Mari's knitting blog

Fir Cone Wrap and Basketweave Blanket

2008-02-03T18:32:00.000-05:00

The first two FO's that have been donated to the regional cancer center! The first is Wendy Johnson's Fir Cone wrap done in Dalegarn Falk. I used 10 balls and completed the wrap in about a week.

The second is one of my basketweave throws, done in Plymouth Encore Colorspun. I used 4 balls for this throw as I needed to make a shorter throw than I usually make.

Catching up with some projects

2008-02-03T13:29:00.000-05:00

Since I'm spending more time on Ravelry these days, I want to post a few more FOs for those who don't "ravel". First, more finished socks!

Noro Kureyon socks

2008-01-17T08:01:00.000-05:00

I've been neglecting my blog in favour of Ravelry. Sorry non-Ravs. I wanted to post this pair of socks that I made with the new Noro Kureyon sock yarn. The colourway is S188 and, yes, I made them idential twins! I did this by noting where I started the first sock, then after completing that sock, I searched for the matching color repeat to start the second sock. I may have been off by a yard or two, but it's close enough. These were made on a size 1 needle (magic loop, of course). I cast on 80 sts and just worked stockinette stitch (after a 1x1 ribbed cuff).

Angel Lace Shawl - complete!

2007-11-27T12:16:00.000-05:00

This is the beautiful Angel Lace shawl, designed by Evelyn A. Clark for Fiber Trends. This is by far the easiest of Evelyn's shawls I've ever made (either that or I'm getting better at knitting!). The pattern is easy to remember and for those who are new to lace knitting, it has one row of just knitting (no increases or decreases, except of the YOs at the edges and center spine). I never use a "lifeline", but this one has one built in! The yarn is Filatura di Crosa 501, DK weight 100% superwash wool. I used 9 full balls to complete this shawl and a size 8 needle. It measures 78 inches across the top and 38 inches down the center...very generous! I've got enough yarn to make another and I'll be starting that one shortly. This shawl to 5 days to make.

Like my other shawls, this will be donated to the local cancer centre and will be given to a patient.

The Sock-a-thon continues!

2007-11-27T11:55:00.001-05:00

More finished socks...

The first is made with Classic Elite's new sock yarn, Alpaca Sox in colourway "Garden". It's gorgeous yarn and is so very soft. The fibre is 60% alpaca, 20% merino, 20% nylon. I made these socks using a size 1 needle. The pattern is Monkey Bars from Wildhorse Farms. The pattern is very simple and easy to memorise...the perfect portable project! Both the pattern and the yarn were bought from The Loopy Ewe.

The second sock is made with Dream In Color Smooshy sock yarn (my new VERY favourite!!) in colourway "Deep Seaflower". The pattern is "Small Tiles" from More Sensational Knitted Socks. It was simple and easy to memorise. I used a size 2 needle.

The third sock is also made with Dream In Color Smooshy, this time in "Good Luck Jade". The pattern, also from MSKS, is "Lattice Stitch", also simple to make. Again, I used a size 2 needle. These yarns were also purchased from The Loopy Ewe.

Dream In Color socks

2007-11-04T11:17:00.000-05:00

This is my first pair of socks done in Dream In Color sock yarn. The colorway is called "Dusky Aurora" and it's GORGEOUS yarn! These socks were made using a size 2 needle (a 47" Addi lace needle) and the pattern is a simple eyelet rib twist something or other! I made up the pattern; it's just a YO, K2Ttog. But, about the yarn...it's wonderful! I can really understand why so many knitters rave about this yarn. The colour has enough variation to make it interesting, but it simply does not pool. I'm rather tired of having swirls and blobs of colour pooling on my socks, so this yarn is a real winner!!

I've got one more skein of this yarn in "Deep Seaflower" and I'll be stalking The Loopy Ewe this week for more!

More (and more!) socks!

2007-10-09T16:56:00.000-04:00

Here's the second sock finished in the Lorna's Laces Cornucopia yarn and another pair just finished in Cherry Tree Hill Supersocks in African Grey. I don't get the name, but the yarn is gorgeous! I call the CTH socks my "Comedy Of Errors" socks because...well, they were a comedy of errors! I started off with a six-stitch pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks. Great! So, off I went and cast on 72 stitches on a size 2 needle because my last pair of socks worked up nicely using 72 stitches. About 3 inches into the sock, I realise I have a BIG problem! The previous socks were done on a size 1 needle and these socks are huge!! Frogged them and started over by casting on 64 stitches and started working the P1, K4, P1 ribbing. Hmmm...2 stitches short. Gee, I thought I counted 64 stitches. No matter, I knit on two more stitches and off I go! Everything worked great until I got to the heel flap. I still had the thought of 64 stitches so I worked the heel flap on 32 of those stitches. You know where this is going! Now my instep had 34 stitches and the pattern didn't center over the instep. Grrrrr....what I should have done was cast on 60 stitches, not 64! I managed to finish the socks and worked the second sock in the exact manner so whilst they were a comedy of errors, they turned out OK. I learned a lesson though...count thy stitches TWICE!

