Slow Fashion October: My (Small) Approach to Stash

Three different versions of the
Gradient Flower Cowl, all
hanging in a row ...

Hello everyone - happy October. In case you haven't seen anything on social media with the #slowfashionoctober hashtag, all this month Fringe Association is celebrating all facets of DIY clothing and fashion with weekly prompts. I've already started to post some photos to my Pinterest account relating to the topic, so I thought it was about time I did a little blogging about it.

It also coincides with the end of my hosting duties in the Gradient Flower Cowl CAL on Ravelry. I want to thank Crochet! Magazine for hosting the CAL, to Lion Brand for their lovely Amazing Yarn, as well as to the many, many lurkers in the CAL thread (and you know who you are!). I managed to complete three different cowls for myself (yes, mine all mine) using nothing but scraps from stash. This designing with yarn scraps in mind is something that I've been contemplating for over a year. It has been such a treat to not only see some of the outward fruits of this contemplation, but to experience the joy of stalking my own stash and putting together different color combinations. It brings me no small amount of pleasure to know that I am de-stashing in such a mindful (and rather stylish and colorful, if I do say so myself) manner. I've already got ideas on how I will be incorporating these cowls into my everyday wardrobe, and hopefully you'll get to see those ideas here on the blog throughout October.

In the meantime, I'm currently showing off the version in which I used a bucket load of fingering weight yarn (and a few lace weight ends held double). Quite frankly, this version is autumn encapsulated - and my neighborhood trees kindly reinforced the seasonal mood. I've got it paired up with a suede jacket, and I love the texture play. I fully expect I'll get a lot of mileage from this cowl, and I couldn't be happier.

Yeah slow fashion!

Gradient, Ombre or Variegated?

We still have two weeks left in my hosted Gradient Flower Cowl CAL. I am astounded at all the lurkers watching Jackie and I create our cowls. I hope you're all getting good ideas for your own scrappy cowls. Of course, we'd welcome anyone who wants to join us. You can also vote in a wee poll to let Jackie know what version of this pattern she should make with all of her wonderful Koigu scraps - cowl, stole, scarf or (intake of breath!) throw. 

When Jackie posted one of her process photos, she mentioned her process for color placement:

"My loosely formulated plan is to begin each new motif in a color range that echoes a color from the previous motif. So, sort of a gradient color sweep in a way, but a lot more riotous color scheme. After all this is Koigu!"

I liked Jackie's thinking, but thought it might be nice to go a little more in-depth and discuss the differences between the terms gradient, ombre and variegated. They are tossed around a lot in the fiber business, and the painter in me loves to discuss color and palette.

A small example of
Noro variegated yarn
mid-photo.

Initially, let's start with the easiest (or at least most easily recognized) of these terms: variegated. In terms of fiber, variegated yarns are skeins which have been dyed with various amounts of different colors. There are techniques used in the dying process, such as "short color runs" and "long color runs" to produce various effects in the final fabric. The most renowned of variegated yarns is, of course, Noro. However, Koigu and the LB Amazing also fall into this category (and on the more high-contrast Amazing colorways, you can easily see this). If you want to see variegation in action in the natural world, check out my Pinterest Flowers board

A side view of LB Amazing in the Olympic
colorway. This is a radial gradient, meaning the
color goes light to dark radiating out from the
center of a circle.

Next, there's gradient. Gradient, in terms of color, is a progression of different colors that are position-dependent and usually go from light to dark, or vice versa, within a defined surface or area. If you designate a square or circle in your word processing program be filled with color, usually one of many options is to make the color a gradient. It is very pleasing to the eye to see a progression of color. Even if you look closely at any variegated yarn, you'll see small pockets of gradient color in the transition from one color to another. In my original Gradient Flower Cowl sample (which inspiration came directly from my Pinterest flower board), I attempted to herd the colorways, using both ends of the skein, into lighter shades at the top and deeper shades at the bottom. Even though there might be some lighter colored motifs in the final rows of the original sample, taken together, it produces a gradient that generally goes from light at the top of the trapezoid to dark at the bottom of the trapezoid using several different colors. 

