Elegant Economy Knitwear Designs… Has moved!
This is a very fun month for me. This month is a culmination of almost a year of intense thinking, planning, scheming, re-thinking, strategizing, experimenting, more planning, recruiting, and occasionally some knitting. 🙂
This very exciting month begins with this announcement….
It’s happened. Elegant Economy Knitwear Designs has a brand new home!
We’re leaving the wordpress.com nest to spread our own wings over at eleganteconomyknits.com. A change that is long overdue.
The new website brings an entirely new brand with it. You probably won’t recognize anything except the name. You’ll notice a brilliant, minimalistic, portfolio style site, with a dramatic but understated logo, allowing you to be inspired by images of the thing that makes all our hearts race, knitting.
This brand will make its way to all of the previously published patterns over the next week. So if you’ve purchased anything from me on Ravelry, you’ll notice an update shortly. I hoping the new layout will make for a much more pleasant and seamless knitting experience.
And there is more…
So…
What are you waiting for?
Head over to eleganteconomyknits.com and follow us on your favorite blog reader, facebook, or twitter to make sure you don’t miss a single thing! And believe me, you really don’t want to miss anything going on this month. 🙂
Also, this will be the last post on eleganteconomy.wordpress.com, so if you already follow me, this site will become awfully quiet and eventually go away. So again, head over to the new site and make sure you follow me there!
Happy Knitting!
Comfort Knitting
Last weekend was pretty epic. We got to host a BBQ for 150 people. It was a blast. I even got the house cleaned by Sunday morning. I was on a pretty serious high. I tried to come off of it strong too. I got up at 5:30 on Monday morning and spent some quality time with my planner, trying to get a picture of what all needs to happen before this baby comes in December. But I crashed. Hard.
Thankfully, I had a pretty good idea this might happen. And I planned for it. I finally decided I wanted to make a blanket for our little one, and big surprise, it would have lots of moss stitch. I’ve been addicted recently. So I ordered a whole bunch of Deluxe Worsted Superwash by Universal Yarn from Jimmy Beans Wool. So on Sunday, when the dishes were clean, and Chuck put on Blue Planet, I pulled it out and cast on.
Pattern: Some mitering wonderfulness from my head
Yarn: Deluxe Worsted Superwash by Universal Yarn, Steel Cut Oats colorway
Needles: Size 7 (4.5mm), Knit Picks Zephyr Acrylics (discontinued, I believe)
I had planned it to be some good comfort knitting, and it has not disappointed. The perfectly predictable incremental decreases combined with the almost, but a bit more interesting, vanilla feel of the moss stitch has made for the most perfect comfort knitting.
What kind of knitting do you use to unwind??
Fall Mojo
If you’ve been around the knitting blogosphere for any length of time you’ve probably heard about the phenomena of knitting mojo. Some of us have got our mojo on, and some of us have lost it entirely. After almost 5 years of cruising the blogs, I’ve started to see the cycles, both in other knitters and in my own mood. It seems like the entire knitting world surges with ideas, inspiration and excitement right about…..now.
It’s the tail end of August. And as we are finishing our vacations and planning fall schedules, suddenly cold weather doesn’t feel that far away… and neither does Christmas, that joyous season when us knitters love to envelope the ones we love in all the knitwear we can dream up. So we start knitting, and as we start knitting, we start researching patterns, and checking out blogs. And then all the fall magazines come out, twist collective, knitty, etc. And then,….our first finished project for the fall, and suddenly we’re invincible! It’s a fantastic feeling.
And that’s where I am right now.
I’ve been knitting for a fundraiser that happens to be next week, and with every completed item, my invincibility complex seems to grow. After finishing that delightful infinity scarf, I decided I could totally finish a pair of sock before next week, maybe even two! Well I’m not even done with the cuff, so we’ll se how this goes. 🙂
But the fun part is that this thing is over next week, which means that fall is just beginning, and my mojo is at an all time high. Which means…. who knows how much I just might start cranking out!
ALLL the pretty yarn!
Know a baby due to arrive this fall?! Seems like there’s been a bit of a baby boom around me, so the shower invitations and planning emails are circling. If you’re planning to knit a little something for this precious package, why not knit a little Sweetling Sweater? Go for it… pick up the pattern on Ravelry, grab some yarn and dive in! AND don’t forget! it’s 50% off until tomorrow night. Enter sweet1week when checking out on Ravelry.
Wait… what yarn? Isn’t that always the question? Sometimes it really is hard to match a pattern with the right yarn, or vise versa. So I decided to do a bit of leg work for you! I’ve poked around and put together a list of yarns that I personally would use to make this sweater for one of my next showers. Some I’ve used in the past, others I’m just drooling over. But ALL of these would make a beautiful sweater.
Happy Shopping!
Economical Ideas
Knit Picks Stroll – $19 for 12 month size
(This is calculated off of 4 skeins, which only gives you 924 yds. instead of the recommended 940 yds. in the pattern. However I did put a small buffer in the yardage requirements, so you should be fine. Just watch that gauge!!!)
Knit Picks Swish Worsted – $24 for 12 month size
Knit Picks Stroll Tonal – $24 for 12 month size
(Same disclaimer as the regular stroll. This is calculated off of 2 skiens of yarn which only gives you 924 yds. You’ll be fine if you watch your gauge!)
Elegantly Economical Ideas
Classic Elite Liberty Wool – $34 for 12 month size
Purely Elegant Ideas
Expression Fiber Arts Sock Yarn – $44 for 12 month size
Wullenstudio Sock Yarn – $44 for 12 month size
Miss Babs Tarte – $52 for 12 month size
Space Cadet Creations Lucina – $58 for 12 month size (This one has glitter in it!)
UrbanGypz South American Sock Yarn – $60 for $12 month size
A Winner and a Coupon!