For the technical details, the Lorna's Laces were knit using a size 1 needle with 72 stitches; the CTH on a size 2 needle with (shame!) 66 stitches.

I've just started another pair of socks using Dream In Color Smooshy in Dusky Aurora. What's the big deal about this yarn anyway?? Well, I know...it's gorgeous yarn!! So soft, so lovely to work. It's fast becoming my favourite. Stay tuned for photos!

FO...Stansfield 16 socks in STR

2007-09-29T07:34:00.000-04:00

All done...my first pair of socks in Blue Moon Fiber Arts' Socks That Rock. The colourway is Scottish Highlands and it's their medium weight yarn, which is quite thick, I must say. I knit them on a size 2 needle and it knit to 8 sts/inch. I'm sure they will be quite warm. The pattern is from More Sensational Knitted Socks and is Stansfield 16. It's a basket weave that was simple to memorise. I have about 26 grams of yarn left over and I'm considering adding some form of border at the top of the cuff. I made this a bit on the short side as I didn't know if I'd have enough to finish both socks. Given that I wear a size 10 shoe, I'm always worried about that. Yes, I know, I could knit them toe up, but I'm not overly fond of that technique.

The socks-in-progress are in Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock in a colourway called "Cornucopia", which is available from the nicest enabler on eBay, emtnestr. I'm about to cast on the second sock and am using a size 1 needle. The pattern is a simple garter rib. I hope to have the second sock done by tomorrow...we'll see!

I'm starting to appreciate patterns that are quite simple and allow the yarn to be the centre of attention. For more intricate patterns I'll stick to solids, especially after the Country Girl socks I made (see post below). These socks took 4 days to complete.

FO...Tilting at Windmills socks

2007-09-21T18:37:00.000-04:00

Here are last week's socks! The pattern is "Tilting at Windmills" designed by Melissa Morgan-Oakes. They were a breeze to make! The yarn is Claudia Handpainted Yarn in Blue Terra Cotta. It's gorgeous yarn; the colours are lovely and it's so very soft. With my rather big feet, I was able to complete the pair with a few yarns leftover from each skein. Oh, and I love my new sock blockers from The Loopy Ewe!

I hope to have another pair finished this weekend and will post them. The new socks are Stansfield 16 (from More Sensational Knitted Socks) in Socks That Rock Scottish Highlands medium weight. Stay tuned!

More FOs...

2007-09-10T17:28:00.000-04:00

I've been just a bit busy...

Here's my version of the Classic Elite Interlude Lace Wrap done in their Classic Silk yarn. I made this for the CEY Knit-a-long that goes with their new web letter. The yarn is a blend of cotton, silk, and nylon and is gorgeous stuff! I used 7 full balls of yarn and a size 7 needle. I added repeats to make the shawl wider than what the pattern called for and to compensate for the slightly lighter weight yarn. This shawl, like all the others, was donated to the local cancer centre.

The socks are made in Lorna's Laces "Gelato", which was an exclusive colourway for my favourite eBay enabler, emptnestr. It worked up a bit oddly, as you can see from the various pooling in the photo, but I quite like it! The pattern is Heartstring's Country Girl. Not the best pattern for the yarn, but they're done and I'm not frogging them!

Meanwhile, back at my knitting...

2007-08-18T09:01:00.000-04:00

After setting aside the Cocoon Lace Wrap (see July 6), I was able to complete several projects for the local cancer centre, some of which I've posted here. The green close-up is another Cozy wrap from knitty.com. This one is done in Debbie Bliss Merino Aran in an emerald green colour. I used ten 50-gram balls and a size 8 needle. I think I could work this pattern in my sleep!

The turquoise blue shawl is the Gothic Leaf Stole from Sivia Harding. It's a gorgeous pattern! I used a sport weight superwash wool from Lana Grossa and a size 6 needle. The pattern is worked in two halves and is intended to be grafted together using Kitchner. Those who know me know that I cannot Kitchner to save my life and my effort at doing so was a dismal failure. I think it's because I work left to right and the stitches come out twisted. I worked a few rows of garter stitch and used a three needle bind off and it came out very nicely. I'll keep working on that Kitchner.

