Two Pointy Sticks

Auguste in September

2011-09-20T13:06:00.005-04:00

The Deep Fall issue of Knitty is up ! And inside, just for you, a little something from me...

Auguste, a cabled funnel neck zip henley to keep your neighbor's best friend's colleague's great-aunt's estate planner's brother's nephew's college friend's aristocratic roommate's jetset nomad cousin cozy and warm for three-quarters of the year ;)

Enjoy !

Axelle xx

A little something for (Indian) Summer - Introducing 'Le Cavayere'

2009-10-12T00:48:00.011-04:00

*Whew*

Hello, all! I'm just coming up for air:

(1) to tell you that I'm still alive (yes, I am!), but busy in the studio and, well, just about everywhere else; and

(2) to thank you for your patience, especially those waiting to place orders for Klee Kits (Klee update: there was a technical delay on the batch scheduled for earlier this year, so the SS09 release is now a holiday issue that will launch in November);

but most importantly ...

(3) to introduce a new mid-season menswear pattern, that I've received several requests for. So without further ado here is Le Cavayere.

Inspired by a trip to a lake of the same name in the south of France bordered in lush umbrella pines ...

... not far from the medieval fortified city of Carcassonne ...

... the sweater Le Cavayere was knit in a new fiber range, a heavenly soft yarn of 100% bamboo called Atalante (shown here in colorway Pin Parasol).

I used to think I was a cashmere knitter through and through, but I have loved working every stitch with this yarn! In the skein Atalante catches the eye with a gentle, beautiful sheen and yields a fabric that feels like his favorite jersey tee shirt, but with such a luxurious hand and such an elegant drape that it would make Le Cavayere a man's wardrobe staple, something he'll be happy to always have handy to throw on.

Le Cavayere pattern is US$6.50. To purchase please send an email to sauveterre AT gmail DOT com.

More details and photos at SauveterreDesign.com

Wishing you all a delightful Indian Summer and a wonderful week!

Axelle

SauveterreDesign.com is LIVE !!!

2009-09-08T23:23:00.002-04:00

'The House of Sauveterre has a new face ...'

I'm not very good at keeping secrets (or ... *cough*blogging*cough*), so I'll dispense with the suspenseful lead-up to a fancy launch ...

The long-anticipated website is finally up! (For which I owe much gratitude - and then some - to Jerry, the most meticulous and diligent web developer anyone could ask for!)

Welcome one and welcome all! Feel free to wander around, browse, take your time, and enjoy! The cyber-champagne is free-flowing and complimentary. ;)

Announcement: The Studio is OPEN !!!

2009-04-23T21:52:00.004-04:00

The renovations are about 98.9999999% complete and although it's a little disorienting getting settled into the new space and working out where things are and how things work... I have to say, gosh it's good to be back !! :)

Klee Update: the spring batch is coming together and if you're on the Notify List, expect an email in the next couple of weeks.

FOs and projects: Well ... I've been busy working mostly on things I'm dying to but really can't talk about for a while yet. Lots of Top Secret Projects. (sorry!) But apart from all the TSPs, I did manage to finish a quick spring/summer FO. A little spring cleaning yielded a cluster of three skeins of Colinette Tagliatelli in Cinnamon that had vanished long ago through the grill of my brain, aka The Sieve. :)

I think I'd put it aside because the first and last time I knit with it I made a children's sweater, and unfortunately it wasn't quite as robust a fabric as I had hoped. After a few months (or possibly weeks) of wear and plenty of tear, the sweater ended up looking like swiss cheese. So, okay, definitely not for your child's play dates. But for a chic summer top for women, it's just about perfect.

So with only two skeins, 15mm needles, and a project time of just a couple of days from cast on to seaming up, I was able to throw on this little cropped number ...

(very little, very cropped)

For anyone interested, the pattern is called Sandpiper and appears on the cover of Colinette's Tagliatelle Merino Tape book. BUT a word to the wary: the way the sweater appears on the cover is not how it will look in real life unless you block the **** out of it and/or add more rows to the length and sleeves than in the pattern, which, having a third skein, I could have done, but didn't...

really because I think as a cropped textured sweater, it's more fashion forward !!

Recession Chic! and Molly Ringwald's Pretty In Pink Legacy

2009-02-12T17:15:00.006-05:00

Well, Fashion Week in Paris has come and gone. And let me tell you, there is nothing like seeing a whole slew of covetable items during a recession to make you really feel the pinch. Sigh.

Being a scarf girl, one of the items I've seen-and-coveted around town was an absolutely gorgeous double-faced bi-material stole at Hermes (from A/W 08), one panel in cashmere jersey, the other in silk chiffon. Luxe + luxe = uber-luxe.

I'm all for self-gratification, but 1500 euros (approximately USD$2000) seemed a little steep for a stole that I thought would be easy enough to make.

Does anyone remember Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink? How she would make her own clothes through a process of clever 'recycling'?

Ah, the films of our youth! How they shape us in their subtle ways. Channeling her was cake. So, after a little 'shopping in my closet', humming to the Pyschedelic Furs, I found a couple of hand-dyed silk chiffon stoles that I had once bought from a Russian seamstress at an open-air market for about $10 each. One of them was in shades of my favorite violets and purples - just what I was hoping to find.

With a couple of skeins of Mont Blanc (100% light dk weight cashmere) in Blackberry I whipped up a panel roughly the same size as the stole.

Don't they look delectable together?

Gosh, it's such a simple but elegant idea, mixing these materials! Genius, really. I don't know if it was Jean-Paul Gaultier's idea, or Leila Menchari's, or some unsung craftsperson. But it's genius, and I was compelled to try it.

Anyone who has ever seen me attempt to sew straight knows that it's just not my forte. But all it took was sewing the edges of both panels together on one end, and voila! two simple pieces fused into the stole that I now think of as the epitome of Recession Chic. :D

I LOVE this stole! It instantly dresses *anything* up, even this ancient nearly threadbare t-shirt!

Cabled Fez!

2009-01-24T09:02:00.002-05:00

One of the luxuries of being a knitter is... being able to make something you want yourself. Without the wait.

Having started the new year here

the first thing about alpine survival that I learned was: never ever underestimate the value of a warm hat!

So upon return to the big city I thought I might stop in at this shop to see if they had any appealing bonnets... but this was the queue.

And apparently this is ALWAYS the queue, just to get into this little cupboard-sized boutique. And once you're in it's a battle for the attention of a salesperson, and then another loooong wait at the register, which means you've used up your entire lunch hour and part of the afternoon for a hat you could have half-made yourself in that time.

And so I did. I started with just a few scraps of leftover Mont Blanc in Silver and ended up two leisurely evenings later with this cabled fez:

Super warm, super light, and super easy!

Makes me wish I could head to the slopes tomorrow. :)

Until next time... stay warm! And happy knitting.

The Lost Art of Luxury

2009-01-13T10:42:00.006-05:00

What does that mean, 'luxury'? On an economic level, of course, the connotation is something that you wouldn't ordinarily treat yourself to.

But it's really much more than that, and since I've been mulling the subject over in my head for a while, it may be the subject of a few future posts.

Although I was trying to avoid them, I just 'happened' to get sucked into some after-Christmas sales. There isn't much that I need except maybe some warm socks, but I figure I can always knit those if necessary. Anything else would just be gravy (or icing, depending on your palate's preference). But I did let myself be tempted to try on a lovely Audrey Hepburn-era-Givenchy-inspired cashmere swing jacket. At -40% off it seemed like a bargain! Until I put it on and the left sleeve half fell off. It had been machine knit and there was a huge hole where the sleeve just hadn't been sewn onto the front. In retrospect I suppose if I'd really wanted it (and who wouldn't want to look like Audrey Hepburn?), I could have negotiated an even greater discount. But in the end I was so disappointed by the workmanship that I lost all compunction to purchase. It was as if whoever was at quality control just didn't care enough to LOOK at the garment. Of course I know you give up a certain amount of quality when you buy something manufactured en masse. But that doesn't change anything. The result was still a bit disappointing. And I left empty-handed.

A few weeks ago I met a craftsperson who patiently taught me how to stitch two pieces of leather together to form a secure closure, the kind found on only the most impeccable riding saddles. I practiced for an hour and even with the tips and tricks of the master, still only managed a short row of perfect stitches before the whole thing went wonky! No matter how effortless it looks, it's never as easy or as quick as an outsider might think. It's backbreaking, sometimes tedious work, but it's all done really out of love. The craftsperson - who by the way is also a knitter - said she works the normal hours at the workshop but could really just sit and do that just about all day every day and be perfectly content. And there's usually a story behind every design or project. I won't tell you what I found out about the craftsperson's life (though it's juicy enough to fill up a novel or two!), but I will share with you another artist's blog that I've recently discovered:

Robert Samsel is a young Polish textile artist living in New York. His hats remind me of the coveted trendy chunky variety that have been spotted on the runways in the past couple of years...

(which I personally love - and wished sorely that I had when I visited some outdoorsy friends here for New Year)

His style is simple, modern, and distinctly unstuffy. And what I love most about his art is that there is always a backstory from a far-off land!

You can find his blog and his creations here:

http://www.robertsamsel.blogspot.com/

KLEE SCARF KITS - SOLD OUT

2008-11-29T09:43:00.003-05:00

The Klee Scarf Kits have sold out.

At least for this run.

For those of you who missed out and would still like to order a kit, there will be another limited run early in the new year. If you would like to be placed on the notification list for the kits, please send an email to sauveterre AT gmail DOT com, with the subject heading: 'KLEE NOTIFY LIST SS09'. Shortly before the kits are ready, you will be sent an email to give you notice of their availability in advance of the general blog announcement.

Wishing all of you a happy post-Thanksgiving weekend (where applicable)! :)

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Klee Scarf List is OPEN!

2008-11-01T16:36:00.003-04:00

Orders are now being taken for the large Klee Scarf Kit, which makes the long skinny scarf shown below:

Each kit contains an instruction booklet and mini-skeins of the following eight colorways of Estelle (hand-painted 100% Italian sportweight cashmere):

Japanese Maple
Byzantine
Highland Heather
Jester
Boone
Rivendell
Coco
Water Lilies

There are no colorway substitutions.

The kits are being made in a very limited run, and will be allotted on a first come, first served basis. Due to high demand, there is a limit of one kit per customer.

The cost of the kit is US$110.00 plus flat rate domestic shipping of US$6.50 in the US via USPS Priority Mail, or the appropriate charge for Priority International Air Mail shipping.

To secure your pre-order, send an email to: sauveterre AT gmail DOT com with the subject heading "Klee Scarf Kit AW 08". Please include your preferred email (for your Paypal invoice) and your preferred shipping address.

You will then receive a Paypal invoice for your order. Each kit is considered reserved once payment has been received. All kits will ship in the first week of December; at that time you will receive an email confirmation that your kit is on its way.

Are you superstitious?

2008-09-29T17:06:00.005-04:00

Thought for the day... With Halloween looming in the not so distant future, I found myself thinking today: How superstitious am I? How superstitious are you?

I don't consider myself more superstitious than the average person. I have been known to pick up a penny, tail side down. I step on cracks, and my mother's back is still good. I don't hold my breath when driving past cemeteries (if it's a cemetery that takes a long while to pass, holding your breath that long while driving stands you a good chance of occupying the next plot).

But then again, I also don't flirt cavalierly with bad karma on purpose. I don't walk underneath ladders (especially since it's safer to walk around them anyway). While I don't buy into the whole Bloody Mary legend, the summoning chant would be the last thing I'd even think of doing in a bathroom. And I wouldn't intentionally invoke the Sweater Curse.

But here's a thought... just one of the many flitting in and out of the transom of my caffeinated mind... could the Sweater Curse be avoided if you and a friend each knit a sweater for each other's significant other? How's that for a loophole? What if it worked? All you'd need is to make a deal with a knitter pal with a significant other also in need of some knitwear, and you'd be sorted!

Before I go patting myself on the back, what do you all think? Assuming that the Sweater Curse is real, of course.

L'Amour Brut

2008-09-26T10:36:00.002-04:00

I'm now sitting on a little pile of Mont Blanc in Denim that is slowly morphing into... something.

Embarking on a pattern idea from scratch (at least for me) is one part imagination and five parts desire - with a dash of suspense thrown in. In the end it's a lot of work that doesn't feel like a chore because what we love is the journey as well as the destination.

Axelle... in love!

2008-09-19T12:17:00.005-04:00

LOVE!

It's the kind of relationship that you know with each passing day can only get stronger. The kind of tie that lasts. The knowledge that nothing short of a force majeur, a freak natural catastrophe could ever part you.

*sigh*

Yes, I've fallen absolutely irrevocably in love.

With the iPhone.

Which is, thanks to all the new cool applications in the iTunes App Store, so much more than a phone. I swore that I wouldn't be drawn in by the hype - and just for the record I have absolutely no affiliation with Apple or the attendant iCulture. But how can you NOT love something that makes your life so much easier? Take this, for example, the latest (Free) application I downloaded: the Stitch Minder. (check it out under App Store > Lifestyle)

So simple. So self-explanatory. So bloody useful! With just a tap it keeps track of # of rows, lines, pattern repeats, increases... it's this knitter's new best friend. :)

Call me a geek, but God I love technology.

Cold Shoulder

2008-09-16T12:45:00.002-04:00

This morning I woke up with a sneeze. And then a shiver. Where did the summer go? Just the other day it was 94 degrees and sunny, and today suddenly I'm wearing three layers of clothing!

So my fingers may be cold, but that only means they're going to have to have something to DO. I have a project - actually a couple of projects - in mind, but am stuck on the color(s).

So far I'm drawing inspiration from all the cashmere colorways I've been sending out recently, but in particular this one: Briar Blue and Turquoise (shown here in Estelle).

Hmm...

Will let you know when lightning strikes!

Just one more reason to love Karl!

2008-08-01T12:59:00.004-04:00

This post has nothing to do with knitting, but I felt compelled to share. Having narrowly missed having my car crushed in not one but two potentially fatal collisions this week (not my fault), I'm reminded of this ad that was recently launched in France.

The coolest road safety ad of all time:

"It's yellow, it's ugly, it doesn't go with anything, but it can save your life."

Drive and cycle safely, everyone!

Fair Warning for Fall / Winter Orders

2008-07-26T18:41:00.003-04:00

The colorworks studio is due for some extensive renovation this fall / winter - and about time, too!! But although the hand-painting will continue, the superimposition of the building schedule means that, practically speaking, processing times could be affected. So for anyone planning to place either regular or wholesale orders, please keep in mind that:

(1) orders placed before September 1 are more likely to have a ship date by or about the beginning of October; whereas

(2) orders placed after September 1 may be subject to double or more the average 4-6 week processing time.

