FO: Boxing Day Hat

After a December of crocheting toys, a cold that would just not let me go and some changes in my plans, I didn't really feel like I had accomplished much.  After binding off Flukra, a lace shawl I have been working on since August, I felt like I had earned a quick project.  After seeing the nice hat Carla made for Jim's sister for Christmas and remember I had brought along the skein of indigodragonfly MCN Worsted I got as my October mystery skein with me to Parry Sound a plan was formed.

This hat worked up very quickly and is fits pretty well as either a slouch or as a tight toque with a folded up brim.  However, I might not get the chance to wear it.  My mom, who is more than knitworthy and has hosted me for Christmas going on 10+ days now, who does not seem to own any hats asked if she could have it and I have a hard time denying her a new knit now and then.

I need to tuck the ends and give it a gentle blocking and see if I can get another skein of nice sproingy MCN worsted to make another one for me!

- Details -

Project Name: Boxing Day Hat

Pattern: The Big Easy by Vivian Aubrey of spindleshanks

Recipient: Well it was supposed to be, but I think it will go to my mom

Yarn: indigodragonfly MCN Worsted in Rusty the Rooster (a deep archive Special Edition)

Modifications:

• None

New Skills:

• None

Feedback:

• Yarn: This is my first time using a non-fingering weight indigodragonfly yarn and it is a nice sproingy MCN.  I got a bit of dye on my fingers as I knit (I have harsh body chemistry), however I don't expect any bleeding when I send it for a bath.
• Pattern: Clean, simple and a nice FO, what more can a person ask for in a pattern.

Re-Knit?: Yeppers, I want one for me!

Knitter's intuition

You know that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach, that warp looks funny, or that stitch pattern looks off, and you know you should probably stop and frog but instead you forge on and end up with a FO that you never want. Sometimes its a matter of the pattern style not matching your personal style (of knitting or for wearing) or maybe you have paired the wrong yarn with the pattern (for more extensive musings on this topic, I covered it for Knit and Crochet Blog week last year).

I cast on all my KAL Chaos projects last night, and within a row I knew that I had picked the wrong yarn for the Cabernet Sauvignon pattern.  The Homage was just too fuzzy and the nature of the color didn't compliment the pattern (it was too high-contrast tonal to show off the cables).  I have another pattern picked out for the yarn, and I have an idea of a yarn for the pattern, although both plans may have to wait a while.

However, more excitingly, I have a project to replace it in KAL Chaos (although there is no KAL for it). I will fill you in more in a bit, but here is a little hint ... (Ultra MCN, MCS, Ultra MCN) ...

I've got a fever ...

but no, the only prescription is NOT more cowbell.* I've caught the Color Infection/Affliction, this nasty disease traveled around the knitting community this past spring, being caught by notable names like the Yarn Harlot and then spread rapidly due to her blog and other internet means.  Initially I was unsure about making one, however after Carla finished hers (sorry Rav member only link), I started thinking about making one myself.

This, mixed with launch of this year's indigodragonfly Giftapalooza, was a perfect storm in creating the picture I showed you yesterday.

In last year's Giftapalooza (which was lots of fun and you should sign up, I have seen the bases and some of this year's one of a kind colors and they are pretty awesome) I received my first skein of indigodragonfly yarn (MCS Sock no less!), the yellow one in the middle, and while I liked it, it wasn't my usual color and so I let it marinate in my stash.  The pattern that came as part of the Giftapalooza parcel was nice enough, but never seemed to make it to the top of my queue.

So yesterday when I was at the studio working with Kim and Ron, all the talk of Giftapalooza made me realize that the yellow skein in my stash would be perfect in a color affection shawl, and I was in the perfect spot to get two more colors to go with it.  With Kim's help, I snagged two skeins of Ultra MCN (a 70/20/10 MCN, moar cashmere) in "Have Fun Storming the Castle" and "Bunnies, Bunnies, it must be Bunnies".  We played around with a few other colors, and I left knowing I need to find a pattern that pairs Don't Blink (a new color) with My Name is Indigo Montoya (possibly with Tweety of Versailles in there, it was used as a stand in as my skein was in Bracebridge).

According to Kim, the MCS and Ultra MCN play really nicely together so the shawl will have the same texture.  Although for my next shawl, I might have to try the new sock base, Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Sock (known as Lizard Sock or RPSLS) which is a soft, fuzzy, woolen spun MCN that made me want to hug it, and kiss it and call it George and is only available right now through Giftapalooza.

So now to wind and cast on, hopefully this is the cure to my fever, because I don't own a cowbell.

*If you don't know what I'm talking about, the full video is here.

WIP Wednesday: October 31st

 

Sorry about the poor quality of WIP Wednesday photos, it is really dark here in the morning.

Last week, I had a few more projects on the needles, but I finished the Pomatomus socks and I decided to hibernate my crocheted stole in preparation for KAL Chaos.

This leaves (from left to right):

•  Thyme - I have made it through the main body and first lace repeat, just three more and a knitted on edge
• Hello Sweetie - This is going to be my purse project for the next little while, these should be quick but they just haven't been at the top of the to do list.
• Too Cool for My Socks - Finally got the toes knit on these, but they are going into hibernation until I finish my TFA KAL socks and Hello Sweetie.  I would like to have them finished by the end of the year.
• Rockberry Triangle - Through the 3 charts, but really only one section (stitch pattern). As a worsted weight shawl, it really shouldn't be that much longer. I'm not hibernating it, but maybe lowering it down the list.

So, tomorrow I will be casting on for the TFA KAL projects and then not long after I will be starting the other KAL projects.

FO: Fling Scarf

Sometimes a project is more than a project, when many hands are on a project it can make things more fun, in this case, this scarf got woven on by quite a few people at indigodragonfly's Haliburton Highlands Fling back in August.  I brought along my Cricket loom to expose more people to the fun of Rigid Heddle weaving.

As someone who has trouble with knitting stranded colorwork, I find that weaving is my way to play with colors and combinations, and in this case highlighting (and using up) some multi and tonal colorways from a local fiber vendor.

I think this one is going to the gift box, it is really nice, but a girl only needs so many scarves.

- Details -

Project Name: Fling Scarf

Draft: Plain Weave

Recipient: The Box

Yarn: Pondering Rock Farms Bulky in "Eggplant and Grass" and "Ochre" (The colorways are unnamed but these seemed fitting

Modifications: None, just a plain weave scarf (which I love making)

New Skills: I got to teach some people about weaving on a rigid heddle loom, which is new to me!

Feedback:

• Yarn: Its rough and rustic, but I love the way the two colors play together.
• Draft: Oh plain weave, how I love you.

Re-Weave?: Yeppers, pairing a multi with a solid makes for a great looking scarf.