Project Spotlight: Oscilloscope Shawl

For the last project in my project spotlight series, I decided to give a shout out to the first shawl I ever knit for myself. This was a life altering project because I can't seem to bring myself to knit anything other shawls since I finished this one! I will completely point the blame at this shawl for me not finishing several projects (including my Hermione Hearts Ron and Green at Heart) for an extended period of time. That is my excuse, at least, because I have not been able to stop obsessively knitting shawls and no other projects have had a chance to be completed. I have finished 7-8 shawls for myself in the past year that are now sitting in a "to be blocked" pile. Maybe it's an obsession, but shawls actually are a great accessory and they're fun to make! So expect to see some more shawls in the future because I have plenty for show and tell!

Dates: April 15, 2012- April 23, 2012

Pattern: Oscilloscope Shawl by Kate Gagnon Osbourne, from Knit Scene Fall 2010

This is a great pattern- mostly because it looks much more complicated than it is, but it still is complex enough to keep your attention. I must say that Knit Scene is my favorite knitting magazine, because it never fails to provide modern and unique projects. Even looking back at this outdated volume, the patterns are still appealing because they fit into the trends at the time but aren't terribly avant garde.

This would be a great project for someone newer to lace knitting, because the eyelet pattern and construction of the shawl are both fairly simple. The Oscilloscope Shawl is also a great quick project for more advanced knitters that are looking for more bang for their effort.

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Dolche (55% Alpaca, 23% Silk, 22% Wool)

When I first got this yarn it didn't seem very soft, but it softened considerably after knitting it and blocking the final piece. The softness of the silk and dreamy alpaca combined with the warmth of the wool and alpaca makes this a wonderful accessory for a brisk morning. Actually, I could imagine cuddling up with this shawl as a blanket or pillow in the drowsy and chilly early morning hours.

Also, Cascade yarns is a great company that offers yarns of terrific value. They keep their prices moderate, but offer wonderful staple yarns that knitters with any budget or tastes can use and love.

Where I Bought the Yarn: Webs (yarn.com)

I must warn you that this website is fantastically addictive. Some people don't like buying yarn without being able to see and feel it, but buying yarn online really offers a new way to purchase yarn. With an unbelievable stock and variety of yarn, you can easily find whatever yarn you need (and plenty that you don't exactly need, per se). The worst part is that this website always has amazing sales and closeouts on all the discontinued yarns that they specifically buy to sell for cheap. I literally can't stop spending all of my "extra" money on this website. Also, It's always terribly exciting when you receive a box of yarn from Webs. Happy Birthday!

The End.

Project Spotlight: Green at Heart

Hi there! Ready for the second installation of my pattern spotlight series?

I have to admit upfront that this project had been sitting on my needles for over a year. I made major changes to the original pattern and had to reference two separate patterns which was very consuming. It was completely worth the effort though and I'm so happy that I finally finished this project!

Dates: September 22, 2012- April 5, 2014

Pattern: "Green at Heart" by Jean Moss, found in Sweet Shawlettes

I am loving this cowl! The project is very quick (if you actually stay focused on it) and when completed, this cowl adds just the right amount of warmth without all the fuss of wearing a scarf. The color, texture, and construction of this piece make it the ideal accessory for a chilly autumn day. I am very pleased with how this project turned out with the perfect combination of stitches, yarn, and buttons.

This is a great project if you are looking for a challenge because the stitches themselves require focus, but the shaping isn't complicated (since it's just a rectangle) and it's not a very large project.

Deviations From Pattern: I switched the cable pattern in the book out for the “twisted and crossed cable” from the Harmony Guides: Cables and Arans book. 

I think the cowl looks better with this twisted aran pattern that matches great with my triquetra buttons. All aspects of this piece combined create a very Celtic look for this accessory that I love.

Yarn: Renew by Rowan (93% Recycled Wool, 7% Polyamide)

I used the same yarn that the pattern called for, and even in the same color. Honestly, I think the tweed texture of the yarn and the olive color is what made me fall in love with the pattern. The stitches aren't completely visible in this textured yarn, but the subtlety of the cable and lace border actually look very appealing. Plus, this yarn is made from recycled fibers making it a great choice for those of us who are "green at heart."

Rowan is a yarn company that never disappoints with their luxurious fiber usage and gorgeous textures. It is a high-end company, so keep that in mind when designing your budget for this project.

Where I Bought the Yarn: Filati Fine Yarns in Roseville, CA

I bought this yarn on one of my many visits to Filati during their retirement sale. It was very sad to see this business close it's doors after not being able to find someone to purchase it. This store had an incredible variety of yarns and a helpful staff. I also bought the triquetra buttons at this store, since they had an impressive stock of decorative buttons. I can assure you that Filati is a store that has been missed.

The End.

Project Spotlight: Hermione Hearts Ron

Hi there! It's been awhile since I've written, so I decided to make a three part series highlighting projects I've finished over the past year. Somehow I'm still able to shove time knitting and crochet time into my busy schedule, so it's about time I share some of the items I've created!

Dates: October 10, 2012- March 13, 2014

Pattern: "Hermione Hearts Ron" by Christie Aylesworth

This pattern is based off the hat Hermione Granger wears in the third Harry Potter movie, and I honestly loved the softness and femininity of the hat when I first saw the movie. Luckily some fantastically geeky knitter loved it as well and wrote up a pattern for it, yay! I saw this hat made up at Yarns on First in Napa (My favorite yarn shop), where the owner kindly wrote down the name of the pattern for me. I bought yarn for this project there, but it just wasn't the right pink.

This would be a great pattern for anyone new to cables, lace, or charts, because it is fairly simple, straight-forward, and repetitive.

Deviations From Pattern: I used a smaller needle for the ribbing to make a tighter brim and I cast on using the ribbed/ alternating cable cast on, which I am quite fond of now.

I also made some big changes for the crown of the hat. I used a double decrease in line with the top of the cables to create an even-looking pattern. The fabric also lies more smoothly than how it was written in the pattern. 

Yarn: Joey's Baby Silk by Queensland Collection (60% wool, 20% silk, 20% bamboo)

In order to fulfill my fantasies for this project, I had to find a soft and feminine pink yarn. Although the Road to China Light, which this pattern originally calls for, is actually my #1 favorite yarn and it truly would have knitted up wonderfully in this pattern, I had to find the color I had been imagining. I have always been pleased with the Queensland Collection yarns I’ve bought, and this yarn is no exception. It is soft and dreamy, just like I had been fantasizing. With a smooth sheen and great stitch definition this yarn that makes the cables and eyelets look gorgeous. I hope I didn't make the yarn sound too desirable though because they don't make this yarn anymore. I'm sorry, my friends!

Where I Bought the Yarn: yarn.com and Babetta's Yarn in Fair Oaks, CA

I have an interesting story about the yarn for this project and of me being unrealistically lucky. I ran out of yarn during this project. I tried to reorder it, but having bought the yarn on clearance,  the yarn was out of stock by that time and it had been discontinued by the manufacturer. Months later, I stumbled upon the project in my UFO (unfinished object) pile and wondered if I should just rip it out or even just throw it away to rid myself the frustration of having to look at a project I could never finish. Fortunately, I resisted the urge to toss the whole project. Just a few days later I traveled to a yarn store I hadn’t been to before, and guess what I found there! Babetta, being a collector of discontinued yarns like myself, had the yarn I needed and there was ONE ball left of the same color I was using! When I got home, I compared the two balls of yarn to see if the dyes were much different from the different dye lots, but it turns out they were exactly the same because they were from the same batch. I think I've used up all my luck for a lifetime on that experience!

The End.