Spring has sprung

Spring has finally come to the Pacific Northwest.  Cherry trees are blooming, our daffodils are in flower, and yesterday it was a whopping 70 degrees.  Everyone's cheerful and the world seems a better and brighter place.

I'm making progress on my Moonbeam sweater, which is something I'm knitting in a linen blend for warmer weather.  It's an easy pattern, with the exception of the decreases on the front, where the directions annoyingly say to continue with the right side, reversing shaping.  Since I'm not one who excels at spatial relations, I had to think a bit on this part.  There was a lot to do at the neck, what with eyelets and decreases at the neck and armhole in a particular way in rib, but the rest is smooth sailing.  Garments in ribbing always look so small when you're making them.  You think, there's no way this is going to fit, and then it does. 

 (sorry for the unspiring photo)

I've also started a shawl.  I've found that a great use for handspun is to use it in a striped pattern along with a commercial yarn.  The commercial yarn makes up for the characteristics lacking in the handspun and gives the whole a more polished look.  For example, in my project, I'm using Romney handspun with a wool/alpaca blend, which softens the fabric and gives it the weight and drape that my springy handspun lacks.  I love working with natural colored handspun, but I don't like the variegation that you see on many handspun garments due to variations in color in the fleece.  Although I don't like variegation, I love stripes of any sort, so the whole thing works for me.  But let me show you the project!

It's the Dream Stripes shawl, a free pattern by L'ile aux Fils found here.  I'm using Isager Wool/Alpaca in cream as my commercial yarn, and the grey Romney.  Even though the Romney is a heavier yarn than the alpaca, I think it'll work.  I'm really liking knitting this, and these stripes are addictive.

Spring has also sprung on the Kim Hargreaves website with the arrival of her new book Indigo.  If you haven't had a peek yet, go on over and take a look.  She's done a beautiful collection of warm weather patterns in cottons and linens, with a bit of Kidsilk Haze thrown in for good measure. The garments and styling are in jewel tones, which isn't my color palette, but she's done a number of seasons in neutrals so I do like the variety.  The designs look quite fancy at first, but I think that's just the styling.  A closer look reveals that most of these would look just fine with jeans--and for me, if I can't pair it with jeans, it probably won't get worn.  Here are a few of my favorites that would look good casually styled.

Lose the sequined mini, and this would be totally wearable for everyday.

A cute cardi in All Seasons Cotton.

These two are named Hot and Spice.  Simple and wearable to me.  In cool neutrals, I could see them in her collection Misty.

This one is more fancy in Fine Lace/Kidsilk Haze, but so cute!  And it would be done in a jiffy.

So there are more than a few that I like from this book.  Some of the others have too-deep necklines for my body type, but there are lots of others that would suit me.  All in all, another fine collection by Kim Hargreaves.

March madness

I did manage to knit a couple of things in March, but I didn't get around to posting about them until April.  It hasn't stopped raining long enough for me to take a photo, but that's pretty much the norm for this time of year.  So here is Caramel, my grey cardigan to match the grey weather we've been having.  I am pretty happy with it, and it's going to be something I wear a lot.

(I'll even throw in a picture with head attached today.)

Here's the back.  I liked the thinner stripes on some of the ones I've seen online, so that's what I did.  The Berroco Alpaca Light worked just fine for this garment.

I also finally decided what to knit for the March Madness challenge hosted by Knitting Blooms on her podcast. I did start a scarf on size US 2 needles, but it wasn't grabbing me, so with a week to spare I chose this monster, a free pattern on Ravelry called Gotta Love Me Monster, for which I could use the yarn doubled.  One thing I noticed was that the yarn wasn't holding up to frogging.  It became furry, and I didn't think it was going to wear that well for a garment or accessory.  "Monsty" will last long enough to be loved and played with.  He gets taken to bed every night. . . so a happy ending for the yarn and the toy.

I've moved right along to a spring project--Moonbeam from Rowan 29.  There are so many treasures in the old Rowan magazines;  I don't think I'll ever run out of knitting my favorites.

Moonbeam is on the right.  Originally knitted in Linen Drape (dubbed by some Linen Droop), I'm using Classic Elite Soft Linen from my stash.  Although I did have to track down two more balls in my color on eBay to be sure I don't run out.  I'm nearly done with the front and it's going well.

What's on your needles for spring or summer?

Festival of stripes

Even though it's been a while since I posted, there has been knitting going on.  I finished my Churchmouse scarf in the raisin colored Kidsilk Haze, but I don't have a photo to show you.  The color is hard to photograph and one photoshoot came out too dark, so you'll just have to imagine it.  I did find a really nice one on Ravelry by Maanel, so I'll show you hers.  Doesn't it look nice with a bit of sparkle!