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.

Axelle

Simplicity...

2008-06-30T13:07:00.005-04:00

It's a lot tougher to come by in this day and age than you might think.

As I type, a song floats through the open window: "They say your life is like a yellow brick road. That's nice, mine's like a maze."

Life is complicated, thanks to the twists and turns of Fate. And it's even more so when you throw human variables into the mix - text, subtext, sub-subtext - too many words, too little coherent meaning. Unfortunately, for all practical purposes there's no avoiding that (unless, lucky you, you're a hermit).

So that's today's sentiment in a nutshell: simplicity, highly underrated, often frustratingly elusive.

But for a few brief moments of bliss, I hold a little simplicity here, in my hands, in row upon row of stocking stitch that I work tirelessly as if I could build a cocoon, a shield, a safe haven from complication.

But failing that, hopefully it will be at the very least a useful summer garment. That's the simplest I dare hope for.

Encore: Tanguy

2008-04-29T23:33:00.010-04:00

Wow! Thank you, everyone, for your emails and wonderful comments on Le Tanguy! This simple sweater is one of my favorite projects of all time, and I'm absolutely tickled that you've given it such a great reception.

Since so many of you have emailed, impatient to cast on, until the website is ready Le Tanguy will be available as a kit. For orders and enquiries, please send an email to sauveterre AT gmail DOT com with the subject line: "Kit - Le Tanguy".

Kit pricing varies according to the number of skeins required for the project, so please be sure to include the size you are interested in making. Sizing is as follows:

Small - Chest size 34"
Medium - Chest size 38"
Large - Chest size 42"
X-Large - Chest size 46"
XX-Large - Chest size 50"

The version shown (size L) was knit with 10 skeins of Mont Blanc (100% lt dk cashmere), colorways Tobacco and Sky, but don't feel that you need to be wedded to that combination. Let the colors you choose make your own statement. The following are just a few pairing suggestions, ranging from bashful to bold.

For more semi-solid colorway options, pricing and ordering information, please see The List of Colorways.

Last Call for Klee!

2008-03-23T13:43:00.004-04:00

As I type, there is ONE (1) Large Klee Scarf Kit remaining. First come, first served.

[Edit] SOLD! Wow, that was quick. If there is sufficient interest, the Klee may be available again as a limited run during the winter holiday season.

(Colorways as shown above on the right, and below.)

Happy Easter, all!

Deflowering the Mens Knitwear Virgin...

2008-02-28T15:46:00.005-05:00

Okay, I confess, I've never designed a sweater for men before. Never felt moved to before. But recently I was inspired - though it felt, more accurately, like compelled.

You know that feeling when a design epiphany strikes? It's either like a bolt of lightning or a fiery sunrise of increasing intensity that requires capturing NOW, or it'll be lost forever.

Inevitably it happens somewhere totally inconvenient, like a steering committee meeting, a grocery line, or during the last boarding call for your flight. That was how this, my first ever piece pour homme, was conceived as a hurried scribble on an airline napkin.

A few days later it evolved into this:

And not long after, this...

Introducing Le Tanguy, knit in Mont Blanc (100% lt dk cashmere), colorways Tobacco and Sky:

Apart from the few bits of ribbing, it's all stocking stitch which - at least for me - is quite soothing (and easy enough to do in a darkened cinema!). Not to mention quick! Before I knew it, the pullover had practically finished itself.

It gave me that feeling of saudade just seaming it up. *sigh* Simple a knit as it is, this has been one of my all time favorite projects. And it never hurts that Mont Blanc is so soft, it's terribly addictive!

I kind of like how the hand-painted semisolids give the sweater a heathered effect. It looks both polished and casually broken-in at the same time, like an article of well-loved, well-worn clothing from a wardrobe that's reached for over and over again.

WEBSITE UPDATE:

As most of you have probably noticed, the main website (www.sauveterredesign.com) is currently under construction. Good news: it's finally very very close to completion! Thanks to my genius web designer, there will be a more user-friendly viewing system for colorways, a little gallery, and I'm also considering a place for patterns. Le Tanguy might very well be one of them.

Unexpected Little Knits!

2008-02-25T10:57:00.006-05:00

I was just about ready to do a little reveal of a new project today, but a little something has just arrived on my desk that deserves its spotlight. If you haven't already discovered Expectant Little Knits (ed. Suzanne J.E. Tourtillott; new from Lark Books), it's definitely worth checking out.

Just on the first flip-through I found several patterns that I'm putting on my must-have list, including a chic pucker-stitch tunic dress and a truly elegant houndstooth jacket, cropped to give a great classic a younger modern edge. My needles are burning for these pieces. And I'm not even pregnant! But you don't have to be to enjoy most of the great patterns in the book.

Amongst the designs is also this, which I've had to be mum about for nearly a year now. Keeping this little secret has nearly killed me, but finally she's out!

Introducing the Deauville Car Coat in Pippin (100% aran weight cashmere):

The coat, which has a shawl collar that wraps around the cutaway front and curved tail back, can be worn open or closed with a brooch. And best of all, it's versatile: great for both during and after pregnancy.

So that's my surprise for today. Stay tuned this week (that's right, you haven't read wrong, I mean this week) for YET ANOTHER reveal!

A tres bientot!

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-24T23:54:00.000-05:00

A Bit on Logistics

2007-12-08T00:04:00.000-05:00

Klee Scarf Kits purchased by Dec 10 will ship on Dec 11.

Again, please note that the studio will be closed from Dec 12th through 19th. Any remaining kits may still be purchased during that time; however, these will ship on or after Dec 20.

Have a great week, everyone!

New Pattern: Aoife

2007-12-05T14:07:00.000-05:00

The new Winter 07 Knitty is up with lots of lovely projects. I'm honored to have a new pattern of mine included in such great company.

Presenting Aoife (pronounced EE-feh). (Named after an angelic little girl I once met long, long ago. When I asked her what her name meant, this little five-year-old gave me a shy smile and, in that cheerful breathy whisper five-year-olds have, said, 'radiant'. And in that moment it didn't seem possible for her to have had a more appropriate name.)

You can find the pattern on knitty here: Aoife

The Klee Scarf is BACK!!!

2007-12-03T00:08:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess scarf season is truly finally upon us. Due to the number of email requests I've been receiving and the overwhelming demand for The Klee Scarf Kit, I have done a limited run of kits for the holiday season.

Read more about the Klee Scarf here.

The price for a kit is US$110.00 plus flat rate Priority Mail shipping at US$6.50 for shipping within the US. Please inquire for international shipping rates.

There is a limit of ONE kit per customer. Kits will be sold on a first come first served basis, until supplies last. To order, please send an email with your request and preferred delivery address to sauveterre AT gmail DOT com, and a Paypal invoice will be sent to you.

(And while I've got you here, just a little scheduling note: The studio will be closed from December 11-19.)

Happy Knitting, everyone!

Something Snuggly for a Sunday: The 'Gilmore' Sweater

2007-10-14T10:17:00.001-04:00

The Midnight Knitting project this week is finally finished, just in time to wear outside on this chilly morning. Here it is, a little cashmere heathered baseball tee - great for lounging in on any day ending in "-day"!

For this size (bust size 36), I used 4 skeins of Mont Blanc in Rosamund, and 3 skeins of Mont Blanc in Tobacco.

In the end it turned out to be only a very little bit this-season's-Balenciaga, about 2.6% (the single arm stripes), and 97.4% Lorelai Gilmore. Props to the costume designer for that show, because apart from the general wit of the writing, I want - no, NEED - to have a closet full of Lorelai's clothes. Simple and very everyday, but with a little twist in either color, shaping, texture, or print. Is anyone here a fan? Remember the Knit or Die! t-shirt?

Kitschy!Me has decided that I really really need one of these.

Midnight Knitting (again!)

2007-10-11T00:12:00.000-04:00

Well, here I am. The clock has struck midnight. And I'm still awake. Still knitting. The insomniac knitter. I don't actually know if I'm knitting because I'm a chronic insomniac, or if I'm an insomniac because I can't seem to stop knitting.

Tonight I'm working on this:

A little something inspired by Gilmore Girls (which I have only recently discovered - how could I have missed all the fun?!?) and Balenciaga ... although in the end, it'll probably look more Gilmore Girls than Balenciaga, but it's all soothing stocking stitch and in cashmere to boot, so it's all good. :)

A few weeks ago I was doing a particular cable pattern for the first time - working exclusively between the hours of 11:00pm and 3:00am each night, a couple of times while watching 300.

Stunning as some of the visuals were... still: BIG MISTAKE. Actually, plenty of big mistakes - the more complicated the cable pattern, the bigger the mistake. And the more engrossing the film, the more mistakes one tends to make, it seems.

At least, as long as that one is me. :)

Those battle scenes sure produced some really 'organic'-looking cables, though, if you're into that sort of thing.

Wallpaper

2007-10-05T10:29:00.000-04:00

[Warning: BIG images ahead]

Okay, Nicole - wallpaper for you.

Enjoy!

Coming Soon to a LYS Near You!!

2007-10-04T22:49:00.000-04:00

I had all sorts of words floating around my brain lately, but now that I'm here, the only one that comes to mind is: WHEW!!!

I've been busy juggling about two or three lives, as we all do sometimes. But in all the running around I surprised myself with the presence of mind to take a pic or two.

Here's just a fraction of a lot of cashmere coming soon to several LYSs near you! (Particularly if you feed your fiber fetish online! (Click here))

Fall is definitely in the air. Can you smell it in the breeze? There's a certain crispness to the air, a light, feathery whisper of brisk leaf-rustling wind in the evenings to come and all that entails. Tree lines a-bloom in sienna, salmon, ochre, gold and crimson... piping hot cocoa by a crackling fire... stolen moments of pure unadulterated knitting time at the end of the day (or, if you're like me, the middle of the night or around the time the Tokyo opens for business, whenever you can steal a moment for yourself).

There's something about that first whiff of fall that's inspiring... that calls to mind all sorts of possibilities - and not just in knitting. For as long as I can remember I've felt that... that je ne sais quoi... that something, at least once every autumn. I know I'm not being particularly articulate here, but do you know that feeling I'm talking about? Does that sound completely mental??

Maybe. But what can I say? I'm a Fall Junkie.

Capuchine

2007-09-24T08:11:00.000-04:00

Boy, B.B. King is right: time really is a thief!. When I was young, I barely took notice of time passing. In fact, in retrospect, time seemed to move along at the same speed as me (if not slower - like those last few nervous minutes waiting for the bell to end the last school day before summer - excruciatingly i n t e r m i n a b l e). But now it seems that I wake up on most days and schlepp through a never-ending to-do-list, only to get up the next day and do it all over again. And in the back of my mind there's an echo that always seems to be wondering: where's all the time gone?

Like this morning, it's actually dawned on me that it's already the end of summer. And I've barely broken the seal on my sunscreen bottle! So here it is... me saying a last goodbye to the summer...

Of course, before this post gets too melancholy, there's always an upside to the start of fall, and that's the chance to break out all the glorious fall clothing we've had tucked away for months. As much as I love the spring and summer, my favourite clothing season is by far autumn/winter. And my favourite piece of the moment is... the sweater dress! I love love love the sweater dress.

And this year it seems to have made an even bigger comeback than usual, on the runways and your local neighbourhood pavements. They're shorter, hipper, and not at all like the wrap-yourself-in-a-shapeless-rug sort of seasons past. Paired with boots (or booties, which, though not my thing, look great on some people), chunky heels or wedges, the sweater dress is a go-everywhere item. It's wrinkle-free, it's warm, and it's stylish. The holy trinity of fall/winter travel dressing, as far as I'm concerned. And so much the better when it suits more than one mood...

Having said that, now I can finally tell you what became of this little pile of pieces:

Introducing... the sweater dress, Capuchine (in Estelle, 100% cashmere; colourway - Orion):

The hood, or capuche, is easily removable, allowing for the quick transition between dressy and a sportier look.

The pattern is in the finishing stages now, but since it's so chilly in the mornings now, I couldn't wait to do the little show and tell! :)

Briar Blue!

2007-09-19T19:48:00.000-04:00

I'm still here!

But with my pruney fingers coated in paint these days, it's tough to find time to post much. Still, I just wanted to share this new colourway, because I love it so much! Introducing... Briar Blue (shown here in Mont Blanc, 100% light dk weight cashmere):

Briar Blue has been added to the List of Colourways.

More on actual knitting to come soon!

In the meantime, I hope you're all relaxing into a great evening - or day - whichever applies to you!

Axelle

An-ti-cipation... is making me wait

2007-07-27T16:13:00.000-04:00

Well I'm late to the Harry Potter party because I still haven't even cracked open The Deathly Hallows (mainly because the postman only delivered it today).

And I'll probably postpone reading it until I'm good and ready. That means, not only rereading the last book (all of which I've completely forgotten), but also getting through this pile of unseamed pieces. (Yes, I've actually finished something! I'm just as shocked as you.)

If I were Mrs Weasley, I'd have my Enchanted Tapestry Needle and Cut-Right Scissors do it overnight for me, but since I'm not, I'll just have to slog through it before sinking into a comfy chair with a tall cool glass of anything Bolthouse (better than a Butterbeer/Pumpkin Juice cocktail) and the last HP.

Frankly, I'm also happy to wait a bit, because having seen Daniel Radcliffe in Equus (in which that young man's acting range was astoundingly brilliant - so brilliant that you forget entirely that this is the same chap who we've all come to know as Harry Potter), it's going to take more than a Memory Charm to block out certain visuals.

Wishing you all a great weekend, whatever you're getting up to!

Where do you stand on Big Knits?

2007-07-15T12:43:00.000-04:00

While coming up for air in the middle of doing Important Grown-Up Things (mostly tedious and having to do with paper and small print), I found myself contemplating Big Knits in the fashion world. I recall seeing a few in the more avant garde collections last year in Italy and found them... interesting. Conceptually.

And for this A/W season, there are more. Like these hats at Rick Owens.

And these mindblowing pieces by Giles Deacon at the Giles show.

** All photos by Marcio Madeira, at style.com

Normally I'm the kind of person who knows instantly whether I love or hate something, but I have to admit I'm a little on the fence about these Big (really, Gigantic) Knits. I'm a Small Needle Knitter myself, as a SNK I tend to shy away from large bulky items that might make me look like the Michelin Man. Not to mention the inevitable muscle cramping if I used broomstick-sized needles. The bulkiest I'm ever tempted to knit is an aran-weight sweater or coat, perhaps. For warmth.

