NuttyIrishmanKnits

Shawl Crazy.

Shaelyn by Leila Raabe

Knit using Kauni Effektgarn in colorway EN

Knit on US size 8 circs

Ravelers find it here.

All the snowfall has made me stir crazy, which has made me shawl crazy.  I love how quickly shawls can knit up... and wonder why it took me so long to jump on board this train.  I've knit three in the last few weeks and have worn them all numerous times.  This is Shaelyn, by Leila Raabe and I am really pleased with how it turned out.  I've had two balls of Kauni for a couple of years now and couldn't decide on the right project for them.  When I saw this pattern I thought the long colorways of the Kauni would be perfect for the scalloped lace detail in the pattern.

It took less than one ball of Kauni (roughly 440 yards) to complete this project.  And that's including an extra pattern repeat.  I really wanted the shawl to end with a brown edging instead of cream, and thankfully it came out just right.

This is such an easy yet elegant pattern that's perfect for TV knitting.  With rows of stockinette tucked between simple lace work, it would be fairly difficult to really lose your place.  Although, I did manage to do so a couple of times!  As usual! 

I really loved working with the Kauni as well.  Don't fret if you've begun a project with it and wondered if you had indeed found a yarn rougher than Noro, because it really blocks well and fluffs quite a bit.  Now, in saying that, I'm not comparing it to Malabrigo!  It's a more rustic yarn that smells like a sheep! (I love that, and so does my cat.) But it does block to a nice fabric that you won't have to sacrifice comfort to wear around your neck.  Overall I think they are a perfect pairing!

Happy Knitting!

A Few of My (New) Favorite Things

We can't seem to get enough snow lately here in the Mid-west.  Well, I guess I should say we've gotten plenty, but it still continues to fall.  I spent last week snowed in with two stir-crazy kiddos while their father suffered a similar fate in Boston (sans children, which in my book doesn't earn him any points).  So I've found plenty of time to knit, and knit, and then knit some more.  This knitting fest may have something to do with the new Tassimo coffee maker I got for Christmas, and a large supply of Caramel Latte in the pantry, but it may be because I'm just in a very industrious mood (yeah, I'm leaning toward the first option too).   Either way I have been starting and finishing a lot of projects lately, and I thought I would collect several and combine them in one post!

This is Everglade, a fun and fast hat pattern by Wooly Wormhead featuring overlapping lace leaves.  I knit this using Cascade Pure Alpaca and it took only 1 skein on US size 5 circs.  Because I chose to go up a needle size instead of using the US size 4 circs called for in the pattern I knit the smallest size hat (XS) and ended up with the measurements of the small, which is what I was hoping for.

The hat is a little large on Annabelle, but she was a willing model so we went with it!  It will actually fit either of us, which is a good thing (I think!).  I loved working with the Pure Alpaca... It gives the hat such a soft and pretty halo effect that I find very striking with this pattern. 

The brim consists of three inches of ribbing so you can fold it or leave it as is for a more slouchy fit.  I opted for the colorway Lichen and am really pleased with how this hat came out.  With all the snowy weather and more on the way it's been a very warm choice!

Another quick project I had on and off the needles in just a couple of days is the Romney Kerchief by Jared Flood.  This was a terribly easy knit, and I'm so pleased with the finished shawl!  Using Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool DK in gooseberry I was determined to use only one skein.  Of course, I ran out of yarn with only two rows to go, but luckily I had a skein of persimmon in my basket and finished it up with that.  I think I like it better with the contrasting edge! 

I also used yarn overs on either side of the center stitch and think I would have preferred M1L and M1R increases instead.  But overall I'm really pleased with how it looks and am surprised by home warm it is!  Since the pattern is more of a recipe than a line by line instruction I included my modifications on my project page found here on Ravelry.  I also decided last minute, while stretching it to block, that I would scallop the edges rather than block straight.  Another mod that I'm pleased with!

At the risk of making this post entirely too long I'll quit here for today!  But I do have a couple more things to update you on later this week! 

Oh, and I discovered after finishing my Romney that it doesn't have enough yardage to qualify for the 11 Shawls in 2011 group on Rav.  Bummer... but I do have a couple more that I know will work!  I'm just shy of finishing Hemlock, another nightmare from 2008.  Does that count as a shawl?

Hope everyone (and your knits) are well!

Happy Knitting!