The Typha scarf is supposed to be about 2-times this size. I actually saw the modeled sample that was sent to Knitscene at Christa’s (the designer) house when I stayed with her in Vancouver in 2010. She was blocking it on the living room floor. Loved the pattern and vowed to make it.  The one I made for my sister is a mini version. I really wanted to use this unique yarn (Creatively Dyed Yarns Woodbrook in “Flash”). It was only 250 yards though, so there was no more yarn for the pretty crochet border in the original pattern. Probably for the best considering that my crochet skills are sub-par.

I have had a lot of starts and stops in knitting lately. Start something new, and then rip it out. I just couldn’t find something that was simple enough to do while unwinding and enjoying my down time. My creative stores are going to my writing, cooking, and gardening. So, knitting garter and stockinette is just the kind of thing I crave right now. I cast on for a lace shawl this past weekend, and didn’t even make it 2 rows… luckily, I love the look of simplicity.

Kris and I went down to Virginia this weekend to visit my sisters – Mimi moved here at the beginning of the year from California, and I take every opportunity I can to get down to see her and the nieces.  Baby V is now Toddler V at 2.5, and Baby Lulu turns 5 months tomorrow:

Sarah and I are probably the craziest aunties ever. All we want to do is play and kiss these cuties! (We need these t-shirts, eh?)

…and of course, I want to clothe them in knits too…

Since Lulu is 2 years younger than V (and born in the same season), I am concentrating on knits for V now – that means that they will get double the wear. This little stripey pattern is a simple tunic tank for the summer.  I am using Debbie Bliss EcoBaby Fairtrade Cotton that I found at a new yarn shop in my area.

As noted earlier, this mild winter was not as full of knits as previous years, but I did manage to keep up my tradition of Kris’s anniversary sweater. I finished it 4 days after said anniversary (and if you recall – this was a big one – Kris and I celebrated 10 years in January.)

RAVELRY NOTEBOOK PAGE

You will recall that the pattern was completely in Japanese – a language I cannot read, unfortunately – although there were charts and schematics. I used my knitty senses to the nth degree on this one! When I finished it and sewed it all up, I was disappointed to see that I had a tunic… for an orangutan. Long sleeves – past the fingers, and a hemline that went way past the waist. I was upset, butI re-grouped quickly, sought some advice on Twitter, and decided to do a hot water bath and an air dry. What a difference – It fit him perfectly!

I used Patons Wool in Burgundy – a good “work horse” yarn. I like the way the color turned out, and so does Kris. In fact, he said this may be his favorite sweater yet. High praise. Too bad he didn’t get to wear it much – but here’s hoping we get some cold temps and big snowstorms NEXT winter!

A cowl was just the right amount of layer for this weather -I finished my Madelinetosh Brick Road Cowl in late December:

RAVELRY NOTEBOOK PAGE

I wore this many times. I love the colors and the reversible sides. The Tosh Merino Light was a dream to work with… no surprises there. I look forward to adding some more to my stash… the yarn shop near my mom’s house in PA had a nice stock… will have to check it out again on my next trip.

Hats and baby knits were also on the needles this winter…

Spring knits are in my mind now, and I am drawn to all of the light shawl patterns. Maryland gets pretty steamy, so realistically, shawls will have to wait for next fall, but there are so many that I have my eye on – and a lot of yarn in the stash to make them many times over…

I spent some time breaking it in yesterday while I worked on this cowl that I started last week.  It makes for a pretty great knitting chair.  The only thing that would make it better?  A handknit colorwork pillow, of course!  I have some ideas in mind for that, but I probably won’t be casting on until the new year…

The call of the new Madelinetosh Merino Light was strong – and this unique slipped stitch patternreeled me right in.  This is the Brick Road Cowl by Madelinetosh (Rav link), and it looks much more complicated than it is.  I am closing in on the halfway point, and then I will reverse the colors for yellow bricks with the green/grey background.  I chose the Candlewick and Terra Verde colorways for this one – picked them up while visiting my parents in Pennsylvania.  It’ll be a stylish reversible neckwarmer for the coming winter.

