Well hello again and how has your summer been so far?
Not too bad, right?
Yes, the world is different from before, and we are making concessions every day on how we do things now, but on the grand scheme of things life is pretty good here in Canada.
The weather has been great and people are doing more home improvement projects so building supplies are in high demand.
Staycations are the thing this year!
Traffic is still fairly good (or so my husband tells me) as a lot of people are still working from home (as am I).
So, what have I been up to in July?
Well I only finished a few UFO’s and fell off the wagon a whole bunch of times…
UFO # 28 and 31: The Shift Cowl
I mentioned these cowls in a previous blog about cowls and the versatility of them.
#28, my second version of this pattern is knit in Merino and Alpaca:
Zarina Mosaico colour #4, Berroco Folio in colours 4515 and 4512 and some Drops Alpakka
#31, my 3rd and favourite version was knit with Silky Mulberry (100% Mulberry Silk) by Sweaterkits (conveniently located in Aurora) in shades of blues and purples; Ornaghi Filati Bamboo in an Apple green and Reflection (a cotton and viscose blend) in turquoise.
I love how it feels and drapes and the colours are just my thing!
Lovely Ann is modeling…
I’ve been working on the samples for the fall classes and I finished two versions of Rosebud https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rosebud-29; a free pattern of an adorable top down cardigan knit in fingering weight yarn.
I had to play with it of course!
The first one was knit in Wendy Happy, colour 2510 Virgo, a Bamboo blend
The second version was knit in a fade, using leftover sock yarns held double. They were both knit to the same size instructions but with bigger needles for the fade with the yarn doubled. Notice the size difference? Gauge does matter!!!
I knit another Summer Light https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/summer-light-2 for my mom in KFI Painted Lace bought at Serenity Knits in Newmarket.
It’s a really fun knit and mom is amazed how light and airy it is to wear even in this heatwave.
UFO #29: Spiral Shawl
This is one of my patterns that I came up with ages ago. You can use any weight and type of yarn. I’ve made a lace weight, fingering, DK and even a chunky version.
This one was knit with Schachenmayr Fashion Tahiti, a lace weight cotton with a long colour fade.
This is the same shawl on the blocking board but the lighting changed the colours.
Beads were added to the bind off to give it some weight.
UFO #30: Attune
By Siew Clark, is a top-down, irregular 3/4 circle shawl comprising of 8 sections. The diagram is not drawn to scale. Any yarn and colours would be great for it.
I like patterns that come with a disclaimer:
Warning: For adventurous knitters - I am knitting this in my head. Too hot & humid to hold yarn and needles in my hands so I really have no idea how it will turn out.
If you look up Siew Clark on Ravelry, she has 248 free patterns available and a lot of them are asymmetrical, easy to knit and a little quirky. So if you’re bored and want an adventure…. This is a fun knit.
I used 2 balls of Wendy Roam Fusion 4 ply, colour 2029 Crag, a slightly fuzzy sock yarn.
Here it is being blocked....
Here is our lovely Ann modeling it...
Another fall class project is Odeleite https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/odeleite; a simple tee, perfect for summer! And as in a lot of patterns I changed a few things….
I joined it in the round after the initial 4 inches and added a side seam pattern to hide the waist shaping. Short row shaping replaced the stair step bind off at the shoulders (who does that still?!?!?) And I-cord edges finish everything off nicely.
Knit in Ella Rae Sunkissed, a DK cotton, it came out pretty nice!
The Slouchy T, https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/slouchy-t was one of those projects that just needed to be done, just because, no particular reason, it’s not as if I didn’t have anything else to work on…
Of course it’s another top down construction!
I used Loops and Threads Cotton Colors that I ordered from Michaels when the world was shut down completely. I just wanted to try it out and I was pleasantly surprised by this worsted weight cotton.
It is very comfy and the sleeves are still not done…
The Black Light https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/black-light
Is a cowl worked in the mosaic technique (another fall class project), so much fun and competed in a couple of evenings. I used Knit Picks Chroma in colour Groovy and Ella Rae Lace Merino Aran in a deep plum purple.
Mosaic knitting looks as pretty on the outside…
…As it does on the inside
Beau is less impressed!
That’s it for now…
I better get back on track as we’re heading into week 33 and I’m a little behind on my UFO’s!
Mind you, I’ve signed up for two KAL’s, The Sharon Show by Casapinka and Hello Sunshine by The Muskoka Yarn Connection and a test knit for EweKnits, so no pressure….
Stay well and creative and keep those needles and hooks moving!
Until next time,
Happy and Productive knitting…
Gabriela