New design tuesday

I'm back from my trip down south, Mum and I had a lovely time at the fete and then tiki touring (see link for definition) our way back to Christchurch via Oxford and Birdlings flat.
Holly and Nick are back in their house and it's looking great, the builders managed to preserve the antique ceiling roses in every room, so the house looks modern and funky, but with a nod to it's history as well.

It was lovely to have a break away, and I've spent the past 2 days back home working madly to make up the time!

The Cherub pattern has gone to the tech editor

Katie Snowflake is still in testing mode, but I did manage to get some sweet photos yesterday.

I had my children young, so I did all of the kindy committee, school board of trustees, Plunket fundraiser stuff years ago, and when we moved the last time the girls were almost finished high school or were at Uni, so I didn't have the opportunity to meet people with young children. The upshot is that while I am designing for babies and children, I don't get to see many on a regular basis, though we are getting to spend a bit more time with Cody now that he is older.

Charlotte has a number of friends with young children, and we seem to have to come to an arrangement...they love having their children's photos taken and are enthusiastic when I ask to borrow their kids, in return I provide them with a flash drive of photos and prints of the best shots, which they prefer to "shopping mall" photos which tend to be boring and pricey.

So, yesterday 4 yr old B helped me out with Katie Snowflake, she was an excellent model, took direction well and maintained her demeanor, the only snag we ran into was with the hood, B had lovely pigtails, which unfortunately distorted the hood quite dramatically...however, I know 4 year old girls well enough to know that asking her to take her pigtails out would have resulted in a meltdown and we all wanted to avoid that!

here is my favorite shot

 and one of their Mum's favorites

I'm waiting impatiently for some yarn to arrive so that I can get started on another design for 4-12 year old girls, and in the meantime I'm knitting some cool stripes, I'll give you a peek next week!

Don't forget to enter the free friday contest! 

Mister Man!

he's here! all 20 sizes of him.

I'm actually pretty proud of this pattern, the vest is simple - "v" neck, no body shaping - but the stitch pattern looks amazing with handpainted yarns, the shoulders sit nicely with no overhang, the back neck is snug and the stitch pattern is both charted and written.

Ebony is my favourite colourway from Fleece Artist, the browns and deep blue/greys remind me of rusting steel plate, the kind of thing you see on modern buildings, I like the broodiness of it.

and the winner is...

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to think of names and enter, there were so many fantastic ideas, the thoughts and feelings attached to the word brought up so many emotions and further ideas.
I made a (long) short list which I then checked on Ravelry to see if there were any duplicates, unfortunately losing some more names in the process, 6 of us then sat and brainstormed and yelled and laughed at one another for a couple of hours until we had a result.

* suddenexpression with "Mr Man"!

 I'm definitely going to use this method of naming my patterns in the future  - so keep an eye out and come back and try again.

here is a photo of the cover of the pattern - and this is why the name worked so well...a percentage of sales from this pattern will be donated to the Movember campaign (this is a link to last year's campaign - the next starts up in September) - raising funds for prostate cancer research, see how we put a wee mo' on Cody? (don't worry, the other photos of him are au natural) the name just seemed right, we had a consensus.


I'm not sure when the pattern will be launched  - it still needs a bit of tweaking - but it won't be long.

*please email me with your email address justine@justjussi.com

Petite Purls - Spring issue

I kept this one a secret didn't I!

When I first saw Brandy and Allegra's online magazine startup "Petite Purls" last year, I was very impressed by their organisational abilities, drive and passion, and when they sent out a call for green patterns I had just the right project incubating.

Here it is - The Tea party frock, knitted in Forever Green Elan organic yarn, wonderfully soft, soft organic wool spun and dyed with plant dyes in New Zealand and available from Knitworld in NZ and by (fast, efficient and friendly!) mail order from Mel Clark at South Seas knitting for those of you based elsewhere in the world.

The top is based on the fluffy party dresses of the 1950's - frothy layers of chiffon and bright silk sashes - too restricting for today's little girl so a cute practical option was in order. The rippled skirt is a quick knit in the round, the garter st top has simple shaping with angel sleeves and a square neck and the sash with it's embroidered daisies sets the garment off simply.

The Forever Green yarn works up nicely - but the real magic comes when you block the garment after knitting I have never seen a yarn bloom so beautifully - it is absolutely luscious- to get the full effect handwash your newly knitted garment in warm water with some woolwash, then squeeze excess water out by wrapping in a towel (and standing on it!) pat into shape on a blocking board, and finally pin in strategic places to ensure crisp seamlines.