But I am strangely drawn to, at least, the Rick Owens hat. (Imagine how quick a Christmas knit that would be - you could crank out 4 or more in an hour!) And I do love the THICK scarf in the last shot. And the dresses, too - again, as a concept. But could I see myself walking down the street in one?

Could you?

Sometimes the only person you never have time for is yourself

2007-07-06T20:05:00.000-04:00

I have had one of those weeks that starts off bad, only to get worse. I'm not telling you this by way of complaint, or to begin some long confessional -- I'm just happy to be telling you this because I survived it!! Now it is the weekend, and high time to break out the old Survival Kit:

You can see that all my guilty pleasures (apart from the cashmere) are mass-market. I consider that a good thing. It means that effective therapy is easy to come by. (And if you run out, you can always find more just a few blocks away.)

Do you have any odd self-soothing rituals?

This week got me thinking about the things I sometimes do to keep myself sane. Knitting is one of them. All of you out there know, I'm sure, how soothing it is to pick up those needles and work a few stitches. For me it's better than a good backrub (well, not all backrubs... but some). So is being on a boat. But when casting off isn't feasible, I can find solace in -- of all places -- the supermarket.

Now, I'm not talking about a dinky corner grocery (which has its advantages, don't get me wrong), I mean a HUGE, dwarfing airplane hangar-sized space filled with endless rows of brightly colored vegetables and food flown in from every corner of the world. Everyone I know finds food shopping a tedious, if not aggravating and time-consuming chore. So I guess that makes me an oddball. I love wandering around in the grocery. Pulling together ingredients for a meal... from the first sniff of a cluster of vine tomatoes to the rich color of fresh yellowfin tuna and the shelves and shelves of spices! As my little wire basket fills up, my mind empties of the day's problems. It sounds completely mad, I know, seeking solace in the aisles of a food store.

Then again, why not? It's also, conveniently, where the Haagen Dazs live.

A Day at the Races!

2007-06-26T08:14:00.001-04:00

(Warning: picture-heavy post)

Earlier this month, I joined some friends at the Prix de Diane - Hermes at Chantilly. It took some convincing at first to get me to go, but when I discovered that the invitation promised a day celebrated "in all the colors of Rajasthan and Jaipur" my bags were as good as packed!

The Prix de Diane, which takes place in the town of Chantilly (famous for its cream, among other things), just a little over an hour outside of Paris, is the French equivalent of Royal Ascot. The theme (which varies each year) was L'Inde a Chantilly (India at Chantilly).

That Saturday morning started off on the grim side, and as the Chateau de Chantilly rose out of the mist, I did wonder if we weren't going to get a drenching. Though I suppose we could always have retreated into the chateau for a little tour - it's exactly the kind of grand old building I loved exploring as a child.

Well, the Indian Cavalry, who were preparing for their exercises when we arrived didn't seem concerned about an imminent downpour, so neither were we.

What the jockeys and their horses saw...

What we spectators saw...

On the short journey even from the car to the cheery colored tents, we found entertainments galore: musicians, dancers, and even magicians to greet the guests.

And all the colors, a visual feast. Inside Le Village Hermes was no exception.

Many guests really took the India theme to heart - and did it well.

Just a few paces from the entrance, boutiques had been set up as a market for guests to wander into, brimming with everything from food, fresh fruit and spices, to traditional clothing, antiques, and small objets d'art.

shoplifters (no, not really)

We realized that it was unfortunately impossible to capture precisely how splendid it was -- that everywhere you looked, there was something lovely to see, hear, smell or taste. But hopefully some of these pics can offer some idea.

Under the picnic tents...

Serious picnic prep...

But the day wasn't only about food, there were hats, too! I admit I was too busy enjoying the display to take many snapshots, but here are a few.

There was something for everyone, and no lack of splendor, either from the dashing Indian cavalry, or the troupe of musicians, dancers, and other artists that mingled with and entertained the crowd that afternoon and evening.

Yes, that's a monkey on his head.

Stands at full capacity, come race time.

And in between races, the crossing to a better vantage point.

The view towards the finish.

Race day, at least like this, is only done once a year. And in many ways it was very much like stepping back in time, if only for an afternoon.

Encore Lucie

2007-06-24T21:28:00.000-04:00

I haven't had much free time these past few months, but I did manage to squeeze in time for an all-too-brief getaway (more on that later), and another Lucie (in colorway Sawyer. I'd originally thought it might be a nice easy piece for midseason wear, but it's also turned out to be perfect for summer evening strolls or mornings or dusk at the beach!

The getaway involved planes, trains, horses, hats, dancers, musicians, magicians, a monkey and an elephant. But I'll save all that for another post. :)

If Spartacus had a winter cap...

2007-06-22T13:47:00.001-04:00

I have been too busy to be a good blogger of late, but I just had to share with you this pic of a knit cap spotted recently at the airport.

Sticks... On a Plane

2007-04-14T11:24:00.000-04:00

This is an informational post.

Did you know that on British Airways** you are now permitted to take on board your knitting needles? I didn't, but apparently you are. On a recent transatlantic route I sat adjacent to a woman with nimble Roadrunner-fast fingers knitting up a gorgeous cabled sweater. She was using tiny US 3 metal circulars - the kind that once might have been presumed dangerous in a poke-your-eye-out / pop-the-life-raft / aspirate-an-injured-castaway's lung kind of way. But no one questioned her, and she knit happily on, finishing about three-quarters of the piece in-flight in between meals and chatting with her husband.

I confirmed the revised regs with the cabin crew, that yes, knitting needles are now allowed on board. So, spread the word!

__________________________________
**Previously, the TSA in the US had lifted its ban on knitting needles, but BA has been slow to follow.

Because I can't resist spring...

2007-04-04T10:59:00.000-04:00

There is no human being alive who can possibly resist the charms of spring. The crisp, clean air, the light breeze, the warm sun gently caressing your face, the bright bursts of colour at every turn...

I'm a sucker for spring, as well as for pics of my goddaughters M -- here again in the sweater from this post -- and her sister A.

Since there has been some interest, if I find the time this year I might make this a single-size pattern. No promises because I'm too swamped at the moment to breathe, but I'll think about it. :)

Annette O'Toole's Cashmere Tam

2007-03-05T15:56:00.000-05:00

For some people, February can be the grimmest month of the year -- a month that can find one still reeling from the excesses of pre- mid- and post- holiday fun, a month not really known for it's great weather (at least not in these parts), and a month nearly devoid of meaningful holidays. Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day? They don't really count, do they? Aren't they mainly celebrated by mobile phone companies and car dealerships these days?

Cynical? Moi?

Sure, why not. In the world of -isms, cynicism is (always) the new black! ;)

But seriously, unsolicited thoughtfulness is such a rarity in this day and age that it's even got its own acronym: RAOK. We marvel at random acts of kindness. Startling they may be, but they're also a rejuvenating whiff of fresh air. Like the banker last weekend in Manhattan who overheard me and a friend in his building's lobby asking for directions. Not knowing anything about us other than that we were two people who obviously couldn't locate ourselves on a simple grid system, he offered to take the lift back up to his offcie to consult a guidebook sitting on his shelf. Minutes later, he called down to reception, guidebook in hand, and talked us through directions. It seemed like a small thing, but even that moment's kindness was enough to put a renewed spring in our steps.

My guess is that in the knitting community, you're even likelier to run across warm, helpful people. Those of you whom I've met (and even some I haven't yet) have taught me that!

So you can imagine how touched I was in this glummest of months to come home to a letter from the wonderful Annette O'Toole, who has not only been a familiar face for most of my cinema-going, television-watching life, but who is also a talented and prolific knitter. She is really one of the most thoughtful, gracious people I have met since delving into this industry, and that's really saying something.

Enclosed was an article about her daughter Nell Geisslinger, including a photo of Nell wearing a cashmere tam she knit out of Estelle (100% cashmere) in Rum Point ...

... as well as arms full of great-looking WIPs. Nell, also an actress and a prolific knitter, is proof that talent and creativity obviously run in the family! (The article you can also find online here .)

Annette also kindly included her pattern for the adorable cashmere tam, which you can just see there in the photo. With her permission, it's reproduced here. (Thank you so much, Annette!)

~***~

CASHMERE TAM
(Annette O'Toole, but really Elizabeth Zimmermann)

A.L. de Sauveterre "Estelle" cashmere yarn, 1 skein

Size 6 circular needle and double points

Cast on 90 sts. Join, knit 10 rounds. Purl one round. Knit 10 more rounds. Increase to 135 sts by working K2, M1, around. Work 32 rounds. Dec 2 sts on next row. K17, K2tog around, then one plain round. Alternate these two rounds (dec one stitch every time -- K16, K2tog, then K15, K2tog, etc.) until 49 sts remain. Now dec every round until there are 7 sts. Fasten off.

You can turn up the hem at the purl ridge and baste it down or you can let the edge roll up (which is what I do). I also dampen the tam, stretch it over a dinner plate a la Elizabeth Zimmermann and let it dry overnight into a real tam shape. You can also leave it as is. Many options! Whatever you do, it is the warmest, lightest, doesn't crush your hair, hat ever.

~***~

As soon as I read her pattern, I immediately cast on... then found that I couldn't stop with just one! In less than a week, I'd made three! (in Fiery Sunset, Sawyer, and Highland Heather, respectively)

Annette's cashmere tam is such a quick, easy knit, it makes the perfect last minute gift for someone you want to keep warm -- or yourself!

Nell is currently onstage in Mary's Wedding at the Actors Theatre in Louisville, KY, which I wish I was close enough to see. And all you Smallville fans will know that Annette returns every Thursday on the CW, in her role as Martha Kent.

Kill Me with Cuteness

2007-01-25T06:46:00.000-05:00

My goddaughter M in an original I designed for her (and knit with some leftovers in vivid semi-solids of Mont Blanc, 100% cashmere -- yes, leftovers from another project. Nothing wrong with a little economy. Shhh! I won't tell if you don't!). The button band is simple garter stitch and I was overjoyed to find these adorable frog closures at La Droguerie - a pretty (and safe!) alternative to buttons. It's a little big now, and the nice thing about that is that it will offer her much more wear time!

Skinny Scarves!!! 'Tis the season...

2007-01-04T18:37:00.000-05:00

Voila! The variegated skinny scarf -- this one on C from Milan, Italy (knit in Mont Blanc (100% cashmere); colourway, Kate):

Well, technically 'tis the season for scarves, though it's been an unseasonably mild winter in these parts. But that hasn't kept this knitter from the needles and cashmere, no sir! I've been away for a while, as plenty of you have noticed, but there isn't much time to linger online these days between the office and the studio and lots of Axellerushingroundliketheproverbialheadlesschicken.

And still somehow I recently managed to knit something BIG - physically the largest thing I've knit to date, at least as far as I can remember. And on a deadline, too! Of course, it was completed on schedule (read: in the nick of time), with more than one all-nighter with the needles. Now, I've had my share of work/study related all-nighters, typically in front of computers, at libraries, or in conference rooms with stale coffee, biscuits, and paper-cut threatening piles of tiny print, and I can definitively say that all-nighters of knitting and DVD marathons are infinitely more amusing!

But even when you're riding the high of that FO, your fingers are still twitching. So what is there to calm those restless digits of yours?

It's the skinny scarf to the rescue!

The scarf is that ubiquitous oomph!accessory, a completely versatile, go-with-everything piece (like in Paris, for example, where you can't walk 10 paces without bumping into someone wearing one). Some are formal, some are casual, and some are a quirky in-between, like the skinny scarf in multi-coloured stripes -- stripes which, if you believe the fashion press, are very 'now'. I'll go out on a limb here and say that stripes, particularly in skinny scarves, are very 'always'. Simple, classic, sporty and fun. And a great chance to play with colour.

Here are two in Mont Blanc (100% cashmere):

Pattern? What pattern? Pick a few colourways of your liking, cast on in a simple rib and change colours as your whimsy dictates, and watch the magic unfold.

Happy New Year!

2006-12-31T17:46:00.000-05:00

Still busy out of my gourd this season, but I just wanted to say that I'm still here and...

Just in time for fall...

2006-11-01T04:47:00.000-05:00

... my friend V finished the last embellishments on her stunning Rowan Kidsilk Haze shawl!

It's light, warm, cozy, and stylish! What more can a girl ask for?

I've been so busy, can you believe it slipped my mind that yesterday was in fact Halloween?? (and only ended up carving a pumpkin at the last minute!) Hope you all had a lovely holiday!

Stained Glass Sash

2006-10-17T13:51:00.000-04:00

Here's a wee holiday gift project possibility.

Ever stare at your pile of colourful sock yarn leftovers and feel reluctant about throwing those vibrant beauties away? Here's an idea of what you might do with them: a sash belt, as wide or as narrow as you like, to spice up a jeans-and-shirt combination.

Lucie

2006-09-12T10:22:00.000-04:00

The new fall issue of Knitty is up!

So I guess it's time for me to introduce a new free pattern -- Lucie, a simple fitted pullover with long bell sleeves and crochet edging:

shown here in Ariadne (30% silk / 70% wool, in colourway: Tender is the Night)

(modeled by the dearest, loveliest, and most radiant Lucy Q)

Latest from the Daily Planet

2006-09-11T14:21:00.000-04:00

Tony Award winning actor, the incomparable John Glover in his Pippin scarf (100% aran weight cashmere; colourway: Nuits St Georges). Photo taken in Philadelphia in June, where he starred in Terence McNally's Some Men.

John Glover and friend:

Smallville fans, catch him this fall in his continuing role as the sometimes cruel, sometimes kind, but always intriguing Lionel Luthor, Tuesdays on the WB.

(Thank you, KS!)

In the age of mass-production, timeless luxuries are worth the wait

2006-09-11T12:08:00.000-04:00

Not a yarn or knitting update. I'm just taking a breather to show you all this from the New York Times.

Every wonder how Hermes' famous Kelly Bags are made?

Click here then click "next" in the upper right hand corner to continue.

How wonderful it would be to know how to create a thing of beauty like that!

Here, as ever

2006-08-06T14:55:00.000-04:00

I may be quiet, but I'm still here. Immersed in work and yarn and more work and yarn, and so the summer goes...

So here's a wee wave from me while I'm here, contributing to the GNLP (gross national luxury product), one delicious cashmere skein at a time.

It's all about the Dolce

2006-07-19T09:02:00.000-04:00

La Dolce Vita, I mean. You're absolutely right, it was Florence. I see there's no stumping the worldly knitter.

