May update

The Yarner June 19, 2013
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It’s been a crochet and spinning month. I finished my second pair of sideways socks:

And I finally found a pattern for my first (usable) skein of homespun. It wasn’t a lot of yardage, so needed a pattern that would stretch it a bit. The Artfully Simple Infinity Scarf by Tamara Kelly with its net pattern proved perfect for that:

And it’s still nicely warm and solid when looped:

In the spinning department, the wholly wonderful Natalie Servant had brought me back some Hedgehog Fibres fleece from Knitter’s Frolic in Toronto. Seen here in my cute little project bag made by Sarah:

I managed to spin up about half of it before life got in the way again, and I really love the way it came out:

Now to spin up the other half and forever ply the two. ;o)

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April Report

The Yarner May 8, 2013
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I wasn’t super craftsy in April. Worked a bit on my Swain Sweater and started a new pair of Sideways Socks.

The one thing I finished was another Shanti shawl. This time I made it symmetric. It had intrigued me since I’d made the first one. Here it is in our recent May sunshine:

Oh, and last not least (I’m actually quite excited about this) I finally started Jared Flood’s Rock Island. This one’s going to take me a while, I guess.

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Forgot to tell you what I did in March

The Yarner May 3, 2013
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Time’s been flying too fast for even monthly updates. *sigh* Sometimes, that’s how it goes.

So, March. I knit a quick little short row shawl from a recipe a friend gave me:

 

And I found the perfect crocheted socks pattern that I had to immediately try out:

They’re the fabulous Sydney’s Sideways Socks by Brenda K.B. I’ve already started another pair. They fit so well and are quite addictive.

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January is proving a little nuts

The Yarner January 28, 2013
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After the blanket I wanted a small! project, so I started socks, then agreed to help a friend by crocheting along a stuffed bear, and now I signed up to test a gingham scarf pattern. I’ve been looking for a good knit gingham pattern for a long time, so this has me very excited. I’ll let y’all know as soon as I finish something.

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Off my hook

The Yarner December 11, 2012
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This one took me a while, but it was worth it.

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Playing catch-up

The Yarner November 12, 2012
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I can’t believe my last post was in August. So much has happened. The awesome Natalie Servant has published her Manhattan Bridge pattern. So I can finally show you my test shawl:

The left-overs from my Maxima cardi were just enough for a little netbook and mouse cover:

Then, in September, I came across a pretty and free cowl pattern and had the perfect yarn in my stash for it, CashSock by Yvieknits:

I’d show you the October turn-out, but I have to take and download pictures first. Stay tuned.

 

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Looks like I needed the second skein after all

The Yarner August 5, 2012
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… so I bought that, too. I’m about half way thru the border and have a pretty good idea what the finished shawl will look like now.

Meanwhile, I got sidetracked by my Olympic WIP-wrestling project:

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I’m working on a new design

The Yarner July 22, 2012
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A while ago I came into possession (there was a sale, I swear) of a skein of sock yarn in amazing hues of blue that immediately reminded me of the Mediterranean, especially as condensed in the town of Sidi Bou Said. Which reminded me that I’d always wanted to play with the beautiful patterns in Tunisian doors and window covers in a design.

On Thursday the unthinkable happened, and I ran out of yarn on my current project during knitnite (lousy planning, I know). But I have a stunning LYS and was allowed to take another of the blue sock yarn balls to have something to play with (remind me to return the one I have at home). After four or five false starts I decided on a hook size and a very simple Tunisian (come on, it had to be) stitch for the body that will focus all attention on the edge (just like the simple lines of the buildings focus attention on the trims).

It’s a super shallow side-to-side triangle that will have a wide added-on lace edge. I’m still playing with the specifics of the edge – in my mind it has the background mesh, scroll work and arches of those stunning Tunisian trims. Stay tuned.

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Off my hook

The Yarner April 30, 2012
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Or rather, off the blocking pins as of this morning is ‘Centaurea’, my version of Martha Simonsen‘s lovely Kornblomst shawl:

Her pattern is extremely well-written and includes charts so comprehensive that the text is not even needed. I highly recommend.

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Not happy

The Yarner April 19, 2012
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I finished Dora Ohrenstein’s Sage Jacket a while ago, just hadn’t sewn on the button, because I couldn’t find it. Now that I unearthed it (right where it should be) and have tried the cardi on a number of times for the correct button placement, I realize that I’m not happy with it.

I think it’s the three distinct color blocks. It doesn’t exactly flatter my rather rubenesque lay-out (especially the horizontal block across the boobs – what was I thinking?). It doesn’t even look good on Mathilda, my long-suffering body double, which is not encouraging.

cardi

I’m quite ready to frog the whole thing. But the tiger, bless his heart, says he likes it, and so does my friend Marg. So, now I’m wondering whether it would make sense to overdye it black? Maybe add some sort of a collar, so I can actually wear it open without it sliding off my shoulders? (That’s another thing I don’t particularly like, that I can only wear it closed.) Or am I kidding myself and throwing good time after bad for something I would never wear?

Any thoughts?

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