Every once in awhile, even though I have 90 bajillion knits in my queue, I’ll find a new pattern that strikes me so much that I must start it immediately! This is the case with the Lake of the Woods Capelet, by Ilga Leja.
(on the left) OK, so I can’t start it right away (I have to wait for my yarn and pattern to arrive – I am even using the recommended color!) but isn’t it lovely? I actually like many of her designs, and I also ordered the pattern for the shawl on the right at the same time. The patterns are lacy but still contemporary, which I love. I am not really interested in floral or leafy lace patterns.
I also saw a gorgeous completed Agnes, from Rowan 35 here, and realized I had enough Cotton Glace (in Ivy)to make one! I was looking through my Rowan patterns then, and noticed something funny.
Agnes is on the left, and on the right is Joy from Vintage Knits. Different materials, sleeve lengths, and stitch patterns, but essentially the same sweater. The beaded sweater from “Romantic Knits” is also the same, with the addition of a bow around the waist. It’s funny because all 3 of these were on my list at one time, and it never occurred to me that they were practically the same! Having said that… I’m keeping these two on my list. I love this style, and I think the different materials make a huge difference. And I’ve never knit with beads (Agnes has French knots instead.) But Agnes will be first, because I’m not ready for tweediness yet this summer.
I picked up Lace style a few weeks ago. And while I maintain that at least half the patterns in the book are kind of crazy, and the sizing isn’t great, I could not longer resist the allure of the retro shrug, which I will eventually make (perhaps soon!) with some cashmerino. I also like the Katherine Hepburn cardigan and the Shetland Shawl turned vest (although I’m not sure I could actually pull off the vest without looking like some kind of demented Heidi)
I read a review online that complained about the styling in Lace Style, and I can’t argue. I really don’t like that orange shrug with the pink dress, but it is certainly not the worst offender in the book. There is no comparison with the Rowan (well, at least with Vintage Knits and Romantic Style, both of which make me want to knit every single piece in the book.)
My LYS has their Summer sale this Saturday (on my birthday! Must be fate!) so I’m trying to plan what I’d like to buy. The Ilga Leja kit was my gift to myself.
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
Yep! Definitely have to plan ahead before going into a LYS and getting blindsided with yarn you don’t want to use yet! LOL
Happy Birthday in advance!
It’s so funny – I bet all of those Rowan designs were by Kim Hargreaves! I love her stuff, but I have found that she repeats the same sweater in various yarns or tweaks the design just a little (adds beads to one version, etc.) I love Rowan though. I haven’t made anything from them in a while.
Happy Birthday!
Ooh, the color of that capelet is gorgeous! Hey–your birthday is 3 days after mine, and you’re the third or fourth knit blogger I read (out of 20) in two weeks to have a birthday. I wonder if there is something about being born in mid-July that makes one predisposed toward craftiness.
I am doing the Hepburn cardi right now and it’s taking f-o-r-e-v-e-r…but I’m sure in your expert hands it would fly off the needles!!
I loved the Lake of the Woods Capelet. Did you kow you canknit with beads using a crochet hook? It’s a lot easier than putting all the beads in the inicial yarn.
All the best
Chuana 🙂
I vote for Lake of the Woods. I also love many of the Ilga Leja patterns (that Urban Goddess vest/shawl thing keeps calling my name), and I just love that capelet.
That caplet is so beautiful. I had never seen her patterns before, so thank you for sharing. I will definitely be placing an order for some of her patterns.
(I also agree with the person above who commented on the Kim Hargreaves patterns. Still, she is among my favorites).
I’ve been lusting after that Lake of the Woods capelet forever… I had forgotten about it but now you’ve gone and reminded me! Grrrr. Ilga Leja patterns really are gorgeous. If you haven’t already seen it, google for her Antique Lace top. So lovely…
I vote for Agnes– love it! Do you have the pattern?
Ha! I’d noticed the Joy/Agnes similarity, but not the one from Romantic Knits. That Lake of the Woods capelet has been haunting me since I first saw it — gorgeous.
I love Joy. It’s on my to-knit list too; the only thing I need is the beads, but I’m having a hell of a time trying to figure out which ones I want to use. I’m going to use Yorkshire Tweed 4-ply in “Shrew” (got it 50% off!), so I guess some brown-ish beads would be good.. But shiny or no? *sigh*
Looking forward to seeing the progress on the capelet. 🙂 It’s gorgeous!
I really enjoyed knitting lake of the woods – it was a surprisingly quick knit. I adore Ilga Leja’s designs (she lives in my city, Halifax).
Thanks for the shawl links – I absolutely love the Queen of the Waves shawl! I must knit it. I’m not really into the leafy/floral shawl designs, either.
I love your blog and your knits – it blows my mind at how fast you churn these things out!