Some time ago, I wrote about the virtues of monogamous knitting. (At this point, my family members can now take a breath. Admit it, you had a fleeting thought this might contain some great revelation you didn't know about me. I can only shake my head.) Since that time, I've had a heck of time living up to one project at a time. I just want you all to know, I'm back on track.
Off the Needles: I finished the Celtic Knot sweater in the palest of pink wool from Elann.com. Was not as thri
lled with the yarn as I thought I would be, but loved the pattern, love the fit and will probably make it out a something a little less smooth. Lana Pura is a very smooth wool and every stitch shows, so something that is primarily stockinette stitch is probably not the best use of this yarn, unless you are a super even knitter. I'm thinking handspun for the next one - stay tuned.
I also finished Pair No. 36 in the 52 Pair Plunge III. They're a plain vanilla version using Nashua Yarns, Best Foot Forward. This is a great base yarn with the crazy color combinations of Kristin Nichols. These have calf scours green in them and I still love them. One of the reasons I picked up this year was it's affordability - a top-notch sock yarn for less than $15 for a 2-pair skein (100 grams).
On the Needles: While I await the next clue for Evenstar (I was sure those clues came out weekly.), I have started a toe up/2-at-a-time pair of socks from a sock flat. Since I just started this pair, I haven't decided what kind of stitch I'll be using.
Books: Please feel free to check book list at Goodreads.com (just click the Goodreads box in the column). I finished two books this week. The Whiskey Rebellion, by William Hoaglund. Usually the Whiskey Rebellion gets a line or two in the history books, maybe a paragraph; but this is an in depth account of the uprising in western Pennsylvania during George Washington's administration. A little slow at times, but well worth the time to read it.
In my quest to find additional series, I tried one of the Vicky Bliss books by Elizabeth Peters, Laughter of Dead Kings. I may have enjoyed it more, had I read it, rather than listened to the audio version. It has a great plot and wonderful characters, but I was a little distracted by the female narrator's male character voices and dialects. I enjoyed how she played the Vicky Bliss character and the minor other female characters, but the audio version would have been enhanced by a male playing the male characters.
I've had "Blog" on my To Do list for well over a week. As soon as I get ready to check in, a little voice in the back of my mind says, "Wait! Let's get one more project done and photographed!" The entry on my To Do list finally won. In the past few weeks, much has been completed, some has been started. The following is a mere summary. I won't bore you with the dishcloths I completed!
OFF TH
E NEEDLES: Pair No. 34 in the 52 Pair Plunge III were made from the leftover yarn from the Herbivore Shawlette/Scarf I completed a few weeks ago. The socks are in a simple cable pattern. I really love the colors of turquoise, blue and purple.
Pair No. 35 in the 52 Pair Plunge III are mosaic socks which were part of the Knitting Brewing Company's mystery knit-a-long (KAL). I learned a new technique and came away with a great pair of socks. I did have to significantly alter the pattern to get them down to my size. It's a little difficult to tell in the photograph, but there's also a patterned design in the green section.
I also signed up for another KAL. This one was The Enchanted Wood by the Unique Sheep and designed by Janine La Cras from Guernsey. I used the Unique Sheep's Gradience yarn in the Peacock colorway, Gradience meant it came in six different little skeins which I blended during the knitting of the shawl.
ON THE NEEDLES: I realized after well into the two KALs that I might be developing a problem with saying "no" to KALs. This occurred to me after I signed up for Evenstar by Susan Pandorf. Fortunately, Evenstar did not start until one KAL was completed over and the other had the last clue arriving on
the same day as the Evenstar first clue. I fussed and fumed over the cost of lace yarn and what it would cost to come up with the 1700 yards of lace weight yarn. Then it dawned on me. I received a ten-pound cone of lace weight by accident - it just needed to be dyed. I decided on "legal pad yellow" and dyed up 1800 yards just in time for the first clue. Now that the first clue is completed, I very pleased with the results, but have vowed to give up signing up for KALs for Lent. This one should be done about Easter. Then who knows.
Also on the needles, is a Celtic Knot Pullover in pale pink. It's very different from the pullovers I usually wear in that it has a deep v-neck and no ribbing on the cuffs or bottom. I do wish I used something a little fuzzier for the yarn, but I really love this color. That's a good thing, I think the pattern may have a mistake in the yardage or the yarn label is wrong, because I seemed to have purchased twice as much as I needed! Pair No. 36 in the 52 Pair Plunge has also been started.
As you can see, I've been way too busy to get into much trouble in the past few weeks!
lled with the yarn as I thought I would be, but loved the pattern, love the fit and will probably make it out a something a little less smooth. Lana Pura is a very smooth wool and every stitch shows, so something that is primarily stockinette stitch is probably not the best use of this yarn, unless you are a super even knitter. I'm thinking handspun for the next one - stay tuned.
