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Again, I’m so behind. But I’ve been making knitting progress. Lots of it. I’m just lacking in the spinning department lately.
I finished the Orchids and Fairy Lights hat. And I love love love it! The pattern called for Malabrigo worsted and size 7 needles. But I had this lovely Manos wool which really wanted to be this hat. I decided to use size 8 needles, as I have a large noggin. It turned out to be a good decision. The hat fits perfectly. Now, if it would only get cold again so that I can wear it… Oh, and this was my first knitted item with bobbles. I had always stayed clear of the bobbles as I wasn’t really sure that I was a bobble kind of girl. But I think that I might love them now. I definitely see bobbles on the horizon.
I also finished the swap gift for fabulous kikibowns. It’s the Emelia Lace Choker. It turned out to be a really easy lace pattern. I was plesantly surprised. And the yarn… Jaggerspun merino/chinese silk. It was the most wonderful laceweight yarn I’ve ever knitted with. I have plenty leftover, which is great. I want to knit more of these chokers. And I want to knit more of that yarn!
Now on to new projects.
First up is the Merino Triangle. I’m using the Shetland Triangle pattern. If there is such a thing as mindless lace knitting, this pattern would be it. I’m substituting a DK weight yarn (Louet Gems) for the fingering weight that was originally called for. I’ve also gone to a size 8 needle rather than the 6. This is definitely making the shawl a bit more substantial, which is nice. But this pattern is really letting this yarn shine. The Louet Gems is showing the stitch pattern so nicely. And this color is to-die-for! Cherry red. It’s just so vibrant!
And lastly, I’ve just cast on my summer KAL project that I’m knitting with kikibowns. It’s the Avalon scarf. She sent it to me (and the yummy yarn) as a part of the Eclipse swap. The yarn is called Twilight Inspired and is from The Fiber Gourmet’s etsy shop. I am one lace pattern repeat in and I’m loving this. I’m loving the yarn too. It’s giving the scarf an almost gothic feel.
Lots going on right now. And a busy week ahead of me. Lots to do, lots to do.
Lack of inspiration will not leave me alone. It’s haunted me all February and is now following me in to March. All I want to do is make pretty things. Really… is that so hard? But I sift through patterns and nothing looks enticing. The other night I was perusing my stash and nothing was singing to me. Not even the unspun fiber. I know that I have an annoying habit of letting my aesthetic shift every so often, and I think that it has just shifted. Previously I had been drawn to bright, saturated colors, variegated yarns, fingering weights, tiny needles and simple patterns that allowed the garish yarns to shine. But now everything that seems appealing to me is made of muted, earthy tones. Architectural patterns, rich, intricate cables and worsted to bulky weights are what I long for. Sadly, my stash is seriously lacking anything muted, earthy, bulky and worsted. And I’m still on the no yarn until April kick.
So, I’m trying to ignore what my heart wants to knit. And it hurts, actually. But, I know that it’s a necessity right now. I trudged back to my stash this morning and found some bulky novelty yarn that I had been ignoring for quite some time. Since my feet were cold, I decided that it wanted to be slippers. I set out with the lovely Amy March Slippers pattern, knowing that my loud, variegated yarn will probably murder the simple beauty of the pattern. And I was right.
BUT, there has been some good to come out of this. First and foremost, I have finally learned a toe-up method that does NOT involve a provisional crochet cast on. (And there was great rejoicing!) The figure-eight cast on (which can be found here, along with some crochet cast ons) just might be my new favorite thing. It was crazy easy and relieves me of all kitchner duties. And that’s a wonderful thing. Actually, I want to start a pair of toe up socks just so I can try this cast on again. But, with toe up socks comes another technique that still eludes me: the short row heel. I’ve tried to read tutorials on the short row heel, but apparently they are all written in a foreign language. Now, my slipper pattern actually had a little tutorial on how to complete the heel in the pattern. And it was still a foreign language to me. I tried. I followed the directions diligently, but it made absolutely no sense. I kept ending up with large holes and running out of stitches rows and rows before I should have. I finally just improvised and ending up making a heel that looks like a heel flap, only knitted in reverse. Now I just need some ribbon and lace to finish this one up and then I can move on to the second one.
In spinning news, I’m spinning the most luscious batt right now.
I received it in my most recent swap. It’s a Merino, cashmere, baby camel and silk bled. Hello, luxury. I’m going for a delicate lace weight as I have a lovely neck piece in mind for it. This stuff is seriously a dream to spin.
Still making progress on Lew’s yarn. I finished up the singles and have moved on to the plying. I’m so close. I just need to get out of this slump so that I can finish it up.
Two posts in two days? Could it be?
I came home from my long long day at work to a nice big box on the porch. My New Moon Swap package had arrived! I didn’t bother wasting time to take my coat, hat, and scarf off. I had to tear into it. My awesome partner, Kai, put together such a wonderful package for me! Sadly, my impatience means that you don’t get any photos of the groovy wrapping, which had a method: Items wrapped in animal print were things that I need to keep my hobby alive. Items in gold paper were yummies to help me keep my strength. And things in black paper were nice things to have, but not items that my life depended on. So many wonderful things…
Why no! The Lindor Truffles bag is NOT open. And of course there are NOT 3 truffles missing. Mmm… chai. Oh, and a very yummy looking old-fashioned style peppermint lollipop! (I love minty things!) And I’m digging the knitting pouch. Thank you, Kai. You have now enabled me to more easily walk and knit socks at the same time! And there was a row counter and a lovely pocket calendar- which is funny because I was thinking earlier today that it was time to get a new calendar for my handbag since my current one ends this month.
