Fit for a Princess!

HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge

Welcome to the world Princess Charlotte!  

I love Princess Charlotte's beautiful baby shawl.  Since I'm a knitter, I had to do some research on it.  The shawl is made of super-fine merino wool and hand finished with a traditional Shetland scalloped edge.  It is made by G. H. Hurt & Son in their shawl factory in Nottingham, England.  

G.H. Hurt & Son began in 1912 and is still family run today.  They are the sole survivor of the lace shawl industry in Nottingham.  

If Princess Charlotte's lovely baby shawl has sparked your interest to knit your own, just search on Raverly for Shetland shawls.  There are over 700 patterns to choose from.  I am partial to the Shetland shawls by Sharon Miller and Elizabeth Zimmerman.

 I also love  Hansel by Gudrun Johnston of The Shetland Trader which is a traditional Shetland Hap shawl perfect for swaddling a new baby in.  Gudrun even has a Cratsy class The Shetland Hap Shawl to help you knit your own version!   I'm pretty certain I will knit Hansel one day for a future family heirloom.  

(Photo credit:  Press Association)

Be Collarful

 The Spring/Summer Issue

Spring has sprung and color is "popping up" everywhere. 

Also "popping up" this spring is my favorite knit wear designer, 

Louisa Harding

 in the new Spring/Summer 2013 issue of Vogue Knitting.

 Collarful Additions

Vogue Knitting says it best...

"A designer known for alluring adornments believes that flirty collars are just the thing for a spring transformation."

Since I love knitting Louisa's accessories,

I just had to buy this issue strictly for Louisa's collars!

 Be Collarful

On pages 46 and 47, 

you'll find Louisa's six beautiful collar patterns in the magazine.  With names like, Ruby, Tango, Victoria, Bubblegum, Ginger and Candy I couldn't help but think of other fabulous fashion eras when collars were all the rage.

The collars are detachable and perfect to add a "pop" of color to transform a cardigan or top into an instant fashion statement.  Louisa has designed them to use just one hank of her luxurious yarns.  

I'm a bit partial to the Ruby and Ginger collars since I love knitting with Louisa's Grace Hand Beaded and Mulberry Hand Beaded yarns.  

A Vintage Collar

Louisa's background was fashion and dressmaking before she became a knitwear designer.  I think her fashion background is always evident in her designs.  As for myself and fashion,  I love how fashion repeats itself.  

Fashionable collars were all the rage in the 1950's.   Recently my mom gave me her vintage beaded collar from the City of Paris department store in San Francisco, Ca.  As a teenager, my mom wore detachable collars on her cardigans all the time.  

Well, now I can't wait to add some vintage "fashion flair" to my wardrobe with Louisa's pretty collars.  I'll be knitting them for Christmas gifts as well...

how about you?

Elinor's Tea Gloves

 Miss Elinor's Tea Gloves

...because a Lady can never have too many gloves 

for afternoon tea!

 Sense & Fashion Handwarmers

I just finished my first project from 
the 2011 Jane Austen Knits magazine.
I've named my tea gloves after my favorite character 

Miss Elinor Dashwood 

in Jane Austen’s 
Sense & Sensibility.

The pattern is actually called 

Sense & Fashion Handwarmers 

I'm just sure the designer, Hannah Poon

had Miss Elinor in mind when she designed them!
Can't you just imagine,
Elinor wearing these handwarmers
when Edward Ferrars stops by the Barton Cottage
for a visit and tea. 

 Time for Tea!

I was immediately drawn to this pattern in the magazine. 

I love their lacy design 

and that they are perfect to wear to afternoon tea.

I also love that they are knit in Louisa Harding's 

Grace Silk & Wool yarn...

which just happens to be one of my favorite yarns
and is always in my stash! 

The pattern is very well written 

and consists of a four-row lace pattern repeat.

They are a wonderful one-skein project and only require 

one ball (110 yards) of Grace Silk & Wool yarn.

The Designer says:

"Both handwarmers can be knitted in an afternoon."

I think it's a bit more realistic to take two afternoons to knit them

(which I did)

allowing for proper hand/finger rests 

and tea breaks, of course.

Jane Austen Knits 

Applause to Interweave on such a lovely publication,

Jane Austen Knits. 

The magazine not only has 35 Austen-inspired projects but 

also lovely articles on 

Jane Austen (1775-1817)

and the 

Regency Period. 

If by chance,

you don't have the magazine,

Interweave just announced that you can purchase 

the patterns from the magazine online now.  

I just know, 

Miss Jane Austen 

would delight in all this fuss over her!

Knitted Lace of Estonia

Estonian Lace

Knitting historian and designer, Nancy Bush
wrote the book Knitted Lace of Estonia

and 

there's just a few weeks left to see her personal collection of 

Estonian lace 

at 

Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles

in Berkeley, CA.  

I had the pleasure of seeing the exhibit recently and 

even lucked out with a personal tour

 by Lacis owner, Jules Kliot. 

Here are a few photographs to give you a feel of the exhibit.  

