Feb 14 2008
Updates
I started the Phyllo Yoked Pullover from Knitting Nature
This pullover was part of a little knitalong that Jody, Kelly, and I had planned last year. We talked about starting in mid-February, and I just couldn’t quite wait, so I started last weekend. I am looking forward to seeing their progress on their pullovers too!
I also started a new weaving project - this one is a turning point. I am getting (slightly) more confident in my skills, so I felt that I could actually use some pretty (and pricier) yarns for my warp and weft. I also wanted something that would fit in with the theme for Project Spectrum. My eyes fell on the lovely Rauma Chiri Alpakka, a beautiful Scandanavian-produced alpaca that I received in a trade with Strikker Kris a few years ago. I warped up an asymmetrical striping pattern and threaded it through the heddles (seen above). I started a plain weave and I am still deciding whether it works…
The pink-on-pink seems appropriate for this Valentine’s Day… I didn’t even plan it that way. I am just going with the flow on this one. We’ll see where it take me. I am calling it “Alpaca Asymmetry” because of the asymmetrical striping pattern, which you can see better in this photo.
… … …
I was completely surprised and grateful for every single comment that I received in my last post. Thank you for taking the time to leave those encouraging words about my article and my blog. You are all amazing!
The 25,000th commenter was Jaana from JaanaMaa, a beautiful Finnish blog that I discovered last year. I met Jaana through Flickr, and followed her amazing pictures over to her blog. She writes in Finnish, and while I can’t read her words, it is her photographs that speak volumes. She has created some amazing things - most recently a hat and mitten set in a gorgeous gold color. She chose the red Tess sock yarn, and it is on its way to her now!
As promised, I also rewarded the two commenters who were on either side of the 25,000th - Margit was #25001, and Hege was #24999! Margit started quilting last year, so she was happy to accept the Denyse Schmidt quilting book and kit! I can’t wait to see what she makes! Hege got the Yarn Place laceweight, and I am really excited to see what she does with it!
…and because of the surprising number of comments, I decided to give one more prize…
#25100 was Moni from Blatherskite. Moni is a long-time blog friend - I’d say we are going on three years, huh? She is a fellow librarian, an extremely talented knitter and photographer (check out her shibori-style scarf and her photo stream !) and a friend. She is also a seamstress, so I am sending her a copy of Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe
Thank you so much for being a part of my life - your encouraging words really made my day!
~Happy Valentine’s Day~
am I first? wow!
Thank YOU Lolly! You are very sweet to say those nice things about me
Yes, i think it has been about 3 years! Amazing, isn’t it? I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you. I know our paths will cross one day 
Happy Valentines day!
The yarn you’ve chosen for that pullover looks so nice!! I can’t wait to see how it turns out. I’ve always really liked that pattern. And your weaving is beautiful!!!
Mmmm… tweedy stockinette. Yum! And the weaving looks wonderful!
Congrats to the winners of you contest. 25,000 comments! - WOW!
If your source on the Silky Tweed falls through, I could check to see if we have any in that colourway at work (I know we carry a decent spread of the colours).
Happy Valentine’s Day! That first weaving picture is striking. Great photo. I have no idea how all of that works, but you’re starting to make me want to learn!
I think that rust colour will look great with your complexion and hair. Can’t wait to see it done, I’ve always loved that pattern!
Oh wow, the Silky Tweed looks so delicious! I’m a tweed addict, so seeing this is really challenging for my no-more-yarn-during-PS-rule. The weaving looks great. Pink and white always makes me go “Aaawww”. And the fabric is so even! You’re becoming a pro in no time!
I think that the projects in Knitting Nature look wonderful constructed and I’m sure that you will crank out a great looking finished object in no time. I’m just afraid to purchase the book, because I can never seem to get row-gauge on anything I knit and I am supposing that that would be terribly important with Norah’s designs. Can you comment on that?
happy valentine’s lolly!
I can’t wait to see how these two projects progress. the color on the sweater is gorgeous. I wonder if you could sneak in some of the silky wool into the project if you run out.
