By George! I Think I’ve Got It!

If you’ve seen my Tweets or Instagram lately, you’ll know that I’ve started knitting the Great Divide Shawl by Michele Brown. I’m knitting it as part of the Great Divide KAL. I’m using Anzula Squishy yarn in Key Lime and Teal (possibly with Lavender as an accent color) that I purchased at Purl Soho.

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Squishy is just that and this yarn is sooo soft that it is hard to put down. As a a heavy fingering weight yarn, it’s a bit lighter than the DK weight yarn suggested in the pattern. But as a Southern Girl, a fingering weight yarn makes the most sense this time of year even with our cooler than average temperatures. An added plus, I had all this pretty yarn in my stash! I’m using Size 6 needles to go with the lighter weight yarn so I imagine I will have to knit a few more rows to get to the suggested length.
It’s a pretty shawl and you can see other knitters’ progress by searching Twitter & Instagram using the hashtag #GreatDivideKAL. I’m really glad everyone is posting pictures because when I started knitting a few days ago, I felt like I wasn’t quite doing something right. Here’s my first attempt:

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It’s an interesting stitch pattern but it didn’t quite look like this:

Great Divide Shawl Detail by Michele Brown

Great Divide Shawl Detail by Michele Brown

After a careful look at the pattern, I realized that I needed to involve the slipped stitch in the “PSSO”. So after frogging the entire WIP and starting over, I’ve come up with this:

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It’s a little different than the heavier weight versions but I think I’ve got the pattern down now. I love the crochet effect created by the lighter yarn. The pattern is easily memorized and easy to pick up and put down. The KAL is going on all month and is very casual so check it out and join us!

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Knitting for Men

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I’d like to knit some sweaters for my son and my husband, especially since my son will be headed “north” for college.  Trouble with men’s sweaters, the fit is tricky.  I don’t want to knit something that is too baggy, too tight, too long, too short, too heavy, too light.  See where this is headed?  An almost impossible task!

I’m going to use a lighter worsted weight yarn…think Cascade 220 or Brooklyn Tweed Shelter.  Some of the sweaters that have made my short list are:

Although some of these sweaters call for heavier or lighter weight yarns than what I’d like to use,  I find that the “yarn ideas” on Ravelry is an extremely useful tool in helping to decide whether or not a pattern will work with the yarn that you have on hand.  It looks like my yarn selections have been used in most of these sweaters before.

Do you have any men’s sweaters that you loved knitting and that the recipient loved as well?  Share here!!

Color Affection Fun.

Now that I’ve finished the Pirates of the Phantom Waves Legwarmers, I think I will start another Color Affection Shawl.

I’ve knit this popular shawl two times and, after all of the colorwork for the Pirates of the Phantom Waves Legwarmers, I’m ready for some garter stitch heaven. I’ve gone to my stash and I think I will use this color combination:

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It’s a trio of yarns from MissBabs that I selected (she has pre-selected combinations of sets of yarn available but I chose this trio myself). This Hand Painted 2 ply Superwash 100% Merino Wool sock yarn is aptly called “Yummy”. skeins are approximately 400 yards. The colorways that I chose are Forever (light), Rainforest (medium) and Risky Business (dark). I think I will use Risky Business as the Main Color, Rainforest  as Contrasting Color 1 and Forever as Contrasting Color 2…or maybe Forever as the Main Color and Rainforest as Contrasting Color 2? Help me decide!

Pirates of the Phantom Waves

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Just off the needles, Pirates of the Phantom Waves Legwarmers for my ballerina daughter! Inspired by a ballet (in which she performed) of the same name, these colorwork legwarmers have alternating waves and skull and bones flowers. Further inspiration came in the way of the cutest ever stitchmarkers from Voolenvine on Etsy. Adorable, right?

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Stitchmarker from Voolenvine on Esty

I improvised the legwarmer pattern and designed the colorwork myself using Intwined Studio software. The legwarmers are ballerina-style long and the colorwork makes them extra warm. I even love the way the wrong side of the colorwork came out!

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Pirates of the Phantom Waves Legwarmers now available on Ravelry!

Cold Weather Knits

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I’ll admit, as a knitter, it is sometimes difficult to live in the South. Our generally mild winters don’t create much of a need to knit beautiful, warm sweaters, scarves, hats and mittens. A southern knitter like me must truly love what I’ll call winter knitting techniques or perhaps have extended family who live in colder climates when choosing a knitting project.

I love knitting cables and bobbles. A few examples of some past projects are here and here.  I love that sweater, full of cables and other Irish knitting techniques that add so much bulk and warmth to a knitted garment.  But, alas, here in Georgia, I could never knit such a warm, squishy sweater with the hopes of anyone wearing it.  So what’s a knitter to do?  Hats knit from worsted weight and DK weight yarns are still an option as are mittens and scarves.  Currently on my needles is  a scarf full of cables and definitely fulfilling my wish to knit winter projects.  I’m using Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in Nest (100% American Wool) and the squishy, warm cables that result from this yarn are heavenly!

I’m hoping to have the scarf finished and the pattern written this week. In the meantime, here’s a look at the squishy cables that is providing me some cold weather knitting! What cold weather knitting project is on your needles? Share here!

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They’re Back!

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My daughter’s dance company is currently rehearsing to perform “Pirates of the Phantom Waves”. I think a little pirate-inspired knitting is in order:

I think some legwarmers based on these socks would be great.  My daughter requested white with pink.  Hopefully, I can knit them long before the show dates!

Happy New Year! It’s time to…

Happy New Year! It’s time to think about new knitting projects! I can hardly believe that 2012 is behind us! What an exciting knitty year it was with the publication of my Devon Cardigan! I’m now looking forward to sharing a few new patterns this year but, for 2013, I hope to work through some of my stash and knit some of the following:

Larch Cardigan a DK weight cardigan by Amy Christophers that I can’t wait to knit for me!

Brownstone a sweater by Jared Flood for my son before he goes off to college.

Acer Cardigan another sweater by Amy Christophers. I love her sweaters! Perfect for Georgia weather! This one will be for my daughter!

And lastly this Seamless Hybrid By Elizabeth Zimmerman for my husband.

I’m sure that will keep me busy long after winter is over here in Atlanta! I’ve also got plenty of hats and socks and shawls planned as well…

What knitty resolutions do you have for the new year? Share here!

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