Monday, March 19, 2007
BOTANY—NEW WRAP PATTERN
Watercolor prints of leaf and stem, wicker furniture in a conservatory washed in sunlight, a trellis waiting for the first bloom, these are the inspirations for the Botany Lace Wrap. It's a spring thing. Designed to be worn open at the sides or fastened with a ribbon or i-cord, the wrap features a little picot collar that either lays gently around the neck or perks up smartly with the help of a pretty pin. Optional picot edging also rims the wrap's lace extensions --or not.
But, of course, you'll find the real treat on the back, where a frame captures the timeless loveliness of an intasia leaf 'print'. Fear of intarsia? Substitute the knit art for a panel of basketweave stitch (5 blocks of purl alternated by 5 blocks of knit) in your favorite hand-dyed yarn for a charming effect. Speaking of yarn, Botany features Fleece Artist's Handmaiden Lady Godiva, a hand-dyed silk/wool blend, in colors 'Straw' and 'Moss' knit of 5mm/US 8 needles. The lace panels are an easy lace rib.
Construction details: the piece is knit in three main pieces joined at the shoulder with side extensions. The pattern includes instructions for converting the wrap to a drop-shoulder cardigan. The piece measures 26 inches wide by 29 inches long. To purchase, click here:
http://www.janethornley.com/patterns_wraps.html#11
Posted by Jane on 03/19 at 01:57 PM
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Thursday, March 15, 2007
JANE GOES SHOPPING!
I'm back from Maine a bit weary from twelve hours of driving past mutliple trees blurring together in one long dark smudge of firry green. Such relentless samenitude can only provoke my thoughts to dream up new designs. Here's what I'm thinking about now: how about a kimono inspired by hydrangea? I'm thinking annabelle hydrangea now, those soft green to pink to cream cococtions that topple and blowse their way through summer like a chorus of glory girls. Hydrangeas are my favorite flower, though I try not to say that when in earshot of the others. I have the perfect yarn choice for this one. Check out theTwisted Sisters Voodoo and Mirage in color 1, a luminous greenish, pinky, pure annabelle coloration, in one of the photos below.
Buttery Pearls
And, of course, Jane went shopping. I did my part to support the US economy by purchasing buttery pearls with equally buttery yarn for some as yet undecided creation. Something sunny this way comes.. Also, in honor of my second youth, I foraged for a few new clothes ending up with lots of sandy neutrals like the batik-inspired top below (shown with an emerging necklace in slivers of agate that look like horn and tortoise).
Botany—Close up of edge
Above you'll find another view of botany inspired, as you may have guessed, by the botanical prints of the 19th century. Think of wicker chairs and trellises over which hangs a painting of a leaf specimen—washes of green over creamy parchment. I've decided to do a wrap pattern with instructions for a cardigan so that everyone gets their wish. These soft greens and wicker sand colors in combination just epitomize spring, don't they? The yarns here are Fleece Artist Hand Maiden in two shades with a cream background of Prism Bon Bon in vanilla. The brown 'frame' is another Prism yarn, Bolero in mink.
Twisted Sisters Voodoo for Hydrangea kimono
And thanks everyone for all the best wishes on my birthday. I celebrated this milestone in style by eating with restraint on the pretext that the best gift we can ever give ourselves is good health (I'm trying to remove the 'wide load' sticker from my anatomy). But, before you think me too noble and disciplined, take heart in the fact that I indulged in other things.
Fron now one, when you post a comment, it will appear immediately. No more waiting!
Posted by Jane on 03/15 at 02:12 PM
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From the entry 'Wild, Mysterious Australia'.
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| By Christine Jones on 2008 12 28 |
