A Little Lace

I finished the garter stitch section of my Londoner Shawl and have started the lace section!  The lace is simple and repetitive which tends to work well with multicolored yarns.  I've found that where the color changes in a yarn might distract from a lace pattern, if the pattern is fairly simple and geometric, you don't lose the stitch pattern like you would in a more complex, non repeating design.  I think our brains can fill in the gaps our eyes see when the colors change, but that's just my theory.

Speaking of colors, I'm still trying to get an accurate photo of the color of this yarn.  It's better in today's photos, but still not perfect.  I find myself stopping mid-row just to stare at the colors of the yarn!

In home news, yesterday I spent the morning vacuuming the house (those of you with Labradors understand the ongoing job that is).  Usually Obi barks at the vacuum cleaner - he's very much one of those dogs who deals with things he doesn't understand by wooooofing at them.  Yesterday, he followed me around almost the whole time squeaking one of his squeaky balls.  Towards the end though, he realized that if he'd put the ball in front of the vacuum cleaner, I would bump the ball and he could chase it.  I think that's better than being barked at the entire time.  It wasn't much quieter!

 

The Londoner

I've started a new wrap project.  This is the Londoner Shawl and I'm knitting it in Malabrigo Arroyo in the Wabi Sabi colorway.  It starts with the garter stitch section and then shifts to the lace for the second section.  This is one of those colorways that Malabrigo does that I just keep stopping to look at.  It's amazing and definitely worth a few minutes of staring!

Actually, I like the color so much that I bought two sweater quantities of it on this base.  I didn't remember that I already had it on the second purchase.  It's a nice problem to have, because now it means I can have a shawl and a sweater - and I've got enough to do a long, hooded sweater if that's what I want to do!  So many decisions to make...   

Hello, Again!

Well I'm not sure if anyone is even still around here, but I guess we'll see!  My life has been crazy over the last year or so, but I've been wanting to get back to blogging, so here I am.  I won't promise regular posts, but I'll pop in when I can and we'll go from there.  I'm not going to get into details, so let's get into the knitting, instead!

I've finished a few things since I was last here, so I figured I'd start there.  This is the West Knits Mystery Shawl for last Fall - the Go Go Dynamo!  It was a fun project, not too difficult, but enough going on to keep things interesting.  Also, for a two color shawl, there were a LOT of ends to weave in - but it was totally worth it!  I used Malabrigo Mechita in the Natural and Aniversario colorways.  I can't tell you how many times I've used the Aniversario colorway at this point, but I love it and I make no apologies!

This shawl has short rows and mosaic knitting and brioche, as well as modular elements that get connected together with other modular elements.  

Like I said, lots of things going on, so it wasn't boring.

In the end I had a big, snuggly, shlanket sized shawl that I just love!

I'll be back with more when I can!

Catching Up

It's been a minute since I've been here!  Overall things are fine, there's just been a LOT happening.  I won't bore you with all the details, but I hope to be back for regular blogging.  I have been knitting this whole time, and I have a couple of finished objects!

I finished my Astrid Socks, knit in Sweet Georgia Yarns Tough Love Sock in Charcoal and Dream in Color Smooshy in My Fair Lady.  I only did the stranded colorwork on the legs of the sock and just knit the foot in solid Charcoal.  Since My Fair Lady is a multicolored yarn it kind of fades in and out of the Charcoal, but I like the effect.

I also knit a pair of Footie Socks and added a bit of colorwork on the foot.  I used one of the patterns from the Basic Doodle Socks and I used the same yarns from the Astrid Socks.  This is a sock pattern I've been knitting for years (according to Ravelry, I knit the first pair in 2014) and I really like it.

