Color My World

Holes.  What is it about knitting or crocheting a hole that thrills me so?  Well, technically one does not knit or crochet a hole.  Technically one knits or crochets stitches that leave a blank space, aka hole. 

 These holes are a major design element of Color Craving from the nimble mind of designer Stephen West.  I participated in the Mystery KAL which brought a whole new twist to the project.  While there was video support for some of the tricks involved, there was no photo released during the phased pattern release.

And it was fun!

Yarn choice was left up to each knitter.  I chose La Jolla from Baah!  If you are making your Holiday Wish List, put this yarn at the top.  Utter perfection.  As in perfect yarn.  Skeins that do not get all tangly when you wind them.  Yarn that glides through your fingertips and slides into stitches with nary a hiccup.  Colors that make your skin glow.  Can you tell that I love me some Baah!?

If you plan to knit the unusual triangle, be warned that the final blocked shawl is "of a size."  It is huge in one direction.  There is plenty of stitch work to wrap around a person in a multiple of unique ways. 

See for yourself how tall/long it is.  Easily over six feet.  Much of that is a gradually narrowing point to the triangle.  Don't go thinking that the narrow end will keep you warm.  That narrow part is best put to use as accent for the larger field of stripes, holes, and color bands.

 I love this piece of art.  I love it so much that it went on an outing to the theater before I shared it with you.  Only after I wore it, did I allow she who crochets to touch it and serve as model once again.

This is one that I will make again - - as soon as I rush out to get more Baah!

There Is Still Time To Join In

I was on a mission.  Wearing blinders that allowed me to see only the mission and nothing else, I entered the yarn store.  Stop laughing.  Right now!  I have the strength of will to stick to a plan and only the plan.  Yes I do.  The mission that day was gift certificates to award as prizes to participants in a challenge.  I even brought along the daughter who crochets and she had permission to force me to stick to the mission.  We had made it to the first yarn store and met the mission.  The second store was an easy in and out to get one last certificate, pay in cash and walk out.

My daughter is a wimp. 

Upon entering that den of sticks and string, what did my wandering eyes behold, but a box full of color with only a few selections left unclaimed.  It is not my fault!  Already coordinated and wrapped with cute bows, each available bundle was speaking to me.  Speaking.  BAAH.  BAAH.   BAAH.

I can resist anything except temptation.  Let me repeat - my daughter is a wimp and I am now an official participant (along with thousands of others) in Stephen West's upcoming KAL.  Signed up - following the Ravelry group and discussions - ready for a jolly time knitting a shawl with no photo - and wondering why you are not on this crazy journey with me.   You have time to jump on the bandwagon and cast on when the first clue is released on September 13th.   Friday the 13th. 

This is actually the first time I will do a "mystery" KAL where the clues are released one at a time.  And naturally I have a bit of travel to do during clue 2, so I might be a tad behind in my knitting. 

And, just in case you are wondering, daughter did remind me to get the gift certificate that started the whole thing.  So, in a way, she did her job.  Maybe I am the wimp???