The blue throw is another Heritage blanket from Oat Couture...one of my favourites. I used 6 100-gram skeins of Plymouth Encore and a size 8 needle to make a nicely sized throw.

In my spare time (?), I also made a couple pairs of socks...photos to come later!

On the needles now is the
Interlude Lace Wrap from Classic Elite. Check out the CEY Knitalong for progress!

Coccoon Lace Shawl WIP

2007-07-06T11:47:00.000-04:00

I must be nuts. Not only is this a very fine nearly cobweb weight yarn, but it's mohair. The yarn is ArtYarn's Kid Silk (mohair/silk blend) in a pale green and white colourway. The pattern is Fiber Trend's Coccoon Lace wrap, designed by Evelyn Clark (of course!). The wrap is just gorgeous, but it's coming along so slowly! I've had to set it aside for a short while whilst I work on some projects for the hospital (and to have a little surgery myself!). I've finished the first hank of yarn and will use up at least two more (I have 3, but I might make a scarf with the 4th hank if the shawl appears to be long enough). The pattern makes up little puffs, especially with the mohair yarn, quite lovely! I'm making the version with a lace edging. I started the shawl with a provisional cast on, then picked up those stitches to add the border. Given the clingy nature of the mohair, twas quite a task, but lovely to be sure!

Panda Cotton socks - second pair done!

2007-07-06T11:39:00.000-04:00

Here's the second pair of socks made with Panda Cotton. The pattern is Hedera from knitty.com, designed by Cookie A. It's a very simple lace design and a very nice result! The colour is a bit off, but they are a royal purple.

A couple more FO's; cable pocket wrap and Estonial Lullaby blanket

2007-04-22T11:02:00.000-04:00

In the past couple weeks, I've made another Estonian Lullaby blanket and a cable pocket wrap. The Estonian Lullaby is another of Evelyn Clark's beautiful designs for Fiber Trends. The yarn is Shepard Colour 4 Me, an 8-ply superwash wool I've used many times. I used a US8 Addi Turbo 32" needle and used 500 grams of wool.

The turquoise wrap is the Cable Pocket Shawl from Knit Picks. I bought the yarn (Sierra) when it was on clearance and like it quite a bit. This shawl is knitted in two halves which are then brought together with a three needle bind off. This gave me a look I wasn't overly fond of, but since this wrap is to keep me warm, it's OK. I'll make the shawl again, but will find a different way to graft the two halves together. I used 8 100 gram hanks of yarn and a size 10 Addi Turbo 32" needle for the main shawl; a size 8 Addi Turbo needle for the garter stitch borders.

Panda Cotton socks - One pair done, One WIP

2007-04-22T10:55:00.000-04:00

I finished the first pair of socks in Panda Cotton and liked it so much I bought more. Yes, it can be splitty and heaven help you if you have to frog, but the socks are so nice, I couldn't resist more.

The pink socks are the finished WIP below; Waving Lace designed by Evelyn Clark. I finished both socks in about 3 days. The WIP sock (in colourway Crystal Purple) is Hedera, designed by Cookie A. The pattern is very simple and the look with the Panda Cotton is very nice. I just started these socks this morning and they are working up quickly.

Waving Lace socks WIP

2007-03-25T08:12:00.000-04:00

I'm making the Waving Lace socks from Favorite Socks, published by Interweave. These socks are featured on the cover of the book and are designed by Evelyn A. Clark, my favourite designer! I'm using Panda Cotton yarn from Crystal Palace for the first time. Everything you've heard about this yarn splitting is true, but I still like it very much. Here are the WIP photos. This shows the lace edging and 2.5 repeats (50 rows). What worries me more about this yarn is the rather short yardage. It's only 170 yards and after reviewing all the free patterns for this yarn on www.straw.com (Crystal Palace's web site), I think I should have purchased 3 balls instead of 2. I just frogged a sock made with Claudia yarn because I didn't have enough, so I'll make the cuff of this sock end right were it is (5.5 inches) and start the heel flap now.

I'm using a size 2 40" Addi Turbo needle (Magic Loop).

I'm not sure that I mind the splitting all that much. I rather like the texture it gives the sock, which I tried to show in these rather poor photos.

It's been a long winter!

2007-03-24T11:55:00.000-04:00

And I've been busy knitting! Here are a few of my projects that have been finished this year. The green shawl is yet-another Cozy shawl from knitty.com. This one is done in Debbie Bliss Merino Aran in an emerald green. I used a size 8 needle for this one. The finished size is 24" by 76". I used ten 50 gram balls of yarn and it took me about a week to complete.

