(no title)

Decoding the Knits of ‘The Imitation Game’

“The Imitation Game” has been on my list of movies to see ever since I saw the first trailer. Period drama, based on a true story, English accents – it had all the makings of a movie I would love. What I didn’t account for is the amount of wool and tweed that would fill the screen. And when you find yourself keeping your eyes peeled from one scene to another, looking for the next great sweater vest or Fair Isle cardigan to feast your eyes on, that’s when you know you’re a knitter.

Yes, the movie was great. Yes, thinking of how this happened in real life is amazing. But seriously. Let’s talk about the wool.

This was the first sweater vest that caught my attention. Look at the layering! Look at the muted blue color! Look how it brings out Benedict Cumberbatch’s blue eyes!

The ribbing is striking. I’ve never been a big fan of ribbing, because it’s always been too repetitive and not detailed enough for my taste. But that’s exactly what makes it work here. A simple 2×1 rib gives the outfit bold texture, and the repetition hints at the whole concept of pattern in Alan Turing’s computer work. (Don’t think I came up with that on my own, though. Costume designer Sammy Sheldon Differ said it herself.)

So what other woolen goodies were in the film? Feast your eyes on this…

Fair Isle hiding out in the background, but stealing the scene nonetheless.

I imagine all of these sweater vests were made in 100% British wool, which leads me to think they’re probably a little itchy. Too bad, boys. Deal with it, because you look great in them.

But the award for best woolen ware goes to Keira Knightley. Leave it to the strong female character to wear a strong wardrobe. She made me long for a classic cardigan comeback with this blue number.

And sealed the deal when she debuted this green Fair Isle beauty. These are never colors that I would choose for a Fair Isle sweater, but my eyes were drawn to the stunning green. It popped in every scene, especially since most of the other characters wore more muted color tones. It’s a bold statement but manages to keep its classic look. And the simple detail of leaving out one repeat of the green pattern creates the illusion of an amazing waistline. It’s the little details that can make such an impact.

Look how she stands out among all those brown and grey suits!

Cheers to Sammy Sheldon Differ and her crew. (Can I be your assistant in your next sweater-filled film?)

UPDATE: Thanks to Ann at Mason-Dixon Knitting for sharing this post with Kay and their dedicated readers! Ann made a cowl with the beautiful pattern on Keira Knightley’s sweater. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to watch “The Imitation Game” on Netflix…

Cheers to 2015!

Happy New Year! I’m sorting through my stashes (and stashes) of yarn I’ve collected over the past year. Who knew you could collect so much yarn yet have so few projects to show for it? Oh well. I think it’s the endless options of patterns I could make from my stash that makes me happy to keep it. That being said though, 2015 is my year to put it to use!

My Berroco collection alone (a hint of which you’ll see below) could yield some really great projects. Hats became my thing in 2014, so I’m wondering what it will be in 2015. Will I take on another smaller accessory? I’m dying to make a striped shawl/scarf out of the tan/cream/turquoise yarns. And I think pompom garland may be my solution for those ends and odds of yarn I can’t throw away. But I also want to challenge myself to do larger projects, like another sweater or maybe even a blanket.

So here’s to 2015 and a brand new crafty start!

Christmas Sale!

There are only 10 days until Christmas, and if you’re like me, you’re still knitting up gifts. My gift to you this season is a Christmas sale – Buy 1 pattern, Get 1 FREE – in my Ravelry shop!

Just visit my Ravelry Pattern Store, add 2 patterns to your cart, and the discount will be applied automatically.

The sale begins today, December 15, and ends December 25 at midnight, so get shopping!

Shop >>

Sneak Peek

My hands are cold all the time. I don’t know what it is, but whether I’m typing, knitting, or driving, they just can’t stay warm. Those hand warmer packets they sell at stores are a lifesaver if I’m going to be outside for a long period of time (I even have a microwaveable set stashed away somewhere), but there has to be a better solution, right? And I can’t be the only one with this problem, so I wanted to design a new knitting pattern to help those cold-handed people out there! So where to start…

Gloves are great, but no one wants to knit all those fingers one by one. And no one’s fingers are the same length anyway. Mittens would be easier, but I always forget how much of a hassle it is when I have to take them on and off throughout the day to answer the phone and do normal tasks.

Enter fingerless mitts!

They’re fast to knit, don’t hinder your hands, and they’re WARM. Your fingers may be exposed, but trust me, having the rest of your hand and wrist covered in wool makes a huge difference.

I’m still making a few tweaks, but here’s a sneak peek at how they’re shaping up!

There’s no overall shaping needed with fingerless mitts. The ribbing on the wrist and at the top near the bind off edge provide enough shaping to stay on your hands. And this is the easiest thumb gusset you’ll ever do.

Colorwork look familiar to you?

It’s a matching set for my SVEA slouchy hat pattern! Just stockinette stitch and ribbing on each – it’s the simple colorwork that really makes the set stand out. I’ll be working on finishing up the pattern for these fingerless mitts in the coming weeks. In the meantime, keep those cold hands warm!

Casting On

Welcome to Knit Julep!

Knitting is what I love to do, and I’ve been waiting for this day to share my projects and patterns. My name is Kimberly, and I started designing some of my own knitting patterns a few years ago, but didn’t really find my groove with it until this summer. Sometimes you just have to wait for the right timing, the right inspiration, or the right season.

In this space, I hope to share what’s on my needles, which of my ten thousand unfinished projects I’m considering circling back to, my latest original designs, and what’s inspiring me in the knitting world.

Take a look around, and visit my pattern shops on Etsy and Ravelry! My patterns are made with beginner to intermediate knitters in mind. I find I’m much more likely to actually finish smaller projects that don’t require too much focus while knitting them (because let’s face it, we’re all multitasking when we’re knitting), but that really look impressive when finished. Simplicity is key to a good pattern, and to so much in life. So join me in this knitting adventure, and give a nod to handmade living!

Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify, simplify.

-Henry David Thoreau

Happy knitting!

-Kimberly