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Cashmere, knit from a cone, turned into a simple, versatile scarf.
Pattern: Airy Scarf
Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
Yarn: lace weight cashmere from Habu
Needles: 6 mm
Recipient: For mom. I’ll be mailing a parcel to her later this week filled with lace and some lovely things from Megan’s shop.
Cornus florida
Yesterday, buds on the flowering dogwood I planted last year trying to bloom during an early morning rainfall.
Lace weight cashmere from Habu, Jaeger Extra Fine Merino DK
Today, knitting in deep rich colours. I couldn’t be more satisfied at the moment. I hope it lasts.
Pattern: Spider’s-web shawl, Victorian Lace Today
Size: Half hexagon
Finished Measurements, approx. 75” across top, 24” from middle center down to bottom of shawl
Yarn: silk merino hand painted lace from Yarn Ahoy etsy store in color chocolate cinnamon, 1 skein
Needles: 4.5 mm, 5 mm and 5.5 mm circular addi turbo
Modifications: ended shawl after working Chart C once using 5.5 mm needles (the pattern calls for this chart to be worked 4 more times using 6 mm needles, resulting in a completed half hexagon 84” x 36”), single crochet bind off
I’m not sure what drives me to knit lace. A burst of passion for the delicate yarn and interesting stitches carries me through the bulk of a lace project. What is it that calls you to gather lace weight yarn and needles and find a seat next to good light? In this case I was drawn to the shawl featured on page 42 of VLT – the idea of strolling in a lush garden draped in hand knitted lace, the simple Barège pattern highlighted by the surrounding greenery. It speaks of leisure and elegance, a feeling that I wanted to try to recreate with my needles. This is the first time I used variegated lace weight yarn and I think it worked well in this pattern, but in general it’s a risky endeavor, no? The blocking process didn’t go as smoothly as usual: the yarn bled a lot in the sink, I really could have used blocking wires to get the hexagon shape perfect. I didn’t knit the last four repeats of Chart C – I had my fill of the Barège pattern and realized that the finished size (84”) would mean coming up with a creative blocking surface plan.
Layers of lace & tissue, ready to be mailed to its recipient.
Cross posted at the Victorian Lace Today kal
Pattern: Roza’s Socks by Grumperina, IK Spring 2007
Yarn: Brooklyn Handspun Signature, Minty Subtle Solid, 1 skein
Needles: Lantern Moon Sox Stix ebony dpns, 2.25 mm
Loved knitting this pattern. It has a nice balance of both interest and ease on the needles. Although I started knitting these socks in March, I knit the entire second sock this past week. I definitely consider them my Project Spectrum socks! Besides being one of the softest pairs of socks I own (something about that Signature yarn, it’s seriously soft knit up) I also really love the way they look – horizontal texture and vertical elegance.
Fibers are the core of knitting, and there is a wide range of wonderful natural yarns that are available and becoming more accessible as knitters seek the creature comforts that only Mother Nature can offer.
The Natural Knitter by Barbara Albright
I first saw a preview of this book over at Fluffbuff and then learned a bit more about Barbara Albright at Zeneedle. I casually mentioned the book to my parents a few weeks ago (that I was at the book store to get two books, they had this one but didn’t have the knitting book I was hunting for…) and next thing it was in my mailbox via Amazon! The Natural Knitter is required reading for every knitter looking to pursue a life filled with natural yarns and fleece. The quality and substance of this book makes it stand out from the others on my shelves. A wealth of information on fibers (camelids, goats, bunnies, other fiber-bearing beasties, silk, linen …) plus a nice selection of patterns by well known designers (Norah Gaughan, Debbie New…).
My favorites include Memories of Ukrain by Lidia Karabinich, Architectural Rib Pullover by Norah Gaughan and the Pineapple Overtop by Setsuko Torii (using, yes, Habu Textiles 100% pineapple fiber).
I’m far from perfect when it comes to reining in my consumption of yarns, but I would like to think that my stash reflects quality not quantity, with a focus on naturalness. I like knowing the source of the fiber and yarn and the impact the purchase has on the earth. I wonder if I could knit with only natural yarns the rest of the year? After seeing the yarns used in this book and in the Resources pages there are plenty of familiar ones to choose from, Blue Sky Alpacas, Green Mountain Spinnery, Habu Textiles, Lorna’s Laces, Morehouse Farm and Mountain Colors to name a few. I’d like to try and this book is the perfect guide.
And lest you think I’ve forgotten what month it is, I do have two PS socks blooming in my knitting basket that I hope to share with you later this week!
I found myself reaching for some yak/merino fleece while at The Yarn Tree the other day - curious about this fiber after seeing it here and here.
So I added it to the bunch of small bags of fiber to test spin. Mongolian cashmere/mulberry silk, merino in gold, sand colored baby alpaca and cream-colored yak/merino. I spun up a bit of each to get the feel of various fibers before committing to one that would fill my spindle. The cashmere/silk was trouble, the most difficult fiber I’ve spun yet. (I think it was the silk.) The merino was easy. The baby alpaca fast. The yak/merino perfect – so I spun up more. Smooth spinning and so soft. While plying the yak/merino using the Andean plying bracelet method, one ply split and coiled its way into the bracelet. I took it off my wrist and it became more of a mess, so I untangled it and wound it onto a niddy noddy. After setting the twist of the singles and two-ply with steam, I hung them on each end of a hanger to dry. I love the inconsistencies of the two-ply. Overspun beads next to airy plies. And since I don’t want to knit it up right away (need to take in the finished handspun high for a few days or weeks) I needed some yak to knit. Shokay, 100% pure yak down in an earthy color. All set up on my coffee table: yak yarn, needles, a print out of A Scarf Askew and The Natural Knitter (more on this book tomorrow).