Art in Progress...

Let's Make Art

They say there’s an artist hidden in all of us and this scarf certainly proves it!

I've been wanting to dabble at this scarf technique for over a year now. Well, I finally had my chance to get "artsy" with silk and fiber tonight at Knitique's Needle Felted Scarf class. I've never had so much fun on a Friday night with fiber!

Needle Felted Silk Scarf

Danielle the owner of Knitique (and my knitting teacher) taught the class. She gave us fabulous tips and ideas on how to bring out our creativity from the artist within. Sorry but I can't give these tips away...you'll just have to take the class!

This scarf is one of those projects that is really more fun done in a class environment or with a group of fiber friends. It was so neat to see each person's creativity and how unique everyone’s scarves turned out. All the scarves looked like they came from “high end” boutique stores!

The inspiration for my scarf came from all the scarves I love at Anthropologie.

For now, my scarf is art in progress....

The Perfect Button!

Louisa Harding Aurora Flower

Button, Button, Who's got the Button...

Britex Fabrics in San Francisco has buttons. In fact, their 3rd floor has an entire wall devoted to buttons. For me, Britex is the place to go button shopping when you need to find that

"perfect button"!

The Perfect Button!

Last month I finished my Louisa Harding Aurora beret and it's adorable knit flower embellishment. I wanted to give my beret some vintage flair so I had planned on using a vintage earring for my flower's center. It looked pretty nice but somehow I knew I could do better.

I love my Louisa Harding projects so much I am often a fussbudget about their finishing details. I've learned as a knitter that the right details and embellishments really can elevate your knitting to more "boutique looking" results.

Britex Buttons

In one of my favorite books Knitting Little Luxuries , Louisa Harding writes about memories of her Grandmother's button box. Louisa encourages knitters to use found objects, buttons, flowers and ribbons to make their knitting projects unique. I took Louisa's advice and went searching for buttons.

Of course, I ended up button shopping at Britex Fabrics. Button shopping there can be overwhelming...there are so many buttons to choose from. Thank goodness, I brought my knit flower with me to help me make the right button choice. After about ten attempts at trying buttons, I finally found the "perfect button".

My "perfect button" is a lovely lavender glass Czeck button with vintage flair. It certainly looks as though it could have come right out of my very own Grandmother's button box!

I think Louisa Harding would approve!

Let's Go To A Trunk Show!

Let's Play Dress-Up!

Who doesn't love playing dress-up?

As a young girl (that's me on the far right) I loved to play dress-up!

Growing up my sister and I played dress-up with an old Army trunk filled with my Mom's childhood dance costumes and my Grandma's goodies.

Coco Knits Trunk Show

Well, today I am still playing dress-up only now it's at a different type of Trunk Show. I now love going to Designer Trunk Shows hosted by my favorite yarn stores.

Going to a Designer Trunk Show is really just like playing dress-up. Did you know you actually get to try on the designer's garments and determine if the garment design is right for you before you buy the pattern or knit it up? How fabulous is that?!

So, let's go to a Trunk Show....

Coco Knits Trunk Show

Designer Julie Weisenberger

of Coco Knits

Last night I attended a fabulous trunk show with Designer, Julie Weisenberger of Coco Knits.

I met Julie earlier in the year at Stitches West. Her booth was one of the busiest booths at Stitches. I fell in love with her patterns from her line Coco Knits.

Since Julie resides in the Bay Area, I decided to watch for events with her around the Bay. Well, last night was my chance to finally see her again with a Talk and Trunk Show hosted at Knitterly in Petaluma.

Liesl

"I design stuff I would wear"

The evening began with a great introduction by Julie with her talk called What Not To Knit followed by her Trunk Show.

Julie has a fabulous fashion background and gave us all wonderful tips on how to knit for our body types and make our garments more flattering. With all her years of designing, she has wonderful knitting and fashion tips and was very generous to share them!

Coco Knits Patterns

The best part of a Trunk Show is not only do you get a chance to meet the Designer but you also get a chance to chat with them.

I couldn't wait to ask Julie if her company name had anything to do with Coco Chanel? Well to my surprise...it does not! Julie said that when naming her company since all the typical knitting names/titles were already taken, she named her company Coco Knits for her love of chocolate.

How about that! I thought for sure it had a connection to Coco Chanel because I think her line is quite couture!

Knitterly

Knitterly in Petaluma is one of my favorite yarn stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. It's housed in a really cool historic brick building in the charming town of Petaluma. I love how the owner Shelli uses vintage props in her displays. Since I love vintage you know I love that.

This trip I noticed a really cool old French Baker's rack filled with lovely ribbons, trim, and buttons to embellish your knits. Shelly has a great selection of yarns and the largest selection of Habu Yarns that I have ever seen!

According to the Habu website, Coco Knits has at least six patterns to knit in Habu Yarns and Shelli does mail order!

If I lived in the North Bay this is the store I would hang out in!

Julie & Shelli

Thank you Shelli at Knitterly for hosting the Coco Knits event.

Thank you Julie for your advice and inspiration. I came home with four sweater patterns...for when the day comes that I finally do start knitting sweaters!

