Playing Catch Up (because the laundry is done)

It is hard for even me to believe that this top has been worn so much in the past month that it needed a good washing.  Well, truth be told, it wasn't worn so much as it was "glowed" upon.  August was a hot month and the last thing I need is my fine knittery languishing about in old sweat my personal scent. 

Here is proof that I can wear horizontal stripes!  This particular pattern (#15 available on Ravelry) has adjusted my attitude greatly. 

After much contemplation and studying of these photos and the actual top, it is possible I have figured out why I love these stripes when I eschew all others. 

#1  These stripes are narrow.
#2  The texture change between garter & stockinette is fun to admire.
#3  The color flow of dark through light play tricks with what the eye beholds.
#4  The vertical stripes add length and a "narrowness" to the sides which also fools the eye.
#5  I freaking love Noro!

At first there was much fretting about the little short-row cap sleeves.  Not the actual short row making - that never bothers me.  I was worried about bunching up under the arm.  There is a little bit, but no so much that it looks weird or anything.

I am so in love with this style on my body that my mind has been straying to color choices for another version. 

Straying a lot. 

Straying often.

I will finish other projects, I will finish other projects, I will finish other projects, I will fini..............

Big Outcome

The little string and big hook of my previous post resulted in this big success.  The Magnificent Mantle from here and all over Ravelry.  The pattern was created to be crochet version of the very popular Aestlight Shawl that hit the yarn community last year.  From afar, the Mantle bears a strong resemblance to Aestlight.  Kudos to CrochetKitten!  Well done.

A few modifications from the original were made in my version.  First, I lost track of the number of rows on the triangle section, so I just went with the look of it.  Remember, the original pattern call for worsted and this Sekku is lace weight.  That makes for a huge difference and adjustments are required.   My goal was to have a shawlette size suitable for covering my neck without causing excessive body "glow" in this dessert.

Another modification was deleting two rows of the open mesh work that is the bird's eye lace of the Aestlight.  It would be wonderful if I could tell you that I deleted those rows out of some aesthetic or visual appeal or personal belief system.  The real reason that the two rows went away - - fear of running out of yarn!  As simple as that.  Crochet really chews up the yardage and I am out of practice in looking at what is left to accomplish vs what is left on the ball.  It is important to note that this size Magnificent Mantle was completed with one ball of Noro Sekku.

Also, I did not work the very last row of the pattern.  No particular reason as enough yarn was still on the ball.  Maybe I got tired and did not want another UFO in the closet.

The Sekku blocks out well.   But then I tend to really soak the fiber for a good fifteen minutes and then stretch a lot.  This resulted in a very lacy shawl that bears little visual relation to the original worsted weight shawl.  Using this method of well wet yarn and sturdy blocking pins, the center triangle - extended single crochet - opened up quite a bit and is not a solid mass of stitches.  Very flexible, light and interesting.  

 Yep, this is a big successful outcome.  Enough color to add zip to any day and big enough to block the late afternoon breeze.

Little String - Big Hook

At first, the new project absolutely felt like a little string and a too big hook.  Actually, more like a cobweb and a harpoon.   Isn't that just the way of it?  You see, for several days, I had worked to finish the back of a new pullover done up in  a nice worsted.  There is something about DK and Worsted that fits my fingers and hands quite well.  Very well, indeed.   So well, that the knitting - or crocheting - is fast.

And then came the purchase.  This is Noro Sekku.  Sekku is a lace weight in the Noro tradition that we love so well.  Lots of  color changes that cause anticipation and excitement in each ball of the stuff.   And - you will want to note this - lots of Noro traditional bumps along the way.   Look carefully at the photo and you will see what I mean.

After a bit of research, it seemed appropriate to work this lace with a F hook (3.75 mm).  The ball band is looking for knitting needles in the 2.0 - 2.5 mm range.  Why did I use the F crochet hook?  Because that is what CanadianCupcake (Ravelry) used to make her Magnificent Mantle.  It is important to understand that the Magnificent Mantle (a crochet adaptation of Aestlight Shawl) is written for worsted weight yarn and yours truly is not following the suggestion of worsted and going with lace weight.  Thus the Ravelry research that  led me  to flattering CC by following her hook selection. 

Having now completed the triangle portion of the shawl and moved on to the sides and open trellis type work, I no longer feel like the hook is a harpoon.  Finally, the webby string and hook are one.  And to think, it has only taken two airplane flights and one pedicure to feel one with the hook and string.  AAAHHH........