New Things

Last Saturday I spent a few hours at my local yarn shop in a class learning new knitting techniques.

We (our class of five) learned provisional cast on methods and started knitting a button up shrug using Classic Elite Soft Linen.

I haven't gotten very far into the pattern, but what I have done I really like! My next new task?? Learning how to make button holes! (sorry about the picture quality!)

Plans and Progress

The Mother's Day v-neck pullover is coming along with some rather nice shaping.

 The back is complete and the front will not be far behind.

I have decided this needs to be finished by Monday, washed, blocked, and mailed by Tuesday. Thank goodness, it is sleeveless!

Next up will probably be something of an experiment in color theory with these two yarns (Ella Rae Merino Lace and Malabrigo in Tuscan Sky):

I cannot wait to cast on!!

More plans include Miss Babs Yowza in Cadet:

I have also come across some gorgeous sock yarn (Miss Babs Sport in Roasted Pumpkin) in a complimentary shade to my Saffron Pullover:

Finally, my BIG plans involve these:

However, I need to finish studying another book or two on dyeing and pick up a few more items.  When I showed the yarn to the husband last night, he mentioned how much he liked the color of them.  I think he was a tad disappointed I told him I was going to saturate them with color.

Anyone else have any plans?

Feelin' Funky

At least, if my latest acquisitions are any indication, I am.

Ella Rae in Lace Merino (Colorway 111).  To be honest, I did not realize this was lace weight until I got home.  I thought it was a slightly more fine sock weight at 460 yards.

Colinette Jitterbug in Nocturne.

More Colinette Jitterbug, this time in Mint Chocolate. 

Two at a time

Normally when I knit socks two-at-a-time, I divide the yarn into two separate balls and go from there.

Apparently, I was struck with a bout of laziness and decided to start two pairs, one sock at a time, at the same time.  If that makes sense.

Opal was one of the first sock yarns I used when I started knitting again.  As in, after I graduated from two-plus decades of occasionally knitting scarves using only knits and purls.

It is not the softest sock yarn out there.  To some, it may not be the prettiest sock yarn out there, but there is something about the colors and patterns that I find comforting, not to mention, those suckers wear extremely well.

So, I have socks on the needles when the mood calls for some mindless knitting and I do not mind admitting I am somewhat enchanted watching the colors change.

Yeah, yeah, simple minds and all that...

Looming just around the corner

is Mother's Day!

And, my mother is extremely picky.

As she has been asking what I have been knitting lately, I have the feeling she would like something extra special to mark the occasion.

Mom likes sleeveless v-neck sweaters; however, she is not a fan of wool and prefers silk or cotton.

I am not fond of knitting with cotton.

With Mom in mind, some fourteen months ago I ordered some yarn from the nice lady at Blarney Yarns on Etsy and she specially dyed it in a color selected by Mom. 

The yarn is a lovely blend of organic cotton 51% and bamboo 49%.  It is really soft and nice.

This will be the pattern:

Pattern:  Diana by Melissa Leapman in Hot Knits

I cast on earlier today and things have been moving right along:

YAY!

Knitting and then some...

While blogging has been neglected of late, there has been a great deal of knitting and designing going on, not to mention test knitting.

First up, the above is my basket of working yarns, as in stuff that is either ready to go or in progress.  I get excited just looking at it, so full of possibilities.

Secondly, my very first design has just been published.  On a Sunday afternoon in February I was inspired by a skein of Yarn Daze Prairie, a sport weight, in Currant.

I had come across a nice eyelet pattern in a sweater that seemed to call out that it wanted to be sock.  Flipping through one of my stitch dictionaries, I found a little twisted cable pattern that I thought would make a nice cuff.  Combining the two, the Black Currant sock was born:

(Warning:  Spoiler alert if you are part of the Woolgirl Wizard of Oz series - We're not in Kansas Anymore)