In the studio - yellow afghan

Afghan, mixed fibers: wool, linen, cotton, rayon, silk, acrylic, polyester, nylon, mohair, metallic; linen stitch, size 10.5 aluminum cable needle, 24 in.

I last posted about this work on September 24. I haven't worked on it in awhile, but now it's front and center in my studio - well, with only about five other projects. For awhile I lost steam and wondered about working in yellow, but I'm reinvigorated now and am forging ahead. I'm combining two strands for most of the rows to get a surface that is extremely complex, using a range of colors from white to yellow green to yellow to yellow oranges to salmon pinks.

Since I'm not done with my "bohemian" period, also called my "barbarian" period, I'm using the flags, tags and squiggles yarns to really rough up the surface. It's just getting more and more yummy!

Finished stole

Stole, silk and rayon, stockinette st with garter "rib", size 10.5 aluminum needle, 10 in.

I used for inspiration the Colinette patterns in the book "Nostalgia", using two very different weights of yarn. As you can see, the results are very interesting. I've been trying stripes using this idea for a couple months now. some I like, some have not made the cut.

The stole requires a fastener, something I've only done one other time. It isn't long enough to stay on without one. I have mixed feelings about it, but I think it looks really good. I hesitate to itegrate any sort of fastener into the stole myself, because then that limits the wearer's option to whatever I have chosen. If I leave it as is, then a brooch or other fastener can be used in several different ways.

Finished cowl

Cowl, knitted stockinette stitch with improvised crochet border; linen and mohair yarn - 2 strands, four colorways; size 4 cable needle, 16in.; unsized aluminum crochet hook (about size A or size 1 steel hook)

I've enjoyed working with these color combinations. In almost every colorway the linen strand is a slightly different color than the mohair. I staggered the color change rows so that there isn't an obvious transition line from stripe to stripe. The cowl is a very welcome change from scarves and shawls. I'm contemplating a drawstring so that the wearer can adjust either end for a tighter fit.

In the studio

Triangle shawl, wool, stockinette stitch, size 4 bamboo cable needle, 24 in.

This is my latest intarsia effort, which I call my tai chi shawl. Once I started I couldn't stop myself from cutting the skeins of Noro sock yarn into separate lengths of color and mixing them up with other sock yarns to create the color araeas of the shawl. So when I had to clean it off my couch I put everything in a bag. I'm not sure I'll ever assemble it all into working order again. After another zig zag of the color line, the warm colors will take over the top of the shawl.

In the studio

Triangle shawl, nylon and lurex, garter stitch, size 5 cable needle, 24" and size 13 cable needle, 16"

The bronze glinty yarn caught my eye months ago, but I finally picked it up a couple weeks ago when I was in Saratoga Springs for the Dance Flurry. It's a Rowan confection and I'm very much enjoying the drape. Although lots of things really irk me about it, the results are worth it. I have created horizontal panels by knitting an occasional row with the size 13 needles. It's a nice effect. In each wide panel I will be placing several applique pieces.

I was talking it over with Paul at Woodstock Wool Company and I said that I was looking for flower patterns to do the applique. He said "Oh no. Not flowers. That is just not right for the yarn." Or something close to that. Now I know he's right. The yarn is too metallic for flowers. So now I'm thinking about stars or other abstract or geometric shapes.

Finished scarf

Scarf, crochet, mohair, wool, size E aluminum crochet hook

I still want to do even more ruffles!