Monday, December 11, 2006

Monday again :)

It wasn’t a big knitting weekend here; I barely looked at the Seeds sweater.  I did do some Dulaan knitting though :)

This started as a collection of little, tiny balls of yarn leftover from other projects.  I basically pulled together several colors and tones that I thought might work with each other and began knitting on size 9 needles with two strands of yarn.  When one strand ran out, I introduced another yarn - usually in another color.  This ends up with the colors changes sort of overlapping so there isn’t really a sharp dividing line between them.  Changing colors this way provides the same sort of visual segue as the effect that is produced with the seed stitch in the watercolor scarves (scroll down a bit).  Otherwise, it’s just your basic, bulky watch-cap :)

I also ran across a lone hank of Inca Alpaca - my goodness that stuff’s soft!  So I got another pair of socks started last night - small ones :)

This yarn declares itself to be worsted weight and recommends using a size 7 US (4.5mm) needle but I really can’t see it.  I would call this yarn DK weight at best.  I’m using size 3 US (3.25mm) needles for the socks and I think I could have gone down another size without too much difficulty.  For all that though, this stuff is really, really soft.  I have heard alpaca referred to as poor man’s cashmere and honestly - given the hand of this stuff - I can see why!

And I also found, in my prowling about, a bag of sample skeins that I’ve had for a quite a while and from which I have made many things.  But there was still enough left to make one, maybe two more items and so I began another One Row Scarf which will consist of 4” stripes of assorted colors. 

I know I’ve bored you all a lot with this scarf, but there’s just something about it.  Its looks are dignified but casual and my hands just seem to love the working of the pattern - every time I start another one, my hands act like this is the work they were born to do!  LOL!

I hope to get back to the sweater soon - it doesn’t need much more length before I can start the bottom treatment and then go on to the sleeves.  Cross your fingers, there’s seems still to be a good possibility that I may actually get to wear it this winter!  Of course I have shawls on the brain (but that’s a constant anyways) and now have two different colorways to think about.  Also, I have found myself thinking a lot about the Valentina Devine coat pattern that got me involved seriously in knitting in the first place and wondering if now isn’t the time :) All very pleasant speculation for a grey Monday. 

Time to light a candle and cheer things up!  Hope you all have a spectacular week:)

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1. i think the term ‘worsted weight’ is one of the most ambiguous in the whole knitting lexicon- any skein with such a label is usually one of those that you just end up winging it with- i have read for years about plans under consideration to standardize yarns, but i think those are just dreams- well, we don’t need a *yarn police* but it can be frustrating- umm, could it all be a plot to force us to swatch?

   you ae going to make many little heads and feet very happy with your output of pretty items- i am going to have to rescue myself from the knitting doldrums (located near the isle of inertia) and work harder to fill my dulaan box-

   enjoy your candles and stay happy-

   Posted by  on  12/11  at  12:15 PM
   Location : right here- where it is grey and gloomy.



2. Barb - Do it!  It works very well for me, when I’m feeling flat, to work on Dulaan projects for a while.  I feel lots better :)

   Posted by Robbyn  on  12/11  at  01:05 PM
   Location :



3. I love the scrap hat...has that “Noro” look about it. You certainly have done some wonderful knitting for Dulaan. Charity knitting always makes me feel good.

   Posted by Maureen  on  12/12  at  10:18 AM
   Location :



4. Maureen - A Noro look?  Wow, I’m getting good at this!  LOL!  Thanks a bunch kiddo :)

   Posted by Robbyn  on  12/12  at  11:22 PM
   Location :



5. What a great idea for using leftover yarns. I love that hat!

   Posted by Opal  on  12/15  at  06:20 AM
   Location : Honolulu, Hawaii

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