Chrysanthemum Bag

© Chrysanthemum Bag

This bag is inspired by Koitsu Tsuchiya's Watercolor Chrysanthemum.

The Chrysanthemum motif is duplicate stitched on. 

The background uses small sections of intarsia over the curves.
The opening edges are finished with two rows of single crochet.
As for lining, toile with children playing print is used. There are two compartments.

Knit Picks, Palette,

100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 231 yards/50 g ball,

Hand wash and dry flat.

Color # C872 Iris Heather, Dye Lot # 2028, ~3/4 x Yarn Ball(s)
Color # CK09 Opal Heather, Dye Lot # 1649, ~3/4 x Yarn Ball(s)

Color # I989 Oyster Heather, Dye Lot # 9646, ~1/4 x Yarn Ball(s)

Color # 2200 Fairy Tale, Dye Lot # 9735, ~1/8 x Yarn Ball(s)

Color # 4908 Lady Slipper, Dye Lot # 5470, ~1/8 x Yarn Ball(s)

Color # 0633 Mustard, Dye Lot # 4152, ~1/8 x Yarn Ball(s)

Color # 0184 Custard, Dye Lot # 9732, ~1/8 x Yarn Ball(s)

Color # C816 Forest Heather, Dye Lot # 0992, ~1/8 x Yarn Ball(s)

Color # I982 Grass, Dye Lot # 9748, ~1/8 x Yarn Ball(s)

Color # 0980 Edamame, Dye Lot # 1308, ~1/8 x Yarn Ball(s)

Needle: US1 2.25mm

A Christmas present for G. 

Dear American Gothic,

© Dear American Gothic,

Size: 10" x 8"

Medium: Watercolor

A Christmas present for C.

Floating on Cloud Owl

© Floating on Cloud Owl

Size: 10" x 8"

Medium: Watercolor

A Christmas present for J.

Merry Christmas & Happy 2012!

Our presents under the little knitted tree.

Tiny Christmas tree hanging from the tip.

Reindeer (Mr. Flat Head), a Christmas present from K. Also some nutcrackers and ornaments from previous years.

© Merry Christmas & Happy 2012!

Tree top:
Seed stitched.

Lion Brand Yarn, Holiday Homespun,

98% Acrylic/2% Metallic Polyester, 154 yards/141 g ball,

Machine wash and dry. Do not bleach or iron.

Art # 791, Color # 202/Wreath,  Lot # 1009802, 1 x Yarn Ball

Needle: US10 6.0mm

Tree trunk:
2 by 2 ribbing.

Lion Brand Yarn, Wool Ease Chunky,  

80% Acrylic/20% Wool, 153 yards/140 g ball, 

Machine wash warm medium cycle. Tumble dry low.

May be dry cleaned. Do not bleach. Do not iron.

Art # 640, Color # 124/Barley, Lot # 64808, < 1 x Yarn Ball

Needle: US11 8.0mm

Found You!

© Found You!

Size: 12" x 12"

Medium: Watercolor

A Christmas present for K.

Christmas Brooches 2011

© Christmas Brooches 2011 

Christmas gifts for a knitting group.

Frost, December 12th 2011

© Frost, December 12th 2011

Oh... this is so heavy

© Oh... this is so heavy

Clipped Wings

 

 © Clipped Wings

Finally some pictures while the sun is out.

This blouse design features an allover lace back and exposed upper arm.

I use the leaf chain swatch

from "Stitchionary 5: Lace Knitting" by Vogue Knitting

for the back, front hem, and sleeves hem 

with some modification on how each leaf chain ends on the top.

The sleeves have continuous lattices as the leaf chain hem disappears 

and are ribbed on the top edge for comfortable tension around the arms.

The neckline is finished with two rounds of single crochets.

Ice Yarns, Otello

100% Wool, ~246 yards/50 g ball, 

Machine Wash/Dry Flat. Do not iron. Do not bleach.

Color Pink White, Lot # 21636, 4 x Yarn Balls

Needle: US6 4.0mm 

You are getting VERY sleepy...

© You are getting VERY sleepy...

I am a twig

© I am a twig

I am a leaf

© I am a leaf

If I stay still long enough, they will go away...

I am a SUPERSTAR

© I am a SUPERSTAR

Now get off me you damn stones!

Dream state

© Dream state

Small-Medium-Large

© Small-Medium-Large

Hot Water Bottle Cozy

© Hot Water Bottle Cozy

Let's use up some of those leftover yarns!

This cozy is worked in circle from bottom up.

Ribbing is added on the top opening along with yarn over holes for drawstring.

Cozy

Berroco Comfort, Knitting Worsted Weight,

50% Nylon/50% Acrylic, 210 yards/100 g ball,

Machine wash on gentle cycle in warm water.
No bleach. Tumble dry on low heat. Do not over dry. Do not iron.
Yarn: Color # 9763/Navy Blue, Lot # V1629, < 1 x Yarn Ball(s)
Color # 9700/Chalk, Lot # V1421, < 1 x Yarn Ball(s)
Needle: US6 4.0mm

I-cord drawstring

Cascade Yarns, 220 Superwash

100% Superwash Wool, 220 yards/100 g ball,

 Warm gentle machine wash. Tumble dry medium. Iron at medium setting. No bleach.

