Close to my Heart

WIP Wednesday

Currently on the needles is the la Novia Scarf from Knitspot. I'm knitting it with my own handspun.  This is a home only project since I lack the concentration to knit even simple lace (and all rows are lace in this pattern, no purl back rows) in public. I think it will still be a fairly quick knit, because the combination of knitting my own handspun and addi lace needles is very enjoyable.  My first time kniting Navajo plied yarn too and that is also lovely.

WIP Wednesday

How could I have forgotten how fun and addictive lace knitting is?  I'm having such a good time knitting Sivia Harding's Harbour Lights Shawl that I cannot put it down.  Here's what it looked like last night, when I finally did put it away at bedtime:

This shawl was designed for the Victoria Fibre Festival in 2008, to which I was privileged to attend and meet the most talented designer.  I even saw the original Harbour Lights modeled by Sivia.  It kind of brings back memories of the festival just knitting it.

Mmmmmalabrigo

I currently have three different projects on the needles and hook with yummy malabrigo yarn.  

The first was started on quite some time ago, I fell in love with the pattern immediately upon purchase of the Spring 2009 Interweave Crochet, and bought the yarn to make it the very same day.  Well let's just say the crocheting of this pattern isn't too exciting, single crochet with lace weight using a 2.0 mm hook does not go very quickly at all, and is oh so very boring.  Here's where it sits today, having not been worked on for a good month or so:

 

This is the bottom ribbing, and needs to be about 20 inches, so as you can see, I have a good ways to go still.  I'm honestly not sure if I am going to finish this project.  The top part will be fun to work, however there is still the other side of the vest that needs ribbing too!

Fortunately, my other Malabrigo patterns are much more enjoyable.  First, the Lacy Vines Wrap, also knit in lace weight, is a very simple and easy to memorize lace pattern:

And finally, Sivia Harding's Harbour LIghts Shawl, knit in Malabrigo Sock in the Natural Colourway. 

Already I'm intrigued by the construction of this shawl, Sivia is such an amazing and talented designer than I am privileged to have met a couple times.  This shawl calls for beads, however I've left them out, partly because I didn't feel like fiddling and partkly because I joined the Fun Knits KAL at the last minute and had no idea where I would find beads in this town and wanted to get going on it.  I think I will have to try a beaded project soon though!

New Lace on the Needles

It's always exciting to finish one project and cast another onto the needles.  With the Kauni Revontuli shawl off the addi lace needles, it was time to cast on another project.  After finishing the Knitspot tessarae socks (see last post) I couldn't wait to get started on one of her lace patterns.  I fell in love with the Boxleaf Triangle when it was first debuted on the Knitspot blog, and immediately placed it in my queue.  I chose to use the pretty purple Sugarbee Studios January Sock club yarn for this project.  This is a beautiful yarn, but since I only like to use superwash yarns for my socks, I had to find another use for it, and this was it.

Here's the first WIP shots, taken yesterday when we actually has some sun coming into the living room.  We have had really weird March weather, and yesterday was particularly indicative of that, with everything from sun to snow to rain, and from dark and dreary to bright and sunny.  But I digress, here are the lace in progress pictures:

The lace pattern appears to be a little lost in the pictures, but not quite so much in real life.  The shawl shown in the Knitspot pattern shop is a verigated yarn, so I think it will be okay and should hopefully make a stunning shawl.  At any rate, I'm enjoying knitting this pattern, and have in fact finished another ten row pattern repeat since taking these pictures.  It is fairly simple lace, yet the construction is a little different than other shawls I have knit, which I think adds to the enjoyment.

Hot off the needles

The Kauni Revontuli Shawl is off the needles just a few minutes ago.  What an enjoyable knit this has proven to be, I highly recommend this pattern, and can completely see making it again some day.  The shawl still needs to be blocked, but I couldn't resisted posting an unblocked picture:

Hopefully I will get it blocked soon, I love how blocking changes lace, but I don't necessarily enjoy the process, nor am I a great blocker.  Stay tuned.

