Fiber Friday | 9.7.18

Fiber Friday | 9.7.18

Round and round and round, and the knitting grows. Slowly, but it does grow!

I also cast on Nymphalidea yesterday. I had a ball of Zauberball and some Lorna’s Lace sock yarn that are perfect for it. I have memorized the super easy pattern, and this will be come my “travel knit” as it is portable and simple. I also have a skein or two that would be beautiful for Close to You. Yes, holiday gift planning and knitting has begun!

Although, it is challenging to think of holiday knitting with this ghastly weather is it is NOT cooling as was forecast but, we did get some much-needed rain yesterday. So, there’s that. And, it seems there will more rain this weekend which means the chances are good that Operation Closet Organization will begin!

Now some knitting inspiration!

Staying in the Holiday Knitting mode… Sister From Another Mister “includes a colouring-in page so you can plan your perfect colour combos.”

Tuque Novembre also would be lovely in coordinating colors!

Tolt River Cowl

The next pattern in Core Wool 2018 is just gorgeous and might be my next cast on project: Etchplain

In the Stacks from Miss Babs Fall collection is also beautiful!

Remnants Shrug is interesting. Please note… it is a “recipe” only.

The sweater was strong again this week: Ingalls and Global Warming

Magnolia Mini is just adorable and has a great range of sizes!

And, finally… Scintillation! These look addictive! And, I love the warning!

That is all I have for this week! Have a great weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!

Fiber Friday | 8.31.18

Fiber Friday | 8.31.18

Houston… we have colorwork!!

Yes, I am on the downhill portion of my Strokkur and my favorite part! I feel safe in saying that this sweater will be done next week! This despite the realization that I did too many decreases in the short-row section – I should have done NONE and did them not “as above” but “as the previous page.” All this meant that I considered ripping back 8 rows of knitting… (yeah, yuck). My option was to just drop back stitches in the decrease areas and re-knit them sans decreases. It was fiddly, but it is done. AND, yes… colorwork has started!!

Moral of the story…really read every word the pattern author writes… knit to marker means just that. I blame this entirely on Joe Biden’s amazing eulogy yesterday for distracting me!

Is it just me or have you all noticed the huge influx of new patterns on Ravelry over the past week? You’d think a new season was coming, or something… ha! It’s true, a HUGE influx of new patterns and, sadly, not all of them were anything to write home about… or link here. But, I did find some really fun things to share with you this week!

First up, a couple of non-knitting links!

If you want to show a little RESPECT today, Aretha’s funeral will be broadcast on television and online.

Next up: Crostini, 3 Ways was posted this week on he Laine blog…oh my. This might be coming to a happy hour table in my house soon!

Are you a sock knitter?

Sockturnal… think this is your typical sock? Think again… it starts in a very unique place: the heel!

Dip your toes might be too cute to put shoes on!

Intiaanisykst are sure to be a quick knit using Aran weight yarn!

Perhaps you are more of an accessory kind of knitter…

Glitch might mean malfunction, but this cowl definitely is NOT!

Enderby is most interesting!

Magnolia Hat is so cute!

So is Hari Hat!

Ysolda’s Knitworthy 5 will be out next week!

Quince’s Dune and Ridge

However, it was Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner for the sweater knitters:

Dale was the first pattern released from Quince & Co. Core Wool 2018 (also see Dune and Ridge above… these first patterns are all about gauge!)

Jane Morris by Carole Sunday

The Throwback by Andrea Mowry

Hoar Cardigan has two sleeve style options

And, finally…The Sweater Opus: Lindisfarne which is a “labor of love.” Wow!

That’s all I have for this week! See you all back here on Monday! Have a wonderful LONG weekend!

Fiber Friday | 8.24.18

Fiber Friday | 8.24.18

It’s a 2-fer Friday! I finished up my AC-esque tee yesterday, I also finished weaving in the ends of last years End of Summer MKAL and I love them both!

I learned so much in the construction of this tee and I absolutely want to do this again! One thing I know for sure is that I need to practice stitches! Even a simple running stitch performs differently in knit materials. I see some more stitch sampling in my future! Ha! Also, AC patterns run small… holy cow. However, a quick fix of a side gusset solved that problem. I used one of Steve’s no longer worn Old Navy tee shirts which I cut apart and put back together. The front pieces are double layer (with a white tee shirt). I love how this double layer worked! It feels so substantial and is really much nicer than just a plain old tee shirt. I think for my first try, this worked very well!

