tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314168232024-03-07T12:55:59.107-08:00physicsknitsConniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-1344993008100019622009-09-11T19:22:00.000-07:002009-09-11T19:23:26.236-07:00Come on over!To my new <a href="http://conniechangchinchio.com/blog">blog</a>!Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-77553883757902877112009-08-30T23:51:00.001-07:002009-08-31T16:52:08.248-07:00The Mountain View Cardigan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3427/3849874495_3ec6a66ebe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3427/3849874495_3ec6a66ebe.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3492/3850670502_fdeb0a8b9f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3492/3850670502_fdeb0a8b9f.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The Mountain View Cardigan is a long cardigan that skims past the hips and can be worked in a light weight fiber (green sample is knit in Euroflax sportweight linen) for a crisp, drapey cover-all for those warm summer nights. Alternatively, a wooly sock weight yarn (smoke grey sample worked in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock) worked in a looser gauge than called for on the ball band can make the perfect fall or winter layering garment. Generous lace cuffs grace the long sleeves. The lace in the sleeves is echoed in the wide lace panel in the back which flows into ribbing that cinches in the waist. If you’re new to lace, this is the perfect beginning project. No shaping in lace is required. All the shaping is done in the stockinette portions of the design. Gentle princess line shaping, doubled hems, and delicate shell buttons complete the tailored look. Mountain View, CA is the birthplace of my younger brother, Brian, who also does the graphic layouts of my independent designs. I thought the name particularly apt since this is just the type of cardigan one might wear in the relatively mild climate of the Bay Area. The days are warm, but the lack of humidity tends to generate cool nights; making this cardigan a perfect transition piece that takes you from day to night. The model is my friend, <a href="http://yarnmonster.blogspot.com">Jess</a>, and photographs are by her husband, Vitaly Fomin.<br /><br />Stats:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Finished Size</span>: 31¾ (34¼, 37½, 41¼, 45¼, 48½, 52¼)”/ 80½ (87, 95, 105, 115, 123, 132½)cm bust circumference. Sample measures 34¼”/87cm. Suggested ease: 0”/0 cm to 3”/7½cm positive ease.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Yarn</span>: Euroflax Sportweight Linen (100% linen) 100 grams/270 yards in Willow – 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) skeins; or Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock 50 grams/215 yards in Echo – 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 10) skeins<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Needles</span>: Body – Size 4 circular needles. Neck Band and Hems – Size 3 circular needles. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Notions</span>: Tapestry needle; stitch holders; stitch markers.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Gauge</span>: 25 sts and 32 rows = 4”/10cm in St st using larger needles.<br /><br />You can purchase the pattern here via the Ravelry:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofOyPy5vrkE8DHgT6gHHOqIpZAWA3dV9aR0zm2RusFxoLTweWHPENqodtCC9AFpBmY1WaTceyuDAkXqjdbUanzEwWBpP-68ckhDwh_mC8nm5g2KyHJcflO8YA2DQgWWnYSpjs/s1600-h/cuff.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofOyPy5vrkE8DHgT6gHHOqIpZAWA3dV9aR0zm2RusFxoLTweWHPENqodtCC9AFpBmY1WaTceyuDAkXqjdbUanzEwWBpP-68ckhDwh_mC8nm5g2KyHJcflO8YA2DQgWWnYSpjs/s400/cuff.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373555109207565186" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/physicsknits---connie-chang-chinchio-designs/21482"><img src="http://www.ravelry.com/images/shopping/buy-now.gif" border="0"/></a><br />$6.75<br /><br />Or to purchase the pattern through e-junkie, click on the button below. After payment, an email will be sent to you with a link to the pdf.<br /><a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?i=314785&c=single&cl=28249" target="ejejcsingle"><img src="http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/x-click-butcc.gif" border="0" alt="Buy Now"/></a><br /><br />Note: You don't need to be a Ravelry member to purchase downloads via the Ravelry shopping cart. Please email me at changcon_14850@yahoo-dot-com with any questions.<br /><br />To see more pictures, check out the cardigan's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39884774@N00/sets/72157621999494025/">Flickr album</a>.<br /><br />Edited: Corrected the yarn amounts. Also, check out Ysolda's <a href="http://ysolda.com/wordpress/2009/08/31/wishing/">post</a> about my knitting the linen version when she was visiting NYC :)Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-48602289372244769972009-08-30T23:47:00.000-07:002009-08-30T23:49:43.639-07:00Contest WinnersI drew two contest winners using my trusty random number generator in octave.<br /><br />rachael redrabbit8584-at-aol-dotcom<br /><br />and amanda kisforknitter-at-gmail-dot-com<br /><br />I'll be emailing you both now for your pattern choices. Congratulations and thank you everyone for commenting.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-49514227370033182502009-08-30T12:47:00.001-07:002009-08-30T12:48:24.271-07:00Almost there....I think I'm on track to release the new design by tomorrow; so if you're interested in the contest, please leave your email on this <a href="http://physicsknits.blogspot.com/2009/08/sneak-peek-of-new-design.html">post</a>. And thanks so much for your supportive and lovely comments.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-7673516280859819962009-08-24T08:36:00.000-07:002009-08-24T09:28:38.633-07:00Sneak peek of new designI just got the photos back for my newest independent design from my lovely model, Jess, and her photographer and husband, Vitaly Fomin. More details to follow, but for now, here's a sneak peek.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofOyPy5vrkE8DHgT6gHHOqIpZAWA3dV9aR0zm2RusFxoLTweWHPENqodtCC9AFpBmY1WaTceyuDAkXqjdbUanzEwWBpP-68ckhDwh_mC8nm5g2KyHJcflO8YA2DQgWWnYSpjs/s1600-h/cuff.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofOyPy5vrkE8DHgT6gHHOqIpZAWA3dV9aR0zm2RusFxoLTweWHPENqodtCC9AFpBmY1WaTceyuDAkXqjdbUanzEwWBpP-68ckhDwh_mC8nm5g2KyHJcflO8YA2DQgWWnYSpjs/s400/cuff.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373555109207565186" /></a><br /><br />To celebrate my newest design, I'm going to hold a contest. Comment and I'll draw a name out of a hat. Prize will be two of my independent designs, winner's choice. The possibilities are <a href="http://physicsknits.blogspot.com/2008/06/for-sale-versailles-shell.html">Versailles Shell</a>, <a href="http://physicsknits.blogspot.com/2009/02/varese-hoodie-new-physicsknits-pattern.html">Varese Hoodie</a>, <a href="http://physicsknits.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-physicsknits-pattern-kowloon.html">Kowloon Cardigan</a>, <a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/50-autumn-2008/72-victoria-by-connie-chang-chinchio">Victoria</a>, <a href="http://twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/60-winter-2008-patterns/131-garbo-by-connie-chang-chinchio">Garbo</a>, <a href="http://twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/60-winter-2008-patterns/149-broderie-by-connie-chang-chinchio">Broderie</a>, and the new design. The contest will be open from now to when I release the design which I anticipate will be in 3 weeks.