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.

Wonderful One

I haven't been knitting that long (like 4 1/2 years), but I have knit 92 projects, with 17 of those consisting of lace projects, so that should afford me the knowledge to know there is something special, something satisfying about every lace piece. Now, with that said, let me share my latest lace knit...The Lace Capelet from the 2010 Summer issue of Vogue. This capelet is a gorgeous thing and I love it in unbelievable ways. It is a simple lace pattern that is easily memorized and should not intimidate a beginner lace knitter. I opted to use the printed instructions instead of the chart and found the pattern to be clear and preside. The lace body moved along at a quick pace while the border was very very easy, but went on and on!

Once the knitting was complete it was time to begin the finishing process. The pattern called for a three needle bind off to attach the border to the body, but I opted for the mattress stitch and was very pleased with the results.

For me, the key to a successful verizon of this capelet is a yarn with spectacular drape. I used 9 skeins of Sirdar-Flirt in a grey colorway and delighted with my choice.

This is a Wonderful One!

Noro and Citron Combo

Noro is the best; every project holds a design surprise with each beautiful color change. I have knit many pieces since my last Noro project and I'm still amazed just how much I've missed the lovely Noro (any Noro) fiber. Simply put...Noro doesn't let one down, even with the straw bits, the occasional thorn and even a weed here and there.

This sock yarn tends to be on the scratchy side, but the good bath softened it to anyone's delight!Citron is beautiful knit in the Kureyon Sock yarn and is a fabulous pattern that covers the fiber spectrum! There are no bounds with this free Knitty design; it's an easy and very mobile knit, just stuff the project in your purse and Go! Citron journeyed with me thru Dancing with the Stars and American Idol finales, North Carolina Beach travels and two River outings!
This truly is a one skein wonder when knit with Noro Kureyon Sock yarn.

Knit one - bet you'll love it too!

Summer Wrap

Have I told you about my latest knit??? I don't think so. Now how in the world did I overlook sharing such a delicious process with you!! Anyhow....here is the wrap, all finished, all yellow and all loved.

Yum. Yum! Such a wonderful shaw when knit in 100% cotton and it even gets better when knit with Blue Sky Cotton...life just doesn't get any sweeter. All six skeins of this fiber were purchased about 2 years ago on a visit to Yarn Paradise in Ashesville, NC. And this story gets even better when I tell you the purchase was made at 30% or 40% off the orginial price. I mean, how could I possibly turn the cheek on such a deal.

At the time of purchase I thought it would be a wonderful yarn for a baby blanket, but look what happened..............a wrap for me that is softer than any bathrobe and much more attractive! This simple project is the #074 Summer Wrap by Leslie Scanlon from Mac & Me. If you are familiar with Mac & Me, you know what fabulous designs they share with us. I have a baby blanket and ruffled scarf pattern by Mac & Me that I also look forward to knitting. I adore everything about this wrap. No disappointments to share with you on this one!