Silk and Mohair Capelet

I've put this capelet in my shop because it's just a little too large. Happy shopping to just the right lady!

Clara's Knitting: A Slouchy Juniper Beret

From her own pattern, tiny stitches, super-soft yarn. Full service: she makes and models! And it's for me :)

Clara's Knitting: Lace Sweater from Vintage Knits

Known in Sarah Dallas' Vintage Knits only as the "Lace Sweater," it was meant to be knitted in cotton. It's quite different in the lace-weight merino Clara chose, and it's oh so heavenly. Short bodice, long sleeves, and she's planning to wear it over a jersey dress I'm about to make her. That's the jersey covering the buttons now.

My Knitted Short Stays

I knitted this crazy--but in an alluring way--garment from Jane Austen Knits, maybe the Fall 2013 issue? It's patterned after the short stays worn under dresses, for support.

As an outer, knitted garment, it's something completely different--an abbreviated but cozy vest.

Let's talk about the fact that the ribbing is deliberately off-center in the back. It kind of freaks me out.

Also, I maybe should have knitted a swatch. But it is cozy and fun!

Clara's Knitting: A Goldenrod Cardigan for Daisy

Clara just finished this sweater for Daisy, so even though this is the hottest day of the year so far, the sweater is getting a wearing. It's knitted in a slightly variegated goldenrod merino, from this Ravelry pattern. 

The sleeves are *supposed* to be 3/4. The pattern says nothing about turquoise buttons though.

Clara's Knitting: Pistachio Lace Shawl

I know this is from Jane Austen Knits Magazine, and I'll get the pattern listed as soon as I can.

Clara's knitting is amazing to me!

Clara's Knitting: Linen and Wool Shawl

Apparently Clara really can knit anything there is.

Clara's Knitting: Lattice-Stitch Scarf

Clara's lattice-stitch scarf made from lace-weight alpaca with a little silk.

Clara's Saturday at Home

Clara didn't make it home last weekend because her flight was cancelled last minute--she shlepped her tote bag back to campus and we pushed the whole thing forward a week. Which means she's home right now!

Let's see. We have knitted, gardened (a lot), washed outside furniture, cut her bangs, cooked, and eaten a lemon drizzle cake. 

Actually, just Clara's been knitting while I piece my quilt. She's doing this beautiful lace-weight merino in a vintage pattern, and she's enthralled with the picot edge she got from turning down a band with a row of eyelet knitted through the middle. I'll make her model it when it has sides.

Starting a Lacy, Cabled Cowl

Aha! Looks like Clara's knitting, but it's mine! Even though it has cables and a lace pattern. My knitting skills have taken a big leap forward, I can tell. Because I actually understand a little bit about what's going on in this pattern.

It's a cowl and I'm knitting it in the round, out of a silvery fawn-colored yarn that's half silk and half mohair. And I haven't ruined it yet, even though Clara's gone back to school.

Clara Does the Blocking

Clara was kind enough to block my scarf (below) when she blocked her own (above).

Water, T-pins, and a towel make such a difference in the hands of a girl who knows what she's doing.

Clara's Knitting: Daisy's Summer Cardigan

Though it's not quite warm enough for this week, Daisy has this new cardigan at the ready should the sun come out in a major way. Clara finished it over Thanksgiving break, then was cruelly thwarted in her quest to buy more yarn by the little yarn shop being closed for the holiday. We went to the thrift store instead and Clara got an awesome crewelwork project of a happy raccoon, to work on the train.

Anyway, this is knitted in a cotton yarn we bought in Germany, and the pattern is from Ravelry. I've got the paper printout here, and the keywords I'm seeing are "DROPS collection" and "wavy pattern," so good luck finding that!

It's so cute, and it takes me right back to my own personal and beloved baby blanket. That I loved til I was twelve.

Barton Cottage Shrug in Blue

I finished my merino shrug a couple of months ago, then took my time getting the casing stitched down. It's so clever, the entire neckline and front opening are a casing for a ribbon. Thread it through, pull it, tie, and there's your shaping!

It's a very comfortable garment, and I love the sleeve length, except that they are too short to wear over long sleeves, which is kind of too bad. If I ever knit it again--and I may, it's that nice!--I'll make longer sleeves.

The pattern is from the lovely Jane Austen Knits magazine.

My Own, My Lace

In a yarn shop in Germany I lifted up a silk scarf and crunched it in my hands and vowed: I was going to buy tiny silk yarn and learn to knit lace, after all. And so I did!

 Clara started me off on my scarf on the drive to school. All day I was passing my knitting back to her every five minutes to fix.

There's a distinct change in the pattern where Clara got out of the car. But no matter! It will never show on a moving horse, and I'm having fun, and I definitely understand it better now than I did eighty rows ago. And it feels very very good when I crunch it in my hands.

Clara's Knitting: Linen Apron

From an issue of Jane Austen Knits, Clara's linen apron.

She did the whole thing on our two-week trip to Germany.

The bib is a lovely wheat pattern, and the bottom of the skirt is deep lace. The straps  cross in back (not shown) and attach to a waistband (Clara added buttons).

I think if she were doing doing it over she'd make the bib wider, but it's still really pretty, and yes, washable.

Clara's Knitting: The Hedgehog

Clara knitted Daisy the hedgehog from Purl Bee, for her birthday. She has another one on the needles that's destined to be the mascot for her dorm floor.

Lace! It Counts As Lace!

At last I have knitted something approaching lace--a little trim on the sleeves and bottom edge of my sweater (it's the "Barton Cottage Shrug" from Jane Austen Knits). Although the rows are only 10-12 stitches long, they offer infinite opportunities to mess up, so Clara has rescued me over and over. It's so fun though, and it looks great from a distance!

Clara's Knitting: Ribbed Lace Sweater

Clara knit herself this Ribbed Lace Sweater from Sarah Dallas' Vintage Knits. The pattern has short sleeves but she made it sleeveless after trying a sleeve and not liking where the seam sat on her shoulder (a problem we've had consistently with this book). She also added about five inches to the length of the waist. And got a perfect fit, as you can see. 

Clara's Knitting: Ruffle Scarf

Clara finished her ruffle scarf, made from some hand-dyed yarn from Purl in the fantastic colorway Poprocks. I think she pulled the pattern off Ravelry--I love how it drapes itself.

And the hyacinths are blooming!

And She Finishes the Mittens

That was fast, Clara. Please crank a pair out for me.