Alcea Knitting

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While Lorraine is at the Ann Feitelson Color Theory Workshop (which I had intended to attend, but decided not to at the last moment)......

I took time out to pay homage to this great book......

"The Art of Fair Isle Knitting" by Ann Feitelson. If you want to purchase a book on this style/technique of knitting, this is the one that is still available out there. It covers tradition, technique and style of traditional fair isle knitting. There is a chapter on color theory which I studied again this weekend (since I chose to forego the class with the guru herself - I may in the future regret this, but ce la vie!).

I've finished the first full motif of Alcea -- as this is a staggered allover pattern, the chart itself is actually two full motif repeats.

You should feel honoured that Caelee granted an audience for a photograph this morning. She's usually only social for about 5 minutes, then she goes back to aloof kitty mode! This morning, Daisy was outside, so she decided to take this opportunity to make a blog appearance!

Could it be that she loves Alcea as much as I do?

When I finished my ribbing, on the first row of the pattern, I increased by 3 stitches to bring me up t0 347 stitches (7 repeats of 48, + stitch 1 to make the fronts match, + 10 steek stitches = 347). It looks lovely.

I'm getting exactly 32 stitches and rows to 10 cm, that's 8 stitches and rows to the inch (I still like inches over cms) -- so now I can think about how long I want it, how many repeats it will be, where to start the underarms, etc.

While I'm musing, I'll be knitting.

Take time for yourself and enjoy your knitting!

Comments

  1. Brigitte5 November 2006 at 14:11

    I'm with you, I still think in inches when it comes to my knitting.

    Alcea looks even lovelier than the picture, the colours are stunning. I can't wait to give it a try, definitely doing the cardigan!

    Caelee is worth the wait for a visit! She's a tortoise, isn't she?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lorraine5 November 2006 at 15:56

    Hi Anne- So sorry you missed it- but you never know, maybe the Guru will come up here.
    Where's the mince tart?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jewel6 November 2006 at 01:26

    The colors in Alcea are calling me.... but I must. resist. Cannot. Start. Must finish Rogue. Will resist. As long as I can. Will resist. will resist.....

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jewel6 November 2006 at 01:26

    The colors in Alcea are calling me.... but I must. resist. Cannot. Start. Must finish Rogue. Will resist. As long as I can. Will resist. will resist.....

    ReplyDelete
  5. Rebecca6 November 2006 at 07:40

    I think I will be starting my Alcea this week and this will be my first official fair isle sweater. I hope I'm not getting in over my head! Are you making a cardi, Anne? And, out of curiosity, what size needles are you using?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Rebecca6 November 2006 at 07:41

    oops...never mind....I just paged down and saw you ARE making a cardi!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Marina6 November 2006 at 15:28

    While you were on Rows 2 or 26, did you see whether ending there would give you a matching shoulder seam?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Cynthia7 November 2006 at 11:56

    Love how Alcea is turning out! And what a lovely model Caelee is.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Leigh8 November 2006 at 10:18

    Yum! Lovely knitting! Thank you too for the book recommendation. I love Fair Isle knitting but have a long way to go in perfecting the technique.

    So nice to see you have a Torti to supervise you. Mine does wonders for my knitting, spinning, and weaving.

    I found your blog while surfing the Fair Isle knitters webring.

    ReplyDelete

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