cosmicpluto knits!

cityscape, the first

Since my Cityscape sweater pattern has been up on Twist for a little while now, I though it was high time I told you about how it came about! I just took these photos and the sweater’s a bit rumpled from being in the closet all summer – but it’s sure to get worn this autumn.

Last winter I had the idea of a circular yoked sweater with a skyline around the yoke. Bottom-up circular yoke cardi? Easy for me to work up. But it took a bit of trial and error to get the chart just right. I looked at various actual skylines, skyline line drawings, and other graphic representations, but in the end I just made a grid up in Illustrator and painted in the squares until they looked right.

For yarn, I had 2 colours of Dream in Color Classy that I wanted to use – grey for the main colour, and a deep blue (Midnight Derby) for the background of the skyline. These colours are pretty subtle against each other – the skyline isn’t in as high contrast as it is in the Blue Moon BFL version.

I knit up the first one very quickly in February 2010 – here it is!

There are lots of differences between my first prototype and the final version that ended up in Twist. This first one was knit in quite a heavy worsted weight, superwash yarn. The gauge is 5 stitches per inch, and I had a 50-stitch skyline chart. Also, I ended up knitting this version back and forth, including the colourwork (the sleeves were in the round though). Purling colourwork? Tricky. Especially as this type of motif isn’t as rhythmic as more traditional fair isle type patterns, and the repeat was so big!

Cityscape 1.0 has more buildings that are different heights, which necessitated weaving the yarns in between the taller bits. I always find weaving a little bit annoying, but I know how to do it more easily from the knit side – from the purl side, whew, it was really fiddly! Once I was done though, I was really happy with how my concept had turned out. Only then did I sketch it up and submit it to Twist for the fall issue.

The Blue Moon BFL sport that I used for the Twist version is very different in character from the Dream in Color, and I loved knitting with it – it’s a tiny bit hairy, really wooly, but soft. And the colours worked out great! I knew that I wanted to do a thinner gauge, because it would be easier to see the buildings. I do kind of like that my worsted weight version looks a little less like a pattern up close, and the skyline is more apparent when you stand back a bit, it’s like a bit of a surprise! But with the thinner yarn and a slightly pared down chart (40 stitches) I could have more sizing options and make it a bit easier to knit.

I knew I wanted to do a steek for the Twist version, because that purl colourwork really was a pain, and it was difficult to get the tension right. It was my very first real steek, and it went totally fine! I sewed the steek down by hand and just went for it. Even if you’re scared of steeks, I’d highly recommend trying it out. Plus, at least the body portion of the sweater is all solid, so it isn’t quite the same as cutting up a colourwork-all-over sweater!

With these darker colours I went for pretty pewter buttons – I really like them.

So, overall, Cityscape 1.0 really was a prototype. I was really happy to be able to contribute this concept to Twist, and even happier that because I knit this initial version, I was able to make the final pattern that much better! Of course, I can’t wait for sweater weather so I can get some more wear out of mine.

Ashworth Scarf

There’ve been a few cooler days in the last week or so, just that hint of autumn around the corner…I love it. Fall is my favourite season. Luckily the day I shot these photos was a cool day – I was wearing a black wool sweater and a cashmere scarf! I can’t wait until I can actually wear this scarf out for warmth. And hoo boy, you’d better bet I’ll be wearing this scarf a LOT. I hope this gets you excited for fall too!

ASHWORTH SCARF

The only word for this scarf is luscious! Soft, silky, luxurious laceweight cashmere gives an ethereal halo to this light and cozy fabric. If cashmere isn’t in your budget, find the softest merino or alpaca laceweight you can!

Chic oversized cables alternate sides to produce a reversible fabric and provide maximum punch for minimal effort! The fabric scrunches and drapes in fantastic ways. It’s the scarf you’ll keep reaching for over and over.

Technical Editing by Jaya Purswani

SIZE
One – approximately 60” x 12” / 152cm x 30cm, blocked. Size is adjustable.

MATERIALS
Laceweight yarn, approximately 1200 yards / 1097m
Each additional 400 yards / 365m will add approximately 20” / 51cm to the length of the scarf.

Shown in Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere 2-ply. Colour: Silver Pearl (100% cashmere/400 yds per 55g skein), 3 skeins.

US 2 / 2.75mm circular or straight needles cable needle of similar diameter (or a double pointed needle)
2 stitch markers

GAUGE
28 sts and 40 rows = 4″ square in stockinette stitch

MORE INFO
Skills needed: cast on, knit, purl, cable with a cable needle.

Pattern is a 2-page PDF which contains full colour photographs and a tutorial on the Outline Stitch Bind Off – it’s a great sewn bind off that’ll ensure your cast off edge perfectly matches the cast on! Great for scarves.

