OLGAJAZZY

This idea was one of those “lightbulb” moments and I just ran with it. Ever since getting a gorgeous test skein of Tosh Merino Light in Cloak from Amy (Madelinetosh) at TNNA I have been thinking of what goodness can come out of it.. After some time and contemplation I decided to give this yarn a try and the amazing nature of the stitches formed Hari. This was just what I wanted and hoped for… Hari in translation from Japanese means “needle”, to me it’s a needle, spike, peak… which can be a fanthom once heavily stretched…

Knit simply straight following the continuous repeats, I had the yarn and stitches dance into peaks and valleys with a lovely zigzagged edges… what was most cool is that the make up of this is so easy.. yet I got the intricate landscape growing. Rhythm of lace making, which is not very elaborate, but can be a great training for your short-term memory.

In the end it had to become more than just a scarf.. By using several hook and eye closures this fabric is manipulated, morphed and naturally expanded its wearability.

Scarf
Long cowl – close the loop
Short cowl – twisted it once and close it in a loop, arrange around your neck
Snood – just close it in a loop by twisting once,arrange around your neck and head
Shrug, Shawl or Stole… as the design comes with 2 length and width variations – the wider one can easily become the later.

Yarn:
Tosh Merino Light – 1 skein for shorter-narrower version, 2 skeins for wider-longer version

Miura Cowl is named after a folding method of origami tessellation. It represents positive and negative spaces, but naturally gathering and keeping the voluminous look and while stretched it exposes textural beauty of knit and purl stitches arranged on it’s surface. It’s completely reversible as both inside and out have same patterning. I can visualize wearing this with a basic peacoat or a coat to bring up the interest to the neckline and balance out the outfit. Truth is it might have been getting real cold in some regions, but today it’s 85F and just two days ago it was 50.. Autumn is creeping in slowly in Japan but surprising Indian Summer days are the only reminders that are left of the past heat. It’s been steadily raining and I had a chance to wear my cowl out (with my new rainboots no less). I’d recommend avoiding busy prints to go with it. Polished minimalism and texture is what this accessory is trying to convey.. But also switch around the yarn weight, it would add more volume and expressed texture.

I certainly had fun taking photos, one can only imagine how creative you can get in order accomplish something all by yourself!

Materials
Habu textiles Lambswool linen, 52gr or any DK weight yarn approx. 210 yds. Color Lavender grey #11

US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle

Queue it on Ravelry

The pattern contains chart as well as written instructions for those who don’t like or don’t feel comfortable with charts.

USD 3.50

My obsession of the moment.. soft luxurious sweater to cocoon myself in, the softest embrace of fibers… as you might have notices the upcoming season relays sooo much of fur, faux or not, I like to think I’m going to have best of all of them.. as it is real fur but cruelty free.. say impossible?
I have been saving a very special birthday gift from couple years ago of Mink Cashmere yarn and I think I finally have found a perfect sweater it needs to become.. Nothing fussy, basic form, minimal shaping.. something like either of these..

 

And looking into forecasts for next year I’ve seen so much of yarns as mohair/furry looking ones making a come back.. I know personally pure mohair is a bit scratchy, but very warm… just remembering those Orenburg shawls made from mohair goat down.. so amazingly warm but thin as an entire shawl passes through a wedding band! That type of yarn can be extremely hard to source, but for the lovers of soft and non-irritable I can suggest to point your shoes towards Blue Sky Alpacas Brushed Suri ! It has no mohair in it, it has baby suri, merino and bamboo (last two pretty much create the core to hold baby suri) which in yarn and knit looks like a loftier mohair but is much softer.. I have recently swatched some of that yarn and I took a little natural brush to my swatch! The result.. it’s amazing, it’s fluffy without the bulk, drapey and still very lightweight! I think a whole sweater in this yarn will look just as real fur if that is the look that you are seeking for. And believe me after seeing and touching tons and tons of jackets and sweaters knit in acrylic boucle in stores of Japan.. this would be a real treat to work with, own and wear!

