Venezia Redux

VENEZIA REDUX

After my Venezia napkin rings came out in the fall 2006 issue of Knitty, several kind people sent me notes about the gate in Venice that inspired the design. Yes! It was the gate into the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and your kind notes and photos allowed me to relive a wonderful trip, and remember my mother as she was so many years ago. Thank you all!

Others wrote wanting to make a bracelet, but I told them that the pattern would be too flimsy at the larger size and if they could wait just a little while, I was working on a solution. So here it is! And true to its sculptural heritage, it uses an armature to shape the wire and bead skin and provide stability. And this time, I used recycled glass that reminds me of the ocean on the other side of the Guggenheim Collection. You can use anything you want, though.

SIZE
One size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Measurements are taken after pulling fabric into shape.

Measured flat before seaming:
Width: 2.25 inches
Length: 10.25 inches

Measurements after seaming:
inner circumference: 7.5 inches
outer circumference: 11.5 inches

MATERIALS
Beading wire, 32 gauge [30 yards per spool]; color: silver, one spool

1 set US #6/4mm needles: Bamboo is recommended, and you may find it easier to use two double-point needles rather than long straight needles.
Recycled glass beads, ranging in size from 2-4mm: 135
Clear plastic or acrylic bangle bracelet
OR 1/2 inch diameter clear acrylic flexible tubing with 5/16 inch thick wall: 1 foot

GAUGE
7 sts/69 rows = 2.25 inches by 10.25 inches (exact gauge is not critical for this project)

PATTERN NOTES
I used two double pointed bamboo needles because they are short and not very slick, and I found it very easy to manipulate the wire. I had no problems losing stitches. You can use any needles you like, though.

One of the seven stitches in each row functions as a selvage stitch. Do not put any beads between this stitch and the next stitch. The area without beads will be on the inside of the bracelet and enables the wearer to slide the bracelet on and off with greater ease, and with a minimum of wear and tear.

Beads are placed between stitches. To place a bead in your work, knit the stitch before the place you want your bead to go, slide the bead up the wire until it rests next to your right needle, then knit the next stitch. It's as easy as that!

To make working with the beads and wire easier, you can place the spool of wire into a small ziplock bag, approximately 2 x 3 inches and close the top around the wire. Do not use a larger bag, as this will encourage the wire to kink.


Clear tubing can be purchased in hardware stores, and has text printed on portions. Ensure you have enough area without text printed on it to reach around your hand - I used 10.25 inches. Bits of the lettering can be scratched off with a utility knife, if need be.

PATTERN
Make armature: bend tubing around hand and cut a length sufficient to pass over hand when joined. Cut another piece of tubing approximately an inch long. Cut smaller piece in half lengthwise. Roll smaller piece to fit inside larger piece snugly. If need be, wet the tubing to make insertion easier. Insert other end of smaller piece of tubing into the other end of the large piece to complete circle. If need be, heat tubing by dipping into boiling water or applying hair dryer, form into circle, and then hold under cold water to set shape. Any small gaps in the tubing will be covered by the beads and wire.

Pre-string beads on wire.

Using the Backward Loop technique, CO 7 sts, placing at least 1 bead in the CO row.
Knit approximately 69 rows garter stitch, using 2 to 3 beads per row, and scattering them evenly across piece. Place the beads in different places in the rows; you want to achieve fairly even coverage, with a seemingly random appearance. Remember to leave a bead free zone between the selvage stitch and the next stitch (only on one side). As you knit, pull the rows you have knitted into shape after each row. Having exactly 69 rows is not crucial. The most important thing is that the knitted fabric fit snugly around the armature. When you have achieved the proper length, cut the wire, leaving a 20 inch tail. Ensure that all the beads are on one side of the fabric, so that they will face out when the rectangle is seamed. It is easy to push the beads through and close the wire so they do not slip back through.