Check out that lovely yarn and shawl pin… sooo pretty! The yarn is lace-weight merino and she included a lovely shawl pattern to go with it: A Leaf In A Leaf. It’s a stunning lace pattern! And because she hadn’t spoiled me enough (haha!) there was also a very cool knitting journal with lots of pages for projects, graphed pages for designs, colorwork patterns and knitting trivia! And it keeps with the lovely flower theme that she had going on as well.
But, the bag… it’s gorgeous! It is a leather-handled, felted bag with such a pretty colorwork pattern.
I love how the color changing yarn looks with the grey solid. I love this bag! OH! Check out the lining!
I’m swooning over the satin fabric Kai used in the lining!
Kai, thank you for such a wonderful and thoughtful package! I love everything! (and NO, I’m not eating another truffle right now…)
Those truffles aren’t going to make it past tomorrow.
Guess who got her Twilight End Swap package today? ME!
And can I just say, that the ever-awesome, Troismommy, put together the best package ever! I love everything!!!!
WARNING: PIC SPAM AHEAD
Here’s what I saw when I opened the box:
Everything was all wrapped up. It was like christmas! So, I pulled everything out and there were little notes!
And all opened up, it revealed SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS!!!!
Is that not some serious swappy goodness? Everything was so perfect!!! She found such wonderful goodies for me!
Mmm Twilight Delight chocolate. Must resist urge to eat the whole bar tonight… Mmm the world’s best coffee: Senseo Hazelnut Waltz. This coffee is my vice. If I don’t have a cup of it every morning, I am unpleasant. Ask my co-workers. It’s sooo good. Yummy yummy!
Gorgeous Twilight stitch markers from the fabulous Velvet Hippo. I had spied these same markers or some that were very similar a few weeks ago in her etsy shop and had contemplated buying them, but was trying to save for my vacation so I didn’t! How lucky! :) And check out the ever-so-awesome key ring! It’s a mini Twilight book! I love it!
And the sock yarn! Holy crap, this is some gorgeous sock yarn! It’s MacKintosh Yarns Celtic Sock Yarn in the colorway Half Blood Prince. Oh, yes. Harry Potter goodness!!! This will most definitely become some fabulous socks to wear to the Half Blood Prince movie on opening night next July! (I’m still bitter about the date change, by the way.) And it feels wonderful!
But oh, here’s the best part:
About 2 months ago, I did a test knit for the WONDERFUL Troismommy and made this scarf. THESE GLOVES MATCH MY SCARF!!!! How awesome is that? The fit perfectly. They match perfectly. (Although, it’s hard to tell in this picture with the crappy indoor fake light. I hate that it’s dark at like, 5:00 pm now!) I’m so wearing them to the movie on Friday. I love them. I really, really, wicked love them!
This was such an awesome surprise to come home to! She had mentioned in the swap thread on ravelry that she had sent her package to a “midwestern blue state” and I wondered… because I’m in a midwestern blue state (for the first time in decades). And when I saw the package on my porch as I pulled into my driveway, I got excited. When I saw who it was from, I squeed with joy! (I would like to apologize to my neighbors for said squee, as it was a little on the loud side.) Thank you, thank you, thank you Genevieve for such an AWESOME package! :)
Now, I’m off to pack (and eat my chocolate) as I’m heading to South Carolina tomorrow!
What a great day!
Hooray! My swap partner received her “Twilight End Swap” package! And it would appear that she really liked it! So head on over to stitchnsnitch’s blog to check it out. And since it is a secret no more, gauntlet blogging may commence!
Here is what I knitted up for her…
Surprisingly, they ended up much nicer than I thought that they would. And I admit that I was getting a little worried about them as they took longer to knit than I anticipated and I was wondering if I would get them completed in time. But I loved the yarn… ShibuiKnits Sock in Mulberry. And the lacy cuff was so pretty…
I’m really pleased that she liked these. And that they fit! I had started a pair of these for myself, but they have been sitting in the UFO stack for a couple of months now. I’m thinking that I need to finish mine now.
I just made my version of Zuppa Tuscona (or however you spell it) soup for dinner. And YUM. I’m going to need to make this again. Like, all winter long. And it was so easy. And it has kale. I never get to eat kale. Kale is definitely an under-appreciated leafy green.
So, I have no progress photos to share today. Everything that I’m working on is either for a swap or a gift. Posting photos prior to the giving will spoil surprises, and that would make me sad. But, my Twilight End Swap package is ready to go! I finished everything up this afternoon. BUT, I don’t have any packing tape. I just realized this and I have no time to run out and get any tonight, as I have commitments. Ah well. I’ll figure it out. I just hope that my partner likes what I’ve made for her. I think that she will. When I found out who I had, I immediately knew what I wanted to make for her. It took me a little longer to make than I thought that it would, but at least I made my goal of getting the package to her by Halloween. I’ll post a photo after she receives it.
OH! The jewel cormo of doom is officially done. I finished plying the remaining bobbins this afternoon. It looks rather lovely, actually… I’m a bit surprised by that. But on to other spinning projects. I actually have 4 spinning projects going, all of which are for others. But they’re all going well, so that’s a good thing. I figure that if I spend every free moment working on my spinning and knitting projects for others, I will meet my deadlines with plenty of time to spare. I like that thought.
Okay, back to the spindle…
