Vintage gloves redux

My mum bought this pair of shetland wool gloves in London back in the late 60s. As you can see in the last three pictures, they've been very well worn and loved (by both of us) and they have holes in most of the fingers and the cuff. They're also (most probably) child sized, because they're too small for me, and I have tiny hands.

Anyway, I decided to create a replica of these vintage gloves, using Shetland wool like the original pair, but with a few improvements. I made a small alteration to the chart, added a longer, tighter cuff to keep my wrists snug, and knit the fingers longer so the gloves fit my hands nicely. Now I hope this new pair will last as long as my mum's. Who knows? Maybe in other 40 years someone will be knitting a replica of mine :)

Dalahäst mittens

Things have been a bit crazy in the beginning of this new year. 2015 started with a new super fun commission, and I've been glued to my desk since then. However, I still managed to knit these Dalahäst mittens for a dear friend in Canada. I hope they keep her hands warm and cozy!

Into the blue

Hi everyone, how have you been? I'm still very busy working on the new book. But in my little spare time I've managed to knit this new shetland sweater while I binge watched House of Cards and True Detective.

I saw this amazing vintage find in Kate Davies' blog, and I just felt like I needed one myself. I drew the chart based on the pictures and used my usual yoke sweater numbers to make my own version. I'm ridiculously happy with the outcome! Now I only need a little less spring-like weather so I can wear it.

Anyway, I'm already planning my next project. I need to have something on my needles for the new season of Game of Thrones and (sad face) the last season of mad Men.

Muscaria

I'm very busy at the moment working on three different projects, but I wanted to share with you some knitting related news. I finally got to design the polkadot hat I was dreaming of, it ended up looking more like the beautiful fungus Amanita Muscaria (or the Mario Bros toad), hence the name. The second project is this icelandic sweater for the man in the house, the pattern is this one if you're interested.

I want candy

I knit a new sweater in the middle of the August heat. It's a test knit for a pattern a friend is writing, and the colors I chose for the yoke remind me of candy. I can't wait for the cold temperatures to arrive, so I can finally wear it.

Boardwalk Empire

I just finished knitting this vest, right on time for spring. It's perfect for layering, and cozy without being too warm. The pattern is Boardwalk by Heidi Kirrmaier, from the Brooklyn Tweed Wool People collection.

Also, if you're following this blog with Google Reader, you must know that Google Reader is shutting down, and it will not be available after July 1, 2013. If you want to keep getting updates from my blog, I really recommend you follow me on Bloglovin' from now on. It's the tool I use for keeping up with blogs and it's prety awesome :)

A few new things

1. My new pair of sunglasses, Ray-Ban Erika
2. A freshly developed roll of film, soon to be scanned and posted here
3. A korean pencil case bought on Ebay, to hold my pencils and drawing tools when I'm away
4. New big sketchbook and pencil
5. My Clare Vivier shoulder bag

In other news, I finally published my first knitting pattern, Love Triangle. I'm very excited because I've been meaning to do this for a long time and finally found the time and energy! The pattern is available for purchase in Ravelry for 3,5€, but if you don't have a Ravelry accound and you're interested on the pattern, just drop me an email :)

Love triangle

So, here's my new hat design, Love triangle, knit in squishy DK Merino yarn. This is just a prototype and has som flaws, but I'm currently writing the pattern and will soon be testing it with other knitters. I'm very excited to be (finally!) writing my first knitting pattern.

Have a great weekend everyone!

EDIT: Pattern is now avilable here 

Ansó

I just finished knitting this Fair Isle pullover with traditional shetland yarns. I've named it Ansó, because the colors remind me of the autumn shades in one of my favorite places on earth. Spring is around the corner, but the weather here is cold and rainy, perfect for wearing this sweater!

Unintentional abstract paintings

This is what happens after a nice session of gouache painting. I love looking at these paper towels closely, they look like little abstract paintings. Also, I have new sweater plans, a fair isle jumper with autumn like colors. And this drawing board is coming my way, I'm sure my back will appreciate it, because after long painting sessions I always get a sore neck.

Nadia

Yesterday I spent the afternoon practicing with lights and shadows over a quick drawing from my sketchbook. It's so much fun to see the drawing come to life, I love doing these tiny pieces! In other news, the hat from the previous post is finished. Isn't the crown design beautiful?

Recent knits

I've been wearing my new green sweater all the time since I finished it last week. It's made with a super soft angora merino mix, and I designed the sweater to fit my tastes exactly (the great side of working your own patterns). It's knit in one piece, without any seaming, and the edges are finished with a tubular cast off that looks very neat. Last photo is my current project, a snowflake hat designed by Kate Davies, knit in shetland yarn.

Happy weekend everyone!

When in doubt, add a pom pom

An orange, fluffy, soft pom pom :D

Tangerine

A new hat I recently finished designing and knitting. It made a tubular cast on, elastic brim in two colors and slightly slouchy shape, and used leftover yarn from this cardigan (a mix of cashmere and alpaca that's super soft, lightweight and warm) and some laceweight merino for the contrasting color on the brim. I'm considering adding a big pom pom on top too. Would you do it?

A sweater for my iPad

I got myself an early birthday present, an iPad Mini, and of course, I had to knit a sweater for it. I designed the pattern to show the colors of this lovely yarn I bought last year in Porto and, even though the fair-isle is a bit wonky, I love it. It keeps my iPad safe and warm :D

Brigitte

Remember this post about my illustration process? Last week I got samples of the printed book on the mail, and even though I'm a bit sad that all those fancy meats on top of the illustration got lost on the final cover design, it's always very rewarding to see the final work on print. I love working on book covers like this :D

I also designed and knit this minimalist tweedy grey pair of mittens for my dear friend Ada. She got them just in time for her birthday and they fit her very well, I hope they keep her warm during the cold polish winter.

Walking girl

Yesterday I got in the mail this awesome print by Ping Zhu, and it's already hanging on my studio. I really admire her work, she has the best line work and dry brush technique. She makes me want to be unfaithful to my watercolors and have a fling with gouache.

Also, I finished knitting that striped cowl in the softest merino yarn. It's a seamless loop, the ends were grafted together and you can't notice where the ends meet. And I was interviewed here, only in spanish, sorry!