3 squares – made up of other squares.  It’s just so meta!  Choosing the colors from my stash was just as much fun as knitting the simple garter stitch squares.  Row upon row of, building a wearable accessory.  Lolly the builder. I didn’t pull out my T-square, but I did use the tool of my trade: yarn and needles!

I choose my yarns on texture – I went for 2 or 3 ply yarns with a sheen and sproingy quality.  I wanted to play with some palettes, so I used the following yarns for each block (inside out)

Block 1: Cherry Tree Hill – Louet Gems, Louet Gems, Koigu KPPM

Block 2: Louet Gems, Cherry Tree Hill, Three Waters Farm

Block 3: Shibui Sock, Louet Gems, Claudia Hand Painted, Koigu KPPM

There will be more squares in my future.  This project refined my “picking up stitches” technique, and now I am itching for more.  A larger scale version (worsted weight on size 6 or 7 needles?) would make a great baby blanket… or even a rug…

This project was a rainbow of colors and fit well into this year’s Project Spectrum time frame.  Today is the last day for reds and oranges, and with some of the leftovers (a stashbust within a stashbust!), I whipped up this pair of orange baby booties for my as yet-to-be determined nephew/niece, due in October.  It would be great if I find the fortitude to make a color-themed pair a month for the new baby… my own personal challenge.

Better plan my GREEN pair next!

Square #1 complete – 33% – layers of squares constructed on top of each other.  Not only is is a fabulous fingering weight stash bust, but it is producing some that I love to look at.

Square #2 underway – 33%.  Squares of Cherry Tree Hill, Koigu, Louet, built one on top of the other.

I feel like a knitting architect.

]]> http://lollygirl.com/blog/2011/04/09/hip-to-be-square/feed 19 http://lollygirl.com/blog/2011/03/28/sites-knits-in-pa http://lollygirl.com/blog/2011/03/28/sites-knits-in-pa#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:24:20 +0000 lolly http://lollygirl.com/blog/?p=3265 Kris had a conference up in Connecticut and I decided to go along for the ride.  We decided to go the in-land route through Pennsylvania; we stopped by Gettysburg to visit Kris’s brother, went to a fabulous used book store in Harrisburg, went to a hockey game in Wilkes Barre, did some hiking in the northeast mountains on our way to Connecticut.

Promised Land State Park, Pennsylvania

The snow began to fall steadily at the state park, so we cut our hike short.  There were already large snow drifts and several closed roads.  We didn’t anticipate all the snow, so we actually didn’t have all of the layers that we typically would have for snow hiking.  Next stop – a little less snowy – was Raymondskill Falls, outside of Milford, PA.

Inside town, we went to the Grey Towers National Historic Landmark and as we were driving to find a spot for lunch, we happened upon a yarn shop (Kris actually pointed it out!) and we stopped by for a quick peek… and a quick purchase.

As Kris drove, I knit. I had searched for a pattern that I could get excited about to bring on the knitting love again, and I found it in the form of the Albers Cowl by Ann Weaver (Ravelry link).  I am so excited about this knit and the artistic inspiration behind it… I am planning a whole post on it very soon, but I will gladly show my progress after some hours of driving:

This is serving as a great stashbusting project, and my first time with simple modular knits – I love this process.  I have some great color combinations in my head, and I am excited to see how they work together in these blocks.

I have ambitious plans for blogging this week.  I have lots of tell you… meetings with great knitters, a pilgrimage to “America’s Yarn Store”, and even some finished knits to share. Here’s hoping my blog mojo AND my knitting mojo are back to stay!

]]> http://lollygirl.com/blog/2011/03/28/sites-knits-in-pa/feed 12 http://lollygirl.com/blog/2010/12/03/i-am-not-ded http://lollygirl.com/blog/2010/12/03/i-am-not-ded#comments Fri, 03 Dec 2010 10:01:49 +0000 lolly http://lollygirl.com/blog/?p=3155 Rather than making excuses for over a month of radio silence, I will just say – HEY!  Thanks for the messages and emails.  LollyKnitting Around is not down or on an extended hiatus. 

