More socks?? Why not!?!

One can't have too many socks, eh?? The pink socks are the Raindrop Lace socks designed by Evelyn Clark for Fiber Trends. Love Evelyn! I used Koigu and a size 2 Addi turbo 40" circular (via Magic Loop). These socks took just a weekend to make and are gorgeous! The pattern is quite simple and the results are great!! No, I don't have enormous feet...I just took the photo at an angle (or so I tell myself!).

The other sock (and sock-in-progress) are a baby cable pattern, quite simple. I stopped doing the cable on the foot of the sock because...well, just because!! The yarn is 100% merino wool from Seacoast Handpainted Yarns in colourway "Lovebird". It's gorgeous yarn. I'm using a size 1 needle for this one. The second sock will be done in a couple days.

Kristen's jaunty beret and Irish hiking scarf - complete!

This is the terrific beret Kristen TenDyke designed for the Fall 2006 issue of Interweave Knits. I used the same yarn she recommended, a nice Donegal tweed. I used just one skein, even though I made the larger size. Granted, I had about 2 yards of yarn left over, so be careful!! The beret knitting up quickly in one day.

The scarf is the old standby Irish hiking scarf from Hello Yarn. It took 2 skeins of Donegal tweed and is a great match for the jaunty beret. It also took just 1 day to make.

WIP - Reversible Cable Scarf

What's on the needles?? I'm making the Reversible Cable scarf from Northampton Wools Knitting Book in Classic Elite Lush (50% wool, 50% angora) in colourway Cayman Coral. I just started my 3rd skein and have 2 to go. It will be completed by next weekend.

More socks!

On to the socks...I've finished 2 more pair. The one on the right is just a plain sock made with Regia. The other sock is a simple K2P2 ribbing, and I used Cherry Tree Hill supersock. Each set of socks took about 3 days to complete.

Oak Leaf and Acorn Lace scarf - complete!

This is the Oak Leaf and Acorn scarf, designed by Evelyn Clark for Fiber Trends. The yarn is Rowan Tapestry, in colourway 174 Rustic. The yarn is 70% wool and 30% soy protein. It's gorgeous yarn that knitted up into a beautiful scarf. This scarf took 2.5 balls (at about US$9 each), but I could have made it a bit shorter and used just 2 balls. The scarf is worked from the center to the ends, using a provisional cast-on that is later picked up and knitted to the opposite end. There is a picot edging in the pattern, but I opted not to do that edging (the receipent wouldn't have liked it). The scarf calls for lace weight yarn with a size 6 needle, but I used DK weight yarn and a size 6 Addi Natura 32" circular needle, out of necessity. I started with the Addi Turbos but found the yarn kept slipping off. The yarn has much of the behaviour as mohair...it was miserable to rip out, clinging all the time. Fortunately, I didn't have to do much of that, but even the provisional cast-on was difficult to remove. Would I use the yarn again?? I probably would as the colourways are gorgeous. I actually bought 5 balls of this yarn, so perhaps another one of these scarves would make a nice gift to someone. The scarf took me about 4 days to complete.

Two more blankies done!

This blog isn't my top priority, but over the past couple weeks, there have been a few more FO's worth posting. First is yet-another Heritage blanket (from Oat Couture), this time done with Wool Pack NZ 14 ply in ecru. This one is about 90cm (36 inches) square, sized for someone in a wheelchair. I used a size 10 Addi Turbo needle and 3 250-gram hanks of yarn. This took a week to complete.










The blue blanket is another of the Heart blankies from Fiber Trends, this time in blue for a little boy who is soon to arrive. I used 10 balls of Shepherd Colour 4 Me, 100% superwash wool, DK weight, and used a size 7 Addi Turbo needle.

Heritage Blanket - Complete!