I hadn't planned on being in Italy at all until the Gods of Good Timing slotted it perfectly into my schedule, so the VP of purchasing and I took the time to investigate innovative knitwear in a city that has for centuries held a hallowed place in the history of luxury fibers. What we saw was awe-inspiring. Designers' intellectual property rights preclude us from showing you any photographs, so you'll just have to imagine fall and winter knitwear ingeniously crafted through startling combinations of knitting, crochet, and felting -- by no means limited to scarves or sweaters, but everything ranging from floor-length coats to evening gowns.

When it comes down to it, I suppose design inspiration in Italy -- Florence in particular -- is endless, given the beauty of the city itself, including 'textbook travelguide' sights like the Ponte Vecchio...

and Santo Spirito.

Our hotel, the Continentale, actually at the foot of the Ponte Vecchio, is a design marvel in itself. Everyone has different tastes in hotels; me personally, I like boutique hotels with a mix of modern and retro, and the design team behind the Continentale got it just right.

Portions of the lobby (where instead of a painting over the fireplace, a huge plasma screen plays chic fifties black-and-white films nonstop):

This is not a room. It's an elevator.

That leads to the breakfast room.

There are also, we discovered, a number of relaxation rooms for guests around the hotel, including these:

And of course, a rooftop lounge (with a panoramic view stretching from the Oltarno to Fiesole in the distance to beyond the Duomo) and bar, open from early afternoon to midnight.

Every good hotel also benefits from having a local yarn store just a stone's throw away. In this case, across the Arno.

Beatrice Galli on Borgo San Jacopo was closed at the time, but it was somehow reassuring to know it was there.

Since Florence is also known for its handmade paper, a trip to Il Papiro seemed in order. And along the way there was also plenty of time to take in the usual architectural delights, including the Duomo...

where I decided that what pleases me the most about architecture is really in the details, that craftsmen have taken the extra time and effort to make something of beauty that lasts (it's a pity that hardly anyone takes the trouble to pay this much attention to most modern structures)...

Gigantic doors on the western face of the Duomo (to give you an idea, a person of average height would barely come up to a fifth or fourth of this door's height).

Just look at the detail. This portion of the door alone is a masterpiece. Can you imagine carving it?

Caution: you may find that walking around Florence will result in the almost permanent condition of your mouth hanging open in wonder. The streets all around the Duomo can be just as stunning, artwork both above and beneath your feet.

With only a few days to spend in Florence, multitasking comes in handy. Finding the BEST GELATO in the city, for example, is always a challenge I'm willing to undertake while fighting with my sensible self about whether or not to succumb to the Shopping Bug (because the shopping along certain streets in Florence, if you're partial to clothes and accessories, is excellent).

Here is an important truism: Just like cashmere, not all gelato is created equal. The very best gelato we had was from the stand outside the Caffe Gilli on the Piazza della Repubblica -- if you have a long afternoon to while away, take a table on the terrace where the service is interminably slow, but if you're prepared to lick on the go, get your scoops at the stand by the terrace. There was another, more modest stand, with less fanfare but equally fabulous gelato at the Piazza di San Giovanni. We never knew its name, but it's on the NW corner of the piazza at the corner of via de' Cerrentani.

In the end there was actually very little time for photographs as we wandered these streets whose names I only vaguely remembered from an aria by Puccini. But I did manage to snap a couple of shots of one of my favourite places to idle away some time, which is the Mercato Nuovo, where via Porta Rossa meets via de' Calzaiuoli.

The loggia was built in the 16th century to house a market for gold and silk. Today, the gold you'll find along the Ponte Vecchio (as well as some very high end boutiques along the via de' Tornabuoni, Florence's Madison Avenue/rue du Fbg-St-Honore equivalent), but the market is filled with cashmere and silk stoles and other woven goods, as well as leather and other items all made by local artisans. A vibrant visual feast that's also perfect for filling your Christmas coffers any time of the year.

All these distractions require energy, of course, so we were pretty much obligated to treat ourselves to the local cuisine. Florence is filled with "best restaurants", but the best dining experiences we had were at two completely different places: The first is Borgo San Jacopo, which I highly highly recommend for exquisite food and cosmopolitan chic (and an unbeatable wine list, thanks to an incredibly knowledgeable sommelier). The second, a cozy, off the beaten path place, Club Culinario Toscano da Osvaldo, would not have been my instinctive choice, but, as it turns out, there you will get typical home-cooked meals that your Florentine fairy grandmother might have made you. We were at Osvaldo on the eve of the World Cup Final between France and Italy and ended up being the very very last customers, with our waiter/chef/maitre d' pulling up a chair to talk football and offering us an extra few courses of dessert, dessert wine, coffee, grappa, and drinks at a wine bar on the other side of the city. I can tell you that the food was as delicious as the service was charming, and the wine selection, again, was spot on. If you'd like to go, you'll need at the very least the address -- and even with this it'll be hard to find, but it'll be worth it.
Osvaldo is at Piazza dei Peruzzi, 3r (at the corner of via dei Benci) Telephone: +39 055 217919.

And speaking of good wine, we learned a little sommelier's secret: the wine shop they use is the Millesimi Enoteca, a hidden gem tucked away along the Borgo Tegolaio. I immediately checked my favourite wines and vintages and was astounded at how affordable they were (shipping, however, is costly. Aye, there's the rub!). The owner, a cheerful French woman, even locked up for a moment to give us a tour of the impressive cellar where she hosts private wine tastings.

The selection there alone, accumulated lovingly over years and years, is enough to make the mouth water.

Ahhhh... Florence.

There can never be enough time to take it all in. And too too soon for us, it was time to say arrivederci to the city, glorious in the morning...

...in the evening...

and at all the moments in between.

Almost as a perfect end to the fairy tale, I caught this view of the Italian Alps at sunset as the plane sped us home.

A quick breath of air

2006-07-17T10:28:00.000-04:00

You know, there is a type of whale -- don't ask me which because I can never remember -- that forages for food at the very bottom of the ocean where the pressure in the water is 40 times greater than on the surface. It will duck out of the water for a fraction of a second and take in only as much air as a human takes in for a single breath, then it dives back down to hunt at mind-boggling depths. That breath of air is all its lungs (once compressed) will allow for the next 1-2 hours.

Right now, I feel like that whale. I'm back and just ducking out from under an enormous pile of papers for a cheerful, weary wave.

Normally work will take me to uninteresting, bland conference rooms with stale coffee and no windows. But last week, happily, work led me to a succession of days that began with this view:

Can you guess where?

More on that and knitting/fiber updates when I next surface -- although judging from the weight of these piles of small print here, that may be some time. :/

Happy Fourth!

2006-06-30T22:29:00.000-04:00

... a bit early, but I'll be away from the studio for the next fortnight so this is me wishing everyone to whom it applies a Happy Independence Day, and to everyone a terrific weekend.

Things to look forward to:

If you're in the City of Brotherly Love, there is a LOT of cashmere on its way to a store near you:

The delightfully chic Loop, to be exact. So, if you're feeling the need for a little pick-me up, just cool your pavement-burnt heels and treat yourself to four walls of fiber ecstasy!

And for me personally, once I get my head above water at the office (if that ever happens), I'm looking forward to going to places where there is nothing between me and the sea but a few feet of wet sand...

... and an escape from the concrete jungle to as pretty a slice of Americana as in Cape May:

... some place where days begin like this:

... and end like this:

Field Trip! or Dora and the Drop Spindle

2006-06-27T23:33:00.000-04:00

Well, all right, the title is a tad misleading, since there was no actual field trip. When I hear the words "field trip" my mind immediately harkens back to a time in my life when that meant getting to school especially early and my entire class kitted out in casual clothes (instead of uniform tartans), brown-bagged lunches in hand, and filing into a school bus with the windows open to let in the first of the summer's humid air and smog, and trying to grab a seat at the back before all the kids who thought they were cool got there first. But I digress...

I hadn't planned on posting again quite so soon, but I just know there are some of you who may be able to identify with how I felt during my little unplanned excursion. This morning I dreaded having to get up because it meant spending the better part of the day (away from the work I should have been doing and) schlepping out to take care of time-consuming admin -- the kind that requires you to make an appointment to make another appointment and then a long, long wait until [insert dull administrative task] is done.

Well, the schlepping took me to Philadelphia where I found myself having to wait over three hours in between meetings with NOTHING TO DO. But when you're a child at heart (or an embarrassingly old Dora the Explorer), dead time and nothing to be done = FIELD TRIP!!

Lucky for me, I was forced to loiter and idle away the hours in one of my favourite parts of the city: that lovely green historic district around Independence Mall where I haven't been since I was about 5 inches shorter than I am now and Joe Bloggs [name changed to protect the not so innocent] caused such a commotion inside the hallowed halls of Independence Hall (below) that our school was forbidden ever to return.

By the way, please forgive the phone pics. If I'd known I was going to have so much time to kill, I'd have brought a proper camera -- particularly because I adore these beautiful, lush Georgian neighbourhoods with their cobbled streets and impeccably kept red-brick buildings.

Have any of you seen National Treasure? Most of the Philadelphia scenes were shot in this area, around Chestnut and Market Sts. Okay, in the film there was a lot of running and shooting, but all of it along pleasant colonial alleys and well-manicured gardens. Like this secluded little gem, which is typical of the eighteenth century:

But the highlight of the day -- and this is why I'm talking about it on this knitblog -- was wandering through the gardens and finding three women in period attire, each busy at their own period craft: one embroidering handkerchiefs, another making a stunning wig with hair, and the other -- spinning with a drop spindle. And here she is (the wonderfully cheerful and patient Nora):

So many of you I know have been spinning for ages or have recently discovered its joys. I've been really late to hop on the bandwagon, but I hope there's room because as of 1:30 this afternoon I was officially seduced by the concept. After excitedly talking shop with Nora for about 20 minutes, I put down my briefcase and handbag and talked some more shop, while Nora demonstrated basic spinning techniques. The moment I held that roving and spun that hook (it was a hook I twisted with first, rather than one of the spindles) -- DESTINY was a-tuggin'. So, after ducking into the new Independence Living History Center for a beginner's spinning kit, the rest of my "dead time" flew by as we sat and Nora taught me how to spin. There is no more satisfying way of killing time than by learning a fun new skill -- particularly this one!

This is so addictive, and... soothing. Oh dear. As if I needed another fiber-related obsession. But I love it.

I've been spinning all evening now that I'm home, so it's nearly second nature to pick up the spindle and the roving.

Trouble is, it's so addictive, how on earth do you stop and make dinner/answer phone calls/go to bed??

(PS. HI, REGINA!! :) )

Ariadne

2006-06-26T13:04:00.000-04:00

Who doesn't love a good yarn?

I know I do. And I've fallen in love with this:

Introducing Ariadne (shown here in a new colourway, Martha K**):

The List of Colourways has been updated to include these new additions, but here's a little fiber wrap-up:

Ariadne (pronounced ar-ee-AD'-nee; in Greek mythology, Ariadne, in love with Theseus, supplied him with the thread that led him out of the labyrinth of the Minotaur)

30% silk / 70% wool (available in all colourways, except as indicated)

-- 510 yds/skein; approx. 2300 yds per pound
-- Weight & Gauge: 3-ply fingering; 7 sts/in. on US 3-6 needles

Just because I adore Ariadne so much, here's a shot including two more colourways, Tender is the Night and Sawyer:

With over 500 yards in a single skein, one is enough for a large shawl and two can be enough for a woman's sweater. The feel of the fabric is light and cool, breathes particularly well in warm weather, but is substantial enough to wear through fall and spring. And the sheen is divine.

It's such a delight to work with that the skeins made up in the Sawyer colourway are growing swiftly into a sweater:

___________________________

** Martha K was inspired by the fabulous Annette O'Toole, whose performance on Smallville is, to my mind, the definitive Martha Kent. There is simply no other.

Dregs from my memory (card)

2006-06-15T18:13:00.000-04:00

I wasn't kidding about the busy-ness. I could show you piles of blindingly minute print and pencils that have been duly pushed, but instead I thought I'd simply treat you to a peek at a fraction of the cashmere that has been shipped today
(in the case of this photo, the lovely folks at Yarnzilla).

And there's plenty, plenty more where that came from!

~*~

This spring I've been here there and everywhere, it seems, and there's never enough time to sit back and reflect on it all. Not even now! But I can leave you with a little picspam courtesy of my memory card...

Barkway Street Market (in Hertfordshire last month):

...which was a treasure trove of goodies including homemade soaps and salt scrubs, organic produce, preserves and honey, and just about every herb in Culpepper's Complete Herbal:

... oh yes, and artefacts salvaged from people's personal histories. If it wasn't for the weight, I could have made off with a late 17th century iron. A snip at 30 quid! (although, really impractical, especially when I've got my beloved Eurosteam) You know what they say: one man's junk is another man's...

... antique firearm (yes, that's a firearm (hunting rifle?) for sale right there; great for dinner party small talk, I suppose, until the host loses her eye shooting it):

And of course, there were the pretty gardens...

... fenced in and surrounded by fields and fields of bright yellow rape flowers** and emerald green pastures.

Also:

And finally, the one that makes me smile the most -- my adorable goddaughter (one of them):

________________________________
** from Dictionary.com: "A European plant (Brassica napus) of the mustard family, cultivated as fodder and for its seed that yields a valuable oil."

Still here, I swear!

2006-06-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

I really am still here, I promise you. When I don't post, you know it's because I'm busybusybusy: painting, working, working, painting -- and, of course, still knitting. Here's a little peek at an ongoing project:

More on... well, everything, later.

Soon.

Hopefully sooner than later.

In the meantime, hope you're all enjoying the weekend and a glorious summer! (where applicable, that is)

Lucky Number 14

2006-05-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day!

Thank you, everyone, for all your kind words about the Provence pics. I love looking at them, too. And yes, Kristen, it's probably just as beautiful as you imagine it -- I can tell you it always exceeds my expectations. Those of you who have been lucky enough to spend more than a week there, how I envy you!

The only thing keeping me from being too nostalgic has been to finish the #14 lace v-neck pullover from VK by Kim Kotary.

For this size large, I didn't use the recommended yarn, but instead substituted with 6 skeins of Mont Blanc (100% cashmere) in Young Fawn, US 6 / 4mm needles, and a size E crochet hook. The Mont Blanc was right on gauge and there was no need to double up the yarn. Thanks to my friend V and the gals at Woolplay, I learned how to crochet properly specifically for this project -- and it is so worth the effort. And best of all, in cashmere it is fabulously soft and warm, like a hug that stays with you all day!

