Weekend FO

A recent FO and a month old one I haven't blogged about yet....



Pattern: Versatility
Yarn: Araucania Azapa (the yarn with the dodgy yardage), about 2 and a half skeins
Needle: 7mm
Mods: I knitted a cable twist instead of the bobbles. I didn't want bobbles.

I got some amazing hessian covered buttons to go along the edge and it is soft and lovely. I don't know if I'll ever wear it as a bodywarmer, but I love it as a shrug and a scarf. It would have been super quick if I hadn't kept putting it aside.
Of course, it's too hot for it now. It was too hot to hold in my lap as I sewed the buttons on yesterday.



Pattern: Improvised from a stitch pattern in Vogue Stitchionary - it's a modified counterpane cable
Yarn: Sublime Cashmere Silk Merino, off-white, just under 2 skeins
Needle: 3.75 and 4.5mm

I like this hat, but it isn't as awesome as I had imagine. I wanted a really chunky band of ribbing at the bottom but was impatient to get on with the cabling so it's not as wide as I'd imagined. Also, even though I went up 2 needle sizes for the cabling, it is tight around the bottom and the cable is slightly deformed. I mean, in the scheme of things it doesn't matter because that is covered by the ribbing - which in turn makes the ribbed band look wider....so, meh. I would still put this in my 'Could do better' category. Either a bigger needle, or a yarn with more stretch.

The cable is beautiful, though. I am back in cable love again, which is ironic since I have just started my second lacy top. It's a Hey Teach and it's flying off the needles - back and both fronts done in under 2 weeks, and 3NBO'd to each other. Just the collar and sleeves to go now. I am supremely motivated because I want to start a shawl, and I wound the yarn and everything, only to find I need the 5mm needle tips I am using on the Hey Teach. BAH.

Half term next week though, and since I am carless and have no plans and will be all up to date with my work by then, I will have ample time for knitting. I can't wait to start the shawl. It is a Chinook Shawl Kit from Knitpicks I bought last year: 6 shades of sea blues that phase into each other.

Weekend FO

And lo, it was completed.....



Pattern: Shirley by Snowden Becker
Yarn: Knitwitches Seriously Gorgeous Swiss Silk Laceweight in Lapis Nights, a measly 200g
Needle: 3.5mm
Mods: Well, some. Not really on purpose. I messed up the neck a bit by forgetting to decrease at the same time as increasing for the armholes (I think...it was a long time ago now) and that, combined with the added drape of the silk, made for a rather risque neckline. So I knitted the scarflet in a 1x1 rib and didn't double it over when I seamed it to the collar, giving a little more coverage. And I wore it with this brooch which is a little heavy but totally works. I had 2 compliments on it at work today but one was about my "cardigan". I guess it does look a little like a cardi. Next time I might knit it as such. I do intend to knit it again some time, this time out of something a little fluffier and lighter.

The yarn dyed my hands and needles blue, and I gave it 3 rinses in blocking and the water was still running a little blue, but it was worth it for the awesome colour saturation. It is so soft and light, and actually very warm - I was chilly in it today and thought it was not as warm as I'd hoped, until I got home and took it off and realised just how brisk the air is (and it's May, fcol).

It has a great drape, too. I was worried that if I knitted it to my actual size it would be too baggy and while it is loose, it doesn't feel unflatteringly so.

I also finished my Versatility this weekend, only 6 months after I started it. I am embarrassed: it should have been such a quick knit but it just kept falling through the cracks in favour of other things with a less arduous mesh lace pattern. However, it isn't quite finished because I haven't sewn on the 16 shank buttons yet (le sigh) - but I am saving that dull task for knitting group on Saturday. So, as soon as I had both items washed and blocking I cast on for something new, heh heh! I have been waiting a month to get something finished so I can get on. I have started a new lacy top. It reminds me of sugared almonds. It is the second of my 10 lacy tops in 2010. I am not yet losing heart.