Remember, I was so proud of myself for getting some stuff off my needles that I went on a stalking spree? Well, sometimes, these sessions actually results in me casting on and knitting projects!!!!
First off, I used SusannaIC’s Frederica shawl as an excuse to buy the Jane Austin Knits, Summer 2012 magazine. (And have we talked about how I LOVE digitally downloadable magazines!?) I loved the color, I loved that there was lace work on the inside edge of the shawl and I thought it would be the perfect summer shawl. I NEEDED an orange shawl.
Well? The shawl was a very quick knit and it is off my needles and I’ve already worn it! I made it out of Wollmeise 100% in Campari Piccolo — which looks like Campari mixed with Orange Juice — and beaded it with 6/0 clear amethyst colored round seed beads. It took EXACTLY 1 skein…in fact, I had to bind off using a different yarn (I used Clementine…I wasn’t going to break into a new skein just for the bind off!).
I’ve not made a crescent shaped shawl from the bottom up. Once the lace section was done, the rest of the shawl flew as I short-rowed to a very quick finish.
The second project I mentioned was Heidi Kirrmaier’s Buttercup, which is a very sweet little sweater with puffed sleeves and a lace inset. Mine is not quite so sweet, but I got my “I can’t follow a pattern” ya-yas out with this one. Tons of modifications to make the top more into a tunic, to make it a bit slimmer, make the neckline a little tighter, and make the sleeves not quite so little-girl puffed but a grown up puffed. I made it out of Rowan’s Linen Drape, which is beautiful as a garment but was perhaps the split-tiest yarn I’ve ever used. I think the yarn has 1,000,000 plies!!! As the name suggests though, it does drape really nicely. I hope it wears OK with all these plies!! Right now, the sweater is trying to dry in this very wet summer weather we are having thus far, but I did get a snapshot pre-blocking.
See? I do finish projects after all!
Other than this, I’ve some test knits and sample knits on the needles, which I am working through.
But….I’ve gotten things off the needles, WHAT AM I STALKING!?
Good question. I’ve been doing more than stalking. I’ve been winding yarn, as I have some air plane knitting time coming up shortly. Here’s a preview, and while you can see what these cakes are intended to turn into if you go to my Ravelry project page, I will leave it here as images to ponder instead. On the left is a pile of fingering weight yarn from At Bullard Farm and a lone skein from Hedgehog Fibres. On the right is some lace from French Market Fibers.
YUMMY, right?
~Twisted
OMG there’s a yarn magazine out there inspired by Jane Austen??? Holy crap, how did I not know about this? Thanks so much for telling me about it… off to investigate.
And that shawl is just drop-dead gorgeous. Love love love!
Thank you!
Yes — as for Jane Austen knits mags — there are two — one out last fall and one just out for the summer.