Year of the Dragon

I finally found a pattern that I liked for the yarn I bought to make my Year of the Dragon shawl. It's based on a pattern available free on the Drops Studio website (pattern 134-3). I started out with the red yarn, and worked the lace border solid. When I started to run low, I did several rows alternating the red with the orange.

As the lace pattern is worked, the stitch count starts to decrease. The pattern is written to have a sort of raglan decrease, but I didn't like the way that looked. I did some math to work out a way of doing short row decrease to make a curved shape. I ran short of the orange, and substituted some Sincere Sheep Cormo Sport leftover from a cowl project, but that also ran short, so I used doubled Shepherd's Wool Fingering. The color changes are noticeable but not egregious.

Overall, I am pleased with this project. I wish I could have designed a shawl pattern from scratch, but this pattern was so close to what I had in mind, it really doesn't matter. Now to come up with a design for the Year of the Snake!

 

Check out the details on Ravelry!

Project for the Olympics

It's not officially sanctioned, but I did work on a knitting project during the Olympics. I cast on during the opening ceremonies, and bound off on the last day before the closing ceremonies.

I chose The Scalloped Shawl from Malabrigo Book 3, and I used Abstract Fibers Super Sock in Chartreuse and Sweet Pea. I had planned to make a striped shawl from these yarns, but Sweet Pea turned out to have more of the Chartreuse green than the other colors, so the stripes are very subtle.

 

Finished Size: 60" across x 25"

Plucky Addiction Shawl

I've been wanting to make a striped shawl, and I have plenty of yarn that would work, so why did I have to get more just to make the Color Affection shawl? Because the Plucky Knitter colors are gorgeous and the yarn is so soft with cashmere.

Color Affection Shawl

I think if I were to do this one over, I would start with brown, then the yellow, then the blue. I'd like to have more unbroken stretches of colors. I love the way the fabric feels and my color choice is growing on me. It's a bit tight along the edge of the three color section though. Although, after a light blocking, I'm happier about the edge. And I want to make another...

Reworked Shawl

I wanted this to be a use of a selection of blue yarns, but it didn't work out. So I tried contrasting the blue center panel with magenta, and then green. It just didn't work for me. I finally found a relatively low-cost yarn that was a very good match for the original yarn. And it's done!

The pattern is Soho by Ivete Tecedor. Center panel is Baywood Yarns Pearly Twist Sock Yarn; the side panels are Knit Picks Stroll Tonal. It might take awhile, but I do finish knitting projects.

Color Affection Update

I gave in to peer pressure and picked three colors of Plucky Knitter Primo MCN to use for the Color Affection shawl: Lincoln (a coppery brown), Milk Maid (a creamy yellow), and Edwardian Blue (a pale greeny blue).

Lincoln, Milk Maid, Edwardian Blue

Ventana

I love this pattern! It isn't that difficult but looks amazing. I made the first version from an alpaca yarn, this time I used Rowan Calmer, which is being discontinued. I wanted to make something out of Calmer for awhile, and had started a cropped lace cardigan. But I got stuck on the fronts, so I ripped out the back and sleeves and turned it into this shawlette/scarf.

Calmer has great stitch definition and a subtle stretch that makes it easy to knit. I haven't blocked it yet or woven in the ends, but you can see the lace pattern already.

Wrapping Up Summer

Ha, ha! Summer probably has a ways to go, but I did finish a cape/shawl out of Cascade Sierra to help with the transition to cooler days. I picked up this yarn at commuknity in San Jose. These were end lots or discontinued colors of Sierra, so there were only single skeins available. I tried a striped version of the Kauai wrap, but I had trouble getting the carries up the side to look neat. And while I liked the way the colors looked together, there wasn't much contrast.

Using the pattern for Colonnade modified for the lighter weight yarn, I am please with the way it turned out, but the contrast between colors is certainly right out there! I found the perfect button at Green Planet Yarn. They have a great selection of tagua nut buttons in a wide variety of colors. I found one to match the Bermuda Blue and one to match the Waterlily yarn. I ended up using the first button as a fastener.

Button Love

I believe how close these buttons match the color of the yarn! And I didn't bring the shawl with me to the store! Found these tagua nut buttons at Green Planet Yarn (they have some other wonderful buttons, not to mention yarns).

I still need to weave in the ends and figure out where to put the button. And block the shawl thoroughly, but you can see where it's going.

Before Blocking

But after knitting! This project was just what I was looking for. I was thinking of knitting another Citron but that wasn't exactly right for these yarns. When I saw the sample was made out of yarns similar in color to what I had, I knew it was the one. Now I just need to block it.

Pretty Little Shawl for Spring

The Mezquita Shawl looks nice in the Wagashi colorway, but it needs a little more blocking. It turned out pretty well. I'd like it to be bigger, but didn't want to use larger needles. Overall, this is a quick knit and fairly easy, too. I might try the pattern again in heavier yarn. I used less than 400 yards of the Wool Candy Marzipan, so there is over 100 yards left over.

Mystery Shawl Time Again

Yes, I'm going to try another mystery shawl, and I plan on finishing! This time it's a bit easier because I don't have to consult the chart every stitch or so. And I started almost at the beginning, so I'm not behind yet!

I'm using HazelKnits Artisan Sock in Terrywinkle. I love the shading in the color and the elastic feel of the yarn. Yum!

Details can be found at Wendy Knits and on Ravelry.

Another View of Curaçao

Curaçao, originally uploaded by toadncat.

Finally got a shot of the shawl on Miss Torso. With my iPhone...need to take one in better light.

I'm usually not a fan of the "flashing" that sometimes occurs with hand-dyed yarn, but the yarns in watery colors really look like pools of rippling water.

Another Shawl Wrapped Up

Curacao, originally uploaded by toadncat.

Let's see...this took two and a half months to finish, but it languished for weeks after I cast on the bazillion (363) stitches. I managed to knit the lace charts the week before April 16th. Then I put is aside again until April 25th. I figured the stockinette short rows would be good mindless knitting. Except that I didn't take into account the reduced number of stitches, and in fact hadn't worked the final decrease row at all. But after unknitting twice (after nearly finishing) I managed to figure out my blunders and finish the shawlette. It is a handy size. I have about 30 yards left of the yarn after working a couple extra stockinette rows.