Zeneedle...needleart as life

Red Shoe Beach

There are times when wandering through a yarn shop isn't as inspiring as I'd like. I have a large (enough) stash and, often, much of what I see is similar to what is already housed in the (ever burgeoning) stash. It just doesn't feel right to buy more of the same.

Last spring, when I spotted Anzula's lace weight silk/linen blend (Breeze), it was an unexpected delight. Here was something new and unique and it was stimulating to see.  I was worried the linen would be hard, tough on my hands, but this yarn was soft, with the cool texture of linen and the sheen of silk. I was enchanted and, of course, I bought red…a pretty not quite pink, not quite coral, Red Shoe.

Before long I'd decided on a suitable pattern for my unique yarn, Susan's Beach Glass. It was time to tackle my first ever bottom up shawl. 388 stitches were successful cast on and the feather and fan section launched. Over the months it took to complete, there were times when I became distracted with other projects, (Color Affection for one), but I never abandon my Red Shoe on the Beach.

With each of the decreasing rows, through wavy lace and into the eyelets, this shawl enchanted and entertained. A designer must have a vision of how the patterns will fit together, must have an understanding of when, and where, each decrease should be, and before ever casting on, must know, in the end, that the pattern will come together when the last stitches are woven together. I am in awe of this ability. 

The linen/silk blend yarn has a nice hand, a beautiful drape, and an airy lightness, which reminds me of the a summer's day. I am also assured the yarn was the right choice for this elegant shawl. Come spring, I'll be ready to let the beautiful pink Beach Glass sit on my shoulders and keep the cool breezes away.

My Ravelry - Beach Glass

Romancing

I knit. Yes, I do and, every now and then, I finish a project. 

Occitan captured my heart from the moment she caught my eye. Little did I know luck was with me the day I wandered into The Uncommon Thread Etsy shop (now closed) to purchase a kit.  Later, one of the SnB grrls told me what a commodity I had.

Part of my wonder with Occitan was why the name? What did it mean? Was it something specific that inspired the design? Was Occitan a time, a place, a feeling, a language? (This is the most interesting link I could find.)  I did see the romance, the elegance, and I could feel the draw of an unusual, far away, place. Whatever Beth's inspiration, through this shawl she took me to a a lovely place with this glorious design. 

The luxurious yarn, a lovely blend of wool/silk/cashmere from of the The Uncommon Thread was exquisite to knit and I loved watching, as the subtle beauty of the hand-dyed yarn slide through my fingers.  As if Occitan wasn't a beautiful enough name, Comulonimbus is the name of the yarn.  It's blue, it's named after a cloud formation, it was clearly meant to be.

Occitan was a magical, delightful project, as each stitch of its elegant simplicty filled me with calm. This was the right project at the right time and it has brought me joy all the way along.

Even more joy came my way as Carole visited Utah just when I needed her skills for a photo shoot! Thank you, Carole, for taking such a great picture of the shawl!
The Uncommon Thread shop is now open here.

One of Many

Nearly 5,000 knitters have made, or are in the process of making, Color Affection by Veera Välimäki. To my mind, the pattern has been popular because it can be knit in a multitude of color combinations, as well as a veritable mountain of yarn choices. The knitter is in charge and can create a simply, comfortable, suitable wrap to match their style. Genius.

 

My first attempt at knitting Color Affecton was a fail, as the silk yarn was unyielding and uncomfortable.  Many of my friends advised I should listen to my inner voice and I realizing they were right. The silk was frogged and more suitable yarn ordered from Vicki's new company Make.Do. Vicki's eye for color is informed by her years of photographic experience, as well as enhanced by her innate talent. The yarn she dyed is perfect in color and, with her added variations of tints and tones, exactly what I wanted.

The pattern is fairly straight forward as long as you read it carefully.  Some people have worried about the edge being too tight and some about it being too loose.  In my usual fashion, I gave it no thought and just jumped in. My knitting is on the tighter side of a gauge, which lead me to added a YO between the first two stitches. The YO was then dropped on the next row, which kept the edge from becoming firm and without give. As far as I'm concerned, doing so was the right thing for my shawl, my yarn, and my style. YMMV

Together the yarn and pattern create a coziness of a perfect cool weather into winter wrap. Color Affection, my Color Affection, will ensure I'll be wrapped in warmth and luxury for many winters to come.

Color me happy!

For Cheryl

I've been trying to write this post for days, but my thoughts lead nowhere, and then, (just yesterday) I realized Cheryl's birthday, which is today, was the perfect way to show off my latest finished project.

