Smocking Pullover & Summer Dress ERRATA

SMOCKING PULLOVER ERRATA (top of Page 37):

Row 6: sl 1, *(with A/B) Tw3L, Tw3R, (with B) p2; repeat from * end with col A/B) Tw3L, Tw3R, (with col B) p2, k1.

Row 7: sl1 (with B) k3 *(with A) p4, (with B) k4; repeat from * end with A) p4, (with B) k2.

Row 8: sl 1, (with B) p1, *(with A/B) Tw2L, Tw2R, (with B) p4; repeat from * end with A/B) Tw2L, Tw2R, (with B) p3, k1.

SUMMER DRESS ERRATA (bottom of Page 32):

Round 6: *(with A/B) Tw3L, Tw3R, (with B) p2; repeat from *

Round 7: *(with A) k4, (with B) p4; repeat from *

Row 8: *(with A/B) Tw2L, Tw2R, (with B) p4; repeat from *

Tonal Skirt Errata

The colors for the Tonal Skirt should be as follows:

Art Yarns’ Silk Mohair, lace weight, 60% Super Kid Mohair, 40% Silk, 88oz/25g = approx 312yd/285m per ball

(A) 1 ball, color #250

Art Yarns’ Regal Silk, fingering weight, 100% silk yarn, 1.75oz/50g = approx 163 yd per ball

(B) 1 ball, color rust 1

(C) 1 ball, color rust 2

(D) 1 ball, color rust 3

(E) 1 ball, color rust 4

(F) 1 ball, color rust 5

Upcoming Designs for Classic Elite Fall'10

I am quite psyched to be working on the designs that Pam Allen has just selected for their Classic Elite Fall'10 Pattern Collection! The Hat is already complete...Cable Capelet is half way there...and the rest are being started...Here are the selected sketches below:

Kumara Long Vest

Portland Tweed Jacket

Moorland Aran Pullover

Fresco Cable Capelet

Ariosa Hat with Ties

Errata for Shawl Sweater (pg 23)

There is a pattern Errata for Shawl Sweater on page 23...

It should read as follows:

COLLAR

FOLD :

With 2 strands of Col B (heavier weight yarn) using US 11 needles CO 270 (274, 278)sts.

Row 1 (WS): Purl.

Row 2: Knit.

Repeat these two rows once more.

Row 5: Purl.

Row 6 (RS): With Col C (lighter weight yarn)*Slip one stitch pick up acorresponding CO stitch from behind of work- knit them together- Repeat from * till the end of row.

Space Between the Folds (WS):

With one strand of Col A work in St St (starting with Purl row) for 6 rows.

Repeat Fold & Space in Between Folds Patterns once more.

On the third repeat of the pattern use 2 strands of Col C for Space Between the Folds.

For the 4^th & 5^th repeats use one strand of Col C for Space Between the Folds.

Next: Work Fold pattern once more, but BO all the sts once they are folded on Row 6.

LUXE KNITS Review on Classic Elite's Newsletter 10/27

Classic Elite's Newsletter 10/27:

There is a FREE pattern of Kumara Arm-Warmers on Classic Elite's Website:

http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/WebLetter/111/Issue111.php

“In Luxe Knits I wanted to show how design evolves: from an initial inspiration to an interpretation of technique; from technique to fashion sketches; and from sketches to an actual garment.”

So begins the introduction to Laura Zukaite’s new book, a collection of 26 sweaters and accessories. The ‘luxe’ part has to do with the fibers she chose to work with—silks, cashmeres, handpainted linen, etc. But even if you can’t afford to treat yourself to an expensive skein of yarn, Laura’s garments are well worth working up in more affordable fibers. And her creative exploration of tried and true knitting moves make this book well worth investing in.

For example, the first chapter explores knitted folds in stockinette stitch—the technique in which you knit a few rows then pick up a previous row of stitches to create a horizontal tuck. Laura uses delicate rings of sculpted tucks to trim the cuffs on sleek cashmere gloves and to embellish a simple striped hat. In other projects, tuck-folds help an attached scarf fold and drape and on a simple rectangular shrug, they make a striking design element

In subsequent chapters, Laura explores the possibilities in smocking, cables, combining yarns of different colors to create tonal effects, honeycomb patterns, and freeform crochet. (A perfectly plain stockinette sweater with a crocheted butterfly to fill in the cut-out back is one of several truly knockout pieces.) Bags, gloves, mitts, even jewelry find a place in Luxe Knits, as well as sweaters, wraps, and two very wearable skirts.

