The Art of Seamless Knitting

This is a quick post of introduction of our book.
After 2 years of hard work and anticipation, we have a book!

Simona Merchant-Dest and I are very proud and happy with the results. It is now available online and in stores. So, check it out and let us know if it is in any way is helpful for you or you just got it so you can make these beautiful patterns:)

Here is from Interweave website:
Go beyond the basics! Learn how to convert flat patterns to circular techniques with 12 classic, beautiful projects suitable for all ages.

With The Art of Seamless Knitting, take your knowledge of top-down, bottom-up, and seamless knitting to a higher level by adapting lace, cable, and color patterns to circular knitting and shaping techniques. The book delves deep, showing different modes of construction and stitch pattern adaptations for seamless (or nearly-seamless) knits while also offering a sophisticated collection of elegant and timeless designs that knit up quickly, give a custom fit, and do not require sewing.

The Art of Seamless Knitting is the go-to hands-on reference book that will be a staple in any knitter's library.

I will write a more detailed inside look into this book later.
Both Simona and I are available for book signings and workshops. Please contact us directly. We are also on Facebook and Twitter.

Welted Peerie Shawl

Honestly, I do not know how did I let this go for so long. I mean: not posting here. So much happened and now it is a long line of posts waiting to show up. I am going to start at the end of this line.

This week you will see the new Spring 2013 issue of Knit.Wear magazine on the news stands everywhere. My design Welted Peerie Shawl is on page 98. I love the photos made by Interweave Press. 

Description Inspired by vast meadows of Russia this shawl combines geometric triangular shapes and Orenburg shawl lace technique. It is worked from a neck down with a common increasing technique that creates a triangular shape. Simple eyelet stripes gradually increase the width and give a way to a Little Berry pattern. A traditional Orenburg shawl border is knit separately and sewn to finish this gentle shawl.

Finished Size 52” [132cm] wide and 21” [51cm] tall at center point after blocking

Yarn Anzula Cloud (80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 575 yd [525m]/100 g): seaside 1 skein.

Needles Size 3 (3.25 mm) 32” circular (cir). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

I designed this shawl on my needles. This means that the normal process of designing that includes calculating, charting, thinking through ahead of times was bypassed. The only thing I knew is the technique I wanted to use: Russian Orenburg lace. The yarn was so beautiful and soft and I knew that it is going to be very pretty, although the weight of it is not what is normally used for such shawl. 

I tried a few stitch patterns, but settled for a simple, somewhat geometric design. The more I progressed the more sure I was that I made a good choice. The yarn was changing its color very gently and was not at all interfering with the stitch pattern. The border is made separately and sewn to the edge of the shawl. 

I am going to make me another one, so I can have it. Usually, I do not get my samples back.  Before I sent the shawl to the magazine, I took some photos of my model wearing it. She loved it. You can see it in her eyes.  

BOOK REVIEW: Short Story

As we all know, Cathy Carron designs chic and wearable pieces that range from cute to sexy. You can read her interview for The Designer's Studio here to learn more about Cathy and her work. Her new book Short Story, published by Sixth&Springs Books, is a collection of cropped tops. Read the full article...

Linda Permann is a wonderful crochet designer who is also an author, teacher, and a full-time employee at Craftsy.com. Her books are very popular and her beautiful and whimsical designs range in difficulty to accommodate any crocheter.

 

Read the full review at At First Glance

BOOK REVIEW: START TO FINISH BEFORE YOU START

I can't tell you how thrilled I am about this book. In summary, it is an awesome book from an awesome designer Faina Letoutchaia.

 

This is something that so many of us were waiting for: a step-by-step video accompanied by the text on how to make a perfect sweater. There are two DVD's and the book that has 14 chapters that coordinate with videos.

YAY!! Back to normal life!

Sorry for being away from my blog. I had such a pile of things to go through that I was not able to think straight after each work day.
I did not plan this way, but it happened that I had to work on 7 projects with almost the same due date. Looking back I think it was quite crazy. Looking forward, I am proud of myself and am looking forward to see them published. Especially the one that I am particularly happy about. Hint: It is a dress in the next issue of the one of the most prestigious knitting magazines. VERY, VERY happy about this.

On top of these projects my co-author and I are editing our book with Interweave Press, and I am also working on edits of my Craftsy.com class.

Now, that all the projects are out of the house and edits are almost done, I feel that I can look around and see that I am back to my normal life. It does include work, of course, but it is very manageable. 

At the beginning of summer I went to New York and had some great time with the family. Here are some photos from that trip. My aunt Shirley showed us an interesting place called High Line.

 It is a great example how you can transform and old and not used area into one of the attractions of NY city and place to jog, rest, and enjoy a small version of a botanical garden.

I have a few photos from that place. As you stroll on a practically straight line where the industrial and merchant train used to bring goods and meat to the shops in that area, you see this beautiful plants that are thoughtfully arranged in the real rail road tracks. There are places to sit and enjoy this part of town and some artist performances and exhibits.

 

We also had to go to the new World Trade center site and I was in owe when I saw what they have done there. The complex is still under construction, but so many people are coming to see it and be at the place where someone they knew spent his/hers last minutes of their lives. It is awesome to be there. I am very proud of the work that is done in this place. So much thought went to the design of it.

 

After a very busy summer I am back to normal life and finishing one of the projects that I have in plans for my own line FGDesigns. This time it is a small shawl made in a Russian traditional garter stitch lace. I wanted to make it simple, so the person who is new to shawls can easily make it. It is not done yet, but I can give you a little peek at it. 

3Bs: Barcelona, Berroco, Blog

Berroco yarn company has some of my favorite yarns. One of them is Ultra Alpaca that comes in beautiful colors and weights. I did a few designs from this yarn in my first book and recently I published Barcelona Tunic on my Ravelry page. Today I looked on their blog and saw that Barcelona was mentioned there. So happy about this. Just had to share.