<br /><br />Edited to add: If you'd like to be included in the drawing, please leave your email in your comment putting -AT- and -DOT- in the appropriate places to avoid spam trollers.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com117tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-47658645814017104692009-08-16T10:31:00.000-07:002009-08-16T10:58:14.871-07:00Twist Collective - Anniversary Issue<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovdgfeWUthxPWH16pqJNTT65-CZAnJh_J8bKhA8Jm70uujj9qKc3A1gwbHqR60GRXk6_PErPUcMZ2_AFj8edLgYWLltI0fta4cIvoQWygfPlyJcOCNu3x1pvimsqV43pufdMH/s1600-h/peyton1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovdgfeWUthxPWH16pqJNTT65-CZAnJh_J8bKhA8Jm70uujj9qKc3A1gwbHqR60GRXk6_PErPUcMZ2_AFj8edLgYWLltI0fta4cIvoQWygfPlyJcOCNu3x1pvimsqV43pufdMH/s400/peyton1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370622482957205474" /></a><br /><br />The new Twist Collective went up last night and I have a little cardigan in it - <a href="http://twistcollective.com/2009/autumn/magazinepage_06.php">Peyton</a>.<br /><br />It uses Kollage Creamy yarn which, when I opened up the box last spring, I looked at with a healthy dose of skepticism -- yarn made out of milk protein? But I'm officially converted. Creamy has a really soft and lovely hand. And it's extremely comfortable to wear. Although the ball band calls for a fingering gauge, I knit this sweater up in a larger, sport gauge; and the result is a drapey fabric that looks equally great in smooth stockinette and lace.<br /><br />Peyton is one of those examples of a happy accident. What I originally envisioned for this sweater was a series of half circles on the fronts of a cardigan that, when closed, would form full circles. But I hadn't anticipated that the increases and decreases involved in making the lace half spirals would distort the shape of the outer edge of the lace. The result is a gently scalloped edge and when I showed the swatches to <a href="http://kategilbert.com">Kate</a>, I apologetically explained that I had meant the edges to be even and vertical. But she liked the scalloped edges and we decided that putting a few hook and eye closures at the widest point of the half circles would be a cute closure to the cardigan and emphasize the shape of the scallops. <br /><br />As usual, I love how they styled and photographed Peyton. <br /><br />Peyton is worked in one piece up to the armholes, where the fronts and back divide and are worked separately. Sleeves are worked flat and then seamed into the armholes. The front bands and collar are picked up and knit and then cast off using the tubular bind off method, leaving a nice rounded, elastic edge. <br /><br />This issue also marks the one year anniversary of the Twist Collective. Happy anniversary, Twist! Thanks for providing both designers and knitters a great new venue for knitwear design.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-92141886933873521562009-08-14T08:35:00.000-07:002009-08-14T08:58:17.082-07:00Uhura<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW11NgJe37B2xdpZfNHuh9DiRLLsviBA8F1toZjSE7z3IcFr80OWeEfKdDXVOr-QsPNIGr07dZaHFKouriQTeyYtsS4lOS3i0g0usmIpY6DMnLOZQ8pfmM2vMUY6O1E6_AgGi3/s1600-h/uhurafront.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW11NgJe37B2xdpZfNHuh9DiRLLsviBA8F1toZjSE7z3IcFr80OWeEfKdDXVOr-QsPNIGr07dZaHFKouriQTeyYtsS4lOS3i0g0usmIpY6DMnLOZQ8pfmM2vMUY6O1E6_AgGi3/s400/uhurafront.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369844141382758194" /></a><br />I'm super behind posting about my Summer Twist project, <a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/71-summer-2009/325-uhura-by-connie-chang-chinchio">Uhura</a>.<br /><br />For this camisole, I got to use SWTC's Terra yarn. I had used it for <a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/60-winter-2008-patterns/149-broderie-by-connie-chang-chinchio">Broderie</a> and I loved it. I find Bamboo too drapey and heavy to use on its own, but paired with cotton (and at a finer gauge), it makes a beautiful fabric; and somehow the blend influences the way the yarn takes up dye, resulting in a delightful tweedy color.<br /><br />The wonderfully funny <a href="http://scrubberbum.typepad.com/">Julia</a> named it Uhura (I had rather unimaginatively called it Lace Camisole) and I think it's so appropriate. There's something about the bodice band, the keyhole, the notched hem, and of course the color, that is reminiscent of Starfleet uniforms to me. <br /><br />Here's a shot of the back:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnIto_7b2ur8AN2wrGcpXsFoFc4fp7v7paCEk6ccuDHMPCzrmi_nqsehA4atY2iVBoeicAvS8-LojI33pxLBPOySr5YJrnpYOSJcHSRxt_C7jJVzTmnwBNFk07-VqARDJXPRo/s1600-h/uhuraback.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnIto_7b2ur8AN2wrGcpXsFoFc4fp7v7paCEk6ccuDHMPCzrmi_nqsehA4atY2iVBoeicAvS8-LojI33pxLBPOySr5YJrnpYOSJcHSRxt_C7jJVzTmnwBNFk07-VqARDJXPRo/s400/uhuraback.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369846723397889730" /></a><br /><br />I made it a modified racerback because I love tanks that cut in a bit more at the armholes at the back. I just find them more flattering and comfortable.<br /><br />As usual, the folks at Twist photographed and styled the garment perfectly -- with a sense of fun and yet showing the details of the garment. It's obvious that they love knits and have put a lot of thought into how to showcase them. I'm enjoying seeing the first FOs of Uhura crop up on Ravelry. <br /><br />A new issue of Twist will be out on Sunday. The creative forces behind Twist have put up some great teaser videos <a href="http://bit.ly/Uwecq">here</a> and <a href="http://tinyurl.com/rbzonm">here</a>. Sunday can't get here quickly enough!Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-23342057310793742702009-08-09T13:46:00.001-07:002009-08-09T14:03:23.920-07:00Breaking out a new Bag<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgya9jR3r0d62-ci5Yd7K0-M2Gg1b9IuGPMnTnVPNp16DgWPfHN2h2H1DiAkin4o6-qPlX5Fyod4rzGCKfD7ncCg9nByCSnC-WthhoXwD4f8xO2qLgOZVkMZGNv-EfZ-GkIsj06/s1600-h/bag.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgya9jR3r0d62-ci5Yd7K0-M2Gg1b9IuGPMnTnVPNp16DgWPfHN2h2H1DiAkin4o6-qPlX5Fyod4rzGCKfD7ncCg9nByCSnC-WthhoXwD4f8xO2qLgOZVkMZGNv-EfZ-GkIsj06/s400/bag.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368068436869764546" /></a><br />I just picked up this adorable Namaste Zuma bag on Friday from <a href="http://brooklynhandspun.com">Marie</a> and I've already busted it out on Sunday. Usually it takes me a long time between when I purchase something and when I actually use it. Don't ask me why; it's a really strange quirk of mine. But my old bag had definitely seen better days and I was excited to use both the Zooma and its coordinating Buddy Case (which has a magnetized interior to help keep darning needles in place - genius!). In my bag, I have some design projects marinating. I'll be able to share in 6 months or so :)<br /><br />My husband and I went to brunch with <a href="http://neoknits.blogspot.com">Melissa</a>. It's always fun to chat with her and to Maurizio's credit, his eyes didn't glaze over too much while Melissa and I talked about knitwear design. He even managed to ask a few questions here and there. I have him trained pretty well. After brunch, Melissa and I retired to the T lounge in Chelsea Market for some more knitting (we both have deadlines bearing down on us) while Maurizio went to the Met with a friend of ours from Ithaca. All in all a great Sunday!Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-75440963605268189062009-07-24T06:04:00.001-07:002009-07-24T06:19:58.371-07:00Fall IK preview outThe Fall Interweave Knits preview is <a href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/preview/2009_fall.asp">up</a> and I can finally share my <a href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/fall-2009/farmers-market-cardigan.asp">Farmer's Market Cardigan</a>. <br /><br />This is knit in Lorna's Laces Green Line Worsted in the Cedar colorway. I loved the Green Line Worsted. It softened up and relaxed after blocking and the nearly solid colors are gorgeous. In fact, I have another Farmer's Market Cardigan for me on the needles right now in the <a href="http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/knitting/yarn/LornasLaces/GreenLineWorstedDescription.asp">Solitude</a> colorway. My Joss Whedon loving heart almost went with the Firefly color, which is a brighter yellow with a tinge of green -- lovely, but perhaps not the best hue for my skin tone.<br /><br />I snapped a couple of quick pictures of it on me before sending it off to Interweave.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7PhwMgs5CPJfMlLzqsXfEXJwu-rPw775lz5nXR-KZUHjXOxxIPcNPBukFq2ZmMqSxyYX_0hXOItooOX2AYP-znuYha5qhMOG002yUOItPJxqQYyaJlrogDVb2N-sREJl8k5Q/s1600-h/shawlcropped.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 348px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7PhwMgs5CPJfMlLzqsXfEXJwu-rPw775lz5nXR-KZUHjXOxxIPcNPBukFq2ZmMqSxyYX_0hXOItooOX2AYP-znuYha5qhMOG002yUOItPJxqQYyaJlrogDVb2N-sREJl8k5Q/s400/shawlcropped.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362014347360907634" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_3Seg0SGOzV1Yy3SNBtYd-a7PU85DmHeJiFFusNHhW8n7d9TM-s6ov9eaylZxLqXVpKcChlOyQZ7hthOon1lAvaRwhnhwTT8hciI7iI9usi12Fco7EI7Mo4AfeFK5nkc0vwx/s1600-h/shawl3cropped.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_3Seg0SGOzV1Yy3SNBtYd-a7PU85DmHeJiFFusNHhW8n7d9TM-s6ov9eaylZxLqXVpKcChlOyQZ7hthOon1lAvaRwhnhwTT8hciI7iI9usi12Fco7EI7Mo4AfeFK5nkc0vwx/s400/shawl3cropped.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362014561180844322" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MBsaz8JcpSpHTjWyGwstNFI8sfaXq1thcddfgeGZjIA9ewxuzJjTkE6qosezEZAVJYBYfxK7nQE2xPh4AyDHz7Rd5F2OlsVaHR9QvBOfQeTbNLQ1Lh1y8u0uMlr8kX2H-epu/s1600-h/shawl2cropped.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MBsaz8JcpSpHTjWyGwstNFI8sfaXq1thcddfgeGZjIA9ewxuzJjTkE6qosezEZAVJYBYfxK7nQE2xPh4AyDHz7Rd5F2OlsVaHR9QvBOfQeTbNLQ1Lh1y8u0uMlr8kX2H-epu/s400/shawl2cropped.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362014459842445186" /></a><br /><br />The shawl collar is knit in a reversible diagonal cable that tilts in opposite directions on either side of the center and trims the tops of the generous, folded up pockets. I didn't want to detract from the drama of the collar, so the rest of the cardigan is knit in plain stockinette (great TV knitting!) with turned hems for the edging.<br /><br />My friend, <a href="http://neoknits.blogspot.com">Melissa</a>, has a <a href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/fall-2009/angelicas-coat.asp">great coat</a> in this issue too.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-54379728417459294892009-07-09T16:20:00.000-07:002009-07-09T16:21:59.022-07:00A Knitter's Helper<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqimSbZVnxEXHfK4HCdQYDrphSpSFfDauvumwJJWorDQFIW-oOSyCMphcvCe_e8RW8cy6_E8WkDU6S_RF8Bac2jQ5dRpEWDSjWJ6_EHso4VMFz0WVI14CtcK9iLqM-_luhUcGL/s1600-h/IMG_1598.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqimSbZVnxEXHfK4HCdQYDrphSpSFfDauvumwJJWorDQFIW-oOSyCMphcvCe_e8RW8cy6_E8WkDU6S_RF8Bac2jQ5dRpEWDSjWJ6_EHso4VMFz0WVI14CtcK9iLqM-_luhUcGL/s400/IMG_1598.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356604638270398450" /></a><br />My next door neighbors and their adorable pugs moved out last week. I'm heartbroken. I puppysat them their last day in the apartment complex so their owners could pack up in peace. Here's Savannah helping me with my knitting. Isn't she adorable?Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-56276064808825770552009-07-01T12:50:00.000-07:002009-07-01T12:53:17.177-07:00Sexy Knitters Club KALThe Sexy Knitters Club voted to work on my and <a href="http://knitandtonic.typepad.com">Wendy Bernard</a>'s designs for this quarter's KAL. If you're interested in knitting along, check out their <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/the-official-sexy-knitters-club">Ravelry group</a> or their <a href="http://sexyknittersclub.blogspot.com/">blog</a>. Thanks guys for voting for me and I can't wait to see what you all decide to work on!Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-79426256856846370122009-06-30T07:42:00.001-07:002009-06-30T16:17:25.735-07:00Stepping it up a notch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVfBHS7M2BDzuwjEmLeTkkjIdEIeRiMhVIQCi0vv0NB02j4WrViQH6aE_7sZhyphenhyphenjlzfDwtsReSTKlGfpwoFUyiL_1kE03-GehgmEJ0pGX8KN2XSMm-7Mb6DAeXrIYVMgP7UkFK/s1600-h/book.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVfBHS7M2BDzuwjEmLeTkkjIdEIeRiMhVIQCi0vv0NB02j4WrViQH6aE_7sZhyphenhyphenjlzfDwtsReSTKlGfpwoFUyiL_1kE03-GehgmEJ0pGX8KN2XSMm-7Mb6DAeXrIYVMgP7UkFK/s400/book.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353134674239213714" /></a><br />I'm really lucky to have some great friends. I started getting to know one of them, <a href="http://neoknits.blogspot.com">Melissa</a> of Neoknits, as many people are introduced to her, through one of her great patterns. In my case, it was the <a href="http://neoknits.blogspot.com/2006/03/its-ready.html">Grannie Smith Cardigan</a>, a delicate, fine gauge cardigan in Kidsilk Haze. That first purchase somehow evolved into a friendship; and we try to get together on a semi-regular basis to chat about our mutual obsessions and life in general. Melissa and I came to handknit knitwear design through very different routes. I started designing as a way to escape the daily routine of postdoctoral research. Melissa was trained as a fashion designer (she has a great series about her experiences <a href="http://neoknits.blogspot.com/search/label/fashion%20experience">here</a>) and she started freelancing as a handknit designer as a way to express herself creatively on her own terms. In one of our chats, she mentioned that her sewing experience has really helped her handknit designing. I tucked away that tidbit for a while. I've never touched a sewing machine in my life and my one attempt at hemming pants resulted in a horrendous Frankenstein hem that unraveled after two trips through the washing machine. But yesterday, I finally bit the bullet and with no plans (as of yet) to take up sewing, bought a sewing instructional book to learn more about how garments fit together. <br /><br />I also bought a set of Prism colored pencils to practice my sketching skills. And inspired by <a href="http://katcoyle.com">Kat</a>'s new blog, I got in touch with her <a href="http://thaddeushunt.com">website designer</a> (who happens to be the husband of a good <a href="http://purlingplans.com">blog buddy</a>) to make my own home on the web. <br /><br />In the meantime, here's a peek at my next independent design soaking in my sink, waiting to be blocked. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvYUhzYMbRCY53n6MvcTAaGmmKKUV-EHn0ZhLkSDdxye6Mu5cwZc65yqpVKQLpLXv8_679PjalqnAf8gj0MYeMgRbURnpbzu0yPjaJTtvSAT31RmlIu2Ea5a_gv9bAdbd1dk9/s1600-h/blocking.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvYUhzYMbRCY53n6MvcTAaGmmKKUV-EHn0ZhLkSDdxye6Mu5cwZc65yqpVKQLpLXv8_679PjalqnAf8gj0MYeMgRbURnpbzu0yPjaJTtvSAT31RmlIu2Ea5a_gv9bAdbd1dk9/s400/blocking.