Ornate Arches - Second Block Done

And the second block is blocking.  The second block always goes quickly.  Now I can get back to my Pineapple shawl, although I already worked a fair bit of the short rows while we were watching our science fiction shows (Continuum and Defiance).

Pattern:  Ornate Arches by Donna Kay Lacey, the June 2012 Unique Sheep Crochet Block of the Month
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Verve in Washington and Cornwallis
Hook:  2.75 mm

I finally managed to get some decent beauty shots of Gr-orange.  We've had thunderstorms almost every afternoon last week and the light just wasn't cooperating.  Here's the front.

And here's the back.

I noticed that the colorway is available on The Unique Sheep web site now.  This was a Sip 'n Stitch colorway from last year.


Pattern:  Indian Feathers by Alina Appasov
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Tinsel Toes in Gr-orange
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Pineapple - Lace Pattern Done

I finished up the lace pattern last night.  The pattern does not call for the eyelet row, but I like the way it sets the lace off from the short row stockinette section, so I added it.  I did the same thing on the Gr-orange shawl.  I'm going to do the first two short rows, which establish the pattern, and then set this aside and finish up my second crochet block.  The works in progress are piling up again.  I received my yarn for the Open Eye Tunic, Camp Loopy Project 2 starts tomorrow, and I need to finish my Wavelettes shawl.  I am not quite done with the first half of that one.  I will confess that I got distracted by the combination of Unique Sheep yarns and Alina Appasov's crescent shawl patterns.  The basic pattern would be an easy one to modify, and it is filling my head with all sorts of possibilities.

Pattern:  Vidalia Lace Shawl by Alina Appasov
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Verve in Pineapple
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Ornate Arches - One Block Done

It is the last weekend of the month, and you know what that means - time to do June's Crochet Blocks.  Here is the first one done.  I did change the color usage a little.  At the end of round 9 you fasten off color A, but on round 10 you rejoin color A in a different spot.  I didn't read that instruction very carefully, so I switched to color B for round 10.  Imagine my surprise when round 11 said to join color B, and round 12 had you join color A to finish off the last 3 rounds of the block.  I liked the way mine was coming out, so I used color B on round 10, color A on round 11, and then finished off the block with color B.

Pattern:  Ornate Arches by Donna Kay Lacey, June 2013 Unique Sheep Crochet Block of the Month Club
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Verve in Washington and Cornwallis
Hook:  2.75 mm

Gr-orange - Finished!

I love these patterns, even the long cast on.  I finished this one this morning, and have already cast on another crescent shawl by the same designer with the Pineapple colorway.  I ended up with 18 grams of skein 1 left over on this one, but decided not to do any more lace layers.  I like this one just the way it is, although I did add eyelet rows between the lace pattern and the short row section, and also at the neck edge.  Instead, the leftover yarn is going into my crochet block leftover stash.  It is a silver gray and pretty uniform.  Skein 1 of the Pesto colorway was a little too variegated to do that with.  One of the other things I love about these patterns is their compactness.  Everything is on one pattern page, very neatly laid out.

Pattern:  Indian Feathers by Alina Appasov
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Tinsel Toes in Gr-orange
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Gr-orange

As soon as Pesto was on the blocking mats I wound up the skeins of Gr-orange and cast on Indian Feathers, another Alina Appasov pattern.  This time I used a long tailed cast on, and way over estimated how much yarn I needed, which is preferable to underestimating.  This pattern is actually intended for a lace weight yarn, but there are several projects that did it in fingering weight.  It also has nupps, which I am replacing with beads.  Right now I am trying to decide on a bead color.  I think I may end up going with the clear beads that I used on my Crushed Tart.

Pattern:  Indian Feathers by Alina Appasov
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Tinsel Toes in Gr-orange
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Pesto - Finished!

This was definitely an experiment.  After the short row shaping I had an entire skein of yarn left over, and you know how much I hate having leftover yarn, so I decided to add another layer of lace.   For my first, unsuccessful, attempt I repeated the lace pattern, but only over half the number of repeats.  I then joined that strip of lace to the shawl and finished off with the eyelet rows.  I should have known it would not work.

But one of the beauties of knitting is that you can always rip out and start over again.  I also noticed, to my horror, that I had missed a yarn over in the eyelet rows right after the lace.  So, I ripped and started over again.  But first I fixed that missing yarn over, pulling a stitch all the way up.  It did result in a strip of three tight stitches going up the shawl, but I figured I could address that when I blocked.  This time when I added the extra lace I decided to be a bit smarter about it.  I went ahead and finished the main body of the shawl with a repeat of the eyelet rows rather than the I-cord bind off that the pattern called for.  Then I picked up stitches right below the purl row and knit the extra lace down from that.  I went for a very simple lace pattern that would increase my stitches, hopefully to the point where they would lay flat when I blocked the shawl again.  By picking up stitches I also gave myself the flexibility to keep trying until I got it right.

