Thursday 15 March 2012

Oops! I knitted again...

I think I've got the knitting fever! Let me rephrase that, I know I have the knitting fever! I haven't been crocheting much recently, since there have been so many things I wanted to learn about knitting! Don't worry, I still love to crochet, and I will keep on crocheting!

My latest project is again a Stephen West pattern, it's called Earth & Sky.

The yarn I used for this project is Golden Eagle Alpaca, which is a 100% Alpaca, fingering weight. I love how vibrant the turquoise is next to the black and gray! I've only recently discovered how much I love turquoise! I think it works great in this color combination! 


It was a little bit scary to start such a big project (I started with 3 stitches and ended up with almost 500) especially since the yarn is so very very thin! I worked the shawl with size 4mm knitting needles.
I loved working on this project, but I did put it aside sometimes. I'm not the best 'purler' and it really slows me down! I'm telling you, rows of 500 purl stitches aren't that much fun! I'm chuffed with the results though!
Because of the fingering weight yarn, and a bit bigger needles, there is a lot of drape! It's incredibly soft (I love alpaca) and even though it looks very thin, when wrapped around my neck, it keeps me perfectly warm! 


The colorwork is very clever in this pattern. It's called 'Intarsia knitting' which scared me when I first heard it. However, I love a good challenge! It turned out very easy, you just twist the working yarn over the new color of yarn before you start knitting with that new color, and on your way back you do the same. This way you don't have to carry the colors at the backside of your work (which wouldn't have looked so nice on this scarf). In the picture below you can see the intarsia quite clear, but I think it looks very neat!



I couldn't help taking my scarf out for a little photo shoot at a lovely location around the corner! It is such a beautiful and sunny day today!


Here's a shot of the same place but from a distance. I walk past this everyday on my way to work, and always love how pretty it looks! In winter it was even more beautiful, everything was covered in snow and ice! 


It's a lovely day here in Hamburg! I'm very lucky because I have two days off now. I can enjoy the beautiful weather and spend time doing the things I love! These two days were very welcome because my head is overloaded with information with all the rehearsals I'm doing. I only started less than 2 weeks ago and we've already learned 5 shows. I will elaborate a little bit more about my job in another post and when I'm a little less busy ;-)

Have a beautiful day everybody!

Dennis xxx


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41 comments:

  1. That is positively celestial! You are so,so clever and talented and the colourway is just perfect. A very modern take on a classic style. Well done Dennis and enjoy your days off, you certainly deserve them. x

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  2. oh wow, that's amazing! definitely boutique quality to my eyes, i'm so bloomin' impressed :) germany is lovely at this time of year, i'm a mite jealous of you city ha

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  3. Gosh that shawl is a thing of beauty! I learned to crochet yesterday so my poor knitting is sitting abandoned for a while - I've got crochet fever :)

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  4. Amazing!! Such a beautiful pattern and colors. I've always crocheted but now i'm feeling eager to knit aswell. Your shawl is quite inspirational for this matter! Thank you...

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  5. Hi Dennis
    Wow!! Not my thing, but I can appreciate the time and effort that went in to hand knitting a shawl from 3 to 500 stitches, in finger weight wool in alpaca. This shawl is the ultimate of luxury! Don’t think I can do it! You should be chuffed with yourself! Well done!
    Love Nikkim

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  6. Oh my! That is absolutely gorgeous!

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  7. Whoa, that wrap is amazing! The colourway is gorgeous and your knitting is perfect.

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  8. Dennis, that scarf is the epitome of magnificence! I'm so impressed! It's gorgeous.. I'd love to see a photo of you wearing it. That red house is so pretty.. is it a floating home? I look forward to hearing about your job! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  9. Gorgeous! I do love the way knit looks, but crocheting comes more naturally to me. You make me want to try knitting again though. =)

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  10. Wow that's lovely I'm plotting on , with my granny stripe still :) I haven't tried knitting at all since my teens but I will have to try very soon thanks to this inspiring post !!

    Wishing you happiness , health and wealth

    Virkarina

    Www.mamaviking.blogspot.com

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  11. Absolutely perfect. Fantastic color choices and I love Alpaca, too! Well done. Have a great day,
    Meredith

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  12. It's gorgeous! Well done! I'm looking forward to a workshop I am going on next weekend where we will be learning how to do fair isle knitting and intarsia. I'm enjoying sock knitting at the moment and want to make colourful patterned socks. Joanna xx

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  13. Even better than the original, probably because the turquoise and gray are similar tonally. You should join the 12 Shawls in 2012 group on ravelry and enter your shawl. You could win a prize!