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353135503797176610" /></a><br /><br />So, stayed tuned!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Edited to add:</span> I just realized I've posted for 3 days in a row. That must be a first for me!Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-19583454861913730552009-06-29T05:19:00.000-07:002009-06-29T05:29:26.157-07:00Sexy Knitting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlL9nPN4YzS4Rwwbm187W1FpBEFUS6NuiKekVKPnfemVwLWkbgPgLuVds-94EXfW2AuSqCgrNh43qoJnxg8DBCmJqhr04hShWTCw06XjGd7fNRKUYYUwbzeCF0m3sMSS6ZQvoQ/s1600-h/mosaic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlL9nPN4YzS4Rwwbm187W1FpBEFUS6NuiKekVKPnfemVwLWkbgPgLuVds-94EXfW2AuSqCgrNh43qoJnxg8DBCmJqhr04hShWTCw06XjGd7fNRKUYYUwbzeCF0m3sMSS6ZQvoQ/s400/mosaic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352724583896069010" /></a><br />Mosaic made by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/rchrispy">rchrispy</a>.<br /><br />The Sexy Knitters Club is voting on their designer KAL. And I'm a final contestant! The KAL will run from July 1 through September 30 and during that period, knitters can choose any of the chosen designer's designs to knit. I've never thought of my designs as sexy, but nonetheless I'm really flattered - especially given that I'm up against <a href="http://knitandtonic.typepad.com">Wendy Bernard</a>, <a href="http://katcoyle.com/blog">Kat Coyle</a>, the Stitch Diva group, and Kristen Griffin-Grimes. Vote <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-official-sexy-knitters-club/699484/">here</a>.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-81583437277776878742009-06-28T20:46:00.000-07:002009-06-28T22:18:34.791-07:00Day in NYCOn Saturday, I spent a day in NYC with <a href="http://ysolda.com/wordpress">Ysolda</a> and we did typically geeky things that knitters and in particular, knit designers, tend to do when we get together.<br /><br />Our first stop was Kinokuniya because Ysolda wanted to check out some Japanese pattern books. We ran into a bit of a hiccup in our first attempt to find the place because my iPhone claimed there was a location near Rockefeller center and apparently they've since moved a couple of blocks down near the vicinity of Bryant Park. On the way there, we passed by the Immigrant's Day Parade along Sixth Ave -- which at first, we thought was a Thai National Holiday parade because several Thai floats in succession passed us by.<br /><br />We stayed in Kinikuniya for a long time - there were so many beautiful knitting, crochet, and sewing books that lingering was all too easy until my grumbling stomach reminded us that it was three in the afternoon and we hadn't had lunch yet.<br /><br />I took Ysolda to <a href="http://alicesteacup.com">Alice's Tea Cup</a> on the Upper East side. It's a little cutesy, but I thought she'd like the place and their high tea is really good. Unfortunately, to share a serving of high tea, we had to add another teapot of tea and scone to the already large order. In the end, that meant we shared between the two of us - two sandwiches, 3 scones, a huge slice of cake, 5 assorted cookies, and two 3-cup (but really, 4-5 cup) teapots of tea. It was all very good, but by the end of our meal we only picked at the last platter and were very ready to walk to our next destination - Tender Buttons (which <a href="http://neoknits.blogspot.com">Melissa</a> introduced us to <a href="http://physicsknits.blogspot.com/2009/04/guess-whos-visiting-at-chez-chinchio.html">the last time</a> Ysolda was visiting)!<br /><br />Going to Tender Buttons was my idea. I'm finished with the linen cardigan I was working on during my <a href="http://physicsknits.blogspot.com/2009/06/rv-fun.html">RV trip</a> through Maine and Canada with my in-laws and wanted the perfect buttons to go with it. Of course, convincing Ysolda to come didn't take much arm twisting. This time, we got permission to take some pictures of the shop:<br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpQGUnRWq3oQ1pGi2kizbnCk8hUfMQ-MlADXr046jANznVWjKALsUC-Ww093fTviLo3H34xrsGNrjsVoayAXIsuaWVkYyrdzQv5eknUqr4yZlIxMpZWPeMqcS2EX3WBT9RvH_/s1600-h/tenderbuttons2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpQGUnRWq3oQ1pGi2kizbnCk8hUfMQ-MlADXr046jANznVWjKALsUC-Ww093fTviLo3H34xrsGNrjsVoayAXIsuaWVkYyrdzQv5eknUqr4yZlIxMpZWPeMqcS2EX3WBT9RvH_/s400/tenderbuttons2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352598432203526770" /></a><br /><br />I love the rows of boxes upon boxes of buttons, each labeled meticulously by hand with the country of origin, material, and date (if relevant). Ysolda may have purchased some buttons:<br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnQzWFVbW2NM4O2HZoiqj21NhfTLtbnAsOdKlR7ONvuaq3B5djerHZ2FqN3Nl8I9DD_nuaKnr0LMaW9vrfKBI8wL7UF76GS6bklJ3Wkvk3GjCZY6CwhmGjeHP7KySH7T0pD9a/s1600-h/tenderbuttons.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnQzWFVbW2NM4O2HZoiqj21NhfTLtbnAsOdKlR7ONvuaq3B5djerHZ2FqN3Nl8I9DD_nuaKnr0LMaW9vrfKBI8wL7UF76GS6bklJ3Wkvk3GjCZY6CwhmGjeHP7KySH7T0pD9a/s400/tenderbuttons.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352599463508402626" /></a><br /><br />And I found perfect abalone shell buttons tinted a delicate green for my cardi:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDOb6MIwTtCgGjMmCDcEZ3kLIwQlJISTqq5JZ9dhdqJ7yWgHBXJzqJqQmeEQe6w84tO4CsQ2N4yKVO_qBC0zvKCAQ_h1a0mXcNa0LPLrLq2-tJvHMThHR0uPKIb61rUFYgDJl/s1600-h/buttons.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDOb6MIwTtCgGjMmCDcEZ3kLIwQlJISTqq5JZ9dhdqJ7yWgHBXJzqJqQmeEQe6w84tO4CsQ2N4yKVO_qBC0zvKCAQ_h1a0mXcNa0LPLrLq2-tJvHMThHR0uPKIb61rUFYgDJl/s400/buttons.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352599650436475874" /></a><br /><br />After Tender Buttons, we wandered to Central Park for some knitting which was interrupted by a sudden (but brief) downpour. We took refuge in the Central Park Dairy which a Tango class also used as shelter from the rain. It was a bit surreal with me finishing the collar of my cardi and Ysolda working on her <a href="http://ysolda.com/wordpress/2009/06/09/season-of-the-shawlette/">secret shawl</a> and pairs of tango-ing couples spinning in front of us.<br /><br />edited to add: Ysolda was an extremely good sport about my constant complaining about the heat. Humidity and I don't play well together. Is summer over yet?Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-78474428670688886152009-06-24T10:16:00.000-07:002009-06-29T21:08:49.267-07:00New PhysicsKnits pattern - the Kowloon Cardigan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8fAeiJfVyyX5d53ny4APUW0i1dBpX2ciX4mYqnQrZCuJyPBNKcW1jENlPgcxbHvozgorJRE0W4ZB1U1B2sVuKbw7RlAASi3nVjxKy1cTpyq6epWo56ebFjKCJEjhwjQBbOIRLQ/s1600-h/flaxenjess1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8fAeiJfVyyX5d53ny4APUW0i1dBpX2ciX4mYqnQrZCuJyPBNKcW1jENlPgcxbHvozgorJRE0W4ZB1U1B2sVuKbw7RlAASi3nVjxKy1cTpyq6epWo56ebFjKCJEjhwjQBbOIRLQ/s400/flaxenjess1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350267305690990338" /></a><br /><br />I'm thrilled to release my third <span style="font-weight:bold;">PhysicsKnits: Designs by Connie Chang Chinchio</span> design, the Kowloon Cardigan. For this garment, <a href="http://oneplanetyarnandfiber.com">One Planet Yarn and Fiber</a> provided me with Handmaiden's Flaxen, a luxurious blend of silk and linen; which makes for a light and summery cardigan. Linen and silk take up the dye differently, leading to a delightful tweedy look while feeling cool next