Finished hat

Hat, wool, stockinette stitch with rib stitch, crocet tassels, intarsia color work, size 9 wood needles

I want to do lots of hats of this shape, making a variety of fabrics. YUM.

This is an Auracania chunky natural wool, and I wouldn't use such big needles again, it's a bit on the flabby side of fabrics. So I would go down to a 7 or 6 US size to give the fabric a bit more body.

Finished green and pink shawl

Shawl, mixed fibers: linen, viscose, nylon, acrylic, garter stitch, self-fringing, size 11 cable needle, 24 inches.

I love the freshness that the colors bring to this fabric. I'm very happy with it altogether and that's due a lot to the way the yarn weight and needle size produced a fabric that's just right. Not too dense, not too loose, but a good amount of stretchy and interesting.

Finished alpaca scarf

Scarf, alpaca, stockinette and reverse stockinette stitches, size 5 wood needles

I enjoy knitting with alpaca more than with most fibers, so this was a wonderful piece to knit. I made the rows long rather than short, which gives the scarf a different look. It's alpaca that is knot dyed, but it's a combination of brown and a blue gray color. I like using smaller needles to make a somewhat dense fabric - the softness is accented that way, I think.


It's a gift for a friend in Nova Scotia, so I'm sure it will be used often.

Black afghan

Afghan, mixed fibers: cotton, silk, wool, rayon, nylon, polyester, acrylic, metallic, hemp; rib stitch, size 11 metal cable needle, 36 in.

This big thang is funky. I'm using about 20 different black yarns. The reds pop out a bit more "in person". I'll do probably another 12 inches and then call it quits. I never thought I would like doing afghans, however they are very rewarding.

Finished shawl

Shawl, garter stitch, nylon and rayon ladder or railroad yarn, size 9 metal cable needle, 24 in.

For the first time ever I got a very good blend of colors using the railroad yarns I've collected over the last several years. I had a little bit of trouble getting it right, and probably had to test out four or five variants before getting one that I liked. The lacy sheerness of the knitting is a feature that I like very much. I'm ready to play with many more fabric designs based on similar combinations.

Finished scarf

Scarf, nylon and rayon, garter stitch, size 9 metal cable needle, 16in.

This is the May 21 scarf, finished at last. I'm liking this size scarf - about the size of a folded bandana. It's meant to be an accessory neck scarf, one that can be tied and draped in a few different ways.

In the studio - pastel scarf

Scarf, mixed fibers: nylon, wool; garter stitch, size 13 wood needles

This done with two strands, changing colors in a systematic way. It's made with an old Rowan R2 "paper" yarn. I'm really having trouble liking the yarn.

I'm just not convinced that it's a good yarn for garments. I lusted after it for months on end because of the idea of it, and then I finally ordered it and found out that it looks interesting in pictures but feels icky. So this may never reach fruition. I'm going to try handbags, which I think will be more suitable for its characteristics. If that doesn't feel right, it may go to rag rugs. That's where the really awful yarns end up in my studio, anyway.

In the studio - light green shawl

Shawl, mohair, silk, merino wool,stockinette stitch,size 3 cable needle, 24in.

When I saw the strange greenish merino wool, I reached for it but didn't know why. I had been looking at yarn for quite awhile and the colors felt sort of weird and I knew they would stretch me out of my usual color choices.

Then I realized how beautifully it would pair with the whispy light green mohair and silk yarn I've been mooning over for a few months. This is yet another riff on the stripes with two weights I've been trying all this year.

Me likes!

In progress - green and pink shawl

Shawl, mixed fibers: linen, viscose, nylon, acrylic, garter stitch, self-fringing, size 11 cable needle, 24 inches.


I'm finding these colors to be delightful - I wanted to try something very fresh.