Lace blocked top with beaded straps

I can be very sentimental. And ready-to-wear cotton top, made in color blocking style which I acquired years ago was still my favorite cloth even after its straps stretched and fabric became so thin, that it had few holes in several places. But even sentimental persons say "good bye" to their lovely things. So did I, but before I copied a pattern and decided to re-implement it in.

I could sew same top, but it would be to easy to just copy without thinking! And I decided to knit. Knitting allows to choose not only color, but also a pattern of the fragment. I choose two lace patterns, stockinet stitch for the top of the front, still only color and called this technique "lace blocking".

Front shows two patterns: lace and stockinette stitch, third one is on the side:

On the back I used same lace pattern as on the bottom of the top. Back part of the straps made from bead.

And, finally, three views: front, back, beaded straps, - of the top itself, without me inside =)

Blue sky jacket

About one year ago I purchased yarn and even created a sample for this jacket. I finished it for this winter season. I wish I could create blog posts in time =)

Inspiration for the jacket was a tree which has beautiful magenta flowers in summer and very picturesque without leaves in winter:

Another effect, unfortunately, cannot be seen on the photograph, but the tree looks wonderful when sky has bright cold blue color. Having this picture in my mind I created a pattern and knitted it on the back of the jacket.

Such a noticeable pattern requires simple silhouette and I choose one of my favorites: jacket, inspired by medieval East Asian clothing. Centers of its back and front are knitted with reverse stockinette stitch while side sides are knitted together with sleeves using stockinette stitch. All edges are finished using i-cord. Buttons and holes are made from i-cord too.

Jacket also has zipper beneath decorative closure. I was considering about making its front simple without decorations at all like on this picture of the wrong side, but I decided not to create such a noticeable contrast with the back.

Jacket also has chain on the back low edge.

Embroidered tree, hiding wrong side of the pattern.

Pattern for the embroidered tree was made from the same picture as knitted one.

Technique is pretty simply: only back stitches, slightly offset-ted from each other.