połączeniu z kidsilkiem. Chusta jest duża, miękka, lekka (waży mniej niż 75 g. a mierzy ok. 200x90 cm!). Mogę takie robić cały czas, więc jeśli ktoś ma ochotę, zapraszam do zamawiania. A jeśli ktoś ma ochotę na własny udzierg, to wzór jest dostępny na Raverly i Craftsy (linki niżej).

Queen of the Forest pattern:
Raverly: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/queen-of-the-forest
Craftsy: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/knitting/accessory/queen-of-the-forest/8125

Stuck on a pattern

Boy, when I like a pattern, I can't stop using it. This time it all started with a beautiful Echo Flower Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen. I was planning to make it for myself, but halfway through I realized, that the yarn I got wasn't exactly the one I ordered (easy to make a mistake, when you order milk and get white). And I knew I wouldn't be wearing it, as I have absolutely no use for a white shawl. But I finished it anyway and listed it in the shop.

Rety, jak tylko spodoba mi się jakiś wzór, to nie mogę się od niego oderwać. Tym razem zaczęło się od uroczego Echo Flower Shawl autorstwa Jenny Johnson Johnen. Zamierzałam zrobić tę chustę dla siebie, ale tak gdzieś w połowie robótki zauważyłam, że kolor, który mam na drutach to nie ten kolor, który zamówiłam (miał być mleczny, był biały). No i wiedziałam, że sobie w tym nie pochodzę, bo do niczego mi nie pasuje. Ale chustę skończyłam i ostatecznie trafiła do sklepu.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/103841192/white-lace-bridal-shawl-handknit-pure

The same motif is used in another beautiful shawl - Laminaria by Elizabeth Freeman. And since it's something I'd wanted to knit for a long time, I cast on some deep blue yarn and started. And this one is mine! I'm not giving it to anyone:) Oh, and I modified the pattern a bit - I skipped the first part of the shawl (the swatch chart).

Ten sam motyw został wykorzystany w innym fantastycznym wzorze o nazwie Laminaria autorstwa Elizabeth Freeman. A ponieważ jest to wzór, na który od dawna miałam chrapkę, użyłam go do wydziergania cieniutkiej chusty z granatowego merino. I ta chusta jest moja, nikomu jej nie oddam:) A wzór jest nieco zmodyfikowany - odpuściłam sobie początek (the swatch chart).

Shawl number three is another one that uses the same main motif, but I improvised the border. This one is quite impressive - it's big (200x110cm /ca.79x43"), knitted from a blend of merino and silk (75/25), very soft and delicate. A perfect one for a bride, but not only. It's easy to drape and can be worn in many different ways.

Chusta numer trzy jest kolejną z tym samym motywem, ale tym razem border wymyśliłam sama. To bardzo udana chusta - jest duża (200x110cm), zrobiona z mieszanki wełny merino z jedwabiem (75/25), bardzo miękka i delikatna. Świetny dodatek dla panny młodej, ale nie tylko. Układa się doskonale i można ją nosić na wiele sposobów.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/103881554/pink-bridal-lace-shawl-handknit-in

The motif you can see in all these shawls can be found in a book Pitsilised Koekirjad by Leilli Reimann. This book is a collection of many gorgeous Estonian lace stitch patterns.

Motyw wykorzystany w tych trzech chustach można znaleźć w książce Pitsilised Koekirjad Leilli Reimann. Książka zawiera też inne fantastyczne wzory na koronki estońskie.

 That's it for now. Another one will be... well, let me surprise you:)

To tyle na teraz. Kolejny szal to... niech to będzie niespodzianka:)

Dear Spring, could you please hurry up?

Greetings from the city of rain, fog and melting snow!

The weather in Łódź has been really nasty recently. Last week we had snow, which is now melting, and everything is wet and dirty. Today I'm having problems seeing the building on the other side of the street, as we are floating in fog. BTW, Łódź is Polish for "boat":) Anyway, fog I actually don't mind, I like fog, but not when it's mixed with cold, unpleasant drizzle that feels like tiny pricks of ice on the face. I prefer 25 degrees below zero, as it was a month ago (I mean Celsius, just to be clear:)). Snow in the city is no fun.

Luckily, I have my yarns:) So I knit, and I read, and I try to reduce my outside trips to a minimum. So far it works well for me.

