After what seems like forever, I have some FOs to share!
First up, I knit a wee Flax sweater from Tin Can Knits’ The Simple Collection. This is made from Malabrigo Rios in the Azules colorway. I loved the knit, loved the yarn & loved the result – a happy baby in a hand-knit sweater! The lighting in this photo makes the green seem a bit more obvious on the sleeves, but in real light, they are matched very well to the body of the sweater. Best part ever? I got a picture of the recipient wearing her sweater just a few days later, happily riding her rocking horse. Sweater looks great, and even has some room for her to grow!
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| Here is my FO, pins still in, on my blocking squares. |
Next, I finished Ysolda Teague’s Follow Your Arrow KAL. I started the KAL with everyone else, but finished a bit later. I have posted my combination of clues on my Ravelry project page. I loved working with this yarn and will definitely make more shawls in the future with this beautiful Briar Rose Fibers merino/tencel blend. It feels great around my neck!
After a loosing a bit of steam on this little knit when I thought my needle was coming loose from the cable, I was able to finish my Gather, also by Tin Can Knits. This yarn came from a new shop near me & features mostly local yarns. This yarn is a blend of llama & silk, and while it shed quite a lot during knitting, it is soft & warm as an FO & offers much better stitch definition than my picture represents!
My last FO is a pair of vanilla socks from The Knitmore Girls Vanilla Sock Pattern for #operationsockdrawer . I had a bit of ennui in March, after the challenges with my Follow Your Arrow & my stalled progress due to equipment failure on my Gather. I decided that I needed a sock to cure my ills, and while I didn’t get them done in time to wear them on St. Patrick’s Day, they are still done in time for spring! Yay! Here is my half-way-there shot, which is still my favorite shot of these socks. It’s all artsy, with the handmade bag from Miss Fiber Fox on Etsy in the background. (P.S. – I love these bags! I’ve been using them since Christmas & they are great! Check them out – she has a sale going on right now!!)
Whew! Having an FO or two around really helped my knitting mojo return – and the warmer, breezy spring weather has me craving shawls, scarves and lacy things! So, I indulged in a bout of startitis and cast on/swatched for a few things.
I’m nearly through the increases on my Estuary shawl, by Tin Can Knits. I’m knitting it out of Fibernymph Dye Works‘ Mercy base (50% Merino/50% Silk) in the colorway Northern Lights. It’s delicious & beautiful & a joy to work with. LOVE!
I have two full skeins & want to use as much as possible, so I took advantage of the pattern note about a swatch not being necessary, since ‘correct gauge is not essential for this project, but may affect yardage’). While the pattern only calls for 600 yards, I have over 850 yards of this deliciousness and I want to use as much as possible! I bought this yarn with this scarf in mind & I’m so happy with the result thus far.
I cast on with the recommended needle size. I have taken the option to widen the shawl by doing two additional increase charts & will determine my halfway point based on my yarn usage & my whim at the moment when I finish the first ball.
I have swatched for the Bonny tank, again by Tin Can Knits [are you seeing a pattern here? I should start referring to 2014 as “The year I knit ALL the Tin Can Knits things”.]. I have 3 skeins of Malabrigo Silkpaca lace weight & I think they would make a beautiful top that could be worn for casual or business equally well. Now I just need to decide if I want to use a different needle size than called for. My swatch is a little hole-y. I have plenty of yardage, so now I’m on a mission for size 3 32″ needles.
Next thing to be swatched for is the Celaeno Shawl by Romi Hill. I’ve had a skein of Malabrigo Sock in Azules and matching beads in my stash for nearly 8 months. It’s time.
And I want an Annis shawl, and a Thistle wrap, and a Clapotis… I’ll start knitting sweaters again when we get closer to September.
Happy Friday!
Donita Westman 