In the studio - aqua silks and alpaca

The rib stitch is best seen in the left photo on the bottom right.

Shawl, mixed fibers: silk, alpaca, bamboo, nylon, metal sequins, beads; rib and mesh "simple lace" stitch; size 7 aluminum cable needle, 32 in.

As I was working on another shawl with lighter value colors I came across the left over yarn from this scarf  (January 1, 2014 entry) and wanted to take advantage of the uplifting feeling I get from aqua.  I scrounged through the stash and found some other lovely aqua remnants and decided to try this lovely rib stitch.

I worked most of one day figuring out the pattern with a couple of other yarns, so I thought doing a little more of it would help me get into the rhythm of it.  I was skipping a comma in the first pattern row and doing  k2tog yo twice instead of k2tog, yo twice.  After working on that other piece and now this piece I don't think I can mess up easily.

I'm doing long rows of 300 stitches so it will self fringe on the short ends.

In the studio - bamboo and cotton

Scarf, bamboo and cotton, garter stitch, size 7 bamboo cable needle, 24 in.

I love several things about this project. I like the way there's just enough contrast between the values of the neutral color, and I love the way the yarn feels as it is going through my fingers. It will be a lovely spring and summer scarf.

From one work in progress to another

Triangle shawl; mixed fibers: bamboo, mohair, linen, silk, cotton; stockinette stitch, size 3 carbon fiber cable needle, 24 in.

This big cake of yarns at the top of the photo was in a bag with the balls separate yarns, orphaned after I finally tossed the work in progress they were put together to make. The yarns were carefully cut and tied together in a somewhat random order into the big cake. Yesterday I bumped into the bag as I was scrounging through my stash and decided to alternate the lavender boucle mohair with it.  It's essentially the same shawl pattern as the one in the abandoned and tossed wip, but I think the lavender mitigates the strength of the contrasts in the other yarns.

Faded jade basketweave

 

The light makes this look like two different fabrics, but it is the same piece.  It will be a giant scarf of wool and bamboo blend yarn.  It is currently about half way finished. The yarn is a worsted weight and I am using size 10 needles, 14" in length.

Green bamboo

Honey color bamboo

Capelet, bamboo, rib stitch, size 7 bamboo cable needle, 24"

I sped through this, feeling eager to see the results.  The bamboo is on the heavy side, but drapes beautifully, like heavy linen.  I think it'll be a really lovely summer accessory.  

I did a straight rib stitch, and when I decreased it made somewhat of a ridge, and that is what makes the distinct horizontal lines in the photo.

In the studio - silk and bamboo

Scarf, silk ribbon, bamboo ribbon, mohair and lurex; filet crochet, single crochet with picot and double crochet. size G aluminum hook.

This silk ribbon, the blue and pink multi-color part of the scarf, is challenging for me. It has been very difficult to find colors that go together with it to make a fabric that I like. It does make great ruffles because it's almost foamy in texture.