Shawls to me are in some ways just scarves with more options. Plus it seemed like everyone on ravelry who had knit this managed to crank out a winner, so in the end this one came out on top.
free pattern: textured shawl recipe from Orlane
needles: 5mm
yarn: 5 balls Mirasol Contanani (60% cotton, 40% merino)in colour # 401 (gray)
Shawls. Not just for Grandma anymore.
Ummm, except this one--it actually is for Nathaniel's 90 year old gran. I know she likely won't be able to make it to our wedding so I wanted to send her a little something (she's in a retirement home in Toronto) to let her know we're thinking of her. We've also just learned that she recently suffered a bout of pneumonia so hopefully this will warm her up a little bit as well. (ok, I know it doesn't really work that way...) and I'm still on the hunt for a shiny brooch to include with it.
This really is a shawl "recipe" as stated. If you're on Ravelry you'll notice everyone listing their own version of the recipe, so I would be remiss if I didn't also include mine here I think.
I was super-excited when I found this yarn half price because it really is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I was thinking I'd do an all wool shawl for her, but the blend of cotton and merino was just too smooth and perfect to pass up. Anyone I've shown it to has asked me if it's machine knit, every stitch just seems to lay so flat and perfect. I used up my whole 5 balls, but I think I'd probably go for 6 the next time. My final rounds of garter stitch weren't as much as I'd hoped:
So, my recipe: 16 rows of stockinette; 16 rows textured knitting; 16 st; 16 text; 16 st; 16 text; 10 st; 4 text; then about 20 rows of garter stitch.
I absolutely, positively, definitely will be making another one of these shawls for myself.
Also in the realm of gift giving (and grey...SO much grey I'm knitting lately!)
My second pair of Bella's mittens. Though in truth, they're not a gift from me. I knit them for a co-worker , and he gifted them to his wife to wear to the premiere of New Moon. If you don't know what that is, you've likely just beamed in from Mars, but she's a serious Twi-hard, and the mitts were very well received.
Knit in Patons Classic (2 balls of "mercury" double-stranded) on 5.5mm needles
You can see the first pair I knit here. This second pair were much bigger. I also discovered another free pattern for Bella's mitts on Ravelry, that are slightly more accurate to the ones worn in the movie (if you care about that sort of thing...)--the main difference being a textured palm. I'm still keen on this pattern though, and they no doubt go up a lot faster (these really only took me two or three evenings of tv-watching knitting) another reason they are such a great knit!
I am way behind on blogging and picture-taking these days...I'm not even a redhead anymore! This past week I knit two hats for another co-worker that I couldn't even be bothered to take pictures of (black Seaman's hats that are a major go-to pattern for my mother--she's probably knit a hundred of them by now). But it's a pattern that I would seriously recommend. It's flattering on everyone, a fast knit, and a great basic hat pattern for gift giving. I've knit a lot of them myself, and I think virtually all of my friends have one by now. Sooo, if you're in the market for another hat pattern, give that one a whirl.
And still more new things on the sticks:
At this point I'm not even sure if any Xmas knitting will make it onto the pile this year.
And one more thing (if I haven't lost you already...)-- The latest issue of Vogue Knitting had a little blurb on this crazy big yarn from BagSmith, and I find myself very intrigued by it. It knits up to 3 stitches per FOUR INCHES!!!!!!!! Size 25 needles. I'm tempted to buy enough for a rug (though broom stick sized needles may be murder to my child-sized hands)--anyone out there tried it? uh oh, hold the phone...website says 110$ a ball. Strike that (unless that gets me a whole rug, which I doubt). Yeesh. I mean I get it, but I still feel like you have to be a millionaire to be a knitter these days...
Maybe I'll just buy the book and stare at all the pretty pictures instead.
7 comments:
you are just so darn cute!!!!
Wow! Beautiful shawl. I think I'm going to have to make one too. It looks like you also picked up the Vogue mag, it seemed like a lot of their advertisements were really cool, I was going to check out the bagsmith yarn too. I've knit with 50's (broomstick needles) before, it's hard on your hands, but you finish projects before you know it. Great post though! The FO's came out great. :)
LOVE that shawl - so beautiful! Looks like it has really great drape as well!
Gaah! Too much awesomeness in one post! That shawl-y thing looks fantastic. I'm sorry to hear you've left the red-head club. (Once in a while I flirt with going blonde again, but I'm afraid I'll look like Susan Powter) What's the lacy white thing? Wedding business?
Very cute shawl - not grannyish at all!
That big yarn is just outrageous! There are other bundles of it that are less than 110 (50 and 80 mostly) but if you really want to knit with the fat yarn, you only get 40 yards....no fair. On the other hand, you could always take apart the 12ish strands of yarn and get 40 yards of each...but it still feels a little like robbery. Gorgeous, gorgeous robbery.
gorgeous shawl - works well both ways, too.
love the bella mitts, I've been requisitioned for a pair, but now I'll need to find that other pattern you're talking about - must have accuracy in these matters, no??!
We sell the Big Stitch yarn, needles, and crochet hooks at the yarn shop I work at. You don't really appreciate how gigantic they are until you play around with them. Totally fun though!
Post a Comment