Decision time soon on FFB

Hmmm... do I shape it more like a purse or a box?

'Felted Floral Bag'

Progress so far-
DSIL requested Nicky Epstein's pattern.
- yarn: mainly Cascade 220, some Quebecois
- 3.75 mm needles
- narrower side panels with the upper part tapering slightly
-may add some sort of button type closure/loop.

Couldn't get just the right wool colours ... time for microwaving with Kool-Aid and vinegar, (I use a capful - just in case.)
This is what I got by adding just a titch of orange and 2 Tbsp of orange + 1 Tbsp strawberry to warm up the original colour, far right.


... the messy private side.
Instead of intarsia for the colourwork I used a fair-isle technique, in the round. Also, worked the design pattern on just the one side. Good thing this will be felted cuz my tension's wonky, (partly because the 2 types of yarn are different weights.)

Hazel Carter SLS - rectangular version

- blocked with tig welding rods

- finished size:

45 cm x 180 cm

18" x 71"


- shawl washed and rinsed gently in tepid water

- microwaved a wee bit of potato starch in a cup of water


- squeezed excess water out of shawl

- soaked it in cooled potato starch solution, diluted to 1 liter.

Laceweight yarns

- white Zephyr *
- black Skacel **
- loden Superlamb (coated, should bloom after washing) *
- white Grignasco Extrafine **



*http://www.shuttleworks.com/
** http://knittingroomcalgary.com/ NAYY

Shawl Edging and ...

These edgings are the ones that I've decided to use for the sides and ends of this shawl.





... and my latest purchase - cool self-patterning sock yarn, (AHHH, Mona, stop enabling me. LOL)

Samplers and Shetland 'Shawl' progress

I enjoy trying out different techniques and stitches. So when Carla started the 'Sampler M KAL' I hesitated just a split second before I joined, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KnitalongSamplerM/ .
YIKES, I'm now a member of more than 20 knitting groups! ... somewhat obsessive, considering that I started the year on one list.

Here are 2 sides of a sampler cushion I made using stitches from a Pinguoin publication.









... still trying out edgings for the sides of this shawl, definitely not the one with the NUPP-like bumps.









Wish you could have smelled the wonderfully scented mock orange bush and peonies last week.

Weather warning last Thurs.

The sun shone briefly during the pelting.








When I went to pick up DS from work the driving, in the heavy rain and hail, was like driving through a car wash. A few drivers were forced to pull over & wait it out. Other areas were worse off, cars were floating in a parking lot and many homes and some businesses had major water damage.

SLS progress

I've decided to make a variation of Hazel Carter's Shetland Lace Shawl - a rectangular stole rather than a square shawl.








Also, OTN is the Maple Leaf sock
designed by Jeannie Townsend, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/T_Socks_KAL/


... and Cascading Leaves sock, also by Jeannie ...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TownsendSocksKnitALong/
(no pic as I will probably frog - instep's too tight, toeup with short row heel)

... and other attempts at assorted shawls, Faroese mainly.

paeonia Sarah Bernhardt

Sock pattern link

I found Marguerite's 'Old Shale, 2 yarn sock pattern' on her blog:

http://stitchesofviolet.blogspot.com/2004/12/old-shale-two-yarn-sock-pattern.html

Branching Out Scarf

I finished this on Sat. and blocked it the following day.

OTN: Branching Out scarf for DD. http://www.knitty.com/issuespring05/PATTbranchingout.html

For MIL's socks, I'm pretty sure I used DGB 'Confetti' selfpatterning sock yarn on the cuffs and toes, but I can't find the ball band for the colourway #. It may be that the band was missing as it was the last ball at Birkeland Bros.

The quilt was also a birthday gift I made for her a few years ago.

I finished these 'Stitches of Violet' last Saturday for MIL's birthday, (2 days late.)

Changes I made;

- used a 3/1 rib instead of 7/1

- didn't use the patterned yarn for the heel

These socks were knit one at a time because I had only one ball of each yarn. My tension on the second cuff was quite a bit tighter, but still will go over MIL's instep.

Finally blocked FF&L for Mom.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/frostflowersandleaves/

- 72" wide, across the top
- 42" center back, from top to bottom point
- 54" side edges



I used Mom's stash of straight needles and some T-pins to block the shawl, worked better than circulars for the straight edges.









Mom's socks finally done, 5 days late for Mother's Day.

Stitches of Violet Old Shale Two Yarn Sock Pattern

Kroy self patterning and grey Scheepjes

2.25mm, 100cm Inox circulars, Magic Loop, combined method

Test blocking

Another photo of test/blocking. I starched just one end of the border/edging.





The next day: the edge still lays flat and the fabric is quite crisp from starching, (even with handling/scrunching.) Blocked larger than suggested final gauge, so will try blocking to gauge next time to see if edge still lays flat.

SLS test block (Shetland Lace Shawl)

So far, so good. The 'lengthened' diagonal edge lays flat. Will see if it stays flat after relaxing a few days without being stretched to the max. Starched with potato starch.

I'm using the Magic Loop technique to knit 2 socks at the same time on the same 100cm length needle. So cool!

The 2 balls of yarn are in separate plastic bags inside the small shopping bag. I've threaded the yarn, 1 through each handle of the paper shopping bag, to keep the tangles to a minimum.

Hope the 'lengthened' edge eases in when the FO is blocked. I have my doubts. (Sponge Bob's laughing at my efforts.)

Yay!!!! Spring is finally here. (Actually, the blue scillas were out last week.) However, the dandelions are making a comeback in a big way, so I was out painting them with weed killer earlier today.

A Big Swatch

- using a needlepoint chart and PW's method, (Philosopher's Wool ,)

- the knitted 'plate' is not round, too short.

-final gauges all different;

2 strands - 5.25 sts/in : 5.5 rows/in

3 strands - 5 sts/in : 5.5 rows/in (bumpier texture)

After many false starts over several days on this edging I'm well onto the border that I started yesterday. Hope all the ease, ('lengthened' sides,) will be taken up when the FO is blocked.

I'm going to try and make this a more rectangular shawl vs the square one in the book, (thinking it will be more wearable as a stole, will see.)

FF&L, also from a GOL, but a smaller version. Finally learned blocking on this FO.

Shetland Lace Shawl - picking up stitches for border.