2011 - The year of the shawl.

I don't know what it is, but I can't get enough shawls right now.  I don't even really wear them much.  I suppose the draw is that they are an interesting knit and usually move rather quickly and gauge/sizing doesn't need to be exact.  I have several sweaters on the needles that are still moving along, but the shawls seem to come and go at a much faster rate!


The highlights:
This is the Ishbel shawl and it turned out beautifully.  It was for my grandmother and I think it was a hit.  I used madelinetosh lace in one of my favorite colorways, mica.  It took FOREVER and I doubt I will make this shawl again, even though I love the result.  It was painstakingly frustrating by the end, with so many stitches and a somewhat tedious pattern.  The lace was a little hard to work with and it was easy to lose YOs.  Might consider making it again using fingering weight (which is what I think the pattern calls for anyways) as it will move a little quicker, but no plans in the near future on it.


Color of the yarn is closer to the lower picture. 

Cladonia - all time favorite shawl, already made three, fourth is on the needles.

I wear this one all the time and always get compliments.  Even though its lacy it doesn't look 'grandmothery'.  I used a sea-cell blend and so it has a bit of sheen to it and is really soft and light.  I wear it wrapped around as a scarf. 

Sothia - another favorite that I will definitely make again:

 

This was a garter stitch pattern that was very easy and turned out beautiful in the madelinetosh merino light.  The edging was pretty torturous just because of the sheer number of stitches.  I think I cut it about a half in short because I couldn't go on.  Despite that, I will definitely make again.    

The Hillside Ruffle

This is "A Little Ruffle"(or Its All About the Scarf) a free pattern found here.  I spied a sample of this at Close Knit on NE Alberta and although I was there to buy yarn for a different project, I couldn't leave without the pattern and yarn they used for it - Plymouth Earth Hillside Linen, an alpaca/linen blend.  It had a beautiful drape and it just looked so cozy I had to have it. 

I stuck pretty much to the pattern, which was very straightforward and easy.  I liked the construction, working the length of the scarf/shawl first and adding the ruffle at the end.  I felt I moved quite quickly through the body construction, and just had to force myself through the couple inches of ruffle.


 As I have been wearing it I have noticed it does seem to stretch, I guess just because of all of the weight of the yarn.  I don't anticipate that being a problem and may just have to re-block it from time to time.  I'm just kind of sad spring is finally maybe here in Portland, meaning a little less need for something like this.  It's definitely warm!

One complaint I have is that I don't think the directions were all that clear on which stitches to pick up along the edge - I studied several other peoples' to see if, indeed, there was supposed to be a hole created (there is).  I liked this detail it added, but if I make this again (and I'm positive I will) I will probably make it a little less 'ruffly'.

Once I blocked it the yarn got so soft and it did grow in size.  I did find myself pulling out a fair amount of 'vegetable matter' while knitting, but some of it may have been the linen that I just wasn't used to.  Even despite that annoyance, the drape was just so great, as was the coloring, I put in an order for enough to make a sweater.

Offset wraplan cuteness

A couple of friends had babies around the same time, and I thought the offset wraplan was the coolest little baby sweater around at the time.  In hopes of making them wearable for a little longer than a week as a tiny little baby, I made what the pattern said was about a 6 to 9 month size.  Oh was that wrong - it turned out to be more of a 12 to 24 month size, but that's okay and they've gotten some wear.  I used some Dream in Color (LOVE the intense, hand painted colors but its still machine washable wool!!) classy which is a worsted, while the pattern called for a sport weight.  I knit a pretty tight gauge though, so I don't think that can totally account for the big size difference.

Functionally, its not the best design having such a wide neck.  I think it probably looks better on a toddler than an infant because of the neck. I would definitely make it again though, modifying the neck line slightly.  I loved the offset front, for being such a simple design it gives it some character.

  Button choice was my favorite.  I think I found the sheep buttons first and picked the yarn to match.  The green buttons with the orange & yellow were an afterthought, and I think it makes it seem a little more grown-up and 'portlandy' for some reason. 

Owlet complete!

