joli house

Finally got round to blogging this one!  It’s always extra hard to find a project worthy of especially treasured yarns like this Colorful Yarns Merino – received in a swap from Christianna.  The generous yardage meant it was the perfect choice for the Haslam that we knit for the April lilykate KAL on ravelry.

Thanks Christi for a great yarn choice!

lily x

I know my mum mentioned the KAL in the previous post but I don’t think she mentioned the prize! Anyone who completes any of my designs during the month of April (and posts a photograph on the KAL thread) will be entered in a draw to win a full set of Lilykate patterns, as well as some pretty yarn.

And talking of my business, if you too have a small craft business, you may be interested in Planet Handmade. This is a friends project and I know she’d really appreciate it if you’d fill in the questionnaire. Thank you!

Pattern: Laika from Little Red in The City by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Some unidentified merino purchased at Black Sheep Wool.

Needles: 3.25mm circs.

Modifications:  Added a few inches in length to the hood.

Very pleased with the way this turned out.  I cast on in August and off in Feb, before leaving it to sit buttonless for a month or so.

Laika is a very enjoyable knit with a totally addictive stitch pattern.

Until you get to the button band.  

I should have heeded Ysolda’s warning in the book that knitting the band with the 60cm needle can be “kind of a bitch”.  No “kind of” about it if you ask me.  Do yourself a favour and use a longer needle.  Or pass it to Lily someone with more patience.

Don’t panic if it looks a little on the small side when knitting this.  The stitch pattern is uber-stretchy and blocks out well.   I think the snug fit makes it a very flattering design.

Love that giant hood!

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If you’re taking part in the Lily Kate KAL over on Ravelry you may be interested to know that Haslam is now available to download.

Hoping to get this one out in time for the lilykate designs KAL beginning in April!  My latest design, Haslam

Check out the loved up couple in the background there, my mum didn’t even notice until the end!

lily x

We asked Joel to pick a number between 0 and 23 for the Sweet Shawlettes giveaway and he gave us number 14.  Well done to you Lottie – we’ll get this sorted asap.  Hope you enjoy the book as much as we have. 

My mum and I were delighted and honoured to be asked to be part of the blog tour for Jean Moss’ new book, Sweet Shawlettes.  One of the UK’s top designers, Jean has worked with Rowan and Ralph Lauren amongst many others. With this sort of design background, the book was bound to be fantastic.

  

 

I can honestly say that I love every single one of the designs,although I do, of course, have my favourites. Chapter 1 – ‘Country’ – features the Evergreen scarf, which right away I knew I would have to make. Whilst the fiddly nature of the leaves would normally scare me off, I loved the way it looked on the model and so cast on straight away. It was quick to knit and finish and I soon had myself an intricate, brightly coloured choker scarf that I hope to wear lots and lots!  Such a stunning item for a simple quick knit.

I absolutely adore the cape like structure of the Enigma shawl in chapter 2 – ‘Couture’; the clever use of two simple layers of featherlight Kidsilk Haze doubles the impact of an already beautiful accessory.

Flicking through the pages I was drawn to the items that use clever construction methods to create perfectly fitting shawls, scarves and capelets. For example the Purple Patch Shrug in chapter 3 – ‘Folk’ uses the traditional technique of patchwork squares in a more modern style: the perfect juxtaposition, if you ask me. Jean’s attention to the tiniest details, such as the delicate pearl buttons on the corners of this shrug, really make the book.

Chapter 4 – ‘Vintage’ – is probably my favourite section of the book. I have a thing for older styles reinvented, and the Fizz capelet embodies the chic simplicity I love in a design. This is also my mum’s favourite.

For me, picking just one favourite  from this book would be impossible – given the time I would like to knit them all!

 

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As a young designer I really like to keep up with fashion trends,  and it was great to get an experienced designer’s take on current fashion names.  We asked Jean a few questions about her knitting career.

 

You’ve worked with some pretty big fashion names in the past. If you were able to work with a current designer of your choice, who would it be?

 

Stella McCartney for sure as she seems to reflect my own values of ethical fashion. I admire the way that she stays true to her principles, refusing to use leather and fur in her collections. Her after-show party this year was a six-course vegetarian extravaganza, honouring her commitment to animal rights, with Hyde Park sweet chestnuts, Sicilian blood oranges, saffron risotto, Périgord black truffle and Wigmore cheese on toast on the menu – making the point that veggie food needn’t be boring food.

 Which celebrity would you like to see wearing your designs?

