The Koigu Shawl

For Mothers Day, my mom got me a gift certificate to take a lace knitting class at the LYS because she knows I was loving knitting my Garden Path Shawl. I am so glad she did because I a) got to know the yumminess that is Koigu, and b) really really enjoyed knitting this pattern!!



Originally this was called the Gypsy Shawl by Koigu, but my instructor basically had to rewrite the entire thing, as the original shawl pattern basically made no sense.


Closeup of Top

It was such a joy to knit!! It starts out with a bunch of stockinette, which I modified to add the little "raspberries" you see above.


Close up of bottom

Then there are 3 different lace patterns for the bottom. The first is trellis lace, the second is feather lace and the third is little arrow lace. I don't know where my instructor got the stitch patterns, but I love them all.



And of course, my three year old had ot get in on the action again while photographing. She loves to model of my shawls!! She also helped me block it, and then proceeded to tell her dad exactly how to block things. "you get it in the sink and put water on it. Then you put lots of pins on the black thing that the cats scratch. Then you leave it alone and DON'T TOUCH IT or you get a time out."

Oh and I am well aware of the glaring error on the top of the shawl, but seing as I was about 6 inches past it and I had already ripped the sucker 5 times I decided to leave it.

Thanks for looking!

Garden Path Shawl

It's done!! FINALLY!! Frickin A I thought this thing would never end. But it is and I am extremely happy with the results!



Pattern: Garden Path Shawl by Elann.com (free pattern)

Yarn: Pure Alpaca from Elann.com in the Forest Path colorway

Needles: Size 9 Lantern Moon

Start: March 2007
Finished: June 2007



Modifications: This shawl is huge. I mean HUGE. I omitted the last repeat of the pattern and it is still down past my rear. I adapted the edging pattern to fit without the last repeat of the round flowery things and steam blocked it. I didn't block the edges aggressively enough so they aren't as pointy as they could be, but I was so excited to wear it that I didn't feel like redoing it!! LOL


This is my younger sister modeling it.


And my 3 year old.





Would I knit it again? No way. Did I enjoy knitting it? Definitely. I have however decided that I prefer stockinette shawls to garter stitch shawls.

I made my first sweater!!

You have to ignore the dorky poses, I was playing with my kids at the same time.

Anyway, here are the specs:

Pattern: Cardigan for Arwen from Interweave Knits Fall 2006
Yarn: Knit Picks Andean Silk, Cornflower, 16 balls
Needles: Lantern Moon size 7 and 8
Started: January 1, 2007
Finished: May 4, 2007
Modifications: I didn't do the hood, because I don't wear hoods. Instead I did a single crocheted border around the neckline after I seamed everything together. I really like it.

The only downside to this sweater is that when I started it, I was 21 lbs heavier, so it is a bit big on me, but I don't care, I like it all slouchy.

Blocking was a BIOTCH though. Apparently because of the silk, it stretched out soooo much while blocking it. Originally the wingspan was 6 feet long, and I was totally freaked out. But thanks to all the lovely knitty heads, I squished all the stitches together and then left it alone for 5 days and they are still a bit long, but waaaaaay better.

So all in all I am really proud of my very first sweater!!

Woohoo!! My first Lace!

I finished my first lace ever!! I made my mom the Shetland Triange from Wrap Style, and she loved it!! I gave it to her for her birthday. It was much easier when I ran lifelines, and it was actually a really quick knit. IT took about 10 days from start to finish, and I have two small kids and a house to take care of!!

So here is the details:

Pattern: Shetland Triangle from Wrap Style
Yarn: Elann.com Peruvian Baby Silk, 3.5 balls
Needles: Addi's size 6
Started: April 1
Finished: April 10
Modifications: None. Now I wish I would have done a few more repeats of the fir cone pattern and made it bigger, as on my mom it is more of a scarf then a shawl, but oh well.


Here is my 3 year old modeling it:





Unblocked:



Blocked:



Close up of fir cone pattern:



and the obligitory side view:



Up next is this gorgeous skein of yarn:



It is 1100 yards of Claudia handpaint 100% silk and I am making this with it.

It's been awhile...

But I have been really busy!! I don't have a lot to say, last week was our 5 year anniversary, Oliver's baptism and Easter, which were all amazingly awesome. Then my kids got sick again so we have been taking it easy around the house etc. then I got sick so now I really haven't been doing much, LOL. But here are some pictures of the top down bonnet from Helloyarn.com. I used 2 strands of STR lightweight in the colorway Lucy. Size 3 needles were WAY too small so I jumped up to size 5 and it is still too small, so I may make another one in the child size.







And then, I finished my craft room!! I am very excited about this!!

Mine and Crystal's scrap space:


Shelf:



Yarn Dresser:



Target Cubes:



Woohoo!!

Next up: I am almost done with Arwen, and I have started 2 shawls, plus 2 pairs of birthday socks. I also finished the Shetland Triangle, just have to upload the pics. Phew!!