Isiltasun

Baby Blankets!

 

You saw the pictures already, so I suppose it is time to talk about the baby blankets in the Silent Sunday post!

A friend of mine and his girlfriend are expecting their son in early April...of course when you have a knitter as a friend, hand knits are the usual gift you expect!  And when that knitting friend is a designer...well you get original designs!

Both of these blankets have several features in common.

They are both center out squares.

They both have diamonds and a variation on a smocked stitch (more about that in a couple of months!) and both end with a border that is supposed to look like tassels...but each of those is different.

So first up the teal one:

Yarn - Elan Callista.https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/elann-callista..which has long been discontinued!  It is a cotton/linen/rayon blend so should work well in the washer and dryer!
 
Needles US 4 (3.5 mm)
And I would tell you how big it is, but I forgot to measure it before I put it in the gift bag!

Next we have a larger, more complex white acrylic one...

This is knit in Bernat Baby

This one was also knit on US 4's and again, wasn't measured, but it is the larger of the two pieces and includes some twisted stitches and some additional smocking
along with deeper, wider tassles.

The questions I have been fielding from the people who have seen them are all along a similar vein...Is there a pattern...to which I have to answer No, I designed them myself...followed by Will there be a pattern...to which I also have to answer..No.

Elements from both of these blankets will find their way into published designs...but the blankets like the friends I gave them to, and their child to be...are one of a kind.

~M

If it's Wednesday we must be....

Talking about WIPs!

Although you might have noticed some finished objects in the Sunday post...today is all about the things that are on my needles, both being actively worked on...and maybe relegated to a corner of my desk while I swatch a thing or two!

First up a shawl.  This poor lady waited all through January to get cast on...the charting and writing was already roughly done when I got distracted by another series of projects.

She's a bit further along than this now, but....some swatches jumped the queue!  (She will be leaving me nasty notes soon, I am sure as I can already hear her softly grumbling in the background!.)

 

Before you ask..the yarn is Unplanned Peacock BFL in Ferrus.

Next up a small swatch (child sized) that had me playing with decreases and double thick cowl designing.  Now that (at least child sized) the bugs are worked out, I just need to add it to the official queue and decide on the right yarn for it.

 

Swatch was done in Valley Yarns Charlemont, which I love dearly but is a touch to drapey for what I want for this one!

And then...having been talking about stitch mount and why it matters in a couple of groups and on IG....some twisted stitches in a nice cheerful yellow jumped on my needles

Catch you on Friday, when maybe I will talk more about those baby blankets!

~M

Heshtje

!M

Spring's Around the Corner!

 

When the long dark nights, start getting shorter, and the short, cold days start getting longer, spring is right around the corner.  I find myself not needing my heavy scarf and mittens, but still need a little something to keep the chill off my neck. This cowl uses a simple, yet striking stitch pattern and with careful weaving in of ends is fully reversible.

Knit with a very special skein of malabrigo Finito, this cowl is so very soft and decadent around the neck and in the hands while knitting!

One of my favorite parts of this cowl is that it is fully reversible!  The stitch pattern is beautiful from both sides, although each looks ever so slightly different. You can decide which side to show, depending on your mood, or favorite side!

 A few hours of knitting, using a US Size 4 (3.5mm) needle...and that beautiful yarn turns into such a comfy, cozy item!

I hope you like it as much as I do!

The pattern is available now in my Ravelry Store!

~M