shawl – Elliebelly Knit & Dye Works

Drachenfels

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Joyce Makes Art

Here's the sneak peak I promised you yesterday at progress on Drachenfels, which for those of you who haven't seen it, is a large, asymmetric shawl, knit side to side.

I've completed just about the first third of it here. It's rather lovely just as it is, but I want the full large shawl to use on cold airplanes and winter nights.

This thought made me curious about the final dimensions, so I did a quick download of the pattern to check. Apparently I was a little bit too quick, as I downloaded the French version, which tells me:

Dimensions finales

Châle triangulaire légèrement asymétrique de 83“ [210 cm] par 25.5“ [65 cm] (voir le schéma)

It sounds so charming! And I'm guessing, since I speak no French, that it's indicating my final version should be around 83" in length and 25.5" as the maximum height of the triangle.

One note about color placement. If I were following the pattern as written, I would have only used the pink (The Plucky Knitter's Decorum Dictates) and the gray (The Plucky Knitter's Medieval). The yellow/green (The Plucky Knitter's Good 'Ole Days) would have only come into play in the midsection stripes. I wanted a bit more of a uniform feel, so I tucked two of the green stripes into this side, and will balance that with two stripes of the pink on the far side.

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.

A little progress on Drachenfels

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Joyce Makes Art

I wanted to share the introduction of color onto Drachenfels. It's so much fun to knit!

I've deviated a bit from the pattern to have all three colors show on each of the ends, so the green bit is my own addition. Knitting with cashmere is awfully, awfully fun. This project is more guilty pleasure than work.

The whole carrying the yarn along the edges to avoid weaving in all those ends thing is a challenge for me. I'm only going to be able to carry where there is a two row change in color. I'll need to spend some time looking for a better way to do it on longer runs, but for now, I've decided to be old fashioned and weave in my ends on those pretty pops of color!

What to Knit?

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Joyce Makes Art

I've fallen. Fallen hard.

It hasn't happened for a very long time.

But this yarn. This.

Irresistible in every colorway I've seen it dyed in.

It's Malabrigo's Rasta. And did I tell you I fell hard?

Laguna Negra.

Oxido.

And Zarzamora.

And more Piedras, the colorway that started it all with the scarf up at the top.

Joining, already in my stash, Arco de Iris and Indecita. Yes, fallen hard.

If I can convince myself to move beyond just petting it — lovely, soft, Merino — this is the start of my holiday knitting. I have plans for a couple of hats, a shawl or two in a large chunky lace, and perhaps another scarf. The colors are so pretty, with each skein its own unique mixture of the colors and shades used for its colorway. There is a certain element of indefinable and unpredictable difference that makes what would already be an exceptional yarn a mystical experience to knit with.

You can't overestimate the the qualities of a really fine yarn. Love. Yes, it's definitely love.