Monday, December 13, 2004

Indulgent weekend

I did indulgent knitting this weekend.  Since I am doing o-kay on Christmas presents and since I desperately wanted to work on something that didn’t have a deadline, I gave myself the weekend to play.

I worked on the possible fuzzy afghan strips.  This is looking more and more like a probability than just a possibility.

This is Bernat Boa combined with Caron Simply Soft and worked in garter stitch over 20 stitches on size (US) 10.5 needles.  Those are my Clover bamboo double-points peeking out.  I love them for doing this because they’re so short and easy to manipulate.  All I needed to do is put a point protector on one end.  I ran across the pastels while I was rummaging through the stash a couple of days ago.  I decided that combining it with a cream colored yarn and knitting a few rows of it into the strip at random might be a fun thing to do.





This is Lion brand Fun Fur also combined with Simply Soft.  I also have some brilliant red that would look interesting in this, but might contrast unpleasantly with the pastels in the other strip so I haven’t decided quite what to do about that just yet.  I would like to throw in some kind of random color into the Fun Fur strips as well.  Believe it or not, this makes a very sumptuous feeling fabric, dense and warm.

I wondered about doing this sort of afghan quite a while ago but not quite in these colors.  I imagined using two or three more naturally colored fur yarns, say tawny gold, pale beige and dark brown.  Not that the blanket would look like it was made out of real fur - just that the colors would approximate that look.  But, because of various other projects that didn’t work out, I wound up with a lot of blues and a smattering of a couple of other things.  And those colors will be just fine :)

You’re asking yourself about the crochet square afghan, aren’t you?  I’ve been having thoughts about stitching those squares into a poncho.  There, I’ve admitted it and yes, my head is hanging but there it is.  I haven’t entirely succumbed to the notion, but it’s an attractive one and it won’t go away.  It would be all the things the afghan would have been - personal, luxurious and very warm but in addition, it would be wearable - much more personal.  It’s an attractive idea…

I also started this:

This is the Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl from the inestimable and prolific Sarah Bradberry.  I loved this shawl the minute I saw it and have been wanting to make it ever since.  The yarn is Red Heart and I was staring at the colors the other day when I realized they went nicely together and this might work nicely for the shawl.  In addition to the colors in the picture, there is a deep green/blue - spruce might be a good description - that will also be included.  I expect this project to go on for a while as I do other, smaller things...but I’m really liking this, the pattern, the colors - everything about it :) And this one isn’t going to be too small!

Now that the weekend is past, I’ve got other things to think about.  I’ve got three balls of jacquard sock yarn (purples) that have been calling me and they don’t seem to want to become socks.  So I’m considering other possibilities - mittens, hats, maybe a tie or two?  I wonder if it’s time for me to have a go at making real, honest-to-God gloves?  Eeek!  That’s a scary thought!

So how was your weekend?

Addendum:  The blog software was updated this weekend.  As always, please let me know if you experience any difficulties or problems.  Thanks!

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1. What wonderful playing you did this weekend! Good for you..taking the time for yourself over all this holiday stress people may feel. I would never have thought to put Caron Soft and Boa together...that sounds wonderful (soft and thick) your afghan will certainly be comfortable look forward to seeing what exactly you use. Love the idea of using double point (with protectors) yes, that would make for a little more swiftness! :) I love the dark purple in your poncho too. Happy Knitting!

   Posted by  on  12/13  at  12:45 PM
   Location :



2. Hey PJ - I think the afghan’s going to be serious fun - funk and jazzy and all that.

   The shawl - I love the pattern and it’s even fun to work.  I have wanted an F&F shawl for a long time but I had only seen rectangular versions (stoles).  THe minute I saw this, I knew it was what I was looking for!
   

   Posted by Robbyn  on  12/13  at  02:07 PM
   Location : In the cool, cool, cool of the evening...



3. i like the idea of the fuzzy furry afghan too- the colinette abfab ones combine some of their yarns and have a slightly fuzzy effect, and those are certainly lush looking- i’ll bet yours will be something wonderful to curl up under (and just think how the heat-seeking kitties will love it too)- andif you use the blues, then it has to be good- never would guess my favorite color, would you?

   i didn’t touch hooks or needles all weekend- i wrote, rewrote, submitted, revised, and edited work i had procrastinated finishing until the weekend ended- now i must finish very dull socks and ponchos before starting anything interesting-

   i saw a pattern somewhere that used the sock yarns to make a hat very like the double mossa one- the one i saw combined jacquard yarns for a really interesting look (and a truly warm hat) when the edge was turned up-

   stay happy-

   Posted by  on  12/13  at  03:19 PM
   Location : in a dither



4. Barb - I worry a bit about the heat seeking kitties pulling the thing to bits - but I guess we’ll see.  Yep - blues :) The Boa is “Jay” and combined with SS in Med. Country Blue.  The Fun Fur is really rich, almost violet and is combined with SS Navy Blue. 

   I think I have seen the hat you’re talking about and you’re right - that would be a really nice hat!

   Posted by Robbyn  on  12/13  at  05:43 PM
   Location : In the cool, cool, cool of the evening...



5. Please sew your squares into a poncho....then I won’t feel so bad about the poncho I’m planning to crochet soon....

   You know, ponchos love company & all that. :::Grin:::

   Love the afghan idea - I like the thought of natural colors too. :)

   Posted by Bron  on  12/14  at  10:53 AM
   Location :



6. Bron - You enabler, you - LOL.  I suppose now I have to find a space where I can lay everything out and arrange the colors to suit me :) Sounds kinda fun!

   Posted by Robbyn  on  12/14  at  01:07 PM
   Location : In the cool, cool, cool of the evening...

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