to the skin. Mirrored panels of lace impart a pleasing symmetry which is set off by a wide, shallow shawl neck collar and bands closed by buttons and button loops. I chose natural, wooden buttons (from my trip to M&J Trimmings with <a href="http://neoknits.blogspot.com">Melissa</a> and <a href="http://ysolda.com/wordpress">Ysolda</a>) to complement the richness of the ivory colorway; but a more polished and dressy look can be had with mother of pearl buttons. Kowloon, an area of Hong Kong, is the birthplace of my mother and literally translated, means nine dragons. Eight of the dragons correspond to the eight mountains in the area; with the ninth representing the emperor. <br /> <br />When the weather turns hot, I find myself wanting to knit with cooler, smoother fabrics like cotton, linen, or silk. A feminine lace cardigan seems particularly well suited for these drapey fibers and so with this design, I was aiming to create a cover up for those spring or summer nights when the weather turns unexpectedly cool. To balance the airiness of the lace, I used moss stitch textured wide bands and a slight shawl collar. My friend, <a href="http://yarnmonster.blogspot.com">Jess</a>, graciously agreed to model for me again and her husband, Vitaly Fomin, did the photography. For more photos, please see <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kowloon-cardigan">its</a> Ravelry page.<br /><br />Stats:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Finished Size</span>: 31¾ (34½, 37¼, 40, 42¾, 45½, 48¼, 51¼)”/80½ (87½, 94½, 101½, 108½, 115½, 122½, 130) cm bust circumference. Sample measures 34½”/87½ cm. Suggested ease: 0”/0 cm to 3”/7½cm positive ease.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Yarn</span>: Handmaiden Flaxen (65% silk, 35% linen) 100 grams/274 yards (251 meters) in Ivory – 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6) skeins<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Needles</span>: Body – Size 4 circular needles. Moss Stitch Bands – Size 3 circular needles. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Notions</span>: Tapestry needle; stitch holders; stitch markers; C crochet hook.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Gauge</span>: 23 sts and 32 rows = 4”/10 cm in lace st using larger needles.<br /><br />Purchase the kit (with the pattern included) for all sizes at <a href="http://www.oneplanetyarnandfiber.com/Kowloon_Cardigan_Kit_p/ph-kit-kowlooncardigan.htm">One Planet Yarn and Fiber</a>. Choose among the great colors in stock at One Planet; kit price reflects a great discount on the pattern and yarn!<br /><br />You can also purchase the pattern here on my blog by clicking on the buttons below:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcZPMXv-usv4h7LF7VvI7SFM_OAdUu2EUs5_DxIMo-tAfqK7RpMz6ghQCMnKXI8wLFS3d_6II4SRklpuVYyVzHkSuimEg6OS66pjY2YB3SoWZuEEK0S1nBLHFlGjIkeZpIxA_wg/s1600-h/flaxenjess2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcZPMXv-usv4h7LF7VvI7SFM_OAdUu2EUs5_DxIMo-tAfqK7RpMz6ghQCMnKXI8wLFS3d_6II4SRklpuVYyVzHkSuimEg6OS66pjY2YB3SoWZuEEK0S1nBLHFlGjIkeZpIxA_wg/s400/flaxenjess2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350275031761641842" /></a><br />$7.00 <br /><br />Purchase by clicking the button below. After payment via Paypal, a link to the pattern pdf will be emailed to you. <br /><a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?i=273674&c=single&cl=28249" target="ejejcsingle"><img src="http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/x-click-butcc.gif" border="0" alt="Buy Now"/></a><br /><br /><br />Or purchase through my Ravelry cart with the button below. You don't need a Ravelry account to purchase the pattern. Ravelry will re-direct you to paypal and will email you a link to download the pattern. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/physicsknits---connie-chang-chinchio-designs/18722"><img src="http://www.ravelry.com/images/shopping/buy-now.gif" border="0"/></a><br /><br />Thanks!Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-35833660896975759882009-06-20T23:02:00.001-07:002009-06-20T23:11:07.655-07:00I guess I've joined the 21st centuryYup, after talking about it with <a href="http://subwayknitter.com">Colleen </a>and <a href="http://schrodinger212.blogspot.com">Cathy</a>; as well as <a href="http://yarnmonster.blogspot.com">Jess</a>, <a href="http://pepperknit.com/blog/">Erin</a>, and <a href="http://www.flintknits.com/blog/">Pam</a>; I've decided to start twittering (or is it tweeting) -- God, how old do I sound? ;)<br /><br />For now, it's more of a way for me to stay in touch with friends. I don't anticipate logging in many tweets (mine would be pretty uninteresting, believe me); but some friends I'd like to follow protect their updates.<br /><br />So...let's see how this goes!<br /><br />P.S., for the record, my account is at <a href="http://twitter.com/changcon">http://twitter.com/changcon</a>.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-44365443276577958092009-06-20T12:17:00.000-07:002009-06-20T13:09:36.193-07:00RV Fun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWEoR1fh8x9hWSsEXZb_C1KXnHYE525bZzMisYKlVEQJxsk4SVZW4BJZK-UhXmcvbK3wpZUBCBTbpWCdLzo84yUvoT0Mk2KmFwvYpLKT3H-FPjR_ND9Kjp_tT8lJtUDW3xCmP/s1600-h/photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWEoR1fh8x9hWSsEXZb_C1KXnHYE525bZzMisYKlVEQJxsk4SVZW4BJZK-UhXmcvbK3wpZUBCBTbpWCdLzo84yUvoT0Mk2KmFwvYpLKT3H-FPjR_ND9Kjp_tT8lJtUDW3xCmP/s400/photo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349502557956775538" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">From Travels with Martin, Frasier Season 1, episode 21.<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Niles</span>: I'm sorry Frasier, I am not a Winnebago person. Whenever I see one on the highway I look into the driver's eyes, hoping to see something that would explain why in God's name he would ever want to do something like this! All I see is a death stare under the brim of a hat made out of Miller Lite cans. </span><br /><br />The photo above was my view for the past 2 weeks - landscape speeding by (often times quite pretty landscape) - while knitting on a personal project.<br /><br />Landscape: Maine (Portland and Acadia National Park), Canada (Quebec, Saguenay Fjord, Montreal), Niagara Falls, and Ithaca.<br /><br />Personal Project: Linen cardigan in euroflax sportweight linen. <br /><br />I haven't decided what to do about the personal project yet...whether I want to self publish it or submit it to a publication. This was one of the rare times that I really felt compelled to knit something for myself as quickly as possible. Summer heat makes for good linen knitting!Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-9137549922990431932009-04-21T15:35:00.000-07:002009-04-21T15:38:26.566-07:00Guess who's visiting at Chez Chinchio?I'll give you a hint:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wTqbgsCpg0qwVn2QKoXxvU5iCNp7AAdKKKFa0bboJuASjRCELZuE_Rp-EV2KpBy9y68JO1kgEr42Cgmg-MzMVLMojwmLStRB1TF9cPQv8N9mFBYTUKaIkTsmFzuOhjUJs7As/s1600-h/IMG_1474.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wTqbgsCpg0qwVn2QKoXxvU5iCNp7AAdKKKFa0bboJuASjRCELZuE_Rp-EV2KpBy9y68JO1kgEr42Cgmg-MzMVLMojwmLStRB1TF9cPQv8N9mFBYTUKaIkTsmFzuOhjUJs7As/s400/IMG_1474.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327277318238031890" /></a><br /><br />Yup, it's <a href="http://ysolda.com/wordpress">Ysolda</a>! We've been having fun talking about knitting and designing. The girl is so hard working!Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-74594581027886872792009-04-17T10:04:00.000-07:002009-04-17T10:37:46.868-07:00New summer/spring designPreviews for the spring/summer 09 Knit.1 issue are out and my tie back top appears on the <a href="http://knit1mag.com">Knit.1 website</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWqjuD26p4Vd5J70raYxb9kRkY3pO5cRPh4wNq-WxYwsoVpW_hMbOXDPrqeo9hv2kgNfthMunxxPR9qx-zN9QchEvlOEcd6eMg9DyiL0Ne_YcpMZR2Cbu3NDQzecNAWF2jPEx/s1600-h/intro.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWqjuD26p4Vd5J70raYxb9kRkY3pO5cRPh4wNq-WxYwsoVpW_hMbOXDPrqeo9hv2kgNfthMunxxPR9qx-zN9QchEvlOEcd6eMg9DyiL0Ne_YcpMZR2Cbu3NDQzecNAWF2jPEx/s400/intro.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325707945273713474" /></a><br /><br />The yarn is Zitron Samoa, a DK/light worsted mercerized cotton in a yummy tangerine shade (and new to me yarn). The top is a dolman-type, cap sleeve shell in spider stitch (a nice, but easy combination lace). The bottom is stockinette and is topped by a ribbed waist that extends to ties that can be secured at the back.<br /><br />I know I still owe you guys a post on decreasing in cocoon stitch in my Silk Cocoon cardigan in the latest issue of Interweave. I've been away for a cousin's wedding in CA and haven't had time to knit up swatches and write a tutorial. Thanks for your patience! <br /><br />There have been some lovely finished versions of the Silk Cocoon on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/silk-cocoon-cardigan/people">Ravelry</a> already. It's so much fun to see what other people do with my designs. Thanks to those of you who post pics and projects on Ravelry. Ravelry is such a community driven site. I confess I haven't done my part in that. I have so much stash yarn and projects to upload. I've managed to keep up my design portfolio, but I feel it's a civic responsibility to engage in the other parts of Ravelry as well - adding to the yarn pages, the project pages, and participating in forums. I can't count the number of times I've looked up a yarn on Ravelry to see how other people have used it to decide if a yarn is appropriate for certain garments. This is so helpful when I can't have the yarn physically in front of me.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-12910128794894201952009-03-24T09:34:00.000-07:002009-03-24T09:52:27.114-07:00Fun Knitting!A couple of weeks ago, the <a href="http://spidersknit.org">Spiders</a> made the trek out to <a href="http://brooklynhandspun.com">Marie</a>'s Bay Ridge apartment for an afternoon of eating, knitting, and hoola hooping (in Marie's spacious craft/yarn room). Last year, at the same gathering, the Spiders exchanged single socks, which I wanted to be a part of, but I didn't have the time to commit to knitting a sock in fingering weight yarn. This year, during a Spider knit night at Jacques Torres in Soho, someone (I forget who now), suggested a cowl swap. Now, a cowl, I can do. And I've been wanting a cowl for some time now too since seeing so many lovely iterations of the accessory on Ravelry and blogs.<br /><br />So I knitted a cowl for the lovely <a href="http://anabundanceoflisa.typepad.com/lisainnewyork/">Lisa</a>, a fellow fan of green. She expressed a preference for a couple of yarns and I jumped at the chance to try the Malabrigo Merino silk. I used the Herringbone Cowl pattern and voila, my first cowl (Lisa's photo, I didn't have my camera with me):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf65cpefJbz2r809AKyFhYzCyo9Kw5FjHFBuBoRCnhcCeOLiLF3HmubDOtDEMM8VrKfbvfU_s5mg3cfVk5EcCUjkGBg2PiQQ1t9vJfMhY_e1Kn8fNqz94hTx4g0w26K6HMSTcD/s1600-h/lisacowl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf65cpefJbz2r809AKyFhYzCyo9Kw5FjHFBuBoRCnhcCeOLiLF3HmubDOtDEMM8VrKfbvfU_s5mg3cfVk5EcCUjkGBg2PiQQ1t9vJfMhY_e1Kn8fNqz94hTx4g0w26K6HMSTcD/s400/lisacowl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316795662859296834" /></a><br /><br />And here's a group shot of us with our cowls (photo taken by Marie): <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPW74Oxg6OldXEMOYd0Jn0HtnaLgI0rA3FfqTEXysc7BN90o4YVl1-2P3VSnWxzrgu10nXGjZqg50qFvwzVkDEycNl2Yo1OLQGKK0d-jCiKjBUHG2ZHF8ZMEoDJF5m0gZTOQn/s1600-h/SpidersCowl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPW74Oxg6OldXEMOYd0Jn0HtnaLgI0rA3FfqTEXysc7BN90o4YVl1-2P3VSnWxzrgu10nXGjZqg50qFvwzVkDEycNl2Yo1OLQGKK0d-jCiKjBUHG2ZHF8ZMEoDJF5m0gZTOQn/s400/SpidersCowl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316796470363853874" /></a><br /><br />My cowl was knit by our newest member, <a href="http://pepperknit.com/blog/">Erin</a> aka Mintyfresh. Funnily enough, I've been lusting after her gorgeous <a href="http://www.pepperknit.com/patterns/tapestrycowl.html">Tapestery Cowl</a> for a while now (queued it as soon as it debuted). And I put down the Tapestry Cowl on my wish list, knowing that whoever my cowl knitter would turn out to be, she'd probably not want to knit a double knit cowl in fingering weight yarn. My instinct was right, Erin, understandably so, was not up for knitting another Tapestry Cowl. But by being randomly assigned to her, I couldn't have been closer to getting that desire granted. ;)<br /><br />Instead, Erin knit me a gorgeous deep red, textured cowl of her own design (I understand she'll be releasing the pattern at some point) closed by a silver button! I love it!<br /><br />Next time: I hope to have a tutorial on how to decrease in pattern for the <a href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/preview/2009_spring.asp#Silk-Cocoon-Cardigan">Silk Cocoon Cardigan</a>.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-63122268560500960362009-02-20T14:22:00.000-08:002009-06-29T21:27:34.170-07:00Varese Hoodie - New PhysicsKnits pattern<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8edvfHIYfTc01X2YyMgaER10ECw0bOut_s-uMd2xjWaTZaEwekC_X65c5db_i1x3g3CVzvr2qG3o-2t81kTihK_30aSKJIiG6D75PBFE1VfWapuISDyMDJj5lhvdQv2UQoL0_JQ/s1600-h/varese1b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8edvfHIYfTc01X2YyMgaER10ECw0bOut_s-uMd2xjWaTZaEwekC_X65c5db_i1x3g3CVzvr2qG3o-2t81kTihK_30aSKJIiG6D75PBFE1VfWapuISDyMDJj5lhvdQv2UQoL0_JQ/s400/varese1b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304292416629269682" /></a><br /><br />I'm really excited to release my second independently published design, the Varese Hoodie. Varese (pronounced [vaˈreze] - with three syllables) is the birth town of my husband. It's a cute city about a half an hour north of Milan and the closest "urban" center near Tradate, where my husband's family lives. I've also been told it's a fairly chic and expensive place. I've only been there once, and that was not under the best of circumstances - rainy and cold - but if the stores in the town piazza are any indication, I can believe it. <br /><br />The yarn for this pattern is the gorgeous, handdyed Woolie Silk from Fleece Artist, a worsted weight 65% wool/ 35% silk blend; and was generously donated by <a href="http://oneplanetyarnandfiber.com">One Planet Yarn and Fiber</a>, an online shop with a focus on indie yarn and designers. For my hoodie, I chose the color chocolate, a color family I find myself going back to again and again. The subtle changes in color are lovely and at times surprising; I think I detect notes of pink amidst the brown, a nice color combo in and of itself. <br /><br />This is a simple, feminine hoodie with kangaroo pockets. A simple zigzag lace edges the pockets, hood, and low empire waist. The body is hemmed to give it a clean finish; and gentle princess line shaping flatters all body types. The model is my friend, <a href="http://yarnmonster.blogspot.com">Jess</a>, and photographs are by her husband, Vitaly Fomin.