I am sure you will either have access to lazy daisy instructions either from a basic needlecrafts book or online - here are some links:

• a video on youtube



• on a crochet background



• diagram

thanks to Brandy, Allegra and Joan for their enthusiasm and support - well done!

Patterns available now

Garter stitch plain and simple patterns - all 8 in one booklet for $10.00 US - only available as a .pdf (file which you store on your computer and print out as required)

(put it on your Ravelry wishlist - the wishlist fairy visits occasionally!)

Christmas is getting closer and closer - today I have to tidy up the studio, as guests usually end up hanging out up here anyway, capture the perfect photo for our Christmas cards...I have one in mind, we'll see how it pans out, and finish sewing the felt gingerbread man ornamentsI am making for the girls - I really should have thought it through - 10 gingerbread men = 20 little button eyes and 30 buttons on tummies...and all sewn by hand...but hey, that's what Christmas is about isn't it?

Bundles of Joy!

there is a lot going on here - I think it is Spring fever!

I have made the decision to move the knitting machines out of my studio - they haven't seen much use in a long time and are taking up space, I feel the need to de-clutter and rework the studio into a room people feel comfortable and relaxed, with a focus on hand knitting.

Tidying up the website and Ravelry pages, I have listed 2 bundles of patterns (available on the website or directly from Ravelry) one is definitely more "girly" and is called "Sugar and Spice" the other is more unisex but called "For the boys" (to be fair) you get 4 patterns for $12.00 US (usually $5.00 US each) that's a saving of $8.00 US - that's got to be good!

Sugar and Spice contains: Bella, Roaring Meg, Victoria and Spirited

For the Boys contains: Acheron, Liam, Riverstone, Horatio (sweater and vest)

Next target: the vege garden - that's tomorrow's job!

Kikkie

a new pattern for sale, here is a sweet, plain little relaxed fit sweater for girls aged 5-12 years. I love how the tucks distort the front to give a scooped border. The sleeves are bracelet length with a sweet scallop made by more tucks. Cute and little bit different either over jeans or teamed with a pretty blouse and skirt.

for sale on the website

Victoria

Victoria's tardiness was caused entirely by my seeming inability to knit 20 simple rows to ensure that something I have knitted 40 odd times, does actually work.

It does.

6 sizes from newborn to 6 years

instructions for DK and 4 ply (fingering) yarn

instructions for stripes or plain

Victoria now for sale at my website via Ravelry

Playing with dolls

just to divert your attention away from the fact that the Clipper pattern still hasn't been graded, and that the Victoria pattern is being held up by my inability to knit 20 rows...

say Hi to the Dolly Mixture Collection: sizes 1,2, 4, 6, 8 years

the cardigan - which would look just as cute without the intarsia

the scoop neck vest with action in the front

and the back!

and the skirt - which you met a while back - it's been waiting for me to finish.

I'm trialling something new with this set - a "limited licence"

It means that while this design is my property and you can't sell or lend the pattern to anyone, you can now sell the garments you make from the pattern - as long as you are an individual doing it for your own gain (my existing licence gives people permission to knit a certain number of garments for charity) e.g. you can sell finished garments on www.toggle.co.nz, or www.etsy.com and other online marketplaces or craft fairs, just be sure to credit the design to me on the sales tag or website.

Bombs away!

the hat patterns are up now - click on the link

Aviatrix

Poppy

I have to tell you

Melissa from Argosy yarns has a gift for colour, she chooses sumptious blends of cashmere, silk, merino and bamboo and handpaints them in subtle, lucious shades reminiscent of the countryside surrounding her home.

I have wanted to tell you about her yarns for a while now, but I felt the need to make something special from them first - and there is more to come, I still have numerous skeins to play with.

You have already seen the Acheron kimono jacket - handpainted yarn with a solid colour contrast, here it is using Melissa's Jo Jo yarn (merino/cashmere/angora) in the Blackstar Canyon and Rosemary colourways. I also want to knit this in the Anza Borrego with a champagne contrast.

what do I love about this cardigan? The longer than usual length that gives you a cosy armful of baby without having to keep pulling a sweater down at the back, the moss st offsetting the i-cord, the way that the front of the garment actually looks like the initial sketch! Pattern is being test knitted.

