Shetland Triangle and lace
I have a hard time with lace. I have to rip out at least 5 times before I can really get going on the project, and even then it’s hard to not make a mistake. I hate it… and I love it. It’s addictive. Why do I torture myself??
But I’ve made a new discovery! Lace looks great when done on bulky yarn. I saw the Shetland Triangle in Eco Wool and had to have one. It just happened we’d just got Eco Wool into Hilltop Yarn, so it was destiny. It took me a week to finish it because, of course, it flew on my hands, and before I knew it I was giving the finished shawl a good blocking. I loved EcoWool- it is soft and fluffly (THICK!) and knit up beautifully. i will be knitting with his yarn again and again and again. I can’t wait to go back to the shop!
Filed under 2009, Finished, Knitting, Projects, Shetland Triangle, Uncategorized | Comment (0)Stash busting
I’m now working at Hilltop Yarn in Queen Anne in Seattle. It’s a great place to work and to covet yarn… of course, I’m surrounded by yarn, and my yarn cupboard at home (no small thing) is ready to burst. So… Mom if you’re reading this… you’re getting fingerless gloves for Christmas, you and everyone else I know. I’m using up all those one skeins I’ve bought because I fell in love with the yarn- but never used because I never had enough. So all those Noro skeins… mittens, fingerless gloves and hats, and that lovely wool/silk, already on the needles…
I finally finished the Shetland Triangle, and right away gave it to Carol since she was leaving the next day. I hardly had time to block it, let alone photograph it properly which is a shame. It came out very nice though smaller than I intended. I used Handpainted Misti Alpaca Lace yarn, and have about 1/2 a skein left of it. I loved knitting with it, and after blocking I could feel it getting soft and fluffy- and warm. Maybe I’ll do a small lace scarf for my little one- it would look adorable on her.
December is the time to think about 2009 project- and get rid of the old projects. I seem to be in a finishing mood. I’m picking up all those projects still on the needles and finishing them or frogging them… sort of project spring clean. Though I think I’m more motivated by all that gorgeous yarn in Hilltop that I see and pet everytime I go in- and all those patterns everywhere. I think I have my projects picked out for 2009 and 2010.
Filed under Finished, Gifts, Just talkin', Knitting | Comment (0)CHP’s first outing!
Finally the CHP is done. It took a while and I nearly lost heart doing the ribbing.. it seemed to take forever. The weaving in of the loose ends took even longer. When I put it on it fit perfect. It looks lovely but it is a bit itchy. I thought this would be a problem but when I wore it today, I hardly noticed it. What I did feel was how warm it is. I love this yarn!! Wore it on a windy day out and it was very comfortable, soft and warm. It stopped the chilling wind dead. The only problem was that I chose to NOT put buttons on it. I like the way it looks open, but unfortunately I kept having to hold it closed when the wind got too much. I might have to rethink the button issue (without having to redo the ribbing!!) or actually even think about a zipper!!
Filed under 2008, Central Park Hoodie, Finished, Projects | Comment (0)Frock cami finished
I finished the Frock Cami, and though it looks gorgeous, on me it doesn’t look that nice… oh dear… I suppose the front and back plackets are to narrow and make my bust look like I’m just ready to start breast-feeding twins. I ought to rip it up and do the back and front parts over again, this time not doing all of the decreases asked for. It’s late and I’ll think about it later… maybe I’ll find a way to wear it. I hate ripping back finished projects… grrr….
Filed under 2008, Finished, Frock Camisole, Projects | Comment (0)What I knit this weekend
In the packing up for the trip I realised that my better half’s wooly hat was in San Diego. Since we didn’t know what to expect when we got to Guerrero Negro, I thought it better I knit him a new one before we went. I cast on the night before we went and was finished in a day almost- I knit it in the car on the way to Guerrero Negro, Baja California. I used Peace Fleece since I’m pretty sure I won’t use up all of the yarn I bought for the Central Park Hoodie. The Pattern was Kim Hamlin’s Kim’s Hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I’ve used this pattern before to make several hats, and all of them for gifts. Nick (my better half) also has another hat pretty much the same but different wool and a bit shorter. This time I wanted to make sure that it fit him snuggly and also that it was long enough to cover his ears (he gets colder there than anywhere else apparently).
**Changes to the pattern**- I knit it for the 22 1/2″ size but on size 6 needles (for the brim) and size 8 for the main part of the hat. It’s a bit tight but it stayed on through a high speed boat ride and lots of messing around with whales! Also I only knit it to about 6 inches from the brim and began to decrease so it wouldn’t fit too long like the first time I tried this pattern. It fit perfect- pics to come soon!
I also finished the back of the Blanket Cardi and started on the front left side.
A few notes on Guerrero Negro:
It is about 550 KM from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico- about an 8-10 hr drive on a two lane road. It sounds grim, but it’s not. It’s a well maintained road, and the only one connecting North and South Baja. It’s got gorgeous scenery particularly of late since we’ve had some rain here and the desert is green, yellow, and lavender with wild flowers and grasses. It’s beautiful. I’ll post some pictures when we have them!
We stayed in the Desert Inn in Guerrero Negro- a bit out of the town but nice in general, and took the tour of Los Caracoles, which had been recommended to us as the best tour for the whales. We were not dissapointed! There are plenty of other tours done by various hotels and co-operatives in the town as well. Apparently March to mid-April are the best times to see the whales since the newborn whales are more mature and more playful. After mid-April the grey whales begin their long treck to Alaska.
Filed under 2008, Blanket Cardigan, Finished, Gifts, Knitting, Nick's Hat, Projects | Comment (0)