Shawl Happy

I was trolling about the house looking for something to knit, with what I had in my stash. I LOVE getting rid of stuff, I think it's one of my favourite things to do! So knitting with leftovers makes me feel pretty good, not to mention light (can you tell I like that feeling).



Cheryl Oberle's book Folk Shawls is one of my well-used references, and long ago I had earmarked her Feather and Fan Triangle Shawl as a potential project for my scrap yarns.



I gave it a go, and I think it was a good idea! I used my odds and sods of creams, greys and browns in worsted and aran weights, and worked up the garter portion quickly on 5.5 mm needles. I actually ran out. I had to buy more yarn *sigh* to finish the feather and fan lace. I followed the pattern generally, doing the additional increase rows near the top for shoulder shaping, but omitting the eyelet rows since the colour changes were enough for me to handle :o)



I stopped knitting when it got too heavy and there was no more room on my circular needles - the finished blocked dimensions of this baby: 100 inches wingspan, 33 inches deep. A sturdy shawl mostly made of merino, silk, and alpaca, perfect for watching hockey!



And as if that was not enough of a break before going back to socks....



I have eyeing this one for a long time, from ravelry, orlane's textured shawl recipe.



This is a pretty and simple pattern using your basic top-down triangular shawl design, increasing on right side rows and purling across wrong side rows, and 2 st garter edging. I used m1R and m1L increases the whole way down until I got to the garter border where I kfb because I like the look of this in garter (virtually invisible).



As for the yarn, it was rather an impulse purchase at the ferry terminal in Nanaimo. A 100 g ball of natural, handspun alpaca from a local farm was irresistible, I had to have it. I was very surprised at the non-itch factor of the knitted fabric, even beside my face it's ve-ry soft, love it. I ordered another two 100 g balls, just to have around the house (this balances out my previous project...:D)



This beauty drapes wonderfully, as modelled by my work pal. I added another repeat of the original size, which I'm glad I did since I had the yarn, all the more to enjoy! And need I mention the warmth factor, there's a lot of that packed into the lightness of alpaca fibre. After blocking, this shawl measures 70 inches wide and 28 inches deep. I used almost 200 g (I am estimating less than 600 yards of dk/light worsted weight).





This shawl pin is working for me, too.



And here we are looking longingly outside, waiting for the rain to stop.

Singles needing mates

Wish I had three feet for these pictures.





Had to take a break from fingering weight. Three weeks on 2.25-2.5 mm needles? Hungry for worsted.

Just add music

for a perfect and peaceful morning.

Like my Spring Cable?

Boxleaf Wrap

It was on the ferry,



and on the plane.



Now I'm done this gorgeous thing!



Light and airy, I'm practically floating up here.



Check out the border (I love leaves).



One of my longer-lasting projects, I'm a bit sad it's over. Easy repetition, but challenging enough to keep me focussed. I did have a set back when I picked up the sts from the provisional cast-on. They were tight, and I was worried the motifs were not properly aligned when I worked that first row. I ripped back a couple of times before I read Anne's ravelry group's comments. She said since we're picking up from the bottom of the st, it will always be a half-step off, but after washing and blocking it will not be noticeable (and she was right). I also stressed a bit because I was working from two skeins (in succession), purchased at the same time, but without lot numbers (Fleece Artist's Nyoni). This is a hand-dyed yarn. One skein is definitely a bit darker than the other (you can see this below), but as Anne says, she often works from 2 different skeins and that the differences do not take away from the overall effect (she is a wise woman). When the shawl is worn, the differences are not glaring out, and truly, sometimes these colour variations can happen even within one skein. After digesting all this wisdom I washed my troubles away and am now embracing the lovely characteristics of hand-dyed and hand-knit goodness.



Sigh. I'm off on my cloud.

Halfway

I started this on day 2 of the Olympics, and thought briefly I might be able to finish it by the end of the closing ceremonies. Right. Lace charts and hockey don't mix, especially with all the eating and drinking I was doing in front of the TV. Ah well. I'm halfway done.



This here is Boxleaf Wrap, another rectangular lace shawl with which I am happily involved. A few mistakes I made here and there with frogging back for fix-ups has not discouraged me. I supposed I could use a lifeline, but then I would have to look up how to do that. It's only 75 sts on a row, I do find it oddly relaxing to put each one back on the needle. This pattern starts in the middle with a provisional cast on, then works out to the end. After casting off on the short end, undo the prov cast on and make the second half. This is where I am now. I'm looking forward very much to when I get to the blocking stage, it will be a great day, I love the magical transformation! I think it's the best part, for me, to knitting lace.

What I love most about Anne Hanson's patterns is her economical instruction. Strictly the goods, with all the important information delivered succinctly. Not to mention the charts are fabulous to follow, I love them.

The yarn I've used before...remember Hillflowers? Again, this is Fleece Artist Nyoni, a fingering weight yarn in merino, mohair, silk, and nylon. The light blue/grey has subtle colour varigations, this colourway was not named on the label...so for now I'm calling it Vancouver Sky. Will go great with my daily uniform of denim.

Wondering if I might whip off a quick bulky project to mix it up a little before resuming the second half? So crazy.

Wee perks

Go Canada go!



Pretty lights.



Happy Spring.

Heather Hoodie Vest

Took a gamble on this one....think I won?


Borrowed Knitscene Fall 2009 from Shannon, and copied this vest pattern. The smallest size was about an inch bigger than I wanted in the chest. Considering the sample was knit in bulky weight on 6 mm needles with a gauge of 14 sts/10cm, I thought I would wing it and use an aran weight on 5 mm with a working gauge of 12 sts/10 cm, and see what would happen.



Rowan Scottish Tweed Aran was on sale at Urban Yarns, 4 balls should do it. I worked up the swatch, t'was a bit crunchy, but I forged on. I knit up the back and fronts, adding side shaping along the way (one set of decreases and increases an inch below and above the waist). I also added an half-inch of ribbing to make it a bit longer.






Short row shaping within the ribbed sleeves made the cap hug my arm a bit better.




I knew I was running out of yarn while working the hood, so I picked up less sts and began decreases earlier. There are lots of comments on ravelry about the hood being really big so I was okay with this, for me the hood is strictly for "the look." I still had the band to do, too, so I did not want to take any chances. The pattern said to do a three needle bind off for the hood, but I grafted it for a perfect seam.



When picking up sts for the button band, I merely went for a multiple of 5, picking up approximately 3 sts every 4 rows or so, reading my knitting as I went along.

Buttons made from "horn," combined with wool tweed make for a nice rustic look.

Sweet sweater.