Charmayne

Charmayne

Charmayne, as you can see, is a heavily beaded shawl.  The free pattern comes from “Knitty” and you can find it HERE:  http://knitty.com/ISSUEss18/PATTcharmayne/PATTcharmayne.php

The pattern instructions specify you can make a small or a larger version of the shawl; I made the small version based upon the amount of yarn I had.  My skein of yarn was 100 grams; I had 15 grams remaining after finishing the shawl.  The yarn I used is hand dyed and comes from Andromeda Sock Yarn.  The yarn’s maker is from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and she sells yarn on line and also at my LYS (Yarned & Dangerous, Canon City, Colorado).  The yarn’s color way is “Take a Hike”.

Some completed projects are easier to photograph than others.  I feel as if this was a challenging project to capture in photos.  I am including a bunch of photos so you can see the shawl from a variety of angles.  

If you are interested to know, I think I used about 50 grams of beads in this project.  The beads are Unions 6/0 Miyuki beads and the color is Metallic Mix (01610).  When I started the project, I only had one tube of beads (20 grams).  As I was knitting along, it occurred to me that I did not have nearly enough beads.  After searching for a good long while, I found two more tubes of the same beads on eBay.  Phew... what a relief!

This was a super fun knit. The shawl starts with just a few stitches and grows from there.  As you knit along and the project grows wider and wider, you are pretty much just working in stockinette and then you pay close attention to one edge of the project where the lace and beads are being worked.  At the very end, when the project is quite wide, you complete the final lace border which contains gobs of beads.  I have to admit I was dreading the lace border. I was worried it would be fussy and slow and too labor intensive.  As it turns out, the lace border was not that slow and it was fun.  This is such an enjoyable knit that I can see myself making another Charmayne shawl.

Sky Above, Earth Below

Sky Above, Earth Below

In October, I went to a knitting retreat in the San Juan Islands (Washington State).  The hostess of the retreat was Sivia Harding, who is a knitwear designer.  Prior to the retreat, she sent all the retreat participants a number of her patterns.  That way, we could pack accordingly... what yarn to buy, what needles to bring, and so on.

"Sky Above, Earth Below" is one of her patterns.  You can make a multi-colored larger version of the shawl or you can make a small version using just one skein of fingering weight yarn.  You can also opt to add beads or not.

Here is my one-skein version of Sky Above, Earth Below.  The yarn is from Sun Valley Fibers (Merino Wool, Cashmere Goat, and Nylon) and the colorway is called "Crimson Leaves".  I did not do a gauge swatch before starting this project and I noticed I was running out of yarn as I was nearing the end. I had to skip a number of rows at the end. Perhaps I was knitting too loosely and used up the yarn too fast.  Oh well!

I have completed a bunch of other projects in the past several weeks.  I'll take a little time to show you over the next few days.

Building With Lace

Building With Lace

A quick post to show you a project that was NOT a quick knit. I've been working on this lace project called "Building With Lace" on and off since January.  This is a pattern by Michelle Hunter (AKA: KnitPurlHunter).  The yarn is called "Rylie" by HiKoo and the fiber content is baby alpaca, mulberry silk, and linen.  The color way is called "Sailor's Delight".  All of the Rylie yarn has "beachy" names such as sand, seagrass, abalone, etc.  

The project starts with a provisional cast on and then you progress from one lace section to another. There is a band of eight rows of garter stitch between each different lace pattern.  At the end, you finish with a sawtooth border and then you go back to the provisional cast on, pick up the live stitches, and do the sawtooth border on the opposite end. I timed myself to see how long it took me to work one sawtooth on the border and it took me about 15 minutes to complete one sawtooth... and there are 30 sawteeth (sawtooths?)… but whose counting, right?  By the time I got to the borders, I was really ready to be done with this project!

 It was challenging to block something so large.  I soaked the entire piece in water and then pressed out much of the water. I spread it all out over a large blanket on the floor to shape it into a rectangle as best as I could.  After it dried, I re-blocked the points of the borders on my blocking mats using blocking pins and my spray bottle of water to help them hold their sawtooth shape.  

