Barbie Loves Tokyo

The Target Exclusive Destination Fashion Packs are so inspiring to design knitwear for. I picked up Tokyo a few weeks ago and it was crying out for some kawaii accessories. I love the fun colors particularly the yellow, very fresh and exciting!




I've seen pictures of New York and Hollywood but haven't found them in person yet. I have a great idea in mind for New York when I find it.

Kitty Hat

CO 30 - 10 stitches on each needle
Join in the round and work in stockinette until piece measures 1.5”
Arrange stitches so that there are 15 on each needle and kitchener edges together.



Using contrast color stitch a small triangle on both front side corners. Then using matching sewing thread stitch across corners to form ears.

You can either use the hat as a roll brim or add ear flaps.

Pick up 7 st centered on one side.
Row 1: purl
Row 2: k2tog, k5
Row 3: p2tog, p4
Row 4: k2tog, k3
Row 5: p2tog, k2
Row 6: sl1, k2tog, psso
Slip remaining stitch onto a small crochet hook and chain 2”.
Repeat other side.

Legwarmers (make 2)

With main color CO 14
Work 3 rows in k1, p1 rib
K 1 row then join CC and working in stockinette alternate rows to make stripes until 3” long.
Work 3 more rows in k1,p1 rib.
BO in pattern.

Barbie Loves Paris

I wanted to share my re-styling of the Target Exclusive Barbie Loves Paris fashions. I mixed them with an assortment of Barbie Basics accessories and my own knit pieces. The tan jacket is a pattern by Nicky Epstein. The chunky, cabled beret is my own pattern.


For those that would like to knit Barbie's Paris Beret I used Knit Picks Palette on US1 DPNs.

CO 30 - 10 stitches on each needle
Join in the round and K1,P1 rib 3 rounds
kfb all stitches - 20 stitches on each needle.

Rows 1,2 & 4: K4, P to end of needle, repeat
Row 3 C2F, P to end of needle, repeat
Work these 4 rows 2 times.

Maintaining cable pattern over first 4 stitches on the needle P to last 2 stitches, P2tog, repeat
Continue until 12 st remain on each needle.

K4, P2tog 4x, repeat
K4, P2tog 2x, repeat
K2tog 2x, P2tog - 3 st remain on each needle.

Break yarn and pull through remaining stitches.

Wisp of Firmament

Although this project was inspired by my Titan's Curse workshop as a shawl for a Hunter of Artemis the story that caught my heart was about the Tower at the HPKCHC...

Oftentimes in the small hours of the night, long after my students are tucked safely dreaming in their dorms, I like to take a cup of tea and settle in the highest skychair to count my blessings as I count the stars. (You may not be aware of it but the ceiling of Ravenclaw Tower’s Common Room has an enchantment similar to the Great Hall.)There is an occasional scurry or flash of eye shine from a nocturnal Merry Beast or a small snore from one that has nested somewhere nearby but otherwise everything is quite.

Tonight my blessings are all people, from the Sixth Year students eager to complete the term and move on to become our first Seventh Years to the amazing group of young First Years I’ve had this term already dazzled with visions of NEWT projects. Our prodigal son, HarryPotterKnits is safely accounted for although his picture still sits on the mantel for when he is called away from us to serve. With it is a new picture of Mr. Inkslinger1121 far from home but not far from our thoughts. Many blessings and a brilliant house staff to share them with.

This particular night, being close to the end of a term the Common Room is a bit less tidy than I like so…Wingardium Leviosa…swish and flick…I begin to send essays, patterns and what looks to be a copy of BrineyDeep’s first published paper winging their way to their proper places.

I must have dozed off mid-spell because I was jolted back awake by a flash and a crash as a fair sized chunk of ceiling fell to the ground. I quickly repaired the damage to the enchantment but now I had to clean up the evidence. The shawlette around my shoulders gave me an idea. Last summer I had transfigured it from dark waters, a memento of a harrowing summer adventure that gave rise to what my students refer to as “pulling an Isis”. One quick spell and I had a new wrap, soft and close as the night and alight with stars, to remind me of what has been a very special term.

Wisp by Cheryl Niamath done in Kidsilk Night in the Thunder colorway.

Fireworks!

Nefertiti is on hold while I deal with a painful not enough yarn situation and some of the things I've been working on are either in transit in a swap package or parts for other bigger projects so I've been sort of short on blog-able projects this month.

One thing that is going right is some spinning I started based on a character in A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold. I haven't read the book myself but Alys' loves fireworks and so do I. The project is a part of workshop at Fantasia on Ravelry.

I started with some cream colored wool and a bag of sari silk shreds.


