Knitting Recap 2018

Good thing I take photos of my work (most of the time) and good thing the photos are dated in the program.  Some of these patterns are on Ravelry, some from purchases at markets or shops and some from my collection.  

Royal Jacket (Elizabeth Knits) 

Home made Blocking board

Lola Headwrap  Oct 2018

Quilted Princess (Elizabeth Knits) Oct. 2018

crochet- cat pod

Hand warmers  misc. patterns 

All over Lace   Lanaknits

quilted princess (Jan 2018) Elizabeth Knits

Love Heart crochet (Elizabeth Knits)

Pussy Hats April 2018

Hansel  by Gudrun Johnston  June 2018

My Market Bags

Silverleaf  Isager Strik Alpaca Aug 2018

Entrelac Cowl- noro silk garden Nov 2018

Mackinac Beanie by Heather Anderson

Looped on YouTube Nov 2018

High Sierra Shawl  Room Hill (Nov 2018)

my design  

C2C  dec 2018

Crochet simple gloves by Bronislava  (Dec 2018)

Strip Quilt for Butte Dec 2018

Men and Women's Cable Gloves #617 (Dec 2018)

Slalom from Guys Knit  Nathan Taylor (Nov 2018)

Stitches West (Part 2) Feb 2018-- The Yarn and Goodies

    Even though I certainly do not need yarn, there is no way to go to a knitting convention with a huge marketplace, and not buy something... I used my lovely daughter as an excuse to shop.  She has taken up crochet and within a year she's gone from washcloths to garments and with her sister in law, has started a on line crochet shop "Cali and Cleveland"  https://www.etsy.com/shop/caliandcleveland and even designed a basket pattern .  So of course she needs some things.

I found a great crochet book for her.  The Complete Crochet Course by the The Shibaguyz
and a beautiful top to knit for her.   

DK weight Hemp for Knitting 

Made from Hemp yarn, from Lanaknits.com. She chose a lovely burgundy color and I'm working on the project now...I actually have knit and reknit it twice..but the yarn has become softer to work with and will wash out softer still.  Lots of markers, lots of counting, definitely not a chat and knit project. 

So now for me  :)  Even though I don't need another project (did I say that already???) 

I did find two items.  Things I've been looking at for a bit.

Knit Picks had a booth this year and I've been eyeing this afghan for a long while.   If you get their catalog, you have probably seen it.  Well the yarn is lovely to the touch and although I hardly ever knit an afghan (prefer Crochet) this is done in a Mitered pattern, which is fun for me.  

It is time consuming, yet it is a pattern that is perfect to knit in a group...it just flows.   The Hue Shift Afghan.  (I'm all about making a Shift, check it out-- lol)

The other booth that interested me was Craftsy.. I have been a fan for a long time and just recently signed up for Craftsy Unlimited.   (but it just seems that there is not enough time in the day to watch all the videos).  
There was a Ravelry Knit-along with Romi Hill and I could not pass this up..never did a knit-along before..so this was new to me and actually got me going on the project right away.   The biggest challenge was choosing the colors.  

This is the Sierra Shawl and the colors I choose reminded me of driving through the mountains to Lake Tahoe and the lake.  As of now the shawl is in it's last stages and I'm almost ready to do an 

i-cord bind off to add something extra to the edge.  

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it.   

Hum... I may have picked up a few tiny things,

 but maybe not.   

It truly is all about the finishing

Although most people love the knitting and don't care for the time and attention it takes to FINISH (as in block and weave), this final step can make all the difference in the world.  

Think of it as how a garment looks when pressed or not pressed.

Blocking the Date Night Wrap www.ExpressionFiberArts.com

After the piece was blocked my daughter asked if I could make the wrap longer.   She 5'8" , so yes of course.   I purchased 3 additional skeins of the Sublime Cashmere Silk Merino DK and added approximately 7 more rows.   Lovely pattern, delicious yarn

As a back-up, if the temperature really dropped-- GGH  Husky -wool
High Fructose Shawl  by Tunney Wool Company

 She wore both!!!!! yeah

Where have I been..so well intentioned and then life gets in the way

I have been very busy knitting, that's where I have been.   Although I promise to come back to this blog every year or so..it just gets away from me.     Having retired in 2009 you would think that there are many hours to fill with blogging..but my knitting/crochet has taken priority.

Here's the last finished project.. my daughter's wedding crocheted wrap in Sublime Baby cashmere, merino Silk DK

Date Night Wrap

Design by  Expression Fiber Arts

www.ExpressionFiberArts.com

Portuguese Douro Shawl

My Douro voyage ended and then we were off to Spain to visit family.   I had no time or the frame of mind to sit and knit the lace work during the trip, so I finished it at home...

By the way I'm on my way to Cape Cod today..let's see what I find to knit there..Looking forward to spending time with my Friend who also loves to knit..

A little Mink

Have you ever knit with Mink?   It feels wonderful in your hands and the finished garment has a soft flowing drape.  Short version of Nebula by Vera Sanon.   I used Pure Elegance yarn from Great Yarns (shop)

A little Mink