Posts Tagged ‘Stephen West’

Clockwork

Friday, October 7th, 2011

Anina just finished up another pretty project from Stephen West: Clockwork.

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A lovely Stephen West knit has to have a great colour combination. I’ve seen some beautiful SW shawls done in a monochrome fashion, a soft grey with a smokey charcoal, or a burgundy and a red. But what I go for is some serious contrast. Something bright with something a little more toned down. Black and hot pink anyone? Alright, my current neon craziness aside…. 2 skeins of sock yarn is all you need so go nuts and express yourself!
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Anina knit her clockwork out of Handmaiden Mini Maiden, a yarn I’ve worked in and enjoyed many times before. Come on in and check it out!

West Knits

Thursday, July 28th, 2011
Chadwick

Chadwick

Alongside our rounds of Knit Alongs (if you’re not up on it, we are working on some lovely Ysolda Teague Knits right now, details here) I’ve been on a shawl kick as usual. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, summer is lace and shawl time! Although I am a big lace fan there are those out there who like a shawl that’s not too lacy, to those I say: meet Stephen West.

flamboyan

Flamboyan

West Knits (Stephen’s first book) is full of fabulous shawls, scarves, and hats with hardly any lace in sight. The key to a West shawl/scarf in my opinion is the contrast in colours. The wilder the contrast and colour pairings the more interesting the shawl. The sharp contrasts of shocking yellow and subtle grey, lime green and white, autumn orange and warm brown make the lovely stitches pop. If you want something more subdued a monochrome will also work, but of course I’m leaning towards the wild and crazy!

Flagstone

Flagstone

The other great thing about these shawls is that they are a great opportunity to use some fantastic variegated sock yarn and pair it with a solid. Pairing a crazy variegated yarn with a solid can really change the yarn. Pairing a yarn with warm or cool tone will pull out those colours and make them appear stronger in the variegate, it’s a wonderful effect. So check out your favorite sock yarns and cast on for a West Knit today!

Knitting For the Boys

Friday, June 17th, 2011

I can’t honestly say I personally know very many male knitters. Really only one comes to mind. This is not to say that men couldn’t or shouldn’t knit, they absolutely can and should! I just don’t know that many myself. I think this might be one of the reasons there are so few mens knitting patterns out there. I’ve been brain storming some other reasons, but mostly they are brood generalizations about sweater curses and complaints about a lack of accessorization.

With fathers day around the corner I was trying to come up with some of my favorite mens patterns and books, there may still be time to whip up a toque (for those chilly summer nights). Without further ado:

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Dave by Jane Ellison

1. Jane Ellison’s Queensland Collection Book 9 : I’ve gone to this well several times, making 2 vests and a sweater (that’s my dad modeling it at Christmas a couple of years ago). The patterns are simple and modern (not too bulky), what more could I ask for?

Habitat by Jared Flood

Habitat by Jared Flood

2. Jared Flood patterns: I couldn’t very well choose just one, there are many excellent mens patterns including three great hat patterns: Habitat, Koolhaus, and the Turn a Square hat.

Koolhaus by Jared Flood

Koolhaus by Jared Flood

Turn a Square by Jared Flood

Turn a Square by Jared Flood

3. Perhaps a pair of socks? Leyburn socks are a great pattern for a dude, not too much flair but a lovely simple textured pattern. I think socks are perfect for someone who is not that into wearing knitted items, but enjoys something warm and handmade.

Leyburn Socks

Leyburn Socks

4. If you are looking for something with a little more pizazz you might want to check out Stephen West, his triangular scarves/shawls are a great way to experiment with colour combinations and perhaps a Daybreak is just what dad needs!

Daybreak by Stephen West

Daybreak by Stephen West