<br /><br />Stats:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Finished Size</span>: 31½ (34¾ 38, 41¼, 44½, 47½, 50¾)”/80 (88½, 96½, 105, 113, 120½, 129)cm bust circumference. Sample measures 34¾”/88½cm. Suggested ease: 0”/0 cm to 3”/7½cm positive ease.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Yarn</span>: Fleece Artist Woolie Silk (65% wool, 35% silk) 100 grams/251 yards (230 meters) – 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6) skeins<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Needles</span>: Body – Size 6 circular needles. Lace Bands – Size 5 circular needles. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Notions</span>: Tapestry needle; stitch holders; stitch markers.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Gauge</span>: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4”/10cm in St st using larger needles, 20 sts and 29 rows = 4”/10cm in lace st using smaller needles.<br /><br />You can purchase the pattern here via the Ravelry:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQ0y-0evCkMgcD2t2aK6ZMW0vDUsd15yhPOaVgTOFqK-5YBHTx2GJPiY-SQ0mh18xD-hqUjBRib5ak35zH9HXs7beZQTJVKZP7nUJLGD_6qmIcrWPWuf83e2ZLF8hp77pD6ab7Q/s1600-h/varese3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQ0y-0evCkMgcD2t2aK6ZMW0vDUsd15yhPOaVgTOFqK-5YBHTx2GJPiY-SQ0mh18xD-hqUjBRib5ak35zH9HXs7beZQTJVKZP7nUJLGD_6qmIcrWPWuf83e2ZLF8hp77pD6ab7Q/s400/varese3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304296383419162578" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/physicsknits---connie-chang-chinchio-designs/14076"><img src="http://www.ravelry.com/images/shopping/buy-now.gif" border="0"/></a><br />$6.50<br /><br />Or to purchase the pattern through e-junkie, click on the button below. After payment, an email will be sent to you with a link to the pdf.<br /><a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?i=275806&c=single&cl=28249" target="ejejcsingle"><img src="http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/x-click-butcc.gif" border="0" alt="Buy Now"/></a><br /><br />And a kit (with the pattern included) for all sizes is <a href="http://www.oneplanetyarnandfiber.com/Varese_Hoodie_Kit_p/fa-kit-varesehoodie.htm">available</a> at One Planet Yarn and Fiber in many gorgeous <a href="http://www.oneplanetyarnandfiber.com/Fleece_Artist_Woolie_Silk_3_ply_s/1623.htm">Woolie Silk colorways</a> (for those of you who don't share my chocolate obsession).<br /><br />Note: You don't need to be a Ravelry member to purchase downloads via the Ravelry shopping cart. Please email me at changcon_14850@yahoo-dot-com with any questions.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-48964863661250130172009-02-15T16:02:00.000-08:002009-02-15T17:32:30.369-08:00Spring Interweave - Soap Bubble WrapThe Spring Interweave <a href="http://interweaveknits.com/preview/2009_spring.asp">preview</a> is up and I have <a href="http://interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/spiring-2009/Silk-Cocoon-Cardigan.asp">two</a> <a href="http://interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/spiring-2009/Soap-Bubble-Wrap.asp">designs</a> in it.<br /><br />My Soap Bubble Wrap is currently <a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/patterns/archive/2009/02/13/soap-bubble-wrap.aspx">available</a> at Knitting Daily as a free download until May 14. <br /><br />For this design, I wanted to play around with the dolman sleeve shape. I also thought it would be fun to have a splash of lace asymmetrically placed at the hip and shoulder. The dolman sleeve made it possible to continue the lace uninterrupted from the front shoulder to the back. I didn't know much about the mechanics of dolman sweaters so I turned to <a href="http://neoknits.blogspot.com">Melissa</a> and <a href="http://knititude.com">Angela</a>, both of whom have designed <a href="http://neoknits.blogspot.com/2008/08/long-awaited-tatami.html">brilliant</a> <a href="http://knititude.com/patterns/wyvern-wrap">dolman</a> sweaters, for advice. Because the dolman sleeve doesn't start precisely at the top of the shoulder, it's sometimes difficult to determine where the sleeve hem will end. To prevent it from dragging too far down along the length of the arm as well as to minimize the heaviness of the sweater, I decided to make it a 3/4 sleeve rather than a full length sleeve. Here's my proposal sketch:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdMg7zpdl9qhE473V7kWYyPaEkR3cCl_YjXL4h6HuktYjqSnWJhIHIVepJEltJl_MO5MWKOABZeZem7B7WItHbuwYCq9UrR_rNRzKX1cqsY3Zu0g_mIK1C1pzZmaU7FkhHCou/s1600-h/soapsketch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 341px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdMg7zpdl9qhE473V7kWYyPaEkR3cCl_YjXL4h6HuktYjqSnWJhIHIVepJEltJl_MO5MWKOABZeZem7B7WItHbuwYCq9UrR_rNRzKX1cqsY3Zu0g_mIK1C1pzZmaU7FkhHCou/s400/soapsketch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303193396487868146" /></a><br /><br />I love the choice of linen for this sweater. I've only recently discovered linen. My first project in it was the <a href="http://physicsknits.blogspot.com/2008/06/for-sale-versailles-shell.html">Versailles Shell</a>, my first dip into the uncertain waters of independent design. And I completely fell in love with it. I like that it's machine washable and dryable. I like its rustic simplicity and how surprisingly comfortable and light it feels next to the skin. <br /><br />Eunny was nice enough to let me choose between the sportweight linen and the worsted weight linen. I was so torn over what to use that I subjected poor <a href="http://neoknits.blogspot.com">Melissa</a> (who incidentally, has a gorgeous <a href="http://interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/spiring-2009/Zickzack-Tunic.asp">tunic</a> in the same issue) and many of her coworkers to my multiple multiple swatches:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0EUfh7PWpz__UIZbjCa910QCwTPIWG-DoWf40XZjOKz-0aHphIzggdVedoyuGn0rksHkMmvu6FN1_C24w2O-N2NIlG9a00USRaYTjeBG9C9OgbPTUUuAiCQ-_9ziZSj2QcA9/s1600-h/IMG_1359.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0EUfh7PWpz__UIZbjCa910QCwTPIWG-DoWf40XZjOKz-0aHphIzggdVedoyuGn0rksHkMmvu6FN1_C24w2O-N2NIlG9a00USRaYTjeBG9C9OgbPTUUuAiCQ-_9ziZSj2QcA9/s400/IMG_1359.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303195980999539922" /></a><br /><br />In the end, since the consensus was split (for the record, Melissa voted for the worsted weight), I went with the sportweight linen. I had worked with it and loved the resulting fabric for the Versailles Shell and given a choice, I almost always choose the lighter gauge. After knitting almost the entire back in the sportweight linen, I realized that a oversized wrap sweater knit in sportweight yarn might not be the most feasible idea and I started over in the worsted. <br /><br />I used a knitted at the same time garter stitch band to reference the rustic simplicity of the yarn and thought it was a nice contrast to the fussier daintiness of an open lace stitch at the shoulder and hip.<br /><br />For me, this project was a departure (dolman vs. set in sleeve, oversized vs. fitted) and I really enjoyed it. Eunny asked me to make this garment in a slightly larger sample size, so it's a bit big for me, but I managed to take a quick snap of it before I sent it off to Interweave:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXqYNt8LMFQhZ4lvTBlqA6R7EQRuvbuWL2nGoM_5OaJgvq23J3Oq209yHPhDRKhzwPE5RyxgakM5uk8LTvY_VHbwWwW1vSAtJhAScy3RkcBXgcB8JpK5pVWx76p6gnqkbOmk5/s1600-h/soap1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXqYNt8LMFQhZ4lvTBlqA6R7EQRuvbuWL2nGoM_5OaJgvq23J3Oq209yHPhDRKhzwPE5RyxgakM5uk8LTvY_VHbwWwW1vSAtJhAScy3RkcBXgcB8JpK5pVWx76p6gnqkbOmk5/s400/soap1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303197894199089778" /></a><br /><br />I kind of feel like I want to take up kung fu again when I wear this. Perhaps some day, I'll reknit this in the sportweight gauge. I think it would make a really lightweight and comfortable garment. <br /><br />I hope people will enjoy making it and wearing it.