Hazy Shades of Winter in Progress

The sun is elusive these days, and we are hunkering down once again for Arctic weather.

That's a concrete toad,
not a lump of dirt.

Good weather for knitting and progress is occurring on several projects.

1.  Biggie Cowl

Cabled center complete. Working on
welted border.

This is going to be huge, and will look great, but I am not thrilled with the actual knitting. The microfiber/acrylic is hard on the hands, especially when doubled, but it's for the Vegan Niece, so no animal fibers allowed;)

2.  Ysolda's Mystery KAL: Follow Your Arrow

No real spoiler here, but
you can see more here.

This is an extremely fun KAL. Five clues, each clue has two options, and you can do single color or multi-color. The knitting includes stockinette, garter stitch, simple lace motifs, and short rows. The group is very supportive and Ysolda has posted some very helpful videos.

I love the yarn that I am using:  Quince & Co. Tern a 70/30 wool/silk blend fingering yarn in the colorways Oyster and Barnacle.


3. Uma Sweater

Doesn't look much different from last Wednesday, except for having two thirds of an arm now.

Think I'm on track to finish the cowl and sweater by the end of January. The KAL extends into February.

To see some other work in progress, visit Tami's Amis.

A Storm of Finishing

Many things have come off the hooks and needles in the last couple of weeks in a holiday frenzy.  Here are some of them:

1.  Vertiginous (San Juan Bautista Shawl KAL)

Interesting construction and a nice birthday gift for my sister.

2.  Erica (Woolly Wormhead Mystery KAL Hat)

This is a wonderful hat; be sure to check out the many finished hats on ravelry to see how cute the version with the peaked brim is.


4.  Beetle Hill (Infinity Scarf)

Gift for my niece, it is a chunky version of the Fisher Hill Cowl I made for myself. I used two yarns held together, a worsted weight plus a sock yarn.

Now go on over to Tami's Amis and see what else has come off the hooks and needles this week.

WIP-A-Lot

Progress on three fronts this week, but no prospect of anything being finished before Friday.

Uma Sweater: top down construction, and almost to the point where the front and back are joined under the arms. Went on short hiatus so I could have the recipient try it on before I got too far along. Yes! I chose the correct size.

Woolly Wormhead Mystery Hat KAL: second of three clues released this week, and almost finished with that clue. The design features twisted stitches that create a beautiful raised pattern.

San Juan Bautista KAL: easy but very interesting construction and shape. Starts narrow and widens out into a dramatic swirl.

This shawl is designed by Elizabeth Green-Musselman and appears in the book Hitch:Patterns Inspired by the Films of Alfred Hitchcock. Her inspiration was the poster for the film Vertigo.
The designs in the book include a number of elegant sweaters as well as sophisticated accessories, and the samples are all worked up in a palette of cream, red and shades of gray.

Knitting this got me to watch Vertigo the other night. I really love "living in the future": I could rent it on my computer and stream it on my TV. Plus, the popcorn we make at home is so much tastier than the stuff in the theater:)

Take a look at what the others have on the go at Tami's Amis.

Swatch WIP

Began work on the Woolly Wormhead Mystery Hat KAL. Here's the swatch:

The color is called "Jacques" and it finally occurred to me that the name referred to "Jacques Cousteau," so I'll be knitting a Cousteau Chapeau, albeit a bit fancier than his trademark watch cap. The first clue was released this week and I have knit the brim, but no spoilers here, just a cute picture of JC.

What's the man in the orange hat doing?

Started work on Chicknits Uma sweater. Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in the Long Johns color. Another swatch:

With the least bit of luck there'll be a bit more to show next week.

I've made a bit of progress on a pair of socks, but not much progress and no picture.

Please visit Tami's Amis for links to other crafters taking part in WIP Wednesday. I always have fun seeing what others are up to.

The FIre Is Quenched FO

Finished the Rosie's Firestarter Socks. There was a bit of pooling over the instep and gusset, but what's a little pooling when the socks are so fiery. This picture was taken on a very overcast day and you can see how bright they are. Not in focus, but bright:)

I love the fit of these socks, and will surely knit them again, most likely with a more subdued color. They feature a simple lace pattern down the outer side of each sock, a Welsh heel, and a fitted arch. Enough to be interesting but not so complicated that you have to focus on directions or charts every moment.

I've already started the next socks from Novel Socks, Izzy's Bouncing Blues. Heather Ordover had the clever idea to supplement her book Grounded with an e-book of sock patterns inspired by the seven main characters. One pattern is released every two or three weeks.

To be inspired by other finished items, take a look at Tami's Amis. It's not just knitting and crocheting. One of my favorite projects didn't involve yarn at all, only found objects. See it here.

KAL-WIP

November means another Woolly Wormhead Mystery Hat Knitalong. This is one of the best KAL's around: Woolly's hat patterns are unmatched for clarity, detail, and sizing flexibility; the ravelry group is very supportive; the hats are always flattering and beautiful. And since it's a hat it isn't a huge commitment of time or materials.

Mystery KAL Details

The official start is November 1, and although I've chosen the yarn, I haven't knit a swatch.

Fearless Fibers Merino-Cashmere-Nylon

Be sure to visit Tami's Amis to see what others have in the works.

Danger to Everyone...and Socks!

Take a teenaged girl with dangerous abilities and an unusual family history, send her to a psychic boot camp run by her aunt, add a meeting with a new boy--and include some knitting! How can I resist? 