The second shawl is from Fall 05 Vogue Knitting and is fondly referred to as "the #15 shawl" as it doesn't have any other name! It's designed by Deborah Newton and is gorgeous. The scalloped edges are a result of the increase/decrease in the pattern. The edge of the shawl is half of what the pattern called for. I'm not crazy about the edging and, truth be told, I didn't have enough yarn to make it twice the width. I'll make this shawl again, but perhaps I'll find a different edging. The yarn is Colorado Yarn Knitaly and I used five 100 gram balls and a size 8 needle. This shawl took about a week to complete.

The pastel photo shows another one of my basket weave lap throws. This is my design as I don't like the checker board look of many other basket weaves out there. This is done in Plymouth Encore worsted weight and used a size 11 needle. It took about 4 days to complete.

About those socks...some colour, eh? It's Koigu KPM in a rather bright chartreuse (chosen by the recipient). The pattern is Oriel from Sensational Knitted Socks. It was my first attempt using the "Easy Toe" method used for toe-up socks and I quite like it. These socks took about 2.5 skeins of Koigu and took me about 2 weeks to complete.

More socks?? Why not!?!

2006-12-12T17:43:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-12-12T17:39:00.000-05:00

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

2006-11-12T15:45:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-11-12T15:38:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-11-12T15:26:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-11-12T14:48:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-09-11T17:16:00.000-04:00

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!

2006-09-09T12:24:00.000-04:00

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

2006-08-11T13:28:00.000-04:00

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

2006-07-07T08:36:00.000-04:00

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!

2006-07-07T08:08:00.000-04:00

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!

2006-06-28T12:55:00.000-04:00

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

2006-05-26T14:01:00.000-04:00

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

2006-05-06T09:06:00.000-04:00

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!

2006-04-22T08:42:00.000-04:00

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!

2006-04-16T09:15:00.000-04:00

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!

2006-04-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

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!

2006-03-21T18:05:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-03-10T07:25:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-02-26T11:16:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-02-26T11:05:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-02-19T07:32:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-02-17T23:24:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-02-14T19:10:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-02-12T22:22:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-02-10T12:34:00.000-05:00

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

2006-02-05T11:40:00.000-05:00

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

2006-02-04T18:46:00.000-05:00

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.

Estonian Lullaby blanket - complete!

2006-02-03T16:58:00.000-05:00

It's finished! This is a great blanket! It's the
Estonian Lullaby blanket from Fiber Trends. As I mentioned in the previous post, it was sized to be for a baby, but I increased the stitches and used worsted weight yarn (Plymouth Encore) and it came out just right. I used 6 full skeins, which was 1200 yards, and I had just a couple yards of yarn left. The finished measurements are 44" x 44" (112cm x 112cm), which is a good size for a lap throw. I'll make this one again. Like all the others, this will be donated to the local cancer centre. It took 9 days to complete.

On to the Knitting Olympics!

WIP - Estonian Lullaby Blanket

2006-01-22T20:09:00.000-05:00

This is my first Fiber Trends' Estonian Lullaby blanket. I'm using Plymouth Encore worsted weight yarn in a pale jade colour. The photo is of the garter stitch border and the first 16-row repeat. The pattern is very simple to follow and is working up beautifully. I'm using a size 10 32" Addi Turbo needle, and I've got 6 200-yard skeins of yarn. The pattern called for 850 yards of worsted weight, but I've got 156 sts on the needles, more than the pattern required, but I want to make a larger lap throw so I added sts to the suggested number in the pattern. It's working up quickly and I hope to have it finished before the Knitting Olympics begin!

Flower Basket shawl complete!

2006-01-22T18:07:00.000-05:00

Here's my third Flower Basket shawl, designed by Evelyn Clark for Fiber Trends. This was done in Dale of Norway Falk sport weight 100% superwash wool. The colour is light peach, even though the close-up photo is quite washed out...still trying to get the hang of the new digital camera! I used 9 skeins of yarn (each 116 yards) and a size 7 32" Addi Turbo circular needle. I thought that a size 8 would have been better, but when I blocked the shawl, it was just right. The finished size was 76" by 36". This shawl took 7 days to complete.

On to the next!

Another basketweave throw

2006-01-16T17:55:00.000-05:00

Forgive the terrible photo...I'm still trying to learn how to use my new fancy-schmancy digital camera. This is another basketweave throw I knitted for the local cancer centre. The yarn is Plymouth Encore in a discontinued colourway called pale jade heather. It took 5 full skeins, in all, 1000 yards of worsted weight wool. The pattern is a basketweave that I came up with decades ago, although I wouldn't call it an original design. I like this weave better than any I've seen. I used a US11 needle and it took about 8 days to make. The finished measurements were 45" x 50".

