Autumn 2012 Accessories: Day 1

Today is the annual "I Love Yarn Day," and I can find no better way to celebrate than with the introduction of my first design collection: Accessories, Autumne, 2012.

To say I'm excited would be an understatement. While it might be a small collection by most standards - only 6 pieces - it represents a major accomplishment for me, and one that's been in the planning for a while now.  

To fully share and enjoy the fruits of my labor, I'm going to introduce each piece in the collection ready for its close-up (there's one that isn't quite ready just yet) on each of the next five days. Once the piece is announced, I'll add it to the Ravelry database, and then the final e-book will be logged onto my Ravelry patterns page. Each pattern will be available for purchase on its own or as part of the e-book. Next Wednesday I'm going to be awarding three e-books from all of the comments received during the entirety of the collection's introduction; two will be chosen by the ubiquitious random number generator, one will be chosen by me based on whatever moves me next Wednesday. Hey, it is my collection, after all.

You can click on the image below to view the entire pattern preview or download the pdf version if that is more convenient for you. (Note: there is some minor conversion issues uploading the pdf to Google docs, so don't be surprised if some of the fonts look different in the downloadable pdf version).

Without further ado, I'm pleased to introduce the first pattern in the collection:

The Piaf Scarf

 

 

I decided to start with the only knit pattern in the collection because it's incredibly versatile (the start of a theme) and works up lickity split in heavier weight yarn.

 

You know George Bailey had to get
in the middle of everything.

Named for the great French singer, this easily memorizable lace pattern came to me while I was working on a different  project last year. For this particular sample, I used Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool held together with Schulana Kid-Seta Lux for a surprisingly soft and warm fabric that's got just a little bit o' bling. A complementary color is also used for the fringe - I used Brooklyn Tweed's Shelter in the birdbook colorway - and it (the fringe) adds just the right lush touch:

 

 

The Fishermen's wool bloomed nicely when I soaked it for blocking; it was also incredibly warm while it was being modeled.

 

I'm finishing up a second sample in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter and Loft. It's working up well - very springy. (Note: Jared isn't kidding when he writes that Loft is "gently spun." I broke the first ball I tried to wind not once, but twice!)

 

I'm so thrilled to share this with all of you - now definitely head on over to the Wonder Why Gal's blog to see what Andrea and the gang are getting themselves into this week. 





And The Final Froggy Blocks ...

... are completed and on their way. The color choice for this swap was inspired by a frog (and thus the name of the block swap). While we might think of frogs as being green, they actually have a fair amount of mid-to-deep toned brown (as the stock photo to the left illustrates), thus the green and brown theme. All of the swappers used the same five yarn colorways in creating their blocks. We all, however, had free reign in the ways we combined those colorways, as well as the blocks we made (as long as they were 10 x 10). My final 10 blocks, in no particular order:

L-r: Spring Fling, basic Granny Square (from my head), Kata,
and Tartan Plaid from Nicky Epstein's Block by Block.
It's not yet in the Ravelry database.



R-l: Centrific, Simple 10 Petal Square, I Love The V-Stitch Block,
and a modified Forever Lace block.



L-r: Crown Jewels and August Sun.

While I thoroughly enjoyed making each of these blocks, the Tartan Plaid and August Sun were probably my two favorites from this set. There are post stitches in the August Sun that makes it full of texture; the vertical stripes in the Tartan Plaid were made with crochet! I rate all of these blocks (with the exception of the granny square) as intermediate. They each are a great way to test your stitch skills.



Now that all of my squares have been mailed, I'll await receipt of my final blocks, add a few additional blocks of my own, and then complete my blanket. I'm really excited to see how each of my fellow swappers put their blocks together.

 

Now definitely head on over to Andrea, the WonderWhyGal's blog, and check out everyone else's fibery fun on this Fee-Fi(ber)-F.O. Friday.

 

 



Recent Postcards

I've recently received the following two postcards:

This, from a German doctor, highlights both the words of Henning Sabo and the calligraphy art of Katharina Pieper. The verse:

Midst light I am

And light is all I see

I am a stream of light

No shadows

Anywhere

 

For everything is: light

And light is:

Everywhere.

The second is from an 11 year-old from Poland, and highlights the Palac W Antoninie:

I know very little of the architecture from the Polish monarchy, so this building sent me on a quick Google search (it's purportedly neoclassical). While it seems to now be a hotel, it was part of a string of castles that housed the Polish monarchy; these castles now seem to be the Polish president's residence.

Oh the places we'll go and the things we'll learn.