This is the Heritage blanket from Oat Couture (don't you just LOVE that name?!?!?!). I made this with 1300 yards of Shepherd Colour 4 Me 8-ply yarn, which is 100% superwash wool. The detail doesn't show up very well in the photo with the off-white wool (and excuse the fold mark in the middle!), but it's so nice. I love this pattern and will no doubt make this blanket again and again. Whilst they advertise it as a baby blanket, it's perfect for a lap throw for anyone. It worked up quickly in just 8 days using a size 7US Addi Turbo needle. My finished size is 38" x 46", which is just right for a lap throw. This throw will be given to a person undergoing treatment at our local cancer centre. I've got lots more of this wool and I'm sure the hospital will be asking for more of these!

Rectangular Cover Shawl - Complete!

Finally!! This shawl took six very long weeks to complete and I'm so gald it's finished!! Both the pattern and the yarn are from Knit Picks. It's the Rectangular Cover Shawl and I used the suggested yarn, which is Shadow in colourway Lost Lake. I used 4 skeins (with very little left) and a size 5 Addi Turbo circular needle. My finished size is 23" wide by 82" long. The pattern said the finished size would be 17x84, but I'm happier with the size I got.

This yarn is gorgeous and washed up beautifully. It's soft and fluid, just as a lace shawl should be. Given the $10 for the yarn and $2 for the pattern, how can one go wrong? A $12 lace shawl?? It's great!!

It will be a long time before I do another lace shawl, though, as for me, 6 weeks on one project is a bit staggering. Perhaps after the holidays, when the cold weather keeps me inside, I'll make another shawl with lace yarn. I've got one in mind already...the Snow Forest Lace Stole is on my list of things to do. I've got in mind using Rowan's Lurex Shimmer in Midnight (navy blue). I'm thinking twinking snow at night. Hmmm.... Well, we'll see! No promises!!!

Oh, one more thing...I'm keeping this shawl!

WIP - Rectanglular Cover Shawl

It's the shawl that will never end...Knit Picks' Rectangular Cover shawl. I suppose it got that rather silly name because it was featured on the back cover of a recent catalogue. Meanwhile, back at my knitting, I started this about a month ago and it's just half finished. Granted I've not been working hard at it as my work schedule has been extremely busy, but when I think of what I could have completed in that time, it drives me bonkers! I'm using Knit Picks Shadow in Lost Lake. The shawl takes 4 hanks of yarn and at $2.29 a hank, that's a bargain. The yarn is quite nice and the colour is just as it appears on their web site. I started hank #2 last Sunday, so it's taking me about 2 weeks to knit up a full hank, which means another month on this shawl...which is too long! I may need to set it aside and get some other projects done for the semi-instant gratification I seek!

"Dancing" socks

These are a cute pair of socks made with Knit Picks' Dancing in Tap. I loved using this yarn and even with the colour pooling, I still like the results. The pattern is just a simple k2p2 ribbed cuff. Knit Picks have discontinued this yarn, which is too bad. I bought another colour to make another pair of socks. The skeins are quite large; I have enough yarn left to make another sock, so it's quite a bargain.

Baby blankets!

Is everyone pregnant?? These blankets are for two of the women with whom I work. The pink one is from Fiber Trends and is the "Hearts" blanket from the Easy Knit Baby Blankets Collection 2. I used 10 50 gram balls of Shepherd Colour4Me 100% superwash wool in a pretty baby pink. The blue blanket is also from Fiber Trends and is the Estonian Lullaby blanket, using the same Shepherd wool in baby blue. Each blanket took 4 days to complete using a size 8 Addi Turbo 32" circular needle. The yarn is 8-ply, which is similar to DK weight, but I find that it knits up closer to worsted weight. Both blankets are crib size and measure 38" by 42".

Baltic Sea stole - Complete!

Finally!! The Baltic Sea stole is fini! This project taught me a lesson about lace-weight yarn and that I can't turn out one of these shawls in a week or two! It took about 6 weeks to complete, but that was off-and-on knitting. There were days on end that I didn't touch it. As I mentioned in the WIP post, I used Rowan's Rowanspun 4 ply wool and used 8 of the 10 skeins I purchased, so that was about 1300 yards of yarn. The finished size is 22 inches wide and 72 inches long. This pattern was fairly simple once I had it memorised, but it was the first time I needed to worry about shaping on the right and wrong sides. I'd make this shawl again, but I'd not use such dark yarn and I'd consider a sport weight yarn, but that would just be to make quicker.

