seaside throw and a change of heart

Seaside Throw is one knit that would be a great baby blankie that could be used continuously into the life of a small child. That wasn't the plan when this project was started, but the more I knit, the more I think my finished Vanilla - 100% cotton piece will be boxed in tissue paper waiting for that "Special Little Person". I'm enjoying the rhythm of this pattern and think it may be one of those knits you regret seeing end. One would think the natural Vanilla colorway would get boring, but it is pure yumminess! While a lot of knitting remains on Seaside, there is already plans for my next knit that will take me from the present loved natural color of the Seaside Throw to this................ Aade Long Artistic 8/1, colorway "Rainbow". Yes! This will be my next Ishbel, only this one will be on a larger scale and in a fabulous multi-rainbow of colors!

simple daisy and of course some knitting

Simple Daisy! These just may be my favorite flowers. They are sweet in the garden and fabulous when cut and showcased in a simple little jar to enjoy inside for days on end. Of course, I have to ask the gardener before any major cuttings take place!Hey check out my latest knit!

The Curlicue Coverlet is finished, blocked and waiting for some caressing come this fall and winter. As is always the case, the Noro colors are spectacular and made for a quick, interesting and fun process. You will find all the details of this piece on Rav or in my earlier blog post. One might ask, "when is a good time to start a new throw or coverlet"? Hey, it must be when a coverlet is finished. Well, that's exactly what I did.....this is my Seaside Throw from Debbie Bliss' book, HOME. My throw is knit with Sublime Organic Cotton in the colorway Vanilla and the color is a true simple vanilla shade! YUM!

This is a pattern that will take a while to knit up on #6 needles. I mean 15 balls of cotton and all that lace, cables, bobbles and OMG....all those seed stitches! I'm already rather pleased with the clarity the cotton yarn gives the stitch detail.

Curlicue Coverlet

I purchased the Curlicue Coverlet pattern a couple of years ago only because of it's interesting construction, but didn't think it looked particularly spectacular when knit in a solid colorway. It was when I saw what creative knitters did with multiple colors and variegated selections that the pattern came alive and got me going. Beautiful, colorful swirls of stitches with a scalloped edge.

For me, the pattern is not an easy one! There is constant counting, getting a mental gripe for the directions of the short rows certainly didn't come easy to me with lots of second guessing on that first center section. After frogging the first center wedge #5 three times and much freaking out, I finally wrapped my mind around the construction and the process is now quite enjoyable. Trust me, now that I have this pattern moving along I will be loyal to the completion of the coverlet. This swirls of stitches should be ready for blocking within the week!

Pattern: Oat Couture Curlicue Coverlet

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden

Needles: #6

Montego Bay

This is such a relaxing knit and worked up so beautifully in Farmhouse Yarns - Bonnie's Bamboo that I found it hard to have the knitting end.
It was kind of like when you read a really good book with an awesome ending and you sit and hold the book and wish it wasn't the end.

My Montego Bay Scarf will provide a perfect extra layer of warmth in my cool office this summer while the open pattern will blend in perfectly anywhere for a summer accessory.

The project was knit with #9 needles and two skeins of Bonnie's Bamboo in the colorway, Natural.

I actually have three more skeins of Bonnie's Bamboo in the colorway, Indigo! That is a serious clue of just how much I adore this fiber. The sheen is beautiful and it doesn't split when knitting like so many other bamboo yarns.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh, these three skeins could be a sleeveless pull over or a summer vest. Well, maybe next summer, I've got an awfully long queue of projects lined up right now (more on the topic later).

Isn't the color B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.LY?

mail day

Today was a big.......no make that a "Huge" mail day! Mr Mailman was too good to me and left a box of this Noro-Silk Garden yarn at my door!

Up close and personal...Be Still My Heart!

These different colors of Noro Silk Garden are destined to turn into a Curlicue Coverlet! This coverlet by Oat Couture has been on my wish to knit list for many months and now is the perfect time to jump into such a colorful venture! Each section will be a different colorway, I have already matched a color for each section (see below) and with much excitement I'm ready to begin this Curlicue journey!

My Curlicue is knit with mostly jewel tones and will be a bright and happy piece. I really didn't want to hunt and search numeous shops for so many different Silk Garden colors and decided Webs was the way to go. That turned out to be an excellent idea, I viewed the color board on line, got my mind wrapped around the desired look and tone I wanted and placed the order in minutes.

Noro Silk Garden Color Selections: 211, 252, 258, 273, 276, 279, 289, 301, 304, 8, 84, 87

swing shawl is all that

Swing Shawl by Berroco. Once started there was no way I could put this knit down. Guess that's a good thing as I have the yarn the pattern called for (Berroco-Lumina) in my stash and with this being such fun and all, the odds are I will knit up another one! The Louet Euoflex-100% linen is always a delight and such a classic fiber, I just love it! But I also love the Lumina which is all glitzy and all party like. The coral, khaki and greys are a lovely combination that will be savored with many different separates.

Another great thing about this project: "No Seaming is Required"!

See my prior post for details on my Swing Shawl!

Hugs & Purls!

a shawl that knocked me off my feet

Look at my latest knit in it's raw state. There is only one more row or 7 fans to the finish line on this one. Look closely to see the ends to yet be worked in. I normally sew the ends in at the completion of each shell, guess I was too excited to start the next fan on row 6. The pattern must have really knocked me off my feet as I purchased the Berroco Lumina & Seduce booklet, #272 last summer from Knit Picky to knit the Swing Shawl. I even purchased the Lumina yarn suggested for the project.

Well anyhoo.....while on a beach trip a couple of weeks ago with friends, I saw the same shawl on display knit in Louet, Euroflex and Blue Ridge Linen. It was love at first sight (or maybe second sight) and I immediately picked up the bookleet (again) and linen in the color of my choice. After some thought, I realized I had the exact booklet and the Lumina yarn at home. Nothing lost as I gave my extra booklet to a knitting friend, Joyce, and my Lumina will be knit to good use one day as another Swing Shawl or something else equally Fabulous!

See the pretty little fans as they hang off the fence? SO LOVED!
Next week-end should see this piece complete! As with my Sasha Skirt, this linen piece will be tossed in the washer and dryer and blocked as necessary.

This pattern is a skill level: EASY with a process level: FUN! The Skinny:
Pattern: Swing Shawl, Berroco Lumina & Seduce Booklet #272
Fiber: Louet Euroflax, #2 fine sport weight
Amount: 2 skeins
Color: Terra Cotta
Fiber: Blue Ridge Yarns, Luxury Linen
Amount: 1 skein
Color: 035

Needle size: #6 (as usual when knitting linen I went down 2 sizes to meet gauge)

Check back next week-end for shots of my finished shawl.