Slightly Sidetracked

I'm still knitting shawlettes, and the wool pink/raspberry/metallic combination is 8 rows from completion. That will happen this weekend and I will post a photo.

I love the pattern I'm using for it, "Simple Things Shawlette" which can be purchased from Ravelry or perhapy from the designer's website http://www.rainydaygoods.com/

It is such a cute shawlette and easily can be made larger, if you have more yarn available. A predicament that I have encountered with the shawlette I started -- see photo. The pattern calls for 360 yards and I have 421 yards of yarn. After each 10-row section of eyelet I will weight the remaining yarn to help determine how many additional sections I can knit and not run out of yarn. I want to use up the yarn for both, so they will be larger than called for in the pattern.

The yarn is a cotton/wool/polyester combo in gorgeous shades of blue -- it reminds me of the ocean. I found this yarn in my stash and remembered it was a gift from my good friend Roberta who many years ago was very patient with me and taught me the art of sock knitting.

I had decided to make a summer weight shawlette. I decided to use a size 5 needle, instead of the 4 I am using for the wool yarn. The 5 gives a nice fabric but is just a little lighter which I think is perfect. And the colors in this yarn, the texture, and the drape are gorgeous! Thanks Roberta.

Last week at knitting group I was knitting the wool version and said it would be worn for the holidays. That certainly didn't meet with approval (NOT that I was looking for their approval!) from several vocal members of the group. If they knew about the cotton version perhaps they would be relieved.

Shawlette Mania

Top yarn is a nice hand-painted from Ellen's Half-Pint Farm in Vermont; bottom left is a skein of Schaeffer Anne in the "stadium blanket" colorway; and lower right is a ball of Zauberball which changes to unique color combos as you knit (this one is in shades of teals, purples and greys. All have futures as shawlettes. Watch this blog for photos of works in progress.

This is "Boneyard Shawl" a pattern I found on Ravelry. I am using Zauberball DK weight yarn for this. It is in shades of blue and white and I am knitting this easy, quick and fun larger scarf to wear to Penn State football games this fall. It gets cold in Beaver Stadium!

This is "Simple Things Shawlette" a purchased pattern from Ravelry. It is about 3/4 completed and is my knitting focus for this weekend. I want to get it done for a number of reasons -- not the least of which is because I need the size 4 needles for another shawlette! This yarn is a commercial fiber from Berroco in shades of raspberry, pinks, and a bit of greenish-grey. I bought this yarn at MD Sheep and Wool. It caught my eye. Yes, most yarns catch my eye, but this one has a strand of gold shiny fiber running through it. I'm not into shiny fibers but I am knittng this one to wear over the holidays. Bonnie had knitting it in a green blend in a similar yarn and was wearing it on the MDSW bus trip. I really liked it so decided to find the yarn and then got the pattern. I'm so glad she enabled me.

My friends who read this blog know I love to knit socks. I have expanded my knitting passion to add shawlettes to the list. What is a shawlette I was asked at Thursday evening's knitting group gathering. It is a small shawl, often truly a larger scarf. The beauty of shawlette patterns is that most use 400 yards of fingering weight yarn -- a great way to use a skein of sock yarn (of which my stash seems endless). Can sock yarn clone itself? Also for the most part shawlette patterns can be knitted larger if one particular loves the design and wants something larger than a scarf or just a shoulder covering. I plan to use mine as large scarves around the neck of a sweater or to toss over a suit for a new look.

I am still knitting socks, truly I am. I have a pair on the needles and hope to work on them this weekend, too, when the long rows of shawlette get tiring. Summer Sox yarn -- quite nice. To be honest, these socks have been on the needles since fall...I finished one and the other was half finished when I deemed it time to knit wool socks. So hopefully I can get this pair finished in a jiffy.

Fun Photos From MDSW

Just a few things of interest....Am working on two shawlettes. Will photograph and post in a few days. One is in the early stages so it needs time to cook a bit.

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

One of my favorite events to attend each year is MDSW. This year was a lot of fun but probably THE hottest weather of the 8 I have attended...94 degrees, sunny and muggy. Joyful! I again coordinated a bus trip for 54 knitters, crocheters, spinners and weavers (and a few non-fibery friends). We all had a great time. Cole Transportation, a local bus company, is great to work with and our driver, Ron, was such fun!

I pledged not to buy as much yarn as usual and I kept my promise. The photo is of the 3 skeins of yarn I purchased -- all for shawlettes instead of socks. A great way to buy one skein and make something nice. From the top we have Creatively Dyed, Ellen's 1/2-Pint Yarn Company merino, and Berroco Sox with a thread of metallic. I think the latter will be a holiday shawlette.

Socks are still a favorite to knit but shawlettes are quickly catching up.