Baltic Sea stole WIP

Here's the Baltic Sea stole WIP from Fiber Trends. I'm using Rowan Yarns Rowanspun 4 ply, which is a fingering weight yarn, and the colourway is Midnight. I'm using a size 5 (US) 32" Addi Turbo circular needle and it's working up sooooo slowly! Granted I didn't work on it for a couple weeks, but this fine yarn and smallish needles are getting to me! I'm on my 4th ball of yarn and I'll probably use 4 more to complete the stole. The pattern is easy once you get going. It requires increases and decreases on both the front and back of the stole, but the look is great. We are going on holiday for the first two weeks in June (without my knitting!), so I'm not sure when it will get done, but I'll keep knitting away!

I must put in a plug for Cucumber Patch on eBay, which is where I found this wonderful yarn. At only US$20 for 10 skeins and free shipping from the UK, you can't do better. There's a reason this seller has 100% positive feedback. My yarn arrived in perfect condition in just a week. I'll buy from her again (and again!).

Flower Basket Shawl in Silky Wool

Another edition of the Fiber Trends Flower Basket Shawl, this time done in Elsbeth Lavold's Silky Wool in Vertigris. I used a US 8 32" Addi Turbo needle and about 4.5 skeins of yarn. I always tell myself if I had eliminated one repeat and made the shawl a couple inches smaller, I could have used only 4 skeins. The finished size is 43" long (down the center) and 82" wide (across the top edge). That's just a bit smaller than the pattern states for DK yarn, but I also used a smaller needle than the pattern suggested for DK yarn with 14 pattern repeats. The edge didn't block up as crisply as 100% wool, but I still think the finished look is wonderful. The yarn was very nice to work with and the hand is beautiful.



Unlike all the others I made for patients at the cancer centre, since this shawl needs hand washing, it's going to my MIL for Mother's Day!

Pemberley Lace Shawl - Complete!

This is the Pemberley Lace shawl from St. Seraphina Knits. The pattern is very simple and produces a beautiful shawl in short time! The pattern calls for about 800 yards of sport or DK weight yarn. I used Shepherd Colours 4 Me 8 ply 100% superwash wool yarn (DK weight) and has 88 metres per ball. I used 10 full balls with a size US8 32" Addi Turbo needle and had just a few yards of yarn left. The finished shawl measured 24" by 78" when blocked. I didn't rush to complete this shawl as I had a couple pairs of socks calling to me, but my estimate is that it would have taken me about a week to complete if this had been my only project.

This shawl will be given to an elderly aunt of a dear friend. It's machine washable wool, which will make it easy for the family to care for it. I've got lots more of this yarn in several other colours that I bought it at the Classic Elite warehouse sale for only $15 for a bag of 10 balls. Such a deal!

More socks!

Another pair of socks! These little ankle socks are done in Knit Picks' Sock Memories yarn; the colourway is Paper Dolls, which is no longer available. The pattern is from Cherry Tree Hill and is quite simple. I love this yarn and hope that the new version of the yarn on Knit Picks will be as nice. I bought this yarn on clearance for $2.99 each and used 2 balls. Because they are ankle socks, I have enough yarn to make another sock, but what exactly would one do with 3 socks?!?!

Socks!

I've been taking a break from shawls to do some "me" knitting made a couple pairs of socks. The green socks are the Mock Crock socks from Knit Picks. The yarn is Paton's Kroy sock yarn in grass green. These were very easy to make and worked up in just a couple days. I was able to use a 12" Addi Turbo needle (size 2US), which made it even quicker. I found the finished socks to be a bit big so perhaps the next ones will be made with a smaller needle size. I also thought extending the "croc" pattern down the top of the foot would be uncomfortable in a shoe, so I changed to just a 3/2 ribbing pattern that matched the repeat of the "croc" pattern once I finished the gusset decrease.

