Carole Knits

october zinnia
october zinnia
martinis with a view
martinis with a view
gettysburg fence for
gettysburg fence for
germinate shawl on rocks
germinate shawl on rocks
field of flags 2
field of flags 2
color affection with edge
color affection with edge
cedar leaf shawlette 2
cedar leaf shawlette 2
3_27_2014
3_27_2014
3_18_13
3_18_13
2_24_2014
2_24_2014
1_11_13
1_11_13
peony-bouquet-for-carole-knits
peony-bouquet-for-carole-knits
dale-and-jackie-for-carole-knits
dale-and-jackie-for-carole-knits
nightshift-progress-for-carole-knits
nightshift-progress-for-carole-knits

Wednesday Are For Knitting: The Shift

By

Friends, I finished The Shift cowl weeks and weeks ago . . . except for sewing up the seam. The seam that’s about 10 inches long. I have no real explanation for my procrastination but needing to blog about something today got me to sit down last night after work and finish it up.

It’s really lovely. The yarn is Spincycle Yarns Dyed in the Wool. I used Rusted Rainbow, Robin’s Egg, and Family Jewels and I got them all from Modern Daily Knitting.

I’m very happy with how they look together and it was super fun to knit. I followed the instructions for color changes to the letter.

I mostly wove in the ends as I went along so there wasn’t a lot of that to do at the end. Thank goodness!

It’s basically a giant kerchief shaped thing which makes it super easy to drape. You want proof, though, don’t you?

There you go. Yesterday was the first day our temps topped 80 ° so I only wore it for a moment. It’s tucked away and ready for fall, though!

Wednesdays Are For Knitting: Twisted Headband

By

Back in March I needed a quick knit. A palate cleanser, if you will, after finishing The Shift Cowl. (Okay, technically I haven’t actually finished that cowl since I need to sew the seam but still, the knitting is done.)

I searched my Ravelry queue and found the Headband With a Twist by Mirella Moments. I checked the stash and found some leftover Woolen Rabbit WW Kashmir in the color Forever in Blue Jeans. And I cast on.

It’s was a fun and easy project knit entirely in English rib, which is soft and squishy and, ironically, very similar to brioche. (We aren’t talking about brioche right now, though, okay? That’s right . . . the hat is still not done.)

The twist is perfectly clever and easily managed in the sewing together of the two ends. I hope I won’t need to wear this for a good long while but when I do need something warm for my head I’m ready!

Unraveling

By

I’m joining with Kat this week to talk about what I’m knitting and reading.

First up, this hat. Sigh. Did I say a few weeks ago that I thought I had the hang of brioche stitch? Talk about famous last words! I mean, I suppose I do (mostly) have the hang of going round and round with this but when it came time for the crown decreases . . . not so much. I knew I had messed it up but I sort of kept going anyway because it pretty much looked okay. And then I dropped a stitch on one of those 3 stitch decreases and the whole thing got wonky and I wound up ripping back. I thought I’d only have to go back to where I started the decrease but, as has been the case with this hat from the beginning, I had to go back much further before I was able to move forward again. I’m just at the point where I can start the decreases again. Pray for me, mmmmkay?

As for reading, it’s been all cozy mystery books all the time for the last week or so. My brain has just been mush when it comes to reading concentration lately so I’m giving myself a break and taking things easy.

What are you knitting and reading this week?

Unraveling

By

I’m joining Kat and friends from some knitting (and unraveling) and reading talk this week.

One of the things I want to learn this year is brioche stitch and so, over the weekend, I started the Purl Soho Classic Brioche Hat using their Cashmere Merino Bloom yarn. And then I ripped it out and started again. And then I ripped it out and started yet again.

By the 4th (or maybe it was the 5th?) attempt I finally got it.

Brioche isn’t complicated but it’s new to me and it took some time for me to be able to read the stitches and understand which row I was on so that I knew whether to brioche-knit or brioche-purl. I still have to watch myself that I don’t get into a rhythm where I default to brioche-knit all the way around but it’s getting better and I’m hoping it’s all forward progress now.

Learning something new isn’t easy but the challenge has been fun for me and now that I (mostly) get it I want to knit all the brioche things.

As for reading, I’m almost finished with The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner. I was very excited when I first heard about this new book a while back but, while it’s a decent story, it’s lacking depth. Entertaining, sure, but there’s just nothing new. Or maybe I’m just experiencing a reading hangover from the last book I read.

And that’s what I’m making and reading this week. I hope you’re creating something you love and reading something wonderful.

Wednesdays Are For Knitting: Pink Socks

By

I finished the Pink Socks last week. I started these with the intention to give them to Hannah but Jessica was over really admired them and it’s been a long while since she got hand knit socks and now they are hers.

I didn’t do my usual picot edge this time, I did a more traditional couple of inches of ribbing.

I honestly don’t know what the yarn is. At first I thought Knitterly Things but it might actually be Ball and Skein. I didn’t make note of my starting point on the first sock so when I went to knit the second I had to literally knit and knit for a few inches until I found the matching section and then I ripped them out and started over at that point. My love for matching socks knows no end.

And now they are done and they will make Jessica happy and that’s enough for me.