Thanks to some inspiration from the good knitters at the PurlBee, I've knit a nest.
Isn't it fun? Instead of stuffing, I've used dried lavender blossoms in my eggs. This nest will ultimately perch in one of the walk in closets, perhaps the one where much of my yarn is stored, as a deterrent to moths. These first two eggs are knit from Manos del Uruguay's Serena, a lovely yarn that would make a fantastic little baby sweater. I'm going to knit a few more from Blue Sky's silk/alpaca blend.
I'm eternally optimistic.
I'm pretty sure that given my current rate of progress, I am fully capable of having the Barn Raising Quilt I'm knitting for Miss Princess completed by the time she leaves for college in, oh, about, six years. Such confidence. But then again, was it really me that thought knitting a blanket on size 2 needles was a good idea?
Nonetheless, I adore this pattern and enjoy knitting the little squares, although I'm far too ADD to stick to just one square at a time. I like to keep them in different stages of development.
This square in KPPM is turning out to be a favorite. I'm trying to insure a good mix of light and dark squares and different colors without being too intentional about it, so I'm randomly pulling yarn out of my stash of sock leftovers but trying to insure that if it's blue one square I'm on to green the next time.
This is some Elliebelly yarn, leftover from one of my favorite pairs of socks. And then I moved on to more KPPM, but in a much lighter value of colors.
This one is so new it's hard to see, but I think it's going to be a favorite. In fact, I'm thinking more of this yarn may be needed to knit a sweater for a friend's new baby that is on the way.
There is definitely something very pleasurable about knitting these wee squares that are simple enough to knit over coffee while talking with friends but have just enough going on to keep boredom from setting in.
And, while looking ahead to finishing it some day, I discovered a picture of my friend Susan's absolutely stunning finished quilt. Isn't she amazing? She used a crocheted edging on each square to create the outline.
Last week was one of those weeks where a bit of knitting fit in over morning coffee, some more late at night, a bit while waiting at the doctor. By the end of the week, I felt like I had a good bit of progress to show.
(1) Another Square for the Barn Raising Quilt finished
(2) Great Progress on the Mirror, Mirror Scarf
(3) One-third through the Caterpillar Cuddle (I am not a lace knitter. I should not pretend. I am sure this is full of mistakes, but I am deeply attached to it and think both the pattern and the yarn are beautiful. Fortunately, I think it is unlikely that the young lady it is intended for will notice my poor knitting skills)
(4) The very teensiest start of Sparrow's Nest. I'm planning to knit the eggs and stuff them with dried lavender to make a very cool sachet for a walk in closet.
Isn't that shade of blue amazing? I couldn't resist a few extra skeins of it, but don't have a pattern in mind for it yet. I like it so much, I wish I had the patience to knit slip covers for my living room chairs out of it. In case you think that is just wishful thinking, I marked this fabulous pattern as a favorite on Ravelry several months ago. I continue to hear its siren song. Maybe in another lifetime!
With regrets to all the many lovely commenters, Emmaline has found a home. A home quite close to home in fact. Two of our closet friends came by for a Mother's Day afternoon visit, and, ding – ding – ding: we have a winner!
It looks like it was knit just to fit her! Isn't it a wonderful pattern? And I feel less like a pitiful excuse for an off-gauge knitter and more like a good friend. Ahhhh.
With Emmaline done, I picked up Faraway, So Close — a pattern written by one of my favorite online knitters, Carina Spencer. Although it looks a little bit blobby, I can see already how beautifully this rather unusual pattern lines up around the center line of increases.
This is a difficult pattern to put down — because there are six (or maybe more, I haven't gone through them all yet) stitch patterns, I keep wanting to continue to see the next one. I love the delicate eyelet rows with their lacey yarn over holes. The half linen stitch pattern is very pretty (it's the part just off of the needles in this picture). And, the basic garter and stockinette patternings are nice too.
So far, this has been a fabulous knit. Although I'm not much of a shawl person, this might just be the start of something.
Emmaline, one of the most enjoyable patterns I have ever knit, is finished and is not a success. Oh, the sweater is beautiful. I love the pattern. But, it doesn't fit. It won't ever fit. I've tried to convince myself, but no matter what I imagine about the saving graces of an edging of crochet, well, it's not happening.
I've decided to make all of my friends try it on until it finds a good home. I started with Miss Princess. Clearly, no match here.
I accosted my next door neighbor, Dinny, who I adore, at the end of a day of gardening. I could have easily parted with the sweater for Dinny, but sadly, again, not a good fit and not her color.
Clearly, I'm going to have to be cagey to find a good home for poor Em. I tried to get my friend Jennifer, also a knitter, to try her on yesterday, but she bailed out, mumbling something about the fit. (She did take our fence-jumping stray dog off of our hands, though, so I am eternally grateful to her). I'm still thinking maybe my Mother-in-Law, or another friend, whose color this definitely is. I'll see some of my art friends at Art and Soul in Hampton later this month, so perhaps I'll take her along there. It would be embarrassing to reach the point of waylaying total strangers and making them try on a sweater. I could get there, though.
If you think Emmaline might be made for you, drop me a comment. I knit the size medium, but I think the true fit is for a nicely endowed woman in the large/extra large range.
This is the start of the Mirror, Mirror scarf-a quick little pattern, knit on a bulky Malabrigo single-ply merino called Piedras. I picked up the pattern at a store called Yarn Expressions in Huntsville, Alabama. I loved the simple 12 stitch cable that works along the scarf. The yarn is soft – Ollie has already claimed it for himself.
I am an old fashioned kind of of girl, I guess you could say a Luddite, when it comes to knitting. I like double pointed needles. It's not that I don't knit regularly with circulars — I do — but there is nothing to compare with the feeling of competence that comes from hanging out with five needles and a piece of knitted fabric, watching it grow. I always succumb to the allure of doing something that looks so mysterious and difficult (even though it is really quite simple). So, I'm a hold out. I knit my socks on dpns. And, up until now, I've been knitting my Barn Raising Quilt on them, shifting from shorter needles to longer ones, as the stitch count increased.
Until today, that is. The last ten or so rounds on each square were getting pretty scary, with stitches dropping off between the needles as they got fuller and fuller. I broke down and bought a circular, as I have about twenty of these little squares to go. And it's a lovely circular — Addi Turbos, my favorite needles of all time. The stitches just slide right on as you knit. Mmmmm, sweet innovation.
The yarn is Koigu's KPPPM. I've been alternating between my own sock yarn and the Koigu for this project. They are a perfect gauge match up. One of the earlier squares I knit, using a different sock yarn, gave me a significantly bigger square, so I decided to try and stick with these two.
This pattern is simple, but beautiful. I'm thinking about doing a much bigger square, perhaps a scrappy one from the leftover ends of sock yarn skeins, as a doll blanket for my niece.