Beginnings
One of my favorite things about finishing things up, knitting, shows, books, etc, is getting to start something new, and for the first time in a couple of months I’m finishing up projects without having another to immediately fill the void. But of course every void must be filled and so I’ve been casting on a whole host of knitting projects.
The fact that I’ve joined TheKnitGirllls stash dash is also helping rationalize the casting on spree, because after 4 shawls in 3 months (3 secret deadline shawls, plus Mrs. Peacock, between March, April, and May), I had basically nothing on the needles.
But lets start with projects you’ve already seen, shall we.
First up, the top down stocking cap has grown by about 2 hours worth of knitting (or about 10 inches), and is beginning to outgrow the DPNs it’s on.
The formerly Springy, now Somewhat Argyle Mitts, have been ripped out, redesigned, and recast on (even the cuff).
Of course I couldn’t go without a shawl (or two) on the needles.
This is tentatively being called Mirror World, and is out of Madelinetosh lace, colorway curiosity, on US size 2s, and is also a crescent shaped shawl.
Then, because Mirror World is a very “pay attention to me” pattern, I cast on a sideways shawl, currently without a name, knit out of some old handspun, on US size 9s. Since these pictures were taken I’ve added 3 or so more repeats.
And because why not. A skinny little scarf of 1×1 rib over 20 sts, on US 8 needles, out of half of a left over ball of Schoppel Wolle Zauberball in their rainbow colorway.
I also picked up spinning again when my LYS started carrying some fiber. I now have half a pound of a green merino/silk blend, that I’m spindle spinning. So far I’m getting a lace weight-ish single, that I’ll two ply.
But wait there’s more.
In an earlier post I talked about having a skein of Madelinetosh on hold at my LYS. Well. I bought it.
I haven’t cast it on yet, so I’m counting that as a win.
But I have the pattern and yarn ready and waiting.
I also stumble onto a pattern for a mini alien (pattern here), and about 20 minutes later the knitting was done.
Who knows how long it will take me to get around to finishing this little guy. But maybe next time he’ll have a couple friends and the beginnings of a mini alien army?
Mrs. Peacock Photos
The shawl formerly called ‘flashdance shawl’ and sometimes thought of as the ‘peacock shawl’ has been rename, Mrs. Peacock. It is also off the needles, off the blocking wires, and has been photographed.
Pattern coming soon (ish).
Not Secret Knitting
Things seem to be getting wrapped up left and right around here, everything from the show I’ve been frantically working on (it opened Wednesday, closed Sunday and went smashingly), to the semester, to a bundle of knitting projects and patterns (most of which are secret, sorry), to some personal stuff that I’m glad to be letting go of. But since most this either isn’t very photogenic (the semester, and personal stuffs), or I forgot to take photos of (the show), or I can’t show you photos of (secret knitting), why don’t I show you what’s on my needles.
Most of my knitting focus for the past couple of weeks has been directed at two projects. One of which needs to remain a secret (I’m starting to sounds like a broken record here). The other project, which I can show off, is currently in my Ravelry projects as the ‘Flashdance shawl,’ but desperately needs a new name.
When this photo was taken, 2, maybe 3 days ago, I was a handful of rows away from binding off. I finally finished it over the weekend, and it is currently laying next to me blocking. I tried taking a couple of blocking shots just now, but it’s a very grey day, and flash does not to this shawl justice. So I’ll have to wait to get a few shots once it comes off the blocking wires, and the sun comes back out to play.
According to my Ravelry page, I cast this on sometime in March, but it feels as though I’ve had this project on the needles forever, (maybe it’s the 2, almost 3, other shawls I’ve started and completed in the mean time, just maybe).
The yarn is Madelinetosh Lace, colorway ‘flashdance’ knit on US size 2s (2.75mm). This is the first time I’ve used Madelinetosh anything, and I think I’ve said this before, but I might be in love. I’ve got two more skeins waiting in my stash, and I’m trying to talk myself out of a third skein that my LYS is holding for me.
The pattern is already in the works, and I’ll probably start looking for test knitters later this week.
If you follow me on twitter, you might have seen me mention wanting to knit a hat once the deadline shawl I was working on at the time was finished. This was kind of spur of the moment since I don’t wear hats all that much, and it was April (I think) at the time I said it. But since I try to do what I say I will (unless it has something to do with blogging regularly, or more often) I started a hat.
It’s a top down stocking cap, knit on US size 10s, in an unknown yarn that I got from a friend who picked it up somewhere in Asia. This friend actually got me four balls in two different colorways (the two, not blue balls, really are the same colorway, I promise).
I don’t know what the yardage is, or exactly what the fiber content is, but it’s a single, with what feels like a high wool content. I’m betting the hat won’t take more than the one ball, and I don’t know what I’ll do with the other three balls. Maybe a felted bag?
Though I hate to end this post on a down note, the Springy Mitts made a trip to to frog pond. They’re now just a cuff. Though I might rip the cuff out as well, cause it’s kind of big.
I really liked the boxes on the palm, but I wasn’t in love with the waves going up the back of the hand. So I’ve ripped it, and I think I’m going to do a more geometric pattern. Maybe a play on a classic argyle? We’ll see.
Anyway. Until next time, keep knitting.
