2017 is drawing to a close and not a moment too soon. Not the best of years, but things could always be worse, right?

Loki is getting in some extra naps in preparation for staying up to ring in the new year.

I finished my Corrugated Shawl on Christmas Eve. Here it is, spread out full length.

(The only reason I was able to take that photo without feline intervention was because of Loki’s accelerated napping schedule today.)

A close-up:

And being modeled by Gwendolyn:

Happy New Year to you all! See you on the other side!

There as a comment on my last blog post about the block-ability of the Corrugated Shawl I am knitting;

Love that yarn color and it does look like a fun pattern to knit but… is it really going to block out into a straight edged piece of knitting? I know blocking can perform miracles but… I’m going to be very impressed if it works.

Be impressed! 🙂 I quickly steamed my work so far and laid it out on the couch:

As you can see, it blocks out very nicely.

Here’s a closer look at the texture stitches:

I am a bit over half done at this point. Still very much enjoying knitting this and the yarn usage is right on target. Stay tuned!

Loki is in the middle of his usual Sunday afternoon activity.

This past week, I started a project from Mason-Dixon Knitting’s newest field guide (#5) Sequences: the Corrugated Shawl, designed by Cecelia Campochiaro.

The piece is obviously not blocked. I am using the yarn called for in the pattern: Crave Caravan, which is a glorious mix of merino wool, cashmere, camel, and mulberry silk. It’s sportweight, with 354 yards per 100 gram skein. I’m using the Tilly colorway, a lovely chocolate brown, purchased from the Mason-Dixon Shop. I had a hard time choosing a color — the natural is beautiful, but I really wanted something darker but still neutral. I was a bit concerned that the stitch texture would not show up well on a darker yarn, but happily that is not a problem. The texture shows beautifully.

The photo above is washed out and does not show the true color. This is closer to reality:

This pattern is addictive. It’s a sampler of 16 different texture patterns separated by stockinette and reverse stockinette spacers. I have just used up my first skein of yarn (it takes 4 skeins) and I am slightly more than 25% done, so it’s nice to know I’m right on track with my yarn usage.

The stitch patterns are simple, so it’s an easy knit. But it’s also a fun knit. The yarn is gorgeous and the texture of the stitch patterns show off the yarn to its best advantage. This will be a lovely warm wrap when completed.

Here is the Little Prince, ready to allow his subjects to approach and offer chin scritches.

Now if you will excuse me, I need to get back to my knitting and binge-watch something on television.

The winner of a copy of Plum Dandi Knits: Simple Designs for Luxury Yarns is “Yooper in Mississippi” who has been emailed. Thank you to everyone who left a comment and to Interweave for supplying my review copy and a second copy for the giveaway.

I have had an up-tick in knitting progress  this week. I finished my Land of Sweets Cowl.

I used miniskeins from three different dyers, all purchased via Etsy.

I had enough yarn over to knit a hat:

I did not use a pattern — I just cast on 104 stitces, worked k2 p2 ribbing for 8 rounds, then worked in stripes of color in the same order I used them in my cowl — 3 rows per color. When the hat was 8″ from the cast-on edge, I did crown decreases. I popped a vegan fur pom pom on top and there you have it!

Then yesterday I saw Martina’s new handwarmer pattern, Tough & Toasty. While watching television last night I whipped out a one:

The palm:

And then I knit the second one:

It is a very fast knit, and a very fun one, too/ The construction is genius! I used a skein of Buachaille in the “Haar” colorway and a U.S. size 3 (3.25mm) needle.

So my needles have been a blur lately! Loki has retreated to his tote to stay out of the way of flying needles!

I have a lovely book to review today. This:

This is Plum Dandi Knits: Simple Designs for Luxury Yarns by Alicia Plummer and Melissa Schaschwary, published by Interweave with a release date of November 30 — tomorrow. It’s a collection of 23 lovely patterns for sweaters and accessories.

Some of my favorites:

Keene (by Alicia Plummer) is the cover sweater: a big cozy garment knit from bulky weight yarn. The sample is knit from Berroco Ultra® Alpaca Chunky. It’s knit in the round — a boone for  all who hate seaming!

Rockland (by Alicia Plummer) is a textured hat made from aran weight Blue Sky Fibers Extra. The pattern is a lovely honeycomb cable that works nicely in this design.

Mackinaw (by Melissa Schaschwary) is a big snuggly blanket/throw/wrap knit from Malabrigo Yarn Chunky. Cables for fun and bulky yarn for a fast knit!

Heyworth (by Melissa Schaschwary) is a lovely set of fingerless mitts worked in sportweight Augustbird Egret, which is a merino silk blend.

You can see all 23 designs here on Ravelry.

All of the patterns in this book give off a soft, comfy, cozy vibe — perfect for combatting winter chill.

Interweave has knidly offered a second copy as a giveaway to my readers. To be entered in the drawing for a copy of Plum Dandi Knits: Simple Designs for Luxury Yarns by Alicia Plummer and Melissa Schaschwary, please leave a comment on this blog post telling me which of the designs in the book is your favorite. I’ll select a winner at random on Sunday (December 3) at noon Eastern time.

Loki sez:

I’m all about the snuggly!