My sample Gradient Flower Cowl
for Crochet! Magazine. This photo
captures the lighter (and perhaps
more vibrant) color at the top, and the
darker, more muted colors at the bottom.

Finally, there's ombre. This term generally refers to mixing and blending hues of the same color in a progression of light to dark and (sometimes) back again. The best example, at least for my and this CAL's purposes, is the LB Scarfie. If you look at my photo of the sides of each skein of the prize colorways in the CAL, you'll easily see how, generally speaking (artists and, in this instance, Lion Brand, can certainly take liberties with the notion of one color), using a progression of shades of the same color allows the color to go from light to dark.

Lion Brand Scarfie as seen from the side, with the
denim/navy colorway farthest on the left.

When I'm painting, I can create a vibrant palette, with not one shade out of place or jarring to the eye, by using only one or two different primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and mixing various amounts of either white or black. The best Scarfie example would be the denim/navy colorway - white added to the original blue will yield the denim side of the spectrum, and adding black will yield the navy side of the colorway.

While my first finished cowl in this CAL uses mostly greens and blues, the gradient is subtle. However, on my second cowl (in fingering weight) you can easily see how I'm going from light to dark, even in this early process photo below.

It's quite all right that I have some darker colors right next to light ones, because it's the overall effect across the entire area (the trapezoid shape) of the cowl that my eye will scan. It will see light to dark, and be pleased.

Think about these terms the next time you're viewing the scraps in your stash and come up with combinations to achieve the effect that is most pleasing to your eye. 

Happy coloring!

Everything is Coming up Flowers

Hello to everyone on this slightly more-sober-than-usual Friday. As we remember the events of 9/11, I am so incredibly fortunate to have missed being near or in the Towers fourteen years ago, as scheduling found me in class and not at my externship at the EEOC, which was located at 10 World Trade and was the third building to go down (later in the afternoon). I thankfully admit that I feel light years away from those events, even though I will never forget that clear, sunny and blue day.

So I'm celebrating the present clear, sunny late summer day with a finished fiber project! Hey, there's nothing like a little fiber to put things in perspective, right? I'm super pleased to show off my completed Gradient Flower Cowl inspired by the palette of the Olympic National Forest:

Close-up of the buttons on my Gradient Flower
Cowl. Yes, those leaves are actually starting to
turn colors.

I love how this turned out! Once I was done with the main body of the cowl, I turned it 180 degrees so the section with more of the blue tones was closer to my face, and the greens/more yellow tones were farther away, and then I added the edging. I'm also super pleased with my button choice. All in all, I plan on getting lots of wear out of this cowl.

I'll leave you with an earlier progress photo of my fingering version. I cannot tell you how much I love this design. I've actually got stash yarn ready for two more worsted weight versions - one in burgundy/reds and another in all greens. Nope, I'm not slightly obsessed with these little motifs. Nope, no siree Bob, not moi.

Have a great fiber-filled and sunny weekend everyone. And if anyone wants to make one of their very own Gradient Flower Cowls, there's a Ravelry thread where some of us are sharing our progress and photos. Well, at least Crochet! Magazine's managing editor and I are doing so, and a lot of people are lurking and watching us. Don't be shy, people - join us!

Continuing Thoughts on Fiber

Still life of  my current Gradient Flower Cowl.

Hello everyone - it's a day before the last big blowout weekend of the summer here in the U.S. Is everyone ready to get their grill on one more time? Who is actually ready for autumn to arrive?!!!!

As you know, this past Tuesday was the official start of my hosting the Gradient Flower Cowl over on Ravelry. There's been a lot of lookers in the first few days, but only a few have taken the plunge. I hope you'll look in your stash of awesome scraps, find some colors in one weight of yarn that appeals to you, and join us!

I have been absolutely enjoying working up my two versions (which yarn I blogged about here). Want to see some progress? Here's the first row of my version done in Lion Brand Amazing (the same fiber as the sample for the magazine, but in different colors). This is an aran weight yarn and I'm using a size J/6.00 mm hook. I've increased the amount of motifs by two so I'll have a slightly wider cowl (and I'll use up more scraps in the process).