Color #812/Turquoise, Dye Lot #6471, < 1 x Yarn Ball(s)

 Needle: US6 4.0mm

Trumpets

© Trumpets

Fly me to the moon

© Fly me to the moon

A Bag For Toast

© A Bag For Toast

The sling bag design uses scalloped feather lace swatch
from "Knitting on the Edge" by Nicky Epstein
for the body of the bag,
and seed stitch for the strap.
It is approximately the size of a piece of toast.

Cascade Yarns, 220 Superwash

100% Superwash Wool, 220 yards/100 g ball,

 Warm gentle machine wash. Tumble dry medium. Iron at medium setting. No bleach.

Color #812/Turquoise, Dye Lot #6471,  < 1 x Yarn Ball(s)

Needle: US5 3.75mm, strap
US7 4.50mm, bag

Water

© Water

We are here for you

© We are here for you

Happy Halloween!

© Happy Halloween!

The big picture

© The big picture

Sally Sells Seashells by the Seashore

© Sally Sells Seashells by the Seashore

This cardigan design features

frost flowers and ridges swatch for hem
from "Stitchionary 5: Lace Knitting" by Vogue Knitting and
hot pink contrasting cuffs, neckline, and button/button hole rows.

Lion Brand Yarn, Amazing,

53% Wool/47% Acrylic, 147 yards/50 g ball,

 Machine wash. Dry Flat. Do not iron. Do not bleach. Dry clean any solvent.
Color # Pink Sands/207, Art #825, Lot #2139, 8 x Yarn Balls
Needle: US7 4.5mm
 
Atomic Blue, Painted Lady Sport,
100% merino, 200 yards/50 g ball,
Color Queen Anne Pink, 1 x Yarn Ball
This yarn is 100% organic (there are hay bits to pick out when knitting).

Needle: US7 4.5mm

Buttons: Shells, Favorite Findings by Blumenthal

Striving to live

© Striving to live

Lurking

© Lurking

Outnumbered

© Outnumbered

Networking

© Networking

Sweetheart Dress

Top: Corset cups, Center: Tapering of triangle towards waist, Bottom: Slip-stitch ripples on skirt

Left: Front of dress, Center: Built-in bra and waist stay, Right: Victorian boot button loop closure

 © Sweetheart Dress

This knitted corset dress features

seed-stitch removable straps,

seed-stitch set-in cups shaped with short rows,

victorian boot button loops back closure

from "Knitting Beyond the Edge" by Nicky Epstein,

slip-stitch ripples swatch for skirt

from "Stitchionary 5: Lace Knitting" by Vogue Knitting,

built-in strapless bra, and waist stay.

Lang Yarns, Georgia,

96% Cotton/4% Polyester, ~120yards/50 g ball, Machine Wash/Dry Flat

Color # 730.0006, Lot # 4297 , 12 x Yarn Balls

Needle: US4 3.5mm

Buttons: 11 buttons of La Mode Style 37465 (Hook 988), Blumenthal

Thanks to J for the constant support and challenge to make a more ornate piece.

Check out the matching build-in bra here!

Mostly complementary

© Mostly complementary

Make peace with nature

© Make peace with nature

A Matching Bra

I designed a knitted corset dress. In order to make it easily wearable, I decided to include a built-in bra.

Bra choice: Hanes Concealing Petals Strapless Underwire Bra in white, 36B

I needed 34C for strapless bra to work on me but Hanes does not produce this bra in C cup for size 34. 

Dye choice: Rit Liquid Dye in evening blue
 

Rit Liquid Dye in Evening Blue

Dyeing Recipe
Ingredients:
1 gallon hot tap water
4oz Rit liquid dye (8oz bottle)
1/2 cup vinegar

Tools:
Rubber gloves
Unwanted pot (I bought a crock pot from Goodwill thrift store for USD1.99)
Unwanted spatula (again from Goodwill for USD0.99)

Steps:

1. Soak bra thoroughly in warm water.
2. Add all ingredients in pot and stir well.
3. Add bra and removable straps into pot.
4. Submerge items under dye mixture.
5. Move them around every 5-10 minutes for one hour. Make sure to move sliders of adjustable straps as well. (I forgot on mine.)
6. Rinse well in warm water until water runs clear.
7. Press as much water out as possible.
8. Hang dry.

Dye mixture

Last rinse cycle

Bra composition

Results:

The main nylon fabric turns out vibrantly blue. The polyester cup linings are mostly light blue. The bra hooks, sliders, and hooks-and-eyes appear undyed. The bra also appears just a little bit darker when wet.

I also dyed a piece of 100% white cotton fabric (muslin) for comparison. It turns out to be dull teal as indicated on the Rit liquid dye bottle itself.

Left: Wet, Right: Dry

Left column: Right side, Right column: Wrong side
1. & 2. Cups, lining, elastic band, and under-wire channeling
3. & 4. Side reinforcement and thread color
5. & 6. Back bands, hooks-and-eyes, straps, anti-slip rubbery bands

Dyed 100% cotton (muslin)

© A Matching Bra 

Check out the knitted corset dress here!