Finally, since it seemed like a good idea, I started the Go Go Dynamo Shawl - Stephen West's MKAL shawl for this fall.  I'm using Malabrigo Mechita in Natural (Main Color) and Aniversario (Contrast Color).  I bought two skeins of each color in 2018, planning to make a striped sweater.  I never made the sweater, and when I saw them in my stash I knew they'd be perfect for this project.  I'm hoping to finish the first clue today and I'm ready to move straight into the second clue.  (The third clue comes out Thursday, so I'm running a little behind, but there's not really a time limit.  I'll get there when I get there.)  I probably won't show any actual photos of the shawl until November.  That way I don't have to juggle spoiler alerts and worry about ruining the surprise for someone else, but you can at least see my yarns!

As I said, I hope to get back into the habit of regular blogging.  We'll see what my life has to say about that, but hopefully I'll be here a little bit more!  Hope you're all doing well.  It's supposed to cool off here tomorrow and we'll get a real taste of fall!  (For those of you wondering what fall looks like in north Texas, it's supposed to be in the high 60's tomorrow.)

Not A Sock

I did a quick, non-sock project!  This is the Red Clover crochet Shawl, made in a single ball of Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball in the Tonspur colorway.  

The pattern is available free on the designer's website, or you can purchase an ad free (and quite a bit easier to read) version through Ravelry.  Once I memorized the pattern and figured out how the pattern worked, it was easy to make. 

The pattern was perfect for the single skein of yarn that I had, although it would be easy to make bigger if you had more yarn.  It's been a little while since I made a crochet anything that wasn't an animal, so this was a fun project and I could definitely see myself making it again.

A Mystery

I've just finished the Miss May Mystery Shawl.  This was inspired by May Morris, the daughter of William Morris.  

I decided to make it in one color and I'm really happy that I did.  There are some beautiful multicolored shawls in this MKAL, but I had two skeins of Handmaiden Yarn Mini Maiden in Wine and I think this pattern was perfect for it. 

It was a fun project and I enjoyed knitting it.  It's been a while since I knit lace and this was pretty easy lace, so that was nice.

Have a great weekend!

 

Arrrrrgh!!!

When I began knitting this wrap, I checked the pattern.  It called for 1400 yards of yarn.  I had 1600 yards.  I was good to go!  

Apparently, I didn't follow the pattern very well because I ran out of yarn.  Do you see the little bit at the top of the photo?  That's it.  Finished.  I didn't notice that anyone else ran out of yarn, so I'm assuming I didn't follow the pattern as closely as I should have.

It's not the end of the world though.  I've got another skein coming later this week, and Cascade is pretty consistent, even across dye lots.  I'm vaguely curious what I did differently, but I'm not sure I'm going to take the time to figure it out.  Once I get more of the Herb colorway I'll be able to finish the wrap and it's still a wrap shaped thing, so I'm calling it a win.  Sort of.

Colors!

I've started the third color* in my Elsom wrap now.  This is perfect TV knitting at this point.  I would also like to mention that this design was planned for a single color.  I decided to use four.  The way the colors are working does look a little strange as the shawl is laid out on the floor, but I think it will work well when it's being worn.  At least that's my theory.  If I hate it when it's finished, I can always frog it; I've frogged things before.  For some reason though, while I know that the color changes are kind of weird, I do like it so far.  Also, I'd like to note that it was really difficult to keep my feet out of this photo.  There were contortions!

 I guess we'll see when it's all done!  Just one of the mysteries of knitting!  Have a great weekend, everyone!

Just in case anyone is curious, I'm using Cascade Heritage Sock in Vintage Indigo, Caribbean Sea, Jade (that's the color I just started), and Herb (which hasn't been knitted yet).

Texture and Color

I don't think I mentioned it on the blog, but I started knitting the As You Wish MKAL back in February when it began.  After I finished my brioche projects, I took a good look at it and decided I just wasn't feeling it.  I really like some of the projects being knit in this MKAL, but I wasn't loving mine.  I don't know if it was the way the colors I'd chosen were working in design or just where my head is at right now, but I decided to frog it.

