I had a long talk with myself about the yarns I’ve been dyeing. Without even thinking about it, had been mentally setting them aside for personal use. But you know that just didn’t feel right. No, wait, it’s that I hadn’t thought about what “personal” use might mean. I decided this weekend that the phrase included the sense of getting to work with the yarn to make something nice :)
I have been (to use the immortal expression of Ryan and her inimitable Cuzzin’ Konchog) feeling a little poopy the last several days. So I took Norma’s advice and spent the weekend working on stuff for other people.
It felt good :)
This is Ryan’s Cloud Hat. You’ve seen it before, quick, simple, thick and warm. This was made with a strand of rather fine, cream-colored mohair and a strand of fingering weight merino (Turquish Delight, as it happens). I am pleased to report this chapeau is exceptionally soft and squooshy and, hopefully, will be very comfy as well as very warm! Anyone one have any guesses about how the mohair happened to escape the dye pot? Nah, me neither :)
This is my own adaptation of the basic cap pattern. I have become fond of adding a purl round 3 or 4 rounds beyond the ribbing and you all know how besotted I am with the damned braids :) This is also worked with a strand of mohair and a strand of wool, the mohair being some of the leftover from the Seaweed and Shells project and the wool being Come Sail Away which was, in a former life, plain old Lionbrand Fisherman’s wool. I have to say, I really like the way this worked up - the colors went together so harmoniously that it takes seriously close scrutiny to tell this was worked with two strands of yarn. The tassel at the end of the braid is kind of a give-away though :)
This is kind of a Cloud Scarf counterpoint to the Cloud Hat pattern. Same basic premise: a strand of mohair and a strand of wool. In this case, the mohair was Classic Elite La Gran in a black/tiger-tawny/cream colorway combined with an anonymous moss-colored worsted wool. I cast 15 stitches onto size 10.5 needles and worked 3 rows of garter stitch. The bulk of the rest of the scarf was worked in stockinette (with 2 selvedge stitches on each side, first one slipped purl-wise on every row) with the occasional 3 row seed stitch bar thrown in whenever the spirit moved me. I worked until I was almost out of yarn and then did 3 more rows of garter stitch to finish, and bound off. The scarf is about 5.5” wide and about 40” long. It is
thick :)
And, just so you know, I did finished the Mystery of the 12s socks. I am definitely planning on making more of these, though I may add another 6 rounds to the cuffs. That would give the pair another 12.
Tomorrow, we’re supposed to be coming into some serious (and they’re saying possibly dangerous) heat - so please be careful and take good care of yourselves!
Happy Monday all :)
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The projects look lovely, and I can tell that working on them has lifted your spirits, so all is well. :)
Take care of yourself in that heat - “they” say that our heat wave is finally about to break.
Colleen - I know it’s been pretty nasty out there for a while now - hope the next few days are pleasant and cool for you and your new job!
Those little hats are fabulous. I love the “cloud” effect you got by adding some mohair.
We’ve had a much cooler day today, thank goodness. After weeks of high 80s and 90s, I’m as desperate as my poor scorched garden.
well, geez, you definitely get an a+ for productivity- i love that little ‘cloud hat’- mohair does give a lovely halo, doesn’t it?
hope you continue to feel better- stay happy-
Pam - I’m so glad to hear your temperatures have finally moderated - the relief must be enormous!
Barb - Yes, the mohair is nice stuff. You know, I saw pictures of angora goats yesterday and if I hadn’t known from the article that they were goats, I would have thought they were sheep! Cute things :)
oooh i know what you mean. sometimes i sit and think of all the time i sit and knit, and how selfish it is of me to not be more productive with my gift knitting. that is why i have already begun my xmass knitting. lets see if i can keep the momentum :) you are rather prolific yourself. keep up the good work!!!
Emily - I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the productivity of your Christmas knitting :) Good for you for getting such a good head start on it!
Wonderful work! Tell me, do: Did it have the hoped-for effect? Shooing away the poopies? I hope so. :)
Norma :) Yes, it did shoo away the poopies. I have employed this tactic before, but needed your reminder this time. Thanks for the timely advice!