Obsession

Shortly before bedtime on Saturday night, I cast on for the Revontuli-huivi/Northern Lights Shawl (Ravelry link).  Since then I've become completely obsessed with working on this project, it is one of the most enjoyable knits I've done in a long time.  It contains that perfect blend of a project, exciting Kauni yarn that you wonder what it will do next colourwise, as well as a pattern stitch that is not so difficult to be frustrating yet not so simple that you are bored to tears.  And the Addi Lace Needles that I somewhat guiltily splurged on for this project (I've never used them before) are pretty darn awesome too.  Another contributor to my obsession with this project is the KAL going on over on Ravelry and seeing other people's shawls knit up so beautifully.  Prior to starting my shawl, I was flabergasted to see that one knitter completed hers in just four days.  Now I know why, she probably just couldn't put the thing down!  If it weren't for a job that takes me away from my knitting or the fact that my wrists would never hold up to that kind of stitching marathon, I could totally see completing this project that quickly.

I thought I'd show you a bit of a pictorial here of my progress on this shawl.

And how I left ths shawl tonight, please excuse night time under artificial lighting photo:

 

Of course the rows are getting rather long at this point, so the final 40 will probably take some time to complete.  I'd love to have it finished this coming weekend, but that might be pushing it.  At any rate, if I don't come to the blog or have much presence elsewhere online in the next few days, you will know why.

Monday again

and I'm really NOT looking forward to my dental appointment and filling this afternoon.  At least I had  a relaxing weekend with lots of crafting time.  I did finish the February Lady Sweater, sewed on the last buttons I showed you, but am still hoping for something nicer.  I also filled a bobbin with a single spun from this lovely roving from Crown Mountain Farms: 

Here's the single, still on the wheel. 

I'm planning to Navajo ply it, and am hoping to eventually knit this shawl with it.

I also pulled some handspun out of the stash yesterday, and started crocheting the Queen Anne's Lace Scarf with it. 

Happy Monday, hope you have a good week!

Another choice

For buttons for my February Lady Sweater:

Not perfect, but are they sufficient as interim buttons?  My knitting friend Shannon is going to the city in a couple weeks and has kindly offered to see what she can find for me.  Should I go to the effort of sewing these guys on?  I will finish knitting today, and would really love to be able to wear my new sweater next week.

WIP Wednesday

This past weekend I made excellent progress on my second February Lady Sweater.  Here's a pic:

Since taking this picture, I've finished one sleeve, and am hoping for a Finished Object this weekend. 

Part of the reason for this photo shoot, in addition to providing some blog fodder, was to check out the buttons, which I bought without having the sweater or yarn with me.  Unfortunately now, I don't think these buttons work, what do you think?  Here's a closer shot:

They seem too light to me.  Yesterday on my lunch time walk, yarn in hand I stopped by Fabricland in search of better buttons.  Although I did purchase some (which I left at work so I can't show them to you) they are not fabulous. There are two more fabric stores here in this small town, not sure if they have buttons or not but I will check.

Which leads me to my question. Have you bought buttons online?  Have you been successful in matching up the buttons to your project?  Because I really don't want to be stuck with the ho hum buttons available to me locally.

The return of the sock mojo

I'm cautiously optimistic that the sock mojo that was absent through most of 2008 has finally returned in the first weeks of 2009.  I FINALLY finished the Lorna's Laces Flamingo stripe socks, started way back in November and knit on briefly during the Black Friday trip to the states:

Shortly after finishing this pair, I cast on a first sock for two more pairs. 

These are Tidepool Socks, knit with Araucania Ranco Multi in the peach green colourway:

And these are knit with Malabrigo sock in the Velvet Grape colourway:

This is Ann Hanson's (Knitspot) Tesserae pattern.  I've admired her designs for a long time, but this is my first time knitting one.

I've also come to a realization.  I can no longer knit plain vanilla socks, I think ho hum nature of these socks is what caused me to loose my mojo.  So I'm now after simple patterned socks that will still serve as take along knitting projects.  Both of these patterns seem to fit that bill.