Then I combed them together.


I spun up half this afternoon while watching my boyo skate.


That's where I'm stumped. The texture would be great as a single so I could keep spinning and finish it that way. I always do two ply so I keep wanting to try something different. On the other hand, I wish the color was more concentrated and I feel like plying would do that. Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Short Skirt, Long Jacket

Another pattern from the Nicky Epstein book. This one was for a Faux Persian Lamb Coat. Mine is more of a textured wool version. Adding the lining was an experience as was the seaming. I'm still not happy with the visible stitching in the close up. Overall though, very effective I think.

Here is a girl with a mind like a diamond...

Sister Light, Sister Dark

I just finished these gloves up as an exercise in light and dark. The seaside colors are the long awaited Hypothetical Birthday Gloves for my friend, Mich. The stone colors are headed for the gift stash. I actually have a few possible recipients in mind so it really depends what else I knit between now and the holidays as to how it shakes out.


It is a really simple pattern but the funky stripping from the Felici Sport really gives them some WOW! in my opinion.

Now for our slightly related summer reading recommendation, check out Sister Light, Sister Dark by Jane Yolen. Jane is an amazing storyteller. This modern day myth delves deep into the nature of light and dark and the duality of nature that lives in us all. It is a young adult book but the story is so well crafted that adults will enjoy it too.

Looking Glass Hats

DADA had in interesting assignment this month. To knit an object of desire then knit its reflection.

I chose to make the Bad Amy Hat. I think just about everyone doing the House Cup wants one after watching BadAmy knit them like mad during the Hat Off! This awesome chunky knit hat is inspired by a pricey version from Banana Republic. Coincidentally Chanel is picturing a chunky knit stocking cap sans button in their current ad campaign so this baby will still be hot for fall. can you guess which one is the one from the other side of the looking glass?

Despite how much I desire this hat myself these are for holiday gifts (I won't say for who because you never know they might be reading.) Guess I'll have to knit another one or maybe I'll have to study that Chanel version and see if I can work up something similar. Then again I do love the button.

All this talk of looking glasses puts me in mind of one of my favorite Alice in Wonderland retellings, The Looking Glass Wars Trilogy by Frank Beddor. I think they would bear re-reading for a possible Fantasia workshop in the future.

Random Acts of Gardening

I confess. I am a terrible gardener. I rarely weed. In fact I usually like to let anything I'm not sure about really get going so I can see what it is. I know many (most?) people like to plant things in nice neat places then stamp out anything that wasn't part of their plan. Sometimes though the Universe has a different plan. Almost every year I find a treasure or two seeded by birds or wind.



No idea what they are, I didn't plant them. Aren't they beautiful? When I stop to think about it the Universe takes my breath away.

Barbie Couture

I finally had the chance to try a pattern out of Nicky Epstein's Knits for Barbie Doll. The sweater itself took some doing to alter to get a nice fit on my doll which is Collection 001 Model 3 from the Barbie Basics line. I tightened it up and added some waist shaping then turned the turtleneck into more of a boat neck.


The matching wrap was much more straightforward. Perfect as written.


Hopefully in the next week or so I can do another garment. I'm thinking about the Faux Persian Lamb Coat with the addition of a brocade lining.

Getting Stuck in the Reeds

Charts 1-8 were the wonderful, flowing water pattern. Soothingly intuitive just a lot of it. I was so excited to finally hit chart 9 where the pattern begins to change from water to vegetation. Then I realized how much trickier the transition was. Some new stitches come into the mix. They YOs don't all line up the same way anymore...but some still do. I spent a fair amount of time just looking for a k2 I did as a k2tog. She is beautiful though.


Fingers crossed that the next chart is a little easier.

The lifelines are pulling the width in (No way I'm taking any out though!) but this should give you an idea of how she looks so far.

A Visit to the Nile

My big project right now is Miriam L. Felton's Nefertiti. I've never done anything quite so lacy or so large before so it is really an adventure....a gorgeous, gorgeous adventure.

The first 8 repeats are a wavy water pattern with undulating ridges formed by sssk and k3tog. The sculptural quality just enchants me.

I have a bit of a knitterly crush on MLF right now...she might just edge out Ysolda Fever for me.


The yarn is from a local dyer, htNevele. The colorway is elNorro. You can check out her yarns at Lakeside Fibers.

In some related reading news, my boyo and I are reading The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan together. There's a bit less silliness than The Percy Jackson books and Riordan tackles some tough issues like multi-racial families and how people, particularly African-American men, are judged on appearances. There are a lot of great openings for conversations with your child and a great introduction to the mythology of Egypt.