Exhausted…but so content!

The very first Getting Purly With It party was a succes! Wheeeeee!

Beautiful display, styled by Jenni, my dear friend:

Samples everywhere!

Yummy treats all over the place!

And of course… the guests!

Whoa, you guys, how happy I am with the huge turnout… I am just speechless. You all are so kind!

It was so nice to see how you reacted to all the knitted samples, and I am so thankful that so many of you took my patterns home. I sure do appreciate that…

At the end of the night, when I finally was able to sit down and have a delicious cupcake, Jenni grabbed my camera and captured me. You can see how exhausted but oh so content I am.

Thank you all for coming out. I heart you all!

I am so excited!

I am so excited for the party!

Me and my friend Jenni have been busy preparing for the party tonight. Jenni is an excellent stylist and she made a beautiful beautiful display of my patterns and knitted items.

I am so happy she helped me out…

She did such an excellent job and seeing all my knitted items and patterns in one place made my heart skip a beat.

I cannot wait until the party starts!

Two free fingerless gloves patterns for you!

Those who will attend the party today, will receive two free fingerless glove patterns.

Those are the Simple Fingerless Glove Pattern and the Striped Long Fingerless Glove Pattern:

Those who are not able to attend the party tonight need not to worry; leave me a comment and I will send you these two fingerless gloves patterns via e-mail on Saturday! Yay!

Interviewed by Peggy McMullen from The Oregonian

One last thing you guys! I have been interviewed by Peggy McMullen from the Oregonian.

Click here to read the article…

Thanks, Peggy, for interviewing me! That was fun!

Hope to see you tonight…

I really do hope you will come on by tonight (6pm-8pm) and sip some wine with me. We will have fun talking about yarn, knitting and patterns. Yay!

Thanks  for reading and see you tonight at Closeknit’s!

You are invited to a little party!

Dear reader,

You are invited to a little:

GETTING PURLY WITH IT PARTY

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH

6 PM- 8PM

YARNSHOP CLOSEKNIT, PORTLAND, OREGON

Many happy reasons to throw a little party

It has been exactly one year since I decided to go ahead and publish some of my patterns. Remember how I had my fears about doing that? Remember how insecure I was about doing that?

Today I am so very happy that I took the jump and contacted graphic designers to work with me.

I also jumped into photography with models and I have to say, it has been a wonderful journey.

And even readers of this blog helped me with picking a photo for a pattern!

I had a lot of fun putting my patterns together and I am even happier that you all came to the yarnshop Closeknit to purchase my patterns. I cannot tell you how amazed and grateful I am every time a pattern of mine is sold. I can just hug and kiss you for it!

I would love to meet you…

Every time I make a blogpost, I sit by myself behind my computer, hoping that somebody out there will read my blog. Some of you leave me nice comments and it makes me so happy every time!

However, I cannot see my readers from behind my computer… And I so would love to meet you. For reals.

So if you have the time this coming Friday, come on by. I would love to shake your hand and thank you for reading this little blog of mine.

Some gifts for those who attend the party!

On Friday November 6th during the party, I will give out two free fingerless glove patterns.

Striped Long Fingerless Gloves:

And Simple Long Fingerless Gloves:

I have knitted these fingerless gloves in many different yarns and they will be showcased during the party! So come on by and receive these free patterns, I so want you to have them!

Trunkshow

I also will have a trunkshow of all my patterns that I have put out so far. You can touch, feel, and see how the knitted patterns look like in person. I am so excited!!!

For those who don’t live in Portland, Oregon…

Those who follow this blog and cannot attend the party because you all live elsewhere, don’t worry. I got your back…

On the day of the party, Friday November 6th I will post a blogpost. If you come on by that day, and leave me a comment, I will reply to you and send you those two free fingerless gloves patterns. Promise.

I so hope to see some of you coming Friday at the yarnshop. Don’t forget! It starts at 6pm! Wheeeee!

Thank you for reading!

Falling in love again with Adrienne

I have fallen in love again with a pattern I wrote 2 years ago: Long Scalloped Glove Adrienne.

I have always been fond of this particular pattern which I named after my beautiful tall friend and co-worker Adrienne.

It was so much fun figuring out how to make this long fingerless glove and I remember how amazed I was with the result! It has brought me so much joy back then, and nowadays I have fallen in love with it again.

