By Wendy on October 1, 2009
The True Love Stole has been blocked and is ready for action!
Here it is pinned out.
Do you see something unusual? There is no fluffy kitty reclining on the stole! I have no idea why, but during the whole pinning out process, Lucy sat on the sidelines, watching. This is a first for her.
I don’t think it was the dampness of the shawl deterring her. I mean, it’s not like that has never stopped her in the past.
Here’s a close-up shot.
And unpinned and relaxing on a chair:
Gwendolyn wanted to model the new shawl as well:
And finally:
I used about 1000 yards of Jojoland Cashmere and a 3.25mm needle. Blocked dimensions are approximately 24″ by 66″.
It will be a while before the pattern is ready. I need to re-knit the mitered corners to better document them for the pattern and I need to find time to do that.
Now, back to knitting on the Stacy shawl. I see that a few of your asked questions about this shawl in the comments — I’ll answer ‘em next week!
Lucy sez
“I could lie on the stole, but the color washes me out.”
Posted in Wendy Knits | Tagged 25mm, cashmere, dampness, fluffy kitty, shawl
By Wendy on September 30, 2009
In yesterday’s comments, Hannah asked:
What happened to the True Love Stole?
This is what happened to it:
I finished it!
That’s a pic of it unblocked. Even as we speak it is relaxing in a nice bath of woolwash and blocking will commence momentarily.
But meanwhile, I am knitting on my new super-not-so-secret project:
This is the beginning of a shawl being knit from Tempted Luxe Grrl yarn. The colorway is un-named, as Stacy custom-dyed it for me when I requested a blue-green almost-solid. Isn’t it gorgeous?
The yarn is fabulous to knit — it is sport/dk weight and a blend of 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, and 10% Nylon. I’m knitting it on a larger than recommended needle (a US size 7) and getting 4.5 stitches to the inch. I wanted a nice drapey fabric because I’m knitting lace.
The shape is a more-than-triangle — extra increases on the front edges result in the nice shaping that will make the shawl stay put on your shoulders. Because it is a heavier weight yarn, I opted for a stronger non-fussy lace pattern.
Right now I’m calling it the Stacy Shawl and I’m liking the name. The shawl reminds me of Stacy: strong, beautiful, and straightforward!
Now don’t quote me on this, but there is a very strong possibility that this pattern will become available in a very fun way (she said mysteriously).
Lucy sez:
“Please thank Miz Stacy for dyeing pretty yarn for a blankie for me!
In other news, I need to change the name of my Bamboozled socks as a reader pointed out there is already a design by that name. And here I thought I was being so clever . . .
Posted in Wendy Knits | Tagged blankie, colorway, lace pattern, superwash, weight yarn
By Wendy on September 29, 2009
Okay, a bunch of you Smartypants immediately identified the yarn I’m using for my simple sock as Wollmeise in the Johannisbeer und Brennessel colorway. Clearly you all are experts in Wollmeise colorway identification.
A quick trip through the Google translator tells me that the colorway name translates into “currant and nettle” in English. Very appropriate, no?
So, Thursday night I was thinking that I needed a simple project to take to Virginia Beach with me for the weekend. “This is a job for Wollmeise!” thought I. I ventured into the stash room and looked through the Wollmeise I have, and decided on this lovely colorway.
I did do a bit of knitting over the weekend, and today I am past the heel on the first sock.
And here is a close-up of the slipstitch heel, just because a slipstitch heel in Wollmeise makes me happy.
The pattern is a simple knit/purl thing, and the results kind of make me think of bamboo.
So I am calling this sock “Bamboozled.” Just try and stop me.
I’ve got another new work-in-progress . . .
And I’m afraid Lucy can’t come to the blog right now . . .
It’s suppertime!
Posted in Wendy Knits | Tagged currant, google, knit purl, quick trip, suppertime
By Wendy on September 28, 2009
I had a great time down in Virginia Beach this past weekend. There was a book-signing/party Friday night at KnitWits that was a blast. I met a lot of fun knitters and thoroughly enjoyed myself. My friend Rusty did a nice photo-filled blog post about it here.
Rusty and her husband Larry had just returned from a trip to Canada and Rusty brought me some prezzies:
To the left is sock yarn, from Belfast Mini Mill on Prince Edward Island. It’s a beautiful heathered green-blue. The bright turquoise is laceweight from Tanis Fiber Arts. And the Dala horse is . . . just because. 
I also got a cap from Larry’s ship:
The classes on Saturday were wonderful. The knitters were fun and enthusiastic about learning the techniques. In fact, we now have a group on Ravelry dedicated to the wonder that is a toe-up toe, called “Toe Cuppage.” And a challenge has been issued there . . .
For my travel knitting I cast on a sock.
Can you guess the yarn and colorway?
My purchase of the weekend — I discovered that KnitWits carries Lawre’s Laine bags. And they had a style I hadn’t seen before — a pouch:
I love how it has a stitch counter attached to the drawstring! It’s big enough to easily carry a sock or two or a smaller lace project.
I returned home yesterday afternoon to this:
A very happy little kitty!
Posted in Wendy Knits | Tagged knitwits, lace project, little kitty, prince edward island, ravelry
By Wendy on September 24, 2009
Who needs a clever title, eh?
I left the True Love Stole at home today. It’s hot and humid here, so not having piles of cashmere draped on my lap on the train seemed like a good idea. It was a good idea — they apparently have turned the air conditioning off on the trains.
This is what I did on my commute.
Cute little devil, isn’t he? Here he is with his buddies . . .
These little guys are prep work for a workshop I’ll be teaching late in October at SWAK in the City in Oklahoma City (see this page for more information) — What to Do With Leftover Sock Yarn. Should be a fun class!
But this weekend, I’m heading down to Virginia Beach to KnitWits for fun and classes. Since the last time I was in Virginia Beach was when I was around 4 years old, it is about time I went back, don’t you think?
I’m leaving early tomorrow morning and returning home Sunday afternoon. Depending on my mood and state of exhaustion upon my return, I may not blog until Monday.
So have a good weekend!
Lucy is not sure how she feels about having me away this weekend . . .
Posted in Wendy Knits | Tagged clever title, little devil, little guys, sock yarn, swak
