Taking a Break

For the past few weeks, I've been spending a lot of time getting to know my new Nikon D5000 DSLR camera. I found a fantastic deal on a refurbished body. A deal I couldn't pass up. Instead of knitting, I've been re-learning how to take great pictures. Each camera and each model has different qualities. I've finally figured out how to use the 11-focus points on the new camera. My old favorite D40 had only 3-focus points I had to worry about. With this new camera, I'm learning more about aperture, ISO, AF-S, AF-C, etc. So far, I love the results I am getting. Here's the proof....

I did manage to block the heck out of my Colonnade shawl after the light blocking didn't work so well. I soaked it in J&J Baby Shampoo. Gave it a good rinse and rolled it in a towel several times to remove the excess moisture. I noticed the shawl softened quite a bit and has a beautiful drape. Here's a picture of the shawl, taken with my new camera.



I've received a lot of complements on this shawl. It has a light feel to it, but does keep me warm in my chilly office at work.




For the next few weeks, my knitting time will be sparse. More pictures will be taken. More time will be spent at work. I still have to block my Noro Taiyo shawl. I still have two more shawls that are WIPs.

I'll be back soon. Happy Knitting my fellow friends!

Colonnade...Lightly Blocking

I ran into a roadblock with my 250 yards of Taiyo Heaven shawl. The body is finished, but the border is not matching if I follow the instructions. Of course, I've knitted a 3-1/2 pattern repeat versus the 2-1/2 pattern (instructions). So, I will play with this shawl over the weekend and report back a solution to this knitting madness.

If I can't knit, then I can block something. I've pinned my Colonnade Shawl to my blocking mat covered with towels. I sprayed a light mist of water over the shawl and I'm letting it dry into shape.



Hopefully, the rippled edges will even out when dry. I can't wait to wrap this shawl around me. I will be back to post a modeled picture.

Knitting a Shawl

After taking a short break from knitting (like 4 days) and clearing my head of all the projects I wanted to knit, I've started on the Colonnade Shawl. I had visions of using the Classic Elite Waterlily yarn in rose and blue, but the blue yarn is on backorder. Which means that it may not arrive. I've checked my LYS and no one has this yarn in stock. What a shame. This yarn is a winner and I've read many reviews that it knits up beautifully and washes well.

I've found another yarn to use. It's Plymouth Royal Llama Silk. What a beautiful yarn. The colors are rich and it's soft in my hands. Thankfully, I have one of the colors in my stash...the wine/purple color that I will be using for the contrast color or the open lace pattern. Yesterday, I was visiting my LYS in Haymarket and came across a bright raspberry color which I'm using for the main color.

My gauge is slightly off and so my version of the shawl will be slightly smaller in width. This is fine as I'm a petite person and would prefer not to be lost in a huge shawl. This yarn is worsted weight and I can already tell that the shawl will drape nicely. I've read a few reviews of this yarn and I understand it blooms nicely after the first hand wash and actually gets softer. Nice!

As you can see, I couldn't wait to cast on:




The main Raspberry color used for knitting the base of the shawl


This wine/purple yarn was actually a shrug in the works last year. I ended up frogging the shrug and re-winding the yarn, thinking it could be used for something much nicer. I was right.

The contrast Wine/Purple color will be used for knitting the open lace pattern


Here's a link to the pattern: Colonnade Shawl

Here's some pictures of different ways to wear this shawl:

Colonnade by Stephen West for Knitty.com (photo by Jilian Chapman)


Colonnade by Stephen West for Knitty.com (photo by Jilian Chapman)


So far, this is becoming a quick knit. Of course, I many more rows (increases) to go and I haven't begun the lace pattern. I plan on knitting a few more rows in the main color and possible in the lace pattern. This will be a decision I will make on the fly.

Knitting Updates

I have to say that knitting a simple lace pattern actually requires some quiet time. Focus time. A block of solitude time. I tried to knit this while watching TV, while at work, or while rushing to knit a section...only to have made mistakes. I decided not to frog any of the mistakes and just keep knitting. This will be my original piece of knit work. Lessons learned and a reminder of what not to do on my next lace scarf project.

Moving right along with the lace

One thing that helped me to knit the repeat pattern is to place stitch markers between the repeats and also at the side. Of course I got distracted and I missed some garter stitches on one side.

Using my stitch markers with this lace project


I'm still working on my weekend cardi. I'm in the body area where it's pretty much straight forward stockinette stitch. I only need to knit about 1-1/2 inches and then do the ribbing. Then I can move onto the sleeves and rib the front and neckline.

Progress being made

Back side view

I frogged my Plymouth Yarn Royal Llama Silk Shrug. It's been sitting on my needles for 2 months with no progress at all. I was halfway through knitting it and lost interest back in March. You know, it's one of those garments that just doesn't do anything for me. Since the Royal Llama Silk yarn is worsted weight, I know I won't have any problems finding a cute top to knit instead.

Plymouth Royal Llama Silk Shrug...frogged and gone


I found this fabulous yarn at my LYS. It reminds me of the beautiful Caribbean.

Lorna's Lace yarn in Georgetown color

Knitting Right Along

I am beginning to see a knitting pattern here. I seem to have four (4) different knitting projects going on at the same time. When I'm done with one knitting project, I start another one. Keeping four going. There's a really good reason for that and now I have an understanding why others might be doing this.

I am back to knitting my BHG beginner sweater. After seeing Monica's comment here and Trina's on Ravelry, I realized I needed to get this sweater done and preferably before the warmer weather heads my way. I really like how this Tudor (Homespun) color yarn is working out.

BHG Sweater-back...still working my way towards the neckline

I'm making some progress on my Plymouth Royal Llama Silk shrug. I don't think I have enough yarn. The pattern calls for 4 balls of yarn. I'm on my 3rd ball and have only knitted 1/4 of the main body (K1,P1). I still have 12 inches of the main body to knit. I know I'll need at least 2 balls when I go back to the K2,P2 section. So, I'll keep knitting until I run out.

Plymouth Royal Llama Silk Shrug...starting to knit the K1,P1 main body

I'm also working on a Plymouth Baby Kimono for my Godmother's granddaughter. The kimono takes only two skeins of Plymouth Encore yarn. My LYS only had 1 skein of the Heather Pink left. I bought that color plus a Light Pink skein...thinking I could knit different sections in different yarn colors (e.g. the front panels in light pink and the sleeve and collar in the heather pink). Well, the sleeves and front panels are completed. All I need to knit is the back piece, sew the seams, and then knit the shawl collar. I don't think I have enough of one color to knit the whole back, so I might end up knitting in the Heather Pink halfway up and then use the Light Pink for the top half. I'm not sure I'll have enough of one color to finish the shawl collar.

I am not comfortable enough to feel the yarn and figure out how much I have left. So, this is a good puzzle for me to figure out and get through this slight issue. In the meantime, I've put this project on hold so I can make a dent in the others.

Plymouth Baby Kimono...Heather Pink sleeve panels and Light Pink front panels

I still have my Cropped Cardi/Vest on my needles. I am knitting the last front panel.

This is amazing that the four knitting projects or WIPs I have, don't require the same needle sizes. LOL!!!