A New Knit Finish--Mantle of the Garter shawlette

So.

I was looking for a good stashbuster to use up the remaining precious cotton/viscose from Italy yarn from the last project. I found on Ravelry a great free pattern HERE called Mantle of the Garter by Margaret Anderson Kilfoil.

It's a good TV knitting or traveling or waiting around in doctor's offices kind of project.

I finished it last night at midnight and had a million ends to weave in until about 1am.

This morning, I stretched in on the chaise on the back porch where tiny bits of morning sunlight could show you a bit.

The coloring is not that great because again I used my Ipad camera.

I used my teeny little decorative pins to hold it a bit.

The morning sun filters through and it's nice and cool out. The shadows cast are not so great but you can get a general idea.

I even used a section of the English Roses by Malibrigo that I made a shawl last year in. It was just enough to finish up the remaining skein and blended so well in the shawlette.

 

I plan to wear with a navy blue summer dress or a white Tshirt and jeans.

Things I learned from this project:

Even though I used cotton as the main fibers, I would suggest using the much springier, fiber that the pattern calls for. I used up 2 balls of stash yarn together with straight cotton. I also use a remaining Malibrigo merino called Old English Roses from a previous project.

Cotton /viscose has give. Plain cotton doesn't so much. 

Reinforces my love for my favorite cotton yarn for my budget I Love This Cotton from Hobby Lobby. You can find any color for any cotton project and for the yardage per skein and the quality it beats all for me. I go to it when I know I want much variety for straight up cotton.

This is a shawlette and I would probably, if knitted again, increase more and make it larger for a shawl.

Weaving in ends is still my notoriously least favorite part of knitting. That being said, when my last end is woven in, the pure rush of a finished project is a good thing. A real good thing. Like finally finishing and completing something.

And that, my friends, has been my easy knit project while going through yet another eye surgery last Friday. I had a trabeculoplasty in the left eye. Lets say the weekend was rough but I go for my post op today and better with exception of the sunlight. 

Sunlight is no longer my friend even with my really good sunglasses.

Around the homestead, while cleaning the back porch on these most gorgeous of cool Summer days, I saw one really large Turkey. I think she is trying to find a place to nest for her babies.

Not sure but I'm glad this Summer they are back.

Also saw 3 deer just outside the window and when I looked at one, he peaked around a tree at me. He was so funny. I think it was mother and 2 babies.

My next project I'm getting together from a KAL but really I missed the first 4 weeks so it will be later than the KAL on Ravelry. However the pattern looks more challenging and all the clues to the mystery knit a long have been given. The yarn is fingering and it's using 6 colors for a shawl.

I will post soon the skeins and the colors and my cast on.

Hope all is well with you and remember to enjoy some part of the day and spread love and compassion wherever you go.

Till later,

Jennifer

Abbie's New Knit Shawl and a Teal Lacy Keyhole Scarf finished

This week at the homestead started with being sick with a really bad respiratory virus, waking up with a sore throat and swollen tonsils and then since then fever and head cold. My energy was zapped but hopefully on the way to getting better little by little.

I designed and knitted a little Abbie shawl this week:

I didn't go by any pattern. I just winged it and came up with this idea. Turned out sweet.

 

For these cool 60 degree morning and evenings, it's just right.

watching the sun come up and over the mountains with some fog this morning...................

sleeping in .....means to 7am. :)

 

She sends her love to all!

 

 

 

And she LOVES her some Mr. Darcy too. :)


With the same yarn, came forth this scarfette, the Lacy Keyhole Scarf for a dear friend.

The designer is Stephanie Japel and her patterns can be found on Ravelry. This particular one though is not for sale individually but through Craftsy.com class called Knit Lab. It's one of the first Knit Lab classes. She still offers this online and it's great for beginners and those who want to start learning lace knitting. I highly recommend it. I took this class online and it's still available to me now since last December. The class materials and homeroom with about 8 hours of knitting lessons are easy to play and then play again.

The yarn I chose for this scarf is above on the tag. This is knitted in two sections and then combined. The friend I knit this for picked out the color TEAL, so I got this for her with Fall coming up here.

And this is finished after weaving in the ends and putting together. This pattern is so cool because it teaches many things in one scarfette and depending on the yarn and needle size, it can look so amazingly different but still feminine. This class taught me how to make buttons holes in knitting and I hope this winter I learn how to knit a sweater.

I've made several of these now and actually there are a couple left at the Etsy shop for Feathersinthenest on Etsy. Check it out if you are looking for homemade gifts for early Christmas shopping.

This particular one is going in a gift box for a very dear friend. I know she will like this shade of teal for Fall.

The next homestead project is trying to get over this sinusitis and get a cake cooked for tomorrow evening. Tomorrow is the 20th of the month and we have made it a tradition to have a cake once a month in celebration of our anniversary date! I haven't broke that tradition. I'm thinking that I might try to make a Hummingbird Cake if I can get into town for some of the ingredients.

Hope you have a beautiful rest of the day and keep those needles moving!

Jennifer

The Abigail Shawl

 

 

Little miss Abbie got a new shawl made this morning just like her mommie's!

 

 

 

She is enjoying the very cool, 60 degree weather but sunny this afternoon on the back porch.