Then I decided to use those colors and knit something else!  This is the Elsom wrap, knit in Cascade Heritage Sock.  So far I've used Vintage Indigo and I'm working on Caribbean Sea, but I will work into Jade and Herb as well.  I'm working some stripes to blend the colors a little where they change, but I'm really enjoying this simple wrap right now.  It's been great TV knitting and I can easily pick it up and put it down without losing my place.  The pattern is currently available only in the ebook, which has both knitting patterns and sewing patterns.  This is the first project I've made from it, but both the knitting and sewing patterns are classic and simple.  I fully intend to do more from this book.  

I was happy to see that there are still a few readers out there (waves furiously in your general directions) and from the comments it sounds like either you haven't done brioche knitting yet, or you haven't enjoyed what you did do.  I just want to make a suggestion or two, if I may.  There are several designers working with brioche knitting, but the two I've used and can suggest for their well written patterns and clear directions are Andrea Mowry and Stephen West.  Also, I found looking at the BrK and BrP stitches on YouTube, watching them being knitted, made a difference for me.  I'd suggest looking for these in the specific style you use to knit (English, Continental, etc.), so I'm not going to link to specific videos.  In some ways brioche is similar to knitting ribbing: there's a definite rhythm to it and it can be both simple and complex.  I love knitting it and find it fun, but not everyone does, and that's OK too!

Brioche

Long time no blog!  We're fine here, I've just been super lazy where the blog is concerned.  I have been knitting and actually have some finished projects to show you today, if anyone is even reading this anymore.  If not, well, I've talked to myself my whole life, why stop now?

I finished my Tourist Shawl.  I followed the pattern exactly as written, but I didn't add the tassel.  It's knit in Malabrigo Lace in Orchid (the main, lighter color) and Hollyhock (the contrast, darker color).  

Brioche creates a thicker fabric than stockinette knitting but it's very light and airy.  (It is not actually buttery, which is one way you can tell the difference between brioche knitting and brioche bread.)  

This is the first time I've knit brioche using laceweight yarn and I think it's just about perfect.  Soft and light and not too thick!

I also knit a second brioche project, this time in fingering weight yarn.  This is Cinnabar, knit in Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles in Sorry, Not Sorry (the main, darker color) and Pinky Swear (the contrast, lighter color).  Yes, it is bright, sorry about your retinas.

This was a much simpler project to knit and the colors just make me smile.

These were both knit for the first quarter ESK Craft-A-Long for their Yarnathon.  I was very excited to see Brioche as the theme because I just think it's fun to knit.

I plan to get back to more regular blogging, and I do have a few things to actually show you.  We're all fine here.  Caleb was home last week for Spring Break and he's now a little past the halfway point of the semester.  He's having a really good semester and actually getting out of the classroom to do more field work.  It's fun to hear how excited he is!

I plan to be back later this week, so if anyone is still reading my mental rambles, I'll see you then!

New Year, New Projects, New Photos, No Words

Many Pictures, Few Words

My Blackberry Snuggle.  This Too Shawl Pass in Cascade Eco+ 3121 Blackberry Cordial.

An overexposed shot to show the lace design.

Long sleeved, long pant Christmas pajamas.  Ladies Tranquil Nightwear by Love Notions.

Short sleeved, shorts Christmas pajamas.  Modified Lou Box Top, self drafted shorts from a pair of ready to wear.

Second bobbin of my Easter Egg spinning project.  

Have a great Thanksgiving if you're celebrating this week!  I'll be back next week!

A Very Long Time

I started this April 1, 2020.  I finished knitting it April 24, 2021.  I finally blocked it over the past weekend.  This is the Nuvem, knit in Malabrigo Silkpaca (70% alpaca, 30% silk) in Paris Night.  I used four skeins and it's huge, but also super lightweight and can easily be twisted to be narrower and worn like a scarf.  I knit it on US 4's (3.5mm), but in hindsight, I wish I had gone down a needle size.  It's possible that the alpaca will bloom a bit as I wear it, but I don't know for sure.

