Wiggle

Wiggle has been cast on.







Wiggle is moving along rather quickly, even though I spent many miles driving the freeways last week.  First, there was a construction project to sign off and pay off.  And then there was a trunk show by Merilyn of Foxy Knits.    She has yarn.  And now I have yarn.  But I digress.   Then there was a yarn store that with a new delivery of shawl pins.  (No comment).  Then another long journey - to two different yarn stores - to procure gift certificates for a little competition that I am helping with over at Riverside. 

Wiggle looks just fine on the wrong side, which makes me think that maybe I am working it backwards.

HMMM. 




PS.  Wiggle pattern is not available.  It is a work in progress.  You are welcome to click on photos to make larger and then offer a comment on right side vs. wrong side.

Version II

Do you remember my Daystar?  Well, there was a glitch in the pattern, so it is undergoing an edit and awaiting final input from the testers.  I will post a Beta pattern soon.  OR maybe the first to appear will be the pattern for Nightstar - aka Version II.

This one only has three sections and one row of beads.  That should make Nightstar more approachable. 

Section 1 is a stockinette panel with a starry center spine.
Section 2 is a lace pattern that is worked exactly the same on both the right and the wrong side.
Section 3 increases for a soft wave that is beaded. 

This version of the shawl ends with a "fake" i-cord edge.

What's that you say?  You don't know how to execute "fake" i-cord.  Actually, you do know how.  You just call it something else. 

Well. Lookey Here

TaDa.

And that's all I have to say about that.

PS - Let's throw in a Voila!

It Looks So Bad. . .

Lace.  On the needles.  It looks so bad.  So very bad.

This is one of the precious alpaca yarns that I acquired on the summer trip to Peru.  The yarn is lovely.  The color, in real life and seen through aging eyes, is not as deep as merlot but within my preferred range.  I love the yarn. 

And I love lace once it is blocked into all of its holey-ness and expands to show the true pattern.

But right now, it just looks bad.  Hang in there with me. . .

Fleur-de-Lis Coasters

 There are still ends to weave and blocking to occur, but I love my fleur-de-lis coasters.  A bit of history is needed if you are to understand why these smallish bits of cotton are so dear to my soul.

Here is the story of the pattern:

The fleur-de-lis washcloth pattern was designed by Noelle of Noelle's Noodles.  Go ahead and click the link to download or read for yourself.  Or, count on me to spoon feed you and reel in more good works in the way of donating what comes from your needles or hook.

This cloth design was originally written for the Cloths for Katrina drive which took place in 2005 and organized sending handmade washcloths and bars of soap to comfort evacuees of hurricane Katrina.

Samples of this cloth are now housed in the Louisiana State Museum and tour schools to teach students about crafting for charity.

If you do download the free pattern, you'll discover that Noelle allows it to be used for charity work.  You can even sell the items you make IF you follow her instructions and donate the proceeds.  

One thing I love about these little bits of Louisiana is that they are totally reversible.  That's right.  Whether coming or going, the official symbol of Louisiana is there for all to see. 

Bonne, Très bonne.

The Everlasting Skein

The  birthday washcloth did not use up much yarn.  There was much remaining in what I now refer to as the everlasting skein.  Rather than get my knickers in a twist, I kept knitting.

This is the label from Twist Cotton.  For a mere $8.50 there is 180 yards of very soft worsted cotton with which to knit or crochet a pleasurable item.  And that is the problem. 

This top photo shows what remains of the skein.  This is not what was left after making the dolphin washcloth.  Oh, no.  It is what remains after making all of this:

 One dolphin washcloth and four fleur de lis coasters!  And look at how much cotton remains.  Geez Louise, I might have to keep knitting.

Life is good.

When It Rains. . . . .

. . .Lenora gets to knittin'.  Last Friday found me in Boston, ready to play tourist but sidelined by rain.  Pouring rain.  Didn't bother me in the least.  I always travel with a back up plan.  Naturally my back up plan involves yarn.

Lately, perhaps due to other summer activities, small projects that are quick to finish have been flying off needles and hook.  This is a dolphin theme washcloth for daughter #1 - she who crochets.  She can make anything she needs in the way of personal items and  does.  Often. 

But this is a dolphin!  And she who crochets loves dolphins.  And it is her birthday month.  (here at Maison de Francois Stewart birthdays are so important that just one day is not enough celebration - we drag it out)

The facts:

• Dolphin Dishcloth pattern can be had free here.  Yes, it is accessible via Ravelry.
• Yarn is Cotton Twist from here.  It is very soft and has less "drag" than some other "kitchen cotton" has.  It is a worsted weight and suitable for all manner of items.
• Needles used are smaller than one might expect.  Did this on a US 3 and it is still a nice 6" x 8" size.

There was something quite satisfying about knitting a dolphin whilst watching the rain fall.   I hope that daughter #1 likes it - even if it is knit and not crochet.