If you look closely, you can still see where I picked up that extra stitch, but it is much better than it was.  I may work on it some more.   Overall, I am happy with how my experiment came out.

Pattern:  Peridot Necklace Lace Shawl by Alina Appasov
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Verve in Pesto
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Pesto - Short Row Shaping Done

After finishing up the short row shaping, I have 4 grams left of skein 2 and all of skein 1.  The short row shaping was fun, instead of doing a wrap and turn, or even a shadow wrap, you just turn the work and slip the first stitch.  Then when you come back through you do a slip, slip, knit with the stitch after the slipped stitch, or a purl two together, depending on whether you are on the right side or the wrong side.  I want to use as much of my yarn as possible so I am going to cast on 165 stitches using skein 1 and knit the lace portion again, then I am going to attach it to the neck edge, probably by just knitting the two together.  The pattern calls for an I-cord bind off, but I might just repeat the eyelet rows instead.

Pattern:  Peridot Necklace Lace Shawl by Alina Appasov
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Verve in Pesto
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Seed Pod Necklace

I really need a better name, but haven't thought of one.  I bought the strand of gemstone beads at the show.  I had bought one last year as well, which I used in another necklace.  The clasp is a little turtle. I thought it added a touch of whimsy.  The lampwork beads are by Harold Williams Cooney.

Here is the necklace I made with the other beads that I bought from him at a previous Bead & Button Show.

This one I called Avatar.

Pesto - Lace Part Done

I finished up the lace portion of my Peridot Necklace Lace Shawl, which I have renamed Pesto, after the yarn color, cause I am silly like that.  As I was working on this yesterday it occurred to me that I had another 4 skein gradiance set that would look good in this pattern so off I went to dig it out of my stash.  Now, you have to understand that while most of my stash is cataloged and organized and in nice plastic containers there has been some overflow in the last year or two which has accumulated in piles in various places around the house.  The latest pile up is in the room that would be a formal dining room, if we did any formal dining.  I dug into the project bag that I thought I had put the yarn in and came up with another set.

This is Gr-orange on Tinsel Toes, and after some thinking I realized that it must have been a Sip 'n Stitch Tea Club shipment.  I dug into another project bag and found the original set that I was thinking of.

This set is Pineapple, which is one of my favorite snacks, and was also a Sip 'n Stitch Tea Club shipment.  The yarn is Verve, which is the same yarn as Pesto.  When I turn this into a shawl, I will start with the first skein, the dark green, and end with the yellow.

Pattern:  Peridot Necklace Lace Shawl by Alina Appasov
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Verve in Pesto
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Bead & Button 2013 - Swag on Display

Another Bead & Button Show has come and gone and I spent more than I thought I would.  The show was slow so I had plenty of opportunity to shop.  One of the things that I bought was a beading board.  I usually bead on a small folding table, but this will allow me to bead on my daybed.

You can pin into the edge, and the chenille of the work surface makes your beads lay flat so the hole is facing up, making it easier to get them on your needle.  These are hand made in the USA and the construction and materials are beautiful.  You can find them at the Bead On It Shop.

The first pieces that I bought were actually bought before the main show started, at ArtAsia, a favorite shop that we always go to.

Two lovely pieces of carved jade.  I will probably bead around the one on the left, even though it has a hole for hanging.  The one on the right will become the centerpiece of a beaded bracelet.

During setup, Carol dragged me by a booth selling boulder opal.  We picked out a number of pieces for the vendor to set aside and these are the five that I ended up getting.  I had always read about the fire in opals, but had never really seen it until I saw these stones.

Once the show started, the first beads I spotted were lampwork beads by Joy Munshower.

The octopus caught my eye first.  I have a weakness for octopuses, they are just so cool, and so smart.  Then I spotted the alien sea slugs.  She makes these with leftovers, using up canes and just having fun with abstract shapes and colors.  The pipe cleaners are color coded and indicate the price.

I had to stop by and see Cynthia Rutledge.  We don't get to spend much time together, but I really like her and her husband, Mark.  He gave me some quick back massages during the show.  They are a lovely couple.  She had the bead boards at her booth, and also lovely cameos.