WIP - Fiber Trends Flower Basket shawl in Dalegarn Falk

2006-01-16T07:35:00.000-05:00

After finishing the Nashua wrap, I made a basket weave lap throw in Encore (for the local cancer centre), a scarf in a varigated thick/thin wool yarn called "Landlord" for a dear friend (would have to be in order to get me to make another scarf), and I started another Flower Basket Shawl. Given my past experience with this pattern, the needle size was up for debate. The pattern calls for a US8 for sport weight wool, but previous shawls using DK weight and the suggested US10 needles were way too loose. I started this on, using Dale of Norway Falk in light peach, with US6 needles, but that was too tight. I am now using US7 needles and it seems to be a bit snug, but I know it will relax quite a bit when blocked. I think it will also make a warmer shawl, perhaps a bit less lacey, and that's good. I started Saturday, January 14 and am half way through the 3rd ball of yarn. I'd like to get it completed next weekend.

Like the others, this will also be donated to the local cancer centre.

Besotted scarf complete!

2006-01-02T07:12:00.000-05:00

Here's the Besotted scarf that I finished yesterday. It took me about 2 and a half days to complete. I used 2 4-ounce skeins (190 yards/174 metres; 4 ounces/113 grams) of Candide, in an ecru colour. This was yarn I bought decades ago, before Reynolds bought the original company (Candide Yarns in Woodbury, CT). Fortunately, the yarn is still available and it's terrific (it's now 100 grams instead of 4 ounces, and about 20 yards shorter). It's a good "old fashioned" itchy, scratchy, durable, warm wool complete with bits of weeds...who would want anything more! The good news is that when it's washed, it softens quite a bit and it produces a great garment I washed it in Eucalan and then added a bit of unscented fabric softener. The finished size is 6.5" x 65" (17 cm x 170 cm).

WIP - Besotted scarf

2005-12-30T07:10:00.000-05:00

Instead of making the ever-popular Irish Hiking Scarf, I opted for the Besotted Scarf posted on helloyarn.com. It's a simple pattern and is working up nicely (with one small mistake which will remain!). I'm using Candide from my stash and size 5.50mm (US 9) needles. Nice scarf! If I have yarn remaining (I have 3 4-ounce skeins), I'll make a head band or something else to go with the scarf. I hope to have it done this weekend.

Nashua Knitworks Wrap Complete!

2005-12-30T06:58:00.000-05:00

All done! This is the "Wrap" from the Nashua Knitworks "Work" booklet. I used a 32" size 6 Addi Turbo circular needle and used 5 200 metre balls of Creative Focus Worsted yarn. The colour is called "Delft" and is a beautiful blue (still working on that new digital camera!). When blocked, this yarn still has a bit of a give to it, but it worked up beautifully. The pattern is very simple and is reversible, which is a big plus! This took me about 2 weeks to complete.

I still may end up giving this wrap to the local cancer centre. It does need hand washing, but there's someone special I have in mind...we'll see!

WIP - Nashua Knitworks Wrap

2005-12-10T11:48:00.000-05:00

This is the "Wrap" from Nashua Knitworks. It's a wonderful new range of yarns from Westminster Fibers (who also distribute Rowan and Jaeger yarns). The colour is called Delft and it's a blend of 75% wool and 25% alpaca. I'm using a size 6 32" Addi Turbo circular needle; this photo shows the wrap pattern with 5 completed repeats. Best thing, this pattern is reversible...I can't tell the front side from the reverse side! It's supposed to use 5 skeins, each with 200 metres (220 yards), so I've got lots more knitting to do! This shawl, quite selfishly, will be for me (no bets as to whether I decide to give it away once it's done!).

More shawls completed...

2005-12-10T11:35:00.000-05:00

In my never-ending series of shawls for the local cancer centre, I completed 2 more shawls during the last 2 weeks. The photo with the scalloped border is the Leaf Lace Shawl from Fiber Trends; I think I have this pattern memorised! I used Cleckheaton DK superwash wool in a colour called Pale Iris; it's a purple-ish pink colour...very pretty, very soft! I used 10 full 50-gram skeins knitted on a size 7 32" Addi Turbo circular needle.

The other is the Cozy shawl from knitty.com. This was made using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in a dusty rose colour. I used 10 full skeins and a size 8 32" Addi Turbo circular needle.

Victoria Lace Shawl - Complete!

