Défi 13: Entrechat

Ah les jolies petites choses toutes roses des petites filles… J’espère que mon fils me pardonnera quand il sera plus grand de lui avoir mis des trucs de fille sur le dos pour les besoins de la cause… Ceci dit… Il est pas mignonne??

Je voulais essayer une nouvelle construction (enfin nouvelle pour moi!) et tricoter le corps de ce boléro d’une pièce en relevant les mailles des raglans pour former les pans du devant. Et je voulais aussi utiliser une bordure au point mousse verticalement pour former l’encolure parce que je trouve que ça change un peu. Pour bien marquer le mouvement, j’ai placé une bande contenant un joli point texturé — facile cette fois!! le point de vannerie utilisé dans mon Latte Baby Coat serait joli aussi, mais je voulais quelque chose vraiment simple pour les tricoteuses moins expérimentées.

Enfin, un petit effet volanté dans le dos, et zou! Tricoté en deux temps trois mouvements avec même pas un écheveau de Malabrigo Merino Worsted (pour la taille 12-18 mois). Le pattern est écrit et 8 tailles seront disponibles, du 0-3mois au 5-6 ans. Je l’envoie illico chez mon “tech editor” pour contrôle… Donc je pense qu’il sera publié (en Anglais pour le moment… promis la traduction de mes patterns c’est pour bientôt) pour la nouvelle année!

Pour voir les autres défis (thème du mois: techniques jamais utilisées en tricot et couture) c’est par ici!!

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The Défi’13 challenge is a monthly knitting or sewing project in the French blogosphere. The challenge’s theme this month was “new techniques in knitting and sewing”, so I thought I would introduce my latest prototype, whose construction is a bit different — I also used a new stitch in it, which I think is so neat (and VERY easy which never hurts!) ; the pattern will include 8 sizes and should be published around the New Year!

I hope you like it 

Chouette!

Sometimes it feels nice to take a break from this whole pattern-writing/designing thing because it involves a lot of work and can be frustrating at times. There are times where I really miss straightforward knitting, just following a pattern that someone else worked out.

So while I was working on Storytime Scholar, I decided to knit this adorable little number that I kept seeing everywhere on Ravelry. Total no-brainer, the owl is absolutely adorable and the whole thing took less than 2 hours to knit up. Plus Axel needed a new hat anyway.

After going to the park to give it a test-run, it became obvious that the hat was a bit short for Axel and that it was not going to stay on his head, so I quickly whipped up a seed stitch scarf that I sewed on to the back half rim of the hat… This time we have a winner!

He wears this everyday and I think it’s the cutest thing ever (random people in the street seem to think so, too). The pattern is available on Ravelry here, and if you still have last-minute Christmas presents to make, this is a good bet!

Storytime Scholar

I wanted to make something for Axel that was reminiscent of an evening jacket, something that a gentleman would wear by the fireside while catching up on scholarly affairs…

It had to have a shawl collar, some discreet pockets (to stash the monocle), and it had to be double-breasted. BUT since my baby is still just a baby, I added a bit of garter stitch to add a bit of sweetness to the whole affair, including 2 elbow “patches,” a simple touch that I just love.

The result is my new (-ish) pattern, Storytime Scholar, available on Ravelry here. I think it turned out quite cute, here’s a few photos of our little book-obsessed guy wearing it:

 

Pockets hidden behind a large ribbed hem:

And a view of the elbow patches:

Mr. Escargot action shots!

Uncle and nephew spending some quality time together… Note how Mr. Escargot blends right into this picture of happiness!

Here he is!

Strawberries are Dil’s favorite, but I’m a little afraid for that sweater, aren’t you?

FO: Mr. Escargot

Just in time for Spring…

Mr. Escargot comes out of his shell…

To just, you know, check stuff out.

A couple close-ups:

Pattern: Mister Escargot, from Bergère de France’s Tricot Baby catalog

Yarn: Knit Picks Swish DK (about 3-4 balls in Nutmeg and 1 in Asparagus), and some leftover Debbie Bliss’s Cashmerino Aran (Denim)

Needles: Size 5

Modifications: I invented the size 3 years, so I didn’t exactly follow the instructions to the T.

Also, the instructions for the collar seemed like too much of a hassle, so I simply picked up the stiches all around the neckline using a circular needle, and did a 2×2 rib until I thought the length was good (about 8 rows). Then I did the same on either side of the neck opening and sewed the bottom edge of the two ribbed strips to the bottom edge of the opening.

I added two pockets with a repeat of the stitch used for the edges of the sleeves and body, Since there was no room left for the escargot, I just decided to put it on the back of the sweater to add interest.

Time it took: Off and on, I would say about 3 week? A month?

My opinion: Pretty straightforward pattern, a little boring to knit, the seaming felt like it took an eternity. *But* I’m happy with the result, the sweater looks comfy with a nice worn-in quality, the yarn is pretty soft and very pleasant to knit with. Makes for a neat little everyday sweater.

This is going to be a “pwesent” for Dil, Gabe’s 2-year-old nephew. It will probably be a bit big on him, but that’s not a bad thing. I’m hoping to get an action shot this week-end…