skein

A very successful weekend's knitting

I didn't quite manage my weekend's knitting but did pretty well!

1) I took photos of a blocked Mustardseed shawl.

Blog post later...

2) I finished Mysteriosa! Cor, that was a lot of knitting - of the sort I don't like, all those p2togtbl!

Unblocked:

And blocking:

(I've re-pinned a few points which were a bit askew!)

3) Finished Simply Seashells

4) Not quite finished clue 2 of Ocean Breeze, but five rows (of sixteen) are done.

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I feel as if I've done loads of knitting!  And it feels great to get a few things off the needles.  I just have this shawl and a pair of neglected palin socks on the go.  Which is good, as it's nearly July and I need to stat thinking of what I shall knit next month! 

Shawls progress

The problem with showing shawl progress is that sometimes it looks as if there's been no progress. 
I've spent this week working on just two shawls.

Mysteriosa.  Getting there. On the final clue and although it's easy, it's a bit boring (when I want to get going on my Nooknits new MKAL!).

I have a few rows till cast off,  which seems to have quite a long row of instructions!  I haven't read through it, wondering if it might be picot, or some sort of loose edge cast off... I may also do an i-cord at the top. Let's see how bored I get first. The edge stitches are in stocking stitch, and I'm not convinced that it won't roll after blocking. I haven't had time to look through other projects, let alone read the ravelry forum posts.

If I do decide on I-cord it will have to be in green, as the yellow is running low. Or orange. I'd better not let MrC choose!

Second up is Booknits, clue 1!  I'd forgotton how silk runs if a stitch is dropped.  Good job it's really easy lace - stocking stitch with a few holes well spaced!  I love the bright red Sea Silk.

In my regular needle culls I seem to have given away all 4mm needles which are over 60cm! I've had to buy a long one to stop the stitches dropping off the needle tips!

So that's it for this week's knitting, 

I'm not going to come close to making my June knitting goals, but I'm going to have a manic shawl knitting weekend, no distrctions from other patterns!

* finish Mysteriosa. Possilbe block, but that's a long shop.

* Work clue 2 of Ocean Breeze. Seems to be a short clue.

* Finish Simple Seashells, which is my June Use It! Stitchnerds KAL. I avhne't worked on this for ages. but here's a photos, same as the last time, new photo though!

Variegated yarn at its best...

* Get Mustardseed shawl photos!  I've had this done for weeks, but Mr C as been boat maintaining whilst the sun shines and the rain stays away.  It's predicted to rain tomorrow and if so, he'll be around to take photos. I wish I had the space for a dummy to post shawls on!

MKAL Shawl progress

Let's see if I can manage two posts this week, shall we>

 

I have finally finished clue 3 of Mysteriosa.   Really disliked the p2togtbl!  And dropping stitches because my work was too close to the tips and kept falling off.

Clue 4 is plain knitting, using th contrast colour, similar to what you see above.  I've done ten of seventeen rows, then it's cast off. I may do an i-cord edging along the top too, as i think it might roll a bit... let's see how fed up I get!

Ocean Breeze, a Booknits MKAL started on Saturday. It's (so far) really easy and relaxing to knit.  Eight row pattern repeat, very simple lace and beads.

This is my bright red Seasilk which has been maturing in the stash for several years. It's strange, the beads show up really well in real life, just not so well on a photo!  They're pale gold triangles, size 5.00, really easy to hook up!  Clue 2 is released today, now do I work on this tonight or try to finish Mysteriosa???

As I've abandoned my garment MKAL, I thought I'd join another one. Airflow, a top down open cardigan.  This clue will wait for a few nights, till I've done a bit more shawl knitting! 

Tempus fugit

I'm really not sure where the week's gone, Friday already!
This week I've tried (and failed) to finish clue 3 of Mysteriosa.  I've neglected all other knitting.

I took this photo on Sunday evening. 

It's hardly grown at all. I've had such a busy week at work, early start, long hours, that I'm shattered and good for nothing when i get home.  I've knitted a grand total of EIGHT rows in four evenings!  Four rows on modnay, two on Tuesday and, as the work week takes its toll, only one row on Wednesday and one on Thursday. I still have 14 rows of Clue 3, before the last dozen or so of Clue 4 (and the i'cord edging, which I'll probably do!).  Oh dear. 

And another KAL starts tomorrow, the Booknits Ocean Breeze!  I've foiund my red Seasilk.  It's not quite the same colour as the Pillar Box Red Cumulus, but I think it will be fine.

I'm very excited at the thought of a new project, can't wait for the weekend to start!

 

 

Mystery KALs

I do love a MKAL.  Within reason. I don't join MKAls where it's a complet mystery as to what I'm knitting.  I usually only join in if I know the designer's work or like previous designs. I mean, anyone can start a MKAL on ravelry, they don't need to be great at designing or pattern writing!

Now onto my MKALs

First up we have  Mysteiosa by Asa Tricosa. I've knitted Semele, and am sure I have other patterns in my library to knit.

This is after the second clue;  I feel safe to show a spoiler photo as clue 3 is out, and clue 4 is due in a few days.

Next we have another shawl, by Kirsten Kapur. I've knitted several of her desings, Acer cardigan, Hamamelis, Andrea's mitts, Andrea's shawl and Ulmus 

But this MKAL is not a keeper.  It has these cluster stitches, where you wrap the yarn around the three stitches, three times, before knitting them.  I don't like the way they look, with this st st background. There's a little hole where ou strart the cluster. I've recently sued a similar stitch but this looked ok becasuse there were yarnovers before the stitch, so the gap didn't show. I'm cutting my losses.

