Nihon Vogue

This past weekend I spent Saturday and Sunday in class for year one of the Nihon Vogue certification program.

As always, my mind was reeling with new information. After class Saturday I had to attend my sister Cheryl's 50th birthday party. Then Sunday night I attended this wonderful dinner at Mauro Golmarvi's home. He is the owner of Assaggio Restaurante.

By Monday morning I was wiped out and not feeling particularly well....but back to Nihon class.


We are working on 3 garments simultaneously. You have seen the top-down raglan in prior posts.

We learned the invisible bind-off and how to pickup and calculate the sleeve decreases.


Here is my progress so far:


Here is the invisible cast/bind-off. Isn't that lovely? For the next session in November, I have to have the sleeves done and bound off. Next session we will learn the techniques for the neck.

For the crewneck vest I have chosen to do a deeper neckline.

Here is the back, completed, along with the front. I am working on the neck decreases and shoulder short rows for the front. I am thinking I should do that work now before I forget how to do what I was taught!


In this photo you can see the very nice and neat, professional looking short-row. You can't even see where they were done(or can you?).





Project 3 is a crewneck with set-in long sleeves.

For our class this past weekend we only had to have the front and back knit up to the bust line.

Since we learned how to do the decreases and short rows for the vest, we will apply these techniques to this project as well. We have to have front and back completed as well as most of the sleeves! I need to get on this project because I think it will take me some time to complete.



Here is the front and back up to the bust line. One piece has one extra pattern repeat which I need to also do for the other piece. I decided to make it a bit longer than I originally planned.

I love this pattern. Here is the *right* side.

And the same pattern but on the *wrong* side.

Both sides of this pattern look nice. This particular yarn (merino, alpaca, silk) really grows width-wise after washing. The row guage does not change a bit but the stitch guage changes considerably.

So for all you knitters out there that hate swatching...you MUST. Not only must you knit the swatch but you MUST also wash your swatch. Be sure to measure before and after washing. Believe me. If I hadn't washed this sucker, it would be very, very wide on me!

In fact, Jean, our instructor, would prefer her students knit two large swatches. One that will washed and one that will remain un-washed.

That said, I also need to complete my swatches for project 4 which is a V-neck sweater with set-in sleeves. I am going the simple route with this project. Stockinette only. I am going to use a 50% wool, 50% bamboo variegated yarn hand dyed by Myra of Fancy Image Yarns. I always stop by her shop when I'm at Bangrila. I bought the yarn when we were out there in August.

I'll keep y'all posted on my Nihon progress. I have a lot of homework to do in the next 6 weeks. I've also signed up for so many classes!

This coming weekend (both days) I am taking a lace design class with Evelyn Clark. During the Nordic Knitting Conference the first weekend in October I am taking only one class - Domino Knitting with Vivian Hoxbro. In late November/early December I am taking Janine Bajus' Fair Isle color workshop at Churchmouse!

That is what is so wonderful about the Seattle area...we are so fortunate to have so many artists locally that are masters in their particular area of expertise.

I have to vow to not take any other classes until Madrona in February. I don't know how I fit it all in!

That said, knitting is a true passion for me. Not only do I love this art, I love all the people I have met that share this passion!