Scoop Neck Vest

I had been coveting this for a long time at the yarn shop. Blue Sky Alpacas brushed suri, and alpaca and silk. I must have wished it into being because in May, there was a sale, and the colourway I wanted, in the quantity I wanted, was waiting for me when I got there! I just love it when it's meant to be!



Sylvia Hager's Scoop Neck Vest was a fast and fuzzy knit, very enjoyable and what a treat to knit with these two yarns (held together).



I got gauge using the recommended 5 mm needle. The pattern says to use the same size needle for the ribbed neckline and armholes, but I went down to 4.5 mm since I have learned the hard way many times over to use a smaller size for this kind of thing. I'm very pleased with the result!




This is the first of my vest knitting for the fall. More is being planned! There's always more...

Summer production

Got these made while on holiday. Another pair of Maine Morning Mitts using one skein of Noro Kureyon. These will be a gift!



I surprised myself by making serious headway on the plane with these socks. As you might have guessed, I like using the Foxglove method by Cat Bordhi, putting the increases and decreases on either side of the sole so they look like a traditional sock. I've had this yarn for awhile and I really like the stripes of it. I purposely did not try to match the second sock to save myself a grey hair. Instead I made sure I started deliberately off the colour pattern of the first sock....looks pretty good to me! Another addition to the gift reserve.




I had some Rowanspun Chunky sitting around for awhile, and found this pattern for Super Mittens on ravelry using this yarn. These are for me, I may still embroider around the cuff for some personality. I was thinking oak leaves or acorns, or maybe an argyle design.



I had some Blue Sky Alpaca Dyed Cotton asking to be knit up, and found the Single Rib Scarf by Leigh Radford in One Skein. I whipped this up pretty quick, and it went to Red Yarn's little Maeghan.



More coming!

Amazing alpaca

A couple of months ago when we were on Whidbey Island, we visited Island Bliss Alpacas Farm. The kids were quite interested, as was I, to see the animals who provide the soft and cozy yarn I love using and wearing.

Here's the farm


and the dudes!



This here is Max



He provided this yarn (hand spun by Tracy and Dina, alpaca farmers)


And this is what I made from it



This is the Train Tracks Hat by Christa Giles. I like this pattern, fun and easy and perfect use for 100 yards of worsted weight. I thought of Max the whole time while knitting. I feel privileged to have met the alpaca who gave me the yarn for this soft and warm hat. He was a pleasant guy, looked very well taken care of, was surrounded by buddies, and did not spit at all.

Thanks Max!

Time off