I know this story reported on by the eastsider web site, is a bit Los Angeles centric but the fact that a gas station owner has decorated his station so beautifully with mosaic art needs to be shared. Let’s encourage more of this kind of thinking. There are mermaids and other sea life adorning the United Gas Station in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Since we’re about to have a vote about lifting the mural ban at the City Council tomorrow, it’s nice that the beautification of businesses is already in full motion. The owner of this station is known for decorating his stations but I have to say, having driven by this place as it was being adorned, I am certainly looking forward to buying gas there as well as going inside to get the necessary refreshments. Check it out if you’re in the Echo Park area.
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Play with Color in the Pixel Tweed Pullover
A lot of times when I share knitting patterns that are meant to be colorful I will say something about how they would be good stash busters because you can change colors as often as you like or need to as you run out of yarn.
I’m not going to make that recommendation when it comes to the Pixel Tweed Pullover by James N. Watt.
That’s because for this pattern to work it really does best as three distinct, repeating colors throughout the project.
James was inspired by the red, green and blue pixels on vintage TVs to create their color palette, but of course you can use any three colors you like. This is another pattern where looking through the finished projects on Ravelry is super helpful because you can see how different color combinations work. Sometimes if the colors are too close in value one of them almost disappears, but that’s also an interesting look.
Whatever colors you choose, this is a bottom-up crewneck is worked flat in pieces, with all over color patterning worked with slip stitches on a garter stitch base. The cuffs, neckline and bottom hem, as well as seams on the sleeves, are worked in one of the colors.
It’s available in nine sizes and ranges from a chest measurement of 36.5 to 68.5 inches, or 76 to 174 cm. It is meant to be worn with 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm) of positive ease.
I love how this tweed pattern almost looks like crochet from a distance, and I think it would be a lot of fun to knit. This is one way to get some practice working with multiple colors if you haven’t done so before without having to pay too much attention to following a pattern or reading a chart.
The pattern is available on Ravelry.
[Photo: James N. Watt]