2005-11-07T21:19:00.000-05:00

Another beautiful shawl designed by Kristine Franklin of St. Seraphina Knits! This one is her Victoria Lace Shawl and it was so simple to make. The pattern is easy to remember so you don't have to keep track of what row you're on or where you are in the repeat. I'll make this one again! It's made in OnLine Marly, a superwash DK merino wool in Baffin Blue. This yarn is sold out on elann.com, which is sad because I love it!

This shawl took 10 50-gram skeins of DK weight and the final measurements were 23" wide and 74" long (the pattern calls for 23" by 66"; I prefer it to be longer). I used a size 7 32" Addi Turbo circular needle. I probably could have used a size 8 needle, but once blocked, I think the gauge is just right.

Like the other shawls I've done, this one was given to the local cancer centre. On to the next!

Cathedral Window Shawl Complete!

2005-10-23T19:12:00.000-04:00

Here's the completed Cathedral Window Shawl from St. Seraphina Knits. St. Seraphina is the patron saint of spinners, which is why the designer, Kristine Franklin, choose that name for her company. This was so easy to make, but I did make one modification to the pattern. Because you wouldn't want the cathedral windows upside down on half of the scarf, the pattern calls for knitting it half way with one pattern, then knitting a reverse design on the other half. Instead of doing that, I knit two separate halves, both using the same design, then I used a 3-needle bind-off to graft them together. You can't see where the shawl comes together and the patter matches exactly on both ends of the shawl. Another bonus is that I didn't have to flip a long shawl around from row to row! I also made the shawl a bit longer than the pattern states. I made each half with 11 pattern repeats instead of 9. I used a size 8 32" Addi Turbo needle, which was just right. My finished shawl is 20" wide and 72" long. I used about 4 1/2 skeins of Cascade 220 Superwash; had I made it with 9 repeats, it would have taken only 4 skeins. I could easily have made it wider by adding more "windows" as well.

I will undoubtably make this shawl again. The design is very nice and the finished project is beautiful! Like all my other shawls, this one will be given to the local cancer centre, which it will warm and comfort someone undergoing cancer treatment.

Vogue Fall '05 Lace Shawl (#15) complete!

2005-10-14T07:29:00.000-04:00

I loved the look of this shawl in Vogue Knitting Fall '05, pattern #15, designed by Deborah Newton. The sample in the magazine was made from cashmere...and 1500 yards of worsted weight cashmere! I could not imagine this shawl taking that much yarn, so I made it using Lamb's Pride Superwash wool in Midnight Pine. I ordered 7 skeins (1400 yards) and used 6 full skeins (1200 yards). The pattern called for size 8 needles and somehow, I worked mine with a 32" size 9 Addi Turbo circular needle. That was an accident! I think a tighter knit would have been better and if I make this again, I'd use a size 8. The borders are especially loose and would be better on a smaller needle. The final size is 25" x 72", which is just right. This shawl took me two weeks to complete.

Would I make it again? Maybe, but I would not use the lace border included in the pattern. It was not to my liking, but that's a personal choice.

Like my other shawls, this will be given to the local cancer centre to warm and comfort a patient undergoing cancer treatment.

Leaf Lace shawl #2 complete!

2005-09-16T07:06:00.000-04:00

Another Leaf Lace shawl complete! And again, this is for the local cancer centre, where it will be given to someone undergoing cancer treatment. It took a full week to complete on a size 8 Addi Turbo 32" circular needle. The yarn is Dalegarn (Dale of Norway) Falk. It washed and blocked beatifully. This shawl is wonderful in sport-weight yarn. I used a just about 10 skeins, which was about 1000 yards, to make a large shawl.

I'm getting "shawl burnout"...time to make another lap throw!

WIP - Fiber Trends Leaf Lace shawl #2

2005-09-05T11:14:00.000-04:00

Another Leaf Lace shawl, this time in Dalegarn's Falk in a pretty pink. This will be used by the local cancer centre's display for breast cancer awareness month (which is October). I need to get it done FAST! The last leaf lace shawl took just a week, so I hope this one also goes quickly. I'm using a size 8 needle this time as this yarn is a sport weight. I've just started the second skein, so I better get knitting!

Second Flower Basket Shawl completed!

2005-09-05T10:42:00.000-04:00

Someone stop me! Get another Flower Basket Shawl, again for the local cancer centre. This was knit in OnLine Linie 21 - Marly in Newport Blue. It took 10 skeins of this DK weight yarn on a size 8 32" Addi Turbo circular needle. This yarn is very springy and it loosened up significantly when it was washed. This was started on August 28 and completed on September 4. It was a long weekend of knitting furiously!