Please note, 

my photographs do not do the lace work justice.  

The lace work details are incredible to see up close and in-person.  

I highly recommend visiting the exhibit before it ends!

 The Shawl Wall

The lace shawls are so beautiful to see in person.

Many of the shawls are from Haapsalu, 

a small seaside town in western Estonia. 

The work on the Haapsalu lace shawls seemed flawless 

and almost appeared to be machine made...

even though I know they are not. 

Haapsalu Shawl

This was one of my favorite lace shawls.

Haapsalu Lace Shawl

Pasqueflower Pattern 4

It's a traditional rectangular wool shawl with a sewn on edge, 

20" x 62".

Maker unknown. 

 The History of Estonian Lace

This is a lovely wall display featuring Estonian Lace shawls 

along with the history of Estonian lace

told through photographs.

 The Nupp

The nupp is a common motif in Haapsalu lace.  

According to Nancy Bush,
the nupp is a stylized bobble of sorts.
It is used for adding texture and creating figures in openwork. 

Jules told me on my tour,

that he had Nancy knit the large sample above of "the nupp"

so everyone could easily see it and it's details. 

Lacis Owner, 

Jules Kliot

For a knitter, like me,

the Estonian Lace exhibit is quite inspiring.  

I know someday now, 

I will knit an Estonian lace pattern 

or take a class from Nancy Bush. 

Thank you to Jules Kliot of Lacis Museum 

and 

Nancy Bush for this incredible exhibit 

and the opportunity 

to see such beautiful Estonian lace work in person.

Holiday Glitter

Simonetta

The Holidays are all about glitter

so I was pretty excited when I saw 

Louisa Harding's new winter collection

Simonetta.  

 I couldn't wait to try Louisa's Simonetta yarn

which has "glittery" metallic fibers
added to the kid mohair.

I was so excited about Louisa's new book and yarn Simonetta,
that I organized a Holiday Glitter Knit-Along
(in the Louisa Harding group on Ravelry)
as a tribute to Louisa Harding
and her new collection.

Madelena

I recently finished my Madelena  scarf for the

Holiday Glitter Knit-Along.

  If I do say so myself...
I think it's the prettiest scarf I've ever knit!

Today is the last day of the Holiday Glitter Knit-Along

and it has been so much fun! 
Knitters have participated from

England, Scotland, Germany, Canada

and the USA. 

I am normally a "flitter knitter" but knew I had to focus

and finish my KAL project by the deadline

 since after all, I organized it. 

Whew, I made it
(with a week or so to spare)
and even with doing my Christmas knitting.  

Teresa's Madelena Scarf

My knitting pen pal Teresa in England

joined in on the fun and

knit the Madelena scarf as well,

only in the two-color version. 

I loved how she styled hers

and wore it with a beautiful blue coat and,

of course, her wellies! 

Holiday Glitter

I styled my Madelena scarf with a vintage rhinestone Weiss pin

that adds just the right amount of sparkle

to the Simonetta yarn! 

Thanks to Louisa Harding...

I'm ready to sparkle for the holidays

and the New Year! 

Jane Eyre Cuffs

 Jane's Cuffs

I recently enjoyed my very first KAL
(Knit A-Long)
on Ravelry. 

 Jane Eyre Knit-A-Long

Ravelry's Jane Eyre Group had a lovely KAL called

Tea Time on the Moors. 

Knitting, tea and Yorkshire...

why of course,

I had to get my needles out and join the fun!

 Lady Danio organized the KAL for a tea party on the Moors. 

You could knit (or crochet) tea cosies or lacy mitts

that we imagined Jane Eyre would have used with her tea basket out on the Moors.

 Plain Jane

For the KAL,
I wanted to knit something on the historical period side..
something that Jane may have actually worn. 
I chose the pattern Elm Leaves and knit lacy cuffs which I named
Jane's Cuffs. 

I broke away from my normal pretty blue colors
and knit something more dark and grey…
cuffs that perhaps Jane Eyre would have worn
wondering the Moors
or taking tea with Mr. Rochester.

I  found the perfect yarn for my project
at the Point Reyes Farmers Market
 from Mimi the owner of Windrush Farm.
The yarn is Mimi's Corriedale Cross
and is 80% wool and 20% silk.

Once completed, I thought my cuffs were a bit
"plain Jane" even for Jane Eyre. 
So, I added some pretty French lace trim in a linen color. 
I think it was a wise choice
and even gives them a more period-look. 
I think Charlotte Bronte would approve,
don't you? 

Teatime on the Moors

On September 24, 2011 the KAL projects were finished
and we had tea party on Ravelry in the Jane Eyre group.

We posted photographs of our completed project
along with having tea. 
Since Jane is from Yorkshire,
 I had  Yorkshire tea and scones at my tea party.  

The KAL was so enjoyable
and inspired me to pick up my needles in the summer when I don't knit much. 

I can't wait to do another KAL sometime again. 
Thank you Lady Danio for organizing such a fun event
 and tea party.