I just have to show this to you:

The Poppy hat you have already seen, and another version in Jo Sharp Silkroad DK, finally morphing in the Aviatrix helmet which is knitted totally on straight needles! I love how things can evolve given time (and peace and quiet!)This free pattern is still being deciphered from my notes, and I am also working on larger sizes - so it may be another week or so.

Growing colder

"And who by fire, who by water,

who in the sunshine, who in the night time,

who by high ordeal, who by common trial,

who in your merry merry month of may"

Leonard Cohen

May did indeed give me some trials, and June has started with triumph not ordeals.

The beautiful Vintage Purl "Autumn sunrise" yarn has become fingerless gloves for when the weather is not cold enough for the claustraphobia inducing gloves and mittens, but the knuckles are feeling a twinge or two.

My fingerless mitts are designed and finished, a punchard for "feather and fan" lace using the garter carriage has been calculated and constructed - though not tested, Blaise's fingerless mitts are finished, as is Flash's garter st scarf- a feat of endurance knitting for sure, and a photo will hopefully appear tomorrow, he has worn it today, a worthwhile weekends knitting.

Machine knitters - this one is for you.

"Pithy" directions for Fingerless Mitts

fits small to large woman's hand

Using sock yarn (3-4 ply) cast on 48 sts on the main bed, if using a ribber you will have to arrange the needles for a 4x2 rib, if using a G carriage - make a card or mylar with 4 x 2 rib. Centre "0" should have 1 st on each side, then a group of 4 on each side of that, then 2, then 4 etc. I used tension 9 on the G-carriage, that equates to around a 7 with the ribber.

Work 6 rows, then work a cable on each of the 4 sts either side of the centre 2 sts, using 2 x 2 prong tools pick up the 2 sts on the left and twist them in front of the 2 sts on the right, work the other cable in the opposite direction.

Repeat these 7 rows 6 more times.

Work 2 rows then place a piece of waste yarn for the thumb, 2 sts in from the left, knit 8 sts with the waste yarn, place needles back in the correct position, then work 40 rows 4 x 2 rib.

Cast off loosely.

Sew seam neatly.

Thumb: pull waste yarn out gently, and place 8 sts at top and 7 sts on bottom onto 2 DPNs (approximately 2.5-3mm), knitting in 1 x 1 rib knit work across 6 sts from bottom needle, then use another DPN and knit 1 st from needle, then pick up 2 sts from side of thumb, then 3 sts from top needle, work across needle, then pick up 2 sts from other side of thumb. Work 10 rows total then cast off loosely in rib.

Work the other mitt placing thumb on the other side of work.

Another option for the thumb is to omit the WY step, and just leave a hole when sewing up the side seam, I prefer a warmer thumb.

Umbilical bands and tattoos

3 little kokeshi dolls

not a very nice title - so we just call them obi's! when my kids were little, I had piles of vintage knitting patterns, including the intriguing "umbilical band" a strip of knitting which wrapped around the tummy - I suppose to give some support to the umbilical region, I just liked them for the idea that the wrap covered that draughty area where the pants and top came adrift. I made a couple in soft wool for Blaise who wore them happily under her clothes and stayed warm and draught free.

years later when I designed my little Judo suit (in homage to my Step-dad, who is well known in international judo circles) I made a simple ribbed belt which buttoned at the back, the obi pulled the wrap top in, once again eliminating the draught, and gave an elegance to the simple top and pants.

This past fortnight I have been knitting every spare minute, trying to keep up with the actual queue of testing, and the virtual queue lining up, both in my head and on paper - trying to be diciplined, to finish one thing before I start the next, but still day-dreaming while knitting "I wonder what would happen if..." The day-dreaming has led this week to a couple of fairisle and intarisa obi patterns, a plain panel in front and button up ribbing at the back to ensure a snug fit.The judo suit pattern (with wrap cardigan or sweater options) will be available soon, with bonus charts for the obis you see here, and maybe a couple more...once some more of the queue has been tamed.

fairisle circles in self-striping yarn fans in self-striping yarns cherry blossoms

From the testing queue I bring you the Horatio vest - a sleeveless v-neck version of the Horatio sweater. I loved knitting this - very simple and quick, and the intarsia goes quickly as the outlines are added later, this time I embroidered "Teddy" on the front - I'm so pleased with the result. This pattern is free when you buy the Horatio sweater pattern (or the sweater pattern is free when you buy the vest pattern!) and comes in 8 sizes from birth to 5 years. The pattern can be purchased from the website for $5.00 US.