Country Girl socks complete!

2005-08-25T09:54:00.000-04:00

One sock done, one on the needles! These are the Country Girl socks from Heart Strings. They are done in Knit Pick's Essential sock yarn in Dusk, very denim friendly! It has a nice stitch definition, although I'm finding it difficult to see the stitches since the colour of the yarn is so dark. Like all my socks, I'm using the Magic Loop, using a 100cm/40" size 3.0mm/US 2 needle. This pattern only has charts, so I'm getting quite used to that! Nice socks!

Now the update...it took 2 days, but I completed the second sock; no new pictures as it looks just like the first sock! But they are done and I can't wait to wear them. This yarn is a winner! It's soft and has great stitch definition. I've learned my lesson with dark yarns and intricate patterns, though!

Leaf Lace Shawl complete!

2005-08-22T18:17:00.000-04:00

Wow...7 days to make a lace shawl?? This shawl, which I made for the local hospital's cancer centre, was started on Saturday, August 13, and completed on Saturday, August 20. It's the Fiber Trend's Leaf Lace shawl and it was quite easy to make. I used 10 50-gram balls of Jo Sharp DK Wool (in Porcelein) and it turned out very nice! As I mention in the WIP post below, I used a 32" size 10 (US) Addi Turbo needle so I guess I can say they really do make you knit faster! The yarn is beautiful to work and washed up nicely. The finished size is about 72" x 45", which is the "large" size shawl in the pattern. I'll make this one again, especially since it worked up so fast. The pattern is a 10 row repeat and was very easy to follow. I used only the chart and not the written instructions, which is a first for me! OK, between the chart and the needles, I guess I'm a faster knitter!

Leaf Lace Shawl WIP

2005-08-16T07:16:00.000-04:00

I started the Fiber Trend's Leaf Lace shawl using Jo Sharp DK wool in Porcelein. I'm not overly fond of the colour, but it's a nice neutral. I had hoped it was a lighter colour than it is, but it's still very nice and is working up beautifully. I started on Saturday, August 14 and hope to have this done by Labor Day, which shouldn't be a problem. But, like the Flower Basket shawl, once you get a few hundred stitches on the needles, it drags along forever! I'm half way through the 4th ball of yarn (out of 10), so I'm about half way complete. I'm using a size 10 Addi turbo 32" circular needle, as the pattern suggests. Because I found the Flower Basket shawl to be far too loose using DK yarn and a size 10 needle, I started this on a size 8 needle, but that was too tight. It's working up nicely on the size 10 needles.

The pattern is very simple to follow and quite shockingly, I'm only using the chart, not the written pattern, so I'm now a convert to charts!

Gary's socks - done!

2005-08-16T07:11:00.000-04:00

Gary's orange socks are finally done! I had a few glitches...not with the pattern, which was simple, but with running out of yarn! When I got to the foot, it was apparent that a single 50g skein was not going to be enough. I found the same colour at Herrschner's, on sale, and ordered 2 more balls. I had hoped that the dye lots would work, but miracle of miracles, it was the same dye lot that I got from elann.com months earlier! It took an additional 4 grams from the second skein to finish the sock. Gary wears a size 10.5 US shoe, so they are pretty average for a man. It knit up exactly on gauge, which is 7 sts/1 inch in stockinette on a size 3 Addi turbo circular needle using Magic Loop.

Now I have 2 slightly smaller balls of orange sock yarn which will make a nice pair of socks for me. I doubt I'll use the same pattern, but I will eventually make these up for myself!

Basketweave lap throw completed!

2005-08-09T13:37:00.000-04:00

This is my basketweave lap throw that I made for the local cancer centre. I used a nice deep blue/teal heather Encore yarn. It took 5 full skeins, knitted on size 11 needles. This is such a simple pattern, but so nice! It measures 42" x 50", just right for a lap throw. It washes and dries beautifully, so it will be just right for a gentleman undergoing cancer treatment. I've got 5 more skeins, so I'll make up another one! This took about 8 days to complete (OK, so I knit faster than I thought I did!).

Zig Zag lace throw completed!

2005-07-24T09:37:00.000-04:00

Shrink, Pakucho, shrink!! I know that this cotton is supposed to shrink vertically about 15-20%, so I made this throw about 64" long, knowing it would shrink. I put it in the washer and, of course, it grew considerably! Into the dryer on low heat, and it didn't seem to shrink up at all. This lacy pattern had a lot of give to it, so it was getting bigger, not smaller! I ended up drying it on high heat and it did shrink up to a finished size of 42" by 56", which is just what I wanted. I used 16 50-gram skeins of Pachuko and used a size 10 Addi turbo circular needle.

