Beautiful Barf!

Despite the fact that summer is here - although to be fair, with some of the rain that we have had this week, you really would not have know that was the case . . . I have been on quite the knitting program.  I would really like to get back into to my sewing, and I know that will happen soo, but in the meantime it has been quick and easy to pick up the needles and get knitting.

So, another pair of lazy Billy Basic socks - and I love them!

The yarn is a really hard wearing superwash/nylon blend from Garnstudio called Fabel, it is one of my favorite workhorse yarns.  I am a sucker for the self patterning yarn - I knit my first pair of socks from this type of yarn, and I will continue until my dying day.  I love the way the patterns evolve without any effort on my part - the stripes and fair isle are mesmerizing.  I think I like this yarn particularly as I cannot dye this.  Well, I probably could, but I would need to have to reskein to a 22yd circumference.  With a couple of greyhounds and a collie running around the house, disaster is likely to ensue.  So I buy the yarn, and am happy to do so.

So, nothing particularly remarkable or different about thee, other than I knit my usual 60 row sole, and really, the foot was a little long.  I only decreased to 32sts per sock, but funnily enough the short, blunt toe of these socks is somewhat reminiscent of mine!!

Another great pair of socks to add to my collection - I wonder what I shall knit next?  I suspect that my sewing will be on hold for a little longer as we are buying a new-build house and have some people coming to look at our house next weekend, and we are really nowhere near being ready.  If the house sells quickly and we get a long possession date, then I see some sewing on the horizon.

Either way, knitting or sewing, I love them both so cannot complain!

Ka'ana Delight

I was lucky enough to be chosen to take part in another test knit - this time for a shawl by Jennifer Weissman - it is a free pattern that can be downloaded on Ravelry.  I have tried a number of styles including the side to side triangle and the top down triangle, but this was a little different. 

Although a top down triangle, there are more increase per row - for a usual right angle triangle there are usually 4 increases every other row, but this pattern increases by 6 stitches each row, meaning that the triangle is long and shallow.

And it is HUGE! I used up every.single.inch. of three 50gm skeins of yarn, and 2 x 9gm containers of Toho 6/0 “E” beads in a shimmery green color.

Before Blocking:
Depth at widest part - 12.5”
Depth at thinnest part (ends) - 5”
Inside (neck) measurement - 69.5”

After Blocking:
Depth at widest part - 19”
Depth at thinnest part (ends) - 6”
Inside (neck) measurement - 80”
Outside measurement - 134”

So, notes about the pattern - this is a great pattern, the garter stitch increases are nice and easy - great TV or car knitting. Initially I found that I my edges were tight, so on the advice of the designer I frogged back and on the first stitch of each row I knit it, placed it back on the left needle and knit it again. Perfect!

The lace portion involved more concentration, but was very quick to knit despite the amount of stitches. I added beads on the ‘stem’ of the leaves, as well as in the in the bottom triangles.
This pattern is a great introduction to shawl knitters who fancy trying a bit of lace, but don’t want a standard triangle shawl. The side edges of the knitting form the top edge and it curves nicely. It is an easy to follow pattern, I used the charts, and they are nice and clear.

So go on - give it a try, it really is a lovely pattern!