I’m super-excited to see that the new Knitscene magazine is on newstands now! Over the summer Lisa Shroyer, Knitscene’s editor, asked me if I would be interested in being a featured designer, which meant being interviewed (and photographed, eek!), as well as designing a mini-collection. Of course I said yes! I had the fun task of recruiting a local interviewer and photographer, so I shared the Knitscene love with my friends, Clair McLafferty and Cary Norton. I’m not really comfy in front of the camera, but Cary put me at ease talking about geeky iPhone love and beekeeping, and I loved the resulting pics. Clair’s expertise at interviewing folks for Birmingham Magazine showed, and I had fun telling her all about my knitting life (Clair’s also my gorgeous model for self-published patterns like Haven and Ayano).
I designed a trio of retro-inspired pieces: an embroidered slim cropped cardigan, a wide-necked pullover with striped trim, and a flowing floral-embellished camisole.
My favorite piece is the Seberg Sweater, I can’t wait until I have some time to spare to make one for myself. I was inspired by watching the adorable actress Jean Seberg in the 19060s French film “Breathless“. Seberg wore some gorgeous, iconic striped fashion in that film. Watching it, I knew I wanted to make at least one collection piece with form-fitting retro style and those graphic stripes.
I picked a basic raglan pullover shape as a starting point, and then made the neckline lower and wider to become the focal point. The sweater begins with a wide bias-knit striped garter band, and then the rest of the sweater is picked up* and knit down in one piece. I incorporated shaping into the front and back of the piece in sleek lines, and finished the sleeves and body with neat, turned-under stitched hems (one of my favorite finishes!). The resulting sweater is a surprisingly fast, simple knit, and a timeless wardrobe piece. The model garment is knit in classic Brown Sheep Company Cotton Fleece, a crisp, longwearing cotton and wool blend.
Thinking of knitting a Seberg? The sweater is meant to fit with little to no ease, so pick a finished bust measurement that is as small as 1-2″ less than, or up to 2″ more than, your actual bust measurement, depending on how snug you prefer the fit. Length is easily altered, just adjust to your style and body shape. You could even make a cap sleeve or long sleeve version! This is why top-down raglans are so blindingly popular, you can’t beat the options to customize on the fly.
I’ll be profiling the other Knitscene garments, the Beulah Cardi and the Fleurette Camisole, next week, so stay tuned!
*Picking up a bunch of stitches like that can sound like a drag, I know. On Stockinette stitch edges, I would agree, but picking up on garter stitch edges can be a breeze. I’ll be posting a short tutorial next week with the method I use.
This pattern is was a popular freebie that I had posted on the old Kitchen Sink Dyeworks blog a few years back. I had gotten lost after a site crash, and I hadn’t had time to hunt down the old files until now. Rejoice, it lives again!
Spokes Cuff, copyright 2009-2012, Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark
Yarn: fingering/sock weight remnants
Hook: size C/2.5mm
Gauge: 15 sts/7rows in double crochet=2″, gauge needn’t be exact, cuff length can easily be modified.
Notions: two buttons (use up those spare shirt buttons!), tapestry needle, sewing needle and thread
Finished size: 2.75″ wide by 7″ long, length can be adjusted to fit your wrist measurement
Cuff-
Work medallion chart, or written directions below, for center of cuff. The last partial round will bring you across one edge to begin cuff wrap-around.
Ch 4, join into round w slip st.
Round 1: ch 5, (tc, ch 1) 11 times, sl st into 4th ch of turning ch to join.
Round 2: ch 3, 2dc into ch space, ch 1, (3dc into ch space, ch 1) 11 times, sl st into 3rd ch of turning ch to join.
Round 3: ch 3, dc into each of next 2 dc, (ch 7, skip next 5 sts, dc into ea of next 3 dc, ch 2, dc into ea of next 3 dc) 3 times, ch 7, skip next 5 sts, dc into ea of next 3 dc, ch 2, sl st into 3rd ch of turning ch to join.
Round 4:ch 1, sc into next 2 dc, ([3 sc, hdc, ch2, hdc, 3 sc] along chain, 3 sc into next 3 dc, 2 sc into ch space, 3 sc into next 3 dc) repeat 3 times, [3 sc, hdc, ch2, hdc, 3 sc] along chain, 3 sc into next 3 dc, 2 sc into ch space, sl st into turning ch to join.
Round 5 (partial round): slip st into next 5 sc, sl st into next hdc, sl st into ch space, ch 1, 18 sc along edge.
Turn work to begin dc band.
Ch3, dc in each of next 17 sc, turn.
Ch3, dc in each of next 17 dc, turn.
Repeat last row until cuff measures 1″ less than total desired length. Cut yarn, fasten off.
Attach yarn at opposite edge, ch1, 18 sc along edge, turn.
