As promised last week, I’ve posted the pattern for the Fingerless Mitts I made — here. It’s linked to from my main knitting page, so you can always find it there.
Thank you for all your kind words about the Grape Arbor Shawl. I really appreciate all the positive feedback! In answer to a question, it took about 850 yards of the 100% silk yarn from Spirit Trail — this is about a dk weight yarn.
In answer to many questions, I’m not sure when (or if) I’ll be offering a pattern for the shawl. In its current state, the pattern consists of lots of hieroglyphics scribbled down. It’ll take quite a bit of work to transform that into a pattern that anyone who isn’t me could follow. And I’m not sure I have the energy for doing said translation. I know for a fact that I don’t have the time right now. But perhaps I will at some point.
But then again perhaps I’ll have a burst of energy (or a fit of insomnia) and write the whole blessed mess down in one sitting. After all, the shawl was conceived and born in a fit of insomnia.
But then again, again, hell might freeze over. Oh, wait. I think it already did.
Here’s what the pattern looks like right now:
About the shawl, Leigh commented:
I have not had much experience with blocking. You don’t mean you actually put the iron on the shawl, right?
Why, yes, I did, and steamed the heck out of it. Full steam ahead, as it were. 😉
Lucy Pullover
I did finally suck it up and put together the Lucy pullover that I recently knit from Rowan Calmer — here it is:
It’s a good thing it was so cold on Sunday that I did not want to venture outside. I was forced to stay indoors and work on fiberly pursuits.
Speaking of Fiberly Pursuits . . .
One:
Two:
Three:
Three hundred yards of this wool. It was great fun to spin!
Cold Hands, Warm Heart
With the recent spell of very cold weather we’ve had, I’ve noticed that none of my gloves really cut it when it comes to keeping my fingers warm. After only a short time outdoors, my poor little fingers turn into popsicles. I figured perhaps some big thick mittens would be a good idea.
I spun up some soft black wool into a bulky weight yarn.
It looks grey, but that’s from the flash. It’s black in real life, and quite soft. I’m going to make a pair of plain mittens from this.
This one of those rare occasions when I have spun something with the finished product in mind. Most of my spinning has been done simply for the joy of spinning. I think that’s why I give so much of my handspun away. I’ve got no plans for it.
Mistakes in Spinning?
Ann asked:
Do you ever make mistakes in your spinning?
That’s an interesting question! What constitutes a mistake?
I’ve had singles break while spinning, so I guess that’s a mistake. But it’s one that’s easily fixed (even though it’s a pain to have to stop and pull the broken end back out through the orifice and get it started again). I’ve got uneven bits in my spinning and the occasional slub. But those are design elements, right?
I Still Hate Crystal Palace Needles
And this happened after one row when I pulled the commuter knitting out at lunch. So no knitting on the train ride home. Grrrrrrr.
At least it’s just a matter of glueing the wood part back in the metal bit. I’m pretty sure I’ve got some glue here that will do the trick. But still.
Meow.