tangled up

finally flower basket and more

Finishing three out of four ain't bad, especially since I ended up working both Saturday and Sunday, and I made two separate yarn expeditions to take advantage of sales at both Woolwinders in Rockville (Saturday) and Stitch DC on Capitol Hill (on Sunday). The flower basket shawl, the Turino silk mini poncho and Bilboa from the Colinette Enigma book (although I used Giotto) are all finished!! That leaves the Matisse Charlotte's Web, hopefully for next weekend.

First, the Flower Basket Shawl. I blocked it by soaking in tepid water with a capful of Eucalan, and man, the dye from the Great Adirondacks Sierra really poured out. I rinsed it several times and "spun" it out in the salad spinner (my favorite new knitting accessory), but when I first laid it down, it was still bleeding. That's why I ended up blocking it on this towel, but not before some of the dye infiltrated the quilt on the bed in my guest room (aka my blocking spot).

None of the dye bled into the towel and it dried quickly. I really like how it came out, but I'm not sure about it's utility. It has sort of an Old West feel to it because it's just a shrug really, covering the shoulders and not much more. At the outset, I was envisioning it as something to wear as a scarf under or over a coat and I think it will serve that purpose well. But if I were to make it again (and I might), I think I would use cotton or another summer-weight yarn, because in size it's the perfect hedge against too much air conditioning. I had a hard time figuring out how to photograph it (and it still leaves a little wanting) because it really needed a white background to show off the pattern.

Thanks again to Sarah Elizabeth for starting the knit along and for her encouragement along the way.

Second, the Turino Silk Mini Poncho. Mom, I'm going to put it in the mail tomorrow and I hope you like it. You'll have to model it and send me a photo. If it's not what you were looking for, I still have the min-poncho experiment waiting (though frogging is probably more likely) and one panel of the vintage poncho. I'm going to find a different pattern for the yarn I got for Linda's.

Third, Bilboa, a cap-sleeved shell from the Colinette Enigma book. My pictures didn't come out very well, so I'm going to try again in daylight. I've got a bit to say about this project, but will save it b/c it's getting late.

Plus, I'm almost finished with the first back piece of Sheerly There and I've knit about five inches of the sleeves of the Yorkshire Tweed sample sweater for Woolwinders. Photos of both later this week.

In addition to sending off the mini poncho, my Secret Pal has a birthday this week and I'm gonna try to get my first package out to her.

Running out of steam and I've got an early morning so I'll end here, though I just know that there's something I forgot to say. There's always tomorrow.

yarn on the road

If you ever find yourself in Southport, North Carolina, or thereabouts (say, Wilmington), you definitely want to stop by Angelwing Needle Arts and meet the owner Donna Bennett. An overcast afternoon drove us off Bald Head Island, and although the sun came out as we were on the ferry, we ended up with no regrets.

The first thing I have to thank Donna for is that she had hanging in the window a mini poncho that I believe will suit my mom perfectly. I’m about halfway finished with it already. The pattern is very simple and fun to knit.

Assuming this first one goes well, I got the yarn to make one for my sister, this time in Colinette Tagliatelle, a merino tape. My last experience with Tagliatelle in the Jamboree colorway was such a disaster that I returned all but the skein I had wound. I’m more optimistic about this colorway, Summer Berries.

Next, in about 4 minutes, Donna gave me better advice on felting yarns than I’ve found anywhere. Admiring one of the bags she had hanging convinced me to try again (my first experience with Noro Kureyon was unexpectedly disappointing) with Baabajoe’s Wool-Pak 10-ply.

I was even tempted to buy some sock yarn. I haven’t knitted a pair of socks since I graduated from college. Actually, the ONLY pair I ever knit were a pair of retro (even then) argyles as a birthday present for a friend. Last year I made a couple of hats using Fortissimo Colori and I’ve got #2 and #3 dpns, but that’s as close as I’ve gotten in a long time. The socks I’ve seen blooming in so many blogs led me to purchase these beautiful babies just in case….

Angelwing has a good selection of books and patterns; Donna pointed me to the new Module Magic, which looked fun but nothing leaped out at me. I did get a felted bag pattern and a pile of old magazines for $1 each, in addition to the new Knitter’s. Thanks, Donna!

All this talk of yarn has got me warmed up to see the new shipment that Yarns International has received, and since it’s right on the route of my Saturday morning errands, I’m heading out. More later on the completed Charlottes. Somehow they’re not quite finished until they’re memorialized here.