The blue socks are the Embossed Leaf socks designed by Mona Schmidt, featured in the Winter 2005 Interweave Knits magazine. This is such a gorgeous pattern and it has very quickly become my favourite. The yarn is Koigu KPM and is very "denim friendly"! I used a size 2US 40" Addi Turbo circular needle and my favourite Magic Loop. The pattern worked beautifully for Magic Loop. These took 3 days to complete. I can't wait to make this pattern again and again.

I've got the sock bug...I've got another pair started and hope to get them finished soon!

Victoria Lace Shawl #2 - Complete!

This is my second Victoria Lace shawl from St. Seraphina Knits. The first one was in DK weight yarn; this is in a light worsted weight yarn. The yarn is Knitaly from Colorado Yarns in a pretty teal blue. I used 4.5 100g skeins of yarn and a size 8 32" Addi Turbo circular needle. The final measurement is 23" by 78". And like all the others, this will be given to a cancer patient at the local cancer centre.

Lacy Prairie shawl - complete!

This is the Lacy Prairie shawl from Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle. This is a quick shawl to knit up and looks good on both sides. The yarn is Jaeger Matchmaker Merino Aran in ivy green. This is wonderful yarn...I'm sorry it's been discontinued in Aran weight. I used a size 8 32" Addi Turbo circular needle and 10 balls of yarn, about 1100 yards. It took about 7 days to complete.

Like all the others, this will be given to the local cancer centre where it will be given to a patient to warm and comfort them.

The next shawl is on the needles already. It's another Victoria Lace shawl from St. Seraphina Knits. Stay tuned!

A Noro cap to match my scarf!

Every scarf needs a little hat and since I had one full skein of Noro Kureyon left after making the Lacy Diamonds scarf below, I tried the Rolled Edge Stocking Cap from Clickity Sticks. It worked up in just a few hours and will look good with the scarf. I used a 16" size 9 needle, then switched to DPNs when it got too small for the circular needles. Fortunately for my hands, that was just a few rows. Cute hat!!

Shawl Knitting TRIathlon - COMPLETE!

Sweet fini! It's done...this is the Cathedral Window shawl from St. Seraphina Knits. The yarn is Jaeger Merino Aran in indigo, which shows every piece of lint within 50 miles! I wasn't sure I'd get this done before the closing ceremonies, but I managed to get in a full day of knitting on Saturday, so it's all finished. I call this event the "500 Gram Rectangular Shawl" race, since it took all 500 grams of yarn to finish. As I mention in the post below, I used a size 8 Addi Turbo 32" circular needle and it came out just right. The finished shawl measures 24" by 76". This is the second time I've made this shawl and I do like it quite a bit. Like the first one, I modified the pattern to be knit in two identical halves (grafted together with 3 needle bind off) instead of following the pattern instructions that reverse the pattern. I didn't like the look of the "reverse" windows, so I did it my way! Either way, it's gorgeous and works up very quickly. I started this one on 2/18 and finished on 2/26.

Like all the other shawls, this one will be donated to the local cancer centre. The two other shawls I did during the Olympics have already been delivered.

On to the next! Oh, and if someone mentions "Knitting Olympics" in 2008, SLAP ME!!

Knitting Olympics - Going for the Triathlon!

OK...colour me crazy! I've decided to start another shawl for the Knitting Olympics and go for the Triathlon! I started the Cathedral Window shawl from St. Seraphina Knits. I'm using Jaeger Matchmaker Merino Aran in Indigo. The photo shows just the first repeat of "windows", so there's lots more knitting to do. I'm using a size US8/5.00mm needle. Although this yarn is supposed to be Aran weight, the suggested needle size is a US7/4.50mm, which is more like worsted weight. Doesn't matter for this shawl, however, it's knitting up very nicely!

