Yarn Forward issue 21 - Trenza
Friday, December 11, 2009 at 8:17PM Yet more of that secret knitting stuff...
This is Trenza - a beanie type Hat with a wide sideways cable and lace brim, and vertical stocking stitch crown. These are all my own photos - I haven't seen the shots from the magazine yet. My step sister is my model, and I must say, I was rather chuffed with these when we took them back in the summer!
For the curious, Trenza is Spanish for braids or plaits.
The yarn used is The Natural Dye Studios' Dazzle, which is absolutely gorgeous to knit with! Although Dazzle is listed as a DK, I found I got gauge of 20sts/10cm with a nice fabric, and so Cascade 220 is listed as a substitute. Dazzle has the same kind of handle and drape as the 220 - a lovely, woolly yarn. The Cascade is ever so slightly heavier, but not much, and the Dazzle is on the softer side.
When I started designing this Hat, I knew the main feature of the Hat would be the wide sideways brim, with it's cables and lace. From there, I wanted vertical cables coming from the brim up towards the crown, basically using the brim pattern again turned through 90 degrees. But it looked clumsy, and no matter how I worked it, it just didn't look right.
Eventually I settled on the plain crown, and the Hat was much happier. The detail of the brim takes centre stage, and the stocking stitch provides a smooth finish. Sometimes, a design wants something simple to complete it.
The brim is knitted sideways first, then grafted, before the stitches are picked up for the body. There isn't a visible seam on the brim, as there often is on some sideways cable designs. The cleverness of this Hat is that the cables are stocking stitch based, there is no rev. stocking stitch between them, only lacey eyelets, which are also stocking stitch based! The graft replaces one of the plain/wrong side rows, and therefore blends in perfectly.
Being the technical knitter that I am, there's also a kitchener tutorial to go with this pattern in the magazine. So you've no excuse not to knit it now!
Issue 21 of Yarn Forward has already hit the shelves, or you can get a subscription from their website.
As with all of my patterns published in Yarn Forward, the rights revert back to me 6 months after they hit the shelves, so this one will be self published and added to my pattern line sometime next summer.
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This week I've made a difficult decision, and have decided to go back on to medication. Part of me feels quite sad, because I was determined never again to rely on them and wanted to self manage my illness. The other part of me is relieved, and can't wait for the meds to start working. I've known for some time that I've been heading downwards into another cycle, and I haven't been coping very well.
Italy is a country with lots of red tape and I was a little wary of how I'd be treated. I was seen immediately, treated with respect and understanding (they realised quickly that I knew my own illness and symptoms and didn't make me jump through hoops to prove how ill I am) and offered a lot of support. On top of that, the treatment is all free. Even the medication. I had a good experience with the UK system - I think I got the best they could offer, which sadly most don't. Even still, so far, the Italian system has been equal to that, if not better.
Venlafaxine has a few funny start-up side effects, leaving me feeling spacey and tired, but it settles down quickly and starts taking effect after about 2 weeks. Roll on the next few weeks, I want my happy back.
Reader Comments (14)
Wow! I REALLY like this hat!! I want to knit it for myself, it has such an elegant look to it! I'm going to have to find a copy of the magazine...not sure where here in the US, but I'll get my paws on it somehow. Great design!
Gorgeous hat!!
Many Hugs :D
S xXx
Hugs Ruth, I can imagine a little of how you feel. Went through a depression myself a few years back and although I've not been back on medication, it's never very far away and it does frighten me. I find hormones/monthly cycle affects it more as i get older and try to keep it at bay with EPO and vitamin B12. Not sure if they really do help... I usually recognise the signs and seem to get on top of it before it gets much worse, usually by eating well, exercising, taking some time out for myself - but that isn't always easy/possible.
On a completely different note, I'm knitting your Meret for my 10 year old and enjoying every minute of it. She keeps asking me when it'll be finished (this weekend, if I didn't have to work - blergh) but I don't want it to end as it's so enjoyable. You do design lovely things - I want to knit most if not all of your hats.
Sounds like you're taking the wise course and I hope that the meds kick in positively, very soon. Big hugs and much love,
Sue xxx
Glad you had a good experience with Italian health care, makes things so much easier if doctors trust you to recognise the symptoms yourself. Hope you start feeling better soon. ((Hugs))
Glad to hear that you've had a positive experience with health care in Italy. I too am on meds (Lexapro in my case). While at times I miss the me when I'm not on meds, I don't miss the extreme lows and the manic highs. It's not an easy road. Hugs and best wishes to you.
Good for you in realizing the symptoms/signs and for taking action! So many people still see depression as a stigma instead of the health issue it really is.
Thank you for being such a great example for others struggling to get to the place you have reached.
I have been a fan of yours for some years now. Thank you for sharing not only your free patterns, but also your honesty about yourself. I am in awe of your creative talent. I hope the medication gets your happy back. I certainly have been where you are so you must be patient with yourself and await the sunshine which will find you.
i was roaming 'round the internets, and thought i'd look you up. happy to see that you're still as creative as ever...i mean look at this hat...spectacular! be sure to tell your model how beautiful she looks. also? good for you for getting the meds when you need them. ya do what ya gotta do, especially when you have wee ones that depend on you, right? anywhoo, nice to see you, lady, i'll be sure to check back sooner rather than later!
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Venlafaxine can make you feel quite shivery and feverish especially if you do pick up a bug or get ill, so take care while it settles in. I was on massive doses of this, to try and stop bowel obstruction whilst being on morphine, but not being particularly depressed at the time I went very very manic! I didn't sleep for days and was in a complete fantasy world whilst having a high fever.....cannot imagine ever having to go back on it again, it was such a bumpy ride.
Hope you are finding it all a little easier yourself.
Erssie
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the beautiful girl in the picture. is Russian woman?
My model in these photographs is Ukranian, so you're pretty close!