FINISHING
Stretch rectangle to proper dimensions if you have not already done so. Remove needle from live stitches, inserting a piece of waste yarn to keep them from unraveling. Wrap rectangle lengthwise around armature, making sure the beads are on the outside of the fabric. Graft together live stitches with cast-on edge. Remove waste yarn. Wrap knitted fabric around armature so that the area without beads is on the inside. Without cutting wire, sew together lengthwise edges of knitted rectangle around armature.

Wrap wire around itself several times and clip, being careful not to leave ends sticking out. Tuck wire in.

The fine print: Copyright 2007 Rosemary Hill. This pattern is for personal use only and may not be sold or knit for profit. Thank you and enjoy!

Finished!

Julie sent a picture of her newly finished Venezia napkin rings, taken with her camera phone before she wrapped them up to give away! Aren't they pretty? I love them! :)


In other news...guess what this is!


Yes! I blocked the poor, neglected Estonian Garden Shawl! It's not the most perfect blocking job, but it will do very nicely I think. :)

Breaking News!

The spring Knitty is up, and with it, my beaded bracelet pattern, Bauble! Here's the original, in greens and blues:



and here's what it looks like in blacks and grays:


I've set up a knit-along group for anyone who wants to knit Bauble or Venezia (my pattern for knitted wire napkin rings from the last Knitty), and get a bit of technical help or just talk about it! You can join here. Hope to see you there!

The Gate

Several people have written and asked about the gate in Venice that inspired my Venezia napkin rings pattern in Knitty. To be honest, all I knew was that someone had told me it sounded like the gate to the Guggenheim Collection. I had googled and googled but was never able to find a picture. Then Diana wrote to me and said that it sounded like the Peggy Guggenheim Collection gate. She sent a picture. Yes! That was it! So with my new found information, I googled again and found this. Scroll down a few reviews and you will see a picture of the full gate. Then Diana was kind enough to allow me to use pictures she and her husband had taken on a trip to Venice! They show close-up views:




Isn't it amazing? You should see it in person. It is breathtaking. I told you those napkin rings were a (very, very) small homage! Thank you so much, Diana, for letting me use these!

I really wanted to thank everyone who took the trouble to write and talk about the gate. My mother (we took the trip together) and I never knew exactly where it led. I almost dialed her number in excitement before I realized that she is gone now; she died in 2005. It was wonderful being able to share it with those of you who know and love it as well. I felt like she was back for a small moment in time, and was just as she had been on that trip.

Da Winnaaaaa!

Thank you all so much for the great entries! I got some much needed laughs. :)

It was difficult to decide, so in the end, I had to break the tie and put in a vote for the one I felt most captured Remy's (aka Dr. Destructo's) personality.

*drumroll*...


"I wonder if Mom knows what a cool swirly design the yarn makes when you flush it?"

---

So congratulations Denise! Please email me with color choice and your address - my email address is in my profile - and I'll get your Venezia kit together and out the door to you!

In other news, I've been tagged by Ann and Vanessa, but I'm only going to come up with 6 weird things about myself, not 12! More tomorrow. I'm taking a little time off tonight. :)

It's a contest! (or "ask and ye shall receive")

Lolly suggested a caption contest for the cute kid pic. Doh! Of course! So here he is again:


What is Remy thinking?

Let me know in a comment by midnight PST, Wednesday December 13th. The winner (decided by a secret panel of judges with bizarre senses of humor) will get a kit to make 6 Venezia napkin rings:



from the current issue of Knitty! You choose: green, blue or red! Kit includes silver wire, beads and dowel to shape them!

Bring on the captions! :)

Venezia!

The new Knitty is up and with it, my first ever published pattern, the Venezia napkin rings!


There's a story behind the name, and you can read it here. These are really easy to knit. In fact, this is my first time knitting with wire and beads. I am hooked. :)

Someone was asking about making this into a bracelet. I had originally thought to do a bracelet as well, but I don't think the wire would withstand the wear it might get on your arm without crushing and losing its shape. Okay, I'm actually thinking of myself. I tend to...er...be hard on jewelry, so I always try to make my stuff Rosemary-proof. But stand by! I am working on another solution. :)