With 5 skeins, I got this far...

... and was tempted to stop there because it looked lovely as it was. But I decided to press on with an extra skein and I'm glad I did. The result is even better than I had imagined!

And just because I can, here are a few extra detail shots.

A Week in Provence

2006-05-04T12:14:00.000-04:00

... is never nearly enough, trust me. But fabulous therapy for the work-weary. Highly recommended. Though the best part, I must admit, was re-connecting with friends. Not acquaintances with whom you might simply spend lots of time, but real (Anne Shirley might say, 'bosom') friends. That sort of experience defies description; it is only felt. But the environment, at least, I can try to show you.

You know how some holidays are too beautiful to render in film or in words? This week in the south of France was like that. But for what it's worth, for you, here's a little glimpse. Come join me for a virtual walk...

I visited two of my dearest friends and their children in a thousand-year-old house, nestled in the hills overlooking the picturesque countryside of the Rhône Valley.

There is no way to summarize adequately centuries of history, so instead, here are a couple of random facts (and photos) for a bit of flavour. The trompe l'oeil windows were fashioned hundreds of years ago to get around an old 'window tax'.

The 'rationale' behind the tax was that since working folk spent daytime in the fields, they had no use for windows at home. The wealthy, on the other hand, who spent much of their time indoors, were the ones who stood to benefit most from having windows, and they had money to spare. Hence the tax. If you're a graduate of the Robin Hood School of Political Science, this would, of course, seem perfectly reasonable.

In the sixteenth century, a large wing of the house was once used in silk worm and silk production. A third of what remains of this area can be seen here. Just visible at the far corner is just one of the fireplaces used to keep the temperature optimal for the silk worms to do their thing.

The entire countryside is carved into vineyards, all of which produce Côtes du Rhône.

In these bucolic surroundings, who could possibly feel stressed?

On the grounds there was an old Victorian swimming hole...

... littered with lilypads

... and home to about 25 large and very loquacious frogs.

Having overdosed for months on paperwork and teleconferences, I could have sat under the trees and listened to the the breeze all afternoon. But lazy as you are, you're never sorry to take day trips anywhere in Provence, because everywhere is charming. Everywhere.

I won't bore you with the details. Instead, here are some assorted photos to impart a bit of ambience... Enjoy!

In Uzès:

The river Ardeche:

...where we sunbathed, picnicked, dangled our feet in the water (brrr!), startled some topless German sunbathers, and watched kayakers and canoeists row by.

Some stolen moments in the quiet medieval town of Aigues and elsewhere:

So much to see! (And the FOOD! Of course, this is France. *sigh* Don't even get me started. I will, however, say this: YUM.) In the midst of all this, there is still, of course, time for knitting (here's just a bit more of the lace v-neck pullover, #14 from the current issue of Vogue Knitting):

*sigh* So peaceful.

Jackie's Clapotis and Di's Baby Blocks Rock!

2006-05-02T20:57:00.000-04:00

I'm back! And gradually catching my breath (pics to follow, probably in the next couple of posts).

You know, I used to live for travel. I loved packing and taking that plane/train/automobile and disembarking someplace completely different. The intriguing world of travellers is a blur of bodies at rest and in motion. Except that my body is now more inclined to prefer rest than motion. At home, the closer the departure date gets, the less I feel like going. And once there, wherever it is that I've gone, the closer the return trip gets, the less I want to go home. And the inertia is more acute for the return trip.

The only explanation I have is that I always secretly dread the HUGE pile of paperwork that I know has been growing -- like bacteria in a petri dish -- on my desk at work. That's precisely what I'm wading through right now.

But for my own sanity I'm coming up for air for just a moment to show you these:

Jackie from North Carolina sent some terrific photos of her Clapotis for which she used 3 skeins of Estelle (100% cashmere) in Orion.

Read her entertaining play-by-play Clapotis adventure during the Knitting Olympics here and the Flickr photoset from start to finish.

She writes:

This yarn was an absolute dream to knit with--I love love love how patternless it was and the consistency of the color. Not to mention the softness!!! I followed your suggestion and threw the finished product into the dryer for a few minutes after I ironed it (no blocking needed!)--the fluffing made all the difference, too.

Jackie, thank you! And thanks for sharing your photos!

And a couple of posts ago I mentioned a mystery package I received from Di of Clementine's Shoes. Wanna see what was in it?

Some deliciously aromatic tea from Husk, yummmmmmy Green & Black's chocolate (there was more than these two bars, but I couldn't resist and ate it before I unearthed my camera) ... and... my new Favourite Things, Di's handknit and felted baby blocks:

They are so so soft and delightfully squishy, and her colour choices are simply spot on! Simple and sweet, but with a twist. I LOVE THEM. Who needs stress balls at work when you can have these?

Di, if you should ever decide to make more sets of these for babies, I am definitely buying some. For babies... or for my colleagues, who I'm sure will appreciate them just as much, if not more!

Thank you for such a terrific pick-me-up!

New Stockist: Yarnzilla

2006-04-25T23:19:00.000-04:00

I am proud to announce that the List of Stockists has been updated to include a wonderful new store in Minnesota. If you're in Minnetonka or just passing through, you can see some of the cashmere colourways "in the flesh", so pop in and say hello to the friendly folks at Yarnzilla:

Yarnzilla
6020 Blue Circle Dr.
Minnetonka, MN 55343
tel: (952) 936-0030
www.yarnzilla.com

Have a shufti at their selection of cashmere right here.

It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood...

2006-04-17T17:07:00.000-04:00

and I've got woefully little time to share all the loveliness with you. But here are a few teaser pics:

A view from along one of my favourite bicycle routes:

The beginnings of a sweater from this spring's knockout issue of Vogue:

And a glorious package I received earlier this week from the amazing Di of clementine's shoes:

(to find out what those goodies were... stay tuned!)

See you all in a few days!

Happy Knitting!

Axelle

Back soon (again)!

2006-04-17T01:06:00.000-04:00

A belated happy holiday weekend for everyone for whom that applies!

Just a quick note before I forget to let you know that the colourworks studio will be closed from Monday until around April 28. I'll probably have intermittent internet access, but not to worry: feel free to send emails / orders and I'll reply as soon as I return.

In the meantime, happy knitting!

Axelle

the week in pictures...

2006-04-01T15:59:00.000-05:00

I'm back! Still recovering from a busy week away, but I've also got a list of crossed-off tasks to show for it. Since I'm feeling pretty inarticulate -- more so than usual, that is -- here are some pics for a bit of flavour.

This is my friend V and her absolutely stunning patchwork shawl in Kidsilk Haze.

Some of you may recognize this Rowan pattern or have done it yourself. If so, my hat's off to you because the result is a true work of art. The camera simply does not do this beauty justice.

In between planes, trains and automobiles, there was time to squeeze in a leisurely coffee and some casual photography.

This image makes me think of The Da Vinci Code.

Cushions I simply couldn't resist (Le Bon Marche during a sale is treacherous territory, I tell you -- treacherous!):

There was also a stop at La Droguerie, which at the time was wall-to-wall people. After a modest wait, we picked up a king's ransom in craft materials, including these ribbons:

And lastly, there was more than one FO completed. Can't show them to you now, though, but you're quite welcome to inspect what the needles left in their wake.

Hope you're all well!

Auf wiedersehen...

2006-03-21T23:23:00.000-05:00

See you in a few days. As of today I'll be away from the keyboard and the studio until the end of next week, so please don't be concerned if you don't receive an immediate reply to your emails and orders. I'll get back to your messages as soon as I return!

In the meantime, have a lovely week, everyone!

O'Keefe-ian inspiration

2006-03-14T11:45:00.000-05:00

We've been treated to a rollercoaster of seasons this spring: one minute dull and gloomy, and the next, scintillatingly sunny. And it never ceases to amaze me how that contrast can heighten the beauty of spring as it unfolds. Outside, the daffodils are peeking tentatively out from the ground for the seventeenth time in the past few weeks to catch up with the hothouse flowers which are already in full bloom, like this lily here.

Peering into one of these instantly reminds me of all the Georgia O'Keefe paintings I'd ever seen (most on posters hung in our university dorms, come to think of it). O'Keefe! Now, there's a woman with a keen sense of colourplay.

Much like Adrienne from California, who sent me some beautiful photos of a Clapotis scarf that she recently finished as a gift. (Perfect, as it happens, for Project Spectrum.) She used Whisper (100% Peruvian alpaca) in Cranberries and US 7 needles.

I just love how it turned out!

~*~

Okay... now to stop smelling the flowers. It's back to the grind for me. Wishing you all a wonderful start-of-spring! And happy knitting, of course.

Semi-Solids II

2006-02-26T18:29:00.000-05:00

Nothing like a little colour to brighten your day, eh?

The List of Colourways has been updated to include the new semi-solids:

Semi-solid Smorgasbord, and new colourway: Tortuga

2006-02-20T12:03:00.000-05:00

Just what the title says. One new cashmere colourway:

Tortuga:

... and a palette of rich new semi-solids in cashmere to use alone or coordinate with everything!

The List of Colourways will be updated with these in the next couple of days, so keep an eye out!

Saturday was blustery cold in Manhattan as Broadway turned into a veritable wind tunnel. Without Veronika and the matching scarf, I'd have frozen completely on the way to Cafe Luxembourg where I met with my oldest and dearest friend Violet. From there it was a quick jaunt to join another friend Anne to see the final performance of Aida, which is possibly one of my top three favourite productions ever. Who can possibly shake a stick at the amazing orchestra, elegantly decadent stage design, and live horses (elephants, too, which there were the last time I saw it) traipsing casually by the edge of the stage? Marvelous. *sigh* Well, now back to reality.

It's a manic Monday here, but I'll leave you with one of my favourite things about the Met: the retractable chandeliers. They look like shimmery mini-models of The Big Bang.

"Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder"

2006-02-12T12:52:00.000-05:00

That's Swedish for "there is no bad weather, only bad clothes".**

Not a bad aphorism for today's forecast. And after weeks and weeks of 60 degree weather we're finally having a proper winter. From every window here, the world looks like this:

New Sweater: VERONIKA

If I wasn't in such a lazy-Sunday mood, I'd be outside wearing this recently-finished fitted cashmere deep V-neck pullover. It insists on being called Veronika.

I know. A clothes horse with no shoulders doesn't carry it off quite as well as a real person, but that's the best I can do for now.

Veronika was knit in a size 38, using 8 skeins of Mont Blanc in six colourways: Grape, Tender is the Night, Etro Shirt, Hill of Tara, Paddock Brown and Perry Winkel. There was even enough left over for a matching ribbed long (over 6') skinny scarf. Here are a couple of close-ups:

Sleeve detail:

Companion scarf detail:

Break-Up SOX II

Thanks to all of you who left compliments on the Break-Up Sox! I'm wearing them now, in fact, and it's amazing how much cozier they feel while lounging here at the window where we can see the neighbourhood kids, hooting and hollering, as they slide down the snow-covered street on sleds.

Some of you expressed an interest in the deviation from Cat Bordhi's Simple Sock pattern. The modification is really simple. I substituted the 2x2 rib for the following stitch pattern:

Round 1: [K2, sl1, k1, yo, psso (by this I mean: pass slipped st over both the knitted st and the yo)] to end.
Round 2: Knit
Repeat these two rounds.

And to begin the heel flap, I worked the stitches on the first needle and worked the heel flap using the stitches on the second needle. Whether you start the heel flap on the first or second set of needles doesn't really matter; all I wanted was to resume knitting the front of the leg with a "K2..." rather than the "sl1, k1, yo" portion of the rib. But it's up to you to do what you prefer. I also made the leg 7" (as opposed to 6"), so it sits better on and hugs a wee bit more between ankle and calf -- believe me when I say that that one inch can make a huge difference under jeans on blustery days.

Now, my dears, off screen, there is an entire colourworks studio filled with fiber processing, and beside me there is some piping hot cocoa, knitting, and a shiny new novel to sink into.

Speaking of which: Veronika knit up in just a little over a week while I was reading Isabel Allende's Zorro. If you can manage to knit without looking, in a position where it's easy for you to page-turn without much trouble, I recommend Zorro as excellent, highly entertaining white noise for your knitting. Somewhere amid all the banditos, pirates, and swashbuckling adventure and romance, you'll find that your garment has pretty much knit itself!

Do any of you read while you knit? And if so, can you recommend any well-written page-turners? (So far I have lined up: Brokeback Mountain, which shouldn't last longer than even half a skein as it's 64 pages, Donna Tartt's The Little Friend and The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova.)

____________________________
** This, according to this web page, where, incidentally, there are also listed a few phrases you might not find in the run-of-the-mill Swedish phrase book, such as...

-- morgonpigg - (expression used to describe early-morning-shiny-happy-people)
-- ...och det spelar ingen roll ändå om hon ser ganska tjock ut, eller hur? - and it doesn't matter anyway if she looks fat, does it?
-- och vilket språk använder ni i sängkammaren? - and what language do you use in bed?

(Honestly, it never ceases to amaze me what sorts of information one can find on the internet.)

Break-up SOX

2006-01-24T19:58:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who emailed asking to find out what happened in the new year's quest for Tori. Last weekend we had a long transatlantic catch-up session by phone that left me grinning for hours! With any luck, we'll be able to pull off a proper meet-up in the next few months... and squeeze in a bit of knitting, too, of course.

On an unrelated note, I have another friend who also knits. We'll call her Ginny. Like me, Ginny knits for pleasure... and distraction... and stress-relief therapy. I've noticed though that, unlike me, Ginny becomes even more prolific in times of emotional upheaval. She says the best thing about a break-up is... well, the SOX, of course. Break-up SOX.

If she breaks up with her beau-du-jour/semaine/mois (it's never the other way around), or if some former friend slides right off the sliding friendship scale... suddenly, the needles are out and clicking. Before you know it, there are SOX.

Warm toes, cold heart, I guess. And why not? Who isn't cheered up by a good pair of simple socks. And in cashmere? So. Much. The. Better.

I am not a sock-knitter by nature, but I like socks, and have been known to tuck them gleefully into my mukluks in the winter. Knitting them makes for good, fast therapy, too -- think of the huge boost in serotonin that comes with every completed pair! On a whim I started knitting a pair last week, and now I may have to do this every year, emotional upheaval or no emotional upheaval.

