One-Skein Shawl

Pattern: Knitters Review One-Skein Shawl

Yarn: ArtYarns Silk Rhapsody, 100g-260yds, in a palest blue/silver colorway 149, one skein, used all but about 10yds

Needles: US11 / 8mm

Gauge: 9 stitches/4” unblocked

Started: April 12, 2007

Completed: April 18, 2007

Finished Size: 72” x 32”



Notes:
Mimi asked me to knit a sample of the One-Skein Shawl for the shop, and it had to be done in time for her to take to Stitches Camp. So Hurry!
I used all but about 10yds. Knit on US11’s rather than US13’s with three extra increase rows and one extra eyelet edging row.
This yarn is like knitting with kittens. It’s very soft with one ply of silk and a smaller ply of kid mohair. The halo isn’t very pronounced while knitting, but it has fuzzed up a little with blocking and wear.

Wisteria Scarf

Pattern: My own using a basic top-down triangle shawl shape, with Evelyn Clark’s edging from the Shetland Triangle and Flower Basket Shawls

Yarn: My own homespun, fiber Australian wool roving from Holly Spring Homespun, color Dyers Delight. Finished yarn is 2-ply fingering weight 16wpi, 45g, approx 210yds, spun on Grafton Nina

Needles: Aero circular, US5 / 3.75mm

Gauge: Lace

Started: Spinning in fits and starts, plying April 6, 2007, Knitting started April 7, 2007

Completed: April 8, 2007

Finished Size: 38” x 20”



Notes:
I spun two spindles full of singles which I wound off onto PVC pipe. The pipe is part of my homemade lazy kate which worked perfectly. I added a CD to the underside of the spindle for added plying capacity. The yarn bloomed quite a bit after a soak to set the twist.

I wanted to use every bit of the plied yarn, and I did. Good thing I even plied the leftover yarn with itself from the second “half” of the singles.

I started with basic top-down triangle shawl construction and added grouped YO/decreases that flow into the edging since I didn’t want plain stockinette for the body. I plan to eliminate the partial groups from the chart for the future and also look at other simple lacy rib patterns that could be used instead.

More photos here.

Jaywalker Socks – Happy Valley

Pattern: Jaywalker, by Grumperina, from MagKnits, September 2005

Yarn: Lorna’s Laces, Shepherd Sock, color: Happy Valley, from emtnestr on eBay

Needles: Addi circs US1 / 2.5mm

Gauge: 8spi in stockinette

Started: January 2007, while taking care of Mom

Completed: April 4, 2007

Finished Size: Womens Large, fits my US11’s


Notes:
I first knit the leg on US0’s, but the chevron pattern has so little stretch that even my skinny minny feet were not going to fit through the sock leg. Re-knit on US1’s which have enough give to make a wearable sock. I find I really prefer the fabric using Shepherd Sock on 0’s though.

In the oops department, I inadvertently knit one heel with plain slip stitch, and the other with eye of partridge. Oh well.

Had less than an ounce/24g or approx 86yds left over from two skeins, so I estimate the socks used about 344yds to complete with a nice long leg (approx 9 inches).

These socks started fast and I like the way they broke up the variegation of the yarn. I would try another chevron pattern before I knit this pattern again as the lack of stretch results in a sort of baggy ankle.

My feelings about the Shepherd Sock remain ambivalent. I think the socks are nice and soft after a soak. I find the yarn just a little thin and stringy while knitting it which I didn’t feel about the Trekking XXL even though it’s about the same gauge. I ordered this color on eBay and it’s a bit pale and pastel for me but I’m planning to give these to my Mom for Easter as they are perfect springy easter-egg colors and fit Project Spectrum too. Interesting too how different the pooling is on each foot.

For the Sock Marathon I used 344yds or two-tenths of a mile.