<br /><br />I'll talk about the Silk Cocoon Cardigan in a future post.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-61907065999557931522009-02-01T19:59:00.000-08:002009-02-01T20:55:40.331-08:00Nifty Nymph TeeThe new <a href="http://knitscene.com/issue/Spring-2009-Projects.asp">Knitscene</a> is out and I have a <a href="http://knitscene.com/issue/spring-2009/Nymph-Tee.asp">design</a> in it. The folks at Knitscene named it the Nymph Tee...maybe to evoke a free-spirited, bohemian vibe? In my files for it, I rather unimaginatively named it dolman. Thank goodness the good people at Knitscene/Interweave have a better imagination than me! <br /><br />I don't think it's a secret that I love set in sleeves, but I thought I should try to branch out a little bit. This is my first dolman sleeved sweater and I liked the shape more than I thought I would. There's a bit of bunchiness under the arm because of the extra fabric, but it also offers a lot of design possibilities. Stitch patterns can be continued uninterrupted from the neckline to the shoulder to the sleeve. They can be very dramatic (see Melissa's <a href="http://neoknits.blogspot.com/2008/08/long-awaited-tatami.html">Tatami</a> or Angela's <a href="http://knititude.com/patterns/wyvern-wrap">Wyvern Wrap</a>). It's a shape I'll definitely revisit again. <br /><br />The other challenge with this design is that it's intended for beginning knitters. Designing attractive sweaters that are accessible to beginners is definitely difficult. Katie Himmelberg has designed some <a href="http://interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/spring-2008/Frock-Camisole.asp">lovely</a> <a href="http://interweaveknits.com/Galleries/bonus/summer_2007/summertime-tunic.asp">garments</a> suitable for beginners, but which are nonetheless flattering and stylish. I have obviously have a lot to learn, but I can't wait to take another crack at it in the future. <br /><br />This is also the first square neck sweater I've made and I completely miscalculated where to begin the neck shaping. Here is a first attempt:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQ0SlUzfovcZwwe3HC3etsD8ezNT_I0SAb4iHAm8BkwLSffLT2jpncOLDvTyoF_KRRSvduvLYz6LBSNdZdYAZQujMjEjtPUqZ-8CIZjB4FaCfdz97ASusGVNZNHo5fjGd2byB/s1600-h/connie1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQ0SlUzfovcZwwe3HC3etsD8ezNT_I0SAb4iHAm8BkwLSffLT2jpncOLDvTyoF_KRRSvduvLYz6LBSNdZdYAZQujMjEjtPUqZ-8CIZjB4FaCfdz97ASusGVNZNHo5fjGd2byB/s400/connie1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298055038178516322" /></a><br /><br />I'm used to V-necks where the neck shaping typically starts at the same point where armhole shaping begins. But for a square neck and for a dolman sleeve, the situation is a little different. You can see that I began the neck shaping too early and the weight of the sleeves is dragging the neck opening too wide. Not good. So, I ripped back and started the shaping a little further up:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGorRNZe1CVo2JFjw6M0PkZXahj-B38wb41gCiCUbXv8xMOSTVcYk6nRuuJp0xqTrTFJxteu_ZCugHDeCvIdZqRsEmip1gvbPOGhNNfs2yO1z7hvRJ-6DY8V2r2ANuxHHTHIU/s1600-h/connie1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 199px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGorRNZe1CVo2JFjw6M0PkZXahj-B38wb41gCiCUbXv8xMOSTVcYk6nRuuJp0xqTrTFJxteu_ZCugHDeCvIdZqRsEmip1gvbPOGhNNfs2yO1z7hvRJ-6DY8V2r2ANuxHHTHIU/s400/connie1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298057029437660498" /></a><br /><br />Ahhh...much better. Last note... I love the color of the yarn. It's not a color I would normally be drawn to, but I think I'll have to make a sweater in this color for myself at some point.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-34117846073187678202009-01-11T10:00:00.000-08:002009-01-11T15:32:59.288-08:00What to do when you're stuck......on working out a design?<br /><br />Take a break with some pleasure knitting!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGruclHatLXIasAjeolbi1x1vYAW7H6eBVgkmkh8eUZpBYjQXrO9ZR_6Hq9YA2mcF1ort9qNCcuNrBFicJ5rSri8ks_Nz6zhVetctf2vFULayKi16xphQasx8sneoS1TxQshKB/s1600-h/IMG_1352.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGruclHatLXIasAjeolbi1x1vYAW7H6eBVgkmkh8eUZpBYjQXrO9ZR_6Hq9YA2mcF1ort9qNCcuNrBFicJ5rSri8ks_Nz6zhVetctf2vFULayKi16xphQasx8sneoS1TxQshKB/s400/IMG_1352.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290183135065131298" /></a><br /><br />In my case, it's <a href="http://neoknits.blogspot.com">Melissa Wehrle</a>'s classic modern knit, the <a href="http://http://neoknits.blogspot.com/2008/11/urban-wrap.html">Urban Wrap</a> (with a great kit available <a href="http://www.oneplanetyarnandfiber.com/Urban_Wrap_knit_kit_p/nk-urbanwrap-kit.htm">here</a>). Although I do love the Lanas Puras Worsted (I used it for my <a href="http://www.oneplanetyarnandfiber.com/Hexagon_Bag_Download_Pattern_p/lppattern-hexagonbagdl.htm">Hexagon Bag</a> pattern), I decided that I wanted to try a yarn I've been hearing a lot about, Dream in Color's Classy yarn. After seeing <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnsnob/wisteria">this</a> beautiful Wisteria in the Black Parade colorway, I was struck with instant yarn lust. Luckily, the <a href="http://spidersknit.org">Spiders</a> had given me a gift certificate to Knitty City for my birthday and they had tons of Classy in Black Parade in stock - enough skeins to let me choose the perfect ones with just the right amount of variation.<br /><br />I've done two sleeves (one blocked) and the piece on the needles is the left front. I almost always do a swatch, but I find my tension often changes for a bigger fabric; so I usually block a sleeve or part of a front in order to recheck my gauge and make sure all is progressing as expected.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31416823.post-87889483634950578452009-01-05T15:48:00.001-08:002009-01-05T15:48:53.001-08:00Last FO of the year<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MOas-fC7xng-6ERsA70iI7BG1a6PIShrwgQuljZlMBfXlrWNagGUB_xaRxQ17X91nbis0P5AjZadxAV6Uj_qUb_WoY-Fh1x1MoKuz_QAnUoBdl3Uj82uS2P_1PtMEK3eOuxIqw/s1600-h/IMG_1331.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MOas-fC7xng-6ERsA70iI7BG1a6PIShrwgQuljZlMBfXlrWNagGUB_xaRxQ17X91nbis0P5AjZadxAV6Uj_qUb_WoY-Fh1x1MoKuz_QAnUoBdl3Uj82uS2P_1PtMEK3eOuxIqw/s400/IMG_1331.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287916283091774498" /></a><br />I eeked out a final FO in the form of a pair of baby socks for my husband's childhood friend's 4 day old baby. The pattern is Ann Budd's Better than Booties Socks. I forgot to continue the chevron lace pattern down the foot, but I think they still look okay. It was kind of hard to knit with the dark blue yarn and I only had my mother in law's mother's old 8 foot inch double pointed needles to work with (since I left my double points at home), but otherwise this was an enjoyable knit.<br /><br />It's my first short row heel and toe and I'm hooked. I love the way it looks!<br /><br />I hope everyone had a good holiday.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123147059065290434noreply@blogger.com3