expat on the go...

NIEBLING LACE

If you are on the verge of a nervous breakdown, may I suggest a little Niebling lace pattern for you to knit!  This specific lace is called 'Niebling Lace', after Herbert Niebling, a German knitter.  He did these beautiful patterns, which he didn't, apparently, write down ( I believe I read somewhere that he did publish a few patterns, in German, in the Burda magazine)!  This was all done during the mid-1900's - some of you will remember the era - i.e.: your mother's lace wedding dress!  

A Japanese woman got wind of these exquisite patterns, and decided to figure out and write the patterns for all of us to enjoy!!!  Her name is, Kazuko Ichida.  She wrote 2 pattern books on Niebling lace.  God bless her!  I honestly don't know how she did it!  She is the only one that has 'cracked the code' - until this year - a knitting book has finally been published on Niebling lace - in English.  The title escapes me right now, but if you are looking for the book, I remember the title being quite straight forward.

This is one of the volumes, by Ichida, in Japanese.

Here's the pattern I'm doing.  I blog with a knitter named, 'Joe' (look up 'QueerJoe').  He got me 'turned on' by these beauties!  He suggested I start small - I'm glad I followed his suggestion!!!  I started this project, at least 12 to 14 times.  Once, I got on a roll and placed the markers, all seems to have fallen into place.  I count every single stitch I knit, therefore, forgetting all stresses in the world ;)  

Ok, that was the picture in the book.... It's not my favorite pattern in the book, but it serves a 'first time knitting Niebling lace' purpose.  Here's the pattern I'm following:

And here's what I have knit up to this date:

And:

I am working with lace weight yarn.  100% wool.  They are size 3mm double-pointed needles (dpn - for knitters).  

All is well in the world when you're 'Niebling'  :-)   

THE BACALL SHRUG

I have started to knit a shrug from Rowan catalogue no. 44.  You have the option of short or long sleeves - although I'm leaning towards long sleeves, since I will be wearing it in the fall/winter/spring.

Yes, this is the same yarn I wanted to use to make a blanket.  I thought I'd never finish or knit the dreaded blanket so I started to look at options.

I'm using Karabella Superyak yarn (Hi Bertha!) and Noro Kureyon.  I have to alter the pattern since their pattern had 5.5 stitches to the inch and I was getting 4 stitches to the inch.  That's why we learn math in school, kids, to alter knitting patterns.

I didn't want to use straight stockinette, so I used one of Barbara Walker's pattern called, "Beaded Stripe Pattern". 

This is what the back looks like:

 

 

Let me know what you think...

A BEAUTIFUL KNITTED BLANKET

While I was walking in the village last week, I came upon a beautiful knitted blanket.  Here is what is looked like:

 

And it's cushion:

 

It seemed to be a simple stockinette stitch - about 20-25 rows and then when they changed color, they tucked and knit the new color with the 'old' color... if that makes any sense.  So basically, you knit approx.  8 rows, then 10 to 15 rows with color A.  You fold the last 10 to 15 rows upon itself and knit in the 10th or 15th row 'above' and knit that row with color B.  I think I will try it with some yarn and let you know how that turns out and if I have a simpler explanation!

The border was a simple - pick up stitches and 2X2 rib for about 2 inches.  I think you can basically do what you feel like at that point.

POCKET BOOK SLIPPERS

Here is the pocket book slipper done, but not sewn up:

 

I had extra yarn just hanging around and was looking for an easy project that I could knit at night, while watching tv.  I came upon these cute slippers.  There were a lot of patterns on the internet for these slippers, here is one of them:

Size No. 7 needles and worsted yarn (I used left-over Karabella Aurora 8 yarn - Hi Berta!!)

Cast on 5 sts. and knit 6 rows.

Next:  Increase in the 2nd st. of each row until you have 22 sts on the needle (I do the 'loop' with the thumb to inc. here, because you don't want a hole) - you will knit 17 rows.

Next: Increase in each st - you will get 44 sts. (again, 'loop' method).

Next: Knit 2, Purl 2 for 6 inches (I would imagine that if you are doing this for a child, you might want to go for less inches - depending on the age of child and/or size of foot).

Next: Knit 2 tog. across giving you 22 sts.

Next: Dec. in the 2nd st. at beg. of every row until you have 5 sts.

Knit 6 rows.  Cast off and fold in half.  Sew the K2/P2 sides tog. and the 5 sts on top together to form a  strap (I have seen some do thinner and longer straps to tie them in a bow) that you can decorate with an accessory of your choice.

 

 

I'll get some buttons at 'Bon Marche' and show you the final result.  I thought it was a reminder of the American flag and thought of getting 'flag' buttons.  The little guy thought it looked like the French flag and the Teen thought it looked like the British flag!  Maybe I'll forgo the 'flag' theme and go for blue or red buttons!  I will also look for anti-skid 'stuff'.  I think they sell a product that you can put on your knitted socks and slippers.  I believe that that will be a must, especially that the little guy has put in an order for a pair of these slippers - if I change the pattern, to accomodate my little guy, I'll let you know.

KNITTING PATTERNS/COLORS FOR A BLANKET

 

This is one of the first 'blocks' that I knit.  It is brighter in the picture than it really is in reality.  It is a mixture of greens, purples, 'brick' and blues/greys.

 

This is the brightest block.  It is cabled.  I don't think I'll cable the blanket!!  This has greens, purples, greys, and pinks to reds. 

 

This has got to be my favorite color block.  It's browns, bricks, greenishes, beiges.  Very subtle.  Very earthy.  I like the mitered look also.  Didn't go over well with the committee here!

 

This is the same pattern as the first block.  Darkest block.  Dark greys to light greys, brick, greens, a little purple.  I like it, it puts a little 'dark' in the mix.

 

The small round ball of yarn is Karabella's Superyak (luscious yarn!).  The unwound ball is the Noro 'Kureyon'.  I think I'm going to use this pattern, by alternating the variegated yarn with the solid yarn so it doesn't seem so 'loud'.  I was thinking of getting 2 solid that go well together and doing mixed color/solid blocks (like the one presented here) and doing some solid/solid blocks - do you see what I mean?

 

Let me know what you think!

KNITTING PROJECT

I'm starting a new knitting project.  Actually, I'm not starting it, but trying to finish it!  I have had this yarn for the longest time.  I love it.  It is hand-dyed, Japanese yarn called Noro 'Kureyon'.  It comes in a variety of wonderful colors.  My initial project was a new blanket for the couch, but then I thought a woolen blanket, on top of our cotton quilt, for the winter time would be wiser.  I will take a few pictures of the different squares I have made already.  Comments are welcomed!  Some liked the squares (pattern), but not the color, while others liked the color, but not the pattern.  I have started this new pattern and I think, I finally, have a winner!  Photos coming soon.