Behold! Cashmere Break-Up SOX (without the break-up):

These were knit with 2 skeins of Estelle in Fiery Sunset (there may even be enough left over from each skein to do something else. Matching wristwarmers? Hmmm...). I made slight modifications to the Simple Sock Pattern from Cat Bordhi's Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles to incorporate a tiny chevron-like rib (ETA: Pattern modifications are in the next post).

Toes this toasty probably don't much care how broken the heart might be.

Close-up of the second Break-up Sock in Estelle, colourway Atropos.

Everyone's got an opinion on how many chaps a girl can date at once, but one thing we can all agree on is that there's no such thing as having too much SOX.

SAFE SOX (of course).

Tori

2006-01-08T16:50:00.000-05:00

How many of you have ever sat in quiet contemplation (or rush hour traffic, or in the queue for groceries, or smack in the middle of any busy-but-not-mentally-taxing activity) and suddenly remembered a friend from long ago and wondered, what on earth ever happened to So-and-So? How many of you have raised a glass this holiday season to Auld Lang Syne and thought of someone you'd lost touch with over the years? Did you feel the impulse to find them, or did you silently decide to resign them to the Land of Lost Anecdotes? ("Alas, poor [Name Here], I knew him well," etc etc)

How many of you then seized the moment and sought that person out? In this day and age, finding that old pal can be just as easy as a quick Google and a phone call or email. Plenty of us let that moment pass. I know I have. Many, many times over, blaming work, household chores, a tight schedule -- all those clichéd excuses.

Did you ever wonder what would happen if you seized the moment, that impulse to reconnect, and just did it?

I did. Right in the middle of seaming up a sweater, Chibi needle poised in mid-air, I had a flash of Tori, a friend from university who had always been bright and full of laughter -- and who knit like a fiend while she studied, finishing almost a sweater a week during finals in our senior year. I was the maid of honor at her wedding, which was the last time I saw her. That was 14 years ago, before travel, time, and career paths came between us.

By the time I had finished seaming up, I was online to begin my search and after a good half hour, I'd found her! In the Netherlands, with her husband and two beautiful boys. Work had brought me briefly to their town just a few years ago when they had first moved. I remember standing at the train station on the platform one cold evening thinking how nice it would have been to have friends in such a lovely little town. We must have been only a few minutes walk apart then. And to think neither of us ever knew!

Life is too short to let valued friendships slip away from us. In this day and age technology makes the world small enough (and the task easy enough) to keep in touch with the people we care about. It only takes a phone call, or an email, or a text message every now and then. If there's one resolution I hope to maintain this year, it's to strengthen these ties to family and friends. Because without them, what sort of life can this possibly be?

So with that said, I give you... Tori, named after, obviously, Tori, who wore a lot of this colour in our four years at dear old uni:

(Tori was knit up as a variation on Lois, using Pippin in a modified Hill of Tara (#59) with splashes of leprechaunic green for interest, and Louisa Harding's Sari Ribbon in colourway #2 for embellishment with a bit of 'Renaissance' glam.)

So you tell me, "should auld acquaintance be forgot"?

(I hope not!)

Cuteness!

2006-01-04T22:01:00.000-05:00

[x-posted at the Cashmere Gallery]

A sorrow shared is but half the trouble, but a joy that is shared is a joy made double. -- old Swedish proverb

And since you all know how I like to share...

Here is two-and-almost-a-half month old Hana in Toronto, looking sporty in a cashmere raglan baby boatneck in Highland Heather. (Many thanks to Hana's mum and dad for sending on these adorable pics!)

Each sweater is made with 2 skeins of Pippin (100% aran weight cashmere). (Colourways above: [left to right] Fiery Sunset, Highland Heather, Water Lilies)

ETA: For those who asked: the pattern is a super easy (and super fast) knit from Woolplay.

Happy 2006!

2006-01-01T10:08:00.000-05:00

To old friends and new beginnings.

Happy New Year, everyone! Thank you for making writing this blog a joy.

While there are still a few hours left...

2005-12-25T21:36:00.000-05:00

Happy Christmas!

Season's Greetings...

2005-12-23T23:57:00.000-05:00

from the Land of Unfinished Holiday Gifts!

Santa's elves are (well, actually, one very tired, rather overworked, and enervated elf in particular is) a wee bit behind on the knitted gift front, but there is a chance that these might yet make it to a spot under the tree:

a simple scarf that has grown on the sly on trains, in doctors' lounges, and at the cinema

and a simple cardi that might not be done on time, but nevertheless comes with a lot of heart

The only émigré from the Land of Unfinished Holiday Gifts this week has been Fergus (from Rowan's The Bigger Picture), a thankfully quick knit in Rowan Big Wool (in black). I think my hands prefer needles US 10 or smaller, but on US 17s, this guy knit up in a flash -- perfect for Crunch Time Gifts, and well-toned forearms.

That said, we're still hours away from wrapping -- let alone opening -- presents in this house, so in lieu of a proper photo, here's a snap of it on an obliging Jedi Knitwear Model (courtesy of the little boy next door):

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Holiday Red

2005-12-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

[x-posted at the Cashmere Gallery]

Vicki at Stanford has just sent these lovely shots of her Clapotis in Estelle, colourway Cranberries. Cozy cheer in any light.

She writes:

I just wanted to give you an update on what's happened since you sent the yarn! First of all, you were right, it arrived in fine time for my trip to Australia - and was shockingly soft and beautiful, everything I had hoped it would be in terms of color and texture...

Your yarn was wonderful to knit with - not only did the varigation help me discern what was going on in stitches (new stitch red, old stitch purple - very useful for a beginner!) but it was smooth, soft, and even, and very easy to handle. I felt like it almost *wanted* to be knitted. :) I looked forward to picking it up again!

Thank you so much for sharing these, Vicki! The scarf came out absolutely beautifully!!

Stockists

2005-12-15T01:07:00.000-05:00

Until the official website is up and running, the growing List of Stockists will continue to be updated right here in this post. If you thought the only place to see the yarns was on your computer screen, think again! See them up close and personal (and meet some warm and friendly folks while you're at it):

In the U.S. --

California

Compatto Yarn Salon
2112 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90034
tel: (310) 453-2130
fax: (310) 453-2134

Maryland

Woolworks
6117 Falls Road
Baltimore, MD 21209
tel: (410) 377-2060

Minnesota

Yarnzilla
6020 Blue Circle Dr.
Minnetonka, MN 55343
tel: (952) 936-0030
www.yarnzilla.com

New Jersey

Knit1purl2
133 Route 9 South
Englishtown, NJ 07726
tel: (732) 536-6050

Knitknack
1914 Springfield Avenue
Maplewood NJ 07040
tel: (973) 763-6066

New York

The Point Knitting Cafe
37a Bedford Street
New York, NY 10014
tel: (212) 929-0800 or (877) 60-POINT
www.thepointnyc.com

Oregon

Woolgirl (online shop)
www.woolgirl.com

Pennsylvania

Loop
1914 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146
tel: (877) 893-9939 or (215) 893-9939
www.loopyarn.com

Knit One
2721 Murray Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
tel: (412) 421-6666
www.knitone.biz

Washington

Yarn Country (online shop)
www.yarncountry.com

Vintage Knits Wool Shoppe
6212 34th Street NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
(253) 265-1235
www.vintageknits.net

In Canada --

The Naked Sheep
2144A Queen St E
Toronto, Ontario
tel: (416) 691-6320
www.nakedsheep.ca

Introducing... Zhivago

2005-12-12T00:42:00.000-05:00

Another day, another... original cashmere sweater kit. Introducing Zhivago: a sweater inspired in part by the glorious costumes in the film Dr Zhivago (the Omar Sharif/Julie Christie version of Pasternak's epic, rather than the Keira Knightley/Hans Matheson version).

In daydreams of skiing this winter, an elegantly insouciant, fashionably-off-piste sweater design haunted me until I finally committed it to paper and knit it up -- not once, but twice. Zhivago turned out to be a very quick knit, about 5-6 days for a completed garment, including steaming (in lieu of spaceboard blocking) and seaming. Knit in Pippin (100% aran weight cashmere), the pullover is fitted and sports both cabled cuffs and a collar, the simple cable pattern adding a twist (no pun intended) to the high, scrunched funnel neck. Since cashmere is eight times warmer than wool, and many times lighter, Zhivago will often eliminate the need for a coat. And again, the feeling against your skin? Divine.

Here you have Zhivago, wonderfully modeled by Marine and Nathalie. Both samples are in bust size 38, worn slightly oversized (in colourway: Bruise) and in true fit (colourway: Rum Point):

Zhivago is available as a kit.

Fits bust sizes: 36 [ 38; 40; 42; 44; 46; 48]
Materials:
-- 12 [ 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 16] skeins of Pippin (100% aran weight cashmere)
-- size US 10 needles
-- cable needle
-- tapestry needle
-- waste yarn for seaming up (preferably in a finer gauge)

Have a lovely week, everyone! And happy knitting!

Snow White!

2005-12-04T23:40:00.000-05:00

Despite fighting off a terrible bug (complete with chills, sneezing and hacking coughs) this weekend, I have had an absolutely blissful weekend as a bridesmaid at my very very best friend's wedding in Manhattan to a truly terrific man. (I find myself grinning now as I write because their happiness is really that infectious.) :D And, speaking purely as an objective fashionista, she was THE Most Elegant Bride I have ever seen, and that's saying a lot considering how many brides I've had the occasion to inspect. I'd show you photos, but being in the wedding party and gripping a bouquet with both hands makes it awkward, if not nearly impossible, to take good wedding shots.

I can show you what it looked like out the window this morning from the hotel in Soho:

I love these buildings. And their charm only increases with every inch of snow.

(The first real snow of the season... well, that I've noticed, anyway.)

And the wedding weekend brought more pleasant surprises, including bumping into Lynne from Toronto at the wedding! It's such a wonderful high to meet lovely people you've interacted with only in cyberspace and then meet unexpectedly in real life, particularly when they're even lovelier in person! Lynne, I missed you at the end of the evening (when we were all eventually kicked out of the venue so the caterers could all go home and sleep), but I wanted to tell you how happy I was to finally meet you and your husband!

One tip for the travelling knitter: if you're looking for a friendly yarn shop and great food, look no further than Bedford Street. Before a morning meeting, early Friday morning I wandered groggily around Soho searching for coffee and a quiet corner (to work on a project I'll get to in a moment). I went to The Point, which is by far the friendliest knitcafe I've ever self-caffeinated in. From the moment you walk in and park yourself at a table, you know you're in a creativity comfort zone. A huge thank you to Helane and Rebecca for such a warm welcome -- and congratulations to Helane who's getting married in the next few days! :) (BTW, Regina J, I thought of you, wishing I'd known in advance that I'd be at The Point; we might otherwise have arranged to bump into each other!)

And now, without further ado (and because it's past my bedtime and my eyes are now closing involuntarily), here's a glimpse of the "project" I was tweaking at The Point: a new pattern, now up in the new Knitty Winter 2005 issue. (ETA: The knitted gifts are adorable! Go have a look if you haven't already!)

Anyway, here she is. Introducing... Blanche-Neige.

Happy Knitting to all, and to all a Good Night!

:)

(Some of) the week in pictures

2005-11-23T20:20:00.001-05:00

The itinerant fashionista is back and jetlagged but joyful for having managed successfully to squeeze both business and pleasure into the last 144 hours. There was some travel knitting, but, alas, there are no pictures. I can show you snippets of what I did see on the way from meeting to meeting, though:

Flowers bought from the Chelsea Flower Stand in London:

Various Parisian views from along the quais and the Pont des Arts:

By the way, Jane, I picked up some lovely mini macarons at Paul in London and thought to take a picture for you -- but they had been gobbled up before I could fish my camera out of its case!

Essential Chic

2005-11-16T10:20:00.000-05:00

[x-posted at The Cashmere Gallery]

In stolen moments between WorkWork and the colourworks studio, I'm having a fabulous time drinking in a fantastic book: Genevieve Antoine Dariaux's Guide to Elegance: For Every Woman Who Wants to Be Well and Properly Dressed on All Occasions. So few are the opportunities when we can get a kick out of reading a how-to manual. Written originally in 1962, the book still contains a lot of practical advice. One or two things may be slightly outdated, but some things do not erode with time, including this nutshell definition of...

CHIC

The essence of casual refinement, chic is a little less studied than elegance and a little more intellectual. It is an inborn quality of certain individuals, who are sometimes unaware that they possess it. Chic is only perceptible to those who have already acquired a certain degree of civilization and culture and who have in addition both the leisure time to devote to improving their appearance and the desire to be part of a particular kind of elite, which might be called the 'aristocracy of external appearance'. It is a gift of the gods and has no relationship to beauty nor to wealth. One baby in its crib may have chic, while another doesn't.

Dariaux goes on to say that elegance is achieved in part by having the right accessories, which may be simple but of impeccable quality.

And nothing says that like a cozy cashmere scarf around your neck in winter, like this 1x1 ribbed scarf by Helen from Yorkshire, England.

She used 2 skeins of Pippin (100% aran weight cashmere) in colourway Bumblebee to create a simple accessory that is ALL casual luxe.

Thanks for sharing such a lovely photo, Helen!

~*~

In other news, I'll be traveling from today until next Wednesday, again with little or intermittent internet access, so please be patient. I will reply to your emails and orders when I return. Orders: if I have received your payment by Paypal or check, your orders have already begun processing (there is plenty of cashmere drying at the moment) and they should be ready to ship shortly after I get back! Have a lovely week, everyone!

In celebration of the ephemeral...

2005-11-09T12:11:00.000-05:00

Although this is a knitting blog, the following image has nothing to do with knitting. But think of it as an acknowledgement of wonderful visual talent. It's a photograph by Benoit Peverelli that was part of a spread in, of all places, the Enfants supplement to French Vogue's September 2005 issue.

It's less about the Eric Bompard cashmere sweater and Bill Tornade trousers than it is an homage to the power of imagination and innocence, this little boy against the horizon with his cluster of balloons standing tall with the metropolis at his feet.

This is definitely one of my top ten favourite fashion photographs of all time.

How long can we make the power of that inner child last?

Which brings me back to the two Robs: Laura, you got it right in one in the last post . Buried deep in my subconscious is this poem that was featured in The Outsiders, the film starring a host of pre-Brat Pack members, including Rob Lowe (based on the S.E. Hinton novel):

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

--Robert Frost

(PS. Actual knitting content to follow sometime soon!)