Speaking of mohair, my mom has requested a birthday gift this year to be knit. She really wanted Arcus pullover, but asked for it to be a bit more cropped and hit the length of hip bones. I have had some Kidsilk Night in creamy white in my stash for a while.. and of course, when I finished I washed and blocked it, tried it on… packed and mailed it off .. forgetting to take photos!
But it came out so warm and silk presence in that yarn definitely made working it up more pleasurable! The photo below is from the Ori Ami Knits book and the original Arcus pullover has been knit using Silk and Mohair blend yarn from Habu textiles. The perk – it’s transformable!

And this week’s pattern has finally arrived! It’s been up for couple days but with dramatic chain of events of actual weather changes delayed me posting about it. Autumnal equinox, Moon day.. call me superstitious, everything on the to do list starting colliding together.. And then there was a power outage, great way to lost bunch of unsaved work on your computer! We finally hit low 60ies at night and though it occasionally warms back up to 90 with the sun outside, the second rainy season for the year has begun… By pouring swimming pools (literally, not puddles!) of water from a passing by typhoon and that promptly made me order my first pair of rainboots. I’ve been holding off on them, being a fan of fancy boots/shoes wearing vs rainboots. In my mind rain boots are associated with ugly black stinky ones, that were being sold in every soviet department store for adults or kids when I was growing up. And nowadays I was stunned with colors and abundance of styles.. even started a discussion on twitter among friends and their preferences. It was hard… I mean it is awesome to play with a box of crayons and consider possibilities..and afterall how many pairs of rain boots does one own? Right, I am going for 1 to last me a long long while.. and with help of others I chose violet.. although initially my heart was set on yellow or glossy grey…

And while speaking of grey.. there is lots of it taking place in my wardrobe.. so monochromatic collection is being created for a reason and here the addition or reveal.

Foggy hat.
Simple in shape, textured look using this cool stitch pattern, big needle along with thick (worsted weight) yarn make it easy and quick to craft in an evening or two. And the pattern for it is available in 3 sizes.

This one I have made using just a little over half a skein of Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino yarn in color Fog. I have worked with this amazing yarn before and it is just soft and silky as well as incredibly warm. Little holes in the the stitch created with yarn overs play a role of tiny vents if you want.. in case you tend to get a little toasty.

Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino 1 skein or 164 yards (150 m) of any worsted weight yarn.
Needle US 8 (5 mm) needle to work in a round (your preferred method, 16″, dpns, magic loop or 2 circulars).

The way it’s constructed – every motif is a little different and as you work on the hat – is progressively getting smaller. The pattern contains clear written instructions as well as a chart. So in case charts make you uncomfortable, you can follow row by row instructions for it. Have fun knitting! And don’t forget to share the photos.

On Ravelry

Queue it now

USD 5.00

And I am going to go back to some more writing and knitting as have something exciting coming up next for all of you!!! *smirk*

 

 

Murasaki (jap.) means purple, violet.

This pullover has a long story, back in 2007 Neighborhood Fiber Co has asked me to create a design that would showcase their hand-dyed yarns beautifully for their first show at TNNA in January 2008. This pullover was a hit, only my life turned into a whirlwind and I’ve had hard time first locating my notes, then finally finding time for this luxurious pullover to be published. Today it is finally seeing the light of day! It has lots of people involved into its making – from yarn supplier to a person who lent her “speedy Gonzales” knitting skills to finish it in time for TNNA to tech editor to verify the pattern to the photographer who took photos and processed the graphic design as well. 5 people to make this available to you. Sometimes we don’t think what goes into making of a design and then into a pattern, how much of resources, planning, labor and commitment not only of one person, but several. And all I wish for you to knit this and enjoy the process starting from your fiber choice and to final result of wearing the pullover and loving the design.

