cosmicpluto knits!

pinks

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

The shawl I started in Hawaii out of Koigu is off the needles and blocked – the pattern’s even in pretty good shape too. It’ll be ready soon. It didn’t use 2 skeins of Koigu as I’d hoped, but I’m happy with the size using 3 skeins – it’s closer to a full size shawl, 23 inches deep and 63 inches across the top. And it has a summery surprise in the stitch pattern!

It still needs a name though.

And since that shawl’s finally off the needles, I’m back on board with my Honeybee lace cardigan. It’s almost done, just the collar to go. Then I have to find some buttons, hmmm.

on the needles: hawaii inspired

This trip I actually did more knitting than I expected to – I don’t tend to knit on planes, because I don’t feel comfortable and I’m usually sleeping anyway! But I did do a fair amount on the shorter inter-island flights, while waiting in the airports, and in the car.

I hoped to get this done, blocked, and photographed while in Hawaii, but that might’ve been a bit ambitious considering that I started it while I was there and had only 2 weeks! It’s still not done, but nearing the end. And I’m hoping that I’ll get away with using just 2 balls of Koigu.

milkweed shawl

I wouldn’t normally like to post two finished patterns so close together, but I’m just so excited about this one! Also, since it’s isn’t a sweater, it’ll give the non-sweater-knitters something to get in on the action

I love this small shawl – I’ve been wearing all my triangular shawls scrunched up as scarves for years. The original idea for this project was to use 2 skeins of Koigu that I had, and I knit a prototype in up (you can see it in a previous blog post) but I haven’t managed to take any finished photos! I will, just so you can see it in a more variegated yarn. This blue version is knitted in Handmaiden Casbah and is bigger than the Koigu version.

Milkweed Shawl

This little reversible shawl is super quick to knit and perfect to drape over your shoulders or wrap around your neck for that little bit of warmth (especially against over-zealous air conditioning!).

Perfect for that special ball of sock yarn or handspun that you’ve got hidden away in your stash. And if you don’t have one of those, pick some up!

Technical Editing by Kim McBrien.

SIZE
54 inches / 137 cm across straight edge of shawl; 19 inches / 48 cm deep down centre.

MATERIALS
350 yards / 320 m of fingering weight yarn
Shown in Handmaiden Casbah (one 115g skein).

3.5 mm / US 4 circular needles, at least 24 inches long
tapestry needle

PATTERN NOTES
Shawl is knit from the centre back neck down in garter stitch (all rows are knit). Both charted and written directions are given.

7-page PDF pattern contains 6 charts in full colour.

Payment by Paypal (balance or credit card; no account needed) and downloads by Ravelry (no account needed).

$5.00 USD

Note: As of July 5, 2010, sales tax will be added to this price for all Canadian residents only. The rates are: British Columbia 12%; Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador 13%; Nova Scotia 15%; and everywhere else in Canada 5% GST. Tax will be added in the Paypal payment process.

FAQ: Simple Yet Effective Shawl

Sorry for the lack of posts lately – I’ve been hit HARD by some kind of nasty flu! Today I’ve got a really sore throat, a slight fever and chills. Oh and the headache from hell. Luckily, I’ve already prewritten more of these FAQs! On to it!

Doesn’t it start from the point? How come you say it starts from the neck?
The shawl does begin from the center back neck and worked down – the increases at the beginning, middle, and end of the RS rows shapes the shawl so that the rows are getting longer and longer. The bind off edge is along the bottom of the shawl, the two long edges that meet at the point.

What will happen if I don’t divide the ball? How do you make the stripes?
If you are using Noro yarn and don’t divide your ball in two, you’ll get wider stripes of colour and more of an ombre effect. I divided my ball by putting the full ball on a kitchen scale and winding off until there was 50g left on the scale. Then I wound the other half in the same direction.

To change colours, join the second ball at the first stripe and work X rows – don’t cut the first ball! Simply leave it at the beginning of the row. When you need to change back to the first ball, leave the second yarn hanging and pull the first ball loosely up the side. Carrying the yarn up this way will not be noticeable.

I’m a retailer, can I purchase your pattern wholesale?
Not quite yet, but I’m working on making my pattern line available for wholesale – stay tuned!

temptations

Really Must Stop Looking At Yarn!!

(Although if you like the colour of Silk Garden that I used for Rayne, it’s on sale at Littleknits under the word “looking” above :p)

Must not buy yarn! It’s tough when there are such pretty things out there, but I have GOT to save some money to spend across the pond. Also, I really, really, really don’t need any more yarn. I’ve got plenty. And I have lots of knitting to concentrate on for the time being.

I got all the way to the midpoint of the edging of the Mooi shawl (actual name: Niji Baby Cable Shawl) when I realized that something was off. Sigh.

I’d made a mistake wayyy back in the first pattern repeat (there are 17 on one side of the shawl). It bothered me enough that I ripped the edging all the way back and redid it. The shawl is a store sample, too, so I didn’t want it to look wrong! When I got to the middle again…still off. But only by 2 stitches, so I was able to fudge it a bit. Finished shawl photos soon!

Since that’s about it for the knitting, how about some food?

The now-infamous NY Times chocolate chip cookies:

It was a good time to make them this past weekend because my sister was having birthday parties (multiple!) so there were lots of people around to eat them! I made the dough on Saturday morning and baked some that night (7 hr chill), some the next night (32 hr chill) and some just last night (umm…50ish hour chill?). I must say that I wasn’t super blown away. I mean, it was a good cookie, maybe a great cookie, but the best ever? I don’t know. Anyway, they’re still really good.

Dinner Sunday night: tempura-style fried okra, spaghetti in roasted Ontario tomato sauce with goat cheese. Mmmm!

evidence of life

I’ve been spending pretty much all my time this week more or less like this:

Insert Doctor Who and some Stargate:Atlantis in for the
Dr. Horrible (which is SO awesome by the way, you should all go watch it) and the Mooi shawl in for the pink thermal, and that’s today.

Thanks for all the well wishes for my ankle – it’s definitely better, the swelling’s gone down a fair bit and I’m hobbling around okay (although still resting! of course!). I’m aiming to be back at work on Monday, although I might leave Tuesday in Natalie’s capable hands! We’ll see – I’m probably in no shape to be standing around in the dye studio next week.

Despite all the resting and sitting around time, I’m getting surprisingly little done in the way of work! I’m knitting the edging of the Mooi shawl now, and it’s coming along nicely.

I like that it’s knitted in along the edge. It’s pretty!

I’ve also been writing a number of lists -

At the end of the month I’m headed out on a jet plane to visit with Ysolda! You might remember she came and stayed with me back in May, so now it’s my turn. I’ll admit I’m apprehensive about the trip, mostly the flying – I’m not a great flyer and it’ll be the longest one I’ve been on! Across water and stuff! Yikes!

I’m flying in and out of Edinburgh, but in between we’ll be taking some trips to London and Paris – we’ve got some accommodation in London, but we could still use some for a couple nights in both cities. Hostel recommendations, offerings of couches? Would be awesomely appreciated!

Suggestions of things to do in each city would be fantastic too! We’ll definitely be hitting up iknit day in London on the 6th, but other than that, I think we pretty open to recommendations!