Stash Queen

Lovely, Lacy, Winter Days

As opposed to "Lazy" days.  I don't consider knitting "work"; it is my passion and my relaxation, but it is productive.  This is my latest completed project:

This little lengthways scarf took only 55 grams of Malabrigo sock yarn.   The pattern is from the Classic Elite Yarns booklet Panache, both yarn and pattern purchased in Boston as a souvenir of my knitting cruise last fall.

I always say that my favorite color is not just blue, but denim blue.  So I love this and know it will get lots of wear.  I plan to use this pattern again.  A lot of non-knitters prefer long scarves to triangles.  But I'm also looking for a different pattern and some other yarn to combine with the leftover 45 grams for another lovely accessory.

Also lovely are my amaryllis blooms.  The bulb was marked down to $2.98 in the grocery store after Christmas.  This was one of my dad's favorite plants (although he loved all flowers), so I bought it.  I think of him every time I walk by it.

Finally, for those people who have hardly had any snow this winter, I give you the view from my patio door:

The roll of snow in the centre is my old wooden picnic table.  I am enjoying the milder than usual temperatures, but we have had constant snow since November.  It actually snows less at -30 C.   

 

Do What You Gotta Do

I put on my Northern Lights cardigan to go out with the girls on Friday night, took it off again and put on something else.  This is not the fate that I want for this sweater.  DH is out of town for a curling weekend with the guys, so today I settled in with some chick flicks and ripped out the front bands, the neck ribbing and the top motif of the yoke chart.  Even sacrificing just those 5 rows helps with the too long yoke. 

 

I changed to one size smaller needles than before (two sizes smaller than the pattern suggests), did the decrease row to end the fair isle section, and reknit the neck ribbing tightly.   Then I used the original number of stitches to pick up the button band again;  the tighter tension overall meant that I still needed those stitches despite the inch I had subtracted from the yoke length.  The band seems to be lying nice and flat.  Now I have to remeasure to space the buttons and recalculate where to knit the buttonholes on the final band.  I have the opportunity to reconsider the number of buttons.  Using buttons on the yoke only is one of the updated fashion features, but I might want the option of buttoning it all the way down. Haven't decided yet. 

I made another tough decision last weekend with the Dovetail pullover.  I want more ease in this cabled sweater than the last one I completed.  I may want to wear a shirt under it sometimes.  So I frogged a whole sleeve and a front that was knit up to the armhole (the one where I had patched one cable error), and started over one size larger.  Luckily my LYS still had one 100 gram skein of my yarn in the same dye lot even though it's a year later.  I'm afraid to jinx myself by saying it, but I seem to be remembering the front and back crossings better this time around.

 

While I was at the shop, I broke my yarn fast resolution and bought a skein of Regia, my favorite sock yarn.  I can't resist the World Circus colorways.  Plain stockinette stitch is all this yarn needs, so this will be my carry-around knitting for the next little while.

 

I try to buy locally when I can find a natural fiber or blend of the right weight at my LYS.  They carry Patons Classic Wool, and Briggs and Little yarns in several weights, and I use those Canadian basics a lot.  There is a decent selection of self-patterning sock yarns, and some Manos Silk Blend and Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino that customers have requested.  But  acrylic still sells the most around here.  I often order online to get a different yarn or a good deal.  I always visit yarn stores when I'm out of town and look for the luxury brands to buy myself a little "treat," usually just enough for an accessory.  I give a lot of things away, so other people benefit too, and I don't feel too guilty.  Even though knitting is my main occupation now, my knitting habit hasn't been able to keep up with my travelling/shopping habit since I retired.  That's why I really want to catch up with the stash this year. 

Ups and Downs of Knitting

Canada's Next Top Model - in my dreams I'm 6" taller, 30 pounds lighter, and 20 years younger.  But the knitting looks pretty good.

The Northern Lights cardigan isn't a total success though.  It grew more than expected in blocking so the sleeves are full length, not bracelet, and the length is longer than cropped.  That's fine with me.  But the yoke is also longer now so the armholes are a bit too low and not so comfortable.  The neckline ribbing is a continuation of the body instead of picked up stitches, making it very stretchy, and the weight of the sweater pulls it down, exacerbating the armhole problem.  I thought of reknitting the neckband on smaller needles, but that would necessitate ripping out both front bands too.  I can't face that right now.  So first I think I'll try weaving or crocheting some yarn on the inside to tighten up the ribbing and stablilize the neckline.  A pretty sweater, but a disappointing fit.

Bless shawls!  There's never a fit problem.  Having knit a lot of single skein shawlettes, I love having a full size shawl now - Draper.

It took two and a half 100 gram skeins of Estelle Cadenza, fingering weight wool and silk.  The pattern also suggests a smaller version stopping after the double lace band.  The lace pattern is easy enough to be a first lace shawl for a novice.  No reservations recommending this one.

I'm also really happy with the Rosebud hat.  No surprise that the pattern's great - it's by Jared Flood, Brooklyn Tweed. 

It has the biggest, smooshiest cable I've ever knit.  The rest is garter stitch, easy peasy.  I knit the longer, slouchier version; there's a shorter cap style too for those who would prefer it.  This is a pattern that I'll probably knit again to replenish the gift bin.
 

I'm getting a lot of knitting time, staying home more, trying to avoid shopping as a pastime.  All the New Year's resolutions are going well - I'm even back on the treadmill.  And by the way, Happy Valentine's Day!