Ch3, dc in each of next 17 sc, turn.
Ch3, dc in each of next 17 dc, turn.
Repeat last row until cuff measures total desired length, ending with a right side row, turn.
Ch1, sc in each of next 3dc, ch3, skip next 3 dc, sc in each of next 6 dc, ch3, skip next 3 dc, sc in each of next 3 dc, turn. Ch1, work one round of single crochet around entire outer edge of cuff, join to beginning of round with slip stitch. Cut yarn and fasten off. Weave in all ends. Using sewing needle and thread, sew buttons in place on long end of cuff, opposite buttonholes.
This pattern is made available free for your personal use or gift giving. Please do not sell items made from this pattern or post the pattern instructions to any other site.
I went out to the backyard yesterday, on the hunt for some dandelion greens to feed my pet lizard, Raoul, and found several interesting things I hadn’t previously noticed growing in the yard.
As I opened the gate to my compost bin, I found not only a clump of dandelions on the edge of the pile, but two robust, thriving heads of collard greens. These little guys had been tossed in there after I had accidentally beheaded them with some clumsy skuffle hoe work. I guess I gave up on them too soon! I’m now debating whether or not to transplant them, eat them, or let them stay put. Any thoughts, gardeners?
Last winter, Chris felled a few trees whose shallow root systems were not holding them up very straight anymore. I hate to see trees cut down, but these were an impending threat to our (and our roof’s) safety. We still have a few stumps, partially burnt out, that have become home to some fascinating-looking fungi! Check out these adorable, lamb’s ear-esque, fuzzy brown cuties!
And this one, that has a powdery texture and reminds me a little bit of brain coral. I love the contrast of the stark white on the black, burnt charcoal stump wood, with greyed-out bark ringing the area.
And of course, I did find some dandelions for Raoul. Even for Alabama, it has been weirdly warm this winter, so the dandelions are still plentiful, although their leaves are far smaller than they were in the autumn.
Raoul will be pleased.
It’s the 19th, and I’m just now feeling like I have a handle on the beginning of the new year. Mostly.
Those that know me on closely, in regular life and on twitter, know that I had a sad family event on the 9th that threw things into a tailspin. The best laid plans of mice and men, indeed. I’m gathering my thoughts and words on that, and will post here soon. I spent most of last week in Savannah, GA, with my husband, Mom, and sister; so this week has been a slow re-entry into a regular schedule of work and life tasks, with a tiny bit of socializing with close friends. As an introvert who normally works alone most days, the last week of constant companionship and shared space threw me, so I’m trying to get back to my center before I venture out with larger groups.
For many days in Savannah, I kept trying to focus on my design projects for work, only to find I had the attention span of a ferret on amphetamines. So upon my return home to AL, I busted out my stash of dishcloth cotton, my copy of Mason Dixon Knitting, and got to work on some baby bibs, a long-overdue gift to a cousin and her new twins. Comfort knitting, mindless activity, and a celebration of new life all rolled into one.
I made a mash-up/hybrid of Ann’s and Kay’s Baby Bib O’ Love and Baby Genius Burp Cloth, with i-cord ties. And a word of warning, Peaches and Creme fans, but P&C has some new strange scented cotton, with a not-too-obvious label. So if you’re scent sensitive, keep an eye out for that tiny oval stamp on the standard label. I didn’t find the smell overpowering, but others may not feel the same.
Today I have a small stash of bibs to mail off, and yesterday I managed to complete the math on one lace pattern, and charting on another.
Things are starting to get back to normal, or, as normal as it gets. I think that’s a pretty good thing.
It would take a gentle kick from the lovely Clara Parkes of Knitter’s Review, in the form of a mention in her year end review, to get me moving on this new space. As you can see, it’s a bit sparse around here, but since company was coming over, in the form of new Knitter’s Review visitors, I figured I should sweep up a bit and toss some throw pillows around. Welcome!
I’m still wading through the last few stages of shutting down Kitchen Sink Dyeworks, but am simultaneously working on several new designs for 2012, as well as a revamping of some older patterns. I’m also trying my best to schedule in some much needed rest, but that task is usually one that I (often unwittingly) drop off of my to-do list, so we shall see how that goes!
Want to see what new patterns, projects, and articles are coming in 2012? Sign up for the Mercedes Knits newsletter, full of all sorts of entertaining goodies, both knitting and non-knitting alike.
See you in the new year!
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Redirected from another page? Welcome! If you were looking for Piebird Design or Kitchen Sink Dyeworks, you may have been redirected here. The dyeworks closed in late 2011 so that I could focus on design work. My older website and design label, Piebird Design, has found its new home here on Mercedes Knits. Questions? Send me an email at mercedes [at] knitn [dot] com.
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