This is so difficult as there are many people I admire for different reasons. I’ve already done a book inspired by Audrey Hepburn – great project, awful book because of, amongst other reasons, the dreadful styling and photography. I suppose it would be flattering to see a celebrity knitter wearing one of my designs, as I know they’d appreciate how much work goes into both the design and the knitting – Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Anniston immediately spring to mind. It would give me a huge buzz to see one of my designs on the red carpet at the Oscars, but I’d be equally happy to see June Tabor wearing a little something from Sweet Shawlettes at the Folk Awards or Alison Krauss at the Country Music Awards. I’m a big fan of Downton Abbey and would love to design a few pieces for the wonderful Maggie Smith and her divine screen grand-daughters. Note to Julia et al, if you’re reading this, get in touch and I’ll have something in the post by return

 The book is beautifully styled and photographed. Did you have a lot of input into the way it looks?

I love designing sweaters, but there seems to be a growing trend for small portable pieces to wear or gift. Sweaters involve a huge amount of time, skill and emotional energy and not all knitters want this level of commitment. People knit for many different reasons, but increasingly it’s for relaxation and to share with friends. So from a publisher’s point of view, it’s safer to produce collections of accessories which are quicker to knit and are less daunting for beginner knitters. My next book, which is already in the works, will continue with the trend for accessories, showcasing favourite techniques.

I’m the sort of person that says yes first and sorts out the detail later. I became a hand knit designer almost by accident. At a London show where I was showing machine knits, an agent for Ralph Lauren liked my work and asked me to make some hand knit samples to show him. I jumped at the chance although at the time I had no production capacity, my only experience of hand knitting was making sweaters for the kids and the time-frame was two weeks! However, by seizing the moment, I ended up six months later with 2000 hand-knitters in the UK producing pieces for the Polo/Ralph Lauren labelas well as selling my own collections to boutiques in the US and Europe.

 

  

This fabulous book is available to purchase from Amazon and Telegraph books.

 

Taunton Press and Jean Moss are kindly offering one of our readers the chance to win a copy of Sweet Shawlettes. Just go check out the projects gallery before leaving us a comment, letting us know your favourite design and why you chose it.  Be sure to leave your e-mail address too!

 

More information on Jean’s other projects and designs can be found here.

 

Don’t forget to drop in on other blog stops on the tour for more interviews with Jean.

 

Wed 7 March: Jen Arnall-Culliford

Thurs 8 March: Needled (Kate Davies)

Fri 9 March: Rock and Purl (Ruth Garcia-Alcantud)

Sat 10 March: Woolly Wormhead

Mon 12 March: Yarnscape (Alison Barker)

Tues 13 Mar Confessions of a Yarn Addict Anniken Allis

Wed 14 March: Joli House (Amanda France)

Thurs 15 March: This Is Knit

Fri 16 March: The Knitting Institute (Knitting Magazine)

Sat 17 March: Life’n Knitting (Carla Meijsen)

Sun 18 March: ConnieLene (ConnieLene Johnston)

Mon 19 March: Just Call Me Ruby (Susan Crawford)

Tues 20 March: Tiny Owl Knits (Stephanie Dosen)

Wed 21 March: Ulla-Bella (Anita Tørmoen)

Thurs 22 March Heike Knits Heike Gittins

 

Pattern: Stonor by Belinda Boaden for The Scrumptious Collection by Fyberspates.

Yarn: Fyberspates Scrumptious 4-ply in Oyster

Needles: 3mm, 3.25mm and 3.5mm.

Modifications: Lily knit the body in 1 piece, sleeves in the round.

Stonor is such a cute knit. Lily does love the vintage style and this was her favourite design from The Scrumptious Collection.

Looks great with jeans but would work just as well with a cute little dress.

Just need to get her to knit one for me too now!

Finally…Langdale is now available to download via Ravelry.

Lily’s latest hat design. 

Print version should be available shortly from Fyberspates and Lantern Moon.  Downloadable here!

Fyberspates Scrumptious 4 ply. 2.75 and 3.25 mm 16″ circular needle and 3.25 mm DPNs.

Wow it feels like an eternity since I last updated our little corner of the Internet!   We’re making the most of the half-term break and trying to finish up some stuff that’s been on the needles for waaaay too long.  Funny how we manage to kid ourselves that we haven’t got much on the go until I collect it all up to photograph.

 

Laika – this has been around for 7 months!  Finally, it is ready for blocking and buttons.  Hope to have that sorted soon.

Stonor – this Belinda Boaden design is Lily’s knit and is just half a sleeve short of the finishing line.

Evergreen – a cute little knit from the new Jean Moss book.  Watch this space for news of a giveaway soon.

Dropzone - cast on just last week when I convinced myself I had nothing to knit.

Sonning – really want to get this finished and start wearing it but for some reason the lace is proving a challenge to my eyes.  Will probably get my knitting fairy to finish this for me.

Angee – started at Christmas for a friend. Maybe next Christmas will see them finished.

And this doesn’t include the dozens of swatches that Lily has for new designs.  Looks like we’re going to have a busy Spring.