Green and khaki cottons shawl

Triangle shawl; dark olive cotton with khaki cotton; seed stitch, knitting, size 8 cable needle

I loved knitting this cotton triangle shawl! It felt marvelous going through my fingers during the knitting process. It is a shallow triangle shape with a self fringe formed by tying off the yarn and switching between yarns for each row.

The two colors that are rather similar create a fabric that has a dynamic quality with a surface that shifts around a little as the fabric is viewed from different angles or is folded in different ways. So even when the colors are neutral, the fabric has a vibrancy. The deep olive yarn has quite a lot of texture and the khaki yarn is smooth, so the contrasting textures also contribute to the lively surface.

Stripes! scarf

Scarf, mixed fibers; mohair, silk, wool, nylon, rayon; seed stitch and stockinette stitch; size 4 needles, 14 in.; approximately 10 in. x 74 in.

Yet another scarf recently pulled from the work in progress bin, this one is a lovely weight with good drape.  There are probably around 20 yarns, cut into uneven lengths to give the strips a dynamic feel. The mohair will give it great insulating properties so it will be a great bright scarf to wear all winter.

The size 4 needles make this a fairly dense fabric but the fluffy mohair keeps it light weight. It is a LOT of knitting and I blazed through many a podcast while finishing it up this fall.

 

Blue Marled Alpaca Scarf

Scarf; basketweave stitch variation; alpaca; size 7 cable needle

Photographed on a blue blanket, the blue is revealed in a new way. This is one in the series of works that vary the basketweave stitch. I adore knitting with alpaca because of the way it makes my fingertips warm while I am knitting. 

This is the first knitting that I tried using as a concentration exercise. It was quite wonderful to keep my mind conscious of the knitting rather than let it wander.  

Bulky Gray Capelet

Bulky thick and thin wool yarn; size 10.5 metal cable needle; stockinette stitch

I love making capelets and have made many, this being the most recent example. I still use the formula set out in a book called The Knitting Experience by Sally Melville.  I think she called it a circle scarf.  I is a versatile formula and I intentionally call it a formula rather than a pattern.  

When I use it I work out a gauge with the yarn then cast on the bottom, knit for seven inches and then decrease.  I knit four more inches then decrease again, which will be right about at the shoulders.  I knit four more inches and then create whatever kind of neckline I'd like the capelet to have.  I like this length, which generally falls right around the elbows, because it provides warmth and yet it doesn't get in the way like a full length cape or poncho might.

Mixed media on paper

 

12.5 in. x 12.5 in. Fabriano Maxim ; Tao Te Ching text; graphite; pastel; collage; gel pen;

Collage greeting card

 

Mixed media greeting card 4 x 6

Mixed paper elements with water color splatter. Muted colors provide a neutral context for the stark black. Metric elements suggest mathematic or scientific quantification. We often want to be sure in our lives and use measurement to compare.

Filet Crochet scarf

Filet crochet scarf

Filet crochet scarf with a double crochet border; one circle embellishment,;72 in long x 8 in wide; size 2mm hook; the yarn is one strand/ply of linen with one strand/ply of kid mohair.

The crochet involed here forms a grid by spacing double crochet stictches along the row and in each row stictch the double crochet only into the double crochet from the previous row.  It builds a very open lacy fabic quickly. The linen in this fabric gives it body and weight.