I'm also really, really far along on my fingering weight version. I've switched up the palette just slightly (omitting most of the mid-blue tones), so it will be mostly creams, grays and orange/red/browns. I'm not going to show you my progress on that one just yet, but let me tell you, I pretty much couldn't put it down yesterday.

It did get me to thinking about other potential fiber choices. I note that I originally swatched with both chunky and worsted weight yarns that were plied but both were, at least to me, too heavy. I opted for the Amazing because of it's lovely brushed quality - it's an aran weight fiber without the heaviness. So any fiber rated by the CYCA (Craft Yarn Council of America) size 4 or above might work if it's light in weight - a roving type yarn, perhaps, or any fiber whose construction is airblown (such as this) or (my personal favorite) any weight of mohair. At the right is a peek at some fingering weight mohair I have in stash that would make a beautifully airy yet warm Gradient Flower Cowl in some of my favorite colors.

This is the Labor Day weekend here in the U.S. and I wish everyone who has the weekend to themselves a wonderfully relaxing time doing exactly as they choose. I give a special shout out to all those who are gearing up for the beginning of school next week - yes, the hazy, lazy days of summer are done. Where did it go?

On the Needles/Hooks

A powerful wind/rain storm knocked
out power over the weekend for about
12 hours. Thank goodness I
love candlelight.

Happy Monday, everyone. Here we are in the last unofficial week of summer, and I'm already looking forward to fall. Yes, it is my all-time favorite season of the year. Of course, a doozie of a wind/rain storm occurred over the weekend that pretty much signaled the end of summer in these here parts. While we desperately need the rain, the wind caused a whole lotta havoc with trees that still have all of their summer leaves. 

As I wrote about here, I'll be hosting a scrappy CAL for my Gradient Flower Cowl. I am really aiming to make two different versions for myself - one version, whose color palette is inspired by the Olympic National Forest, will be done in the Lion Brand Amazing I have in my stash shown below. There's Rainforest, Olympia, and Wildflowers, with a smattering of Violets and Vineyard.

Additionally, I'm going to attempt a fingering weight version with the gorgeous scraps and yarn balls to the right that have been in my stash for awhile.

I need to work a sample motif to determine hook size (I'm thinking 4.25 or 4.50 mm, but I'll see). Then, after some quick math as well as determining exactly how wide I'd like it (since I think I'm going to make it bigger than the original sample since I have plenty of yarn I'd like to use up), I'll tuck into it. I must admit, I'm pretty excited to see all these colors in context.

And, finally, here's the fiber for a project I'm currently working up for publication:

I'm really loving all of these palettes. 

Fall is my favorite time of year.

Hey, it's a Scrappy CAL!!!!

The Gradient Flower Cowl, worked
up in three different colors of
Lion Brand Yarn's Amazing.

It's almost Labor Day everyone - the beginning of September, back to school, and time to stash-bust. Stash-bust? That's a fall thing? Well, it is now.
 

I'm super thrilled to be hosting a CAL for my design the Gradient Flower Cowl (at left) recently published in Crochet! Magazine's special edition From Scraps to Sensational. The CAL will run here from 9/1 – 9/26 and I'm really looking forward to oohing and aahhh over everyone's wonderful color combinations! I already have the yarn for two different cowls (I have A LOT of stash bits and bobs), so I’m looking forward to working on my own right alongside the rest of the CALers.

The CAL officially starts next week, so if you'd like to join us, start eyeing your worsted/aran weight stash and find some colors that will look wonderful together (and wonderful on you!), and take a photo of the fiber and let us know you'll be making one of these addictive cowls. There will be prizes (thank you Lion Brand Yarn), and most importantly, beautiful cowls to keep you warm as the leaves start to fall.

Do join us, won't you?

Still Feeling the Cowl Love

(c) Annie's

I wrote in my Ravelry group a while back that I was feeling the cowl love. I have designed quite a few cowls in the past year, and I've got another one to share with you: the Gradient Flower Cowl.