I am really happy with this project.  I've purchased more of this yarn to make this again; I think the yarn I selected is called "Sand".  The pattern calls for beads which are primarily added to the borders... over 600 beads.  When I make this again, I may add beads. I am mulling that over right now.  I opted to not add the beads to my red version.  Another random note about this project is that I had to use needles much smaller than recommended in the pattern. The pattern calls for US Size 6 needles to get gauge and I had to use size US Size 4 needles to get gauge.  I was concerned about running out of yarn so I did fewer pattern repeats in a two sections to ensure I was not playing "yarn chicken" during the borders.  In the pattern, Michelle Hunter specifies that each border takes about 20 grams of yarn which is extremely helpful if you are concerned about running out of yarn. I weighed my yarn before and after I knit my second border and border #2 did take 21 grams of yarn.

As always, Michelle Hunter's pattern was an absolute joy to follow. I've learned so much from making her projects including "Building Blocks", "Building in Color" and now "Building with Lace".  What is amazing about these patterns is the video support you can find on Michelle Hunter's website which can be found HERE.  In the written pattern instructions for each section of the project, you are directed to her website where you can watch instructional videos for each skill in that section of the project (ie. provisional cast on, nupps, smocking stitch, sk2p decreases, and so on).

It was challenging to photograph this project to show you how lovely all the designs are. Here are all my photos... some photos are better than others but I am just uploading them all.  Forgive the random dog or electrical outlet in the photo background. 

Lavender Leaves: A sweet sweater for Baby Grace Anne

I bought enough of this lovely lavender yarn (Cascade 220 Superwash) to make a sweater for myself a few years back but I am not much of a sweater knitter. I actually started to make a sweater called Pismo but frogged it. The shaping made me fret and the notion of sewing all the pieces together in the end made me sweat... and knitting is supposed to be FUN... so I am using this pretty yarn for other smaller projects.

I have been eyeing this pretty baby girl sweater pattern called "Autumn Leaves" for awhile now.  The pattern can be found HERE on a blog called What to Knit When You're Expecting.  I was about to cast it on the other day but found another version which was a modified version of the original.  The modified version can be found HERE on a blog called Natural State Knitting.  I liked the modified version just a tad better for a few reasons.

• I liked that the modified version called for only two buttons at the neck of the sweater instead of a long row of buttons all the way down the the waist area of the sweater.  Sweaters knit from the top down tend to want to swing open at the bottom and if you put buttons all the way down, sometimes it just tugs and looks unattractive.  I think three buttons would also be very nice; I kind of wish my sweater had a third button. 
• With the original version, I saw a number of comments (on Ravelry) about folks feeling the need to alter the sleeves (perhaps there were not enough stitches?) and from what I could tell, the lady at Natural State Knitting had altered the sleeves a bit which took the guess work out for me.
• Also, the modified version eliminates some of the seed or purl stitches around the tips of the leaves and I think the modified version has a nice, clean, crisp look as a result.

I am very glad I tried the modified version.  I think it's a very sweet looking sweater.  I actually made this sweater because I found a cute hat pattern with a leaf/flower petal motif and I wanted to make a sweater to match the hat!  Now... I just need to make the hat... (see pattern HERE).

Bow Tie Cloche in Blue and Cream

Another  Bow Tie Cloche

I sure like this pattern.  This time I paired Cascade Fixation in cream (off white)

with a pretty blue Berroco  Comfort DK. I love the combination of these colors. 

Berroco Comfort DK is one of my favorite yarns for chemo caps and this yarn must be a bit finer/thinner the other DK yarns I've used for this pattern.

This hat is not as slouchy as the other Bow Tie Cloches I've made. 

 I think it's a really good size. 

I am planning to make another Bow Tie Cloche with the cream colored Cascade Fixation along with Berroco Comfort DK in pink (Rosebud... my favorite shade).

Holden... A Shawl

Holden is a shawl pattern I've admired for awhile. I got this yarn from Knit Picks with a gift certificate from my Mom for Christmas. Thanks, Mom!!!

