Happy New Year!

I hope you all have been enjoying the holiday season (and getting lots of knitting time) : )



Clementine Shawlette (Interweave Knits, Spring 2007)
Bristol Yarn Gallery Buckingham, 80% Baby Alpaca, 20% Silk (218 yards / 50 g per skein), color 1042, ~1.8 skeins
US 3 Knitpicks circular needle (32")

I did, indeed, finish this in time to get it to my mom before Christmas. I really enjoyed using this yarn (so soft and such a pretty color), and I think it worked well with the simple, but lovely pattern. I didn't make any modifications to it (intentionally, at least). My gauge was a little different on the two halves (not sure why), but I'm probably the only one who notices. I blocked it so it's more or less symmetric.

Here are some more views:






I did the grafting as suggested, which resulted in the "right side" having a significant ridge at the join, as you can see here (and in my first photo, above, where it's shadow is quite obvious):


...while on the "wrong side" the grafting was slightly recessed and less obvious.


If I were to make another Clementine Shawlette, I'd probably try to reverse this situation (by holding the opposite sides together while grafting), but I don't really mind the ridge - I just think of it as a design feature : ) I did try to keep the main body of the shawl the same width, as opposed to allowing it to widen at the graft. Allowing the widening and spreading of the stitches in this area would have diminished the appearance of the ridge, but I prefer a more uniform width, so I'm happy.


Christmas Fiber Goodness!

The fantastically generous Wendy of Catknits sent me a most wonderful package!

Inside were these:


A knitting(!) s'mores snowman ornament - so cute! (I want to eat him, he looks so real):


A lovely, squishy skein of Fiesta Boomerang in the very appetizing color "Raspberry Mocha":


And a beautiful Boxy Bag Zippered Pouch from ZigZagStitches:


Not that that's where I'll be keeping it, but see how nicely the yarn fits inside : )


There was another item in the package... a feather tufted fleecy cat toy, which Bug and Moana have been enjoying immensely. I've forgotten to take a picture of it thus far, but I'll try to remember to do that soon.

I love it all! Thanks, Wendy!


We made a trip to Webs for their end of year sale. With Christmas money from our parents (thanks, guys!), we invested in some new yarn.

For my husband, Cascade 220 Superwash for some thick socks, Classic Elite Skye Tweed for a cabled sweater of my design, and Berroco Jasper for a hat (I just love this colorway):


For me, a little bit of Mondial Fresco Soft to play around with, some purty Noro Kureyon Sock yarn in outrageous colors, and mmmmmMalabrigo Silky Merino (hard to photograph) that reminds me of subtly iridescent beetles:


Here's another photo of the Silky Merino...



I also received payment for my Schaefer Yarn model knitting:

From upper left: Schaefer Judith (Dian Fossey colorway), Schaefer Helene (Julia Child colorway), Schaefer Anne.

I'll be making the Andrea Dogwood Blossom Wrap in the Dian Fossey colorway for them next:



Kitty Photos

Since I didn't manage to get any exciting cat/knit photos recently, here are a few lazy cat photos for your enjoyment:


(I should have saved this one for Valentine's Day...)

First spinning, non-gift and gift FOs

First Drop Spindle Spinning!



A friend put me in touch with a wonderful lady (a talented spinner, weaver, and dyer who claims she's only an occasional knitter) who showed me how to get started spinning with a drop spindle. Next week (hopefully) she will be showing me how to ply, and eventually, I'll give her wheel a try. It's super fun - I just wish I had more time to do it (I'm still working on gift knitting, you know)!

Here's my first singles (kind of skinny):


Bug had to "help" me with the photo shoot a little too much:





Bug, you're very cute and fuzzy, but you're hiding some fierce, fiber-rending hardware. Watch it, will you?


Non-Gift Knitting FO




Judith Chevron Shawl
Schaefer Yarn Judith, color "Betty Friedan" (330 yards per skein), ~1.7 skeins
US 7 Knitpicks Options circular needles (24")

The Judith alpaca yarn is lovely and soft with a slightly vinegary aroma. I alternated balls every two rows to reduce pooling. The pattern is made up of 3 sub-patterns (Daintier Chevron, Dainty Chevron, and Arrow Pattern), which are shown below. It's too bad (for me!) that this was knit as a model for Schaefer Yarn to display, but I'm getting some wonderful yarn in return (photos when it arrives).





Gift Knitting Update



Sheldon (Knitty, Winter 2006)
Knitpicks Shine Sport (110 yards per ball), "Green Apple" ~0.9 balls, "Grass" ~0.6 balls
US 2 (2.75 mm) dpns
US 3 Addi Turbo circular needle (24")
US B crochet hook

Hee, hee! I love Sheldon, and hopefully so will my little nephew. What a neat pattern Ruth came up with! I hadn't done attached i-cord before, and had some moments of confusion when trying to stitch together the parts of the shell, but I thought her instructions were great - and it all worked out in the end. I used the felt/embroidery floss eye method described by Bogie of Knit Flix (with the exception that I couldn't find a hole punch, so I cut my felt circles freehand). I think I took the advice to stuff the shell lightly a little too seriously, and I may have understuffed the little guy's body, so my shell is a bit baggier than expected. However, I think it looks fine, and it's pretty easy to put on and take off.

Bug was quite patient with me (and Sheldon) during the photo shoot:









Umm... yeah. I think he thought Sheldon was bit too forward.





Flower Scarf
Based on the One-Skein Scarf from Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet - The Happy Hooker
Ella Rae Classic (219 yards per ball), minty green ~0.65 balls
Scraps of Patons SWS in Natural Geranium and (the beigey parts of) Natural Blue for the flowers, etc.
US K crochet hook




Basic Mittens
Easy Warm Mittens
Steadfast Fibers Wonderful Wool (190 yards per skein), copper ~0.66 skeins
US 3 bamboo dpns


And last, but not least, I'm still working on the Clementine Shawlette for a special someone. Let's hope I can get it done in time to send it across the country before Christmas (I'm actually further along than this shows - I'm working on the second half now).