Of course, I have a lot to catch you up on, so, I’ll let the photos – and a few words – tell the story:

Late October:  lots of apples – mom and dad and I did a little daytrip over to West Virginia where we bought a couple of bushels.  I did a lot of canning and baking – like these apple cider cupcakes, for instance.

More floor + painting!  The entire second floor of the house is done:  Kris’s office, my office/craft room, the master bedroom and closet, the hallway, and half the stairway to the first floor.  Lots of work and lots of reward.  It feels like a whole new place, even though we moved in 9 years ago this month.

Mimi + Baby V came to town!  It was such a joy to see them both – Baby V turned one at the end of September.  She’s the belle of the ball and seeing my sister and her was an absolutely wonderful treat.  I had a Baby Owlet sweater waiting for her arrival.  Full details about the pullover are on my Ravelry notebook page.

I turned 30.  It wasn’t all that bad.

Thanksgiving with the W family – wonderful times!  We were rocking the red this year

Haircut (bangs are back!) and a new tweedy vertical stripe scarf.  Ravelry Notebook Page for the scarf here!

House is decorated for the holidays and while still under renovation, things are pretty ordered.  More renos to come – first floor flooring, and some kitchen upgrades… but that can probably wait till 2011.

~ More knitting to share next time ~

Thanks as always for reading

…

Fast forward to 2010.  Project was not forgotten, but was not “dealt with” so, it was continuously buried in my yarn closet.  While I was pretty fearless back then, I didn’t have patience and stay power, so it was set aside for another time… and consequently never finished.

Back then, I knew nothing about construction and gauge.  So, when I pulled this project out of the closet over the weekend (part of the big clean out for the wood floor installation), I decided to just deal with it.  In the process of working through a few more rounds, I remembered the basic lace pattern that I had started on years ago… and I realized that this project could be repurposed and made new again – this time as a scarf or a cowl.

So, I did just that.

…and then I wrote the pattern for it…

…and made it available for free on Ravelry…

:: Blushing Lace Cowl ::

Funny that I jumped in so readily back then, and now I don’t knit much lace (if I can help it)… but as I was knitting up one last repeat, I realized it isn’t all that bad.  Of course, this is a simple lace – not charted or complicated.  Easily memorized.  Doable.  It’s quite a liberating feeling to have a project off the needles after nearly 7 years.

…and I happen to have some more Rowan Kidsilk Haze – just enough to make another version of this cowl – that I would be happy to give away to a commenter… leave a comment if you are interested in 1.75 balls of KSH in the 606 colorway! I will choose at random on Sunday evening (October 3rd).

…

Socktoberfest is nigh!  I am quite excited about our sixth celebration – and some 1300 people on Ravelry are also excited!  It’s not too late to join the fun!  You can join us anytime in October.  While I am planning to cast on for the Through the Loops Mystery Socks, I also decided to get a jumpstart on another pair of socks – that’s 100% allowed in Socktoberfest!  the KAL with no rules!  – and I cast on with some old stashed yarn from 2006… back when Socks that Rock was in it’s infancy.  This skein was a gift, and it’s been waiting in the wings for a few years, now to become the Flammegarn Socks from Nancy Bush’s Folk Socks book – a simple slipped stitch pattern with a ribbed cuff.

Bring on the socks!!

The Perseverance Trail is a network of trails that start right above the downtown area of Juneau – you can take various routes and reach the top of Mt. Roberts, climb up Mt. Juneau, or go in between the two to view some lovely waterfalls.  We chose the last option – along with Alli and her doggies, we persevered and hiked the miles through some beautiful country.  More wild berries.  More scenic photo opps.  More fun companionship.

