Tilli Tomas Blog

Boston has been a wet mess all week. Thank goodness – I mean, we do need the rain. But of course after five days or so, we also need a pick-me-up. What better to lift our spirits then a little creative exercise on Pinterest?

So we created a new board – Rain Slicked City – with loads of knitting goodness and “caught in the rain”-style glamour (yes, there is such a thing, albeit it may have died along with the 1960s). It ranges from the obviously gorgeous:

Boston in the Rain by Nitsa

To the sickeningly adorable:

Rainycloud by Mochimochi Land

And actually if you like that mochi, there’s another woman on our board who made individual rain drops (and skulls, my favorite) to hang from her umbrella. For real.

May this board inspire you to get out there and celebrate the rain – or at least knit the day away indoors.

Rushing to get dressed this morning, I realized I am sorely low on spring socks. You know the type – fun enough to show off a flash of ankle (or instep), but still warm enough to do a sock’s primary job. I am sad to report that in fact I only own one pair of hand knit socks – a Cookie A pattern that I wore on my first day as a married lady – and they are the most comfortable socks I own. So this year I’m in search of new patterns to inspire me to get out there, roll up my cuffs, and rock the “hand knit socks with Mary Jane” look. Or in my case, more like wingtips.

Some of my favorites from Ravelry that use some great, colorful techniques:

1. Tiptoe Through The Tulips by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

I prefer the solid body to the stripes myself, but I love both the pop of color and the idea of a contrast heel and toe. Even if you decide to skip the tulips, this is a great basic pattern for a fitted sock with contrast color blocking.

2. Flower Power by Suzanne Chotty

Truthfully, I don’t love this flower motif, but I thought this was a great example of what my friends and I call “faux-isle” – stranded color work using one solid, and one variegated. This allows you to have a multi-colored look without having to knit with a million colors. And who doesn’t love that kind of bang for your buck? You can use this technique in any fair-isle sock pattern by simply subbing in a variegated yarn for all the colors called for in the pattern motif.

3. Spread Spectrum by Kristi Schueler

So speaking of using variegated yarn, I seriously have no idea how she did this, but kind of want to knit them immediately. Great technique, no? And I love that you can apply this to any variegated yarn to really showcase the different sections of color. Actually, this would make a pretty cool technique on a sweater too. Hmm.

Kristi has a host of great ideas for knitting socks with variegated yarn in this book too, in case this makes you hungry for more.

4. LoveSocks by Devon Clement

Okay, so I kind of buried the lead on this one – these are my favorite of the bunch. Not only do I have a soft spot for fraternal twin socks like these (i.e., clearly matching but not identical), but this pattern is both sharply adorable and FREE.

While I think the above shot is a great use of dual-color work, this one below with the contrast heart is more my speed:

5. Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers by Melissa Dominguez

I watched Wigstock again this morning for the first time since it came out in 1995, and these socks just made me think of some fabulous queen channeling Dorothy. They also have a touch of Elsa Schiaparelli in them. So if you’re not afraid of the whimsical, may we suggest a little trompe l’oeil for spring?

6. Lickety Split by Pilpilan Wangsai

Speaking of whimsical, we leave you with this creation for your consideration. While I have never been a socks-and-sandals girl, Pinpilan does make a convincing case for giving my toes some room. In more practical terms, what I like about these is the bold use of contrasting colors and the button-back ankles – PERFECT as a detail for socks worn with skirts or shorts, where the back of the ankle is likely to show.

Hopefully these patterns are enough to get you started on your march toward spring style. And of course when you’re ready to get the yarn to start knitting – whether solid or psychedelic – you know where to find it.

Is it even possible to go to Pinterest.com without losing a solid hour of time to the pleathora of eye candy there? I don’t think so. Hence, if you can’t beat ‘em . . .

. . . join us!

Come hang out with us on Pinterest so you can waste some time – er, we mean get some inspiration – too.

We had the amazing fortune to be in Provincetown, MA this weekend at the exact right moment. Four Eleven Studio had a special show featuring works by local knitters and weavers, with particular focus on male knitters. The show included an interactive knitting performance entitled Sheep To Shore, by local artist Barry Pike.

Here are some our favorite pieces from the show:

covered shoes by Dino Foxx

"Sock Story" by Nathan Butera

Sheep To Shore performance, organized by Barry Pike

Four Eleven Studio

More and better photos should emerge soon on Four Eleven Studio’s Facebook page. There you’ll be able to read more about the studio’s owner, Liz Carney, connect with Provincetown knitters, and see the wealth of great fiber art they had at the show.

So next time you’re P-Town, stop in, say hi, and knit a spell.

The deCordova is having its Biennial show, which just started this week.  Why does this affect you as fiber lovers, you ask?  Because our favorite local celebrities the South End Knitters have yarn-bombed the museum in honor of the event!  So much for Art vs. Craft, eh?

