One, Two and Three- Andrea Mowry Knits

My Daughter loves Andrea Mowry Designs

Kate is a Crocheter (her plan is is learn how to knit this year), but after discovering Andrea Mowry designs she asked if I would knit a few for her.   Well of course, what an thrill to be able to knit her something she likes, and of course all color selections are under her guidance.   

Here's are the 5 sweaters I created.

My previous post, last August (Sorry about that...too much knitting to do) showed the beginning of the Throwback cardigan.  Since then I finished Kate's and a second for my Mentee Gaby 

(cascade 220).

The is the Weekender ---Brooklyn Tweed Shelter yarn

My first AM creation----Wool and Honey, lots of yarn overs (wrapped stitches) give the long floats to create the design.   (Jan 1, 2019-Jan 24, 2019)

The most recent creation.   Shifty with Spincycle Dyed in the Wool yarns.   Super soft and I used a smaller needle to do the work.   

The Quilted Princess

Swing Jacket

Royal Jacket

Last year I designed a swing jacket for girls and based on that design, I wrote a pattern for a boy's jacket.  

I wanted to knit cardigans for a few little girls I know.    As I began to knit the swing jacket, ideas began to flow.   Still using the wide lapel and front band,  I found a quilted knit stitch pattern and added a band..  it works perfectly.  All that was needed was to add a bit of flare.  By increasing stitches below the quilt panel, I created a gathered look.

What do you think?

Now,  I know this may look complicated, but it really is not.
Knit top down and with basic stitches;
knit, purl, make one, knit into front and back (k f/b) and slip stitches and following my motto of seamlessly simple, this design is a winner.  An added feature is making the cuff and bottom edging in a contrasting color.

I'm starting another cardigan in the next few days, so I'll post step by step tips soon.

The pattern comes in sizes 6 months - 6 years and available on Ravelry and Love Knitting.

You don't have to be a Ravelry member to shop.
Buy Quilted Princess Pattern
And since this is really the best time to start your gift crafting for the year for every pattern you order from by Ravelry Shop you get one for free

Knitting the body.
Gathering is done by increasing.  Knit into the front and back of the stitch.  

Picking up stitches for the underarm of the sleeve. 

So Many Ideas - A Royal Jacket

I live in town where there are groups of knitters who enjoy getting together to knit.   How fortunate for me cause I love to knit.  I knit a lot, probably more then I should.  I also love to design kids garments, but I haven't been designing much recently. There are many ideas running around in my head and I finally completed a swing jacket pattern last week.  At our last meeting "show and tell" I shared the swing jacket and everyone loved it, except someone wished it had been designed for a little boy.  I did not want to disappoint, so I got to work on a boy's version.  

Same lapel collar, but a few changes:  full raglan increase,  added a stitch pattern to the body. double breasted and box shaping.

What do you think?  

This is the Royal Jacket for Kids

and I think it's lovely for boys or girls  

on Ravelry 

Catching up: A collection of Seamlessly Simple Knit Sweaters

The ballet slippers are done in a duplicate stitch.   

Oviedo Spain, Kings, Castile and Cathedrals

Traveling through Northern Spain was a wonderful experience.  Through villages and tall snow capped mountain ranges to the city of Oviedo.   Historically beautiful.   Our Hotel Reconquista was a palace hundreds of years ago.  

Around the corner I found this lovely yarn shop.. so different from what you see in USA.  The shop carried fine children's knit items and socks.   A tiny place but much to choose from. 

Knitting on the Douro River Portugal

2015 & 2016 were eventful years for me.   After my surgery I was more determined to travel and spend time enjoying life and the wonder around us.   Fortunately I had the opportunity to take a river cruise on the Douro River in Portugal.   We staying in Lisbon for 3 days, and as is my practice I visited a yarn shop and found a variegated merino yarn.   So as the ship cast off, I cast on a top down shawl.    The voyage was amazing, mountains, vineyards and so much history.  

 Slowly working on this piece.

Massive vineyards

Knitting and travel break

Tiny mountain top fortress of Rodrigo

getting further along on my shawl.   

A little Mink

Have you ever knit with Mink?   It feels wonderful in your hands and the finished garment has a soft flowing drape.  Short version of Nebula by Vera Sanon.   I used Pure Elegance yarn from Great Yarns (shop)

A little Mink

Thing 1 and Thing 2

These sweaters and hats are sooo... Cute.   A friend contacted me and said she wanted to make these sweaters and asked for a suggestion on the hat pattern.   She was using my "At the Game" pattern for the sweaters and I found a the Magic Coffee Hat on Ravalry......Just got this photo of the finished work.    Can't wait to see the babies in these outfits.     Great job.   Deb

Note:  At the Game (on Ravalry--ElizcsKnits)  work in stripes and it's so easy when you knit in the round and top down.  

Magic Coffee Hat (on Ravalry) just at the end do not end at the top of hat, use 5-6 stitches and create an I cord.  

Time Flies….

Never thought that time would fly by so quickly and that it's been almost a year since my last post…It's not like I haven't been knitting.  Well I did take a brake after that knitting injury.   You know what I mean… when you have that huge project to finish and the stitches are bunched on the needles and your hands are so tight because you are trying to not let the little stitches fall off the needles, even though you switched to circulars (2 sets of 60"'s) and it's too late cause your thumb muscles are frozen…well you get the picture.  I didn't pick up a needle for 4 months.

Even with "the injury", I have had a very productive knitting year and have been frugal also.  Only splurged at Stitches West.   Oh yeah, I did visit ImagKnit in San Francisco, but that was a daughter day and she picked a pattern and yarn, so it doesn't count (right??)
Glad to be back.. I promise I will post the events of the past year and also new stuff for this year.