Bamboozle Cowl

Bamboozle Cowl

I like how this turned out.  I just made up the pattern as I went and I am happy with it.

The pattern is available on Ravelry.  Click HERE.

I did soak the cowl in water with a bit of Euclan.  Initially I regretted doing this. I was afraid maybe  I liked the cowl better before I soaked it. The yarn soaked up so much water I had to pat it dry rather vigorously with a thick bath towel just to remove some excess water otherwise I feared it would take a week to dry!  I was afraid I mashed it too hard and made it look flat.  But it fluffed up a bit as it dried. I did not block it with any pins; I just shaped it a bit with my hands. Wet blocking it and shaping it like I did helped; the edges do not curl up now.

The yarn is so pretty.  I love the "Heathers" color way in this yarn (Bamboozle by King Cole).  In case you were wondering, the yarn is a blend of bamboo, wool, and acrylic.  Get it?  Bamboo... Bamboozle!  Love it!

I looked on the Internet and see that Bamboozle comes in a variety of beautiful color ways.  You can see them HERE. 

My goal for this weekend is to finish up the Sock Head hat I've been working on... I'll keep you posted!

Happy Knitting!

Hitchhiker

Hitchhiker (With a dog back drop... yep, knitting with a dog on my lap again...)

I already have too many projects in the works but I was compelled to cast on a few new projects recently.  This is a Hitchhiker shawl/scarf.  I have made this project before and like it because it's a very wearable garment.

The Hitchhiker pattern link can be found HERE.

The yarn I am using is a "Baah" brand yarn called "La Jolla" and I am using the "Market Flowers" colorway.  This is yarn I purchased at "So Much Yarn" in Seattle, Washington.  The colors in the yarn were inspired by the colorful flowers you find in Seattle's Pike Place Market.

Here are some flower photos from the Pike Place Market.  I was there in June 2016, after taking a cruise to Alaska.

Trillian

Trillian

I noticed Ann, the owner of The Yarn Shop at Words of Life, was working on a great looking shawl last time I was at the shop.  The pattern is called "Trillian" and I just loved the way it looked.  I thought about the yarn Ann was using; it's a very subtle variegated yarn in shades of green. It got me  looking at the yarn in my stash and I thought this pretty yarn with shades of red and orange would also make a nice Trillian.

Trillian pattern link can be found HERE.

The yarn I am using is Liberty Fibers Fingering Weight Merino Superwash in the "Chinese Lacquer" colorway. My friend, Belinda, gifted me this yarn after she took a trip to New York.

This pattern calls for larger needles than I am using. I am using 2.75 mm needles (40 inch circular needle). 

Bonbon Bunny #3

This is Bonbon Bunny #3

You can see #1 HERE
You can see #2 HERE

Bunny #3 was knit using a DK weight yarn called "Smarty DK" by King Cole.  The color was is called "Mishmosh".  I used some lavender Cascade 220 Superwash yarn for a pom pom bunny tail.

My local yarn shop, The Yarn Shop at Words of Life, has recently started carrying a big assortment of King Cole yarns and it's quite nice.  I taught a class using the "Bonbon Bunny" pattern at my local yarn shop back on February 18th and it was fun.

Sandy was a BIG helper while I was knitting this bunny. She's holding my yarn for me. 

So helpful... not!!!

Building in Color: Panel #2 Complete

Building in Color: Panel #2

This is Panel #2 for my Building in Color afghan. I wrote more about the technique used in this panel in a recent post, which you can see HERE.  This was a fun and interesting technique.  I like how this panel looks a lot like plaid.  I am busily knitting away on Panel #3 and looking forward to sharing more about that very soon.  I recently completed another Bonbon Bunny; I'll post about that project once I take some good photos.