I wasn't sure if I would like this, or if it would be a little cheesy.  I was so wrong, its too cute!  I knit the 9 month size with a smaller needle size and a lighter weight yarn, but size-wise it still ended up being about the dimensions of the 9 month.  It also look more yarn than the pattern called for, probably a skein and a half of the vintage, but luckily I always buy more than enough.  There was a tiny color variation in it I noticed after the fact, but I changed skeins about 2 or 3 rows into the owls, so its not noticeable!

This was a really fast knit, I completed it within a week including blocking, weaving in ends, finding 'eyes' and sewing them on.  Close to a personal record actually finishing the knitting AND finishing soon after.

 I used madelinetosh vintage and after blocking, I think it was a good choice.  I was a little concerned I should have picked a heavier weight like the pattern calls for, but vintage was close enough. 

Instead of buttons I used some wooden beads for the eyes.  Because I made such a small size, I just wasn't seeing small enough buttons that didn't look like overkill.

Rolled cuffs are a nice touch.

 

I completed the sweater and after casting off was really uncertain whether the neck hole was wide enough.  I ribbed it back to the beginning of the ribbing and added a button hole.  I think this helped and will make it plenty wide, without much difference in the look.

I'm not sure how well it will hold, but I used three of the beads together instead of a separate button.  It seems to hold when I tug on it a bit, but not sure if as the button hole stretches with time, if that will make these 'buttons' useless.  Hopefully baby will have grown out of it by then!

The best cowl EVER.

Okay, so I've only made two styles of cowls, so perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions thinking this is the best cowl ever, BUT, I'm pretty sure I'm on to something.  The 'burberry inspired cowl' is a quick knit and with the placement of the cables, it lays perfectly cowl-ly.

I've used madelinetosh vintage and definitely think its a fantastic yarn for this project.  It really holds the stitch pattern and once blocked, it almost poofs up a bit and gets softer and softer.

madelinetosh vintage - colorway 'water well' I think

This silver/gray was made out of an alpaca blend making it quite soft, but a little scratchy on the skin.  I made it a little longer (well wider) but it definitely doesn't 'lay' as well nor hold the folds as well as the madelinetosh. 

Snowbird....Finally a grown up sweater...

I recently decided it was time to invest in and stopped being scared of making an adult sweater.  I think I've created a monster, considering that I now have 3 (maybe 4??) sweaters currently on the needles.  More about those to follow.  

'Snowbird' is turning out to be the one I have the most interest in and have been making good progress on.  I wanted a nice, long, basic open sweater/cardigan that I could use some great marled yarn - Purelife British Sheep Breeds DK in blue faced Leiceister.  Crossing my fingers that it's an acceptable substitute, its looking pretty good so far.  

I've decided to add some button holes, I am envisioning toggle buttons on this, but who knows.  Pictures of my progress to follow.... 

  I am counting on the fact that it will block out much better than its looking now.

The inside of the cardigan in stockinette.  I definitely like the look of st st as opposed to the reverse stockinette.  Oh well, next time.  

In love with andalusia

I recently discovered the sweet little Andalusia pattern by Teresa Cole, and have already made 2 with more yarn on hand for another and more projects on deck in my head.  Its an easy knit that has plenty of interest to keep you entertained, yet not so complicated to get frustrated.  I LOVE how its turned out in MadelineTosh Merino:

Although probably not the most practical of yarns for a baby sweater (this is a 12 mth-ish size), the texture of the yarn along with the style gives it a vintage sort of feel. 

I still haven't found the perfect buttons for it yet, though, but I'm still hunting.  The yarn also gives it a good thickness and this yarn gets SOOOO soft and smooshy when blocked.  

I also made a larger version (a 2T size I believe) in MadelineTosh Vintage for my nephew.  The vintage, even after blocking was a great yarn for this as well - it has a bit of a sheen to it (that may fade with time/washing as it had with other projects I've done with it) and its a little bit lighter than the merino.  I love the asymmetry of the front and the way it makes the collar fall.  

This shows the 'sheen' the yarn has - although the lighting is a little funky in this picture, its a little more true to the actual color of the yarn. 

I found these great leather buttons that really worked well with the color, and added to the 'style' of the sweater.   And below you can see the differing stitch patterns that add great detail to a kid's sweater. 

And the finished project on Joaquin!  So its really big, which was what I wanted - I know he can wear it for a long time, and considering they live in San Diego, it needed to be a little lighter in weight to have any chance of getting worn!  It makes me think of a little old man!