shop update @ midnight December 1

I will be listing these skeins tonight at midnight (eastern) for the December 1 update. For more info about these yarns, go to my yarn page on flickr.

eta: the shop has been updated!

nothing to show but more knitting

pattern: Ishbel by Ysolda Teague

yarn: hand dyed BFL fingering weight

needles: size 5 US

This is my third Ishbel and I am not yet tired of this pattern.  I made the smaller version and it is just the right size to wear as a scarf.  I dyed some leftover BFL yarn from my etsy shop in a few shades of grey-ish greens, just for this shawlette.  Ah, yes, a nice big check mark for my holiday gift list and it isn't even Thanksgiving, yet!

On the needles:

This is Krtek by Orlane. It's a free download on Ravelry.  I dyed some plain bulky wool in a grey/brown/purple combination just for this project. I think I may turn this into a cowl. Juliette sent me a nice orange button that might be the pop of color this project needs.  I have much more completed than what you see in the photo. I started out using heavy Inox straight needles, but my hands were aching so much that I had to switch to wooden needles. I actually just used some dpns as straights. They are so much lighter and now I am rapidly finishing up this scarf.

A little bit of sewing has been taking place here and there. I planned to have some sewn items in the shop last week, but it just was not possible.  Maybe next week.  In the meantime, I have more yarn dyed and ready to be photographed for the next shop update, which will be Sunday, November 29, Tuesday, December 1.

Up next:  enjoying some time with family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday :) Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for stopping by this blog! I greatly appreciate all the comments, ideas, and words of encouragement I have received over the past year.

edited - shop update has changed to Tuesday, December 1.

WLK2

 My printed copy of Whimsical Little Knits 2 arrived today! I have the PDF print-outs, but there is something extra special about having all the patterns together, bound into a cute little book.

 

Wandering the Moor II and Ishbel III

Pattern: Wandering the Moor by Celeste Glassel

yarn: fingering weight merino/cashmere/nylon, hand dyed 

needles: size 5 US circular

 

I love this pattern! I used my own MCN yarn for this, and I am so glad I did. This shawl is wonderfully soft with a lovely drape. It's perfect for around the neck. This is my second Wandering the Moor, but not my last.

 

On my needles is another Ishbel. My third, to be exact! I am making the smaller version and using some bfl fingering weight that I had left from one of my first batches for the shop.  The small Ishbel uses so little yarn, that with only a partial skein, I will have plenty of yardage.

It's hard to see in this photo, but I am using the new Zephyr needle tips from Knit Picks. I used them to make the Moor shawl, too. I was pleasantly surprised by these needles, since I have never really liked using anything made of acrylic. What surprised me the most is how good my hands feel when using such light needles. Also, I am a rather quick knitter, i.e. I like to use slick needles to move the stitches quickly, and I found these needles to be faster than bamboo and wood, but a bit slower than the nickel plated ones I normally use. The flex is minimal on these size 5 needles, but I can tell there is some give when I am manipulating stitches. I just have this one set of tips, but I am so pleased with these that I might order the entire set.

new yarn

I just updated the shop! There won't be another update tomorrow, but I will be listing more items over the weekend. 

shop update this week...

 

 

Here's a sneak peek of some of my latest hand dyed yarn. The three skeins on the bottom row are superwash merino in a worsted weight, which is a new base yarn. The upper three are superwash merino in a 2ply fingering weight. Also, there will be some superwash merino in a squishy 3ply fingering weight. I have lots of skein-ing and photography ahead of me, so I think it will be best to add new items to the shop over two days this week.  Right now, I'm aiming for Wednesday and Thursday. I am also working on some other knitting related items for the shop, and a few might just make it into this week's update :)

november, already?

I don't know where October went, but now that it is November,  I came to the realization that I needed to finish up a few knits before getting serious about my holiday projects. I've spent the last week finishing up mittens,  darning in ends, and binding off hundreds of stitches. It feels good to finish things!

Chevalier Mittens are now a pair. I loved every minute of knitting these. I am keeping these for myself. I've been a gloves only person for years, but now I am looking forward to wearing mittens this winter. (Juliette made me a beautiful pair of cabled mittens, so now I have two amazing pairs of mittens to wear this winter!)

 Miller's Hat is finished! Another fun cable project.

 

The October Socks consist of a single sock, at the moment. I finished it in November, but I am still calling it an October sock! I really like this sock, I just hope I have it in me to start the next one soon.

Snapdragon Flip-Top Mitts have turned into Snapdragon Mitts. I ripped out the flip tops and opted to keep these as fingerless mitts. To finish the thumb, I picked up 18 stitches and knit in k2p2 rib for 3 rounds and then bound off. 

Finally,  Akimbo by Westknits. It is my latest test knit for Stephen, and I love the finished shawl. I used my own hand dyed yarns. Both are superwash merino in a fingering weight. This is a stunning project that I highly recommend.  I think I will be parting with this because it is the perfect gift for someone in my family.

ETA: more photos of the completed Akimbo on my flickr pages.

Now that these are finished, I can comfortably move on to new things. I'd love to hear what projects you have in mind for holiday gift-giving. I know I will be at the sewing machine as well as the dye pot this weekend, trying to get a good start on things.