A busy bee in autumn, that's me

2005-11-07T11:25:00.000-05:00

Ah... fall. The skies glorious cerulean, the air refreshingly crisp, and overnight the trees here have gone from green to gold -- coordinating spectacularly with my fall wardrobe. *sigh*

And a circuitous train of thought brings me to the question of the day: What do Robert Frost and Rob Lowe have in common? Actually, they may have lots in common, but I'm thinking of something in particular... Anyone? Feel free to gaze thoughtfully at the picture above while you muse. (answer in next post)

In the meantime, I have been very very busy with orders and plenty of things that, unfortunately, I can't show you. But I do have some new colourways, soon to be added to "The List". (Unless otherwise noted, all colourways below, shown in Mont Blanc, 100% light DK cashmere.)

Kate:

My Etro Shirt:

Bruise (shown in Pippin 100% aran weight cashmere):

And some semi-solids to coordinate with My Etro Shirt and other colourways...

Paddock Brown:

Perry Winkel:

Grape:

and Hill of Tara:

Lois: Cropped Cashmere Cardi

2005-10-17T18:04:00.000-04:00

I didn't make it to Rhinebeck... yeah, yeah, the best laid plans of mice and men and working knitters and all that. But I am doubly determined now to go next year, rain or shine! (So, next year, co-conspirators! You know who you are! ;) )

At our local fall festival this weekend, that stranger to these parts, the sun, finally showed his face -- just in time for me to wander giddily about in the fresh air, grab a pumpkin spice latte, hang about listening to live street music, and... wear this. If you read the fashion press, you already know that the cropped jacket is IN this season. Though there are dozens of knitting patterns out there, I didn't find one sufficiently appealing, so I came up with this one. Everyone, meet Lois (cropped cashmere jacket with 3/4 set-in sleeves):

I started this on Stitches weekend and finished it in just 4 days using:

-- 6 skeins of Pippin in colourway Hotel California
-- 1 hank of Louisa Harding's Sari Ribbon colour #1 for the crocheted border (you'll need only about 1/3)
-- 1 crochet hook
-- 1 pair US 9 needles, and
-- a glass button from my stash that had found its true calling

The version above fits bust sizes 36-38 and is the perfect TV/radio/cooking/laundry/otherwise multitasking knit. And off the needles it's instant cozy, casual chic.

The pattern for Lois accommodates bust sizes 32-34 [36-38; and 40-42] and would require 6 [6; and 7] skeins of Pippin (100% aran weight cashmere) and is available at no extra charge with purchase of Pippin for the project. Available colourways can be found at the List of Colourways; pricing and ordering information can also be found at the very bottom of that rather long page.

Let's talk samples...

2005-10-10T08:14:00.000-04:00

For those of you wanting to see a side-by-side comparison of Mont Blanc and Estelle (both 100% cashmere), here's a shot of a strand of each fiber (Mont Blanc on the left, Estelle on the right):

The texture difference is easier to see from two skeins juxtaposed (Left: Mont Blanc in Briar Rose; Right: Estelle in Cranberries):

Thanks again to all of you who left good wishes for Stitches in comments and emails. And just for those of you who couldn't make it, here are a couple of lovely projects that had kindly been loaned to us for display at the convention (seen here modelled by my new and shapely dress form, Angelina).

The first is a Clapotis in Estelle (colourway: Orion) knit by the astonishingly prolific and talented Lauren:

And I absolutely fell in love with this cashmere scoopneck tee by Brooke. She used 3 skeins of Estelle in Cranberries and 3 skeins of Estelle in Last of the Summer Berries, striped randomly to achieve this Missoni-like effect. And the feel of it on -- heaven!

And last, but in no way least, here's a simple-but-elegant halter top in Nathalie (100% bamboo) knit by Jen. She used 3 skeins of Nathalie in colourway Ursula for this jet-set summer staple, equally alluring from every angle.

Speaking of bamboo, I'll tell you what I would have loved to have seen would have been this bamboo Clapotis knit by the amazing Amy Singer, who was cruising around the Big Apple at the time on the Knitty anniversary cruise. She used approx. 6 skeins of Nathalie in colourway Briar Rose.

Ever since I've seen these photos of Amy's, I've been dreaming of seeing it in person! *sigh* Perhaps, next time.

Introducing... Mont Blanc

2005-10-03T07:55:00.000-04:00

I've added a new cashmere to the LIST.

Mont Blanc is a Light DK weight that creates a fabric texture that is smoother and fluffier compared to Estelle, which, due to how it's been plied, has a more pronounced texture when knit.** Mont Blanc is available in all of the cashmere colourways, as well as Creme Fraiche, slightly off-white/ivory:

You've seen this before, actually, in the form of the cashmere Clapotis in Hotel California:

Yarn Stats:

Mont Blanc 100% cashmere
-- 200 yds/skein; approx. 1600 yds per pound
-- Weight & Gauge: 4-ply, Light DK; 6-7.5 sts/in on US size 3-6 needles

In a comparison between Mont Blanc and Estelle, I knit swatches of both on US 5 needles and got 7 sts/in for Mont Blanc and 7.5 sts/in for Estelle. In most cases, they are close enough in gauge to substitute for each other, although Mont Blanc is slightly more "plump" and has a bit more of a soft halo than the sportweight.

Texture-wise, they are very different. One of these days I'll see if I can't muster up some proper swatches in the same colourway to try and show you, but the distinction is really easier to feel than capture on camera.
______________________________________________________
** Note that this does not make one any "better" than the other; they are simply different, and ultimately, choosing which fiber one would like for a garment is a matter of personal preference.

Jaunting with the Jet Set!

2005-09-30T21:46:00.000-04:00

(This past trip in a very selective nutshell.)

If you're credit risk-averse or otherwise attempting to be disciplined, the best time to shop in Paris is...

..at night.

Anytime between 8:00pm and 3:00am-ish. It's when the streets empty and the pavements are lit by the glow of shop windows, mannequins peddling the chic and shabby to night owls like me -- who, thankfully, now have no chance whatsoever of pulling out the plastic to make those impulse buys.

At night, window-shopping in Paris is all about... art (you might as well appreciate it for its aesthetic value since you can't possibly buy anything at that hour!). And fashion, particularly in Paris, is as high an art form as there is.

When one tires of the leche-vitrines (window-shopping, or, literally, "licking the windows"), it's easy enough to retire to the comfort of one's own room and admire the night in general.

Unlike Manhattan, Paris does sleep. And when it does, it can be beautiful.

Quick run-down on this season's Paris pret-a-porter: There were no clothes to tempt me. None. Which, if you know me, you will realise is a very strange thing indeed.

But I am taken with the idea, seen virtually everywhere, of what I call "mixed media fashion": bold intermingling and juxtaposition of unlikely materials and textures. Sweaters, for example, are embroidered, edged and dotted with abstract bits of silk, leather, fur, lurex and cotton canvas. And there is no end of floral appliques of all persuasions -- crocheted, knitted, beaded and felted.

Jackets are structured -- many in the military style seen of late on the catwalks. It's a good, clean look. But a lot of my own wardrobe is severe enough without me adding more pieces that scream Establishment.

At Alaia, I did see a curious shrug, knit all in one piece with a collar added as an afterthought. Lovely. But the thing was knit in just plain wool -- not even merino, and yet, the price tag was... 1295.00 euros (approx. US$1600.00). (!!!) Colour me cardiac-arrested -- not to mention eternally grateful that I could knit it myself (for a fraction of the cost) if I wanted. (All of you who just put your hand over your heart and gasped, I'm with you!)

But le Bon Marche, oh, how I love thee. I cannot even begin to count the ways! The displays alone in this department store are worth the trip. This time it was ostentatious chandeliers that, upon closer inspection, turned out to have been crafted from garlanded tea strainers and glass tea cups. Clever. Ordinary enough until you actually took the time to notice.

And there is always a treat in the exhibition space on the 3rd floor -- usually worth the trek on the crowded metro. This month (September) it was all about Marc Jacobs and his fall/winter collection -- which I love love love, despite the fact that I don't really have the body to look fetching enough in an empire waist or crinkled velvet -- and especially not both at once. Yet, contrary to all that is rational, I still covet everything in this collection. (I was so preoccupied with not drooling that I was unable to take even the most discreet of camera-phone shots.)

Hmm... what else? No footwear of any interest. Yarn was also rather uninspiring. I did, however, pick up some Chibi needles and a sewing kit, just to do my bit to patronize La Droguerie. Like paying a tithe or something.

*sigh* In sum: Alas! I was clearly meant to depart from Paris with roughly the same amount of luggage as when I arrived.

Oh well. Shopping isn't everything. Luckily there was time for some relaxation with an old and very dear friend who met me for dinner at one of my favourite brasseries in the 6th arrondissement. Which, he says, by the way, is a neighbourhood that is almost too good to be true (I believe his exact words were: "like the Truman Show")-- like a little slice of Hollywood due to all the well-dressed and well-coiffed people going about the normal business of having a quiet drink and picking at les petites choses a grignoter (munchies). And he's probably right. Sitting not far away (although not together) were Catherine Deneuve, Philippe Geluck, and a politician whom I recognised from newspaper photos but whose name I can never remember (probably because he's a politician)...

Next pit stop: London! And lots of traffic.

... where I whizzed past the Millenium Eye, which I have yet to find the time to ride.

I was rushing to meet Atropos to catch a train to Holmfirth, home of Rowan yarns...

One last sidebar on fashion and local culture: It always strikes me as a funny thing that clothes appropriate for one place can be inappropriate in another. I hadn't had the opportunity or the inclination to change clothes from what I'd put on that morning, but when we pulled into Huddersfield train station (in a town close to Holmfirth), it became obvious to me that the retro button down shirt and bright pink camisole that had been perfectly acceptable in Paris stuck out like a sore thumb in a sea of subdued earth tones, tweed and gore-tex. Huh. (So, did I change then? Nope.)

Anyway, back to the travel log...

There were traffic jams in Holmfirth, too.

Entirely worth the wait when you saw the view at the destination, like this one beyond a cricket pitch (can't you just smell the crisp fresh air??).

But the weekend wasn't all goggling at greenery. Atropos and I pitched up at a design seminar given by Sasha Kagan (that's her there, standing with her back to the camera).

Our design remit was much more limited than I had anticipated: working "inspiration" from nature into a knitted work. (Here's mine, basically pulled right out of a hat, since I hadn't had any time to devote to any mental prep for the course.)

A teeny bit wonky in the end, but not bad considering that I'm not an intarsia/fair isle knitter by choice.

I'll be the first to admit that my mind was in about a zillion places at the time because it's virtually impossible to remain focused when surrounded on four walls by so much yarn and fabric (by Kaffe Fassett and others) -- all drool-worthy. Just look at those colours:

Inspiration starts at the entrance to the old mill, as you can see from the samples standing guard in the main lobby.

I was intrigued by the textures on these cushions (which I think are the work of the wonderful Lisa Richardson). Just LOOK at them!

Yup, you can say that my mind was in a whirl after all that stimulation. Addled, to be sure. But in a good way!

And on that note, a lovely night, all! (Happy Midnight Knitting!)

Quick Peek at Stitches East!

2005-09-24T23:03:00.000-04:00

No time for a full update, but here are a couple of sneaky pics that were taken early on (apologies in advance: someone should tell the Atlantic City Convention Center folks that flourescent lighting is really the least flattering of all, but... well, what can you do?):

It's been a busy weekend at Stitches East at the Woolplay booth (below)...

where there was not only one, but TWO walls of hand-painted cashmere (cubes of Estelle, Italian sportweight cashmere shown here):

(it was too crowded to get a clear shot of the other wall, filled with Pippin, the aran weight cashmere, but you get the idea).

I was only on site briefly today, but it was such a pleasure to meet up again with the talented Louisa Harding who was nearby promoting her gorgeous new range of yarns and patterns (if you haven't seen them already, keep an eye out, as they're truly scrummy!). To make the day even more special, I had the good fortune to meet The Yarn Harlot, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee who is one of the most amiable knitters I've ever met (and that's saying something!).

And last, but certainly not least, a cheery greeting to everyone who stopped by to say hello, shoot the breeze, and snap up Klee scarf kits...

... and fistfuls of cashmere for various projects, including sweaters like...

Wishing you all a wonderful rest of the weekend (especially the wonderful Bess who still had the energy to make a beeline straight for us after such a long drive)! And if you find yourself at Stitches, happy knitting with all that fiber booty! Don't knit it all at once!

Clapotis by Sam La Tricoteuse

2005-09-23T11:35:00.000-04:00

[x-posted at The Cashmere Gallery]

I'm back! But still on the run, so to speak. But I just wanted to take the time to show you these lovely photos of a truly luxe Clapotis by the wonderful Sam La Tricoteuse in Quebec.

She used 5 skeins of Estelle (100% Italian sportweight cashmere) in colourway Amy's Chocolate Cherry and 4.5mm needles. And she writes that she modified the original Clapotis pattern slightly by going up to about 155 sts.

Well done! And what a truly gorgeous Clapotis, Sam! Thanks for sharing such wonderful pictures!

No rest for the wanton and the wicked!

2005-09-13T10:31:00.000-04:00

I know. Disapppointing, isn't it? A post with no pictures. Oh, well.

But this is just a quick note to tell you that as of today I'll be traveling again until the end of next week with little/sporadic to no internet access, but as always I will reply to your emails and orders as soon as I get back!

OH! And before I forget:

Are any of you planning on going to Stitches East? If you are, stop by the Woolplay booth (#339) and see one thousand skeins of hand-painted cashmere (and a little bamboo)! Every purchase is rewarded with a discount voucher to use in the store.

Happy Knitting, All!

Website on the way!

2005-09-08T09:30:00.000-04:00

I have an official website in the works and it should go live sometime soon (once I manage to extricate myself from fall orders and Stitches prep, that is). My web developer Jerry is a genius -- and lightning quick on the draw with requests, like this temporary homepage.

Thanks, Jerry!

What every knitting fashionista needs...

2005-08-31T11:22:00.000-04:00

is a good lip gloss (for the perfect pucker as you purl), a spritz of a tantalizing perfume, and... a truly stylish needle case, like these from artist Therese Inverso:

Her work is simply amazing. I have hunted long for the perfect needle case, one that's "organic" in sensibility but doesn't look frumpy (and we all know that "frumpy" is to a fashionista as "stake" is to a vampire: shudder-worthy), a case that is easy enough to slip into any knitting tote, messenger bag, briefcase, holiday duffel and, my friends, this is it. I've seen a lot of needle cases made from recycled sweaters of such shoddy craftsmanship that they look more hobo than boho. But these, also made from recycled sweaters, are unmistakably the work of a meticulous craftswoman.

