Knitting with Beads

I love to knit with beads! The simplest form and design turns to a piece of art through the pattern and the colours and luster of the beads.

Beaded wristlets are quite easy to make and are like a warming piece of jewelry. These in black are knitted in thin alpaca. It's my own design which I simply call 'Paisley'.

I made them a couple of years ago. I've used them a lot so they have lost some stretch.

It's time to knit a new pair with the same pattern. This time in burgundy with beads in purple and pink.
Each bead must be in the right place so the stringing demands some nicety work. It's done for the first wristlet!

The Bolero is 'redy' to wear

I'm so proud. This is my most professional finishing so far. Casting on in Kitchener Rib makes the ribbings look so good. All worked out so well. I'm sure my friend will love this bolero as much as she loves the purchased one!

To want to learn something new is progress, to accomplish it is happiness!

The Art of Finishing in Style

The pieces are made and it's time to do what needs to be done to make the garment ready to wear. Often it's easier said than done.
It's an art to finish in style. Patience and accuracy are characteristics highly appreciated to make of these pieces that awesome garment you want it to be. Luckily there are books to help.

This book captures to its essence everything that has to do with finishing. It covers all the bases from blocking, seaming, edgings and closures to pockets and pompoms.
The book is abundantly illustrated with sketches, swatches and garments. There are also 14 patterns, each as a lesson to learn particular finishing techniques.
If you want to finish in style, get the book!

Finishing School by Deborah Newton

A Light Miracle Cream

I've tried a new facial cream. I read about it 'everywhere' and I felt it could be worth trying. And, in fact, it's as good as it says.
It's the BB Cream from Garnier. BB stands for Blemish Balm.
The cream is a caring moisturizer and foundation in one.
It hydrates, brightens and unifies the skin tone. It has SPF 15 and comes in two shades, medium and light.

It's the perfect everyday foundation. Easily and efficiently your skin gets moisture, light covering and luster.

A very practical and priceworthy daycream!

Soft Cables

Oh, it will be lovely! So warm and soft and light.
The colour goes perfectly with red lips!

A simple cable pattern turns into an elegant shawl.

Renascence

Today is a special day and it's worth celebrating more than any other day.

It's my birthday but not only that.

Today it's time for a new beginning.

I've decided to allow much more time for what I really enjoy doing.

And not only for this year but for the rest of my life!

This blog is a step in the right direction.

More Glamour & Knits to Life!

Cheers!

A scent of easygoing extravagance

It is described as oriental spicy but is often perceived as oriental fruity. This fragrance was created in 1984 inspired by Coco Chanels apartment on 31, Rue Cambon.

It opens with notes of jasmine and orange. Then more sweet flowers flow for a while before the soft tempting sweetness of amber, chocolate and leather takes over. It is a warm, elegant and luxurious perfume that inspires a feeling of being pleasantly satisfied.

'Coco', seductive but lighthearted.

The Bolero looks fine

By copying a machine knitted garment I've learned several new techniques. Fun and interesting!
The main pieces are sewn together and now remains the finishing work.

I knit the ribbings separately and then I sew them on using back stitch. Casting on in Kitchener Rib makes the ribbing look as it is knitted on a machine. Moreover it gives the edge extra stretchability and strenght. It looks very good too!

The techniques I'm using I've found in Big Book of Knitting by Katharina Buss. This book is so useful. It maybe looks a little outdated but the techniqual and functional descriptions are timeless.
Learning more wants me to make more. That's happiness!



Nude nails

The other day out on town looking for something nice, I found this nail polish. The pink colour is so pale that your hardly notice it. Still it so beautiful.

Pink 398, Mavala

Bolero in Red

I have a friend in Paris. She has a bolero that she likes very much. Last time I went to see her she asked me if I could knit it to her in red.
I took on the fun challenge and the possibility to learn something new.

To be sure about choosing the right colour I decided to buy the yarn in Paris. I went to the department store Le Bon Marché which is situated on the left bank in the 7th arr. They have a very nice needlework section with several high quality yarn brands.

The yarn I chose is Angel from Debbie Bliss. It's in kidmohair and silk, a real luxury!

  

The form of the bolero is quite simple and the clear stitch definition made it possible to get the pattern right fairly quickly. I've knitted and blocked the main pieces so what remains to be done is to sew together and then to knit the ribbings.

I want to give this bolero a more professional look so when knitting the ribbings I'm going to cast on in Kitchener Rib.

The reward for this work is to meet the Spring in Paris!

Soft eye lines

It's cold outdoor and it's warm indoor. The air is dry and the skin is dry. But there is help! Water to drink and creams to take good care of your skin.

 The skin around the eye is sensitive.

It needs special care.

An eye cream that I often use is Wild Rose Smoothing Eye Cream from Weleda. This unperfumed cream protects and moisturizes the skin and reduces puffiness. Oil from rosehips seeds helps to preserve the skins vitality.

I use it several times a day in wintertime. I heartily recommend it.

Cable Elegance

The winter has arrived, really. It's icecold!
I want to knit something cosy, warm and chic. Now!

The yarn and pattern to make this shawl is from String. It's a yarn store in New York. You find the design 'Be Sweet Mohair Cables' under 'shawls'.

This simple design is so stylish. The wonderful yarn from 'Be Sweet' is made from 100% babymohair and is handspun in South Africa.

It warms my heart already and soon, very soon, the shawl shall warm my shoulders.

Colourful and ready

The finishing is done and the snood is ready to wear!
My friend is very happy with her new accessory, she can't wait wearing it. It makes me happy as well!

Fold it differently and it looks different.

Green and cosy

An accessory that really is in fashion is the snood. It's fascinating that something so simple as to sew together the two ends of a scarf, creates a completely new garment.

The snood is a perfect warmer and it's both practical and elegant and very easy to make. Wearing it gives you a gorgeous feeling of being softly wrapped and moreover you even feel a little trendy.

This cosy creation is a Shibui Knits design. They create interesting designs with simple silhouettes and they produce their own luxury yarns.

I've knitted the snood in a fine (50g, 175m) alpaca yarn from Indiecita. There are a lot of yarns in alpaca on the market. I like Drops Alpaca very much and it comes in 59 colours! Alpaca is a wonderful fiber. It's warm and strong and it has a lustre that gives the garments a luxurious feel.

The design is knitted with two strands on needles 4,5mm. The size is 40cm x 150cm and I used about 500g fine alpaca yarn. The qualities of the yarn and the knitting technique gives the snood an interesting texture and drape.

 

How to make it:

Cast on 80 sts and work in Dot Stitch.

Row 1: Sl 1 knitwise, (k1, p1) to the end.

Row 2: Sl 1 knitwise, knit to the end.

Row 3: Sl 1 knitwise, (p1, k1) to last st, k1

Row 4: Row 2.

Work until piece measures 150cm (60''), cast off. Twist the wrap half a turn and sew the ends together.

It's very easy to design your own snood. You get a more casual look if you knit it in a chunky wool yarn using the Moss stitch pattern.

Soft hands

To take care of your hands is always good but especially if you like needlework. Everyone who has knitted or embroidered with yarns in silk or other fine yarns knows that. Fine fibers and threads can stick in even the smallest chap on your skin and you have a tangle on your yarn.
But it's easy to prevent.
Take good care of your hands! File rough skin slightly once a week and use handcream every day. Now in wintertime when the air is dry it may be necessary several times a day.

My favourite is Shea Butter Hand Cream from L'Occitane. It's creamy with a mild scent and it keeps your hands soft and smooth, day and night.

  I file of glass is the best for your nails. Try!