So, just the other day I was mumbling to myself after checking the Yarn Harlot's blog "I wish she would update more often!" And then stomped around, muttering over and over about the lack of updates.
And then I realized that she had, in fact, updated her blog more recently than I had mine.
Pot, meet the kettle. Ahem.
I have a large number of projects currently underway. Many of them are store projects, using store yarns/wools and worked on at the store. I have dedicated today's update to my many store projects!
This first picture is my progress on the Carnival Blanket. I have opted for the designer's second choice, which is to create circle motifs, and then assemble them into the blanket. I have also decided to make a smaller version -- crib size, if you will. My blanket will be nine by nine motifs, which means I have one more circle to create, and then three to connect to the blanket body.
I do believe this designer is brilliant. The "two point stars" that connect the bottom of the circles are ingenious, and the single point star for the corners works a treat. I am using Sirdar Snuggly for the solid shapes, and King Cole Tropical Beaches for the stars. Both yarns are 100% acrylic so the blanket will be easily washed when necessary.
My next store project is Flax (from Tin Can Knits). We used this pattern to teach a class both at the store and at the Uxbridge library. Both Barb and I found the pattern to be easily understood and accomplished; our students? Not so much. There is a strip of garter stitch that runs down the shoulders and arms, right to the cuff. In addition to the top-down construction, the addition of the garter stitch just throws people right off the cliff. We persevered and our students will have completed sweaters.
I used Uptown Worsted from Universal Yarns in one of their new variegated colourways, and made a 1-2 years size. My needles were a 5.0m for the body and 4.0m for the ribbing.
There are benefits to making smaller sizes of projects when teaching. At the Uxbridge class, early on, someone was terribly confused as to how we were making sleeves at the same time as the front and back. I was able to hold up my project, where the body was finished and one sleeve started. The light bulbs blinked on for everyone! Note to self -- this is a valuable lesson to have learned and now I should hope to remember it!
My next store project has been a delight to knit. We ordered Laines du Nord Matera for our DK-weight 100% wool offering. While the wool is NOT superwash, it is labeled "easy wash." I am not sure what the difference is, but I will certainly find out.
This design is called "The Color Evolution" and was designed specifically for this wool. I did find a minor issue with the pattern -- simply an issue of counting rows correctly. The charts are easy to read and execute. I did the colour-work using two hands, and carrying the darkest colour in my left. Of course, the sweater is not quite finished so I cannot tell how well I did but it looks pretty darn good at this point. I am getting very nice stitch definition, which also makes me happy.
We have had visits from our many sales reps, hawking their offerings for next spring and summer. One rep also showed us some fabulous new wool from Gathering Yarn. Barb and I both "oohed" and "aahed" over this one line, and the sales rep was kind enough to leave us some to play with. I am not at all embarrassed to say that I walked over to the store computer and purchased a pattern -- TWICE! Once for me, and once for Barb.
This is the Bragg Creek Cowl, designed by Caroline Sommerfeld. This pattern was written for the new wool, named Herlig DK from Ancient Arts. Now, I don't know what a "Viking" sheep looks like, but the yarn is 50/50 Viking and Merino. Scrumptious, to say the least! The rep was kind enough to leave another two skeins for Barb.
She also contacted the very kind folks at Ancient Arts and inquired about the possibility of kits so that we could host a knit-along for this project. AND ANCIENT ARTS AGREED! We will be able to order kits (2 skeins of wool and the pattern) for our customers! YAY!
The final store project to be discussed is this: The December hat for our year of hat challenge. This hat is Kaiya Mei by Jamie Hoffman. I used one skein each of Louisa Harding Scintille and one skein of Louisa Harding Amitola Grande. I have enough left that I can make the same hat again!
I have to say, I absolutely adore the Amitola Grande. The colours are delightful and the feel is luxurious as you work with it. Even nicer on the body. If I could only knit with one wool for the rest of my life, this might be it.
As you may suspect, there are ... more projects ... currently in progress. But they are "home" projects and I WILL update their progress in another post. Hopefully NEXT week ...
Happy knitting to one and all!