~

Inspired by this wonderful day on the trails – and as a tribute to my time in Alaska – I knit a shawl.  That’s what knitters do.  And I am calling this shawl “Perseverance”.

Perseverance

Pattern:  My own free design – on Ravelry!
Yarn:  Cottage Craft 1-ply “Black Cherry” colorway
Needles: Size 4.0mm/US 6 24″ and 36″ circular needles

I think I need to knit a bright green version of this to properly display the colors of trail… but the structure is more what I was after… and I achieved it.  The shape is a basic triangle, with textured stitches:  basic stockinette, half-linen stitch, reverse stockinette, and garter stitch.  I played with the idea of tiers – or switchbacks, as I think of them – to emulate the mountain structure of the shawl.  And the increase ridge down the middle even resembles a waterfall!

Another stashbusting knit, I purchased this yarn in 2006.  It’s a great 1-ply from a little outfit in New Brunswick called Cottage Craft.  I used their 2-ply Maritime Blue colorway to make my Street Smart Hoodie, and it was a great yarn that has worn really well.  I believe that this yarn will be the same.  It was great to knit with, and it really shows off the half-linen stitch patterning. This pattern would work equally well in a drapey yarn, or one with some more heft.  It’s very customizable!  If you make one, please link to it on Ravelry so I can see the results!

…and if you want to make it, you can queue it up here – and download the pattern!

~~

PS — So many thanks for your thoughtful comments on my “blogiversary” post the other day.  Heartwarming and encouraging!

]]> http://lollygirl.com/blog/2010/07/30/perseverance-a-hike-and-a-shawl/feed 21 http://lollygirl.com/blog/2010/07/19/knits-from-up-north http://lollygirl.com/blog/2010/07/19/knits-from-up-north#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:51:30 +0000 lolly http://lollygirl.com/blog/?p=2933 Juneau’s climate is tailor-made for handknits.  The temperature is pretty consistent, and while we were there, it didn’t rise above 60 degrees.  You need warm and dry feet – make socks.  You need to cover your neck and chest – make a scarf.  You need to keep your head warm an dry – make a hat.  Easy enough.  You do have to factor in the whole wetness factor – because it rains approximately 150 inches a year (it’s a rainforest) but you just choose your fiber accordingly.

I did just that – and came away with two winning accessories that served me well during my time there.

Yvaine Shawl
Pattern: Yvaine – free pattern from Femiknisty
Yarn: The March Hare fingering weight, colorway “Driftwood”
Needles: Size US 8 circulars
Ravelry Notebook Page

I did start it here, but I finished it there – so I am counting it as an Alaskan knit   The pattern was simple and very fun.  I really enjoyed the triangular shawl knit process and watching it grow.  Yvaine had some textural elements too, so it varied a bit.  The yarn really made it sparkle, in my opinion.  Loved this variegation the first minute I saw it at MDSW last year.

While in Alaska, I also whipped up a quickie hat.  I needed some warmth, and I also wanted a little variety from the one other hat that I had brought with me.  So… the Misty Juneau hat was born!  I brought this Spirit Trail Minerva along with me (a purchase from MDSW a few years back) and I made this beanie hat in two days.  And surprise!  the day I finished it – was a misty Juneau day!

I improvised the pattern – very simple beanie design with a wide ribbed brim.  Then, I did reverse stockinette the whole way because I liked the way it looked.  Here’s the Ravelry Notebook Page.  The yarn has a more violet tint than the photos show, with these small streaks of gray in it.  I doubled the yarn, and used a 16-inch size 8 circular needle.  Tried it on as I went along and bound off when it was long enough.

On the plane ride back to Maryland, I made a lot of progress on an improvised “design” using the basic triangular shawl shape.  It should be finished soon, and I will be sharing the pattern.

We had an amazing time in Alaska, and it was hard to leave!  I do hope to have another chance to make it back to Alaska to see more of the state – it’s a very special place!  I am still uploading photos on Flickr and will be in the upcoming days, so if you would like to see my Alaska set of photos (well, what I have so far!) you can see them here!

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