Subdued

Not Quite a Wip, Not Quite a Finished Object And....

While I have a finished shawl that just needs photos, a new piece on the needles that counts as a WIP and test knits and patterns flying through the internet, none of those are on my agenda to talk about today.

Wanna know what is?

I'm pretty excited about them

I'll give you two hints....

One of them is live and ready to view.

One of them is so close to being live and ready to view.......

A Tutorial and a Pattern in Knotions this month!

And, just because the shawl only needs a few little things done, like the ends woven in and the modeled pictures taken....how's about a teaser shot of her as well?

Tune in Friday for the full post about Fine-Tuned Socks!

But, while you wait....why not sign up for the newsletter?...over there at the top of the page on the right hand side.  Subscribers get discount codes and soon, very soon, news about upcoming knit alongs.  Because, starting in May there is a KAL I am pretty excited about and when you see it I think you will be too.

~M

Miles of Garter Stitch Collar

I love the feel of garter stitch, all soft and squishy.  It's very nature just makes me want to wrap up in it and be warm and cozy.

If you take a close look at it you will find that it has a 2:1 ratio.  Every two rows in height equals one stitch in width.  Whereas stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row) has a 3:4 ratio where every three rows in height equals four stitches in width.  Not a huge difference you would think, but, it does mean that a projected 7 inch non-buttoned band on each of the fronts and a shawl collar that I think is now going to be about 10 inches deep, is a lot of garter stitch to knit!

My original plan had a band/collar that was 2 inches shorter than what I am now going to knit, but  a quick test try on just before the original 5 inches told me that I would not be happy unless I could really wrap up in my new cardigan, so Quill and myself will be spending yet another couple of days at Collar Cove this coming weekend.

During the week I am working on other things...

Unplanned Peacock Twinkle Lace

Playing with pretty blue yarn that didn't want to play fair! (I should never has asked it on Instagram what kind of trouble we could get into!  I was expecting the kind of trouble that comes with wild, late night knitting parties, she had in mind the kind where math eludes me!)

Beads and Nupps

 But on a happy note the beaded and nupped white "thing" is behaving very well.  This one is my entry to the Colourmart Lover's Group's Spring Contest/Craft Along.  I am a little over 65% of the way through and have several more weeks to get her completed, which is good because although each row represents a greater percentage of the shawl, they are starting to get long!

Big Beads and Little Ones

Lattice Spine

But all these big ticket knits mean one thing....I won't have anything finished by Friday!  I wonder what I will come up with to share with you?

What are you working on this week?

~M

Spring!

As I am sure you are aware, today marked the beginning of Spring.  At 6:29 am local time for me, the Spring Equinox officially arrived and with it the beginning of the Colourmart Lovers Group Spring Craftalong/Contest.  I have participated for several years now, both in the spring and the fall.

I actually started prepping for this years contest a couple of weeks ago when I had a little down time, waiting for some other things to happen, and got my design idea swatched, washed, blocked and charted.  A 25% off your entire purchase coupon got me some (already on sale) beads from the local big box craft store, in two sizes but the same colors, the needles were set and all I had to do this morning was set up my project page, entry post and cast on.

So let's talk about the yarn.  I am using a 2/15NM Alpaca/Wool Blend (obviously from ColourMart, it is their groups contest) in the exciting color of "white", which to my eye is more cream on top of fresh milk than bleached white.  They still (as of this writing) have some on the site and I am sorely tempted to buy more myself right now.  Even straight off the cone it is nice to knit with, but once it is washed....oh how soft and drapey!

Having already charted, morphed stitches around and charted some more, all I have to do now if knit until it is done.  Well, all I should have to do is knit until it is done....those pretty small beads are about 50% pretty blue chunks of glass that neither a crochet hook, yarn nor pin can go through. 

 Rather than "lined" with color they are "filled" with color, which is frustrating me no end.  I might have to "morph" away from the tiny beads a little sooner than I thought!

More on Wednesday, when I will know how quickly I give up on listening to Minnie Mouse laughing in my ear..."I told you this would be fun!"...

~M

Softly