I had a bit of frustration earlier today trying to prep for a midterm when I discovered my college’s Blackboard site had a broken database: instead of seeing lecture powerpoints I was getting strings of code and pages that would not load.
I decided that torturing myself was useless, so instead I went and stuck pins in things. It was very theraputic:
Both the sticking pins in things and knowing I’m finally going to be wearing these three projects. In order:
–My So-Called Scarf, knit in Manos Silk Blend in Violets, an impulse buy from Purl Soho.
–Anemoi Mitts, knit in Koigu PPPM (green) and Knitpicks Palette (white).
–Branching Out, knit in , an amazing gift from Rebecca and Melanie from their SF trip earlier this year.
I also debuted my Harvest Shawl this past weekend:
Pattern: Clementine Shawl, from Interweave Knits Spring 2007 (also available for purchase on Knitting Daily)
Yarn: http://www.dyeversion.com/Dye-Version Bamboo Sport, Harvest Colorway, purchased as a birthday present for myself from The Purple Purl in Toronto.
Needles: Size 5 (I used my Harmony interchangable set).
This pattern was an easy and enjoyable knit. While I did have to glance at the chart every so often, I wasn’t tied to it, and it moved along very quickly. I added one extra repeat for width, as I saw several people suggest on Ravelry, and it was perfect. However, it gained just enough length in blocking, so that the ties fall in a rather awkward spot now, but if worn straight, it looks marvelous. It also works as a scarf, so this is a multi-tasking FO.
The yarn was a new one for me, and I love love love it. Dye-Version is a local Ontario dyer, and I hope she starts selling online sooner or later, because her stuff is amazing. I manhandled most of the available skeins at the Purl when I visited it in August, but I kept coming back to the Harvest colorway, in the Bamboo — the colors were far more vibrant in the Bamboo than any of the other available yarns (even if the scent of the milk fiber was absolutely fascinating) and it has a wonderful silky feel and scent. I don’t know if it’s the bamboo or the dyes or what, but there’s a delicious scent to this yarn, not quite silk, but close, that I have grown rather fond of. There will be more Dye-Version in my future!
I wore this, as I intended when I picked the pattern, to a dinner celebrating my uncle’s wedding last weekend. The ceremony was in Dallas so my family wasn’t able to be there but we had a lovely dinner on Halloween night. Turns out, the shorter “shawlette” length is perfect for dining — no long awkward ends to get caught on chairs or trail in one’s plate. I’m extremely happy with this FO, and I’ll be repeating both the project and the yarn.
(PS — see those little ghosties in the window? Bernat Glow-in-the-dark yarn! It’s a trip. Excellent for all your Halloween crafting needs.)