In the studio - capelet - circle scarf

Capelet, nylon and rayon, stockinette stitch, size 10 cable needle, 16 in.

I can't help myself, I love this yarn and how it drapes when made into a capelet. It's the Melody yarn from Southwest Trading Company, and I like the idea of a plain ivory colored capelet with this marvelous lacy texture.

In the studio - school colors scarf

Scarf, wool, stockinette stitch, intarsia color work, size 7 wood needles

This is one of the more wonderful purple and gold series items.
I'm playing with school colors and avoiding all the school color pattern cliches. I've got a zillion ideas.

In the studio

Scarf, mixed fibers: mohair, linen, polyester, cotton, size 5 plastic needles

I'm experimenting with these stripes and don't know exactly what will happen. I'm not sure I like the knots - or put more accurately, I don't know what to do with all the knots with these fine yarns. They're difficult to conceal and don't fit in with the refined look.

In the studio - white capelet - circle scarf

Capelet, mixed fibers, cotton, linen, mohair, acrylic, wool, silk, lurex, reverse stockinette stitch, size 10 metal cable needle, 24 in.

I've given up saying "this is the last capelet". I like lots of whites mixed together and this is the perfect sort of wintery mix. I want a decorative crochet edge.

Peace badge

Badge, 3.75 in., wool felt, silk, cotton embroidery floss

This silk inspired me to start embroidering again and I adore these big badges. I didn't bring a large safety pin with me when I shot this round of photos, but I'll try to remember to do that next time.

In the studio

Scarf, silk, Chinese lantern lace pattern, size 8 wood cable needle, 16 in.

Look ma! I'm doing cables!!!

Louisa Harding workshop

I went to my first workshop ever "Experimenting with Yarn Combinations" on Saturday. It was presented by Louisa Harding, a wonderful designer who has designed many yarns that are distributed by Knitting Fever. The workshop was at Colorful Stitches in charming Lenox, MA.

During the workshop we selected five of Louisa's KFI yarns and produced this little bag, or as much as we could knit of it.




One of the most interesting aspects of the workshop was looking around the room at the various combinations of colors. Since color and texture are the main attractions for me in knitting, this workshop opened my eyes to the way that Louisa uses her knowledge (genius, really) regarding color to design yarns that combine in beautiful ways. To see how each person found yet another beautiful combination was a thrill.

She encouraged play, which was a very good thing. I've seen so many knitters who are so involved with getting everything "right" that I think they miss much joy. So I'm hoping they have taken Louisa's message to heart as she offers her encouragement.

The final section of the workshop was Louisa's professional autobiography, and it was especially interesting to hear the life of a designer, from art school student to seasoned professional.

The workshop participants were very interesting and I wished I had time to sit with more of them and hear their stories as well. I was especially please to sit with a fellow librarian who has taken up knitting recently.

In the studio

Hand towel, organic cotton, stockinette, reverse stockinette and garter stitch, size 7 wood needles.

This cotton is soft, and I'm making a series of these towels for my own home. That's how much I like them! I'm working out what sorts of patterns I want to make with the reverse stockinette. They're fairly easy to improvise, however I like how some look better than others. So once I experiment with this series, I'll start another series for gifts or for sale.

The September 13th entry shows off the design a bit better than this one does right now.

The New Look

The new look reflects other changes in content for the blog. The content will be much less restricted to knitting and will reflect more fully what I'm doing in my scruffy little studio. For example, I'm doing quite a bit of collage lately.

In the studio

Capelet, cotton, lace rib stitch, size 9 cable needle, 24 in.

I got this far on this piece several months ago and have been letting it sit while I decide how to finish it. The yarn is a worsted weight cotton, and pure pleasure. The manufacturer used indigo for dyeing and so it will fade beautifully like good blue jeans. So part of me wants to wash it several times and then decide about the details. It is knitted back and forth rather than in the round, so I feel it needs a closure, and I'm wondering about a button or something else.

I just replaced my lost book on braids, so I may do a fabulous braid tie closure. So much to think about!!!!

I still have several skeins of the yarn, and have also begun a scarf. I feel like it requires either something very plain, like stockinette stitch, or something really fancy, like cables or laces. *sigh* Although it doesn't look it, the challenges are difficult!!

Finished scarf

Scarf, mohair, beginner's lace stitch, size 10 needles, bamboo

I'm enamored of this stitch and am trying it with many yarns. It makes a lovely drapey bias fabric. I used several yarns from my mohair stash for this scarf and am inspired to try mixing them more often. I've braided the fringe, which is an interesting touch, making the fringe less fluffy.

When I find my camera again I'll photograph yet another version in polished red cotton. May 30, 2007 entry is the green silk version. I have another silk version going on in sea greens and blues.

In the studio

Scarf, wool, rib stitch, size 10.5 plastic needles [dig the groovey pattern]

This is a celebration of the glorious colors of Noro. I used the yarn left over from a huge shawl to quickly work up this scarf. It's been wonderful protection from those late winter and early spring damp northeast breezes.

The needles are something that just appeared in my local fabric and yarn shop. They're very hard and quite heavy, so I'm not able to bend them as I do most plastic or wood needles - yay! They also have very pointy tips, so I'm using them to advantage with a rather difficult "railroad" yarn now that I have completed this scarf.

In the studio

Cushion cover, hand dyed and spun wool, garter stitch, intarsia color changes, size 7 cable needle, 24 in.

If you look at the left corner of the piece you can see the color change going up from the corner at a 45 degree angle. The color change will continue diagonnaly across the surface of the cushion. I got these two aqua yarns at a farmer's market last summer. The woman who makes these yarns is a dear, and her colors are quite wonderful. This is worsted weight yarn, so with the size 7 needle it is a firm fabric. It's wonderful "social knitting" because there's not too much concentration required.

The color change is a bit more pronounced in real life, however not a lot. It's going to be a wonderful way to use the last of this handsome yarn. I can't wait to see her colors this year at the Troy Waterfront Farmer's Market!

Finished scarf

Scarf, wool, rib stitch, size 15 wood needles

Even though I started this last May and forgot it for awhile, it's been a pleasure to finish it and send it on its way into the wide world. This was taken just before I bound off and weaved in the ends.