Happy Thanksgiving everyone. So much to be grateful for this year! – new roof, new old car that runs better than the last old car – old dog still bouncing around the house and lots of family and friends!
And of course lots of knitting projects!
Here is the progress I’ve been making on my latest freeform jacket!
tons of fun and loving these fall colors.
I wanted something fun and easy and colorful to knit. I worked up this wrap using two strands of silk. I also did a few rows in Glace from Berrocco and then some novelty yarns that I had in my stash. Unfortunately the labels were lost long ago. The dark blue stripe(s) near the bottom were knit in a novelty yarn I bought in France in 1992. . . finally used up the last of it here.
I knit it from the top down using garter stitch.
The fronts are increased like EZ’s pi shawl and the back is increased along a center 10 stitches, similar to faroese shape.
This shawl definitely cured my itch.
Well, I’ve finally finished this vest. . . it was meant to be a jacket but I didn’t like how the sleeves looked on it. But it is really comfortable and fun as a vest.
The base yarn for this vest is knit in garter stitch swatches in yarn I bought in Ireland 6 years ago. I love how it feels, durable and warm. I think I have enough left to knit a “regular” sweater.
I started this vest during the 2008 summer Olympics. . . yup. . . I started it that long ago but it is done! (Unless I add sleeves to it)
The buttons are from a box of buttons that my mom gave me. . .I think they are some kind of animal horn or wood. . . all I know is that they are not plastic.
The button band and collar are knt in Lamb’s Pride yarn from Brown Sheep. I knit the sleeves out of that too but they didn’t turn out how I wanted. I tried to make champagne glass shaped color pattern for the sleeves. But they are too bulky.
I had so much fun crocheting the little circles. . .white in the center and pastel colors on the outside! Except one day I did too many and got a cramp in my thumb!
Here is the background for my yarn covered cones!
I’m really excited about it. I used fabric adhesive spray and the ends of yarn are from a project I did 5 years ago. Yes I save everything!!
Now I will use a sewing machine to “quilt” over the yarn ends to secure them to the fabric.
Can’t wait to really dig into this! I think this weekend is the time. . . especially since the deadline is quickly approaching.
I’ve started to destash my fancy yarns and am selling it on Ebay
Check it out!!
There is a total of 390 yards of 39 different colors of yarns in 10 yard increments.
Yarns included are silk/mohair/cotton/wool/ribbon.
Save money and get some fun yarn to play with.
Right now all I’ve put together are blues – but stay tuned or more colors!
I haven’t been able to hand knit or crochet for almost a month.
I am about to lose my mind.
It’s amazing how clean my house has become since knitting hasn’t been distracting me.
I was part of Ravelympics on Ravelry and thought I could finish a freeform knit/crochet sweater in 2 weeks. Silly me! The sweater isn’t finished.
I fell in love with these little bobbles and crocheted circles. . . then spent 4 hours crocheting. My first mistake! I have knit for 4 hours with no physical repercussions other than a bit of a stiff neck (and numb bum). But my poor little thumbs and fingers aren’t used to such small crochet movements. After this round of crochet I woke up unable to stretch out my left thumb or turn my wrist.
Okay, fine I thought. I can still knit. Ignoring the twinging, I to knit for about 1 hour. Not a good idea.
I pulled out the ice and ace bandage and ibuprophen. I was very good for two days; no hand work.
Then I went to an outdoor music festival and played fiddle for 2 days in the cool weather. Also not a good idea! More ice, bandaging and drugs!
Finally, today, my thumb and wrist don’t hurt. . . but I’ve got a good idea! I’m still going to hold off on the hand work for another day. (even though things don’t hurt today, they are still a bit stiff).
Maybe I’ve finally learned to listen to my body! (after 49 years, its about time!)
Knitting with such a strong intent to finish feels different.
Sunday I watched swimming, beach volley ball and gymnatics. . . but the event that allowed me to get the most knitting done was the women’s bike racing. I could actually look away from the screen at my work.
I got another row of champagne flutes done on the first sleeve on Sunday morning. They don’t look exactly as I imagined, and I still don’t know if I like it or not. hmmm.
Then last night, (Monday) I watched swimming, men’s gymnastic finals and volleyball. How is a person supposed to get any knitting done with that kind of excitement?
Can’t wait to see what tonight will bring!
Shawn
I haven’t written for so long! I’ve been busy knitting though!!
I have two sweaters to share with you. One is my freeform “Spring Garden Coat”. My favorite knitting is doing freeform or collage type knitting. Here are pictures of my 4th freeform sweater and my favorite so far!
FINALLY DONE AND PHOTOGRAPHED!!
I really love how this one turned out.
Each swatch in the coat has an embroidered or crocheted flower. I used mostly single crochet and crab stitch pieces in the assembly. The sleeves were knit in one piece (Plymouth Alpaca) from shoulder to cuff and then I cast on some sts (forgot how many already) and worked garter stitch back and forth in different yarns to knit the cuff. When the sleeves were done I embroidered the flowers on them too, and then ran the ends from the different yarns on the cuff up the sleeve in slip stitch crochet.
I didn’t even know I was so “in vogue” but I bought the tagua nut buttons at a local fabric store, and then low and behold they are advertised in the latest issue of Vogue Knitting. Hope you enjoy the photos.
The other item I’ve finished is my “Spoke Yoke Sweater”. I wrote the pattern and it is available on my etsy site.
I worked this up in yarn from Gale Woods. The yellow sweater is one my mom knit as she was testing my pattern. It is the smallest of 7 sizes and she knit hers in Galway Yarn from Plymouth.
Well, I’ve had enough fun for the morning, chatting. I need to get to work!
What does one do with a sweater that you just don’t have enough yarn for!?!?
About 10 years ago someone gave me a half knit sweater. . . which I frogged and then reknit into a raglan cardigan. . . however, I was about 2 inches short of one sleeve top. Oh what to do?? I just loved the look of the natural colored bulky wool and the way it fit together and couldn’t bring myself to add different color rib or stripes or any of that fun stuff that would have “stretched” my yarn. So, the easy solution was to put it in the closet.
This sweater followed me as I moved 3 times, entered and left significant relationships, and became a better knitter. . . then. . . I found it again.
I also realized I had some great one ply bulky that matched the weight of the sweater. Great colors and fast to knit wool from South Dakota Natural Color Wool. I turned the sweater into a blanket. . .
Here are photos of the result
You can also see on the left hand side, which sleeve came up short of yarn.
If you would like to see this blanket in person come and see me at The Creative Drive Art Show. I will be at John Onkka’s place.
Happy Spring!!
Shawn
I was inspired by these fingerless gloves (scroll down her blog to find them) and just had to try my hand at it. Next I’ll try working some up in one color.
back to more knitting!!