Frost Flower Scarf

This scarf is supposed to be a gift for a friend who is wool-sensitive. Rowan's linen/silk blend Silkystones is beautiful and wool-free. The great thing about this pattern is that is doesn't require grafting to halves together; the lace pattern looks the same at both ends!

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.

Cowl as Swatch

I've gone back to buying a skein here, ball there of yarn that looks interesting. It's a try before I commit to a large quantity of yarn after a couple of missteps. The problem is that I don't want to just knit a swatch, I'd rather make something useful. Which leads back to...what can you make with one ball of yarn?
Anyway, I picked up a ball of Rowan's Lenpur Linen because I liked the color and I love linen. It's not the easiest fiber to knit with, but it makes a beautiful fabric. Lenpur Linen is mostly rayon with 25% linen. It's soft and has a little sheen. I decided to make the Spiral Cowl because it was possible it might only take one ball of yarn. Well, it needed more. So I used Aslan Trends Glaciar Del Cielo because it is similar in weight and texture. Glaciar Del Cielo is 100% cotton, so it doesn't have the same sheen as the linen, and didn't soften up quite as much, but it blends nicely.

The cowl looked odd while I was working on it because of the contrast between the dark and light green, but on the model it takes on a different look. It's like two different cowls depending on whether you wear it with the lighter color on top or the darker color on top. It's more of a fashion accessory rather than something that would keep your neck warm.

Solution for Blocking Lace

The Block and Roll reviewed in The Knitter's Review here: Knitting Needles and Tools Reviewed might be just what I need. I just don't have the space to lay things out without dogs getting involved. I've been thinking about a blocking system that I could size and fold to store...just need to make a prototype.

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.