I have finished a sample model of Queen of the Forest in a blend of silk and alpaca. And I fell in love with the color - who would have thought it could look good on me? It's grape, dusty plum, some kind of purple/violet, but it's not a "flat" color - it's a mix, with tiny little specks of different shades, some more pinkish and vibrant than the others.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92995943/spring-green-lace-scarf-hand-knitted

The color is not the only great thing about this yarn - the quality is also wonderful. It's incredibly soft and light, very delicate and gentle on the skin. Plus, it's very easy to drape. I am so happy with this shawl that I will be knitting one for myself. I just have to decide on the color (right now it's down to royal blue, burgundy, and the one in the photos:))

And since the weather is so bad, I figured it would be good to do something for the spring. So I came up with a spring scarf with lace pattern. It's green, small, designed especially to work as a lighter outdoors scarf for warmer days.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92995943/spring-green-lace-scarf-hand-knitted

I like it when the weather is nice enough to leave big scarves at home, yet not warm enough to leave the house without anything to protect your neck. And from a knitter's point of view it's lots of fun to knit the small scarves - they are usually one-skein-projects, quit knits you can wrap up in a couple of evenings. Be it the green one above, or the red/pink one from my previous entry, something tells me I will be knitting a few of those in the next weeks:)


And to finish, I think I have some good news - there is a bird giving a wonderful concert right outside my window. Perhaps spring is much closer than I think...:)

Busier than a beaver in a coffee lake

I have no idea who said the above words, but they describe my reality perfectly:) I've been working like crazy recently - but I'm happy with that. When you do what you love there is no other way:)

Before I show you my latest project, here's a quick update from the shop:
First of all I'm celebrating the Valentine's Day with a special sale

15% off with coupon code: VALENTINE

If you have never used coupon codes, have a look at this article: http://www.etsy.com/help/article/350 - it tells you how coupons work and how to use them.

Wait, there's more!

February 14 - March 14 

is the month of 

free worldwide shipping at KnitsDeLuxe!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!



OK, now on to the new knits:)

First of all, let me show you a shawl I knitted with one of my favorite type of yarns: kidsilk. It's a gorgeous and luxurious blend of kid mohair (75%) and silk (25%). It looks very elegant and sophisticated; the finished product has a delicate silky shine and shows a subtle halo effect. I love this yarn, it's like a cloud, or whipped cream, - soft, delicate and light as a feather.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92616168/kidsilk-lace-shawl-triangle-ecru

My next project is a scarf knitted with another gorgeous blend: alpaca, cashmere and silk. The yarn is hand painted, there are lots of colors available. The scarf is a modified version of the zig-zag shawl and is available as a made-to-order item in my shop.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92355831/luxurious-lace-scarf-silk-cashmere

Last, but not least: back to my two favorites: kidsilk and Queen of the Forest.

I've decided to offer a luxury version of the shawl, again, as a made-to-order item. So if you want a luxurious shawl with leaf pattern, and in the color of your choice, have a look at this listing: http://www.etsy.com/listing/92974189/kidsilk-lace-shawl-triangular-hand

Plus, I'm currently finishing the same shawl but from an even more luxurious yarn (alpaca and silk), and that version will also be available on demand very soon.

That's it for now:) Back to work, back to celebrating:)

XO

The Queen in Teal

Her majesty's here - finished and ready. It came out huge: 200x100 cm, but it weighs only 64 grams. Very light, soft and apparently non-scratchy (wasn't supposed to be anyway, but some people are extremely sensitive to some yarns; this was tested today by an objective tester, and proclaimed "very nice"). I'm happy with the result, though I still can't get the color right.

The yarn is a blend of kid mohair and polyamide. I used my own pattern Queen of the Forest, it's the large leaves version. (The pattern is available via Ravelry or at my other Etsy store - KnitInstructor.)

Here's the official color (sample from the yarn color card):

And the shawl itself is available for sale here: The Queen in Teal @Etsy

There are also other colors available: green (small leaves) and yellow/mustard (big leaves).

Thanks for dropping by!:) If you have any comments or suggestions I'll be happy to hear from you.

And come back soon - I'm working on something blue for Valentine's Day, so I'll be showing that (plus there'll be another version of zig-zag!)

I survived Christmas (and New Year, and the first week of 2012:))

Well, it wasn't that difficult, really:) But it was very busy, so today is really the first day when I'm starting to catch a break. First there were some gifts to knit:

This time I kept it to a minimum:)

Then I came up with a new cowl for the shop - close fitting hoody type of neckwarmer.

Blend of mohair and acrylic, available here: long cowl from KnitsDeLuxe at Etsy.

Then there was an order for one of my favorite models:

White Angel from Debbie Bliss - blend of super kid mohair and silk, great yarn to work with. I love this shawl, it's soft, delicate, big (usualy about 180-190 x 60 cm), and ultralight (less than 100 grams).
[Advertising mode on] available on demand via Etsy [advertising mode off] :)

And in the meantime, I knitted a quick "I-want-one":)

Now I'm working on a new Queen of the Forest shawl (pattern available here: Queen of the Forest at Ravelry or here Queen of the Forest at Etsy. This one will be big leaves in deep teal - great color, unfortunately one of those I can't seem to get right on camera. Anyway, here's a sneak peek:

Well, that's it for now. Time to go back to work:)