Saturday, September 29, 2012

Reversible

I love reversible stitch patterns.  I recently designed a stole * that is fully reversible so that the wearer need not wonder which is the "right" side - because I've noticed that many of my loving, well-meaning family members (who are deserving of hand-knits) still do not know the difference between a knit and a purl when looking at lace (or stockinette).

Thus I had high hopes for this book when I saw it on the library shelf.
Reversible Knitting by Lynne Barr more than met my expectations and is now on my must-have-for-personal-library list.  It wasn't quite the form of reversibility that I was expecting.  This is more "it also looks interesting on the back side" type of reversibility for the most part, which is fine. I was expecting it would be more like reversible cables. However, what Barr has done with her new stitches her is even more fun than that.  She utilizes many different techniques, knits in multiple directions, works in multiple colours (double knitting, slipped sts, etc), even develops faux-crochet stitches.  There is some seriously cool stuff in here to challenge a knitter like me who loves new things.

* The Corey Stole is still in testing phase and I do not have great photos of it, but the bride did wear it on her wedding day so I know there will be some great wedding shots of it worn like a scarf.  I desperately need a new camera.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Not just knitting

A quick pic to show that I don't just knit fabric. Yes, I also crochet. (No, I do not weave. Yet.)
That is the start of a hat in leftover lace yarn.  I borrowed Crochet So Fine (by Kristin Omdahl) from the library and have confirmed what I already suspected from looking at the patterns on Ravelry. I need this book in my personal library. I love it.  There are several pieces I would certainly crochet one day.  I truly appreciate the mix of different crochet techniques, including broomstick lace and hairpin lace (which I've played with once before), among the stitches used.

Monday, September 24, 2012

15 months

15 months.
It was worth every stitch.
At last my mystery KAL project based on the novel Around the World in 80 Days is complete, blocked, and ready to show off.  I wore it to my sister-in-law's wedding this weekend.


A windy afternoon for pictures.

A large square!
Now what giant project shall I start next?
(yeah yeah, I should finish my own Tread Softly shawl and Sabbatical lace cardigan.)

Friday, September 21, 2012

Mailbox

Is there anything better than finding these in your mailbox, fresh from the KW Knitters' Fair and Shall We Knit? ?


CLassic Elite Silky Alpaca

Lace weight. But I previously bought this colourway in fingering weight and made delicious socks.
This begs the question - what will I spin to knit and what will I knit??? Stay tuned...

Great big hugs to my wonderful friend Erin M for sharing some Knitters Fair love with me.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Mini Projects

As much as I love big projects and complicated knits, I also need to have a constant stream of mini projects on the go. Something a little more exciting than a dish cloth (although I did just CO one of those for mom's stocking this Yule).
Currently I'm using up some mini handspun skeins to make hexagons like this:
lace weight.


Also using some fingering weight ends for squares.  One day I'll have a blankie. So I suppose that makes two "big" projects, but it feels a lot more like mini projects.  Actually, it feels like "using whatever odds and ends I have on hand while the majority of my stash is in storage".

I desperately need a house of my own. (No, not simply to store my stash. Just to unpack it.)  Otherwise I may have to visit a LYS soon.  I neeeeeeeed fingering weight yarn.

I've also cast on a few adorable little elephant toys in Koigu orphans for the kids.  More Yule gifts.

ETA a few more mini pics

Random ends squares (fingering)

more lace hexagons

ends need weaving

hexagons need blocking

camel-silk singles. so soft.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Big projects

I love large projects and the satisfaction of completing them... but the middle can become rather tedious.  I remember stalling on my Evenstar shawl when I hit the repetitious columns.  And then there was the knit-on edging. With many beads.  But it was well worth it in the end.






The current giant shawl I am working on was a mystery KAL inspired by the novel Around the World in 80 Days.  I listened to the book while knitting the first portion.  This huge project also stalled for a while as I started my own large KAL for a new design (Tread Softly), developed an aversion to knitting during pregnancy (it was horrible!), moved across provinces to be closer to family, had twins, etc.

The start of the project


I finally picked it up again this summer.  Most of the knitting was done during long drives.
Now, I am finally binding off! (I cheated a wee bit an omitted the last pair of rows.  I want to wear this to my SIL's wedding this month and thought the crochet BO would take longer than it is.)

The state of the shawl for a long time.
I look forward to sharing FO photos. Any day now...