Allthough this pattern was written as a fingerless glove, I much rather wear them nowadays as an armwarmer. It especially comes in handy when I wear sweaters or coats with 3/4 length sleeves:

I love the way it scallops so elegantly over the back of my hand… swoon…

And the way its length keep my arms and wrists warm with those 3/4 length sleeves… poifect, just poifect…

Feather and Fan

The base pattern of this glove is merely the beautiful Feather and Fan, my ultimate comfort stitch. It is in my opinion the easiest lace stitch out there, it never fails to entertain me and I am never tired of its elegant appearance.

And because Feather and Fan never fails me, I decided to also make a nice and light little cowl with Rowan’s Kidsilk Aura to keep my neck warm without too much bulk. Quite the opposite of that huge and bulky garter stitch scarf!

I love its light and feminine appearance…

Great Christmas Gift

I think these Adrienne Gloves make for a very great Christmas gift. You can make them in many different yarns, just make sure you choose a heavy dk or light worsted yarn and you are going to be just fine.

I made mine with Manos Silk Blend, Cascade Venezia, Rowan Tapestry and Berocco Ultra Alpaca. It is a pattern that looks great in many many different yarns!

So what are you waiting for… knit a pair of Adriennes! And guess what… the pattern is still offered for free on this blog. Click here to get to the page with the pattern.

Oh, before I forget: on Friday, November 6th I am planning to have a little Getting Purly With It party at the yarnshop CloseKnit. We are going to display Getting Purly With It patterns that I have put out so far and there is going to be a little trunkshow too.

So pencil it in: Friday November 6th, starting at 6pm at yarnshop CloseKnit on Alberta Street in Portland, Oregon. I would so love to meet you!

More details will follow in the next few days, okay?

Thanks for reading and until the next entry!

Hair, make up and photography of images taken of me: Kassandra Sommerville from the Ginger Suite Salon.

Papa Jon’s Cowl

I am very happy to introduce to you my latest pattern: Papa Jon’s Cowl.

It is a cozy piece, perfect for those who want a no hassle, simple, warm and soft cowl.

In my last post I wrote about how I worked with the very slouchy fiber alpaca and found a way for it not to slouch. I am happy with the result!

For this cowl you just need one skein of Misti Alpaca or Plymouth, needle size #10 and some sewing skills.

I think this cowl is just perfect for gents and also for ladies. I chose for a male model because I think especially guys will be attracted to a simple cowl like this.

I am so lucky that Jon (yes that is the model’s name, I named the cowl after him!), was willing to do a photoshoot.

The pattern will be available in the first week of November at yarnshop Closeknit on Alberta Street in NE Portland, Oregon.

I just love the simplicity of this cozy cowl… Hope you like it!

It looks good on Jon, don’t it?

Thanks for reading and untill the next entry!

Hair and make up: Kassandra Sommerville from the Ginger Suite Salon.

Defying Alpaca’s Character

Alpaca is one of my favorite fibers to work with. It’s soft long fibers mesmerize me to no end and I have made many a project with Alpaca.

From the very first moment I started experimenting with Alpaca, I noticed how it slouches so beautifully and how it has some good weight to it.

And its softness, oh my!

It was in October 2008 when I decided to knit a cowl made out 100% Alpaca. I wanted to feel its softness close to my neck while biking during a crisp not yet too cold Fall day and feel all warm and cozy and happy.

So… I casted on with some 100% Misti Alpaca, knitted it up in 2 nights and was so excited to wrap it around my neck.

I was unpleasantly surprised when my much anticipated warm and cozy 100% Alpaca cowl just slouched down my neck and did not stand upright!

I slapped myself on the forehead; of course it won’t stand up! It is Alpaca Fiber! It slouches down!

Settling for an Alpaca/Merino Blend

In the end I did make a cowl with Alpaca, however, I settled for an Alpaca/Merino Blend by Misti Alpaca. The design that came out of this was my design called “Kassandra’s Cowl”:

Still, I wanted my 100% Alpaca Cowl!

Dear reader, I cannot tell you how I cracked my brains to figure out how to defy Alpaca’s slouchy character. It kept me up several nights in a row!

And then, suddenly, when knitting with some variegated 100% Alpaca, I figured it out…

Look! I found a way to make it stand up!

I was so happy about it that I decided that this pattern was going to be a pattern I would be putting out in the Fall of 2009!

