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

Sautee Sunset Summer Scarf Progress

Progress on Sautee Sunset summer scarf I'm making. The colors again are faded due to poor quality on my Ipad camera. I hope to get you a truer representation of the vivid, gorgeous colors when I get my camera fixed. I thought I would share my progress.

This yarn is Santorini which is 58% viscose and 42% cotton. Its a great combo. For a little history I looked up the viscose and basically its a rayon that actually has been around since the 1800's. I found a great little history site discussing cotton and viscose.

If you are interested in a bit more about the type of textile and why it is put in some yarns/fabrics, this is a good short read. I learned a few history bits about it.

click HERE

I started not to post pics as they are faded colors until I could get my camera into working order. Seems like a cloud or lavender effect in these pics but you will get the jist of the design.

I do get a few rows in  each morning really early or at lunchtime. 

I am using a sweet little heart marker progress keeper from Molly.

Her podcast and website is A Homespun House.

I'm starting on the second skein.

Each skein is 125 yards.

I was so surprised at how far the the first one was.

The colorway only has a number and is 2107

It is from Classic Elite Yarns.

I purchased this in Dahlonega Ga at Magical Threads.

I'm using a number 7 Addi circular needles

The actual colors are so vivid and actually look like a sunset on a clear day.

I made increases and decreases to create a "mountainous" effect.

I'm looking forward to incorporating this in my wardrobe with denim and a crisp white shirt and it will also be great into early Fall due to the autumn deep rust colors and navy scattered throughout.

The cotton and viscose with a lace pattern make it a great Summer accessory, not too hot, just right to still wear something you knit!

Our sunsets and sunrises here in North GA mountains are breaktaking.

It is awesome to be inspired to create living here. 

Future posts will show accurate colors of this project with the help of Mr. Darcy soon.

Here's hoping you are getting the weekend starting off at peace and have something on your needles to enjoy this cool Spring air!

For our weekend, we are going out to eat and working around the house cleaning out and donating many many bags of items, and actual pieces of furniture to the local battered women's shelter.

So far we have donated 8 large bags. Much more to go as I simplify our living space. 

See ya soon!

Jennifer

New Knit Finishes Prayer Shawls and Such

It's been a very long time and so much has happened since my last post. 

My health has had many turns. It's been a daily struggle with eye pain and losing my sight in one eye. 

Long story short. It would take an entire hour if you only knew, but I brushed myself off and decided to post a picture of my first prayer shawl I designed ( and maybe even have already) but on my dressform, along with another very simple garter shawl that I started back in Fall 2014 and found in a project bag and decided I needed to feel some accomplishment and therefore today it's cast off the needles. (Now that is a total run-on sentence but,,,,,,). 

 I have not blocked it. Just to take a look see. I have had this dress form from ebay for a couple of years now and it really was not expensive at all but has really, really, really come in handy for knitwear and such. If I can go back and find the seller on Ebay I will,  because I think every knitter, especially if trying to design, should get one. I think the shipping was even free and it's not too heavy, but not light either. 

Maybe I should name this one Blue Days. I think I spent many of them at Emory this year, I've lost 50% of my vision in the left eye now. Next, is laser in the next 3 weeks. They are trying to stop the progression but my cornea is not letting it. Again long story. But, I can knit.

I have another eye. Thank God.

I found a supportive glaucoma group that totally understands. I'm thankful for that. 

And thankful I have a husband that understands and will be my eyes if they fail.

I cast on this shawl in Fall 2014 and it's what I call a process shawl. I literally knit for the enjoyment of the process not the project. I'm sure many know what I mean. 

In the midst of many project bags tucked away I decided this weekend to finish and cast off this afternoon. Then, I rambled through my glass bobble and pins jar that I save things in and found a pin for it. 

Cheered me up a bit to put it on the dressform today.

The next one is my first design prayer shawl. This is a project shawl. I had a specific reason and goal in mind for this one.  One day I will write it up and explain why I chose and how I chose the pattern. It has a special meaning to me. 

The reason the dressform is so useful for me is that you can actually get it in your own measurements. 

This comes in great handiness when designing or knitting for sure.

Don't you like this choker necklace I put on it from the 90's? Yup, I still had this in my jewelry collection and now chokers are in again. :)

For not being blocked, it's not too bad.

And with this one, I used Malibrigo yarn

http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/

I don't think this colorway is even available anymore. I will need to search and find the ball band.

I used 3 skeins.

It knits like butter. I love it. This is the second shawl with this brand I used. I don't know if you remember the Old English Rose colorway that I knit a shawl with.

Gorgeous old rose colors.

I started to test knit another prayer shawl in the colorway Christmas at Downton and got halfway through it when the season ended. Couldn't do much knitting in March so it's in a project bag waiting for me.

On the other half, my sweet husband has started woodworking as a hobby, in between managing several schools in the district, and is just about finished with his MBA online.

He is presenting one of the plaques he made to the principal and has made each one for many schools in the region. 

At Christmas, he wanted some woodmaking stash stuff (in our language), and so I was so happy he has a creative outlet as well. He really is talented. He totally restored the Hoosier cabinet in our house a couple of years ago.

I am very proud of all he has accomplished this year. We will soon be celebrating his dual major/ Masters in Business Administration with a focus on Human Resources and Operations Management. 

Well, I have to leave you with a bit of humor. I couldn't stop laughing at this one..........

I know that's sick, right? LOL

Long story short?

since January

• Downton Abbey was our every night must have to see. We ordered the complete series of years and went through all of them except this past season of which we will probably watch endless episodes with popcorn again.
• I've learned how to put objects in my eyes I never thought I would before. Yup, I can do this!
• my better half got me my first pair of REAL sunglasses......and I love them because sun is not my friend
• I've learned how to really appreciate seeing everything and especially colors.
• I've learned from great sources for vision impaired how to utilize things on the computer for adapting to going blind.
• I've eaten way too many lunches at Zaxby's. People at work think I'm addicted.(can't help it, their tea is the best)
• I've come to love hubbies mustang just for the tinted windows.
• Putting on eyeliner is a real 10 minute event now
• I've watched many declutter You Tube channels but wishing I had the energy to do it all at one time. It's getting there though. 
• I just got my supplies for my first KAL---Queen of Thrones!
• My goal to drink 10 cups of water a day is a very real thing I HAVE to do, not want to do now.
• My hubbie has watched many a chick-flick with me in the past 3 months.
• Abbie freaks out on the weekend when we say
  "the pizza man is here" and he is here quite frequently
• there's no place for fluorescent lights......no place
• Sunday mornings are a given for chocolate-covered doughnuts at the homestead
• Cross stitching patterns haunt me to be stitched but my eyes went to yarn instead
• McDonalds now knows my breakfast order by heart and I just say hi at the drive through and it's one egg biscuit and a large half cut coffee with 5 splenda/ 5 creams
• February, in the middle of another corneal ulcer and 2 weeks out of work, my husband got me the prettiest Valentines Day chocolate box with red velvet EVER and I ate every one.....well, I shared a few with him
• chocolate was pretty much a theme since January and the answer to all problems
• my Ipad mini is now playing the Bread and Olivia Newton John Pandora stations quite regularly

Bless you and have a great Monday.................

Jennifer