As I blogged back in March when I photographed the yarn used in this project (Lion Brand Amazing - one of my favorites), I thoroughly enjoyed making this sample. In fact, I pretty much couldn't put it down. Even weaving in the ends wasn't a chore. There is something about watching color in a project come to life that is completely engrossing to me. I simply cannot get enough of it. Since I used three different Amazing colorways to achieve this gradient (lightest and brightest colors at the face and neck to darker colors around the shoulders) it once again felt like painting with yarn, which is always a thrill for the painter in me.

There is one big first with this project - it actually made the cover of the special Annie's publication it's in: From Scraps to Sensational. Here's a smaller photo of the cover - check out the left hand top corner:

(c) Annie's

This is the first cover of a publication that's not published by yours truly on which one of my designs appears. A little chuffed am I. 

I've linked to this special Annie's publication above. It's currently on sale for instant download directly from Annie's, and it will hit newsstands mid-August. 

This has completely made my day!

It's Monday ...

... time for melange! I haven't written one of these in a while, so I'm thrilled to be able to once again.

 **********************

Now that the lion's share of work is done for Leather, Lace, Grit & Grace (we're on to promotion and stuff), I've made a promise to myself that I will utilize my Pinterest food board more. I've been amassing quite a lot of food pins and have yet to really make a dent in trying them. 

What you see on the left is lunch leftovers from yesterday's dinner of Herb Roasted Chicken Thighs with Potatoes (pinned originally from Simply Recipes). I love chicken. Love.Chicken. Love.It. Especially the dark meat. And, since this is a quick, one pot dish, it's definitely right up my alley. The directions are clear, the ingredients list short and easily purchased (if you don't already have everything in the house), and the result was truly tasty. I omitted the garlic (sometimes it doesn't agree with me, but I like it), and used liberal amounts of fresh tarragon, as well as the two teaspoons of dijon mustard (mine was honey dijon). I cannot tell you how out of this world the potatoes turned out - the chicken provides the requisite amount of fat, and the vinaigrette enough acid to compliment the fat. The fresh tarragon made it taste like spring. I've got a little still left over, and I'm savoring the thought of it. Definitely two thumbs up for this recipe.

**********************

I have been on a southeast Asian-inspired film jag. I am also amazed that all three films I've recently watched starred Irrfan Khan, although I probably shouldn't be surprised. For an excellent double feature, I'd recommend Life of Pi and The Lunchbox. I read Life of Pi with a group of people in my Ravelry group and we all enjoyed it. I was a little hesitant to finally watch the film adaptation, but enough time had passed between the reading and the watching, so I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Ang Lee is truly brilliant and I cannot believe how life-like the CGI tiger turned out. Unlike Life of Pi, The Lunchbox is a small film, but was equally enjoyable. Both films made me hungry. 

**********************

Finally, I leave you with fiber from another recently completed project for publication later in the year. I cannot wait for everyone to see this design - I totally loved making the sample. Until next time ...

I Just Can't Help Myself

Hi Everyone - happy December 26th! I hope you are kicking back and enjoying a post-holiday day off from work.

As for me, here's why I can't help myself: I have started to highlight tester finished projects over at the Leather, Lace, Grit & Grace blog. However, I am showing off only those finished projects from designs I previewed. Since there are so many more designs (which are now making their way slowly but surely into the Ravelry database), I decided I needed to show off one of them here, so I hope you'll indulge me on this Fee-Fi(ber)-F.O. Friday.

The design is the Quimby Hooded Cover-up, inspired by Harriet Quimby's distinctive purple silk flying outfit. To the left is my sample worked up for the book in, of course, predominantly purple hues of Lion Brand Amazing in the violets colorway and LB Collection Silk Mohair in iris. 

Now, check out my wonderful tester Kristina's cover-up. She also used Lion Brand Amazing, but in the Strawberry Fields colorway, and paired it with a different yarn for the edging. Don't you just love how sassy she's looking in the photo to the right? The scarf also looks great just simply left to its own devices in the front.

I've also included a shot of the back of Kristina's, which clearly shows the length of the shrug. It's enough to provide good warmth down most of the wearer's back. The goal with this cover-up is warmth, warmth, warmth - in case you were wondering. Quimby flew in open cockpits, so a warm flying suit with functionality was paramount to her. Harriet designed her own distinctive suit from purple parachute silk, and it pretty much covered her from head to ankles. While something similar would be overkill today, I thought this struck the right balance between warmth and versatile, fashionable good looks.