So I've begun two projects this month, one being the "March Madness" challenge mentioned in my last post.  Thanks for your suggestions on a project, and for steering me to some others I'd not seen on Ravelry.  I decided on the Drops pattern with a crocheted edge in garter stitch.  I like how it's shaping up, but the garter stitch is giving me problems, or my arm rather.  I've tried to change how I knit so that my right hand doesn't get torqued so much and the left hand does more of the work, but I still end up with a strained forearm knitting this much garter stitch on tiny (US 2) needles.  So, I don't know if I'll continue on or frog it and knit something else quickly!  I like the look of variegated yarn and garter stitch.  The striping is fairly large, but this will change as the rows get longer.

 

My other project is my March/April sweater, the Caramel cardigan by Isabell Kraemer, a free pattern on Ravelry.  Hers is done in caramel and navy stripes.

And mine is being knit in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light in what is clearly my favorite color, gray.  The yarn was repurposed from the Reindeer Sweater, the sleeve of which will be frogged so I can finish this.  I thought the reindeer sweater was coming out too fuzzy for fair isle, while this new project will I think be very nice in this more drapey yarn.  Instead of stripes of even width, I've made the dark gray stripes more narrow.  So far, so good. 

I have also gotten some new additions to my needle collection in the form of these vintage straights from my aunt-in-law, who is retiring and de-cluttering her home before moving to Florida.  They were actually her mother's, who did quite a bit of knitting.  The vintage green ones must be size US 15s and they're great.

 

Knowing that I'm "crafty," she also passed along some wool she'd picked up maybe 20 years ago in Scotland.  These yardages are skirt lengths, with instructions on how to sew a straight skirt on the packaging.  Straight skirts not being a huge part of my wardrobe at this point in my life, I don't know what I'm going to do with it all yet.  I had an idea to make a felted tea cosy or two, but I think I need a lot more ideas.  Fun though.

FO February

The knitting continues apace here, with two hats off the needles in the past week. The first hat I want to show you is the Peerie Flooers beanie by Kate Davies (hers is above).  My hat was done in a mix of Rowan Fine Tweed and Jamieson's Spindrift.  I'm really happy with how it turned out.

My husband helped me pick the colors as I can be quite color challenged.  Here's the top:

I also finished the Camellia hat in just a few days and got it delivered to its recipient this week.  She was pleased and called it a "going out" hat, as opposed to one you'd wear only at home or to bed (with chemo, one gets a cold head at night).  It fits well, and I'll keep it in mind if I have a small amount of yarn to use for something.

  

I mentioned in my last post that I've discovered knitting video podcasts.  I've been watching Knit Me Happy, but I also found another one I like called Knitting Blooms.  Both of these gals are very pleasant to listen to and have a lot of knitting and spinning to talk about each time.  Tina of Knitting Blooms broadcasts in front of a set of cabinets that display her amazing stash--it's worth a visit just to check that out!  And as the Knit Me Happy gal says, watching a knitting podcast is like having a friend to knit with, which is fun if you're someone who does a lot of knitting alone.

The Knitting Blooms group on Ravelry is having a "March Madness" challenge due to start March 1, and I signed on for it.  The rules are that she picks something from your stash between 400-500 yds, and then you decide on a project using that yarn and complete it during the month of March.  Here is the yarn she chose for me, 400 yds of Delight from Drops (Garnstudio), a blend of wool and nylon.

  

The challenge is simple, but all of a sudden I don't have any idea what I will knit!  I have trouble finding a project I like in variegated yarn, and this one has large blocks of color.  I've been doing a lot of searching on Ravelry for patterns and came up with this mosaic of ideas (click to enlarge).  There's everything from a ribbed Baktus scarf to a lace shawlette.  It just depends on what kind of knitting I want.

1. Drops shawl,  2. Annis, 3. Holden shawlette, 4. Nessie, 5. Northern Lights shawl, 6. Wavy Baktus, 7. Ribbed scarf by Jared Flood, 8. Aspen Neck cowl, 9. Chickadee cowl

Opinions, anyone?  I actually like all of these, so it will be hard to choose.  Did any of you participate in Finish or Frog It February?

Terra x 2

I have another FO to show you for this month, the Terra shawl by Brooklyn Tweed.  I love this one more than the first Terra that I knit out of something other than Shelter.  This one's in a color called Homemade Jam.

I first used Shelter to knit a tea cozy last year, and I do like it.  I wouldn't say it's scratchy, but it's a dry sort of knitting as opposed to luxurious.  The yarn has lots of different flecks of color to keep things interesting, and it becomes a kind of spongy fabric after washing.  I noticed the shawl tends to cling to whatever you're wearing, such as cotton or fleece, which could be good as it wouldn't fall off, but I did have a time arranging it for the photo!  It's a keeping-warm sort of shawl, which I like.  So I'm glad to have another project off the needles this month.  I can see doing another one, maybe out of Felted Tweed--yes, I like the pattern that much.