Me and my graphic designers have been putting together a nice pattern and I also have had a photo shoot with a handsome male model. I am so very excited to introduce this pattern to you very shortly!

In a couple of days, you will see how it came out. So come on back here, okay?

See you then!

Simply Garter

When I was a very new knitter I only knew how to do the knit stitch. So like many new knitters, I made a scarf entirely made with the knit stitch.

I learned quickly that using only knit stitch in a garment, is called “Garter Stitch”.

Other than in my very first scarf, I never ever used the Garter Stitch again. That is, until recently when a lady walked into the yarnstore with the most beautiful and luscious scarf. I was simply captured by it and was surprised when I found out it was made with merely Garter Stitch!

I could not stop thinking about that scarf and just had to make it myself!

Rowan Big Wool

I scanned the store for the perfect yarn for my project and when my eye fell on Rowan Big Wool, I didn’t think twice…

I grabbed three balls, big huge needles US 17 and casted on 18 stitches and Gartered away. And this is the result:

Gosh… it just blows my mind…simply Garter Stitch makes for such a nice scarf when using big hug needles and big yarn. Yummy yummy yummy…

And guess what… it makes for a SUPER QUICK KNIT! Splendid!

Soooo…. get yourself three balls of Rowan Big Wool, cast on 18 stitches with needle size US17 and knit every row until you run out of yarn.

Simply does it, simply garter.

Thanks for reading and until the next entry!

How you doin’..?

Hey everybody… how you doin’..?

For the past couple of hours I have been working on an elaborate and eloquent piece of writing that was to explain why I have been away for so long. But then I changed my mind and I am going to just tell you like it is.

See, sometimes, I am plagued by life’s questions and when I cannot get answers I get frustrated and stuck. When this happens, absolutely nothing will flow within my being and I realize that I am creating some pretty big hurdles to jump over for myself.

So in short, this is what I have done over the past few months:

Searching for answers, which created even more questions, walking into walls, breaking through those walls, creating hurdles, jumping over hurdles, bouncing back and forth in a closed up circle of sad energy, crying, reaching out to researchers, reaching out to my family, asking even more questions, diving into my heritage, trying to figure out what has happened to my ancestors, feeling lost.

I have the feeling that I have been in a big huge maze where I obviously got lost but in the end, oh happiness, I found my way out.

I’ve had help from expected and unexpected places, for which I am very thankful.

But now I am back. And I want to talk about yarn and knitting again. The gates of inspiration have been opened, and I need to share about my knitting, like I always do in this blog.

My latest project, you might wonder? A luscious big huge scarf. I love it:

How misschievous I look with that big huge bag of yarn..!

I would say, come and be misschievous with me because in the month of October, I am going to give out several knitting patterns for free.

Ha, and now you want to know more about the scarf I am wearing?

Come back in a couple of days and I will tell you how it is made and with what yarn.

How’s that for a cliffhanger?

Good to be back… I’ve missed you guys… thanks so much for your sweet e-mails and comments inquiring how I am doing.

Thank you for reading and see you in just a couple of days!

Muddling Through Summer

Lately, I have been feeling very blah… My usual happy and positive spirits are at a low point and I have been having sleepless nights.

I knew this whole heritage thing was going to be difficult but I never realized that it would weigh that heavy on me.

I have been reading several reserach papers online, and even had intense e-mail contact with one of the researchers.  I found out things about the Dutch during colonial times, and it is not making me happy.

Still, I need to dig deeper and read some more. It is for my own peace of mind. I have to push through!

Back to knitting

Have you all seen the new Rowan Magazine #46? I am so tickled by it, and believe me, it has been a while since any of the handknit magazines tickled me.

In this issue, Rowan certainly does not disappoint, I purchased it immediately and this beauty of a stole is my favorite “traditional” piece.

Made out of Kidsilk Haze and a beauty of geometrical lace, this piece called Chartwell by designer Sarah Hatton just takes my breath away. How classy…

Also very very interesting to me is a section about Rowan Design Awards in which several pieces of designers are showcased. Here are some of my faves:

This piece by designer Dulcie Wanless, made out of Kidsilk Haze is something I covet..

