Cadbury Ruffle Shawl

While this shawl design is not particularly original it is my own design. Gifted with some Colinette Tao and Parisienne from my Mum, I decided to make a small Shawlette. The colour reminded me of the wrapping of Cadbury's dairy milk, hence the name.

Knowing that the Tao had less yardage directed me towards a stripey shawl. Alternating two rows of each yarn until Tao ran out. Around the outside edge a ruffled edge added a simple decorative finish. Made with silk and kidsilk yarns the shawl has a luxurious feel and will keep my shoulders warm in the winter months. It is also reversible should I want to wear it with a reverse stocking stitch on display.

Stolen stitches - orchid thief

This summer seems to have been one for knitting patterns by Ysolda Teague. The latest pattern to be finished is the elegant Orchid Thief. Knitted in Lang's Jawoll Magic, the shawl took just over one ball. Ysolda noted that this would be a tight fit. I ran out of yarn 4.5 rows before the end. Fortuneately there was another ball at home. In blocking the edges have ended up slightly ruffled, it's not meant to be like this but I quite like it.



My Orchid Thief

Where sea and sky meet

The sound of waves crashing on the sea shore booms across the valley. The threatening storm has turned to sunshine and we finally managed to go to the beach to take some pics. Looking out of the window you would be forgiven for thinking that we're on a distant Greek Island. However, we are in Cornwall in the hidden village of Seaton (not to be confused with a village of the same name in Devon).

I've brought a variety of UFO's with me, including Liesl a beautiful little jacket by Ysolda Teague. This project began as a mindless spinning project at the end of term. Yarn made of Merino, BFL and Tencel fibres. The Tencel giving and irridescent glow to the yarn so that it looks like Mother of pearl.


This project was a quick knit - although I left six weeks between spinning and knitting the project. It only took a couple of days to knit. I love the picot bind-off found on the sleeves and hem although some would say that this is too much. It's light to wear and took a lot less yarn than I thought. This sort of project would make an ideal gift, it doesn't take too long to make and produces a stunning result. Thank you Ysolda, for annother stunning pattern.

Rivendell Rainbow

At the end of term, I felt the urge to spin rather knit. It seemed to take less concentration. This roving was bought from babylonglegs - 100g of Falkland roving which was spun into yarn with appropximately a DK weight with 299 metres.

Although the meterage is limited, I wanted to make a shawlette. The yarn is self-striping. Although I love the Citron Shawl, I didn't want to run out of yarn, so I've adapted idea behind the pattern and am designing my own.

Knitting this shawl began with a beaded cast-on and ruffled edge, the rest of trial and error. For some reason the pics won't appear in the order of posting but I'll let them speak for themselves.

Rose Lace Shawl

Although this shawl was completed in May, I've only just blocked it. I loved knitting this shawl. A simple to follow pattern with stunning results. The pattern is the Rose Lace Shawl by Susanna Ic.

It was made with Posh Yarn Sadie Lace, a stunning 2ply lace weight with a slightly glossy sheen. It was gorgeous to knit with - a yarn I certainly hope to use again. All I need now is somewhere to go to wear it out. I think it will look lovely with White trousers and top, an ideal outfit for a summer evening by the sea.

Thank you Susanna for this beautful pattern!

Spinning Jennie

The end of term is rapidly approaching and with it my ability to sustain concentration when knitting. So... I reached into the depths of my craft room and rediscovered some tops which had been dyed a couple of years ago.

The tops are a mixture of Blue Faced Leicester, Merino and Tencel. I've blended them in batts. I'm not sure of the proportions, but I'm layering BFL or Merino (I dyed these so long ago that I can't remember which is which) with the Tencel. The yarn is quite muted - possibly muddy. I'm always amazed how much the batt changes when blended, spun and plyed.

I'm not spinning my fourth skein and have generated about 240 m of Aran weight yarn so far.

This will eventually be used to knit Liesl by Ysolda Teague. A gorgeous feather and fan patterned jacket. Let's hope the spinning (and knitting) gets finished in time for the autumn!

Ricky!

At last these socks are finally finished. They have taken a long time to knit. It's another great from the talented Cookie A. A pattern with a lovely twisted effect made for DH but he couldn't get his foot through the cuff - despite changing needle size to get a bigger fit.

These also took longer to knit than expected. I've never frogged a pattern so many times! The twisted stripe changes direction through the clever use of left or right leaning decreases and my brain took a while to adjust to the pattern. Now they are finished I'm wondering which ones to make next!