Starflower and Icarus

Being very mindful of the economic situation at the moment, I'm still chipping away at my stash though I do confess that I probably won't use anywhere near all of it in my lifetime!

Off my needles this time has come my new design; Starflower Estonian Lace Baby Blanket knitted in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. (If you wish to see more detail, click on any of the pics to zoom in).


I fell in love with the Estonian lace stitch used in the main part of the blanket as soon as I clapped eyes on it. The petals are formed by use of the Estonian star stitch technique. In this case, a 3-into-9 star is afterwards split into three groups of stitches which are then gradually decreased to form petals.




As usual the pattern, in PDF format, is available from Ravelry and Etsy.

Also, hot off my needles is Miriam Felton's Icarus Shawl which I knitted in Yarn Place Graceful. This is the Penny Candy colourway and I love the way that this pattern works well in a yarn with long colour changes.




Presently, on the needles are Max from Elsebeth Lavold's "The Walk in the Park Collection" in EL's Silky Tweed for DH.


This photo is from the pattern book and DH is pleased to know that, according to the pattern writer, “an athletic build and access to a nearby Greek statue are optional”!

I'm also well on the way to completing the Heartstrings Shetland Lace Patterned Faroese Shawl in Rowan 4 ply Soft.

Knitting bookwise, as I've celebrated a birthday recently, some books and a very sought after vintage magazine have been added to my knitting library but more on those later . . .

Shawl Crazy

I'm in stashbusting mood at the moment and what better way to use it up than by knitting shawls . . . and shawls . . . and did I mention shawls?

The first one is the Six Petal Half Circle Shawl for which I used 5 skeins of wine coloured Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino from a lot I bought in the John Lewis sale at half price a few years ago.


Next, is a Forest Canopy Shawl




I used a skein of Handmaiden Seasilk in Lily Pond colourway for this which I've had in stash since my 2007 Blogiversary competition when I treated myself as well as the winner!

Last but not least, shawlwise, is the start of Sharon Winsauer's Dragonfly in jade coloured Fiddlesticks Zephyr laceweight.


I'm almost half way through the border now on this one.

Just to prove that I do knit other stuff, too, here's a cocoon stitch washcloth in Rowan Handknit Cotton.


This is a charity knit to send to Julie aka Fibers who is collecting them for the Native Elders

Frost Flowers - Longer Version

Thanks to all for the comments on the Frost Flowers Froufrou design. As promised, here are a couple of pics of the longer length version. This time it's knitted in Fiddlesticks Zephyr laceweight so it doesn't have the halo.




Personally, I prefer the standard length/fuzzy mohair mix yarn version but each to their own.

Frost Flowers Froufrou

Another new design! I've found that I'm just as bad with startitis in my designing as I was before when I was knitting other people's designs. This means that I have lots of projects that are at the ideas stage, plus those I've swatched for, plus those in progress, etc, etc. My mind gets so busy with ideas that sometimes I can't wait to finish one before I get the urge to start another! I expect this is par for the course, though. Anyway, here's one that I have finished!


It's a bit of frippery which I've chosen to call a froufrou that you can drape around your shoulders to keep the chill off without completely enveloping and hiding what you have on underneath. Great to complement that little black dress and, perhaps, also for wedding wear. It fastens at the neck with two lightweight clear plastic snap fasteners as I've found in the past it can be a bit annoying having to concentrate on stopping a shawl or wrap around your shoulders from slipping off.

Here's a back view.


And a view of the whole thing laid flat.


As usual, the pattern which is in PDF format is available from Ravelry and Etsy.

The froufrou pictured above has been knitted in Kidsilk Night on 4mm and 4.5mm needles but works equally well in Kidsilk Haze or Kidsilk Spray or, indeed, any 2ply laceweight that can achieve gauge such as Fiddlesticks Zephyr laceweight. There are instructions for two lengths - standard length (13.5" from point to point) as is the one pictured above and longer length which is 17.5"-18.5" from point to point.

I've just finished a longer length froufrou in Fiddlesticks Zephyr which I'll photograph when there is enough light to do so, hopefully, tomorrow.

Charity Knitting

The trouble with not blogging regularly is that, when you finally do get around to it, you have so much to blog about, it seems a bit intimidating! So, I'm going to let the pics do most of the talking. As usual, click on any of the pics to see more detail.

There has been a fair bit of charity knitting going on lately. The Monthly Adventurers at Ravelry elect a different charity every month to which members can contribute if they wish. In November, I had mentioned that I was knitting for a charity event in our village hall at which I had a stand in support of carers of people with Alzheimer's and, consequently, this became the cause of the month. As a lot of the members are in the US, it didn't leave a lot of time for the knitting of large projects, so I suggested that the knitting should be of Korknissar or cork elves which make lovely Xmas decorations. Now, if you don't know of the Monthly Adventurers, you won't know that not only are they a very generous and talented bunch of people but they also have very fertile imaginations and are not afraid to use a bit of poetic licence when the occasion calls. This was the result!


Apart from the rank and file elves, the final assemblage included a bride and groom, spies with wobbly eyes, pirates, Santas, baby elvinos, glitzy types, and blonde korkettes! They went down a treat on the day as you can see from the pics below which are not the best due to bad lighting.




Check out my display stand with the Christening Shawl pinned to it? I'm really chuffed with this! I'd seen Sue's version (scroll down) and, after her very kindly blogging about how she did it (scroll down again), DH made a similar one. Thanks, Sue! Neat, isn't it!




The christening shawl was for display only as I couldn't bear to part with it but it generated lots of interest and, as a few of us are thinking of getting a craft group up and running in our village, that's a good thing.

Apart from the above, I've almost finished my second Snow Forest Yuletide Table Runner.


I made a Fishtail Hat from the 2008 Knitting Pattern a Day Calendar for the Ravelry' Caps for Connor group.


I knitted an Ice Queen for the charity morning which was snapped up. Thanks to Rosemary, the designer, for allowing me to sell this at the event.






And I've been making some of Norah's Snowflakes except I'm using a much finer yarn than the recommended Berroco Pure Merino and I added some Swarovski crystals to this one.


The yarn I'm using is Twilleys Southern Comfort which is a count 10 crochet cotton. This means that they come out at 5" across which is a nice size for tree hanging. I couldn't get any fabric stiffener spray locally so I've been using a mixture of 50/50 white glue and water to stiffen them and it's working well.

Next month's Monthly Adventurers' good cause is hats for preemies.


So, some of these, which were knitted by my dear MIL, will be winging their way over to the US!

Test Knitter Wanted

I've been really busy of late doing mostly charity stuff. I've got lots to tell and some photos to show but, for now, I need a test knitter. Is anyone interested? It needs to be someone who is a fast, experienced knitter and who is not afraid of nupps. Any takers please click on 'View my complete profile' in the sidebar. You will then find a link to contact me via email. Thanks!

ETA - Hooray! I'm happy to say I now have my test knitter! :-)

Snow Forest Now Available!

Snow Forest (see post below) is now available here at Ravelry or here at Etsy.