This was a wonderful project to have on the needles.  Perfectly brainless and easy to pick up and put down despite being big enough to be seen from outer space.  I might make another one at some point because it's just such a nice, big knit!

In other news, the fascination with the tent has not waned.  Noodle spends quite a bit of time playing with it and trying to get the spinning wheel out of it every day (and then he naps).  He's even tried meowing at the spinning wheel.  So far, the spinning wheel hasn't come out to play with his meows.

Stole Dunes

I'm currently working on just about the perfect combination of projects: a pair of socks, a wrap, a sweater*, and a spinning project.  All of the knitting is on different sizes of needles (which is good for the hands) and I'm far enough into each of the projects that I understand how things are working and can pretty much pick them up and put them down as I have time.  

I've worked two more sections of my Stole Dunes this week.  (Here's a link to my original post for this project with all the yarn information and a pattern link.)  I did have to re-read some of the instructions on this one to figure out what I was doing, and I changed the project setup a bit in Knit Companion, but now I've got it fixed so it's easy to use.  I can work one full section in an evening, so that gives me a logical place to stop when I get there.  I'm hoping that now that I've got myself sorted, things will move faster because I love watching this project grow.

Have a great weekend!  

*I haven't blogged the sweater yet, it's in that weird looking place all sweaters go through when they're bottom up and just getting started.  You'll see it soon.

A Finished Shawl and A New Sock

I haven't been blogging regularly, but I have been knitting!  I finished my 4 Ever In Blue Jeans shawl and I love it!  This has mosaic colorwork, but this mosiac was done in garter stitch, where the mosaic colorwork from Walk in the Woods shawl (the fuschia and pale gray one from earlier this year) was in stockinette.  I feel like garter stitch mosaic has a lot more texture than stockinette mosiac.  Honestly, I think it has more going on texturally than regular garter stitch!  I actually wondered what this pattern would look like in stockinette, just to compare the differences, but I haven't been curious enough to knit a swatch of it.

I knit this in Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Natural and Flycatcher Blue.  The blue is definitely part of the same muted blue family that denim falls into, so I felt like it was perfect for this design!  I used almost a complete skein of each color, so it was nice to only have minimal leftovers.

Here's one more shot of the pattern, just because!  I followed the pattern exactly until the very end where I added a few more rows of blue before binding off.

I also started a new pair of socks and I'm more than halfway through the first sock.  The pattern is Anemone and I'm knitting it in Dream In Color Smooshy (the new Smooshy, with nylon) in Wineberry.  This is my first time knitting with the new Smooshy (previously, it was all merino) and I'm hoping the nylon improves the wear.  I knit Mickael a couple pairs of socks in the old Smooshy and while he is hard on his socks, those haven't aged very well.  I think the nylon should help quite a bit.  Also, yes, that's Newton photobombing the sock.  He just turned one year old on February 28.  He's so helpful!

Another Shawl

I decided to cast on another mosaic shawl so I could have another project to alternate with the Letho Cardigan.  I realized that I had some Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in my stash in Natural and Flycatcher Blue which would be perfect for the 4-ever in Blue Jeans shawl. 

I'm just into the mosaic colorwork section now so while the rows are getting long, there's stuff happening and they seem to knit up pretty quickly.  I may change my tune when I get a little farther though!

Finished Mosaic and Finished (Singles) Spinning

I finished my Walk in the Woods shawl and gave it a little steam blocking.  I'm thrilled with this shawl and the mosaic section was really fun to knit.  I used up almost all of my skein of pink but I have more than half a skein of the pale gray with speckles left.  I love it, so I've already been planning how to use it!

I also finished spinning my Arco Iris singles.  I have to sit down and chain ply them but I'll either have to do it on a day where I can do it in one sitting or I'll have to set up the wheel in the sewing room so I can close the door and do it in several bites of time.  I'm leaning more towards the sewing room option right now.