Luxurious yarns that it’s worked with are from an indie dyer, Neighborhood Fiber Co “Penthouse Spun Silk” and “Loft”, one is 100% silk and another is silk and mohair blend. Putting those two together against each other created a cool juxtaposition even though dyed in same colorway. Fibers tend to take up dye differently, so this is exactly what makes the stripes even more prominent.

I’ve chosen the option to have detachable sleeves just for one reason, I wish for some sweaters I could wear when it is springy weather outside, losing the sleeves helps, but in a case of weather going cooler – pull the sleeves back up again. This creates balance, silk as a fiber can be warm and cool, while silk mohair stripes are knit on bigger needle to its weight, so becoming rather breezy, again all about balance.

Seamless, entirely worked in a round, weaving in stripes’ ends as you go. And don’t forget about the sleeves, stand alone they are trendy silky armwarmers, that can dress up an evening dress or a short sleeved jacket – perfect accessory!

The pattern ranges across 16 sizes starting from bust size 28″ to 58″. It contains written instructions and stitch count updates throughout entire pattern. Instructions include a chart to help you keep track of striping according to each size.

 

So everything you plan is going in zig zags back and forth, sometimes I wish I really had a chance to be one-project-at a time knitter/designer, yet I can’t. I have that eery feeling that if I don’t at least swatch and document that design in my sketchbook, that idea would float away. But this way I can revisit it and get working through it once time permits. Wonders of a designer brain!!!

As Volcano in Iceland keeps spewing ash and causing havoc of disastrous proportions over Europe it makes me only hope and wish that nearby Fuji doesn’t start doing the same as it is also way overdue and considering the wind and proximity – it certainly won’t be a pretty sight to see. At orientation week they informed us that last time Fuji-san did erupt, it threw up boulder-sized of a building/houses right into this area, which is pretty darn close!

Observing all that madness I kept knitting away on my new design this week. Ever since knitting of Ori Ami Knits garments was complete I was sketching more ideas and desire to explore deeper and beyond the concept we have created. With monochromatic influence of the upcoming season I have decided to challenge myself to try expressing depth of my knit garments through a different angle.

This one is Ashen, collection of colors, fibers, stitches, details all in one pullover. This is coming to life fast and will be done just in time for warmer days this week. Deep in heart, I hope to wear this as these dark clouds of Japanese mountains descending, so they just *stay* in a garments, while we bask in the warmth! (I really wish!)

Things are slowly coming to a production end here on our work at Ori Ami Knits. So far all patterns have been already released digitally. Today I want to share images of Chapter 2 which we named “Subtle Layers”. In this chapter we share the ideas for more and more popular trend of layering your clothing.

It maybe actual layering or just a trick of an eye. Like in this design below – Duplicity pullover. It only looks that it has 2 shirts worn over each other, but it is actually some clever trimming incorporated and thanks to its texture difference and contrast it makes the sweater pop. Fibers that have been used in it are Tsumugi silk and Wool wrapped stainless Steel. Both from Habu textiles and of course it just can’t get any better with those yarns!

Duplicity on Ravelry

Puzzle Vest in its turn represents a garment you that is also made with Tsumugi silk, but created texture and combination of complimenting colors make it fun when worn on its own and when layered.

Puzzle Vest on Ravelry

Arcus means “rolling cloud” and it is exactly what this pullover looks and does even more. Knit in silk mohair and is versatile as it offers wearer many options. Incorporated drawstring casings are knit into the body of the sweater, so there is not much of fiddly finishing there. By pulling them up along the shoulders, they create these rolling folds around the entire yoke, you can let them out and have an oversized cowl around your neckline or even pull it over your head for a snood. The cocoon feel of this amazing fiber certainly feels as luxury!

Arcus Pullover on Ravelry

Which one will you knit now?

whoa, I have just seen that I haven’t blogged since April! Where did all that time go?
I honestly don’t know how fast past 2 months have gone by! SO much to show and SO much to share!

It all started with our book being held “hostage” at customs due to new Patriot Act that made everything to be checked super thoroughly