Oolong knits

Beatrice Mase is a little known French designer that I really admire. The KAIGA Wrap , with its large collection of different stitches, is a super fun knit. It is also beautiful to wear, as long as you choose your colours wisely.

I have been following Paula Pereira's designs for a long time, but it was her latest book, Textured Knits , that made me a big fan. Such beautiful patterns! It is impossible to choose a favourite. Lygia is the least popular pattern in the book and I still love it.

Artus by Natasja Hornby has just been published and I had to run and add it here. That is how much I like it. So tempted to knit it...

Ilha by Orlane Sucche is one of my most favourite designs. I have been drooling over it for some time and there is a single reason why I haven't yet bought and knitted this pattern: I don't have the yarn for it and I'm still trying to destash. So, don't be at all surprised if my future post on finished projects of 2023 includes this beautiful sweater.

RAUWERK TREES is a boxy sweater that uses simple twisted-stitch cables for a casual but still elegant result. A favourite of mine, like all Katrin Schneider designs

Marie Amelie is a sadly missed French designer. She has unfortunately quit designing in 2021 and since then all her patterns are available for free. Esterel is a beautiful boxy pullover in brioche stitch. Her other designs are also well worth your attention. They all have the quality associated with French design.

Irina Anikeeva is a Russian designer that creates beautifully intricate lace and cables designs. The Aviara Pullover uses twisted stitch cables to obtain an impressive effect. I highly recommend her other patterns too. They are truly stunning.

I just want to add a little addendum to my previous post... As many knitters before me, as a beginner, I went a little crazy buying yarn. Before I realized I had more yarn that I could knit in a lifetime (or so I thought at the time) and, what's worst, due to inexperience, some of my buys were truly underwhelming. The result is that, for years now, I've been trying hard to destash.  I still buy yarn occasionally, for mainly two reasons: (1) I start a project with yarn I've got in my stash, but run out and must buy more to finish, which is okay, I'm still destashing, (2) I occasionally get too tempted to knit a specific project for which I don't have appropriate yarn, which is not as okay and I really try to avoid it.  I can't complain too much, because the truth is that the challenge of designing for the yarn I have available has been fun. I love a challenge and I love the way limitation feeds creativity. And the real good news about 2022 is that I've knitte...

In terms of knitting, 2022 was my most productive year. I started knitting small projects, such as a handful of dishcloths. After all, there is nothing better than dishcloths for quick gratification and I always need a bit of extra gratification in dark winter days. The only large project I started in January was a large colourblock scarf (more like a stole). This was my first mohair project (2 strands held together). I loved the colours, but, after many days working on it, I ended up frogging it. It turns out I'm not a big fan of mohair, so I just knew I was not going to wear it. There was not point in continue to work in it. Instead I decided to use the yarn held together with a different yarn, so the fabric isn't as fluffy. In February I started working on a sweater and by the end of June I had concluded 6 sweaters! (Not including three other sweaters I started but frogged!) I don't have good pictures of my sweaters, so you must take my word for it: they are g...