Thanks so much for checking in here at fiber chez Voie de Vie. Now, definitely make certain you head on over to Andrea's at Wisdom Begins in Wonder to see how everyone else is spending their time post-holiday.

And do get ready for 2015. OhMyBob, 2015!!!!!!

New Designs This Fee-Fi(ber)-F.O. Friday

A wee process photo. See my
straight pins? Markers for
the side buttons.

Hello everyone! Happy first Friday in September. As we enjoy the final throws of great summer weather, here are a few new designs published just this past Monday in the October issue of iLikeCrochet.com.

I do love how this colorway mimics the
tree's leaves in the bottom of the photo.
So not planned.

Everyone who reads this blog or knows anything about me knows that I lurves my morning coffee. And yes, I drink decaf - I actually love, love, love the taste and smell of coffee - it's definitely a Proustian thing with me. So even though I've designed one French press cozy already, why not another one? The Cafe au Lait French Press Cozy (found in the "Autumn Around the House" section of the e-zine) is a one-skein fun project that most crocheters, including adventurous beginners, should be able to whip up in no time at all. I especially love these granny square motifs in Lion Brand's Amazing in the strawberry fields colorway. And once closed at the top, your coffee will stay warmer much longer. Really.







The next new design in this edition has been dubbed a "hot pattern" - it's the Floral Embellished Tablet Cozy. I do think it's rather genius, not to mention a great use of color. Just two skeins (one each of Berroco Comfort and Noro Kureyon) makes this great cover for your tablet; you choose from three different dimensions in order to get the best fit for your tablet size.







Here's a peek at the inside:

The pocket at the top of the photo holds a piece of lightweight foam board so your tablet has a great stabilizer. Pretty neat, huh?





And finally, to cap the cozy warmth theme of these designs, please check out my Autumn Leaf Shawl:

Done in Dream in Color Wisp in the Anguished Rose colorway, this light-as-a-feather shawl carries a big shoulder-warming stick. As a rather fun fact, this is my first triangular shawl design, and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The stitch pattern creates "veins" from the center spine outward, not unlike a leaf. The edging is simple, yet seems to grow organically from the main body of the shawl. It can be customized to pretty much any dimension - the stitch pattern allows for as many repeats as the wearer chooses.

Now don't forget to head on over to Andrea's at Wisdom Begins in Wonder to see everyone else's finished projects this week.

Have a great weekend; get out there and enjoy all that final summer weather!

It's a Slow Fee-Fi(ber)-F.O. Friday

Hello fiberistas far and near - it is Friday yet again. I am in the middle of several top secret projectz, but I did reveal earlier in the week my latest design being donated to charity - the Amber Bling Bag. I'm conducting a public test of the pattern here on Ravelry, so if you'd like to be a testy tester - for tester glory and the good, virtuous feelings you'll get when you know you're helping a great cause, childhood cancer research - then stop on by and sign up. The test runs through May 14th, so there's still plenty of time to get in on the tester action.

Otherwise, it's back to the hooks 'n sticks project crunch for moi. Thought I'd leave you with shots of the fiber I'm currently working with. I'm definitely having a colorfully good time.

Now do check in with Andrea over at Wisdom Begins in Wonder to see what projects (top secret or otherwise) everyone is working on this week.

This is coming up soon - the daily prompts have been
announced and the tags listed. Will you be participating?

Ha Ha! A Finished Project and a New Published Design

Happy Friday, everyone - the sun is shining here in the Pacific Northwest - spring has definitely sprung and not a millisecond too soon.