Congratulations on your publication below. What a grand accomplishment. I’m anxious to see the sweater completed.
congrats! that is a lot of comments!!!! love the pullover so far. I have some silky wool that I think will turn into one also….can’t wait to see you next weekend! We have to figure out a day/time!
You are making me want to buy a Loom… I just found some on Craigslist. Stop posting such beautiful weaving projects
I keep repeating that I have NO ROOM for a loom in my house. But damn Lolly your project are gorgeous!
Happy valentines day to you too! The weaving looks good, not that I know anything about warp/weft/whatever it is!
I love Knitting Nature. I really want to make the Hexagon Coat, but I need to find a good substitute for Lite Lopi (I’m very scratch sensitive/wimpy). The yarn you chose for the Phyllo is one of my favorites too. I didn’t realize it was discontinued! Luckily I have some in my stash…
The weaving looks great too!
Wow beautiful! Weaving looks so interesting but i do not know if i would ever have the patience to thread the loom just to get started! Love knitting but my patience has it’s limits
very nice pics.
Wow, I’d never seen a picture of heddles before. That’s neat, I’d never realized how weaving works but it makes sense now!
I never win these random comment contests, ever. So I love the weaving! Looks dense but it must be lusciously soft.
I made that pullover last year, and worried about the exact same problem, running out of yarn (I was using Calmer). I ended up skimping on the sleeve length, thinking that it would be OK, but once the actual sweater was finished, the sleeves tended to ride up alot (because of the yoke construction). Ultimately I did have a bit of Calmer left over after the project, so recently I cut the cast on edge of the sleeves and knit them longer.
All this is to say that if I were to do this over, I would do a provisional cast on with the sleeves, and that way, I could easily lengthen them if I had the yarn left over. I also toyed with the idea of knitting extra sleeve length in a complementary color (like dark brown to the peacock blue I was using). I think you could also do a cute 3/4 sleeve. Whatever you decide, I’m sure it will look beautiful! It’s the cutest, most comfy sweater I’ve made for myself.
Gorgeous photos! I also love the feel of silky tweed–I didn’t know it was being discontinued though, how unfortuante!
I love the photos of your weaving–it’s not only festive, but really interested to see the process! Happy belated v-day, and happy knitting
The weaving looks great! If you’re still playing a bit, you could get the warp to pop a bit more by re-denting the reed a little tighter (which would make it thinner, something you may not want…). The weft would spread out a bit, too and not be so dense. Unlike knitting there is an additional variable, whcih makes waving very interesting, eh?
Your silky tweed project looks so nice in that rusty color. I made a sweater with EL Silky Tweed and really enjoyed working with it. There were apparently a few discontinued colors last year.
That photo of the warp going through the heddles is just amazing.
And congratulations on the fascinating article in Interweave.
The color variation in that Silky Tweed looks lovely! If you have to get creative with the sleeves, I think that sweater would look really cute with an elbow or 3/4 length sleeve. That would work especially well with that light yarn for a springtime sweater.
Glad to see that you’re moving up in skills with your weaving. I think the asymmetry is going to look really pretty. It will also be interesting to see what kind of fabric the alpaca produces in weaving vs. knitting. That must make for great stashbusting!
While I had to give lots of attention to my love on V-day, I was also thinking about how lucky I am to have many loving and wonderful people in my life. I’m so glad that you’re one of them. Hugs and love to you this day after V-day!! xoxo
Hope you had a great V-day yesterday! Everything is looking lovely as always. I love the PS colored weaving
The silky tweed is so pretty! It will look great in Phyllo. Pretty colors and great photos of the weaving.
Happy belated Valentine’s Day to you, too! Reading your blog is always a bright spot in my day. And I LOVE the color you picked for your sweater - I can’t wait to see it when it’s finished!
Excited to see the Phyllo Yoke sweater grow and your weaving looks great from here
The jumper is a gorgeous colour, fiery and autumny.
The weaving is pretty - I think a pink stripe next to the white one would be great.
I love, love, love the colorway you are using for Phyllo!
The phyllo yoke is gorgeous! Congrats to the winners!