The only other things I purchased was two pair of very pointed Signature circulars with 6" needles in sizes 6 and 7 -- for shawlette knitting of course and a set of stitch markers from Ellen's 1/2-Pint Yarn Company. It is one of my very favorite show stops.

Finished!

It was a long trip from one side to the other of "Baktus" but the scarf is complete. Colorful and as I said a present for a good friend. Can't say more...she reads this blog. Yarn is Mini Mochi color 105 and is a virtual rainbow of happiness...hence my "Happy Scarf" as I dubbed it in a previous post. Pattern is free on Ravelry. Lots of free and fun patterns of all skill levels on Ravelry.

Saturday is Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. There is a full bus of fiberholics leaving Central PA early Saturday morning and returning that evening. A long day but well worth it. Will post after the trip and this year will try to take more photos.

Young Knitters

On Saturday I went to an LYS Stitch Your Art Out in Pine Grove Mills which is just outside State College. I bought myself some yarn and a pattern for a short-sleeved zip front hoodie. I think knitting on it will comment this week once I finish the triangular scarf. I'm on the home stretch with it and will post a photo of the completed item soon.

Cynthia was having a sweater knitting class. There were two nice ladies and a little boy there. I thought, "oh how nice the one lady brought her son." NOT! This 8-year-old boy was knitting a beautiful rolled neck striped sweater and was finishing the last rows of the neck and then was almost done witht the cast-off when I left. Absolutely gorgeous! His stitches were even and the sweater will be something he can wear for a while...as long as a growth spirt doesn't hit this summer.

He is quite charming and told me his entire class knits. He attends the Friends School in State College. I have heard they offer interesting and unusual classes for the youngsters. I consider knitting to be useful and I love seeing guys knit. I think he loved a new audience (me) because his smile grew larger as I continued to compliment his workmanship.

Goal Achieved: Ishbel Finished

My first Ishbel is finished and I really love it! Blocking will commence in due time. Yarn is fingering weight purchased last year at MD Sheep & Wool from Ellen's 1/2 Pint Farm in Vermont. Love their fibers!

Meet my new distraction...Timber. 2 months old and adorable! I am not seeing much knitting progress for a while. Maybe dishcloths for the Deisy's Dishcloth project. Something that can be picked up and put down easily. That leaves out the other Ishbel I started once the stockinette section is finished.

"Happy" Scarf

I'm calling this new scarf I started knitting on Saturday a "Happy" scarf. It is going to be a Christmas present -- yes as in December -- for a good friend. Can't say who as she reads this blog.

I'm in North Carolina so wanted a no-brainer knitting project while here. There is NCAA basketball on the TV for what seems like 24/7 so a lace project just wouldn't work.

I wasn't in town 10 minutes on Saturday afternoon until I hopped back into the car and headed 8 miles away to Bella Filati yarn shop in Southern Pines. I had already selected a side-to-side garter stitch scarf pattern, "Baktus" scarf that I found for free on Ravelry. Easy knit and in this yarn quite pretty.

Oh the yarn. Yes...it is Mini Mochi machine washable 80% wool/20% nylon fiber combination. There is no twist to this yarn so is a bit like knitting with skinny roving. The results are a beautiful color combination. I selected Color 105 which is a combination of purple, teal, red, gold, and green. As one color progresses into the other the scarf also takes on other shades. Quite nice.

I am going to make more of these scarves from yarn in my stash. I think, with the new puppy arriving on Saturday, if I'm going to get ANY knitting done for a while it will be dishcloths for my Deisy's Dishcloths project that benefits Golden Retriever Rescue or one of these scarves. Ummm...a plan and one I really like. Happy Knitting everyone...

Rainy Day Knitting

It has been pouring rain since mid-morning. The region is on a watch for small stream flooding and I keep checking the basement for water ... it will come in...just don't know when...it always does. That complicates things with Teddy Bear because it also makes his kennel room wet. Sigh...

Today has been a productive knitting day. Ishbel in getting closer to the finish line. No photo to post right now because pretty Ishbel doesn't look any different in a photo than she did in my last post. I have 14 long rows to go and I'm holding my breath more and more. Why? I am hoping/praying I don't run out of yarn. There is no way to get more of this hand-dyed I bought last May at Maryland Sheep and Wool.

I started with 450 yards. Ishbel takes about 360 but I added two extra repeats of the lace. If all else fails I will find a coordinating plain color for the last repeat and cast off row. It won't be as pretty but I'm NOT...repeat NOT ripping back. I have lifelines but not for that purpose. I think I will be OK with little yarn left. I don't care about that. Just want to get finished before Timber arrives two weeks from today. I just can't wait! I know a puppy is a lot of work but he will be worth it.

