An Extraordinary Knitter...


As soon as Cheryl pointed this project out to me, I knew we had to feature it here on the blog. Silky Alpaca Lace is the perfect yarn for heirloom pieces, and what day is more special than your wedding day? Amanda Robertson, the extraordinary knitter behind this piece, was kind enough to answer some questions for us.

Are you a big lace knitter?
I don't really consider myself a big lace knitter, but I'm always up for new knitting challenges. Before my shawl I had only knitted one other lace project, which was a stole for a friend to wear at her wedding.


What made you decide to undertake such a complicated piece? What was your inspiration?
I knew I wanted to have a very handmade wedding, so a knitted shawl seemed like an obvious piece of that to me. I honestly have no idea why I picked such a complex pattern - I don't think I knew what I was getting myself into! I looked at tons of patterns and projects and fell in love with circular shawls worn as veils. Spanish Peacock really stood out to me and I love that it was a project Meg Swansen created for her daughter's wedding. I didn't wear mine as a veil in the end, but that's where my inspiration came from.


How did you find the experience? The yarn?
It was frustrating to knit at times, but really rewarding. It took me ages to get the cast-on right, I made some major mistakes, and I struggled with parts of the pattern, but it was so fun to see the pattern emerge and the shawl grow. I loved the yarn! It's so soft and in six balls I didn't have a single knot or flaw. I initially fell in love with the color (I had a certain shade of orange in mind), and it also happened to be fabulous yarn!


How many hours a day did you devote to it? Were you a "monogamous" knitter?
At times I was working on it 3 or 4 hours a day. At another point it was in a zip-lock for 5 months straight when it was summer, we were moving, and I couldn't stand to look at it anymore. I took a couple of breaks to knit other small projects, and plenty of breaks to sew and craft for the wedding. I guess I was a serial monogamist!


Do you have any advice for someone who would want to attempt something like this themselves?
I say go for it! Do your research and read the project notes from the many wise people on Ravelry - I learned so much from the notes of folks who knit Spanish Peacock before me. Also be sure to give yourself plenty of time to take breaks and fix mistakes!

What's on your needles now?
I just started on Evie, a cardigan by Kim Hargreaves from Thrown Together. I'm such a slow knitter, so I think it will take me awhile!

Indie Designs in Classic Elite Yarns!

I am always eager to open my mailbox (virtual and actual) at the turn of the seasons...each knitting magazine brings with it colors and textures of the season through patterns, exciting features, and visually exciting spreads. Spring is no different. Who says yarn is just for the wintertime?

Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2012
Slit Shoulder Top, designed by Margaux Hufnagel, in Classic Elite Yarns Seedling. Photo by Rose Callahan.

Cap Sleeve Top, designed by Twinkle, in Twinkle Handknits/Classic Elite Yarns Cruise. Photo by Joe Amato for LVARepresents.com.

Knitscene, Spring 2012
Fleurette Camisole, designed by Mercedes Tarasovich Clark, in Classic Elite Yarns Firefly. Photo by Nathan Rega of Harper Point Photography.

Flying Buttress Tank, designed by Andrea Rangel, in Classic Elite Yarns Allegoro. Photo by Nathan Rega of Harper Point Photography.

Interweave Knits
Evolvere Shawl, designed by Erica Jackofsky, in Classic Elite Yarns Classic Silk. Photo by Carmel Zucker.

Interweave Crochet
Lattice Tank by Natasha Robarge, in Classic Elite Yarns Firefly. Photo by Harper Point Photography.

Knitty
Petal by Heather Hoefle, in Wool Bam Boo. Photo by Jason Hoefle.

Clotheshorse Magazine
Willow by Andrea Rangel, in Classic Elite Yarns Allegoro. Photo courtesy of Clotheshorse Magazine
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More New Liberty Wool Print Colors and Patterns!

We know you love Liberty Wool Print; if you haven't tried it yet, what are you waiting for? Head over to our website and click the "Buy Now" button to order some from a LYS near you.

This spring we are releasing two new colors of Liberty Wool Print every month along with new patterns to support them. It's time to show two of our newest prints, Watercolor Rainbow and Brick Road!

7862 Liberty Print
7862-Watercolor Rainbow7863-Brick Road

And we wouldn't release new colors without giving you something to knit with them! The Technicolor Scarf from Meg Myers is a cushy brioche-knit scarf in Brick Road and Slate, a solid colorway. The pattern includes instructions for a one-color gauge swatch, helpful for measuring gauge and practicing your brioche technique.

LWP1

The February Baby Cardigan from Susan Mills is an adorable stockinette cardigan with garter stitch cuffs and a chevron collar and bottom hem. Such a fun piece to see how Liberty Print's colors develop! 

LWP2


Visit us at classiceliteyarns.com to buy Liberty Wool Print, and visit Patternfish.com to download these and other fabulous Liberty Print patterns!