Finished Project-Another River Shawl
Pattern: River by Sharon Miller from Rowan Magazine 38
Yarn: Rowan’s Kidsilk Night color 610
Needles: US 13 and US 10.5 Knitpicks Options
I had a marathon shawl knitting day yesterday and was finally able to finish my second River. To my surprise and delight, this one actually didn’t have any mistakes. I guess practice makes perfect.
Notice my new tiny blocking board. Now I have the luxury of blocking a shawl or scarf all at once rather than in sections. Woo hoo!
Juggling Projects
I should be working on this. It’s for the store and due this week. But I’ve lost interest.
I really want to be knitting this. I’m almost ready to join the front so I can zoom along knitting in the round. It’s a pullover for my Top-Down Raglan sweater class. And I want to wear it now.
And I’m really excited to start knitting Bill’s sweater, also a top-down raglan, but a zip cardigan. Here’s my ultra soft alpaca swatch. Too bad you can’t touch it.
Knit Picking
OK, I’ve been using the Knit Picks Options needles well over a month now and have discovered a few little issues.
1) I’ve been enjoying the needles so much I ordered more tips and more cords. But the holes and keys of the new cords are larger than my original set of cords. So the new keys don’t fit into the old cords. A little annoying, but I can work around it.
2) The holes of some of my new cords are rough around the edges so my stitches have been catching. I haven’t tried filing the roughness down yet. So that might work.
3) Last night while knitting, my stitches were catching again at the cord/needle connection. I thought it was the rough holes, but it was actually the purple cord coming out of its screw end. I pushed it back in and it’s been fine. But now I’m worried that it’ll come completely out sometime.
Hmm, I’m bothered. But otherwise, I do love the needles. The tips are wonderful. But I’ve heard the Addi is developing a pointier version of that Turbos. So…we’ll see.
The Giant Treehouse
This is what Bill and his brother were busy building over the weekend. We’re all quite excited. All it needs now is some permanent ladders installed and a bit of roof over Liam’s super secret hiding spot.
Finished Project-Mr. Spino
Project Specs:
Pattern: Mr. Stegs by Jennifer Thurston of Xtreme Knitting
Yarn: Filatura Di Crosa 501
Needles: US 6 for body and legs, US 4 for sail (I wanted it to stand up.)
Size: 11 1/2″ long, 6 1/2″ tall
Pattern Alterations: a 2×2 ribbed sail instead of a spiny back, and no tail spikes
The dino is for my nephew Ty. While making the dino I was about to give up since the spiny back was not looking good. But then Ella gave me the idea for a Spinosaurus. And now we have Mr. Spino in all of his glory. Mr. Spino must be a meat eater since he seems to be eyeing up some fish for dinner. Also I like the teeth that Grumperina added. So Mr. Spino has teeth too.
Another River Shawl
I can’t pass up an opportunity for more store credit, so I’ll be making another River shawl. This time for the store and in the black Kidsilk Night. And this time I’ll be able to use my much pointier Knitpicks needles. I’ll cast on as soon as I finish a little dinosaur I’m making.
Forgotten Felted Bags
Here are two felted bags that I completely forgot to write about after they were finished. Where is my mind?
Project Specs:
Pattern: Shape based on the Booga Bag by Julie Anderson
Yarn: Lamb’s Pride Worsted by Brown Sheep
Needles: I can’t remember at all since it was almost a year ago when I knit this.
Size: Who knows what it started as, but now it is 11 inches tall and 9 1/2 inches wide.
Pattern Alterations: Well, there’s all that stranded knitting. And who knows what other changes there were, it was a year ago.
My Blog Links: Hello…Goodbye, Stranded Bag Update, Ready, Set, Felt
Since I’ve been using this as my lunch bag, I finally had to wash it again. But I threw it in my front loader with my felted box and a pair of sandals. Whoa baby! Did my bag felt. I had no idea it could felt that much more. Even pointy US 1 needles aren’t going through this bag. Kind of fun knowing I can felt something this much, but now my lunch will barely fit in it. Sad.
Project Specs:
Pattern: I made this one up. Can’t remember all the details, but basically I cast on 90 sts, knit in the round, switched yarns, and then finished off the top like my Little Purple Purse. Made a couple of i-cords, felted, and then sewed the handles on at the end.
Yarn: Classic Elite Desert in color 2027 for the bag and Malabrigo in color Dusty Rose for the top and handles.
Needles: US 9
Size: The perfect size to hold a bag of lentils
I made a swatch for the store of the Desert, but it didn’t show off the color changes well enough. So I made up this bag. I didn’t quite have enough Desert, but I fortunately had a bit of the Malabrigo left from my hat which matched perfectly.
Finished Square: #3
Basketweave
Not much to say about this square. But I do have to say that the estimated 20-year project is turning into a 2-year project. Way to go Johanna. Keep up that speedy knitting pace.
