Blythe Mania

(From Blythe Style, via)

I first found about Blythe some time last year, my best friend took me to a designer toy shop in Toronto, Magic Pny. They were showing the Blythe photographs by Gina Garan. Since then deep down, I wanted one (hint: I want to design for Blythe!). My first impression was that she was kinda spooky, those eyes that change color, her constant gaze, what an it-girl!

Now Blythe has gone high-fashion, like I knew she would. Check out Elle.com for a video of the launch. See it all int he new book, Blythe Style. And if you've ever wanted to knit for Blythe, see thiese Knitty patterns written just for her!

Backstage Sweaters

(Backstage at Michael Kors, SS07, via)

Sometimes it's more interesting to see what models are wearing when they arrive backstage bfore a show than what is on the runway. But I did really like what Kors was offering this time around!

I'm back...

I can't believe it's almost October, that means it's almost Canadian Thanksgiving. I've been sick for the past couple days, that what I get for staying up late and going out without a sweater (I did have a jacket, but I guess it wasn't enough). Hence the lack of posting lately.

I went window shopping for knit accessories, both high end and low end. I can say that I'm not impressed with what is availible. For something like a pair of mittens for $20-$30 , you can expect that it would be mostly made of pure acrylic. Funny because it will not keep you warm, so some have added fleece lining-- even more acrylic. And even I were willing to pay $90 for a cashmere tuque, the main body of the cap is cashmere, but they make the pom-pom out of a acrylic or nylon yarn. Spoils the idea of luxury, doesn't it?

In refernce to Julie's slogan, Reality is the new luxury and I couldn't agree more. I don't want the illusion of luxury, I want value for my money's worth, and I don't want to be scammed. Who ever said knitting was expensive? For less than $20, I can whip up a glorious pair of mitts that far exceed the luxury of even what Holt's or Neimans can offer.

On a different note: yay, Gilmore Girls is back on tonight and I can't wait to see the new show, Ugly Betty.

Patchwork Orange

(Left: Matthew Willamson, SS07, Right: Marc by Marc Hacos, SS07, via)

Not only are we seeing the resurgence of handicrafts such as knitting and crochet, but also patchwork and quilting. Quilting too, has come a long way from the granny craft into something that can be cool and abstract like Ian Hundley's quilts.or a Zac Posen patchwork dress I love the iea of a patchwork sweater, a fun way to play with color and use up old bits of yarn.

Want to get into quilting, or get inspired by it? Check out Purl Patchwork, (yup, aka Purl SoHo, the yarn haven) and Amy Bulter, (loving her modern graphic floral prints) who also has a new book out.

Crochet Away

(LeftL Oscar de la Renta, SS07, Derek Lam, SS07, via)

Just spotted these crochet items from NY Fashion Week. It's amazing to see the traditional craft used in fashion today (actually it gives me relief from the fugly knitting I come across).


Fable Update:
Me, I just finished a huge project that will be coming out next year. SInce it' such a long time away, I don't see any point in talking about it at the moment. I'm just working on new projects. I started working on socks out of Fable alpaca! I just got one done and they are soooo warm, and they're actually not too bulky to wear with most of my shoes.

On a curious note, I'd like get to a better idea of who my readers are; so are you a knitter?

Do you knit?
	Yes
	No
	No, but I want to learn
	No, but I crochet
Create Free Polls

Marc Jacobs

(Marc Jacobs, SS07 via )

I'd really like to spend time looking at this piece in person. The jacket reminds me of my mother's old quilted Chinese jackets, the kind with the manderain collar and frog buttons. The sweater/jacket hybrid is incredible. I'd really like a good look at the stitchwork.

Oh, Karl

(Crop wool sweater with scarf wrap, Karl Lagerfield, $455, via)

First spotted thisoved it on Pretty, Pretty. Loved it. I think if you were so inclined, you could adapt a well-fitted sweater pattern. The thing that makes this piece interesting is the front panel and the stitch pattern.

Cheap Cashmere?

