My Knitting Life

Zigzag Lace Scarf

Pattern by Lisa Lloyd

Yarn:  3 skeins Classic Elite "Posh" in Raspberry

(70% Cashmere, 30% Silk)

Size 8 needles

3 skeins made a substantial scarf - 9"x70", plenty to do the double up, wrap around and pass through method - my favorite way to wear a scarf.  It is really soft and lightweight and warm - just the right scarf to cheer me up during these chilly grey days in March.

I'm all about lace scarves in cashmere these days.  I haven't shown a WIP in months, maybe even years, but this one is worth sharing. 

Handspun works up very differently, a much more rustic, alive feel to the yarn.  With all its lumps and bumps, keeps things very interesting.

More MorehouseIgloo Hat and Super MittsKits from Morehouse Merino, Size 11 NeedlesI'm enjoying getting back into knitting with some simple knits in Morehouse Merino Bulky yarn.  The folks at Morehouse put something new on sale each Monday, so I stocked up a couple weeks ago.  I'm into this season of American Idol, so I can watch and knit these simple projects without looking.

Absolutely, Positively Reversable Scarf, Wide Version3 Skeins Mongolian Cashmere"Blueberries and Plums"Size 8 needlesI knit something...yeh me!  Last year, I made the narrow version of this scarf in the same yarn, but in green.  I wear it all the time, so I thought maybe a new one was in order.  Plus, I had a feeling it might get me over my knitting hiaitus.  Has it actually been several months off from knitting and blogging for me?  Like any habit, it seemed strange at first.  Work and family life have been all consuming, so I didn't really notice the absence of those two things that used to take up so much of my time.

It feels nice to come back to a simple project in special yarn.  If you are reading this, thanks so much for stopping by after all the months of quiet around here.... 

What is going on here?

Look a little closer...

We are all having fun knitting the Moebius scarves from Cat Bohrdi's book, Magical Knitting.  You need a long circular needle, 47" or longer.  Imagine that needle coiled up once, as it is in the package, sort of.  You do her magical cast-on and start knitting in the round.  The result is a tube with a twist, knitted from the center out, around and around.  It is too hard to explain, even harder to see what you are doing when you are actually doing it.

This one is put over the head, twisted and over the head again. So nice and cozy around the neck. Or at least it will be next winter.

For some laughs, you can pull it up over your head, too.

The Noro Silk Garden version used 2 skeins and was done on a 10.5 needle, only because it was the only size I had in a 47" length.  It came out nice a drapey.  Details to follow on version two pictured above...

These are great carry around projects, once you cast on.  The magic is that you really don't see the finished result until it is off the needle, which is part of the fun.  They are relatively quick and don't use a ton of yarn, so it's worth the gamble in time and materials to play around and see what you get!

Penobscot Silk Scarf, by Cyrene Slegona1 skein Art Yarns Silk Rhapsody Glitter, Color 149SSize 7 NeedleCompleted April 23, 2007

I substituted the Artyarns SR for the Fiesta Yarns La Luz called for in the pattern.  Using a larger needle, I got a slightly larger scarf.  Artyarns SR is a silk/mohair combinatation with a glitter silvery thread running through. The pattern is available free through Interweave Knits, Summer 2006, also online for free. 

There are 8 panels of arrowhead lace, separated by bands of stockinette.  No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't capture the halo of the yarn, the soft variagated grey and mauve bands of color, and the pretty silver glitter of the yarn in my photos!  This scarf was started and almost completed on my vacation - it was a perfect take along project.

Highly recommend this lovely pattern!

I spent this week wrapping up loose ends at home and work, and finishing up some small knitting projects too.  Among them, this scarf in Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere, Color #40, 3 skeins, size 9 needles.  The pattern was the February 1 entry in the 2007 Knitting Calendar, written by Sandra Bennett from Thistle Cove Farm.  It was a simple stitch that feels so scrumptious in cashmere.  I'll be storing this one away until next fall.

We're off on a Spring Break family vacation.  We will be joining my husband's cousin and his family at a very special spot in sunny Jamaica!  Both families have the same age and gender children, so hopefully the moms and dads can kick back while the kids entertain themselves!

Pemaquid MittensPemaquid Yarn from The Fibre Company1 Skein "Starry Night", 2 Skeins "Toast"Size 9, 10 DPNsFebruary 10-11, 2007

This yarn just came into the shop last Friday.  It was so lovely, that I took some that day and volunteered to make up these mittens as samples.  I was at a swim meet all weekend.  The mitten- knitting insulated me (somewhat) from all the drama in the stands.  They worked up quickly on the big needles, providing entertainment for all those around me..."that's how you make a mitten?"   

Three Cool HatsMorehouse Merino Hat KitsMM Bulky ~ denim, soft white, brownSize 10.5 needleDecember 9-11, 2006These hats are Christmas presents for my kids, left to right, Charlie, Maddy and Joe.  The boys got Snowboarder hats, and Maddy, a Super Top.  The hats worked up so quickly.  They are thick and soft.  With the leftovers, I had enough to make another one... 10 days 'til Christmas...off to do some seaming, baking, wrapping, shopping, and knitting!

Fake Isle Hat ~ Colorful Version Noro Kureyon #165~ Turquoise Manos from Stash Size 6 Needle November 13-16, 2006

This time, I decided to make the larger size.  I cast on and worked all the way through the first chart before I realized that I had not worked the extra rows for the larger size.  Grrr....   OK, to make up for the lost rows, I threw in the middle motif (little diamonds) with extra stripes.  That put me over the row count, so I shortened the last chart by the same number to accomodate.

I also struggled with the contrast for this bright Noro.  First I went with some brown heather Lamb's Pride.  The chart disappeared!  Then I went back to the black from my first version.  Against the bright colors, it looked like a spider fell on top.  Finally, I unearthed this Manos which had been in my stash for many years - it was perfect for this hat.  It makes a more rustic hat than the Lamb's pride.  It seems like Manos and Noro in these colors were meant for each other.

Who knew the second go-around would be so complicated?  It fits great, so I guess it was worth it!

Fake Isle HatNoro Kureyon/Lamb's Pride ~ From StashSize 6 NeedlesNovember 7-10, 2006

Sadly, all the good colors remained on the ball.   That is the way it goes with Noro - you never know what will happen.  This hat fits my 8 year old.  Next time, I would make the larger size - it would use more yarn, and more colors too!  I started this to have a simple fair isle project on the needles to share with students, but I got so caught up in it that I finished it before the next week's class.