The pattern is Zig Zag lace from Springtime Throws, which is exclusive to Annie's Attic. These throws are designed my Melissa Leapman and they are all terrific. At only $6 for 6 designs, this booklet is a great one.

This throw, like the shawls I've made, is for my local cancer centre.

Zig Zag lace throw WIP

2005-07-15T09:37:00.000-04:00

This is the zig-zag lace throw I've got on the needles. I'm using Pakucho organic cotton in vanilla and a 29" size 10 Addi circular needle. This pattern is from the Springtime Throws
booklet from Annie's Attic. It's a nice booklet and I'll be making all of the patterns in there.

Right now, it's knitting up very loosely, just slightly larger than gauge, but I know it will shrink up when it goes thru the washer and dryer.

As for the yarn, I'm finding that it's twisting up on me to the point of aggravation, but it could be due to the way I swifted and wound it. I'll try some other techniques to see if it gets better. Right now, I'm at 16 repeats and it's 20" long. I'm going for 60" long to allow for 20% shrinkage. I hope to make some serious progress this weekend!

Completed Flower Basket shawl

2005-07-04T08:53:00.000-04:00

It's really done! It's been blocked and trimmed and is beautiful! The yarn is Heirloom (Australia) Easy Care 100% wool. It's DK weight and this took 10 50g balls using a size 8 needles. I started this on June 18 and it came off the needles on July 2. It's going to the local hospital's cancer centre where it will warm and comfort someone undergoing cancer treatment.

This pattern called for size 10 needles when using DK weight yarn. I thought that looked way too loose and I decided to use size 8 needles. I think the look is perfect! I followed the size guidelines for the large shawl on size 8 needles and ended up with 80 inches across the top (shoulders) and 38 inches down the center back. I did a total of 15 repeats; had this been 1 repeat shorter, I would have just 9 balls of yarn (50 grams, 98 metres each).

On to the next project!!

And the Flower Basket shawl is OFF the needles!

2005-07-02T16:05:00.000-04:00

WHEW! It's done! OK, mostly done! I still have some end weaving to do and it really needs some serious blocking, but it's D-O-N-E!

Nearly done with Flower Basket shawl!

2005-07-01T08:02:00.000-04:00

I wonder if the shawl is done or I'm done with the shawl! Last night, I pronounced the shawl DONE! Not quite done, of course, but nearly! I'm going to finish the current repeat, then I've got 12 rows of lace edging to do. It's getting so heavy on the needles. It will be done this weekend for sure, then I can wash and block it. I can't wait to see it all blocked!

WIP - Fiber Trends Flower Basket shawl

2005-06-30T06:56:00.000-04:00

So, here's my 3rd shawl for the cancer centre at our local hospital. I'm using a gorgeous DK yarn from an Aussie company called Heirloom in periwinkle. It's machine washable, which is a good thing! I started on 6/18 and have completed 13 repeats. I've got about 350 stitches on the needles now and I'll tell ya, when you make a mistake and have to rip out a couple rows, it's a pain in the butt! I was zipping along at first, but now, I can only crank out a few rows a day. But, with vacation time coming this weekend and next week, I'll be able to finish it and move on to a simpler project. I think alternating simple/complex projects is the way to go!

WIP - Gary's socks

2005-06-29T07:01:00.000-04:00

I'm using some Kroy Socks yarn in "Orangina" to make some socks for Gary. The pattern is "Classy Slip-Up" from Knit Socks. I started it on 6/29, and have completed about 5" (as of 7/4). I'm using a size 3 40" Addi circular and Magic Loop. Maybe that needle size is too big, but we'll see.

Cotton Colori socks

2005-06-05T17:03:00.000-04:00

This is the first cotton sock I've made. It's Schoeller Esslinger Fortissima Cotton Colori in "Santa Barbara". I used a size 2 40" Addi turbo needle and Magic Loop. The pattern is just a "make a sock" pattern...nothing fancy! I did swatch and knit to guage.

I think it's a bit on the loose side. Next time, I'd use a size 1 needle and some elastic thread in the ribbing.

Baby sweaters!

2005-04-10T21:16:00.000-04:00

These are the "twin" baby sweaters I made for two of the women with whom I work. They have the same patterns, except for the necklines. They are from a Peter Pan pattern that I got in England many years ago. I love the Aran style and they worked up pretty quickly in the baby size! I used Plymouth Dreambaby in pink (the collared cardi) and lavender (the v-neck cardi). The sleeves and back are also fully patterned, so these were lots of work, but worth the effort!