There are still more days in February, so I'm moving on to a small project before starting sweater #2 at the beginning of March.  My next project is:

Camellia by Kim Hargreaves, from her spring/summer book Whisper.  The pattern calls for Rowan Cotton Glace, a fingering weight yarn, but I'm using Louisa Harding Jasmine, a DK, and it's going just fine.  The color looks pretty boring in this photo, but it's really a light grey with silver sparkles in it. The project was commissioned by my mom who has a neighbor undergoing chemo, so the hat will be for her. 

I've also added a couple balls of yarn to my stash recently due to a trip to Churchmouse and the closing of the yarn shop where I used to work.  The Rowan British Sheep Breeds boucle and a matching ball of BFL chunky will make a nomad hat (pattern by Churchmouse).  I don't have a picture of the hat to show you, but they had a really cute shop model.  Well, silly and cute, and very warm!

I found a silver pin for my Billie cardigan:

. . . and made an addition to my library of The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook.  Have you seen it yet?

It's a wonderful book about every kind of fleece and fiber, with awesome photos and descriptions of the animals, along with more photos of what the processed and unprocessed fiber looks like.  I look forward to many teatimes browsing this book.

That's all for now!  Oops, one more thing, I have recently discovered knitting video podcasts.  Have you seen the one by Knit Me Happy?  I think she does a great job--and they can't be all that easy to do.  Let me know your favorites if you watch them.

Billie

Hurrah, I've finished my Billie cardigan.  I was so happy to have this one done because I really could use a warm thing this time of year.  This project wasn't at all difficult but it did take me a while, what with the break in December to knit Christmas gifts, and it used up about 1,800 yards of yarn, which is almost two sweaters for me!  Well worth it, though.  It's so comfy and cozy I never want to take it off.

After seeing these photos, I went back and steamed the edging a bit more so it doesn't curl under so much.  It's a 3-stitch garter edge so it will always fold under some, but now it lies flatter and nicer.  (Funny how you don't see things until you take a picture of them.)  And now I have a reason to go back to Churchmouse Yarns & Teas.  They have a good selection of pins that I can use for a closure on this--although I like it just fine without a pin, too.  They suggested I bring it in when I'm finished and try different ones--no problem, I can do that!

Now I'm in sort of a knitting limbo.  Do I start my second sweater of the six I said I'd knit this year?  Go back to an old WIP or start something new?  Knit something other than a sweater?  Like most knitters, I have a few WIPs, five to be exact. One of them is my Terra shawl, and another is the Peerie Flooers hat.  I have been putting in a few rows on the shawl, without really committing to knit on it and nothing else (altho' that's usually how I finish things).  As for the hat, I've made more progress than this photo shows and am just ready to begin the crown decreases, which looked difficult but are probably straightforward.

The new project I'm tempted to start is the Rams and Yowes blanket I spoke of before.  I received a package from the UK with all the wool I need--well, almost all, since I didn't see I needed a second ball of Yuglet, but I'll sort that out later. 

But I think I'll hold off starting it until I've finished some of these other things.  In the meantime, I can read through the pattern to get it all straight before I begin.  Looks like a fun one!

Happy new year!

. . . a bit late, I must say, but anyway! I hope you had a wonderful holiday. Mine was pretty relaxing once the shopping got done--family come to visit, lots of board games, tasty food and an 8-year-old who was pretty excited about what was under the tree. The weather didn't hamper anyone's travel, and it was all very good. I did do some Christmas knitting in the final weeks of December:

A couple more hats for the menfolk,


a wonderfully sheepy Christmas wreath,


a slouchy hat,


and a cowl.



Not all of these were gifts; some were for me, or the house. With the exception of the slouchy hat, they are all Churchmouse patterns--I guess they're becoming a new favorite. The cowl was published in their quarterly newsletter and isn't available for sale on Ravelry or elsewhere. I inquired, and they said they didn't intend to sell it, but if you have the summer newsletter it came in, and I'm sorry I don't know which that was, it's a nice pattern.

While I didn't finish as much as I would have liked this year (isn't that always the case?), I did get a fair number of projects completed--23?? There were a lot more accessories than I usually make, and I finished some bigger projects begun in 2010 but didn't count that year.

Now I can think about 2012, and I'm full of ideas and plans. I joined a group on Ravelry to knit 6 sweaters this year, one every two months. Since I don't knit every day, this sounds more doable to me than the IntSweMoDo thing (one sweater a month). I have three WIP sweaters: Billie hooded cardigan, the Reindeer sweater, and my Alice Starmore Donegal. But the other three I don't know yet.

I'm also going to do a most marvellous project:


The "Rams and Yowes" Shetland lap blanket by Kate Davies of Textisles (credit: which is where I got the photo, but go check out the other photos, too!). It's fresh off her needles as of yesterday and the most wonderful thing ever. What does a knitter love more than sheep and Shetland wool?

With my free time in the coming year, I want to do more art projects, waste less time on the internet and be more productive in all my hobbies. I've been gradually changing my diet to mostly fresh fruits and veggies in their whole state which has given me a better kind of energy these days, so that's bound to help. What are your hopes and goals for the new year?