Good grief. This project took way too long. I got frustrated with the fair isle tension and the double stranded cotton. I’m glad I didn’t give up, though, because I love it so much I want to make a set.
I’ve rescued a pair of socks from the UFO pile and have started swatching for another project, however. All that yarn might distract me from a second potholder.
project notes: can be found on my first toto post, yarn from my thrifted stash
It’s been forever since I talked about this cowl. In fact, it took entirely too long to complete. That’s because my daughter fell in love with fleece and decided wool makes her itchy. (Interestingly enough, she still likes her wool hat and mittens.)
I wasn’t sure whether or not I should keep knitting or rip it out, so it sat in the UFO pile for awhile. Then one day I decided to try it on myself. It fits! It’s snug, but definitely not too small. So I finished it up.
Of course now that I’m thinking of keeping it for myself, she mentioned that she’d wear it if I lined it with fleece. I don’t know. I kind of like finally being finished with this project.
What do you think?
project notes: cowl beginning, noro mittens, noro kitty hat
I love this sweater. I found it at the thrift store during a 99 cent sale last year. The colors are so pretty: light gray blending into warm oatmeal. It’s a soft wool acrylic blend that doesn’t need to be hand washed.
It’s too big for me, so I knew I’d be unraveling it, but to make what? It took along time, but I finally found something: the Speckled Shrug. I’ll admit that I’m not a big fan of how it looks finished on Lion Brand’s website, but my friend Jess knit it up and I love hers.
I’m so excited to have a project for this yarn. Let the unraveling begin!
I’ll admit it. My first real fair isle project after my retreat last year probably shouldn’t have been using kitchen cotton doubled stranded. The first attempt was incredibly puckered. The second attempt was off gauge and a tight fit, even for my small hand.
The third time is looking like a charm, though. A friend advised me to knit my work inside out. The strands have a longer distance to travel and it forces you to loosen up. Brilliant!
I hope to have a finished photo to share soon.
pattern: Toto the Extremely Useful and Cute Potholder (ravelry link) from Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines (amazon link).
I found my daughter’s scarf. It was on the lost and found table at school. She’s no longer wearing it, though, because she likes the fleece scarf better. You saw that coming, didn’t you?
Of course, I had just started working on a cowl to match her hat and mittens. Will she wear it when it’s finished? Maybe if I line it with fleece.
What are you working on today? More creative spaces here.
I am in love with this cowl. It’s so soft and warm — totally not perfect for today’s heat index of 103 degrees. Sooner or later the weather has to cool off and eventually it will get cold. I will be ready.
I used almost every bit of yarn for this. Couldn’t even finish another round with what was left. The Malabrigo Silky Merino is a dream to work with and is so nice on the neck. Definitely worth the splurge.
pattern: It took awhile, but I finally memorized the pattern: Drop Stitch Knitter’s Good Luck Cowl. Photos were taken before blocking. Previously blogged here and here.
I did a little bit of airplane knitting while on vacation. It’s not exactly mindless knitting, but it distracted me from all of the stormy turbulence we encountered.
I really love the pattern and the design would probably “pop” more with a solid color yarn.
I’m no longer ripping back tiny mistakes if they aren’t too noticeable. I’ve figured out how to yarn over here and there to hide them pretty good.
I started this cowl in February. At this rate, it might get finished before the cold weather hits.
What’s in your creative space? Visit other places here.
pattern: Good Luck Cowl by Drop Stitch Knitter
Today was World Wide Knit in Public Day. My daughter and I spent it with friends at the park. (I worked on a crochet project. I’m such a rebel.) The weather was beautiful, but kind of chilly. I wished I had brought a sweater.
Afterward, we went to lunch at my favorite coffee shop and then to another park to weed the Butterfly Garden. By then it was hot and I was wishing I brought sunscreen. Not so hot that I wasn’t glad to be outside. We even went on a little hike.
I love days like this.
Did you do any yarning in public?
I ripped this pic out of one of those “as seen on tv” catalogs. Love the knitting needles with the crochet granny square blanket. Bonus points for working with six yarns at the same time!
I have a lot of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s books. In fact, one of the first books I read when I started knitting was Knitting Without Tears. Elizabeth’s attitude was so confident and fearless. I was instantly addicted.
A few months ago when Amanda wrote about her love for EZ, I realized that I have never read The Opinionated Knitter. What? When I checked the library, I found they didn’t have it. Double What? Thanks to the wonders of Interlibrary Loan, I’ve spent the past month pouring over the pages.
The graphic designer in me loves the diverse typography. Just look at her signature—so bold and beautiful! And her newsletters are typed by hand—simply awesome.
All of the artwork is hand drawn by EZ. I didn’t realize that these (free!) newsletters were for her wool customers. How did I miss that she designed patterns and sold wool?
I adore these excerpts of her handwritten journal.
Happy knitting, indeed.
