Finished scarf

Scarf, wool and silk, rib stitch variation, size 5 cable needle, 16 in.

I can hardly believe that I didn't get a photo of this while it was in progress. I worked on it for quite a long time because of the size of the needles - whew! But it's worth it and I have joyfully be wearing the scarf in this very nippy weather.

I switched the rib each seven rows to get that segmented appearance, and I like the texture very much. The Noro "Silk Garden" can stand to be knit up in a very plain stitch due to the beautiful dying, but I like this texture also. I've not knit such a compactly designed piece in quite awhile and this felt very good all the way through. And I must say all the small needle projects I'm doing at this time seem like they are taking FOREVER. But I like the fabrics. They are re-introducing me to a whole other sort of knitting from what I had been doing, and that is nice for my perspective.

Now that this is complete I'm going back to my afghans hammer and tongs once again.

In the studio

Scarf, angora blend yarns, garter stitch, long rows, size 5 aluminum needles.

The colors of this piece are interesting to me and I decided to try strips that are distinct. Angora is just yummmmm.

I won't be blogging for at least a week.

In the studio

Wall hanging, mixed fibers; wool, cotton, nylon, lurex, acrylic, hemp, mohair, rayon; with 6 dowels evenly spaced outlining 5 knitted panels. Stockinette with reverse stockinette shapes, size 9 wood needles.

I've got the hanging up on the wall and I stare at it a lot. I've developed the major foreground motif now, which will be a gracefully curving twig with buds. It'll be crocheted on in the manner of tambour embroidery, then embellished like crazy with beads and threads. Yummmeola.

In the studio

Shawl, wool yarn, size 13, 24 inch cable needle, rib stitch.

This is a hand died yarn by Araucania. I was inspired by projects I've done with larger needles that produce a wonderful drape and this is indeed quite wonderful. The yarn texture is nicely soft, and the drape produced by the large needle is lovely while at the same time the rib stitch produces some heft.

The unevenness of the color gives it a dynamic surface, and I like it so far. I don't know how I will trim it once I get it into a large enough triangle for a shawl. Fringe is something that may be too ordinary, but I'll know when I get the knitting done what's right.

In the studio

PDA case, silk yarn, linen stitch, size 2 bamboo cable needle

Since I need something that will hold my PDA when my clothes don't have pockets, I started this little case, which will have a neck/shoulder strap. The small needles are a trip! I don't want the case to be very stretchy at all. The silk yarn plus the woven stitch, which I find to be one of the most non-stretchy, work together well to make this very much like a woven fabric.

In the studio

Purse, cotton "Crysalis" yarn, rib stitch, size 9 wood needle.

Me likes this yarn! It's very heavy and the drape when used in this rib stitch is yummy and wonderful. The yarn is cotton fiber wrapped in a cotton thread and beautifully complex. It's made by Colinette and their dying is almost always extraordinary. I tried seed stitch and didn't like it as much. I'll be lining it in cotton fabric using the same muted colors (an excuse to go fabric shopping!!). It'll be a basic envelope bag.

In the studio

Scarf, black and white tweed, mixed fibers: 46% Acrylic, 33% Wool, 9% Polyester, 8% Cotton, 4% Nylon; rib stitch; size 6 wood needles

I get a lot of pleasure out of knitting a classic pattern with a classic yarn now and then. This is part of a group of pieces that I am doing on needles smaller than size 10. It ends up being a lot of knitting, but I love the substantive feel of the fabrics.

I've slowed my pace of knitting due to taking up other arts and I'm also taking time to sort my stash by color. So I may get back to "progress" photos rather than all sorts of different projects. I'm not starting much these days.

In the studio

Scarf and hat, wool yarn: "Shriek" size 9 aluminum needles and Basketweave stitch for the scarf, size 9 cable needle, 16 inrib for the hat

I know this is a sort of one of a kind thing for me. This set may be one of the last garment projects I start. Once I'm finished with what I have started now, I think my knitting is turning a very significant corner into more explicit textile design and fabric art.

This has worked up very quickly and the yarn has been very dreamy to use. I've been interested in watching how different the yarn looks when worked in the different stitches.

Knitting not blogging

I have been knitting like a deranged fiend. Feels good! It's the afghans - I've taken leave from my day job and have been able to camp out in my studio with all the bags of yarn it takes for these huge pieces. They don't travel well at all, and since I'm in the middle of things photos are rather boring. One is depicted on Oct. 30 and one on Nov. 6 2006. They're much bigger now.

The technique involves sitting among heaps of yarns. For the teal-purple one I'm using a yarn for two rows and then switching. I'm paying close attention to making broad bands of similar colors. The woven stitch (also called linen stitch) makes the colors blend in a lovely way, so I use many rows of teal with aqua, or instance, then start blending in another color. It's very amusing to play with the color and try to make sure it keeps my mojo interested.

For the black-white-red one I'm switching yarn every row. I'm working it in k1 p1 rib stitch. I use a black wool and hemp blend and black cotton chenille and now a black Peruvian wool as what I call "base" yarns. They have a matte finish. They make up the most of the piece. Then I use black yarns with very interesting textures, some fuzzy, some shiny, some with little flags, and occasionally a red row or a white row and sometimes a gray row. But I always go back to the base yarns so that they make up the greater part of the fabric.

Just thinking about it makes me want to log off and get back to the studio!!!