Happy Knits!

Jessa at Happy Knits

I recently returned from a trip to Portland, so you know what that means...I did some yarn shopping! I've written before what a great city Portland is for knitters. On this trip, I discovered a new yarn store to tell you about. It's called Happy Knits.

Happy Knits is my new favorite yarn store in Portland!

New Louisa Harding Yarn Range

I ventured in to Happy Knits and was greeted by the adorable Jessa (photo above). She was super friendly and gave me a fabulous tour of the shop.

I must say that Happy Knits is the most state-of-the-art yarn shop I have ever seen. They have a room just for hanging out and knitting set up with a computer for customers to use for Ravlery, etc.. There's even a wood burning stove for those cooler Portland temps. There's also a playroom for the kiddies and a separate (sound-proof) classroom.

Jessa told me that the shop just opened in February. There are so many yarn shops in Portland I was wondering how another one would survive. Happy Knits will survive for sure and probably give some of the older (out of date) shops a run for their money! I loved it's modern yet warm interior and friendly vibe. It's a well organized store and easy to shop.

Loads of Louisa Harding Yarn!
Well, another obvious reason why I loved Happy Knits is that they carry Louisa Harding yarns! The shop is well stocked with an array of Louisa's newer yarns.

I even got a raving yarn review while I was there. Jessa showed me a shop sample of her recently knit pretty summer top called Buttercup. She knit her version in Louisa's new Aimee yarn. Jessa told me that she really liked knitting with this yarn! Good to know since I haven't had a chance to try this yarn yet.

Louisa Harding Yarns at
Close Knit
I can't do a Portland review without mentioning my other two favorite stores in Portland:

Close Knit in the Alberta Arts District
and
Knit Purl in the Pearl District.

I always manage to snag a few great finds at both stores and love the friendly, expert service at both stores.

If you get a chance to visit Portland, I hope you visit my favorite shops and
be sure to tell them that Lisette in California sent you!

Inspired by the Sea

Newport Oregon

I'm a "true blue" California girl so... I love the ocean! The ocean's beautiful blues are often my color choice for my knitting projects.

My husband and I are "westcoastin' " vacationing on the Oregon coast. We are staying right on the beach in Newport, Oregon so I am inspired by the sea as ever!

Sea Waves Shawl

We spent the afternoon yesterday beachcombing. What a photo opportunity the beach provided for my Sea Waves Shawl. You can certainly see why I named it that...doesn't it look just like the color of the ocean waves?

My Sea Waves Shawl is Louisa Harding's design called Periwinkle. It is from her Beachcomber Bay book. Louisa grew up beachcombing so she loves the ocean and the beach just like me. In fact, quite a few of Louisa's books are photographed at the beach including her new summer books.

I Love 2 KNIT

We're at the beach for a few more days...

then we're off to the great yarn city of Portland!

You know what I'll be doing...don't you?

Summer Shawls!

New Summer books by Louisa Harding

My pashmina shawls are packed away now until next winter. I am ready now for summer shawls. I recently picked up three new Louisa Harding pattern books with stunning shawls that I can't wait to knit this summer!

It's easy to see why Louisa Harding is my favorite knitting designer. Her designs are always pretty and feminine with fashion flair! All three of her new books: Bijoux, Chinoiserie and Belle are all filled with beautiful designs, sure to please all knitters!

Here's a sneak peak at a few of the summer shawls inside Louisa's new books:

Amber

I fell in love with the Amber wrap the moment I saw it on the cover of the Bijoux book. The Bijoux book features 12 projects knit in Louisa Harding yarns Merletto and Jasmine. Amber can be knit as a summer wrap or as a smaller scarf as shown in the photo above.

Amber is at the top of my list for new summer projects!

Osprey

Next we have Osprey from the beautiful Belle book. Belle features 12 projects in Louisa Harding's Mulberry Silk yarn. Osprey can also be knit as a wrap or a long scarf. I love that Louisa gives us this versatility with her designs.

There is a beautiful blue peacock color in Mulberrry silk. Now I just have to decide which Osprey to make...the wrap or the scarf?

Dragon

Last we have a preview of Dragon from Louisa's Chinoiserie book. Chinoiserie features 25 projects in Louisa's new Aimee and Fleuris yarns. As the book title suggests, Louisa's inspiration for Chinoiserie came from design influences and her fascination with the Orient.

The lacey summer Dragon scarf is knit in Fleuris...and isn't it perfect for an enchanted evening?

Keeping up with Louisa!

I hope to begin knitting one of these new designs soon. For now I am having a hard time keeping up with Louisa. I am still enjoying knitting projects from her early books including her first books Gathering Roses.

It is my wish (and hope) to knit something in every Louisa Harding yarn (both current and discontinued). One thing I have learned as a flitter knitter with a few years of experience now....Louisa Harding never disappoints. Her patterns are always spot on, well written and turn out beautiful boutique results for intermediate knitters like me. Thank you Louisa!

***Images are from Louisa Harding books. Photography by her husband, Stephen Jessup.