Ending the Year with Art

I mostly post about knitting on this blog, but as many of you know I'm also an artist. To end the year, I thought I'd post one of my recent collages. This one is titled "Except in Song."

Click on the image for a larger version that will allow you to see/read the details. In fact, the larger version is about actual size.

Best wishes for a happy, safe, and peaceful 2007!

Quite Possibly the Last FO of 2006

Nothing like a pair of slipper socks to take the chill off frosty New England mornings! The yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted #42 (Cool), and the stitch pattern for the ankle is the Bluebell Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks. I decided not to try to eliminate the pooling but instead just see what happened.

As soon as I finished these, I cast on for another pair, using Lamb's Pride Superwash in a purple heather. This time I'm using Waffle Rib, which I'll think I'll carry down the instep to the toe decreases. They'll probably be the first FO and first socks of 2007, ensuring that the New Year is off to a good start, knittingwise.

Gifts Modeled

Here's Betsey wearing the Swallowtail Shawl, and Jamie showing off one of his new socks (his foot's on a stool designed and hooked by Betsey).

Socks 'n' Swallowtail

My Christmas knitting is finally done, and not a moment too soon. Jamie's Regia Strato socks were an easy knit, but, given the size of his feet, not a quick project.

The Swallowtail Shawl's nupps gave me some headaches but in the end they were worth it. It's small--really more of a scarf than a shawl--51 inches across the top, 24 inches from center top to bottom peak. That's OK, though--I think it's just right for the recipient. I made no modifications except to knit two rows less of the peaked edging because I was afraid I might run out of yarn (I didn't, but better safe than sorry). The yarn is Misti Alpaca laceweight, knit on a US3 bamboo circular.

It's my first triangular shawl, so pardon the less-than-perfect blocking. Next time around, I'm sure I'll do better. Here it is before blocking, getting a bath (pardon the dirty dishes--we all know which comes first, housework or knitting), during blocking, and after.










Happy holidays, one and all!

Decisions, decisions

I've been swatching with a skein of gray/green Misti Alpaca laceweight for a few days now. This is the same yarn (different color) that I used for the Swallowtail Shawl. I like it, but have been having trouble deciding how to use it. It's so fine, it doesn't lend itself to very open lace patterns--even using a US3 needle, the yarnovers and stitches can look a little too much alike. First I tried the IK Little Arrowhead Shawl, but with this yarn it looked like nothing but fishnet. Then, JoLene Treace's Elizabeth I/Glorianna scarf--another lovely pattern, but yarn and design just didn't "click." Third, I tried the stitch pattern from Cheryl Oberle's Kimono Shawl, only knitting fewer repeats for a scarf. Also too "holey" for my taste.

Finally, I decided I needed something simple, something with few yarnovers. So here's the start of a Feather and Fan scarf, and I think this just might be the right pattern for this subtly heathered yarn. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, anyway.

All of this swatching has been a slight distraction from finishing up Jamie's Regia Strato socks. But not to worry--they'll be done, and the Swallowtail Shawl will be blocked--by Christmas. I promise. And I promise not to start any new projects until they're done!

By the way, the woven cloth in the picture is by my talented sister Jenny.

Zigzag Scarf

Last summer Mikki, my One Skein Secret Pal, sent me a skein of a deliciously soft laceweight yarn--Louet's Kidlin Pixie, a blend of linen, kid mohair, and nylon. It took me a while to decide what to make with it. At first I considered a pair of Brenda Dayne's Mrs. Beeton wristwarmers, but they really aren't my style. And, they wouldn't use very much of the skein.

The more I thought about this yarn's softness, the more I knew I wanted to use it for something worn next to the skin. So, in the end, I settled on a lace scarf.



I finished it just in time to wear to the office Christmas party this afternoon. The zigzag lace pattern comes from Interweave Knit's summer 2006 lace primer. Needles: US3 bamboo straights. Dimensions after blocking: 7" wide by 59" long.

I noticed a morning visitor to my porch in the corner of one of my shots. He comes to raid the bird feeder, but he was out of luck this morning because I hadn't filled it.

Meet the Neighbors

I've been too busy in recent days to block the Swallowtail Shawl, but I did finish the zig-zag lace scarf. Pictures of both, all blocked and pretty, will appear here soon.

In the meantime, allow me to introduce you to one of my neighbors. I live down the road from a farm that has quite a few llamas, as well as goats. They were in a far field when I took this, so I had to use the zoom. Hopefully sometime soon I can get better pictures of them.

Frothy Blue Goodness

The Swallowtail is finished! Seafoam is a perfect name for this color. I love how frothy the unblocked shawl looks in sunlight. I don't think I will block it today. I'm going to try using a big piece of corkboard that I got from work (it was being thrown away), but I need to get some checked fabric to cover it with. A trip to JoAnn's is in order, only not today. Going to the mall on a Sunday this close to Christmas would not be a happy experience.