Available through Ravelry, payment through Paypal (no registration required). The Ashworth Rav page is here!

$5.00 USD

Twist on my 26th!

It’s my 26th birthday, and as a great birthday present the new Twist Collective fall 2010 is up and I have a sweater in it – Cityscape!

Knitting this sweater filled my May, and it is so very awesome to see it all done up fancy modeled by the always adorable Mary-Heather. All photos by Jamie Dixon (and aren’t they great?).

This cardigan is knit in the round and steeked, but never fear – this was my very first steek, and I’m delighted to report that while a little bit scary, it was actually very easy!

I first had the idea for this sweater back in the winter, and knit it up quickly for myself in grey and blue Dream in Color (photos another day of that one). Then I decided to submit it to Twist, and knit it up again in the fab Blue Moon BFL Sport.

Won’t you pick up a copy from Twist?

tour de fleece – the final wrap-up

So! I accomplished my goal of spinning every day, and got quite a bit done.

These four skeins are the only ones I spun in their entirety during the Tour – I also plied some silver merino/silk and spun and plied the rest of some tussah silk.

So how about some glamour shots and stats?

Ashland Bay Merino Silk in Cranberry – 300 yards/100g of 2ply, worsted weight.

Spirit Trail silk/camel – 320 yds/4oz of 3ply (chain ply), DK weight.

Foxfire 95% cormo, 5% silk – 350 yds/4oz of 2ply, sport weight.

and one that I snuck in the last few days of the Tour – a skein of 100% cormo that I am absolutely in love with!

100% cormo, 300 yds/100g of 3ply (chain ply), sport weight.

I’m not sure what my grand total is, because of the aforementioned finishing stuff up that was already on the bobbin. But I do know that I’m feeling really re-inspired to get back to the wheel, and I’ve already started some awesome wool/angora. I’m gonna keep spinning down the stash until Rhinebeck!

Crossfield Shawl

I’ve gotten a few emails about what I’m wearing in my Welcome photo over on the side there, and I’m happy to announce that the Crossfield Shawl pattern is now available!

CROSSFIELD SHAWL

A super light, airy square shawl reminicient of a bandana or silk scarf. Easy to knit stockinette in the round with a fun garland lace edging. Wear it folded and tied, over your shoulders or any way you’d wear a bandanna!

This shawl would also make a beautiful baby or lap blanket worked in fingering weight or heavier yarn for a larger finished size.

Technical Editing by Jaya Purswani

SIZE
One Size; 28” / 71cm square, blocked

YARN
Laceweight yarn, 815 yards / 745m.
Shown in The Woolen Rabbit Whisper in Chocolate Chambord (100% merino wool, 1700 yds/235g skein), less than 1/2 skein used.

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
US 2.5 / 3mm double pointed needles (or needles of choice for small circumferences in the round)
US 2.5 / 3mm 24-32” / 60-80cm long circular needles (change length as required as the shawl grows)
stitch markers
tapestry needle

GAUGE
26 sts and 40 rounds = 4” / 10 cm square in Stockinette Stitch

MORE INFO
Skills needed: cast on, knit, purl, increase, decrease, optional chart, knitting in the round.

Pattern is a 3-page PDF file with full colour photos, written and charted directions for the lace pattern, and abbreviations.

Available through Ravelry, payment through Paypal (no accounts required).

$5.00 USD

silk, silk, everywhere

I finally, finally (after ripping and reknitting several times) finished the little shrug I was working on before TNNA, out of Sweetgeorgia Merino Silk DK. The yarn stood up surprisingly well to the ripping, not a pill anywhere!

Unfortunately it’s too big for me. I made a bit of a math error and although it’s proportional and everything, it’s just about a size too big. I’ve blocked it and woven in the ends already (denying to myself the fact that it was too big) and I don’t want to rip again. So it’ll go off to a friend and I’ll work up another one. At least this time it’ll be even faster since it’ll be smaller?

In latest spinning news, I pulled out some tussah silk that I’d started spinning well over a year ago.

It’s Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks, definitely purchased at Rhinebeck – maybe the first time I went? I had spun up the first half of the fibre and it was just sitting on the bobbin all this time. I spun up the second half fairly quickly (not very evenly, really) and plied it together to get 430 yards of laceweight (2oz). Should be enough for a little shawlette! I love the colour.

I think my last bit of Tour spinning will be this silk/camel. It spins like a dream, but the pink comes off on my fingertips a bit. Super soft though! I’m planning to spin up the whole 4oz and chain ply by the end of the week.

After the Tour is over, I’m definitely going to keep spinning – it’s really given me that kick to get back to the wheel. It’s meditative, doesn’t require math (like my knitting always does) and it’s a good break from working on my knitting like I always am!

Have you achieved your Tour de Fleece goals? What are you planning to do with your spinning after it’s all over?