Shawls have fallen off my needles ...

since my 2010 Christmas knitting was completed ,,,

Astrid Shawlette

Oaklet Shawl

Garter Stitch Wrap

Summer Flies

Dreaming of Summer

Summer Flies over again

Summer Flies and again

Simply Warmer Boneyard Shawl

Of course I have cast on for another.

How many WIPs can be on the needles ...

before I get lost in a sea of string and knitting bags?

Project info

Name: Crocodile Shawl

Pattern : Crocodile Stitch Triangle Shawl by Bonita Patterns

Craft: Crochet

Needle and yarn

Hook: 4.0 mm (G)
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids & Quatro Colors

How much? 1 skeins = 437.0 yards (399.6m)

Colorway: 5639 brown

Yarn: Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball

How much? 2 skeins = 918.0 yards (839.4m)

Colorway: 1874 warm Fall colors

Project info

Name: Pacific Waves on the Atlantic Shawl

Pattern : Pacific Waves Shawl by Danielle Miner

Craft: Knit

Needle and yarn

Needle: US 8 - 5.0 mm
Yarn: Elann Sonata (solid)

How much? 9 skeins = 1035.0 yards (946.4m)

Colorway: 2147 sky blue

Project info

Name: Summer Summit Wrap

Pattern : Summit by Mandie Harrington

Craft: Knit

Needle and yarn

Needle: US 4 - 3.5 mm
Yarn: Lion Brand LB 1878

How much? .5 spool = 1022.5 yards (935.0m)

Colorway: natural white

And that's ONLY the shawls in progress.

Dare I tell you about any more?? Another Day maybe.

10 Shawls in 2010 is complete.

I finished two of the shawls started last year just in time to be included and posted on the Ravelry Group. Only one shawl started last year didn't get done. But I did complete 21 shawls!!

[note: you need to be a Ravelry member in order to follow some of these links.]

BTW, this year it's called 11 Shawls in 2011 and I cast-on very early this morning for the 1st one for the new year. No moss going under my knitting needles so to speak, huh?


Here are the two for last year.

Project info

Name: Dragonfly Shawl

Pattern : Dragonfly Shawl by Kristin Omdahl

Craft: Crochet

Hook: 3.5 mm (E)

Yarn: DMC Senso Microfiber Cotton

How much?

6 skeins = 900.0 yards (823.0m)

Dragonfly will be perfect for my youngest sister who lives in Florida. Her eyes are the prettiest of blue and when she wears blue they look even more blue. I also think she would like the dragonfly design since she loves to garden. This means I have completed the first gift for next Christmas already!


And my last shawl? Here it is ...

Project info

Name: Boneyard Fall Garden Shawl

Pattern : Boneyard Shawl by Stephen West

Craft: Knitting

Needle: US 7 - 4.5 mm & US 5 - 3.75 mm

Yarn: Filatura Di Crosa Fancy Tempo

How much?

5 skeins = 570.0 yards (521.2m)
and
Yarn: Rowan Purelife Revive

How much?

1 skein = 137.0 yards (125.3m)

I made one modification by putting on a leaf fringe along the edge. The fringe pattern is from the book Knitting on the Edge by Nicky Epstein on pg. 118.

I've already decided that this one is for me. It's going to be a fun one to wear.
That's because it's an ego booster ... oh ya.

Not that I need my ego boosted or anything, but I do love the compliments.

Simplicity is good ...

and I really need it once in awhile. I love complex patterns in both knit and crochet. I love the challenge to my mind or my skills and the feeling of accomplishment when it's done. But now and again I have to have simple knit or simple crochet projects on the needles to work on and give my mind a rest. Besides ... it's a time for reflecting or meditating while still keeping my hands busy. AND ... quite often the end result can be rather pleasant, stylish and even something fun to wear.

Take my Boneyard Garden Path Shawl for instants. You'll find all the details [yarn, needles, pattern, etc.] on my Ravelry page, but here are a few pictures.

See? So simply, yet so stylish and practical. Got a lot of wonderful meditation done on this one too. And the colors were a pleasure to see happening as I knit.

Even crochet can have meditative qualities. Especially if most of the time you're counting to 7. This one only took me 2 days to make. I couldn't believe it myself!

Once again you can check out the detailed information about my Sprout Shawl on Ravelry.


So now it's on to something more challenging ...

How does my garden grow?

I knit but I started out in life as a crocheter. Eight years ago I burned myself out crocheting nine (9) afghans for Christmas Gifts. So determined to get them all done in time, my hands just finally couldn't take it anymore. They needed a rest. And I needed a new challenge.

I knew a little about knitting so I learned how to knit sock and my obsession for knitting mushroomed from there. But ...

I still go back to crocheting now and then. After meeting the CGOA Fishnet Crocheters last month I was inspired to make something I loved with crochet. Beside a Market Bag that is. I used a yarn that reminded me of my garden, my second passion in life. And with a project called Scarlet Evening Shawl by Minchanka.by/julia from Minchanka.by. I created a shawl I call the Garden Trellis Shawlette.



I added some little seed beads to it as well.





I have a sister allergic to wool so I think I'll be giving her this shawl for Christmas this year because it is 100% Cotton. She is also much more petite than I am and it will fit her much better. Much much better.



But I have plans to create another one using the same trellis pattern for me but as a wrap rather than a shawl. Different yarn perhaps but it'll still be crochet. And of course ...





I have two other shawls that I'm knitting as well.

Did you doubt that?

Knitting in my sleep again ...

But I did have time to go to a workshop at my LYS, Seed Stitch Fine Yarn this past Saturday. It was a workshop with knitting designer Stephen West. Learned a lot ... in fact I look pretty darn serious in the pictures I'm caught in taken by photographer Sean Riley. [thanks for sending the pictures to me, Sean].

I can't imagine why I'm so serious looking tho.
Must have been hanging on to every word you think?

I did learn a lot from Stephen. And he inspired me to knit more of his shawl patterns. In fact the whole group seemed to be pretty interested in what Stephen had to say. I would call that a pretty successful workshop.











YES, I finished a design by him also. Called the Colonnade Shawl. It's for my Mom for next Christmas ... if I can resist keeping it for myself that is.



I'm pleased that I got it done since I had to frog the lace THREE [3] times before I got it correct. Whew!



But I love it and it's now put me in the mood to start another design by Stephen ...



Are you familiar with the Boneyard Shawl? It's a free download on Ravelry. Well this is just flying off my needles and I'm in love with this one too. Especially now that I've finished another gift from 60 Quick Knits from Cascade ...

Leaf-Lace Gauntlets by Jacqueline van Dillen. Only I call 'em Spring-Pink Gauntlets. The yarn is once again Cascade's Superwash Paints left over from another 60 Quick Knits. I can't let any good yarn go to waste now can I?

Have I got enough time in the day to cast on another from 60 Quick Knits? How many has that been so far??

Mmmmmm, I better get some sleep now ... I'll let you know later.