Busy this month? Fear not, this Biennial runs through March, which is when the South End Knitters will be having a special hands-on presentation. You can see the full details of all Biennial events here.

South End Knitters cover a bike rack in the Back Bay

I love it when blogging and events line up seamlessly on the calendar – like tomorrow’s Ignite Craft: Boston, hosted by the Common Cod Fiber Guild.

For the second year running, the CCFG will play Alex Trebek to wealth of local experts who will – in rapid succession – teach you everything they know about exactly what it is they do.

Doors open at 6:30 and presentations begin at 7:00pm.  MIT hosts the event near the Kendall T stop at 32 Vassar Street, room 32-123, Cambridge, MA.

In short – you can knit the night away while listening to quick, entertaining presentations and meet loads of fellow local fiber enthusiasts.

And hey, you just might learn something.

We found this blog yesterday via the BBC.co.uk site, called Delit Maille.  FYI, it’s a French pun on “Daily Mail” and means, roughly, “Criminal Stitch”.   Which I think this image of a tiny, knit Silvio Berlusconi with two miniature knit escorts demonstrates brilliantly:

Guessing Mario Monti's not having this much fun!

Anna knits the news and takes hilarious photos of it, punctuated with witty copy. Most of said copy is in French, but many of the posts she translates into English as well. So don’t let the language barrier stop you from checking this out. After all, a picture of tiny knit people doing awful-yet-true things is easily worth 1000 words.

While I generally refrain from making resolutions on my more important behavior (Stop eating sugar?  Good luck with that . . .) I’m keen to redirect that impulse toward my knitting.  So here’s my list of New Year’s Knitting Resolutions – holler at us on Facebook if any of these apply to you!

1. Knit a felted coat (or, well, at least felt something)

So, Noni has these extraordinary felting patterns, many of which look completely amazing in Tilli Tomas Flurries, because after you felt it, the thing is still beaded.  Which translates to felt that sparkles.  My inner 12-year-old thinks this is the best thing ever.  So, a new coat with beaded trim for 2012?  YES.

2. Knit something sexy

So, I am not much of a sock knitter (although I can’t say I’ve never done it.  And recently this new sock yarn has tempted me greatly, but I digress).  But, being something of a Girl Anachronism, I would happily knit stockings.  And so, these stirrup boot socks a la Prada c. 2007 are right up my alley.  Also, for those of you who are math-oriented, if you were to re-gauge the pattern and knit these up on larger needles, you could get some very attractive see-through effects going on.  Just sayin’.

3. Knit something, then embroider it

I have a definite affinity for embroidery.  Like I said, anachronistic.  A small hat and mitten set like this is a great place to start – being in wool, it’s almost like crewel work, really.  Someday I’d love to work my way up to some serious needlepoint, but, you know, one thing at a time.  If this piques your interest, another great source for embellished knits is Kristin Nicholas.  (Take a look at the gloves halfway down that page – to DIE for.)

4. Knit more colorwork

Colorwork and I are finally getting along.  I even tried intarsia again recently, which is saying something.  So, I’d really like to some more daring colorwork for 2012.  Now that Oilily’s out of business I figure someone has to pick up the slack.  Hint: If you’re looking for a great and endless of palette of colors to make your fair isle dreams come true, check out Tilli Tomas Artisan Sock.  Singular, you get great resolution for complex colorwork, and held double it becomes a light worsted.  So either way, it’s a win-win.

5. Knit something for myself

Oh, why are the simplest resolutions the hardest to keep?  Knitting something for ourselves shouldn’t require such discipline.  With such a range of amazing patterns to choose from, the sky is the limit.  That said, all I really want is the perfect black cardigan.  So, whether your tastes, like mine, are more practical, or whether you’ve finally got your eye on the project of your dreams this year, make time for YOU.

Best wishes to all and see you in 2012!

We got inspired by a recent Vogue Knitting ‘s newsletter showcasing Susan B. Anderson’s fabulous knit toys:

Elefante

Her whimsical creations made us also think of Ysolda Teague‘s fabulous knit creatures:

We couldn’t think of a better kind of project for holiday gifts and keeping your inner child alive.  Most of these projects call for a sock weight or DK yarn, so we recommend our Tilli Tomas SOCK.  In a wide array of bright colors, it’s perfect for bringing these toys to life.

Excited to create your own fuzzy friend?  Get started with Itty Bitty Toys or Ysolda’s creatures, and then have fun picking out your yarn here.

I had the pleasure of meeting local artist Miranda Aisling recently.  She is a true renaissance woman (she paints, sculpts, composes, and knits!), and in a stroke of well-rounded genius has combined two of her great loves for one spectacular experiment.

Miranda has begun knitting her canvases BY HAND, before stretching and painting them.  In this way she is able to create amazing textures before the paint is even applied.

To keep up with Miranda’s myriad creative endeavors, and to find out more about her knit paintings, visit http://mirandaaisling.com/.