just being fabulous

1. Yesterday I casually mentioned that I am in love with Mason Dixon's book. The picture above shows the planning stage of my next project. The yarn is Rowan Cotton Glace in the following colors: Zeal, In the Pink, Hot Lips, Pick and Mix, and Shoot. They aren't very neon in the photo, but they are positively flourescent in person.

I am going to turn those bad girls into a knitted tote using the polka dot stitch pattern in the picture on the right. The pattern is actually for a piano bench cover, but I don't have a bench. I do have a passion for pocketbooks though! I'll talk about this project more once it jumps onto my needles.

2. Did you see that Wenlan Chia is selling her Twinkle yarns online now? They look pretty, and it's cool to imagine that it's the same yarn that clothes tiny women on the runways. If you click on each of the colors, you can see one of her designs that she knit in that yarn, in that color. I really like her work, especially the bulky lacy details. The lace seems to detract from the bulk somehow.

I'm interested in seeing how the yarn is packaged. She doesn't show full balls of yarn on her site. I might order one ball of each yarn sometime to see what it looks like and feels like. I know of three of her designs that have been in knitting magazines: Seaberry Shell in IK Summer 06, the cover design of VK Winter 04/05, and the cover design of VK Holiday 2005.


She designs chunky garments. I wouldn't make the two Vogue Knitting ones, but I have made the Seaberry Shell and I love it. I haven't posted it yet, but when I get back to Arizona I'll take some pictures and write a little bit about it.

3. While I was doing the research for the last paragraph, I found the Vogue Knitting Fall preview. I love Grey, I love Fair Isle, and I love socks! I especially love these. Is that Fixation? I wish I had a copy of this magazine right now! I need it immediately! The cover of the Fall Knit.1 is on the Vogue Knitting home page, but as of right now the preview is not up on the Knit.1 website. I love the cover pattern though. What a cool humongous cable! I'm excited for these new magazines to come out.

4. I have a question about the pillows that I showed yesterday. I was thinking of having them close with buttons, but then I was worried that the buttons might fall off if I lean on them or snuggle with them or fall asleep on them. Plus, they might be uncomfortable somehow. My other option seems to be just sewing up the pillow on all sides, but I thought the button closure would make the pillows easier to clean, since I could take off the cover.

Does anyone have any input about pillows with buttons? Do the buttons ever pop off? Is there a more secure way to attach a button? Are some buttons more comfortable than others? Is there a better, easier, more secure closure than buttons? I'm listening (like Frasier).

posted by illanna at 1:29 AM |

My Name is Jerri Blank and I'm a Yarnaholic

Meanwhile, I've become a little obsessed with the whole Log Cabin Craze, and I have Mason Dixon Knitting to thank for that. I also have been obsessed with checking Cara's blog every day. Her Socks That Rock Log Cabins are pretty freakin' awesome. I feel like I've finally found my favorite knitting technique. It's very fun and simple! Why didn't anybody tell me about this before?!?!

My first Log Cabin project is pillows for my new apartment. I moved since I last blogged, to an awesome apartment with a "fine wine accent wall." All of a sudden I have a huge urge to make home decor. All I can think about is throws, afghans, blankets, pillows, and cushions.



So far I'm up to the pillows. The top picture and that last picture are the Log Cabin fronts of two different pillows. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill Glitter Thick and Thin in the Wild Cherry and Old Rose colorways. I'm just using one colorway per pillow, and the multidirectional-ness of the pattern really prevents streaking/pooling/flashing/etcetera. Each pillow front took one hank of the Glitter Thick and Thin and the size is 17" x 17".Here's a close-up shot of the back of both the pillows. The yarn for the backs is Suss Cotton in a color called "Love." The two pillows will take a total of 3 hanks.


I'm making the backs by picking up one edge's stitches and just knitting in garter stitch until the back matches the front. The front is pretty much the same pattern as the multicolored baby log cabin blanket in MDK (Mason Dixon Knitting), except it is all the same color (duh). I just stopped Log Cabin-ing when the piece measured 17x17. By the way, Log Cabin-ing is totally a word.


I'm much further along on the redder one (click here for the sweet close up), but the greener one is the one in my bag right now. Max thinks the sparkly yarns were too girly, so lucky for him... They're Reversible! He hasn't seen them knit up yet though, and I bet he'll change his tune when he does! Both these pillows have accompanied me to the Great Suss Sale of '06, the Point, Hila's apartment, Purl, Purl Patchwork, and the F train that decided to make only local stops in Queens today.

Speaking of the Suss Sale, I got a buttload of gangs at this school. This one gang kept asking me to join because I'm pretty good with a bowstaff. yarn there at 70% off! Here is just a small smattering of the hugungous haul:


This is going to be a something for someone I live with. Hint: It's for the person whose butt is behind a link in this post. Another Hint: It's going to be something to do with a Log Cabin. The natural colored yarns (the 10 left ones) are Suss Alpaca and the blue ones are Suss Angora. I'm going to triple the angora and double the alpaca, in order to halve the time it will take to finish, and to make it cozier. The person attached to that butt is a very lucky guy: check out this super soft close-up of the yarn!

Anyone see Strangers with Candy? It's awesome.

posted by illanna at 12:39 AM |

I'm Baaa-aaaack

Apparently, New York is my blogging inspiration. Finally, a post! I can't say too much right now, because I'm about to go out, but I just wanted to post this picture before I go. Log Cabin Squares, from Mason-Dixon Knitting, that will be turned into pillows when I'm done.

posted by illanna at 6:48 PM |