Carnival Cami is finished!

And just in time to celebrate the official beginning of the summer. This is what I'm happily clad in today:



--with trousers, obviously. White ones. Unlike the lovely Gwyneth who models it here, I can't get away with the trouser-less look in public. And the headlessness probably won't do much for me either.

Pattern: Missy from Rowan Magazine 31
Yarn: 5 skeins of Nathalie, 100% bamboo; colourway: Carnival to fit size 38 bust
Needles: US 1 and US 3

I used 5 skeins of the bamboo to make the largest size in Kim Hargreaves' pattern and had about half a skein left over after finishing. This large size is actually a bit large on me and I think I could have gotten away with knitting the cami one or even two sizes smaller and used just 4 skeins. But the bamboo is luuuuverly -- I LOVE the drape, most flattering. And this Missy will do nicely as is to inaugurate the summer!

And now I leave you with a close-up of the bow detail:



(PS. It's hot and sunny outside, but the industry isn't kidding when it says the bamboo yarn is cool and heavenly against your skin -- it really is! Now I'm off to go toast myself a little more...)

Have a lovely holiday (as applicable)! And happy knitting!

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue...

but this new yarn is variegated
and it's all... BAMBOO!



Andrea's was the correct guess. In the time-honoured tradition of the Egyptian sphinx the rest of you would have all been eaten up, but Sfynxy's gone back to the drawing board with his riddle because apparently bamboo is currently being researched for its antibacterial properties - a characteristic that it shares with hemp.

As of today, consider the line of luxury bamboo yarn (Nathalie) launched. The bamboo has its own range of colourways (which will likely grow as the summer palette expands a bit more):

Carnival:



Jungle Fancy:



Princesse:



Reed Fairy:



Saudade*:


* "Saudade" in Portuguese is a tough word to translate, but it means something like "a nostalgia for a fleeting beauty as it passes". (If someone has a better translation, I would love to hear it!)

Swimming Pool:



Ursula:



Barley:



And a couple of old favourites:

Amy's Chocolate Cherry:



and Briar Rose:



Here's a little swatch of how the Briar Rose knit up.



I LOVE LOVE LOVE the feel of this yarn. As far as I'm concerned, it's THE ultimate luxury yarn of the summer. Much stronger and more durable than silk, the bamboo is spun to a most refined smoothness and an amazing luster that even the best camera couldn't capture -- and the feel of the fabric! In a word: divine.

I am so addicted to this yarn that as soon as the first batches were ready, I started a Kim Hargreaves camisole (Missy from Rowan 31) in Carnival. This is what I managed on the first day:



24 hours later, I was 25 rows to the end of the front piece!

Ah! There are so many joys to a knitted summer garment in bamboo, the softness, the strength, the sheen! This must be felt in person, but the best I can do for the moment is leave you with a close-up of the fabric. See it shimmer:



The product and price list on the List of Colourways page has been updated. And here's some basic info about the yarn:

Nathalie: 100% bamboo
145 yds/skein; approx. 1328 yds/lb. (that's about 83yds/oz.)
Gauge: 6 - 7 sts/in. on US 3 needles

Rivendell and the Riddle of the Sphinx

[This cashmere update x-posted at The Cashmere Gallery]

In complete harmony with the lush California woods, here's Jesse from SoCal in her cashmere Clapotis in colourway Rivendell:



Jesse used 3 skeins of Estelle and US 6 needles and made a few modifications to the pattern. She writes, "I knitted 5 repeats of the increase section, and 6 straight rows with one skein! So, I did the reverse for the decrease sections, and had very little yarn left over. It's slightly skinnier than others, but I like really long scarves, and it's perfect."

And she looks perfectly smashing in it, too! :D

Thanks, Jesse!

~***~

And now I leave you with something a little different.

A riddle.

The riddle of the Sphinx.

Not just any Sphinx.

SFYNXY, as he calls himself. (Thinks it's sexier without vowels.)



And not just any riddle. His old one ("What is the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?" **) only managed to stump people for a few centuries and he's now concocted a New Riddle.

A portent of Things To Come.

Things to come to this blog.

Ready?

SFYNXY asks:

What antibacterial substance can nourish, shelter and clothe a man and his entire family through the ages?

Any guesses?

For the answer to Sfynxy's riddle and more, watch this space!
______________________________________________
** Answer: Man.

Happy Mother's Day, all!

Since what I've been working on is top secret, I won't tease you with non-information. :P

Instead, this is just a quick post from the road for those of you who are, who have, and who will be mothers. Here's something I painted last year for a friend of mine who was (then) expecting.

New Day



Happy Mother's Day, one and all!

Rivendel-Luxe

[x-posted at The Cashmere Gallery]

There are few things as luxurious as the perfect companion to cuddle against in the cool spring breeze. So as the winds waver between March and May temps, a girl’s best friend is… her Clapotis, of course!

Like this cashmere Clapotis in Rivendell by Diane from NY:





And she looks fabulous! Elegance. Comfort. And instant style. (Even elven princesses don’t have it this good.)



Diane, thank you again for sharing these lovely pictures. You made my day! And I think I could easily spend a lifetime making one of these every season – whoever said you can have too much of a good thing has clearly never owned a Clapotis.