Recently Spotted

A recent trip allowed me to explore string in the world.  What do I mean?  Well, look at this.

There I was, casually wandering through a new city when I spied this window display.  Lots and lots of doilies hanging as background to edgy fashion for those much younger than moi.  The display is stunning.  As you can see, these are all shades of white and ecru.  Some of the thread work fit perfectly into the hoops and other pieces were suspended within the hoop.

Even though the clothing items in the store were not designed with an old Cajun in mind, I walked in to see what else could be found.

Check out these deer!  The antlers are wrapped in multi-colored yarn.  Nothing fancy - just plainly wrapped.  Isn't it fabulous?  One deer would hardly be noticed.  But cluster five together and the group has major impact.

These yarn/thread based displays show just how hip it is to do the fiber thing.   Perhaps this means that I am on trend - even if I am an old Cajun. 

Yeah me!

Delicately Warm

During the hot August of working on little projects, I decided to make my first ever fingerless mitts.  These will probably end of as a permanent part of my travel gear.  The older I get, the colder every airplane ride is.

These are crocheted with baby alpaca that I acquired in Peru.  Every few months, I'd look at the two little balls and ask, "What do you want to be?"  And yes, I did expect an answer.  Said response finally came this week in the form of these little mitts.

  Even without a blocking, I am enamoured.   The thumb gusset still needs a finishing round, which must be for effect only, as there is no real need to have another round.  

Someone should have told me how quickly a pair of fingerless mitts work up!  Especially in crochet.  These are the type of thing that could go from hook it to gift it in a matter of days!  You should give it a go.  This pattern is free and can be had at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-crochet-wristers.

Plugging Along

These long days of the end of summer are starting to feel like too much of the same old thing.  Some might become bored by the repetition.  Others are invigorated by the lazy sunshine.  And many are anxiously awaiting the first kickoff of football season.

I am combining the different points of view into the laziness brought on by repetition and catching up on a bit of charity knitting whilst waiting for football.  Making these hats is a delight for me.  I've written before about how quick a hat is and that speed removes any boredom that might sneak in.

There was plenty of left over heather grey/purple to make a textured hat.  This one wants to be called Moving Along.  There is no pattern, I just knit a hat with paths.  Other than that it is my standard 80 stitches with a rolled edge. 


As so often happens, there was still yarn left in the generous Caron skein.  Already it had yielded two hats, but I could not stand to let that last bit go to waste.   The stash was hiding another  bit that was remaining from earlier hats. 

The two bits work well together. 

Talk about lazy repetition - alternating stripes is a no-brainer that results in happy fabric.

The two hats play together well.  I'm so excited to see them that I'll finish the striped one tonight just so that I can enjoy them before mailing off to the kind folks who share.

Leafing Along

The great short row ginkgo leaf scarf is progressing.  Over the last few days, there has actually been time to focus and enjoy each new leaf.

 These are not sewn together, but I enjoy visualizing what the final scarf will look like.  One thing is apparent.  I must not "jump ahead" and start sewing until all of the leaves are completed.  In playing around, it is obvious that some leaves simply do not go together.  I think it is the edge of each that needs to be the focus and if two leaves are too similar, the organic nature is lost.

So far, I have ten ginkgo leaves finished.  The plan is for forty.  But as the end is in sight, I may have to make specific leaf shapes to fill in gaps.  All, in all, making this no pattern asymmetrical scarf is delightful. It is a perfect summer project.

Stripes Of A Different Direction

This is the third short-row top of the summer.  That wasn't the plan a few months ago.  But there was the non official crochet-a-long followed by a second and similar version by the same designer.  And then another pattern crossed my path and the needles came out to knit in new directions with short rows for the sleeves.

The stripes stand out due to alternating rows of garter and stockinette.  The color variation results from alternating two balls of the same color way of Noro.  This is Silk Garden, but any of the worsted will do. 

When it is time for the short rows, the color pools and looks amazing.  A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

This was not my first choice of color.  But the more that I work it, the more I love it.  It fits well into my determination to branch out and try new things.  

Pattern can be purchased here.

You will need to know that the pattern is somewhat addictive and therefore a quick knit.  It is all about the stripes going in different directions.  Working the front and back panels is somewhat of a snooze, but then you get to pick up for the sides and knit until it is time to work the short rows - - which is delightful.