Phi

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Aug 022013
 
Phi

The Golden Ratio, or Phi, represents harmony in nature, art and mathematics, and embodies the human perception of beauty. This asymmetric shawl harmoniously blends two colors to the Golden Mean, and then back again, using the Fibonacci sequence to determine the width of the stripes and their relation one to the next . . . All knitting, always pleasing, with a graphic , and harmonious result. Techniques & Skills Used: increasing/decreasing, knit; Phi includes instructions in written and quick table format, and a link to my video tutorial for carrying the unused color along the garter edge. Size: 90” length and 16” depth. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Finito (100% merino; 200 yards/183m/50g; 2 skeins MC and 2 skeins CC, or about 370 and 300 yards respectively of fingering weight yarn. Sample shown in Plomo (MC) and Mostaza (CC). The yardage requirements ratio of MC to CC is approximately 1.25 : 1 – make sure you have about 80% as much CC as MC to complete the sequence. Other Materials: US 5 (3.75mm) 32” circular needle, or . . .

So much colors!

 FOs  1 Response »
Oct 112012
 
So much colors!

Variegated yarns are an ongoing challenge; they look so appealing in the skein that you cant resist, and yet – what to do with them, really? Socks, maybe; those are mostly covered up and are like a secret crazy. I think that’s why sock yarns tend to have the most numerous, exuberant instances of variegation. But what about something like a worsted weight superwash? My solution was to make fingerless mitts with a K1below stitch pattern.    The hand and cuff edge are regular rib, but the long gauntlet arm section transitions to a K1below rib that breaks up the colors and makes a fluffy, less elastic brioche, good for scrunching up. Both pairs use Malabrigo Rios, one in the Candombe colorway, the other in Azules. I made the Candombe pair first as the design prototype, when I was trying to find a way to love all that yellow in my skein. Then I thought I’d try a shaded-variegated with some of the Azules left over from Blue Honey. It may be mostly blue, but . . .

Fall 2012 Pantone Fashion Color Report

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Sep 062012
 
Fall 2012 Pantone Fashion Color Report

Now that back-to-school is a reality, in my mind fall has officially arrived. And fall of course means a mental adjustment, back to serious work and a more pulled together look – I’m eagerly anticipating the ability to wear more sweaters and accessories. The forecasters released their visions for Fall 2012 two seasons ago, but now we’re finally in the moment. As is typical with me, I personally prefer the subdued edges of the color line above, but can see Pink! Tangerine! even Chartreuse! as an accent. That Ultramarine Green is the only one I cant imagine myself doing anything with – it looks like Forest to me, but as that’s my son’s favorite, I’m sure I’ll be seeing some of it. Here’s what Pantone has to say: As the season transitions from the heat of summer, Bright Chartreuse, a vital yellow-green, pays homage to a typical spring shade and creates a bridge into the cooling days of fall. Reminiscent of bright green foliage, it provides a perfect accent to every color in the palette. . . .

Headshot

 Random Thoughts  1 Response »
May 172012
 
Headshot

I’ve been thinking for a while that I really need a decent head shot for published things and various avatars. My other half has recently been linking himself in and got all motivated to take a new self portrait – which lead to the discussion in which he expressed the opinion that my previous default picture was a hair shot, not a head shot.  He has a point. So in a synergistic moment, the spousal ridicule, acknowledgement that I need to stop changing my Ravelry ravatar all the time, and my continuing exploration of Lightroom all came together in this. Maybe the hair’s not as good, but the overall is nice PLUS I got to practice my photo editing mad skillz with my new Lightroom software. Ever since Picnik announced they would be shutting down, I’ve been stressing out about how to do my editing; not that I do tons of it, but a little bit of tone curving for lights and darks, some airbrush and color correction can make a huge difference. One of . . .

Fall 2011 Pantone Color Forecast

 Fashion  Comments Off on Fall 2011 Pantone Color Forecast
Oct 012011
 
Fall 2011 Pantone Color Forecast

Autumn is here, whether you live in a 4-season climate, or a place that’s less changeable. Here’s what you can expect to see in store, right now. Pantone’s Fall 2011 Fashion color palette, presented back in spring when New York’s Fall Fashion Week unveiled designers’ vision for autumn, shows a painterly approach to fashion. I personally am drawn to the lower half of the palette, which is no surprise to my friends who describe me as liking “no-colors.” However, even I can see the beauty of the pop of a honeysuckle scarf in a deep teal and coffee outfit. And certainly for the circus ponies among you, there is no shortage of saturated fall tones, and no reason you cant mix them together.   A more detailed description, from Pantone: Bamboo a surprising fall hue, brings a warm, exotic flavor to the season. Like a filtered sunset on the waning days of fall, Bamboo is a standout yellow with a subtle green undertone. This dappled shade pairs dramatically with several of the top 10, including . . .

Eldora

 Accessories, Free, New Release, Patterns  Comments Off on Eldora
Sep 262011
 
Eldora

A quick and easy garter stitch hat, Eldora is perfect for showing off variegated yarn. This hipster beanie is cast on provisionally and knit sideways with short row shaping, then the first and last rows are grafted together for a seamless finish. Techniques & Skills Used: Provisional CO, knit, short rows, grafting; a link is provided to my short rows tutorial, and grafting instructions are included. Size: Child (Adult); 19” circumference and 7.75 (8.5)” height; the stretchy garter stitch and single ply wool will accommodate many head sizes. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% merino wool; 210 yards/100g); 1 skein, shown in Deja Vu, or approximately 100 (110) yards of worsted weight yarn. Other Materials: US 9 (5.5mm) 16” circular needle or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Scrap yarn for provisional CO; Yarn needle. Gauge: 16 st and 32 rows/4” in garter stitch, after gentle blocking. Row gauge determines hat circumference in this sideways knit. See it on Ravelry, to read more and download the free pattern.     . . .

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