This is Knit Picks Stroll in a colorway called "Lullaby". The yarn is "tonal"... shades of blue but there is purple in there too. It's very nice yarn... so soft. I enjoyed knitting with it.  Holden is a free pattern; I found it on Ravelry.  In the pattern photos, the designer shows the shawl being worn in this fashion like a neckerchief.  I think I might be able to pull off this look.  I don't intend to wear this shawl with this shirt but it does allow you to see the eyelet well, doesn't it? 

Snapped a photo of myself in the mirror. I am loving the gray streak in my hair at the temple.  :) 

My "free" highlights!  Ha, ha!

Lacy Sampler Scarf is Complete!

Pattern:  Superior Lacy Sampler Scarf (Click HERE for link)
Yarn:     Queensland Collection Bamboo Cotton

I started this scarf in JULY 2010. Click HERE for that post with some close ups of each lace repeat.  Much like the Second Sock Syndrome, I was very excited when I finished the first half and then promptly moved on to other projects... leaving this to collect dust.  I am excited to be finishing up so many projects.  I still have some WIPs and keep starting new projects.  Crazy, I know!!!  But I am happy to announce... it's March and I still have not bought any yarn this year!

The two halves of this scarf are not identical.  I think I MIGHT have missed a few rows at the end of the Diamond Mesh pattern... either that, or I just did not block the two halves to the same size. Whatever the case may be, it's one of those mistakes only I would notice (probably).  I did not think I would like to wear this scarf but I think I might keep this for me.  Besides, if there's a big mistake in the scarf, I can't give it away, right?  The yarn drapes really nicely and the scarf is really long so you can tie it around your neck in a stylish fashion that lays nicely.  I'll try to get one of the girls at the Thursday Knitting Group to snap my photo today so you can see how it looks.  I think what is great about this pattern is that each of five different lace patterns would make a great scarf all by itself.  And of course.... as I was knitting it, I kept wondering where I could insert beads within the lace patterns.  

Woodland Scarf is Complete

 

A few photos of my completed Woodland Scarf.  The scarf's finished length is about 66 inches and it's about 6 1/2 inches wide.  I think it's a nice size.  It blocked nicely and I like the scalloped edge.  I can picture this same pattern in other yarns, other colors, etc.  Sorry the photos are a bit dark again. As you can tell, I did take photos outside for some natural light but it was a bit shady as you can see.  I have started a new scarf with some new yarn and I am not sure what to make of the pattern I have chosen.  I am actually trying out two different patterns.  I seem to really be struggling picking the right yarn for the patterns I am chosing to make.   So much to learn!

This weekend's knitting

Been busy knitting this weekend.  I just finished up my Woodland Scarf and, as you can see... it's on the blocking mats now.  I'll try to take some nice photos tomorrow. I used all but a few feet of the yarn for the scarf so it's a nice long length. I think the scarf will make a nice gift for my friend, Rene'.

The other day I bought some lace weight yarn.  I learned a lot from my first attempts at lace knitting this weekend.  First of all, I should have wound the yarn into a ball at the yarn shop. Within moments of unwrapping the hank of yarn at home, I just about had a yarn catastrophe!  It was hard to keep the featherweight yarn under control and get it wound into a ball.  I first started with the Swallowtail Shawl Pattern.  Then I switched to a shawl pattern called Lavalette.  I got even further on the second pattern and I totally "get" the pattern. What I learned is that I need some smaller stitch markers.  See how in the center of the shawl there is a vertical line down the center? That should be a column of single knit stitches flanked by yarn overs on both sides. My stitch markers (plastic rings) totally got in the way and made for really loopy yarn overs.  Now that I get the pattern, I think I could follow the pattern without the stitch markers.  All said and done, I was not happy with how the shawl was coming along, so I ripped out the entire thing after I snapped this photo.  I just found a third shawl pattern called Simple Yet Effective Shawl.  I really underestimated how hard knitting with lace weight yarn would be. I've decided to go with the simplest pattern possible just to get the feel of knitting lace... I'll save the Swallowtail Shawl for another day. It's beautiful but much more complicated.

Lacy Sampler Scarf... half way there

One half of the scarf

Flame Chevron Lace

Horseshoe Lace

The Cloisters

Twin Leaf Lace

Diamond Mesh