Double take: Rapsodiya. New shawl design.

 Today I would like to show you second shawl from my planned e-book “Variations on a Theme”.
Caprice No. 24 in A minor is the final caprice of Niccolò Paganini’s 24 Caprices, and a famous work for solo violin.
The caprice has provided a rich seam of material for works by many composers. One of them is “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
“Rapsodiya” is “Rhapsody” in Russian.
Rachmaninoff plays Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

This shawl is a little sister shawl to the “Caprice No. 24” shawl. It features the same stitch patterns, but completely different construction. After I made “Caprice No. 24” I just felt that I wanted to explore these patterns more. They are highly addictive :-)

First, I knitted my new design in Lana Gatto Wool Gatto DK weight yarn. I loved how the shawl turned out. It is perfect shape to just cover the shoulders and when wrapped around the neck it drapes beautifully without any extra bulk material. I love it casual everyday look.
The project can be found on Ravelry here.

However, I was not done ;-)) I decided to test knit my pattern myself and made another Rapsodiya shawl in completely different yarn than the original.  This time I choose Lace // Baby Alpaca/Silk
by DyeForWool. This yarn is 2ply and yarn held double for this shawl to make it 4ply. This yarn is so unbelievably gorgeous :-) When I saw this colorway at DyeForWool etsy shop, I just could not resist. Love at first site :-)

My second  Rhapsody can be found on Ravelry here.
Absolutely in love with this shawl. The pattern looks so beautiful in this wonderful yarn. I love how the shawl drapes in this yarn and how the stitch pattern shows in it. The shawl come out very dressy and I cannot wait to wear it somewhere special :-)

The pattern for Rapsodiya will be available on Ravelry after test knitting is completed

Happy knitting,

Diana

"Etude in Purple" Cardi.

 Thank you so much everybody for you sweet comments on my linen dress :-)) I appreciate them very much :-) Today I would like to show you a project I started back in February and was knitting it on and off since in-between other projects. This project is "Etude in Purple". I intended to make long sleeves at first, but run out of purple yarn, so short sleeves it is :-) As it turns out, I do quite like it this way. This cardi  is perfect for work at this time of the year.

 Pattern: my own design "Etude in Stripes" and it is available as a free download from my blog or Ravelry.
Construction: Seamless raglan top-down.
Yarn: DyeForYarn Fine lace / Merino cashwool, 0.95 skeins = 1089.7 yards (996.4m) in colorway Shriveled eggplant and 0.4 skeins = 489.6 yards (447.7m) in colorway Periwinkle coming to dust. Yarn was held double.
Needles: US 3.0 ( 3.25mm)
Project on Ravelry

Happy knitting,

Diana

Day 10 of "Wear a Shawl Challenge": Winter Thaw.

For Day 10 of my "Wear a Shawl Challenge" I chose shawl "Winter Thaw" by Beata Jezek. Shawl Pattern is available for free on designer's website.

Для Дня 10 "Wear a Shawl Challenge" я выбрала  шаль "Winter Thaw" by Beata Jezek. Бесплатные инструкции доступны на сайте дизайнера.

Today is the weekend and I had my hair done ;-))) and a dinner party to go to. This called for one of more delicate and special 2ply lace shawls that I have:-)) Absolutely love this shawl. The yarn, the color and of course the lace. Every time I wear this shawl for special occasions I get lots of compliments. It feels wonderful  to have this shawl on. It is very feminine and beautiful.

Сегодня выходной, я сделала причёску ;-)), и мы пошли в гости. Это всё было поводом, чтоб одеть одну из моих тонкий 2плай шалей. Я просто обожаю эту шаль :-)) Мне нравиться пряжа, цвет, и конечно ажур :-)). Каждый раз я одеваю эту шаль я получаю множество комплиментов. В этой шали я чувствую себя великолепно. Она нежная, женственная и красивая :-))

I am wearing my new shawl pin from IngoDesign. Love it :-)) 

Я сегодня одела мою новую булавку для шалей от IngoDesign.

To see the original photographs I have taken of this shawl go to my Ravelry project page or blog.

Оригинальные снимки этой шали и больше про этот проект можно посмотреть на  Ravelry или блоге.

Happy Knitting,

Diana

New Shawl Design : "Dolce Vino"

My new shawl "Dolce Vino" was inspired by the lovely circular pattern that is used in the main portion of the shawl body. I have wanted to design a shawl with circular shapes for a while and when I came across this pattern I instantly knew that was the pattern I was looking for :-)) I have knitted some small shawls to test the pattern in four different yarns, some 4ply, some 2ply. It looked lovely in all of them, so it was very hard to pick one :-)) I finally decided on this gorgeous Merino/Silk fingering yarn from DyeForWool. The pattern reminded me of grapes and the color of the yarn of wine, so that is how the name "Dolce Vino" (sweet wine) came about :-)

Вдохновением для моего нового дизайн шали "Dolce Vino" послужил ажурный узор который используется в теле шали. Я уже давно мечтала связать шаль с круговым ажурным узором и когда мне повстречался этот, то я поняла, что это то что я искала ;-)) Чтоб протестировать узор я связала четыре маленькие шали из 2плай и 4плай пряжи. Ажур смотрелся хорошо на любой пряже и было тяжело сделать выбор :-)) Я остановилась на замечательной пряже Merino/Silk fingering от DyeForWool. Ажур напоминает мне виноград, а цвет пряжи вино. Это и решило вопрос о название шали. "Dolce Vino" означает сладкое вино :-))

The border took me some time to think over and complete. I have envisioned a different border at first, but after knitting most of it I had to unravel it, since it was not coming out the way I wanted. So, the second border was born and I am very happy the way it come out and how it complements the main shawl pattern :-))
I love my "Dolce Vino" shawl :-))) I hope you do too ;-)))
The pattern will be available on Ravelry after test knitting is completed.
My project on Ravelry.

С каймой пришлось немного повозиться. Первоначально я связала другую кайму, но она вышла не так как мне бы хотелось и я её распустила. Кайма которую вы видите на готовой шали, это вторая моя задумка каймы и я очень довольна как она дополняет и смотрится гармонично с основным узором :-))
Я влюбленна в мою "Dolce Vino" шаль и надеюсь она вам так же понравиться :-)) Инструкции будут доступны на Ravelry после тестирования.
Мой проект на  Ravelry

After I took some pictures of the shawl this evening, I spotted this air balloon. Quite stunning scene during the beautiful sunset :-)))

Закончив фотографировать мою шаль в парке сегодня вечером, я заметила этот воздушный шар на фоне алого заката :-))

 Happy knitting,

Diana