Have a look:

Her designs (only two of which you see above) are the perfect marriage between whimsy and practicality. Each and every piece is unique and every single one bears the artist's signature, tucked discreetly in the folds. But I would recognize her work anywhere if I saw it. Which you can too, if you're planning on going to Stitches East in the next couple of weeks.

I bought one for myself and then found several that I couldn't resist. Point for me that I only bought one extra -- and as a present for someone else, at that!

And so I leave you with a glimpse of these, my new favourite things. :)

On another note, I will be travelling as of tomorrow until the middle of next week. I'll have little to no internet access, so please be patient. I will get to your emails and orders as soon as I'm back in the studio.

Have a lovely week, all!

Cashmere Prices, and what Axelle has in common with The Little Dutch Boy

2005-08-19T16:33:00.000-04:00

They say that no news is good news. And sometimes, like now, that would be true.

Unfortunately, I do have news.

There's really no way to sugar coat it, so here it is: As of September 1, the price of the aran weight cashmere (Pippin) and the sportweight cashmere (Estelle) will go up.

This seems to be an industry-wide phenomenon. Those of you who shop for cashmere yarn may have already noticed a marked increase in the price of knitting cashmere in LYSs across the country. Since this spring I have been eyeball deep in negotiations with suppliers to maintain the current prices, but the truth is that the tide is on the rise and there is no stopping it. The price of cashmere as a raw material has risen exponentially over the past year such that my company was only able to obtain the current supply of cashmere at around three times the price it was last year.

For the sake of all of you I have been holding off on the price increase for as long as possible, like the little Dutch boy's attempt to save his little town by using his finger plugging a hole in a dam that's about to break. But although now I have no choice but to bend with the weight of the market, the least I can do is give you all a little heads up.

Naja Tank

2005-08-14T01:57:00.000-04:00

For those of you who are interested in the Naja tank pattern, here it is.

Due to technical difficulties (and frankly, woefully little free time as I'm mostly in the colourworks studio working on meeting fall order quotas as well as juggling WorkWork) I haven't had time to make you a diagram, but perhaps when I get a chance to breathe I'll update to add a schematic.

But in the meantime, enjoy!

Meet Naja

2005-08-02T11:24:00.000-04:00

I've been knitting, I swear. It's just not possible to show you all of the pieces, but for the past few weeks the needles have been working furiously, and as of this morning I counted 4 tops, a Huge Garment of Some Secrecy, and two fall sweaters.

One of my favourites, mainly for its modest simplicity and its flattering shape, is this tank which I've christened "Naja", knit in a size medium (bust size 36 - 38) with just under 4 skeins of Nathalie (100% bamboo) in colourway Cair Paravel:

There's a rather Missoni look about it that easily takes it from sunning at a garden party in Poughkeepsie to gazing across the Med at Pompeii (Naja tank seen here in Nathalie, colourway Ursula):

Although the tank pattern is written for a fitted look (see first photo above), wearing it knit in a larger size lends it an elegantly slouchy insouciance:

These Naja tanks have proven such a quick knit, each only took 4 days from start to finish -- just in time for the rest of the summer.

Now, I am a cashmere girl through and through. But the bamboo is cool and smooth as silk against the skin. Imagine: a garment that instantly cools you off -- now, that's a summer wardrobe staple if I ever heard one. If only I had the time, I'd make at least 4 more of these, since they've been much cooler to wear in this heat and humidity than a cotton or linen shirt.

Hmm... if there's enough interest, I might be persuaded to make this a free pattern...

Klee Down Under

2005-07-22T02:34:00.000-04:00

[x-posted at the Cashmere Gallery]

How I wish it was 50 degrees outside these days instead of 100-- because I've been hankering for a chance to wear a Klee scarf. Until the dog days of summer are gone in this hemisphere -- and I'm finally able to roll down the car windows, I'm going to indulge my dreams of cashmere and show you the wonderful photos of the gorgeous Klee a prolific and talented knitter sent from Melbourne, Australia:

I love the accent colour she chose, as well! Don't know if you can see it, but rather than the standard black, the accents are in a lovely burgundy/aubergine that sets off the warm, rich tones in the multis. Just beautiful!

Be sure to check out the other goodies at the inimitably chic Clementine's Shoes (one of my favourite knitblog names of all time)!

New Bamboo Colourways

2005-07-17T17:44:00.000-04:00

This is going to be a quick post because the lightning and thunder have started a war outside the house today!

The List of Colourways has been updated to include two new bamboo colourways --

Mediterraneo:

and

Cair Paravel:

(Only somewhat related to the nomenclature of the latter, this, coming in December, looks incredible.)

La Dolce Vita, Part III

2005-07-11T23:41:00.000-04:00

... in which Axe discovers what sweet sorrow it is to part from Paradise.

But first: a private boat tour around the Isle of Capri...

At the port are scores of boats of all shapes and sizes, zipping in and out of the harbour bearing islanders and day-trippers alike. And at the tip of one of the cliffs, barely visible from the water's edge is the statue of a waving boy, a permanent welcome to all visiting Capri.

It's easy to see how the craggy face of the island has inspired so many artists, poets and musicians.

Some adventurous folk explored the rocks on the cliffs more closely than we dared.

But given the choice between rock climbing in 100 degree weather or paddling in the crystal clear waters of a multitude of hidden coves and grottos, what would your choice have been? (See? I thought so.)

Of all the natural attractions around the island, perhaps the most famous is La Grotta Azzurra (the Blue Grotto), which can only be visited during good weather conditions. The entrance to the cave is this tiny opening. Unlike the other grottos, entry can only be made via one of a small fleet of rowboats at hand to escort visitors from their own boats into the grotto...

...where we discovered that it is often customary for the boatmen to show off their operatic talents in the grotto's astounding acoustic space.

You can see for yourself where the grotto gets its name. The blue reflections of light through the small opening create a stunning, ethereal display in the cave. Pictures simply cannot do it justice.

"NO SWIMMING ALLOWED"

Swimming in the Blue Grotto is "strictly" forbidden. But that didn't stop us from jumping straight into the cool water at the very mildest suggestion from our guide that we might be able to steal a chance for a swim. ("I can resist anything except temptation," Wilde used to say. I'm sure he would have approved.) And it was, in fact, the most fantastic swim we had on the island. As we dove and paddled about, our guide serenaded us with several verses of "Santa Lucia".

It was heaven.

The water was so wonderful, it was painful to climb back into the rowboat and back to our driver. But even that brief spell, engulfed in the magic of Capri, was more rejuvenating than a month of massages. With renewed spring in our steps, we hopped off the boat and back through the marina.

After a brief siesta, we walked uphill towards the center of Anacapri.

Nestled in a side street among strings of souvenir shops and handicraft boutiques we found a knitting store. Of sorts.

It was, rather unfortunately, closed at the time. However, it wasn't at all a traditional LYS. In fact, it seemed that you could just walk in and have something Knit-to-Order. Through the windows, we could just see knitting machines set up and ready to go in the back room. Handy to note for all those times you visit the island and find yourself in sudden need of a knitted bikini.

Compared to Capri, Anacapri was fairly deserted on Sunday afternoon...

... but the artistry put into the most commonplace items spoke volumes about the people who make this their home. Just have a look at this bench, embellished with painted tiles. Mind, this is a public bench.

And see this tile stairway. Upon closer inspection, you'll see that a different bird adorns each step.

There is such beauty on this island, tiny though it may be. I can understand why natives like our host Franco would never really want to leave for very long.

After all, who could possibly bear to part with a place where the day begins like this:

... carries on like this:

... and ends like this?

It takes a stronger willed (and perhaps even more jaded) person than this fashionista to resist the call of the Isle of Capri.

So, when we boarded the ferry home, it was less "Farewell" than "Arrivederci"...

FYI -- Just in case you forgot (or thought that I had forgotten) that this was a knitblog -- there is yarn and knitting news to come! Stay tuned!

La Dolce Vita, Part II

2005-07-05T13:33:00.000-04:00

In which the mystery of Axe's favourite swimming hole is revealed...

After Pompeii, we left the quaint, touristic port of Sorrento and took the ferry to the Isle of Capri (which Amy spotted instantly! Amy, look for an email from me about your bamboo.)

The first glimpses of the port were just as you might imagine of a luxe holiday spot in the Med.

There are only two towns on the island: the glamourous resort town of Capri, and its more tranquil cousin, Anacapri, at the top of the island. After a little gelato along the waterside, we made our way by taxi (big mistake, by the way), to our hotel in Anacapri, where the digs were... not too shabby.

Our host, a distinguished gentleman named Franco, who was the perfect blend of Mr Roark and Tattoo, took it upon himself to show us around our temporary home on this fantasy island. And we embarked upon an immediate inspection of the essential facilities:

Tempting as the infinity pool was, we caught a ride back down the only road that zigzagged along the rock face to Capri.

... which could probably by characterized by one of the first shops to greet us along the walk in:

A word to the wise: for this place, the plastic that you never leave home without is probably best left... at home. The operative word in this town is most definitely BLING. And it often comes at an eye-popping price.

The town bustled with extremely fashionably -- and less fashionably -- dressed people. The distinction between the two, I leave to you.

In Capri, shopping is more than just an afternoon activity, it is an art form -- and the pulse of the little town. Not surprisingly, this is one of Michael Kors' favourite sun spots. While we didn't see Kors, more than once we ran into Valentino himself, flanked by members of his staff (in coordinating attire).

Giving our feet a break, we had lunch in the Piazza Umberto I, in the shadow of the Chiesa di Santo Stefano, where guests had begun to arrive for a wedding.

Random guests in their attire, loitering glamorously in front of the church and the adjacent Frette boutique:

The bride arrived to the applause of the entire square -- friends, family, and starry-eyed strangers. No pictures of her, unfortunately, because by then the crowd had grown and obscured any good vantage point. But her dress was a bodice of white lace mesh and a meringue of tulle. On a mere mortal, it would have looked frumpy, but this bride was stunning.

Continuing on the walking tour, there was much to enjoy in the way of architecture and flora, before settling down to dinner after the sunset.

(to be continued...)

La Dolce Vita, Part I

2005-07-01T12:42:00.000-04:00

I've been inundated with work and other things since being back, so this will be a brief post (filled with lots of non-knitting-related photos and commentary -- consider yourself warned!).

Those of you who guessed anywhere in the Mediterranean have a keen eye. And kudos to all of you who guessed Italy...

After an extremely long day of traveling and connections, we woke up on a hill, amid acres of lemon groves, in the quaint seaside town of Sorrento, across the bay from Naples and Mount Vesuvius.

The coastal drive along the cliffside was breathtaking - if a little harrowing.

Getting used to reading clusters of signposts totem-poled upon each other at every crossroads was a challenge, but eventually, we made our way around the modern day city of Pompeii to the ruins of the infamous eruption of Mount Vesuvius back in 79 A.D.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but once there, it's impossible not to see that the city and people who had made Pompeii their home were far from primitive. Did you know that Pompeii had once been a prosperous port? It had been about 500 meters from the water's edge, but after Vesuvius emptied itself onto the land, the buried city was then 2 km from the gulf. Today there is a weird Lost-City-of-Atlantis feeling about the place.

Some of the homes had clearly been truly magnificent, finesse in every architectural detail. This fountain at the rear of the interior courtyard, like others in the city, was worked all over in an intricate mosaic and fashioned with delicately forged statues.

It seemed that the entire city had flourished with a healthy sense of aestheticism (which, in my opinion, is sadly lacking in most modern architecture that settles for function to the exclusion of form). This mosaic at the entrance to one of the grand homes of the city (now known as the House of the Tragic Poet) was meant as a clear warning: cave canem, "Beware of Dog".

And they made aesthetics a high priority in just about everything they crafted. Assuming that that tradition had continued, if old Pompeii had survived to the present, it would probably be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The frescoes, of which there were many, still possess their beauty, even tainted with the patina of weather and time. Just imagine how vibrant they had been in the halls and dining rooms of pre-eruption Pompeii.

Personally, I have a penchant for simple, clean linear furnishings, but was awed by the work that had been put into these:

... as well as into even the most functional of food and water containers:

Look closely at the last picture. At the rear is a human form, molded in plaster that had been poured into an empty space archeologists had discovered in the layers of ash. There were, and probably still are, thousands of these imprints of volcano victims who had been buried in 4 meters of ash and sediment.

Old Pompeii was cobblestoned, with pavements set a foot or two higher than the road.

Midway through our casual meandering, dark clouds rolled in swiftly and obliterated the sun. Lightning and thunder on the horizon drew closer by the minute and the other tourists converged in the main streets, trying to make a hasty exit. But even with trainers on, it was a real struggle to get out of the city before the rain started. And all I could think of was how truly impossible it would have been for Pompeiians to run from the clouds of ash and sediment that were about to bury them alive.

They stood absolutely no chance.

So we left, only slightly soaked, but incredibly humbled. How many Pompeiians who were busy at work or play, rushing from one errand to another -- not having time to simply look up -- could have forseen what was to come? If you come away with anything after seeing Pompeii firsthand, it's a humbling sense of your own mortality.

And on that note, with the thunderstorm behind us, we reckoned it was time for a nap.

More on the trip (more upbeat, I promise!) and the swimming hole contest, next...

Postcards from an itinerant fashionista... and a contest

2005-06-22T10:42:00.000-04:00

The Carnival Cami and I are back... happy, sated, suntanned and... in need of another of life's little detours exactly like this one. I don't know about you, but when I sink into a blissful sun-kissed inertia, it takes more than a herd of wild horses to drag me back to the real world.

So, while I'm in such a good mood, I thought I'd offer up a wee contest: a free** skein of bamboo in Carnival or Reed Fairy to the first person to guess correctly where I went swimming last week. (Simply leave a comment to this post with your guess as to town and country.)

_____________________
** All you pay is postage.

Here is your clue:

(and this photo is perfectly gratuitous, just because I like it!)

Absence memo... and a little plea

2005-06-13T18:51:00.000-04:00

Just letting you all know that as of tomorrow I'll be away for a week with little or no internet access. So if I'm slower than usual in replying to your orders and emails, at least you'll know why. You'll hear from me as soon as I'm back.

And now, I've got a request for you all -- actually, more of a desperate plea. I have some friends in London who are in dire need of a builder to do refurbishment to the exterior of their home. The renovations are long overdue, but that's because they haven't been able to find a reliable builder or firm of builders in London. You'd think that in a city that large it would be a snap to find someone to do it, but... no such luck. If any of you Londoners can recommend a firm, please drop me an email to sauveterre AT gmail DOT com and I'll pass the information on.

Thanks and have a good week, everyone!