Will it be done by the closing ceremony in a week's time?? I have no idea!

Shawl Knitting Biathlon - COMPLETE!

Someone pass me the gold medal!! My Biathlon of Shawl Knitting is complete!! Two shawls in 7 days...that's got to be a world's record! Here's the shawl before blocking and after blocking. I used DK weight yarn and a size 10 needle, which I've used before. I like the open lacey look, but next time, I might step down the needle size just a bit.
One more thing....like all my other shawls, these will be given to the local cancer centre to warm and comfort someone undergoing cancer treatment.

Shawl Knitting Biathlon - Second Event WIP!

My Cozy shawl is complete (including washing, blocking, trimming, etc.) and I started the Leaf Lace shawl on 13 February. I just started the 4th skein of yarn (Cleckheaton Country 8 Ply DK) in a pretty lilac colour. I hope to have this done this weekend.

Whatever will I do with myself until the closing ceremony?? Another shawl?? Hmmmm.... If there is another shawl (thus making this the Triathlon of Shawl Knitting!), it will be the Catherdral Window shawl from St. Seraphina Knits (the patron saint of spinners and those with crippled hands from too much knitting!!) in Jaeger Matchmaker. We'll see....

Shawl Knitting Biathlon - First event DONE!

OK, so I'm exhausted! I cast on this shawl (which is Cozy from knitty.com) using 9 full skeins of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in a dark red just as the opening ceremony started on Friday, 10 February at 2:00 ET. I just finished at 10:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, 12 February. I'm beyond tired....

Meanwhile, now that this shawl is done (except for a wash and dry), I'll be taking a day to rest my hands and will start the Leaf Lace shawl on Tuesday using the Cleckheaton DK yarn shown here.
Given that I can make one of these in a week without much difficulty, I think it shouldn't be a problem. I had considered doing the Triathlon of Shawl Knitting and then realised just how silly that was!

Lacy Diamonds scarf - complete!

I had hoped this scarf would hold me over until the Knitting Olympics, but I finished it in just 2 days. The pattern, which is Lacy Diamonds from Oddball Knitting said I'd need about 410 yards of yarn; the sample used 5 skeins of worsted weight cotton. I had 3 skeins of Noro Kuryeon and thought I'd need another. But...it worked up with only 2 full skeins. The finished size is 6" x 66" and I used a size 9 needle. And now I have an "oddball" skein! I found a pattern for a rolled-brim hat that uses 1 skein or Kuryeon, so that will make a nice accompaniment to this scarf.

Notice how the stripes match up?? That was somewhat by accident. I found that the second skein started just the same way as the first, so I rewound that skein and started knitting with the colours in reverse order. Luckily, I ended up with an exact match from one end of the scarf to the other. Whilst there was some effort put into get that to work, I think it was just luck that it worked so well!

On to the Olympics!

WIP - Lacy Diamonds Scarf

This is the Lacy Diamonds scarf from Oddball Knitting by Barbara Albright. The yarn is Noro Kuryeon in colourway 166. The pattern calls for 450 yards of worsted weight yarn, but I'm nearly through my first skein (100m) and the scarf is measuring 25", so I can't imagine I'll need 4 skeins. That's good because I only have 3 and didn't want to go on the hunt for another skein. I'm using size 5.50mm/US9 Bryspun needles.

I just started this scarf this morning in the hopes it would keep me busy until the Knitting Olympics start, but it looks like I'll be able to finish in in a couple days. I suppose I'll just rest after that!

More 2005 completed shawls

Here are some shawls that I made for the local cancer centre before I started this blog. The green shawl is the Aran Plaid shawl from Folk Shawls. The yarn is Wool of the Andes from Knit Picks in Grass Green. The blue shawl is the Lacy Prarie shawl, also from Folk Shawls. The is also Wool of the Andes in Stream. The peach shawl is Cozy from knitty.com. The yarn I used was Cloudspun from Bernat...long ago discontinued, but it's such a nice yarn. It's a wool/mohair/acrylic blend.