Heather Ordover, host of the Craftlit podcast and editor of the What Would Madame Defarge Knit? books, has written her first novel, Grounded: The Seven (Book 1), a Young Adult title.



You can pre-order now for delivery in the first week of October. 
Grounded is available in various formats, both print and digital, and an audiobook is in the works. I ordered an autographed paperback and a Kindle copy. Sign up for the mailing list for updates and offers and to find out about patterns inspired by the characters and KAL's. 

I'm hoping for some tips that will give my pointy sticks some super knitty powers, but, if not, I know the book will be a blast and the ravelry group will be a fun place to hang out.

Color Me Nervous KAL

That's not the name of the KAL, that's just me with some trepidation over stranded color work. It's really Meg Warren's KAL for Counting Crows mittens from What (Else) Would Madame Defarge Knit starting today in the WWMDFK ravelry group.
The pattern is so beautiful that I am motivated to move way out of my comfort zone in terms of technique if not of color. Seem to be working with a lot of gray and other muted colors lately.

The March Hare hand dyed
70% merino/30%silk
Raven's Wing & Sterling

Wish me luck with the strands. I would like to get through this without either cursing or crying, but those knitting deities, they love to laugh at poor mortals so I am not optimistic.

WIPster

Some knitting progress in spite of the excessively humid weather and the press of other projects, including a long-overdue update to my patterns on ravelry, and some new designs in progress.

The Lady Is A Ninja Cowl KAL

Creeping up the neck a few inches on this one. And there will be an FO here on Friday.

For more lovely WIPsters, visit the Tami's Amis.

WIP Around

Hope by the time this post is out that a few more rounds will be knit.

My knitting dilemma:
look at the knitting or look at the view.

Would have liked to be farther ahead on this KAL, but life intervenes. Houseful of company. Weather distractions, both sunny and rainy. Not complaining. It's all about the trade-offs.

To see a lot more work in progress from a lot of talented crafters visit Tami's Amis WIP Wednesday.

Half a Swatch

is better than none, right? Two halves make a whole, right?
Pretty cheesy knitting math, right?

Top: Crystal Palace Panda Silk
Bottom: Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere

Swatching for my Lady Is A Ninja Cowl KAL over in the ravelry What Would Madame Defarge Knit? group.

Still want to swatch the two yarns again with a larger needle, then wash and block them before deciding. Trying to be a good role model

Knit Along

June is here. The month for the third What Else Would Madame Defarge Knit KAL: The Lady Is A Ninja (Cowl).

Join me in the WWMDFK group on ravelry for a low-key, quick knit.
It's a one-skein project, easy to modify as to length, and makes a nice gift for the gift shelf. 

I have the fantasy that everyone but me has a lovely shelf, or basket, or box full of great little knit and crocheted items for gifts. I have the fantasy that someday I'll have one, too, so I'll be knitting up that Panda Silk for somebody or other.

Jump for Joy

Right. Not Friday. FO any day, anyway.

Love this shawlette.  Birthday gift (okay, belated birthday gift)for my aunt, who taught me to knit decades ago.

Capriole by Rachel Henry

The Capriole KAL got me to read Mary Stewart's Airs Above the Ground, which was a very enjoyable vacation read: feisty heroine, romance, mystery, scenic setting, Lippizaners. What else could you want? 

New England Spring.
No, it's not very green.

Even Keel

Spring seems, at last, to be happening in New England.

Several projects nearing completion.

Happy with new yarn choice for Capriole, and ready for Mystery KAL Clue 3 to arrive.

Enjoying the lack of knitting drama, eve though it makes for dull blogging.

Clue 2 Completed.

Clue Two, I Love You

Started on Clue Two of Capriole.

Relaxing project. As the fabric grows,the lace is easier to read.  Luxurious yarn is soothing to the touch. Attention can be given to adjunct delights of this design.

New vocabulary: capriole. Always fun to learn about something unfamiliar like dressage. How amusing that the "capri" indicates goat, as in a goat-like back kick.

Winged hat; flying horse.

Old favorite author: Mary Stewart. She's written a lot more books than the ones I've read. Thanks for the reminder, remcat. They are all on my libary list, starting with Airs Above Ground.

Unintentional

Any pursuit can be a text of revelation. Especially, it seems, a Mystery Knitalong.

Revelaltion, for the most part,of every bad habit of mind one possesses.

Wishful thinking, indolence, overanalyzing, thought-induced blindness, distraction, procrastination, and giving free rein to the chattering monkeys of mindlessness.

Step 1. Knit a swatch.

Solid Citizen

Step 2.  Knit Clue One

Going Rogue

Step 3. Notice nothing. Keep on knitting.

Step 4. Experience The Duh! For bonus points, identify the error of my ways;) Probably much faster that I did.

Yeah, that smooth triple increase in the swatch is K, YO, K. The extra holes along the spine in the actual shawl? YO, K, YO.

Inadvertently reverted to correctness after Row 17. Did wonder why the neck edge didn't snug around my neck as the designer described it; did wonder why the neck edge was more of a scalloped Dracula collar. What the heck, that's what blocking's for, right? Just keep knitting.

For the record, the pattern Capriole is lovely, the charts are clear and perfectly accurate. This is a pure case of the chattering monkeys gaining control of the pointy sticks.