Updates

We have updated the website and blog. Off to the right under Gallery and on the Gallery page of the website we have added two sections.

On The Needles is a gallery of what each of the Luscious Gracious clan is currently knitting. We will update with our progress and let you know when something is finished, hopefully.

Bound Off is a gallery of recently completed knitted projects. We will profile some of these on the blog to give more details. Here are some samples of what we've put there so far.

Kiki

(This is Kiki typing, and if you aren't interested in some personal crap, and I can't imagine who would be, skip back to Steve's section.)
Big Green - This sweater is the ultimate in Before and After. As in, Before I got sick, and After resolving some Body Image Issues. Actually, it happened before I was diagnosed, not before I was sick. Being sick (much of my life) made me believe that I had a really fast metabolism and was just one of those naturally thin people (except for two brief 70 pound weight gains that resulted in two nine pound newborns). Ha ha....apparently I am really one of those "curvaceous" women that I have read about.....No, really, I still have no idea what size I am, what size I am "supposed to be", or what size is what. The truth is, with a disease that makes it impossible to eat, but then going on meds that side-effect you into a childless 70 extra pounds, and running miles and miles every day and then not being able to walk to the mailbox, and a bladder that hates fruits and veggies but loves McDonald's, it is a confusing world. So, when I initially gained so much weight, I went from a size nothing to a size really something. Quite quickly, as in, no time to readjust my mirror. And I couldn't for the life of me imagine what size I really was.
Hence, the knitting of BIG GREEN almost two years ago.

It really was a nice sweater (Elsebeth Lavold silky wool, in a beautiful ribbed and double seed stitch tank). I got the idea from the book Vintage Knits by Sarah Dallas when it first came out, but decided that I would just go ahead and draft it myself. Ha ha. Hear the Universe snicker. Even at my biggest, there was room for Steve to join me for a camping trip.
So, recently I was inspired by all of the pretty tanks that Illanna has been making, and thought that maybe all BIG GREEN needed was a little TLC.

I used a contrasting bit of Noro silk garden to crochet a three-strand cord to draw in the empire waist, and some more of it to severely "crochet up" the underarms and collar. Hey, I may not look as good as Illanna, but maybe my sweater is up to snuff (how's that for an antiquated term. Just let me find my pocketbook....).

And then, I added some glass beads to finish it off in style. Here you can see them blowing into a hopeless tangle. Not such a good idea after all.

Wristbands - Might as well face it, I'm addicted to ......Wristbands.
They are quick, I can use lots of colors, try out Fair Isle patterns and practice my two-handed, two-strand knitting, and write all kinds of dirty words on my knitting. What's not to love?

And, Steve calls me Wristbands. Cause I make so many. And all. Anybody want some wristbands?

Tank - Letoya, Illanna and I decided to have a little summer contest, and each make a version of the same pattern. You know how I loathe patterns (with disastrous results, see above), but this book was called something like "Big Tanks for Big Boobs" and we had to have it.

I made mine from "Loft" yarn made by Zitron in Germany (who the heck is that?). It's WOOL (I hate cotton), but it is spun in a way that makes it light and comfortable for even Phoenix summers, as long as I stay out of the sun or the shade or outside at all. No, really, even in these triple digits, I am comfy in it. I used right around 300 yards of yarn, and that included all of the extras I added to the pattern, like a tighter and higher back (couldn't afford to do that to my front) and extra length to avoid that belly-baring look that no one wants to see. The book is really Trendy Knit Tops by Joyce M. Wong (Leisure Arts, 2003). And we weren't supposed to show our results until the end of the summer (or something) and I cheated. Hey, I finished a whole sweater that FITS in under 24 hours. You guys are going to see it. Often.

And check out that skirt. Not only is it linen and extremely see-through, it also matches every single top that I own. Again, get ready to see it all summer, folks.

Turtle Lace - This was a going-away present for Illanna, who went back to NYC for the summer. We miss her already. The yarn is the Chinese cashmere that is multiplying in its bag. I never seem to use it up, no matter how many times I use it. Wish all my yarn were like that, but if I had to pick, guess I'm glad that it's the cashmere that is neverending. And the pattern is my own, natch, which I can give to you if you want. Really. Come on. Knit some lace.

Now back to Steve, and I am going back to dyeing some more yarn. For some more wristbands. And lace, maybe.

Steve

Pyramid Bag - Another going-away present for Illanna. This original design used 2 strands of wool that was felted once pieced together. The photos were printed on silk and stitched on after. Maybe someday I'll put the pattern out here. And if Alison really does go away, she can expect something too. Like wristbands. At least Illanna is coming back.

Lucy

Doll Scarf with Pocket - Lucy is almost done with her bear vest, so in the meantime she put this doll scarf with a pocket in the bound off section.

Lily

Best Teacher Wristbands - Lily & Mom made these fair isle wristbands for Lily's second grade teacher, Mrs. K. They say "Best Teacher" and have Fair Isle flowers designed by Lily as well.

Other Updates -

Knitty Calendar - The kids really liked the black and white Clapotis photo with the color background. Unfortunately, it goes the wrong way for a calendar. So they helped Dad redo it this way. What do you think? Is this their cover shot? (Kiki here again - Way to go, Alison! And Steve!)

Online Show - We have added a couple of handmade books as online exclusives for the TEXTure show. Check them out here and here.

Contest - Don't feel intimidated by the odds. Just because Alison has left a gazillion more comments than you doesn't mean you can't win. In fact, I heard a rumor that there may be more than one winner. So leave us comments. If you have technical difficulties, just e-mail Steve at stephen@lusciousgracious.com telling him that thar stupid comment thingy done broke.

Steve & Kiki