So of course I'm right on time completing a project I started last fall. Hey, it's done, and I am pretty darn proud of it - behold the lovely One if By Hook Cardi:

And, for those of you who are interested in the back of the work:

I used the worsted weight wool gifted from Vivian (Bits and Pieces) for the body and the lower sleeve colorblocks. Lion Brand Amazing in the violets colorway comprise all the edging bands (done in tunisian crochet 1 x 1 ribbing), and the upper sleeve colorblocks came from a cone of light worsted weight from an lys. I particularly like how all the purples work well with each other. I know the body color looks more pink, but it's really somewhere closer to a very light mauve tweed with deeper purple and yellow flecks, and while the Amazing has subtley changing color runs, they definitely have personality. Three quarter length sleeves will make this a perfect little topper in the cooler weather here and for summer evenings. And you know I just love the purple buttons I found to coordinate with the yarn:

And now for the newly published design, which can be found in the summer edition of Crochet! Magazine:

The Fan Play Cafe Curtain turned into an homage to art deco graphic goodness, although I was simply aiming for a curtain with an asymmetrical element. These photos were taken in bright sunlight last fall (see, it really doesn't rain all the time here in the Pacific Northwest), so while the lovely green colorway is somewhat washed out, the strong graphic design certainly is not.

The top and bottom edgings are easy yet pretty fan and puff repeats. Covered plastic rings complete the cafe curtain look. I used easy care Nazli Gelin crochet cotton in a very pretty green colorway:

While I used the individual balls for the sample, I'd suggest getting a cone - much more efficient.

Definitely now head on over to Andrea and Wisdom Begins in Wonder and check out all the other fiber activities this Friday - whether with or without sunlight.

I'm Close to a Finished Project

Hello everyone, and happy Friday! I am pleased to report that I am almost done with my very own One If By Hook Cardi. Here's what it presently looks like:

 

I completed the sleeves last Sunday, and have attached one of the arms (the one on the right, with the right side of the fabric facing). The one on the left is pinned but still needs to be seamed; then all I'll have to do is work the front and neck bands. And then, of course, search for the all-important perfect buttons.

As you might recall (but if not, you can read my two previous posts about this cardi here), I needed to get some additional yarn for the sleeves. I do like the colorblocked look - it's making the edging rib really stand out.

I hope everyone makes it over to Wisdom Begins in Wonder to find out all the fibery things this Friday. And while we're still So.Incredibly.Waterlogged here in the Pacific Northwest, signs of spring are starting to appear, and I hope spring comes soon to everyone.

Even with crappy cell phone camera, isn't this great?

 

The Final Romantique Design ...

Lion Brand Amazing in
the vineyard colorway and
Romance in the merlot
colorway - very apropos.

Alright my fellow fibery crafters, we're at the last design installment from my Romantique collection - the Brix Coat. Again, there was no particular reason for me to leave this for the end, but I must admit, it is a great note upon which to anchor the collection.

The basic design came to me way back in March (when I was working on Fleurs et L'eau, which is definitely the way with me), but didn't get sketched out for another month. For those who may be interested, brix is a wine-making term (the sweetness level of a grape prior to picking), and once I saw the fibers and colorways in which I wanted to work the coat, the name instantly popped into my head. I am pleased with the balance of fur - just the right amount around collar and cuffs - and I do love Lion Brand's Amazing yarn. If you've never worked with it, I urge you to give it a go; it's brushed so it's soft and warm, and the long color runs ensure great tonal stripes. These photos are very true to the colorway in real life - isn't it just super? The Romance (also by Lion Brand) is a very silky fur. It requires use of a rather honking big hook, so be warned.

And, of course, I needed to make a great button statement. That's a 2" diameter button, and I love it.

The coat comes in just three sizes, and each size fits a wide range. I've shown it here in the second size, but these models could have easily worn the first size. The goal is to provide an easy on/off topper for a multitude of potential winter layers underneath, or a great warm topper with some sass on a dressy night out. And of course while I love these colorways, I can easily envision this in a winter white/gray/brown treatment or any number of other knock-out color combinations. 

By the time you read this (or very soon thereafter), all of the Romantique patterns will be in the Ravelry database, along with the entire e-book. The collection is going to go on a very brief (!) blog tour, ending the first week in January. I will be hosting a CAL in my Ravelry group mainly (although not exclusively) for the collection starting in the new year and running through mid-February. There will be prizes (hint: yummy yarn!) and fun. I hope you'll join us.

Now don't forget to hit The Wonder Why Gal's site to check out the end-of-year fiber doings. It's been another amazing year for me. Wrap up soon.

Add a great black dress, and you're ready for a
rockin' New Year's Eve on the town.