I will knit but not lace for a while. Will stick with plain vanilla socks, the simple scarf I am knitting (saving that for next post) and Deisy's Dishcloths which I am making for the Golden Retriever Rescue to sell at the merchandise table.

Gotta run..I just heard Ishbel calling me.

Ishbel 1 and Ishbel 2

I love Ysolda's pattern "Ishbel" and have started a second one. NOT because I finished the first, but rather because I cannot knit lace while distracted. We are on vacation at our condo in Pinehurst, NC. The TV cable wasn't working so for 2 days all my husband has done is chat. Now, I'm not complaining because he works away from home so I don't see him often. These few days have been nice but I really want to finish Ishbel. He is golfing right now so as soon as I complete this posting, I'm off to Ishbel-land.

My two Ishbels are very different from each other. The first one is being knitted from gorgeous hand-dyed multi-colored merino I purchased at Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival last May. I am determined to complete the shawlette so I can wear it to MDSW on May 1. I bought the yarn from one of my favorite places -- "Ellen's Half-Pint Yarns" which is located in the main building at MDSW. I want to wear it to show Ellen.

I started the second Ishbel because the first section is stockinette with yo increases so I can manage that even during conversation. I visited "Bella Filati" yarn shop in Southern Pines, NC yesterday and used my gift certificate from my husband. One of the items I bought was a skein of hand-painted fingering weight yarn from Heritage Paints in shades of blue. Holly offered to wind it into a cake for me so I of course said yes. Having it wound was the final push I needed to start Ishbel number 2.

This lace shawlette pattern is fun to knit and an easy lace project. And there are options...I love options! The center stockinette section can be one of two sizes and the number of lace repeats can also be varied. Ishbel 1 uses the smaller stockinette section and the larger number of lace repeats. I think Ishbel 2 will be knitted in the same manner. Not too big but large enough to wear over a suit jacket or a nice sweater for a fun look.

I'm also doing some knitting for the Golden Retriever Rescue sales table. Will save that for the next post.

Going home tomorrow to snowy and cold Central PA. Spring is just around the corner...I am sure of it...

Snow Day Knitting

The lighting is very different for these two photos but it is the same project. Central PA is getting slammed with more snow, high winds, and general nasty weather. My office was closed today....thankfully.

Being home gave me time to catch up on uncompleted household work and get in some knitting time. More of the latter and none of the former to come as soon as I finish this post.

This cowl is the same design as I knit for myself last month -- from the Winter issue of Spin-off magazine. I love it. An very easy to remember simple but lovely 4-row repeat. I am making this one for my good friend, Celeste. Her coat is olive green and I think this mix of colors will be perfect. I got her approval on the colorway before I began the project. She is a redhead so needs to be extra careful about her color choices.

I am using Mountain Colors yarn in the "Tamarack" colorway which is a variagated soft yarn in colors of purple, teal, dark olive, gold, rustish-deep pink, and brown. A lovely combination. I am hoping that with today's knitting and the long Presidents' Day holiday weekend I will be able to complete the project. Time will tell.

Two Finished Projects

I finished another pair of socks! Alert the media. They are comfy and warm. The yarn is Limbo Mexiko in shades of rustish-burgundy (yes Roberta there IS a hint of orange! LOL), browns, grey/black and a bit of off white. Love them. Sport weight (in my opinion) and knit on a pair of size 3 needles. Immediately cast on another pair which you will see in a week or so.

Also finished the Kyle's hat aka The Hat From H***. Knitted in bulky weight gorgeous alpaca. Soft and slippery! to knit. This hat looks a bit odd but when I tried it on the look is perfect. This is the second version of Kyle's hat because the first one seemed to be too large. I think this one will fit him perfectly. I think that is why I hate this hat...I had to knit it twice. Kyle is a co-worker and good friend who lives in Erie. For those of you who don't know Erie, PA it is along Lake Erie and gets many, many feet of snow each year. Right now they have over 3 feet. Kyle wanted a warm, knitted hat that he can wear with his nice black top coat. The only ones he found were not warm, were made of "plastic" (quoting Kyle...I am guessing acrylic yarn) and looked like he belonged on the ski slope. I hope he likes this one. It goes into tomorrow's mail.

Currently I am working on my first Ishbel shawlette which I will wear as a scarf. Being knitted from fingering weight yarn I bought at last year's Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival from Ellen's Half-Pint Farm which is located in Vermont. I've sworn off buying yarn this year but might have to break down and get something from her. Love her stuff! Photos soon.

I love the Ishbel so much I went to the stash...wow that organizing is fabulous for finding things...and pulled out 2 skeins of Schaeffer Anne in the "Stadium Blanket" colorway...red, grey, gold...yummy! I'm going to make a large Ishbel and enter it into this year's county fair. The pattern is wonderful and goes rather quickly. Well worth the effort, I think.