The rich warm color of the yarn reminded me of Cheryl from the moment Kim shared her Luciole in 2010. The beauty of the top edging, as well as the elegance of the lace border worked to enchant me. I knew this would be a grand knitting experience.

There were a few hicks and ups along the way, the biggest of which was leaving many of the yarn overs out on the first few rows of the border. Only an evenings worth of knitting was lost and I was quickly on track, a little wiser, and more careful, about the reading the chart.

When finished, I fell for Luciole all over again and, from the look on Cheryl's face, she's very happy, too. I can't think of a better recipient.   Happy Birthday, dear friend!

Raveled Here

Zen Ziggity

The minute I saw Ziggity she was on my "to knit" list.  I waited while Kirsten had it test knit and watched daily until she published the pattern.  I felt sure the colors I had set aside would blend, would look like part of a piece, as was my vision of my version.

Ziggity had her way with me, as she was entertaining, interesting and enjoyable, whist being easy and charming.  In fact, Ziggity finally took over my knitting desire completely and kept me rapt and enchanted. Her pretty upper border (you can see a tiny little bit in the photo below) attracted me in the the beginning, but when the knitting started I was slightly intimidated. It didn't take long before I had the hang of the repeat and found it very easy to remember.

The yarn also has an ease about it, with its subtle shading and warm hues.  Ziggity and madtosh danced through my fingers and swayed my heart.

Now that she's finished I love her more.  Ziggity is easy to wear, her shape is long enough to wrap and stay, plus she can be worn in many versatile ways.  I love this shawl and have been wearing her daily.

My Ravelry Zig

Flying By

If it's the end of November, which means Vicki was here two months ago! How can that be true!?  Two months? Alta Retreat seems so long ago, but also like it was yesterday. Memories of autumn colors, the relaxing weekend, and the visit of a friend, are beginning to fade into the hubbub of life. It's hard to believe we're in the midst of the Holiday season and approaching a new year, a New Year, Christmas. Wow, just WOW!

Vicki was very focused on her Different Lines shawl whilst knitting during the Knitters Retreat. Because of dedication and focus she finished the shawl and we were able to fit in a photo shoot before she left.  This is old news, I know and you've seen the picture of her beautiful shawl before, but this is a day I love to relive.

It can't be that long ago, can it? In any case, Vicki gave me one of her beautifully dyed skiens of "Virginia", a lovely soft pink she named for her grandmother.  Inspired by Vicki's Different Lines, a shawl I had been unsure I would like or wear until I saw how lovely hers was, I started one of my own with her beautiful yarn.

The pattern was just as much fun to knit as Stripe Study, but different enough not to be redundant. It was pure entertainment.  The short rows are quite amazing as they create a wide end and a short end to the stripes. Veera, the designer, has an eye for the elegance of asymmetry.

Simple techniques and stitches can create quite an impact when used in creative, unique ways.  The shawl is light and airy, the fabric created with light fingering and a slightly larger needle.  Ravelry details here.

This shawl is very dear to me, as it's made with the gift of hand-dyed yarn. It's a treasured hug from a dear friend.  Thank you, Vicki!

To Dye For

Inspired by Vicki and her make.do.dye for Project Spectrum, I went out on a limb and knit a Holden Shawlette with undyed yarn.  The yarn, a mystery stash yarn of 50wool/50silk, was perfect for a soft and delicious wrap and the intent from the beginning was to follow Vicki's lead and dye it.

The dye pot was stuck in the back of the pantry, covered in dust, unused for who knows how long (a long time!). At the beginning of this adventure there must have been an inkling of desire or I wouldn't have inched my way out onto the limb. Deciding a color was difficult (constant state of indecision is me). I didn't want green (duh), didn't want blue (knit with enough blue lately), didn't want yellow, or gold, and was unsure about red. That doesn't leave many options, but something about the fall colors, and warm red-oranges, enticed me.

There was no scientific formula, just a seat of the pants kinda move, as I mixed up a teaspoon full of dye in rust, a big pinch of scarlet, and a dash of brown, then dumped it into the dye pot (with a couple tbls of vinegar), right on top of the already wet shawl. In truth, I should have used more scarlet but, as I said, it was a seat of the pants move.

The pot cooked for 30 minutes, but as it neared the end, I could see the shawl was saturated, the dye not quite exhausted. With hope I tossed in a skein of white junk yarn to absorb what was left and it did the job! It turned a very weak orange which left the water clear. I did not take pictures of any part of the process until the shawl was blocked. As I said, this was a seat of the pants move, but I’m rather delighted.