This bright and ingeniously knitted and braided piece by designer Vibe Lundemark is simply stunning! Rowan Big Wool is used:

But the one piece that made me buy the magazine without skipping a heartbeat is this delicate gossamer design by Fabienne Gassman. She handknitted this with Kidsilk Haze;

I wish there were more handknit magazines that would highlight handknitting pieces like these. And if there are ever handknit patterns with designs with this sesnsibility and quality, I will be the very first knitter to purchase it.

Organizing and getting back to knitting

My yarn room or when I want to sound important my yarn studio has been such a huge mess. It is just atrocious but luckily my husband came to the rescue.

Before shelves in my yarncloset:

and after shelves in my yarncloset:

Yay..!

During sorting out my stuff I bumped into some unfinished projects and figured it was time to get on them again!

I finished a cashmere scarf for my father in law. I used my own Tristan Scarf pattern for this one:

I just love this scarf. I am addicted to its stitch pattern, it has become my staple stitch in many designs!

Remember my Lady Eleanor Stole I made a couple of Summers ago?

I still needed to do the knotting…ugh…but I finally started one side! I used my ruler to keep it all straight:

Yikes. No fun. But the results are beautiful. Now if I only can find the will power to do the other side too…sigh.

I hope I am not the only one procrastinating with finishing up certain projects? Right..? Right..?

Okay, that’s it for now. I hope you are all doing well this Summer. Sorry, I haven’t been posting as much lately… hope you understand…

Thanks for keeping coming back here and reading my entries!

A closer look at alpaca fiber

About two years ago, I visited a darling yarnshop in Hood River, Oregon called Foothills Yarns. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the shop owners keep their own alpacas.

Alpacas are so gentle and sweet, I really like their personality.

Not only is this knitter enamored by their personality, I simply adore their fiber!

Alpaca fiber is very long compared to merino fiber which is short and rather pooffy.

Alpaca’s long fiber gives its knitted yarn several characteristics. I would like to use my two Eco Alpaca Swatches which I wetblocked yesterday and are now dry to be gauged.

Alpaca’s drapey character

After measuring my two swatches I yield the following stitchcount:

With needle size US7 : 9 stitches per inch row count and 12 stitches per inch column count.

With needle US5: 10 stitches per inch row count and  13 stitches per inch column count.

Now what does this actually mean? Let’s take a look.

Swatch with larger needle US7

With larger needle US7 I yield less stitches per inch compared to smaller needle US5.

So, the larger your needle, the less stitches per inch you will get. What does this mean?

With less stitches per inch your knitted fabric will have more space in between the stitches. This is also refered to as being a loose knit. For my swatch this means that it will be more drapey, it literally hangs loosely.

A fabric that is made fairly loosely, will have the tendency to “flow” more, to be more “free”.

Swatch with smaller needle US5

With smaller needle US5 I yield more stitches per inch compared to bigger needle US7.

So, the smaller your needle, the more stitches per inch you will get. What does this mean?

With more stitches per inch your knitted fabric will have less space in between the stitches. This is also refered to as being a close knit. For my swatch this means that it will be more stiff, it  as no room to breath, so to speak.

A fabric that is made fairly closely knit, will have the tendency to be quite stern.

So knowing all this, what to make with this fiber?

For my swatch with looser knit the following comes to mind:

• Flowy triangular scarf
• Baby Blanket
• Long fingerless gloves
• Medium length cardi that has lots of drape
• Lace shawl

For my swatch with a closer knit the following comes to mind:

• Jacket for baby
• More substantial and thicker scarf
• Thicker and warmer blanket
• A hat
• Medium length cardi or pullover

All in all I think alpaca is such a wonderful fiber. It is elegant, soft and so very warm. Alpaca is also a quite heavy fiber. I therefore would vote against a very long cardi or very long pullover because it might pull down and stretch because of its weight.

Thank you for your comments

I would like to thank each and every one of you for leaving me comments especially with regard to my last few posts.

At the moment I am doing research regarding my family’s history and have come accross several books and interesting articles.

One article that really encaptured me is an article I found on the website InsideIndonesia.org : Seeking Soeparno – a man who left his home to work in a plantation half way around the world.

Besides the written history, I am also interested in oral history. I want to view this topic from every angle possible, as objective as possible.

This winter I will be traveling to the Netherlands and am planning on getting my hands on all kinds of books and articles at several institutes. I also would like to open up conversation with my family and hear their stories.

As thoroughly as I studied knitting in the past three years, just as thoroughly I want to do research in my family’s history.

Thanks again everybody for reading and until the next entry…