In the studio

Scarf, wool, rib stitch, intarsia color work size 7 aluminum cable needle, 24 in.

I'm within a few inches of the finish for this scarf. I've definitely been bitten by the intarsia bug, but don't know what I'm going to do next. I love tassels, and have plans to put three tassels on each end of this 60 inch scarf: one yellow, one purple and one mixed. The pure colors will go on each corner and the mixed in the middle where the colors meet. I'll post a photo as soon as I'm finished.

In the studio

"Cuffs" , wool thick and thin yarn, stockinette stitch with garter stitch border, size 7, 16 in. bamboo cable needle.

I like this yarn because it is tremendously soft. This is about my fourth pair of cuffs, but I don't feel like I've explored them nearly enough.

I've got a ton of pieces like this that only need a seam and the ends weaved in. I'll get to them.....Real Soon Now.

In the studio

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

I reached and found this great hulking shawl as I was beginning my marathon of project completions. I love the feel of this wool on the very large needles. I also love the variations of red produced by their dying technique.

At the same time that it creates a fantastic stretchy fabric, I wonder if it will indeed be too stretchy. It's a worsted weight, and the quite large needle allows every stitch to be completely visible, and it almost looks lacey. So in my mind's eye I'm developing various technical means to make it less stretchy. I'm thinking about applique and weaving strands into the fabric. I'm thinking about crocheting across the fabric. I've thought about throwing it in the washer and dryer to full it a bit. It's going to take some creativity, but eventually I'll settle on just one idea. At the same time I'm trying to choose whether to use the same yarn or contrasting yarn.

It's a very challenging project, but I'm loving every minute of it. I'll knit in another 150 yards or so of this amazing Araucania Nature Wool Chunky. Then the issues will have to be settled one by one.

In the studio

Purse, polyester and metalic ribbon, size 9 plastic needles, "woven" stitch

I'm still plugging away on this project, but pulling the ribbon through small loops while it's compressing tires my hands quickly. I'm also producing a tension problem that I hope I'll be able to fudge during washing and blocking. But I know I'm going to love it when it's done.

I found the perfect button for it over the weekend while I was rummaging around in a box of fabric. It's a dome of rhinestones from an old fancy dress. The metal base is just enough silver so that it will highlight the silver metallic threads in the ribbon. It's a little bit on the heavy side, so I'll have to anchor it in the fabric with a sturdy patch on the inside, preventing it from pulling the knitting out of shape in the front.

I'm a little less than halfway through. The purse will have a lining, but I have not decided about any particular edging yet to provide the finishing touches for the outside. An "I" cord might have a wonderful effect.

I'm delving into the "in progress" stack and going on a finishing binge again. I want to have a huge lot to take to Elissa Halloran's shop [woops her web site looks a bit dishevelled] by the end of September.

Finished pillow

Pillow, mixed fibers: cotton, silk, wool, polyester, nylon, linen, rayon, lurex, stockinette stitch, size 10.5 needles; cotton batting and silk back cover.

I finally brought my camera back from Vermont over the weekend, so I'll be able to post photos again! I'm liking the light in my new "photo area" in my new apartment.

This one of several pillows I've tried with knitted covers. I'm going to try a lot more!

In the studio - circle scarf

Capelet, mixed fibers: silk, nylon, rayon, wool, cotton, lurex, size 11 cable needle, 24 in.

I've just about run the course with these capelets and must begin to think of something else for my textile experiments. I apologize for the *bleargh* colors. I keep trying to get the right purple and for some very strange reason my camera will simply not do purple. And all my tinkering in photoshop cannot make up for that fact. I can only hope that some day I'll finally become good enough with the camera to capture it.

In any event, this purple is a purple silk made by Noro and it's simply the dreamiest deep purple I've seen in a very long time. And I'm a purple hound. I'm stymied a bit with this capelet because I'm not getting a good feeling from the color combination. The purple needs something different than what I have here. So I'm predicting this will transmogrify into another shape with different colors. I suppose I'll consider it something like a first draft.