It never made it onto ravelry...

Next, is a garment MKAL. It's Dark Pearl, by Carol Feller.  Now I thought I'd knitted something by this designer, but it turns out it was by Carl Sunday!  The cardigan is a MKAL, but it's not a secret as to what it looks like.  I'm umming and arring about his. It has an asymmetrical opening, fastens with four buttons at the top (I like a middle fastening!) seems plain, with one front being lace and knitted (I presume) sideways.  I am thinking that I may concentrate on my other WIPs until I see how it's looking in the Spoilers thread.  I can't say that I don't have plenty of cardigans in my library!

And the final MKAL, which starts on Midsummer;s day, is Ocean Breeze, by Booknits.  I've only knitted a few of her designs, but really like them.  This one has beads, smooth silky yarn and fluffy yarn.  I think that the two yarns will be used separately, as textural contrast.  I've some red Seasilk and gold beads in stash, and I've bought some Fybersppates Cumulus for the fluffy part.   I haven't sued this yet, but it's a Suri alpacea/silk blend and feels utterly soft. Not at all scratcy. I've given away my Kid Silk Haye - it makes lovely light and lacy garments,  colour range iis good, but it's scratchy. The yardage is less with Cumulusb but the proportion of silk/other is roughly the same.   Should I wish to make next ot neck wear  I've foudn the ideal  substitute in Cumulus!
Pillar Box Red

I now have to find the Seasilk (which was wound for another project a few months ago, and might not be where it ought to be) and hope it's the same red as this.  Fingers crossed. This is one MKAL I can't wait to start!

Revised June knitting

Not six goals, but seven. I'd forgotten about another KAL  I've joined (and alreadu cast on!).  It's Stitchnerds on ravelry, this month's KAL is Use It.  Use either a deep stash yarn or a precious yarn.  This is both.  A few months ago I cast on for a variegated KAL and the yardage  failed me. So it's second time around for this yarn. 

The pattern is Simply Seashells, and uses a percentage system, so I should be ok on yarn!

This has been stuck at work all week, in the vain hope that I will have a lunch break! 

And the socks for MrC, cast on on the last day of May.  He chose the colour. I've divided the yarn and will knit first one and then the other leg, heel and foot. 

I'm going to make mismatching socks!  He says he doesn't mind at all...

And, I've finished Mustardseed!  I ran out of yarn, shouldn't have knitted another repeat of the second chart. I have 3g of yarn left.  It means that I've nly knitted four, instead of six, border rows. It won't affect the pattern as such, but I think the pionts won't be as pointy as I'd like, less yarnovers.  The beads lasted.  In fact, I ran out with two to go, but of course there's beads all overy the floow, in the carpet!  Thankfully our hoover missed them!

I'm not sure if I'll have time to block it this weekend. I need to find yarn for a cardigan MKAL (4 ply!) and a shawl MKAL.  Let's see if I can catch up with all of the clues!

 

 

May knitting and June knitting goals

Let's see how May went...

Blog:

1) Puck. Done!.    

 

Finish:

2) Rays of Hope toddler  MKAL - done!.

 

3) Another Stitchnerd's shawl.  Done!  It's Rocky Mountaineer and was also part of their ravelry Boring KAL (as in, solid colour, not boring colour or yarn!)

 

 

4) Boo Knits' Mustard Seed shawl,  Not done!  But nearly there. I'm running out of yarn and beads.  I'm weighing the yarn every two rows and think I may have enough for possibly four more rows, not the six I need to knit. I shall improvise.  Beads, will have to count them!  I fear that if I hadn't lost so many down the chair, or on the floor I would have enough!

 

Start:

5) Another shawl!  It's a MKAL. Done!  It's Mysteriosa  and I'm not behind yet. I;m halfway through clue 2.

 

6) I wasn't sure what to start, but have ended up starting another pair of socks for MrC, on the very last day of May, cutting it fine!

 

 So overall, I've veen quite successful this past month. Only one goal not met, and that's near completion now.

 

June will be a month for KALs!  I've joined not one, not two but three more KALs, and arr are Mysteries!

Finish:

1) Mustardseed shawl.

 

2) MrC's socks. One leg done.

 

Continue:

3) Mysterion MKAL shawl. I haven't checked the end date, it might ossibly be in June, but at the very least I shall attempt to keep up with the clues.

 

Start:

4) MKAL1.  Another shawl, this time it's by Kirsten Kapur in her ravelry groupThrough the Loops.  First clue is up and I haven't even chosen my yarn yet. It requires 500yds, so I'm thinking Wollmeise,

 

5) MKAL2. A garment!   Dark Pearl, by Carol Feller. It's a top down semaless cardigan in 4ply.  Not sure what yarn I shall use yet.  Again, clue 1 is out, must make a decision this weekend!

 

6) MKAL3.  Another shawl, Ocean Nreeze by noo Knits.  I really like her style of pattern.. This one starts on 21st June, so I have time to choose yarn and beads!

 

Another month with six instead of seven goals, but they're quite big goals (I think) so should keep me busy.  Until the weekend I'll be working on my Mustardseed shawl and the socks, NO CASTING ON ANYTHING ELASE!!