Knitting Pharm

This kitten, she's smitten - with mittens!

I'm a big reader of the knitting magazines, but not so much of a knitter of their patterns.  I probably do 5-6 pieces a year in total from magazine designs.  It's not that they're not terrific designs.  Other than the seriously couture-type designs, the magazines tend to publish innovative pieces that are both lovely and wearable.

I have found a pattern that has already made a repeat offender out of me.  2 pairs down, heaven knows how many more to come.

The Green Autumn mittens from Jared Flood appeared on the cover of Vogue Knitting's Fall 2008 issue.  While gorgeous, the cover doesn't show the true beauty of the mitts.  Not by a long shot.

Not a single bit of plain stockinette appears.  It's a stranded, cabled, bobbled wonderland of texture.

Here's my first pair, in Socks that Rock mediumweight, Nyame colourway.  These will someday be gifted, but for now I just pet them and stare at them.

 

 

The second pair is in Araucania Ranco (nearly) solid.  It's a shop sample for Baadeck Yarns, but more than anything it was an excuse to work another pair.

Both pairs were from single skeins, with a ton of yardage leftover.  For the STR medium, I went down a needle size. 

The pattern is brilliant.  The magazine is worth it for it alone.  Thanks, Jared, for sharing it with all of us little knitting schlubs!

Baack to Baadeck

I have really, really missed Baadeck Yarns.  Whenever my annual professional conference takes place in Baddeck,  I love to go visit, fondle, and spend.  After a two year gap, I finally made my way back.  Behold the new stash!

Sea Silk in Baadeck Pinks, one each of the dark and light shades.

Discounted Felted Tweed, enough for my very own Tangled Yoke cardi.

Noro Silk Garden Sock, which I've been assured lacks the complete and utter suckage of its Kureyon sibling.

And some Beaded Silk from Tilli Tomas.  It's delish.

I did a design for the shop, for a lacy Moebius cowl.  It requires one skein of Rock Star, 1 long 5mm circular and the cast-on directions from either of Cat Bordhi's Magical Knitting Treasuries.

The pattern is free from Baadeck Yarns with the purchase of the required yarn, so contact Pat if your little black dress needs a bit of bling.

How's everyone else's stash doing?

I am a February Lady...

but who isn't these days?

February Lady Sweaterby Pamela Wynne

Blue Moon Fibre Arts Luscious Single Silk

Spinel colourway, 3 skeins

4.0 mm and 4.5 mm needles

Longer body, longer sleeves, some shaping and sizing modifications

Shawl pin by Perl Grey, buttons likely to follow

Completed September 13th, first worn about 15 minutes later.

Two and a half more

Shawl knitting continued into well September this year.  Having seen sister's shawl and a half, Baby needed one as well. (It should be noted that Baby is not a baby, but an almost 4 year old with a killer vocabulary and a temper to match, but I digress.  She's my littlest, and shall always be Baby.)

Some yellow Lucy Neatby Celestial Merino came from my mom's stash, and was tossed to me in disgust in the form of a single, ill-fitting sock and a matching second ball.  I've known that feeling, when a project goes south, and you want nothing more to do with the yarn.  Ever.  I made quick work of it, working the shawl and a half shape with Evelyn Clark's Shetland Triangle pattern.  Baby is quite thrilled with it.

 

   

And another Evelyn design, this one for a grownup.  It's the Sand Dollar shawl from the book "Knitting Lace Triangles", worked in a single skein of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction.  I love the sheen and strength from the Tencel in it.

 

I'm ever so grateful to Evelyn Clark, for teaching me to put holes in my knitting!

Let the games begin! And end!

I did participate in the fabulous Ravelympics this year, thought I'm a solid month behind in posting about it.

I opted for a yarn and pattern that had been in my stash for a bit, and had intimidated me from the get-go.  The yarn?  A bit of Zephyr from the Tangled Skeins Boxing Day sale.  The pattern?  Peacock Feathers from last fall's trip to Rosie's Yarn Cellar in Philly.  I bought the pattern, spread out the charts on a tables, got the ever-loving sh1t scared out of me, and packed the works up for a rainy day.

That rainy day happened to be the start of Ravelympics.

I would call this project more of a marathon than a sprint.  While not devilishly difficult, it was a real commitment in time and brain power.  There was far too much made of the reversing of charts after the centre line, which was actually completely intuitive.

I worked this one exactly as written, starting the morning after the opening ceremonies and blocking with a day to spare.

Did someone say photos?

     

     

   

Off to polish my medal.  Have a great weekend!

Two and a half shawls

I love Cherry Tree Hill Supersock.  The twist, the colour, everything about it.  Ages ago, I picked up a nice-sized mill-end in a solid purple, and I began to chip away at it.  A BSJ here, a hat there, even the occasional blanket square.

What I didn't realize was how awesome it was for lace.  An easy-on-the-hands knit, takes a block beautifully and makes great and durable pieces.

First off the needles was a Shetland Triangle, worked in a single day.  I added a few repeats, but otherwise worked it as written.  This one was donated to a charity auction, where I hope it raised some serious coin.

   

    

Next was a shawl and a half.  My girls love shawls, but the triangular shape doesn't stay put so well.  Since the Evelyn Clark designs are actually comprised of two triangles, adding a third section is an easy way to modify the shape.

Amy's shawl is worked from the Lace Triangles booklet, using the Leaf and Ripple motifs.  The modified shape makes great ties, and this one stays on, even at the playground.  Here it is on the first day of school, as well as some other photos to show the shape.

 

 

    

Lace?  My kryptonite?  I don't think so!

August's head to toe

More backposting to follow, as always...

Socks:

• unbloggable with STR lightweight
• unbloggable with Tofutsies
• Gumdrops socks (July BMFA club socks)

Shawls:

• Tuscany in Sea Silk
• Ravelympics Peacock Feathers in Zephyr
• Shetland Triangle in Cherry Tree Hill Supersock

Kid knitting:

• Monica for Lucy
• Monica for Lexi

Me, me ME knitting:

• Wicked in Handmaiden Ottawa

THREE shawls?  Remember the girl who wouldn't knit lace?