And the winner is….
…Georgie! She’ll be contacted on Ravelry with her free pattern.
For everyone else… I’m doing a coupon for the rest of the week for 50% off the Sweetling Sweater pattern. Enter sweet1week when you checkout on Ravelry. Go grab your copy while they’re on sale! You know you have a little one in your life who would look just adorable in this.
Introducing the Sweetling Sweater and a Giveaway!
I’m proud to introduce a pattern I’ve been working on for some time! The Sweetling Sweater!
It went on the needles back in October! And now it’s done and ready for you to make for some little darling in your life! It’s knit in pieces and seamed together. This was one of my first seaming projects and I had a blast! Look up the mattress stitch. Super easy!
The texture pattern was lots of fun to play with. A bit of a riff off the double moss stitch with some fun twists, It kept my attention and made for a really interesting final product.
And the photo session was a blast! Nothing more fun than chasing a 10 month old around with a camera. 🙂
Giveaway!!
And….. what fun would a new pattern be without a FREE givaway! Post the ravelry link to this pattern (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweetling-sweater) on your favorite social media site, and comment on this post telling me that you did, with your ravelry ID, and you’ll be entered to win! It’s that simple! I’ll be announcing the winner on Monday…. so hurry!
Also, if I get more than 50 comments, I just might give away more than one pattern! Spread the word. 🙂
Pattern Details
This darling sweater is an interesting but quick knit. Most of the detail is found in a simple textured pattern on the yoke, while the arms and body are all simple stockinette. The style is feminine and functional, pairing well with any outfit, but also something you can quickly throw on your little one when going for a walk in spring or fall. This is a fabulous baby shower gift or the perfect project for mom as she waits for her new little one. It was designed for, modeled by, and named after my daughter, whose daddy calls her “sweetling”.
Gauge – 22 sts x 32 rows = 4 inches/10cm, worked in stockinette with yarn held double, on US5/3.75mm needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
Sizes – Newborn (3 month, 6 month) (12 month, 18 month, 24 month)
Chest Size of Finished Garment – 15.5 (17, 18) (19.5, 21, 22.5) inches or 39.5 (43, 45.5) (49.5, 53.5, 57) cm
Required Materials
- Yarn: 620 (720, 800) (940, 1100, 1240)yds/566 (620, 732) (860, 1006, 1134)m of sock/fingering weight yarn (100% Superwash Merino) by your favorite indie dyer.
Note: Sample is Knit up in LusterSoft by Expression Fiber Arts – 369yds (337m)/100g ; Colorway: Crown Jewels. - Needles: Size 5 US/3.75mm 32” circular needle, Size 3/3.25mm 32” circular needle.
- Notions: (10) Removable stitch markers, waste yarn or stitch holders, tapestry needle for seaming, (5) buttons.
A New Watering Hole
I’m thrilled to announce the newly formed Elegant Economy Group on Ravelry.
With over 500 members, this group provides a unique opportunity to connect with other knitters, chat about life, dialog about our latest knitting triumphs and struggles. This is also a fabulous way to interact with me if you’re hitting issues with an Elegant Economy pattern. I monitor the group closely,and really want to know if you are struggling.
Thank you to those who have already joined! I have already been so helped by all the members comments about current and future patterns.
Don’t forget that I’m active on other corners of the internet. I’m on facebook and twitter, where I post regularly, and I’m also on pinterest. Join me wherever you hang out most!
Happy Monday!
Free Pattern! Happy Birthday!
Hard to believe. 2 years ago this week, I released my first set of patterns. And to celebrate, I’m offering the two most popular patterns in the collection for FREE! When you check out on Ravelry, just enter the coupon code: bdayweek. The offer expires at midnight April 7th.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/silverlight
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crossover-cardi-2
Have a fabulous week!!
Introducing the Puckery Posy Cowl!
I am thrilled with this project.
One of the things I strive for the most in design is to create projects that are fun for knitters to make AND really, really look like you picked it up at a boutique hipster clothing store. And while I seem to see beautiful knitwear from these stores all the time, the challenge to design something in the same vein is usually much harder than I expect when I begin a project.
This time around I had extra inspiration. I teamed up with Chandi over at Expression Fiber Arts. If you’ve never taken a look at her yarn, you must! Her colors are amazingly beautiful and cutting edge. And I love following her blog and Facebook page, she’s a wonderfully sweet and encouraging person.
This cowl was designed with her brand new line of Spectrum Color Shift yarns. A single ply wool yarn with long color changes. When she sent me a photo of the different colorways, it was all I could do to choose just one!
My fashionable sister agreed to model for me. I don’t what I’d do without her. She loves playing with my twins, she weighs in when my fashion sense is completely off base, and she even likes modeling the final project. Isn’t she beautiful?
Here’s to one or two more cuddly, wool projects before spring is here!
Details:
This fashionably funky cowl is a breeze to knit up, and with a simple twist you’ll take your knitted work from warm and pretty to downright adorable. It’s designed so that there is lots of thick warm fabric right around your neck for you to snuggle your chin down into without adding any bulk to your coat. The sample in the photography is knit up in Spectrum Color Shift by Expression Fiber Arts, a single ply worsted yarn with long color changes. The color changes paired with the textured stitch pattern add depth and interest to an otherwise simple accessory.
Size: One Size Fits All
Dimensions: 25 inches/63.5cm around x 8 inches/ 20.5cm wide
Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches/10cm
Materials:
-2 skeins of Expression Fiber Arts Spectrum Color Shift (100g, 175 yds/skein), Coffee and Cream colorway.
-Size 6 US/4.0mm needles
-8 removable stitch markers (at least three need to be a different color from the others)
-Darning needle
Purchase the pattern over at Ravelry, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/puckery-posy-cowl.
Elegant Economy 