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  14. I now feel the urge to dump the crochet blanket I am working on and take out some knitting. Your scarf is absolutely wonderful :-)

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  15. It is seriously gorgeous!! The colors are wonderful

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  16. Wow, the turquoise really does pop. Love the grey as well, it's beautiful!

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  17. Well done you for trudging through the purls, because look at the beauty you created. Just beautiful Dennis!

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  18. it is absolutely fabulous Dennis! I can't believe how thin and light weight it looks... great job and perfect result- so precious!
    Good luck with your rehearsals,
    xx
    Maaike

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  19. Beautiful! Love the colors - they really make the turquoise pop! And I love the design - very architectural!

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  20. Crochet with Raymond16 March 2012 at 05:58

    it is beautiful, you are such a talented knitter, it is perfect! Love the shape of it too.
    Love Alice XXX

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  21. That color combination is one of my favorites! There is just something about that bright turquoise.

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  22. That's lovely, I especially like the blue. You and Matt are very talented (not jealous, much :) ) and I really enjoy seeing your new projects.

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  23. Wow, the colors are amazing and well, bravo for the stiches. It looks like there are so many of them !
    In how many time did you complete it ? (I've started a knitted blanket and I think I need a little reassuring)

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  24. Dennis, you've done an absolutely brilliant job on this shawl. I can't believe you haven't been knitting for ages! The intarsia looks perfect, and the turquoise is gorgeous combined with the grey and the black! :-) x

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  25. This is absolutely stunning. Your stitches are so even and the colour change is so neat I can't see it even in the close up. It must be lovely and soft to wear too. I love Alpaca; I went to an alpaca farm last year and they have such amazing characters.

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  26. That is gorgeous. I love Stephen West's patterns as well. You did a fantastic job; hard to believe you haven't done intarsia before.

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  27. Wow thats gorgeous, love the colour mixing :)

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  28. hello!!
    i have just found your blog from "me me rose" and i couldn`t stop reading! all your super blankets and really beautiful things you both made! wow!! it is so lovely to look at; and yes, it is getting spring here in hamburg it is lovely too!
    best wishes from katja

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  29. this is wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Love it and the colors combination is stunning!!!
    I've just discovered your blog and...I'm loving it!!!!!!!!
    have a wonderful week end!!!!
    Dany

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  30. Beautiful knitting, again Dennis!
    Your knitting is so neat :)
    It is such a powerful pattern and the colors work really well!
    Have a great weekend! xx

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  31. Stunning! And in alpaca... hmmmmmm, that must feel as good as it looks. Thanking Andi for pointing me over here - you have a beautiful blog.

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  32. That a really lovely shawl! Your stitches are so nice and even. I want one like this for myself!

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  33. Hi Dennis, this is just WOW! I just learned intarsia knitting recently and was ever so chuffed I could do it (Fair Isle next!) I know what you mean about purling, I am the same, it always seems to take longer. This is quite a delicate gauge (if that's the right way to describe it!?) so must have taken you ages to knit (well it would have taken me ages ha ha!). Loving your blog, both you and Matt are so inspiring and make just fabulous stuff!!, looking forward to hearing more about your new show x

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  34. Well I have to say that your patience knows no bounds!!!!......and sticking with this has certainly paid off. I really like the Art Deco overtones in the geometric design and you are quite right about the turquoise - a truly wonderful colour.

    A work of art!!

    B x

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  35. I made an Earth and Sky as well, so from one E&S-er to another, great job! It's fab in the alpaca. And I look forward to hearing more about the job... the scenery on your walk to work is certainly charming.

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  36. I'm so glad you took a photo of the house in the background because I was itching to see that..heh. The contrast of colour between your gorgeous shawl and the background gave me only a sneak peak. I love Westknits geometric patterns they really appeal to me, plus they are usually an easy enjoyable knit. The colours you chose together for this shawl work, and the turquoise adds interest. Looks lovely! I love the tittle of your post btw.. clever! :D

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  37. That is absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Just stumbled in from who-knows-where....I've been hopping around today! But I'll be back!!!!

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  38. I love your color choice on the scarf, it really makes the structure of the stripes more dramatic. In case you couldn't tell by the spate of comments, I just found your blog, and am really enjoying working my way back thru it.

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  39. You did such a wonderful job and I love the colors you chose. I also love Stephen West's work. f you are interested maybe you can check my blog, I just posted a picture of a Stephen West's scarf I just finished!!

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