(Wild About Cashmere, Saks' fall campaign from 2005)

One of Telegraph's fashion blog post caught my attention, Cashmere to shiver for. The author reports of the new "cheap cashmere" lines coming this fall from labels such as TopShop (said to be launching a 100 percent cashmere line), George (sold at Wal-mart), Marks&Spencer, and Primark, the main talk of the posrt. The author was raving about the shocking cheap cashmere sweater for a mere 8 quid (as it turns out was a blend). As noted in the yarn business, the cashmere-ness is always over-emphsized, as the cashmere accounts for only the latrer 5 to 10 percent of the content. While I agree that the little bit of cashmere can add to the overall feel of the garment, let's not mistake it for a cashmere sweater. The market price for raw, unprocesed cashmere fiber (just combed off the goat) goes for $80 USD per kilogram, so the thought of cheap cashere is worrying. The feeling I get about this? Does the making of acessible, fast "luxury" justify the devasting effects of consumerism?

Want to read up more about cashmere? Here's some articles which highlights why cashmere is so expensive, and where this cheap cashmere is coming from.

Cashmere on the cheap, Time, Asia Edition
Cashmere for beginners, Scotsman.com

So you want to knit a sweater dress...

(Sweater dresses by Louis Vuitton, FW06, TSE, FW06, both via Style.com)


Read this first.

The must-have dress of this season is the sweater dress and observing my blog stats, it's what you want to knit this fall. As a designer, I'd love to just pump our a design to be made availible immediately, unfortunately, writing patterns are very time consuming and I can't be everywhere at once. But because I'd like knitters to become more comforatble with not relting on following a pattern to the exact "t". I'm about to teach you how to tweak a regular sweater pattern into a dress.

The secret to the sweater dress pattern is... is that it's just a longer sweater pattern! It's that simple, there's nothing to it.

The important part to making this adapation sucessful is selecting the right pattern to being with. But what patterns are suitable for adapting? It's best if it's already hip-length (8 inches below your natural waist) with waist shaping (a slim fit). Measure the length from your shoulder to where you want the dress to end (make it 1 1/2-2" longer than you want it to be, sweater dresses tend to ride up a bit). Add the remaining difference to the length of the pattern (check the schematics, it should give you the length). As long as the original pattern is hip kength, there should be no problem about following the exact pattern from the ribbing. If the pattern has a complex stitch pattern that goes on for 10 rows, add accordingly, making sure you get it all in. So if 10 rows measures up as 2" (check your gauge), and you need to add 8", you will need to add 40 rows in the stitch pattern before you meet up to the start point of the original knitting pattern.

So to recap:
1. Work the ribbing or what finish it calls for in the pattern as directed, you may even want to make the ribbing longer.

2. Start in the sittch pattern that it calls for. Work for whatever length you need to add. Make sure to complete all ros of the stitch pattern.

3. Follow remaining directions on pattern, starting from where you left off after the ribbing directions.

See, it's not that hard, I promise.

DIY Q&A: Bobbles

( Luella Bartley, FW06, cashmere cable knit sweater, $355, via)


Re: Bobbles

Andrea,

I'm stuck on how to make a bobble. My pattern calls for K1 P1 K1, slip the third stich over the first stitch and the second stich over the first stitch. Mine come out all loose and seems to need punching out from back to front. When lifting the stitches over the first stitch, are ;the stitches dropped off one by one or dropped off after both have been lifted?

Can you possibly show me a drawing of how to do this? It will be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Paula


Dear Paula,

When making a bobble, the general idea is to make extra stitches out of one stitch and then gather them into one stitch to create that round ball shape. There are many ways to do this, here is mine:

First start off with M3, turn work, P3, turn work again, K3tog.

In the method you describe, you should be dropping off the sts one by one. If this isn't working for you, I'd recommend that you just knit the three sts together.

As well, there's a video linked to this post to a video by StitchCraft on making bobbles. Hope this helps.

Keep Knitting,
Andrea