Do you have a stack of projects in progress PLUS a mind full of all your next great works? I sure do. I’ll try to catch up here on some better photos from my last roundup, what’s done, what’s in progress or temporarily on hold, and maybe a peek into some future ideas.

Better Photos

As promised in the last textile post, better photos.

What’s Done?

Technically, these next three fall into the category of ‘done,’ but as you’ll see with the last two; they are telling me I’ll probably revisit their design.

Bee Hat

Have I mentioned that Hubby has been ‘bitten by the bug?’ He’s not ready to take up the needles, but he is very supportive of my habit and contributes suggestions for projects, mostly for him and mostly hats. During a trip to Durango yarn, he picked out a malabrigo yarn, Mechita in Aureo, that screamed, “BEES!”

When the knitting blogs I follow all started touting Andrea Rangel’s book, AlterKnit, I knew my knitting was going to take a more colorful turn. What do you know, it includes a Bee pattern! Synchronicity at its best.

At some point, I picked out a navy to contrast with the flecked gold, but Hubby wanted Brown. So when we were on vacation in Taos this Summer and stopped in Mooncat Fiber, he picked up another skein of Aureo and Wonderland Yarns, Queen of Hearts in Tulgey Wood—we’re both guilty of expensive tastes.

I mostly followed Andrea’s Bikey Beanie pattern at an intentional, larger gauge (Hubby prefers at least a 22″ hat circumference), and added a fancier ribbing pattern that reminded me of a honeycomb from my other favorite new book, Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible by Hitomi Shida. Now I just need to snap a photo of him wearing it.

Tanzanite Lingerie

Hubby turned 40 last year, and my gift to him was a lingerie set for me. With the help of Lucy Hague’s Illuminated Knits, I figured out how to add some color to the shorts and top. I love the shorts, and will some day make another pair. The stockings are comfy, but I’m not sure that I like the elastic in the tops, and they still slouch if I try to wear them around town. Guess I will have to look into some garters or keep ’em for the bedroom and around the house.

I also hastily created a halter top, based off the bodice in my Vintage Sweater, and with fancy cables inspired by the aforementioned Japanese stitch dictionary; but it is stretching more than I’d like with wear. In hindsight, if I’d added cables to the back, it probably would have given the back more structure, combating its tendency to curl. I can’t remember if I’ve washed/blocked any of this yet, so we’ll see if I need to take a tuck in the middle or figure out some other alterations to pull it back together.
Pattern: Tanzanite Stockings, Tanzanite Shorts
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock in Impressionist Sky & Dewberry from yarn Durango (oops! I don’t remember how many skeins I used.)

Seashore Eclipse Shawl

This is the other one that I think needs some alterations. I enjoyed knitting the body of this in a circle; but I’ve decided I don’t like wearing it. I want it to open up like a more traditional shawl. Maybe I did something wrong at the beginning, but even after blocking, it pooches out like a cone or nipple in the middle. Hubby jokingly refers to it as the cosmic bung hole. I’m flirting with the idea of trying to do an after-thought steek along one of the spiral ‘arms’ and cutting it open. I’ll probably have to add another edging to clean-up, finish off that edge. If I do, I’ll be sure to snap more pics and post an update. For more details about this shawl, see my last post.

In Progress…

Birch Goddess Sweater

This is one of those projects that has been years in the planning. It’s been so long, I’m not sure if I’ve got the origins right, but I think I first picked up the book, Northern Knits, during my first visit to yada yada yarn in Silver City, New Mexico; mostly because of the Pia Laceweight Pullover on the cover, although I was also intrigued by the Fair Isle patterns and learning more about knitting (and the culture) from this part of the world.

I believe it was that trip that I also picked up a couple of balls of Plymouth Yarn’s Kid Gloss. This is a super luxe mohair and mulberry silk blend. I’ll admit I shop for yarn with my senses and little regard to my pocket book, which I have to watch out for when I get to the register. If it’s not the color that catches my eye, than it’s the texture or super soft feel. I’ve spoiled myself with this yarn. Everything else feels rough and heavy in comparison.

I’ve never knit with something so light! Some of the specialty yarns in the Wood Nymph hank exposed me to similar yarns and gave me the confidence to try. I stared at these balls for months, thinking I wanted to wrap myself in a fluffy, cloud of a sweater, yet knew that the two or three balls would not yield enough yardage. I searched for patterns, so I could calculate how much I’d need. And then I realized the sweater I wanted to make was right in front of me.

By chance, I found a few more balls in Durango; but the shopkeeper there said she couldn’t get any more from her supplier. I think that’s when I decided to add the gray and white to the teal and mint color palette. But it still wasn’t enough… This yarn does go a long way with just a little, but the lacework pattern is a fairly dense yarn-eater. Lucky for me when we returned to Silver City last November, the colors and yardage I needed were there waiting for me. I dropped all the other projects I had in progress and am now one sleeve away from finishing this dream of a sweater layer. I made up the color transitions myself. I was tempted to blend them more, but I like the blocks of color that show off the subtle, yet complex shades within a single color. Why is it that the second sock or mitten or sleeve seems to take for eva…

Geodesico from malabrigo book 4

While I was on a binge buying books this year, I also ordered this one because I love malabrigo yarns AND it had a wide range of patterns that I liked. Everything from head (hats) to toe (socks), and bits in between (shawls and sweaters). I’ve almost completed the band on this hat and need to go back and double check my gauge before I work on the crown. Not sure how I got so far without paying more attention to that, but I can be a bit of a maverick when it comes to gauge.
yarn: malabrigo rios in teal feather from yada yada yarn

Dragon Scale Mitts

Last but certainly not least, I need to finish the mate to this mitten and add the i-cord edge to the bottoms. Inspired by AlterKnit, I adapted some of Andrea’s patterns to create this design, and changed the cuff based off that Japanese Stitch Bible. I originally thought I might line them and stuff them with some Turkey down to make them super, fiery warm; but they have turned out very snug without much room for that. Who knew Dragon skin could be so fuzzy? I guess the ones who live in the North are.
yarn: Feza yarns Nico in black from yarn Durango; and Schoppel Laceball in Footnote from yada yada yarn

Whew! That’s probably enough for today. Just know there are a slew of projects already in mind beyond what I’ve listed here, and a stash of yarn that is still waiting for me to decide what they will become.

Looking back at 2018, I definitely expanded my knitting library, skills and abilities. I’ve also been working on some illustrations and jewelry. Can’t wait to see what comes out of the creative crucible for 2019.