knit shawl – Elliebelly Knit & Dye Works

Elliebelly’s Adventurous April KAL 2015 Begins

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Joyce Makes Art

The Knit Along isn't actually beginning just yet, but I'm winding my yarn and gathering my notions so I will be all ready on April 1. Looking for a KAL to join? Our pattern, Antarktis, is a one skein project that is beginner appropriate and we are lots of fun to knit with! You can use any yarn you want, and, if knitting a scarf/shawl isn't your thing, we also have a stuffed animal and a "learn a new technique" category. Sign up for the Elliebelly group on Ravelry here, introduce yourself in the threads and feel free to join in with us!

I've selected my yarn after lots of back and forth. It's Elliebelly's MCN (merino/cashmere/nylon) High Twist in a fingering weight. It's a pale robin's egg blue called Lady Mary (if you watch Downton Abbey, you'll remember the dress that inspired the colorway!)

My runner up choice is this Elliebelly Seasilk in Jabot. I went with the Cashmerino blend because the Seasilk doesn't grow as much when blocked, and pattern designer Janina Kallio stresses the importance of selecting a yarn that will block well.

I'm all set. I've got my new Darn Pretty Needles all ready to go, along with my yarn in a pretty linen bag from Churchmouse. See you on Wednesday for the start of knitting nirvana as we all cast on.

Counting Down To Knit Along

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Joyce Makes Art

We've only got ten days left before the Adventurous April KAL starts. Please come sign up to knit with us if you haven't already. Everyone is welcome. We will be knitting Antarktis and stuffed toys, and trying out new techniques.

We have two last yarn giveaway winners, Susie and Sparkynfeisty. I've messaged you both on Ravelry. As soon as we can discuss colors, there will be yarn on the way to you!

After a few hours in my office, I'm clearly going to have to finish my Tipperary Shawl. Harry is not understanding about it still being on the needles and wants me to finish it so he can claim it for himself. It's divine. It is knit from a cashmere, alpaca, and merino blend. He's going to have to fight me for it.

Unfortunately, my money is on the cat.

New Knitting Project: Tipperary

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Joyce Makes Art

I liked my last Norah Gaughan project, this capelet, so much, that I decided to try another. This one, straight off of her beautiful new website in her Volume 15 pattern book. It's called Tipperary.

In a mere five more repeats, this small start will grow into a beautiful, full shawl, that I intend to wrap around my neck like a large bulky scarf — there seems to be a lot of that going on in my life this winter, proportionate to the amount of time I'm spending up north this year.

The yarn is my new and continuing favorite, Plucky Snug. Swoon.

This is in the Steel Cut colorway, and it is still like knitting with butter. I really adore the merino/alpaca blend with just enough cashmere to make it perfect. Alpaca sometimes makes me sneezy, but in this blend, I have no trouble with it at all, and none of the hairy halo that I have found annoying in other Alpaca yarns. Five skeins of snug, or roughly 550 yards of this yarn, should do it.

I'm doing something new with this one, and using an app on my IPad called Knit Companion, which makes dealing with patterns a snap. Although I'm just learning to use it, it lets you blow up those tiny lace (or cable) charts so you can actually see them, and keep your place in the pattern with a row marker. Some kind Ravelry knitters pointed me towards Knit Companion and I'm really glad I tried it. You can download a free version and do a couple of tutorials to see if it's something that might work for you. I'm really glad I found it!