Love Letters

Latest knitting project

Hey kids!  I thought I'd take a moment to share my latest knitting project, one I've actually completed... I know, shocking, isn't it?!? Anyone who knows me very well knows I am the Queen of starting knitting projects... I just love to choose the yarn, and see how it knits up, but I lose interest pretty quickly, especially if it's a very detailed pattern, the kind that requires lots of close attention (that takes all the fun out of knitting for me, at least at this point in my development as a knitter)... I guess I'm kind of like a two year old that way.

 

This is a very long wrap, approximately 30" wide... made of Rowan Kidsilk Haze, a mohair and silk blend.  I am totally smitten by the yarn and by how it turned out... I can wear it with anything and can even curl up under it, if conditions warrant!  It is a tactile dream.

 In this close up photo can you see the "blush" of the mohair? (That's an official knitters term, honestly I'm not making this up! It refers to the fuzziness of the yarn.)  It is dreamy, lightweight, and very, very warm.  I feel like I'm six foot tall Parisian model when I'm wearing this... it's probably my favorite knitted piece so far, and I'm keeping this one.  I gave away my former most favorite knitted object and I'm still kicking myself... it's a long story!  This wrap took me nearly a year to complete, with lots of down time in between bursts of knitting... definitely a labor of love!

Currently, I'm working on a hat with a gorgeous cabled cuff around the bottom, something I've never done before (cabling).  Unfortunately, I chose an all cotton yarn, so there is absolutely no stretch to the yarn, which I am afraid I will regret in the long run... but we'll see... maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.  The yarn is a somewhat boring, very conservative oatmeal color, as you can see below:

 

 This is a close up of the band... note the cable running horizontally at the bottom of the photo... after sewing the long, cabled band together, I picked up stiches along the top edge of the cable and am now working on the body of the hat. The hard part is done, and the rest should be relatively quick.

 I'll be sure to post a photo of the finished product. Thanks for stopping by!

 

Who knew?!?!?

This shawl was designed by one of my dearest and bestest friends
in the entire world, David Assemany...
and none of us in our knitting group knew this ad was going to appear!
Apparently David didn't even know!!! Who knew?!?!?

Congragulations, David!

obsession

When I first started knitting, I was really skeptical about the idea that it might become all consuming.  People would tell me about their stash of yarn and how out of control it was, and I was sure this would never happen to me.  Others would discuss their preference for natural fibers and luxury yarns and I thought they really were snobs. Well, well, well... once again I've learned to never say never... I have developed an intense dislike for glitzy, sparkly, man-made fibers.  I am running out of places to store/hide/organize my stash, and my stash is mostly made up of natural fibers that are timeless in their appeal.  I find I am preoccupied with starting new projects, even though I have many, many UFOs (unfinished objects) on needles all over the house.  It's almost a sickness, seriously... it's frightening.  I wish I could figure out why knitting has this sort of appeal to people, and why I too, am afflicted with this very expensive habit. My friends (knitters, of course) tell me it's much better to spend money on yarn than to visit the casinos or bars.  The yarn never goes bad, there's no such thing as a yarn hangover, and if you consider the hours of enjoyment knitting with the yarn, it comes out to quite a value... and that doesn't even take into account the joy of wearing the garment you've made with your own two hands!  (That would require actually finishing one of those UFOs, wouldn't it?!?) Happy knitting!

Knit on!!!

frigging frogging

How much ripping can one person do? I've knit and reknit and reknit the start to a simple poncho w/a lace panel, three times now. I'm really starting to think I'm deficient in some way... perhaps yarn overs and knit 2togethers are just not for me. (At least not while trying to carry on a conversation or watch TV, or all three at once!)
It's a great little number from Mountain Colors, using their hand painted merino wool ribbon yarn. I've tried the sample on, and it feels like a dream! Lightweight and yet warm, but not too warm... just perfect. I'm thinking about wearing it when I'm sitting up in bed knitting, and my shoulders are a bit chilly (yes, even this time of year, it's that lightweight!). Photo of pattern pix to follow.
That's it for now, have a knitting day!!!