kusha kusha shawl

I have quite a hard time when I started to knit with the yarn, is so thin and keep slipping off my needle. I have change different type of needle at least three time…and it works best on straight bamboo needle. Knitting with this yarn do requires a lot of patient, and I learn that no matter how boring it is, just “DO NOT STOP” or else it will just sit in the corner for long long time. For the last two week I keep knitting it until I get used to the yarn… and I quite enjoy it after awhile.

I didn’t order the kit from Habu textile which is rather expensive to me. I use wool stainless steel from my stash and combine with merino wool.. I guess it works the same. I followed the dimension from the book Hand-knit works by Setsuko Torii and the only change I made is extent the stainless steel border at two end which I should do 8 inch instead of 4 inch..urgh !!

I have accidentally snag the shawl couple of time..and it was hell to fix it back, so I have no choice but to felt it. I do a very light felt, soak in the hot water, and stir it about 2 minutes so the length will not shrink too much as well as the stitches still visible. Even though the shawl look very sheen and thin, but actually is quite warm and is extremely light in weight, is absolutely worth the effort.

Pattern : Kusha kusha shawl or kit 73
Yarn : Wool stainless steel A-148, merino wool A-33
Yardage : 5 cone wool stainless steel, 3 cone merino wool
Colour: 2867 purple and 14 brick
Needle: 3.5mm, 5.5mm

triple play::xposted

It has been months since I showed off my Habu explorations, as it seems to be the only projects/yarn/concept I am being drawn to in between my deadline projects..
I am... I have accumulated 3 finished Habu garments.. shame on me, heee.. well. I just didn't have time.. I wrote a huge post... clumsy me, hit something on the keyboard and it was gone.. sometimes this happens, but at that moment I was almost done, so pulling my hair out or just yelling some words to my non-russian speaking cat.. didn't fix it.

So here that goes..

The first is a long time "yo-yo" cocktail commute project, it all has started from Vanessa sending me some leftover caramel colored Rowan KSH.. I added some test skeins of Habu Silk Mohair A-32b and there you have it.. a Nymphadora Scarf.. it is super long.. just like I wanted.. at one point I was about to toss it into a washing machine to perform some hazelnut stuffed shibori, overlooked at Nicky Epstein's Knitting never felt better, but then.. I haven't decided on it yet.. it is simple, yet cute, starting with frequent striping transitioning into wider ones. So I need a public opinion for once: Should I or should I not proceed?



And then there is a kit I got.. and long time wanted, ever since Isel pointed out the fabulousness of it while paging through my copy of Setsuko Torii's Hand-Knit works. Though I have knit a skirt before, it was a little worrying me how the silk would look and behave while worn around one's behind!
I didn't have any help on taking a decent photo, so self-timer on the edge of my balcony was the best friend for time being..
Here is a triptych, click on either to zoom







Habu Textiles
Gradation Tsumugi Skirt : kit-102: A-1, 5 or 6 colors triple stranded and wound in 10 variations in mini skeins (come ready to knit in a kit): charcoal: US 7 (4.5mm) needle: 30" of 1/2" black elastic.

This skirt became a success because I had a great buddy in face of Julianne (Ravelry link), who was making this skirt at the same time (she is actually making also a habu mohaired skirt as well!), so we got connected and figured it out together, we had to email Takako once. As usual she was very helpful and it was all cleared out. Printed english pattern had some typos, but it felt good about putting some idle brain cells to work. Japanese patterns are all about math afterall.

I have eliminated seaming, by doing provisional cast on and grafting it to the end of the fabric after and did a casing with elastic instead of drawstring, just by knitting extra fabric and turning it into a hem.
And eliminated doing 2 parts of the yoke, by just picking up and knitting garter stitch in a round, but still doing the decreases along the sides indicated by strategically placed markers. The least favorite part- it took about 2 hours and tons of patience just to weave in those zillion of ends, but in the end I saw how it improved the sturdiness of the bottom edge.
The skirt before blocking looked like an elongate mini.. and original is shown in your mid-calf, I am not a model height, so just below the knee was the right length and I wasn't blocking it to the original measurements. But, seriously, if you are taller and need longer skirt, it will block out , plus it is silk and in a skirt gravitation power would still pull it down.

The next was a secret gift.. which I can already reveal, Happy Birthday, Vanessa! It is my Birthday gift for her!

It is linen paper A-60 from Habu again, in two colors used for A Chinese Style Pullover aka kit-89. I have used the pattern from my book and US 9 needle, though next time I make it I may try it on recommended US 10 (6mm).
I love how airy and noisy this project was and is as a garment. Kirsten of assemblage fame pointed it out, this is a musical garment at some point.. so who needs a fireplace with crackling firelogs? Just get one of those and you kill two birds at the same time!
I hope V enjoys wearing it! It is perfect for steamy summers, as you get style and breeze constantly!



I know for a fact there are couple Rustling kits 89 in progress, so ladies please don't be shy, show off the goods, it is just a perfect, quick summer knit, that you can layer as well if needed.

Another kusha kusha scarf

Some time ago I finished a kusha kusha scarf using the merino yarn in grey and the stainless steel in brown. It was my first work both with Habu yarn and japanese instructions and I messed a little over the needles numbers. I didn't want to frog such a thin yarn so I let it go like that. After felting, it just felt too short for a regular scarf, but big enough for a little something to wear around the neck.

I liked the yarn so much that shortly after that I started a tank with some blue bamboo from another brand, and some more Habu merino and stainless steel in blue. The swatch you see here is about to be frogged:

because what I really have in mind is this pattern ( # 81-19) from drops design: