Wendy has finished making Catalina. It fits her so well! Just beautiful. Wendy used Lisa Souza Baby Alpaca Silk in Mulberry. She made two modifications; the front band is a bit wider and the sleeves are full length. She used the stitch pattern from the lower half of the cardigan to trim the sleeves. Very pretty.
Just in time for spring, Erin has finished knitting Catalina. She used 2 skeins of SweetGeorgia Yarns Merino Silk DK. It’s hard to imagine any knitter not having a Raverly account, but just in case you don’t, the notes from her project page are below. Erin mentions the buttons hitting an inch below where intended. I think this looks very nice. It brings the band to be around her waist which creates a belted look.
This was my anniversary trip knitting – every year, Dan and I spend several days at a remote cabin without TV or Internet access, so you’ve got to have knitting!
I’m thrilled with this project – the yarn is ridiculously soft, and the design is versatile for my wardrobe. I know others have said the charts in the pattern are complicated, and they are, but the pattern was very clear and well-written and gave easy-to-follow instructions for knitting the sweater without the chart. The charts were just kind of a bonus to save yourself any counting. I used them and marked my place whenever I left off so I’d know where I should start back up.
I ran into only one snafu, which was my own fault. As always, my row gauge was looser than written, so I should have done the neck increases more frequently. As a result, my buttons hit about 1-2 inches lower than they should, which still works, but if I make this again, I’ll probably increase every 4 rows for the neck.
I used literally every scrap of 2 skeins of yarn for a sweater with a 35” bust (knit fro the XS charts due to gauge).
Cardigan: Catalina by Jordana Paige
Skirt and Tank: The Loft
Tights: Don’t remember
Bangles: Grandma
Earrings: Mervyn’s
Shoes: Nine West
I feel like I’m channeling Marian Paroo, the librarian, from The Music Man with this look. Something about it seems so Victorian-library-ladyish. Maybe it’s the flair in the skirt and lace hem with the tights. Yep, now I have The Music Man songs running through my head…Madam Libraaaarian.
Top: Catalina by Jordana Paige
Brown Top: The Limited
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Steve Madden
Necklace: NY street vendor
Earrings: Ralph Lauren
It amazes me how much one’s clothes can effect mood and vice versa. I had planned to wear a super colorful outfit today, but I just wasn’t feeling it. I’m not bouncy and bright today, just calm, content and thankful it’s Friday. I put on the colorful outfit thinking the bright colors would change my mood, but that just didn’t work. Besides, content is a good place to be. So, I changed into this outfit, which reflects my mood much better.
I’m enjoying this challenge so much. I’ve been digging through my jewelry box finding all kinds of stuff I haven’t worn in such a long time and putting together different combinations of clothes that I normally wouldn’t try. I’m also really enjoying the comments from friends and people I meet. Wearing my own knitwear has been a great conversation starter and way to educate people about the craft. Here’s a conversation from earlier this week:
Lady: “I love your top.”
Me: “Thank you, I designed and knit it.”
Lady: “You did! I didn’t know there were knitting patterns that were so stylish. I’m knitting a scarf, look.”
Me: “Wow, that looks really great.”
Lady: “I have a bag of yarn that my grandmother gave me and I don’t know what to do with it all.”
Me: “Have you heard of Ravelry? It will change your life.”
Lady: “No, what’s that?”
I tell her, she whips out her Blackberry and looks up the site.
Lady: “Oh, that will change my life! I use to knit with chop sticks because I didn’t have knitting needles.”
My other favorite comment from this week has been, “so that sweater you’re wearing just use to be a ball of yarn?”
The pattern for Catalina is now available. It’s a lovely little cardigan to wear with those flower-print dresses I was talking about a few days ago. The pattern is worked in lace, but it’s charted to make increasing simple. There’s four charts for each size. It can seem a bit overwhelming at first, but once the first chunk of rows are established the stitch pattern can be seen and it moves right along.
Last week I taught Catalina on a cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. Since we ported in the island of the cardigan’s namesake, I had to do another photo shoot while there. I put together a little video of the shoot.
The cruise was delightful. We did a lot of knitting, eating, relaxing, knitting, eating, reading, knitting and eating. Unfortunately, we were unable to port in Ensenada due to the swine flu, but the captain found us a warm spot in the sun so we could get caught up on our knitting, eating and relaxing. Below is a photo of me with the wonderful group of knitters on the cruise and also a photo of Cyndee wearing Annie made from Blue Heron yarn. It looked so great on her and I was thrilled when she told me how much she had enjoyed making it. Cyndee must have changed her clothes four times each day so she could show off another garment she had knit. A true knitter!
Just two weeks until the cruise! Catalina is the cardigan I will be teaching on the trip. It’s the pattern that I polled you for. The results–knitter’s want both charts and written instructions. I’m not surprised by this, I think I was just being lazy. Even though the cruise is two weeks away, I am mentally already on the ship. I did get some really helpful comments, so thank you for your help and for taking the poll.
Just another heads up, later this week I’ll be doing a pattern giveaway thing. I just haven’t worked out the details yet. It’s not a quick-on-your-toes thing like the Upside Down Sale, but after all that excitement I learned that Twitter really is the best way for announcements. So if you’re not following yet, get to it.
I completed my eighth show at Stitches today, bringing me to 136 hours (5.6 days) of sitting in my booth. That’s a long time! After so many years of exhibiting, friendly knitters have become recognized regulars who stop to pick up the latest design to round out their collection or just want to say “hi.” It’s so fun for me to see everyone from year to year. And, as exhausting as the whole production is, I’m always so grateful to have the opportunity to meet my customers face to face.
Somehow I managed to leave show only spending $4. I’ve been dreading going to the fabric store to find the right buttons for the cardigan I’m designing for the cruise. I wanted 3 large buttons to match the salmon yarn I’m using. I knew such specifics were going to be impossible to find. I quickly popped in to my neighbor’s booth, UnButtons, to see if she had anything that would work. As I turned the corner, there, sitting on the top of a pile of buttons were three 1.5″ salmon buttons. The light shined on them and I heard voices sing, Aaaaahhhhh. I examined them closely. Were they the same color as my yarn? Remembering an exact color is very difficult and I had foolishly left my knitting at home (yes, ironic being that I sell knitting bags so that one always has her knitting with her). I debated the buttons, but then saw they were only $4. How could I go wrong? When I got home, I pulled out the sweater and much to my happiness found they are a perfect match. This photo doesn’t do it justice. The perfect ending to a wonderful weekend.
