Cold Sheep and Stash Update - July

 

July has been a great month for finishing WIPs that have been laying around looking at me longingly through their Ziploc plastic bags.  Maybe it's because it's been a cooler summer here in Minnesota that I have felt like doing so much knitting.   Or maybe, it's simply the "high" of finishing one project has just been carrying me to finish more and more projects.  Either way I'm pleasantly pleased!

I finished my teal Pendulum shawl from this Spring, my Color Affection shawl from last Fall, and my 10 Stitch Blanket from the previous Summer!  Also completed are 2 more of these lovely coasters in blue and brown fuzzy alpaca yarn.  With so much yarn leftover from this project I decided to make 3 matching trivets to coordinate with the coasters.  You know how I love using up all my yarn!

Speaking of yarn, I went through my stash yet again and sold everything that I didn't just love, love, love on Craigslist.  So, my load is getting lighter literally and figuratively.  Now I just have a cardigan and a vest on the needles as well as the afore mentioned trivets, 8 patterns in my Ravelry queue with yarn in hand, and probably still too many skeins of sock yarn (but everyone could use some more socks right?)  I really feel in control of my stash again instead of my stash controlling me.  It amazes me how "good" things, like knitting or other hobbies, can turn into burdens if not kept in check.  Purchasing yarn only takes a few moments where as knitting said yarn can take a very long time; as can be seen by the projects I just finished.  Ah well,live and learn as they say.

I have been good about going "Cold Sheep" this month and haven't bought any yarn which puts my day total at 35 days.  Since I only seem to post once a month this Summer I guess I'll see you at the end of August.  Have a good month everyone! 

Joining in with Tami for Finished Object Friday and Linda for Creative Friday.

A Loopy Shawl

So, just a quick post today to show you all my finished Miss Winkle scarf/shawl.  This was a very fun and easy knit by Martina Behm who writes a very clear and concise knitting pattern.  The loops are knit and twisted before connecting again to the main fabric which is made up of simple garter stitch.  Then to block this shawl you use a 1/2 dowel rod placing it through the loops so they keep their shape.

For yarn I used some I had in my stash - YAY!  It's Dancing Leaf Farm Sock Hop fingering weight yarn in A Day at the Carnival colorway.  I've had this skein bouncing around for about 2 years so I am happy to have finally put it to good use.  Even though it's been so long you can still find this yarn and colorway for sale here. 

The weather here in Minnesota took a dip back down to about 40 degrees yesterday so I got a chance to wear it already which makes me happy.

Joining in with Linda for Creative Friday and Tami for FO Fridays

A Finished Object on a Friday - Yay!

 

Yay!  I have a finished object to share that's not a toy for my shop  - so exciting!  I got a taste of Spring Fever this past week (maybe the fact that the snow is almost gone in my part of MN) and was just itching to make a lacy light and airy shawl.  Well, I started by looking at lace weight yarns to buy, which if you read this post you know I am trying very hard not to do, but I just didn't find anything amazing to truly tempt me so I purchased nothing.  Then on Sunday night during a bout of insomnia I had a revelation at 1:00 am that I could use some sock yarn I already had in my stash that was even a pretty light Spring color!  Victory!  I was so excited that I cast on for a Dragon Fly Wings shawl first thing Monday morning and was already blocking it by Wednesday morning. That's fast turn around time for me folks - I was consumed with seeing it finished.

 I used Luna Grey's Astro sock yarn in a very pretty shade of blue called Boca Rica.  The photos of the yarn itself and my mother wearing the shawl (doesn't she look pretty?) are the best at representing the color accurately.  The blocking photos show the bits of lavender well, but the blue is washed out.  As you can guess I gave the shawl to my mom as it's a very good color for her with thos  little bits of lavender in amongst the robin's egg blue.  It's funny how I used to want to knit everything for myself  and now the older I get the more I like knitting items for other people. My mom was very surprised I did not want the shawl, but I told her I got a lot of pleasure just knitting it as it satisfied my Spring Fever itch.  "Besides" I told her, "it's so fun to give especially to you who are so appreciative!"  She's going to wear it for Easter and I couldn't be more pleased.

Joining in with Tami for FO Fridays and Linda for Creative Friday.

Completed: An Earthy Rainbow Cowl

 

Sorry there are no photos of me wearing this cowl.  I'm not the best with "Selfies" and my husband works long hours during the week so if I don't catch him on the weekend to take photos they just don't happen.  Anyway, I am very very pleased with this finished cowl and have worn it quite a bit.  My neck is always covered at this time of year with either a turtleneck or cowl or both (you can never be too careful you know.) I used the Honey Cowl pattern which is free and has a perfect blend of a "thinking" while you knit row to a "non-thinking" row.  Give it a test knit if you haven't already.  What made this project absolutely fabulous was the fact that I had less than a yard of yarn left upon finishing.  Yup, that photo above is all the yarn that was leftover - my kind of project!

Joining in with Linda for Creative Friday and Tami for FO Fridays.