A Study in Stripes

Vicki posted pictures of her beautiful Different Lines yesterday. Did you see how it draped so beautifully around her neck?

My shawl, Stripe Study, has been around my shoulders from the minute it was finished. Kim's glorious yarn makes it soft, drapy, warm, and lovely to wear. Lucky for me, Vicki took a couple FO shots when we visited Silver Lake. (Can it really be over a week ago? she wailed.)

Last night I was able to take a few close up photos in my garden.

 

At first glance the stripe pattern seems quite simple, but the shawl is knit with short rows which create an asymmetrical pattern. One end has thinner stripes and the other end has wider stripes.  I used a chocolate brown (Godiva) and a soft pinkish tan (Woodrose), in Woolen Rabbit Lark.

Usually, garter stitch stripes looks odd on the back side, but the garter effect created an interesting pattern, and almost third color. No need to worry if you have this shawl on "wrong", as both sides look beautiful.

I may be following Vicki's lead to make more than one of this Striped Study, but I'll definitely be trying Different Lines, too. The creative use of stripes is rather addicting, interesting to watch as the shawl grows, and very fun knitting.

Whale Tale

It all started when Yarndude posted his Blue Whale.  It was an amazing creation of complimenting and contrasting knits and purls.  Desire came to the fore and off I went in search of the pattern, which was just out of reach.  It was February and the pattern would not be published date until April.  I waited, checking the designers page every day in April, and then one day, there it was...mine for the taking.

Blue Whale almost turned into my Moby Dick but, I refused to be Captain Ahab and let this one get the best of me. From the get go I had troubles, all mine, as per usual. If you make this incredible work of art let me give you a tip. Go through and mark (highlighters are great for this) all the make ones (left and right) in the pattern, don't leave any of them out and, also, make sure as you knit you "make one" on the correct side of the marker (markers are a must).

Now, dear knitter, do not think this shawl is difficult, because, the truth is, once a textured section is set up knitting across the row, there and back, is effortless. After I started the first section twice (must pay attention to ALL make ones), the seas calmed and the sailing was smooth.

The most fortunate part of this whole experience was the yarn, received as a gift, which happened to be dyed as if to capture the depths of the sea.  (String Theory's Caper Sock, color Slate) The celadon greens, earthy browns, stormy purples and muddled blues, created a tonal eddy of color. The MCN creates a sheen even the camera lens could not defeat. Not even my miles of frogging daunted the quality of the yarn.

As the ball of yarn grew smaller and smaller, I knew I a storm was brewing and, instead of taking heed to check the yardage, I just knit on, asking for trouble Into uncharted waters I sailed as the waves grew heavier. I am not good at due diligence and, as I've said, all the troubled seas were of my own making.

With only 4 rows of a 6 row border I knew, by the very small ball of yarn, binding off would be a crap shoot. I nearly made it to the end (15 stitches short), but was too disheartened to take out the border and start again.

I felt as if this poor shawl would end up to be nothing but a rag.  It poofed and pooched, with the top border looking puckered and haggard. I was so unsure the shawl would be worth blocking. It looked more like a drowned rat than a beautiful, elegant shawl. Knitting is an act of faith and I confess, my faith was wavering.

I should have known better, should have kept the faith as this it was not a white whale. Swimming in a sea of suds gave my whale new life. Its metamorphosis was almost instant, as the drape of the yarn infused new life into the incredible design. I tenderly pinned her into shape and set her free to roam new seas.

Stunning she is in her new glory.

The Sun, The SUN!

The sun has been playing hide and seek and we're a little sick of the game. Over 10 feet of snow still sit in the highest elevations and every river in the state is headed for flood stage as the temperatures wearm.  It’s a damned if you do, damned it you don’t kinda year.

Curatio was a lovely cure for the gloomy mood which had descended with the never ending days of gray and rain. The sunny color helped lift my mood and the easy lace kept my focus enjoyable and light. 

Knitting with Kim's gorgeous red, New England Red, and the luxuriously soft Pearl yarn felt like I was holding the summer sun in my hands. It made me feel gloriously warm.

Curatio's architecturally constructed lace is uncomplicated and unique. This isn't a lace you can become complacent with, as the design may seem straight forward and simple, however, it actually a case of simple elegance.  Kirsten has many little tricks that keep the lace aligned, strong, and elegant. Between the yarn and the design, sat a very happy knitter.  Curatio single handedly cured the gloom.