Amerah silk top with Maldive lace trim

Amerah 100% silk tape has the classic feel of raw silk and the random dye process of muted colours that mix and match with other South West Trading Company yarns, makes this yarn very versatile to knit. Achieve a classic look for smart casual wear or to team with your favourite jeans. Amerah is just as comfortable on a hot summer's day in a sleeveless top as this 3/4 sleeved shell for between season wear.

Knitted by Sue, the classic V-neck shell used 8x 50g balls. Classified as a 10ply Aran yarn this will easily knit to an 8ply pattern- check tension first. Note the 'lace' ruffle effect with Lana Gatto's Maldive for a dressed up trim effect.

South West Trading Company's Amerah 100% raw silk tape

50g/83m, 10ply worsted

Knitting samples - Prestige cashmere ssleeve top

Note the flattering lace rib deep basque and sleeve trim on this luxurious cashmere classic top. Team with your favourite evening skirt or jeans, long leather boots and tie the look together with a feature belt - this top is open to the look you want to create. Meanwhile, the 100% cashmere is like soft clouds to wear. Go on, treat yourself!

Pattern is from Creative Knitting magazine Issue 18, Summer 2007. I have added knitting elastic to the neckline for a firmer hold and a crabstitch trim to neck, base and sleeve edgings.

Knitters notes:

Prestige 100% cashmere

25g/75m (this garment took 8 balls)

Tension: 26sts/32 rows on 6mm needles (used 4mm needles for above pattern)

Knitting samples - Mohair Royal Short row cape

A stylish cape sculpted 'in the round' created by short row shaping. The detail is in the flounce lace collar and fluted edgings. A very feminine cape, just perfect to show off a dramatic brooch. The art of wearing this cape is in the draping! Or simply wear as is, it will drape naturally! It looks great all ways and feels very feminine.

Pictured here in black mohair, it is ideal knitted in Mohair Royal, try beading as you go for an extra feminine touch.

Knitting samples - Mohair Royal and Fur Real stole

A generously long stole knitted with
South West Trading Company's silky 'Fur Real' and
Lana Gatto's 'Mohair Royal'. A very simple long rectangle
striped as you like it. Experiment with needle sizes, even two
different sizes, the end result will be sure to please.


This is an accent stole, long and dramatic! Not at each end for accent detail, or, add feature beads for tassles.


Knitters details:
SWTCH Fur Real Colour- Bear Cub
58% nylon, 305 rayon, 12% acrylic
80 yds/50grm

Mohair Royal
80% Kid mohair/20% nylon
25g/215m Tension: 2mm needles 41sts/47rows

Knitting samples- Carioca Flame shawl

A light but warm shawl, wrap size would fit up to size 16 ladies as a generous fit. Can be made larger for huggy ladies.

Knit in stocking stitch with a garter stitch border you would feel equally as smart wearing this shawl with casual clothes or as an evening wrap for cooler nights.

Picture on RHS depicts this unique 'thick and thin' yarn making it an ideal yarn for 'free form' projects, lacy or plain stitch, from 5mm needle size to 20mm! The choice is yours.

Why not make a striking pullover to showcase the yarn?

Knitters specifications:

Eki Riva Carioca Flame yarn available in 10 colours: cream, lilac(pictured), raspberry, black, mauve, medium pink, avocado, forest green, pale blue, dark purple

52% FS alpaca, 18% highland wool, 23% acrylic, 17% polyamide

50grams/100m

4.0mm needles tension 22st/30rows

Knitting lace

If you are new to knitting, then you have picked a glorious time to take up this wonderful pastime... there are so many beautiful yarns and needles and gadgets! It's a real feast for knitters! For the seasoned knitter you will love the endless supply of beautiful yarns now available right here in Australia.


Lace knitting is my challenge this year, and I have many patterns, books and yarns in my stash that I have collected. I can't believe that I first fell in love with lace knitting more than 5 years ago and have only just started to knit lace!

A crucial element of the process is feeling confident with the yarn you are working with and your needles. This will be an intricate project and deserves qulaity circular needles such as KnitPicks or Addi Turbo bamboo needles. I just love bamboo circulars for this type of knitting. I'm in love with Lana Gatto's Mohair Royal. Lofty, velvety soft this yarn drapes beautifully and lends itself to lace knitting or pattern detail. The colours are superb, from jewel, to earthtones and the classic white, beige, silver grey.

Yarns in stock that I recommend for lace knitting:
Lana Gatto's Maldive, (see post on Theatrical Lace stole)
Prestige Cashmere
Eki Riva's 4ply Supreme
Eki Riva's Natal
Eki Riva's Baby Silk Cashmere
SWTC Bamboo
SWTC Soy Silk


CheleBelle

Knitting Samples - Leaves and Waves

This is one of my first attempts at lace knitting and I am pleased with the open lace effect and the ease of the pattern. Yarn is Lana Gatto's Mohair Royal, a soft lacy 1ply spidery yarn in full pallette of colours.


Dramatic - a red panel contrasted with a black one, this wrap will be sure to get second looks! I will post another photo when finished. Pattern is from online Knitty that has some very creative free patterns. http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTleaves.html

Knitting samples - Maldive

Here is a photo of the Theatrical Lace stole, knitted superbly by Chris, from Best oNancy Wiseman's 'The Best of Knitter's Magazine shawls and scarves' knitted in Lana Gatto's Maldive, a silky yarn (60% cotton/40% viscose), knits to 4 ply (approx). The glossy sheen of Maldive makes for a dramatic piece of knitted lace.

This season's look is fine and feminine, lacy - this wrap would look great with jeans, your little black dress, or an evening stole.

Knitters specifications:

Lana Gatto Maldive, 60% cotton/ 40% viscose

50grm ball 145mtrs

Needle size 3½, Tension: 26st/30rows

Finally I have decided to create my own blog and join the world of communicators through this wonderfull instant medium. It'll be a bit amateur to begin with, but time is a great developer.

I am a serious knitter, creating beautiful knits from exotic and quality yarns. I sell the yarns online. My website is being rebuilt present preparing for Winter 2007, but I fully intend to have it up and going soon so that everyone can enjoy again this winter. www.colourandinspiration.com.au

I have two wonderful knitters Sue and Chris who knit for me and together we knit up and experiment with the latest yarns and patterns. I also make original garments for sale. At least once or twice a year I hold a fashion parade to inspire knitters and to showcase beautiful yarns that we have in stock. In previous years I have helped raise funds by staging fashion parades for Hastings Cancer Trust, Port Macquarie NSW; various church guilds, Comboyne Community Centre, Comboyne NSW; Friends of Strathearn Village, Scone NSW. So far, these parades have raised $16,500 for local charities with entry ticket sales, afternoon tea sales, proceeds from raffle prize donated by myself and a percentage of my yarn sales. What started out as a launch for my website has become a fundamental part of my business.

I have one parade planned at this stage, in Scone NSW for Friends of Strathearn Village, our wonderful all encompassing aged care facility in my town. It will be held early June '07.

How many times have you seen a yarn in a shop or online and wondered what it would knit up like? My fashion parades and samples provide the answer to this query. Sometimes we are surprised ourselves, and it wouldn't be the first time that we have had to pull a garment undone because it simply doesn't work. After three years now, I think I have an idea of what works, but then a new yarn comes along, or a new technique and the challenge begins again.

And now to get some samples into a slideshow!!!!!
Happy Knitting
CheleBelle