This week is off to a great start. Two projects came off the needles this weekend and they're both blocked and ready to be worn! The big project that came off first was the
Highland Triangle Shawl by Cheryl Oberle.
This shawl has been a joy to knit and the yarn as well. Knitting lace is at the top of my "favorite things to knit" list. I love Cheryl's designs and since I had the opportunity to take a class with her for the second time, I jumped at the chance. Every time I take one of her classes I learn something new.
The yarn is Blue Faced Leister. I had purchased this a while back with every intention of using for a shawl, but as most of us who "stash" our yarn, we never really know what it's intended for. It just has to be taken home to join all the other skeins that are patiently waiting to be made into something beautiful. Purple is one of my favorite colors, so it was definitely coming home with me. I love the variation in the color and it does not take away from the lace patterns.
My other completed project is
Seychelles. This is a project that is part of the
Dream in Color group. Every month there is a new yarn and corresponding project. Due to my lack of knitting time, I wanted a quick project so I could have the feeling of completing a project. I always manage to find a very large project to work on that takes a very long time to complete. This shawlette was knit on US 10 and US 11 needles and flew by so quickly. The pattern was easy to memorize and after sitting in front of the tv watching reruns of Farscape for a day, I was soon done.
This one was a little difficult to block, so I ended up having a lesson in steam blocking so I could get this one to look just right. It's times like these that I'm thankful for owning an iron! That probably sounds horrible, but I'm not a big fan of ironing clothes. I like to press fabric (this was my job for my mom when she was quilting) and I now like to steam my finished objects.
I have to thank to June Hemmons Hiatt for writing her resourceful book,
The Principles of Knitting, and the wonderful section on blocking. I don't know if this would have turned out as lovely as it did!
So, now that I have two projects off the needles, it is time to start a couple more! Oh, the fun! I can't wait! I already know what I'm starting on... the yarn has been wound into those pretty little yarn cakes. I just have to knit up my gauge swatches and I'll be off!
What's on your needles?
