Ep.172 is mostly a cozy couch session in which Madeleine and I share our latest projects in Bring & Brag and Under Construction. On top of this, Zanete Knits presents her recently released Notturno Sweater in “New Releases.” And Madeleine shows off some of the beautiful knitted baby clothes and accessories she was gifted by our viewers!
New Releases - Notturno by Zanete Knits
Zanete designed the Notturno sweater for our recent Austrian Alps Knitting Retreat using our Fruity Knitting Sport yarn range. She was inspired to make this design after falling in love a particular colour combination: Mulberry Dusk and Lilly Pilly. The latter is featured in the gorgeous colourwork and welts highlighting the neckline, waistband and cuffs.
The name, Notturno, is Italian for a nocturne which is a piece of music inspired by the night. Chopin’s 21 nocturnes are a famous example of such music and make up the perfect playlist to enjoy while knitting this gorgeous garment! 😉 In New Releases, Zanete talks more about the inspiration behind her design and breaks down its construction and the techniques used, including the option to add waist shaping.
Finding Zanete Knits
- Website: zaneteknits.com
- Ravelry: Zanete Knits
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Bring & Brag
Notturno Sweater by Zanete Knits
Zanete’s original Notturno version is dark and smouldering, so I thought I’d go for something of the opposite effect: Wild Mint as the main colour with White Opal for the contrasting colourwork section. Both colours are actually quite close in value, so that the overall effect is more subtle and these colours remind me of a fresh spring day. I really enjoyed knitting this design. It’s a lovely combination of simple, relaxing knitting, with the stocking stitch on the body, and more intricate sections of colourwork on the neckline, cuffs and hem that require a little more concentration.
Zanete included some really neat finishing details around the sleeve caps and also under the arms, where you pick up stitches to join the sleeves in the round. There are no holes, and so absolutely no sewing is needed. The top of the sleeve cap is knitted down at a 90-degree angle to the direction of the knitting across the shoulders. You pick up stitches along the top of the shoulders by picking up and knitting the bars between the first and second stitch columns on the shoulders, and then you shape the sleeve cap using lifted increases. You can see the very smooth curve of the set in sleeve here.
Zanete has included the option of waist shaping in the pattern. You can see my shaping here. I worked four sets of decreases as I knitted down towards my waist, then knitted straight for 10 rows before working three sets of increases before starting the colourwork hem.
Under Construction
Selma's Sleep Suit by PetiteKnit
Madeleine has started on a new baby project for Henry! Selma’s Sleep Suit is a very cute and simple full body suit with a hood and mittens and booties attached. Its knitted top-down in garter stitch and mostly worked flat as it has buttons running down the middle.
Madeleine is using Fruity Knitting Sport in the colourway Billabong as it goes beautifully with Henry’s red hair. The recommended gauge is 19st by 34 rows so this project should knit up very quickly!
What we are wearing
Andrea is wearing her Notturno Sweater by Zanete Knits.
Credits
- J. S. Bach, The Well Tempered Klavier, Prelude No. 3 in C-Sharp major, BWV 848, performed by Kimiko Ishizaka, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
- Frédéric Chopin, Nocturne in B-Flat minor, Op. 9 No. 1 performed by Eduardo Vinuelaya, Public Domain