 

Just a note to say, I hope you have a very

Happy Mother's Day

Coming Undone

 

A new start but put to the side right now to finish a shawl. I couldn't help but see what this feather and fan lace design would look like in BLUEBERY JAM in Universal Yarns, Inc. BATIK, 100% cotton yarn.

I love the variations of color. Just like Blueberry jam.

 

 

I'm using number 10 needles, not my faves but will work here. I would love to have Knit Pics Dreamsz straights in 10.

 

 

 

But knitting onward to see the effect, I put it to the side to work on my shawl I had started.

I eventually had to TINK the entire project and made a mess on the dining room table but found a Stefanie Japel pattern on Ravelry to restart.

 

I am on row 50 and it's getting even almost too long for a 26 inch cable # 11 needles. So,

I hope to get me a pair of 40 inch as this shawl is approximately 7 feet by 3 feet UNBLOCKED.

 

You can find the pattern on Ravelry. It's called City Shawl, by Stephanie Japel.

 

Coming undone.

 

 

Starting anew with only one stitch cast on.

 

 

at 50 rows now. Hoping this will block into a much wider shawl as I go.

The second section is beautiful with color.

 

 

Working on the dining room table. I'm so glad I don't have any visitors now for eats.

 

It's all in the process, isn't it?  Definitely, helps my stress AND creates something wearable.

 

And so in keeping with that thought, I will watch my undone yarn become a new shawl. Hopefully without as many mistakes as the other one.

 

Purl of Wisdom~~~Never tire of creating something beautiful from something that had way too many mistakes in it. Just start over. It's the process of creating that brings joy.

 

Sew thankful,

Jennifer

 

Friday Finishing---My Knit Shawl

I finished the knit shawl except for weaving in the loose end threads. Still haven't found the skein tags but will do soon so I can share! I used 2 hanks. Final measurements unblocked are 79 in x 16 inches!

All garter by increasing from bottom up KFTB on each end of the row.

I have a shawl pin that will work well or simply will tie it in front.

I love the way it turned out. The color. The softness. The small amount of mohair in the yarn. The size and most of all the joy of stitching with Knitter's Pride Dreamz circular needles! (#15)

Pictures forthcoming tomorrow after I weave in the ends for the final finish! I could definitely snuggle with this shawl right now as we are having Blackberry Winter here. It's quite rainy and cold outside and weather forecast for rain until next Wednesday.

Good stitching and reading time.

Till later,

Jennifer

A Good Surprising, and Learning sort of Day

I had the best day today, busy, but on my mission of errands today I saw this little yarn shop, stopped by and met the owner and she said that knit group was this afternoon! I had no idea.  I hurried and got me a burger and then went back to work with about 8 folks who were the sweetest and I had a really good time.

Of course, she has the best of yarn to work with and in the group she helped with learning how to knit front to back stitch to increase and also use a circular needle for the first time. Awesome!
She had very soft music playing in the background AND a designer visiting who also dyes her own yarn. She is planning to teach a class this Summer. More info on that later. Click here for the store website:

http://www.shopbumbleberry.com/yarn.html

She showed me on a simple free pattern how to make a small shawlette. This yarn was very different...........I used # 15 circular needles----big, fat ones.

She had a model of one stitched in the shop in another color but I liked this for jeans and casual wrap for the Summer plus I'm drawn to teals and blues. It's nice and airy. I think it will stitch up fast.
Only 1 skein for this one but the pattern states you can use 2 if you want a really big shawl.

Brand---Litoral  Aslantrends
this is machine washable in cold water!

It's really hard to show when I'm taking the pics because the shawlette when finished has pretty large holes in it but they are all squished right now.

Stretched, it looks awesome. I can imagine this little wrap with a turquoise Tshirt! 1 skein. Would make a very pretty birthday or Christmas gift.

I got to here while chatting in knit group. I can't wait to finish it, so I can wear it now.

I can't express how much learning to knit has helped me cope with the stress load this year. I will have to digress at this point. My faith, my loving husband and knitting has helped me cope with the aftermath of some traumatic things this year.

My favorite time of day is knitting close on the sofa with Mr. Darcy while we watch The Waltons.
That show is our addiction. :P  I'm sooooo serious. We love it. Mon-Fri.

Speaking of encouragement, I prayed this morning for God to speak clearly to me and that sometimes I just need a sign..................well, ye of little faith(me today) on my way to an assignment/errand was trying to find the right place with the GPS system, and I was lost (I know even with a GPS system LOL) and I looked up at the turn and someone out of the blue had a old board that had Isaiah 55:3 written on it in white paint and nailed to the tree. I have no idea why. It was near a business that looked pretty much run down so I had to look that up when I got home and ended up reading the whole chapter. Very encouraging.  Just food for thought.

Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. Isaiah 55:3 NIV

Purl of Wisdom----sometimes when we are literally lost and finding our way, God knows how to encourage us even when we have days of little faith. He gives us the knowledge but it's up to us to apply it.

So today I:

got one mission accomplished today at a new place
got to learn a new knitting stitch---knitting front to back to increase
got to eat the best hamburger I've had in a long time. loaded
got by chance to see a yarn store AND found new friends, with free laughter, conversation, and knitting advice.
got to meet a knitting designer!
got to learn circular needles for the first time!!!

got to share it with YOU! 

Taking life one day at the time,

Jennifer