It’s so easy to be inspired by Paris. Over the years I’ve been taken in by the city’s landmarks,  the architecture, and the ever-present sense of style.

In particular, I’ve formed a mental image of how the Seine River links the landmarks, and thought that would be the perfect theme for my newest project.

Parisian Links: des liens étroits

The design is for a top-down, heart-shaped, oversized bandana/shawl. The top and bottom sections will be knit in lace patterns that evoke the architectural similarities of the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Pyramids. The middle area will be a section of lace stitching representing the Seine River and its bridges (with beads interspersed in the borders).  The beads include 3-4mm, 3-sided sterling silver beads and 8mm translucent cathedral crystal beads with gold and blue/green highlights.
In addition, I’ll be inserting a narrow transition area, in the third stitch pattern (in the first color, Emerald, bordered with the second color, Emerald Blue).

The yarn is a luxury Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino, and the design will require 1 skein of Emerald and 1 skein of Emerald Blue. The architectural elements and transition will be knit in Emerald and the river and bridges in Emerald Blue.

Overall dimensions of the finished accessory are anticipated to be approximately 65 inches (165cm) across top; 55 inches (140cm) wide at widest point; 28 inches (70cm) from top edge to bottom point]

Follow this blog for progress on my Paris project.

Happy knitting!
MikeH
http://www.ravelry.com/designers/michael-harrigan

I’ve been traveling in Italy and Croatia for a couple of weeks and away from knitting for that amount of time as well. As you can see from the photo, I’m trying to make up for that now!

In the middle is a work-in-progress that’s based on my Blossoms and Vines Lace Scarf pattern. The yarn is a lace-weight silk and merino blend and the color is marsala (the color of the year).

On the right is a new design in progress in an emerald blue  – Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino – a wonderfully soft yarn to work with. And on the left is the first few rows of a variation on a design in a yarn I love – a Bordeaux gradient, also in merino wool.

I’m looking through my trip photos for inspiration for new designs. In the meantime, if you’re looking for scarf and shawl patterns for spring and summer, get your needles out and take a look at my designs on Ravelry.

For any Game of Thrones fans out there, here’s a photo of me standing by Neptune’s Fountain in the Trsteno Arboretum, near Dubrovnik, Croatia. This is one of the locations featured in an episode of the popular series.

Happy knitting,
MikeH