just a few inches

to finish this baby alpaca Undertow cape!

See the sweet Picot neck edge.

Look at the unusual 5" seed stitch ruffle (still in process).

Only 3'' to the finish line! Once Undertow is complete, I have given myself permission to start this wrap. With plenty of Rowan Kidsilk Haze in hand and the pattern reviewed, it's "Ready Set & GO"!

over the edge

Dusty loves to stretch out, on his back, all four legs in the air and wait for me to rub his belly. Here he waits for the daily and nightly belly rub. But his favorite position is to be held and cradled in my arms like a baby.

Yesterday I think I went too far when I found myself holding him in my arms (favorite baby position of course) while filling the dishwasher. That would have to be a sign of a pet owner "over the edge"

tying up loose (scarf) ends

that's what I've been up to this week.

My Domino scarf and Wisp scarf complete me! OK...maybe that's a tad bit cheezzze, but I do adore them both.

Finally I have one pic that exhibits the true blues and mauves in this Domino piece.
The modern flare of this scarf makes for a pleasant wardrobe change and I was delighted when I realized it could worn with my blue sky shrug! YiPee...for versatility!`
We actually had a dusting of snow here yesterday and that was all needed to convicted me it is now officially scarf and sweater weather! A knitter's dream!

Hello.????..what's not to love

This will not be my last Wisp. Wisp is an enjoyable quick knit and such a lovely pattern that I cannot resist knitting up another one using some stashed black, brown and cream Colinette sock yarn. Oh..... and I simply cannot tell you the many ways to wear Wisp. She is nice and long, but not too long and nice and wide, but not too wide. Wisp loves to be doubled, buttoned, unbuttoned, hang free, tossed over the shoulder(s), wrapped around my head or tied in a soft loose bow. I mean HELLO???? what's not to love!
About 5o rows into this knit I was concerned about the pooling and came quite close to ripping, but was undecided and forged ahead. You can see a little of what I'm talking about below. I think it gives my piece personality!!!

the sleeves

Several of you asked about my Kimono sleeves, you know questions like how were they set in, did I add or modify the sleeve length and what color design was used on the lower sleeve??
Well, I always heard a picture is worth a thousand words and that may be the case in many situations, but when the pictures are from my household, it would certainly be questionable! I think such is the case with these meager shots. The oatmeal and white tones were not my friend while attempting to show Ms. Kimono's sleeve detail. Oh well................ As I was a Kimono virgin, I found it most interesting how the back and fronts become part of the sleeve. (Guess construction is similar for all Kimonos...huh??) Anyhow, I knew early into this knit I wanted to take advantage of the lower set in sleeve to add a little interest and thus came the white, oatmeal, white stripe. AND I love it!

I knit this piece per the pattern to a tee with no modifications. The sleeves are quite long, but when knit with the alpaca, I simply turn up the crochet trim and amazingly they stay right in place.

destashment & wisp

Wisp is a scarf from Knitty (summer '07) that I have admired for many months. I was finally pushed off the fence when I saw Knitswreck's Wisp knit with sock yarn! With the 9 lace rows and 6 rows of garter stitch, this is an exceptionally easy pattern and as a bonus, an exceptional super use of stashed sock yarn. At this moment, I have my eye on a black/brown/gray stashed sock yarn that is screaming to be a "wisp".

My scarf is knit on #9 needles and 1 skein of Cherry Tree Hill supersock yarn, colorway - Old Rose.

Off now to pick up wooden buttons for Wisp!

square by square...that's domino knitting

My first Domino piece is a scarf using Vivian Hoxbro's potholder #2 pattern. This pattern is from her fantantic book Domino Knitting. Her step by step instructions in this book are simple and easy to put into action.

Without doubt, this is the most difficult piece to capture it's true colors. Now keep in mind, I'm the aim and shoot kind (the first thing on my to do list upon retirement is take a photography class at the local college......but I'll leave those details for a later post) and cannot capture the true mauve in the yarn. The mauve comes out orange no matter where I shoot. You'll just have to take my word for it, the blues, greys and mauve are really rich and beautiful.

The 3 skeins of Knit One Crochet Too yarn of 70% baby alpaca/20% silk/1% cashmere is a dream! This project was started on size 3 needles, when after one row I realized the stitches were too relaxed and had to go down to #2s. I chose to knit row by row squares instead of the second option, column by column.

Domino Knitting may appear quite tedious, but actually is such fun! Even using #2 needles this scarf is knitting up rather quickly. Square by Square.

Kimono Correspondence

Dear Ms Kimono,

I loved knitting you! You were, by any definition, an easy knit. But let's be clear, you were not a quick knit. We shared many knitting hours on knit nights at my LYS(s), several air hours to and from Vegas in September and I can't forget the hours spent bonding with you during those Lifetime movies!

Ms. Kimono, you are in all your glory knit with yard after yard of Berroco Ultra Alpaca and ever so wearable, thank you for embracing me like a cozy cocoon! We always knew you wanted to be knit in an Oatmeal colorway, but were feeling quite bored with all that beige after beige. What a grand idea, when together and with much soul searching we decided to trim you out in an eggshell colorway. That decision was a Home Run!

I think your crochet edging is fabulous and gave me the opportunity to crochet again after 35 years! It was surprising when I found myself crocheting like it was yesterday! Suppose you could say it's like riding a bicycle...you never really forget. But Man.......all those miles of crocheting, I thought we would never complete the eight rows around you.

Just because the time has come for me to move on doesn't mean I will forget you or simply toss you to the back of a closet! I adore you and will enjoy "hanging out" with you for many years!

Love,
Knitting Diva

today

My kind of day.
Snuggling on the couch.
Knitting.
Solitude.
Sipping diet coke.
Nibbling tasty fall apple slices.
Watching lifetime movie after movie.
Just being me.
Just mellowing out.
Totally at peace.
My perfect day.
Knitting.

All this knitting time reserved for a Domino scarf. My kind of scarf and my kind of day!