 

Now, the End of Summer Wrap…it is huge!! I used Briar Rose Fibers Joyful and it is so soft! However, I am ashamed to say that just 3 partial days of knitting were all that stood between unfinished and finished. The unique construction of this shawl is also just wonderful! And, the huge rectangle shape is so wearable! It’s pretty sad that it languished in a basket for the better part of a year, however, I think this will be in heavy rotation this fall!

How about some links?

First up, Beth Brown-Reinsel has a couple of new Gansey books out: Gansey Style Accessories and Knitting Ganseys

Churchmouse Yarns & Teas has released a new fall collection that has some really lovely pieces! Plus, they included a little bonus hat pattern that is free!

Not a sweater knitter? This week has some lovely things for you!

The Sweater Was Strong this week:

And, finally… this one is for Carole! Beach Hair Don’t Care

That is all I have for the week! See you back here on Monday!

Fiber Friday | 8.10.18

Fiber Friday | 8.10.18

There is a part of me that is entirely ready for the neighborhood kids to all be back in school… really.badly. However, that will mean that summer is ending. Yeah, the inner debate is most interesting, let me tell you! Ha!

BUT!!! I am so excited to do a little test run of the Endless Summer Tunic! I have a MUCH too large Dress No. 3 that will work perfectly, and this brings me to the bottom of my re-purpose stack! I traced the pattern out yesterday and plan to do some cutting this morning! All this sewing has really made clear that I need to do some re-ordering of my “craft office” … I need a space for the sewing machine to live where it is easy to access, but not in the way. I have been mulling this over in my mind all week so if there is any rain at all this weekend, operation craft room reorganization will be underway!

I also have this insane urge to cast on all the things… really, every day there is something new on Ravelry that catches my eye. AND, Kym taunted me yesterday with her start of Tegna…But, I am determined to ignore this urge and knit faster on Rock the Lobster! I now have about 3 inches to go before the ribbing and then the STEEK!! And, I want to thank you all for the GREAT zipper tutorials!

So, how about you? Are you craving a new knit? Here are some links to tempt you!

Stop the presses – have you all seen the Autumn Issue of Pom Pom Quarterly? I especially love Sky Map – the stitching possibilities!

Have you seen this gorgeous cowl by Erica Mercer knit with my friend Carla’s CJKoho Designs yarn!

Eddy Hat and Cowl the “lite” version of The Eddy Sweater/Wrap

Sweater season is fast approaching: St Catherines and Lambert both caught my eye!

And, finally… a new take on a knitted beverage accessory: Dreieck (and it is free!)

And, that’s a wrap for this week…my list today also includes the utilization of some of the Basil from the Basil Jungle in a libation for Happy Hour tonight. I will let you know how it turns out on Monday! Have an awesome weekend!

Fiber Friday | 8.3.18

Fiber Friday | 8.3.18

I don’t know about you, but I am having a really hard time with the reality that it is August…my brain doth protests much and seems to be stuck in July.

However, yesterday when I posted about a Blanket for Annie… I had hoped that I might get a few knitters who wanted to help. But, I never ever imagined that I would have TWELVE knitters! I have emailed Ann and Kay and I am waiting patiently to hear from them. Blanket knitters… look for an email later today and THANK YOU!! I am so excited!

I had so many finishes this week, but not the Mystery Shawl! KK’s beautiful bind off is slow going but I love how it looks. Also, I think I am doing one too many petals in my flowers, but I like how it looks so I am continuing with the extra petal but, as you can see, I have more than enough yarn. I will settle in this morning with Paris in the Present Tense and see if I can make some good progress on it!

However, my favorite finish is my Notorious Dress inspired by Vicki! I love it!

How about some links to round out your week and perhaps give you some inspiration?

The sweater was strong this week on Ravelry: Sweatershirt and Shamrock if you are a “pullover” person. Or Soyokaze and Margot (Lady) if cardigans are your jam. Don’t like sleeves? Joji has just the thing for you in fingering or sport weight!

Want to knit sweaters for wee people? Bean Cardigan and Waszka

There was some amazing inspiration in the Rectangle Shawl Category this past week as well: Fauxtarsia Wave, Obvious are all gorgeous. I love that eelliotknits posted more yarn ideas for her Fauxtarsia Wave on IG yesterday.

Like short-rows? Then Arabian tales and Summer Dunes have exactly that!

And, for you wash cloth knitters… who can resist Macaron Cloths?

And, I love Cover Your Plans and I might need to do this for the planner I carry in my purse!

That is all I have for this week! Have an amazing weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!

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