Not least of the pleasures in Luxe Knits are Laura Zukaite’s fashion illustrations. It’s fun to see the imagined piece in counterpoint to the photo of the final, realized sweater. And knitters will appreciate the book's layout. Instructions for each design are shown with multiple photos of the garment. As you knit, you can check the instructions against the pictureS.

Painting Process = Sweater Design Process

I forgot how much i love Drawing & Painting... really- considering all the years i had in Arts Training - i wish i had more time for myself to just sit down and draw draw draw...

I started thinking about painting for a reason- since to me the Painting Process is no different than the Sweater Design Process i recently described in my book Luxe Knits:

It starts with an inspiration...

Then the line sketch...

Then the colored sketch...

And only then you do the actual painting...

...i thought a couple mural paintings i did a while ago could best describe the process...here is another one...

Initial sketches:

Finished Mural:

My Sweater World! My Job- My Everyday!

I have landed my first job at Polo Ralph Lauren just out of school: joined the Polo Jeans crew to be a part of their Sweater Team!

A lot of times I am being asked what I do at work…thinking that we just draw pretty pictures…well- that too…but it is way more complex than just that: my everyday consists of doing lots of fashion research, sharing ideas, having extensive design meetings, choosing yarns, choosing colors, fitting the prototypes to make sure they look good on, creating technical packages for the factories to follow, communicating with the factories on any questions they might have about our designs, providing any construction diagrams they need to understand the sweater details we want…and many other little things to assure the end result of the product to be flawless… This fall Europe & Asia can enjoy our sweaters in their stores already:

Images from Polo Jeans Fall'10 Add Campaign

Crochet is BIG! Let's Make a Crochet Tank!

Lots & lots of Crochet was seen all throughout New York, London, Milan & Paris Shows for SP'10

SHRUGS are IN!- lets make a Cinched Shrug (SP'10 runway review)

Chloe & YSL are showing many "Shrugged" jackets for Spring'10- so the item to make is the Cinched Shrug!

Black is definitely the biggest shrug color followed by other neutral tones.

BUTTERFLY VARIATIONS- initial ideas

Initial Inspiration & Ideas for Butterfly Variations Chapter.

Laced Wrap

Another "Luxe-Knitty" Design of mine was just published in the new Lynne Barr's Reversible Knitting book.

LACY HALTER- helpful tip

Once you start back Lace Insert in col A (instructions at the bottom of page 68)- attach separate ball of col A yarn at both markers (so that whichever end you reach when you wrap & turn- you will always have yarn to work with).

ERRATA on page 68- it should be:

Round 32: *P1, (k1, p1) seven times, k2tog, (p1, k1) six times, rep from *,- 140 (168)sts Rounds 33, 34 & 35 ( still in color B): *P1, k1, rep from *

LUXE KNITS event at STICKS AND STRINGS in Scarsdale

Mark Your Calendar:
Sunday, Sept. 13, noon to 5 p.m.

Stop in for our open house event Sept. 13 to celebrate our very own Laura Zukaite's book, Luxe Knits. As promised, we'll have good wine, great food and a special trunk show of nearly every piece featured in the book. We will have most of the yarns used for these patterns in stock, so you can touch, love and take home your favorites — and be well on your way to the perfect fall project.

LUXE KNITS Pre-History...or...thats how it all began...

Parsons School of Design Benefit Show, 2007 

Saks Fifth Avenue Windows, 2007

LUXE KNITS in MILAN

Luxe Knits was seen in Milan right in front of Santa Maria delle Grazie (you can see it reflected in the store window) where Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper is located.

LUXE KNITS- FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Summer Dress: Color vs Tonal  

The way to save $$:

Make it all in solid color and instead of 6 Skeins- you will be using 4 skeins of yarn!

 This is all you’ll need:

Claudia Handpainted Yarns’ Linen, sport weight, 100% linen yarn, 100g = approx 270 yd per ball

(A)  2 balls, color: undyed linen

Claudia Handpainted Yarns’ Linen Lace, lace weight, 100%  linen yarn, 100g = approx 540 yd per ball

(B) 2 balls, color: undyed linen

TO ALL THE “LUXE-KNITTERS”

Now that Luxe Knits is out and all of you are knitting away…I decided to offer my full support & encouragement to take on the projects in the book.

Keep on checking this Blog for

*Luxe Knits Styling Tips

*Project Knitting Tips

*Trend Reports

*Various sneak-previews

*and many many more interesting design postings…

 

Enjoy!

Laura Zukaite

...more of Luxe Knits...

...more of Luxe Knits...

...already available...