I've started another mosaic project, but I'd like to get a little farther before I show it to you.  See you Thursday!

More Mosaic and More Spinning!

I've been knitting away on my mosaic wrap.  I feel like the stitch pattern is more visible the more I knit.  If I had used two solid colored yarns with high contrast, it might have been more obvious from the beginning, but the pale gray has speckles (which I love) and there is a fuchsia speckle in there.  I'm really happy with the way this is looking and it's really fun to knit.  I weighed the pink before I started this section and I weighed it again after I finished the first repeat.  Each repeat takes a little bit more yarn than the last, but this should give me something to judge how far I can go.  Hopefully.

I've also been spinning away on my Arco Iris singles.  I'm almost halfway through the fiber now.  There was a bit of an incident last Friday - Newton played with the bobbin of singles.  I don't know if he used it as a scratching post or just messed around with it (he considers the world his scratching post), but when I looked at it Friday afternoon my bobbin of neatly wound singles had chunks of loopy places and wasn't neat anymore.  I didn't see any breakage of the singles and when I started spinning again I laid a narrow strip of card stock along the bobbin lengthwise, to keep the new (properly tensioned) singles from sinking into the sections where things weren't as they should be.  Hopefully this will make things easier when I ply.  The spinning wheel is now being put away where a certain kitty can't get to it.

I've had to do more "child-proofing" with this cat than I ever did with Caleb when he was a baby!

Mosaic and Spinning

I've begun the mosaic portion of my wrap.  This kind of knitting seems to fly off the needles because it's so much fun to watch the pattern develop.  Also, you can see how much bigger Mr. Newton has gotten!  He's 10 months old now, and yes, he was about to bite my yarn when I took the picture.  We're still working on a few things around here.  

I've also started a new spinning project for the new year!  This is Malabrigo Nube (100% Merino) in Arco Iris.  When I've spun other colorways of Nube I've just divided it into thirds and spun the singles on three bobbins, then plied them to make a three ply yarn.  This particular colorway has more going on than Aquas, Zarzamora, and English Rose, so I decided to chain ply it to keep the colors from getting muddy.  I think I'll be happier with the finished yarn this way.  I'm spinning the singles to 50 wpi for a fingering weight finished yarn.

Have a great weekend!  Stay warm!

New Year! New Yarnathon! New Craft-along!

With the start of 2021 a new Yarnathon started along with a brand new Craft-along for the first quarter!  I'm on the Fiber Flock team, which is a flamingo.  I can't tell you how much this amuses me for some reason, nor can I explain why, but for some reason, being a tall pink bird really cracks me up.

ESK is calling the quarterly KAL's "Craft-alongs" this year because they're including crochet and knitting as much as they possibly can.  The first quarter's theme is Mosaic knitting or crochet.  I've started my first project already, a Walk in the Woods shawl in fingering weight.  The pattern is written for worsted weight, but there are a few fingering weight projects already, so I decided to use that weight.  (You don't need too many worsted weight wraps here in Texas.)  I'm using a Shawl Duo from Wonderland Yarns in the colorway Glowingly.  You can see the two skeins above.  This pinky, red-violet color apparently means happiness and hope to me because I'm knitting with it, my 2021 planner is that color, and so is my nail polish (at the moment).  I didn't really plan it that way, I just kind of looked around and realized I'd surrounded myself with it!

I've gotten a good start with my shawl.  I've got to weigh it and do a stitch count before I start knitting again, but I think I'm almost to the mosaic section (it's actually a little farther along than the photo shows because I photographed it yesterday afternoon and then worked on it some more last night.)  I've done some mosaic knitting before.  Most recently, the Sharon Show MKAL from last August and September.  It's a fun technique and as long as you don't work too tightly, an easy way to add colorwork!  I've never tried mosaic crochet before and I have no idea how easy or hard that is.  I may have to take a look at that!