Fall Updates!

It is funny how I have more readers (and page views) than ever and somehow I have neglected to updated this for a long, long while.  Most of my life was turned upside down when I took a new job, so I have been trying to focus on something other than fiber pursuits, but now that I am in the swing of things, I have returned to my former self.... My fingers have been flying here and there and I am approaching my goals of 12 hats in 2012, along with 12 cowls in 2012.  I promised myself that I wouldn't only knit accessories, so there are plenty of other projects padding my 2012 roster.  

Since my last post I have finished a Simple Sprinkle cowl by Veera Valimaki, which turned out to be the wrong color scheme for my taste--though an excellent pattern for left overs! 

A Dovetail Cowl by Carina Spencer in Malabrigo Worsted in Marine.. which I love. (I am already working on another version in light gray Cascade 220 for a beautiful friend of mine!) 

A Windschief hat by Stephen West, which was gifted to me by an amazing fellow Raveler, which just so happens to fit Phillip's head wonderfully.  Though I never thought I would use Cascade 220 in Olive Heather again. 

I also began another pair of some cloudy days in unknown superwash dk weight wool... one down, one to go... and I started a Triangle Loop, which I am unsure of at this point.  I went through a few weeks where I wasn't knitting, so I decided to frog every living item that I hated... it cushioned my stash and provided me with something yarn-y without concentration.  I guess this post is dedicated to those items... RIP Star Crossed Beret-- thanks to you I have more Malabrigo Worsted... and RIP to my Holden Shawlette that somewhere dropped a stitch (obviously not my fault)... thanks to you I now have 600+ yards of Silky Wool to dream a Shaelyn into production.  

August Progress

I have been quite lazy about posting my FO's lately! I hadn't even realized that I had finished three since Rosebud until earlier today when I thought "hmm, it has been a long time..".  So apologies for being a lazy blog mama.  Since Rosebud, I have finished a hat, and two cowls getting me really very close to my 12 in 2012 deadline. 

First, I made a Honey Cowl in various shades of Cascade 220 for a dear friend.  I've made this pattern numerous times and am getting a little burned out on it, but I wanted to make a multi-colorway version before it escaped my brain.

Then I made The Natural Hat, (which an excellent free pattern on Ravelry) for Phillip, who I know will  kill me if I make him another hat.  This was made on size 7's with Cascade 220 in Cocoa.  It was an interesting pattern and kept my head amused, so I recommend. 

After Natural, I used my vacation splurge of Madelinetosh Merino Light in Trodden to make a Sid Cowl from Quince and Co. It is a simple knit/purl cowl (like Avery) but in fingering weight.  I loved this.  It was easy enough to take along with me and knit on at work and on breaks and the size 4 needle gave me the drape I wanted. 

Next up, I see a lot of colorwork projects for fall.  First is a Zig & Zag cowl, and then one of the many fair isle hats and/or glove patterns I have been drooling over lately! 

Happy Knitting! 

Finished: Rosebud

I took a short break from my Traveling Woman shawl to make a Rosebud hat by Jared Flood with some discount Cascade 220 in a bright red.  I had previously started the hat with Malabrigo but quickly realized that I wasn't sure my wardrobe could handle another blue hat fighting for my affections.  Three days later, I have a new (and my only) red hat.  The pattern is quite easy, and a great project for those just getting into charts.  

I have a Honey Cowl planned for a dear friend... and a trade of sorts for a Windschief cowl/hat combo for another former coworker.  If I had to guess my needles will be clicking away all summer. 

Progress: Traveling Woman

After finishing my Stripe Study, I decided I would keep my shawl kick going by casting on a Traveling Woman shawl. I can't tell you how long it has been lurking in my queue--ages probably.  It is one of those patterns that has always escaped me, no matter how hard I've tried or no matter how many times I think I've found a good pairing with a particular yarn.  The yarn I am using, Blue Sky Alpacas Silk & Alpaca, was a gift from Phillip well before he was my Phillip.  It was purchased spur of the moment during a  trip to my LYS and it has sat dutifully in my stash just waiting.  When I thought about making the shawl, my first instinct was to use vacation yarn--only seems to make sense, being the traveling shawl after all.  Then I realized maybe it wasn't about vacation yarn, or a quick week long trip, but this yarn (and pattern) has traveled with us through our dating, through our wedding and now through the (almost) first two years of our marriage. (It is likely, can't remember, that I bought it during my very first trip to a good yarn store, too.)  This yarn and this pattern have become a symbol for all that life has thrown at us, and is just another reminder of how important knitting and our relationship is to me. 

Finished: Stripe Study

Yesterday, I bound off my Stripe Study Shawl... Not sure if you remember, but I also made a Different Lines in Cascade 220 Fingering a while back? As much as I wanted to love it, I had some issues with how visible my wrap and turns were. After long research, I knew before I started SS I better lower my needle size and pull really damn tight if I wanted to love this $60 project.  Well, I did and I do! 

I used a size 4 needle with the Madtosh Sport and I am amazed at how large it turned out after less than a week of easy garter stitch.  I was really impressed with how well the yarn blocked out, too.  I have used other Madelinetosh yarns, but not the sport and certainly not a color like Tart. I expected to sit the piece in its bath, only to have a big bloody mess of dye everywhere and the project ruined.  (I had read lots of horror stories and of course, I was too lazy to worry about silly things like washing the yarn beforehand...)

Anyway, way to go Veera-- I love it! 

Progress: Stripe Study

Earlier this week, I embarked on a Stripe Study Shawl in Madelinetosh Sport (Tart & Charcoal).... Geesh, I am in love with this yarn! The colors are amazing and the pattern is really easy to work with.  It makes for perfect stressless knitting. I am hoping to be blocking it by the weekend, as I've had many compliments on it already and can't wait to wear it! 

Finished: Haruni (!!!)

I am feeling quite the high after finishing a project that has been in my queue for years.  Today, after 4 hours of a tedious Icord bind off, I finished my Haruni shawl.  Like I have said in previous posts, Haruni always felt like the "it" project for me... the project I would finish and feel like a "real" knitter.  I am not sure why it held so much weight in my book, I certainly have worked adventurous lace projects before, but I felt intimidated by the 15 page pattern for a long time.  I am happy to say that after about two weeks, I have finally arrived! And it is beautiful.

In other equally great news, I am already approaching the four mile mark of yardage this year!