This one is of the goddess Diana, as you can tell by the crescent moon in her hair.  It is from the 1870s and I just had to have her.  She also had some contemporary cameos that were exquisite.  It is nice to know that the art is still alive and well.

She also had this interesting tool.  I missed it, but Carol spotted it so I had to go back and get one.  It is actually for making lace, but you can also use it for starting beaded tubes.  Very cool.

My sister, Virginia, bought some beads from Harold Williams Cooney that looked like seeds.  I had bought beads from him before (the necklace on the left in the first photo), so on Saturday I swung by his booth.  I spotted the seed pod first and asked him to set it aside for me as I didn't have my check book with me (he doesn't take plastic), but he put it in a zip lock bag and told me to take it with me and pay him later.  When I went back on Sunday to pay him, I spotted the strand of beads that I thought would go well with the seed pod.

Of course I also hit the gemstone tables.  You can't have too many strands of gemstones.

During my one day layover in Yellow Springs I swung by Unfinished Creations.  I really wanted to show the owner, Pam, what I had done with some of the things that I had bought from her, but, alas, she was not there.  She was on vacation.  I did, however, get some more amethysts.

I used the flash so you can see how brilliantly they sparkle.  They will make a stunning necklace.

Crushed Tart - Done!

I finished up my first Camp Loopy project this morning.  Overall an easy and quick knit.  I used up almost all of my yarn (116 grams of my 118 gram skein), which always makes me happy because I hate having leftovers.  I learned a new increase technique that creates a beautifully shaped shawl 9knit, yarn over, knit in same stitch instead of just doing a yarn over0, which makes me happy because I now have another trick in my bag of design techniques.  Once it comes off the blocking wires I'll get a beauty shot and upload it to the Loopy Ewe web site.  I've already decided on my second Camp Loopy Project and ordered the yarn and it has already shipped.  My friend, Erin, and I are both going to do Catkin in Dream in Color Smooshy.  We both did Crushed as well.

Pattern:  Crushed by Rachel Henry, from the Lovelorn Collection
Yarn: dragonfly fibers djinni sock in Queen of Tarts
Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Crushed Tart - Main Chart Done

I didn't get a whole lot of knitting done while I was at Bead & Button, but I did during my lay over in Yellow Springs at my folks after the show.  Once I got used to the lace pattern it was pretty easy.  It didn't seem like I was using much yarn until I got to the last repeat of the main chart.  I did a spreadsheet with the stitch count and I will have enough yarn to finish, and will also use enough yarn to qualify for the Camp Loopy challenge.  After finishing the main chart I have 26 grams of yarn left.  Based on my yarn usage I should use 112 grams of yarn (not including the bind off), my skein has 118 grams.  It will be close, but not doing the nupps (I am replacing them with beads) helps a lot.  Nupps eat yarn.

Pattern:  Crushed by Rachel Henry, from the Lovelorn Collection
Yarn: dragonfly fibers djinni sock in Queen of Tarts
Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Crushed Tart - Set up chart done

It is June 1, which means a couple of things.  It is the start of the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and it is the start of Camp Loopy Project 1.  The first project, if you recall, is a single skein project of at least 375 yards using a yarn you've not used before.  I picked dragonfly fibers djinni sock in Queen of Tarts.  The picture does not do the color justice.  It is a rich and juicy red.  For the pattern I picked Crushed by Rachel Henry, from the Lovelorn Collection, hence the project name - Crushed Tart.  This shawl uses a new to me increase to get the heart shape - a knit, yarn over, knit in the same stitch.  You do this stitch after and before the two edge stitches and in the center.  When you do this in the center you get a row of holes instead of a row of stitches for the central spine.

Tomorrow I head north and west on my annual trip to Milwaukee to work with my sister in her booth at the Bead & Button show so I probably won't be posting until I get back.

Pattern:  Crushed by Rachel Henry, from the Lovelorn Collection
Yarn: dragonfly fibers djinni sock in Queen of Tarts
Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Peridot Necklace Lace Shawl

Yesterday the second shipment in The Unique Sheep Gourmet Club arrived, but I didn't get a picture of it.  There was a recipe complete with spices for Ratatouille, a package of Basil seeds, a Basil Pesto recipe and this yarn.  The color is, of course, Pesto, the yarn is Verve, and I just had to find a project for it and cast on.  The pattern I settled on is Peridot Necklace Lace Shawl by Alina Appasova.  It is a crescent shaped shawl that starts at the bottom.  There are, as with all things, both advantages and disadvantages, with this construction technique.  The advantage, of course, is that the rows get shorter rather than longer.  The disadvantage, of course, is that cast on.  327 stitches.  I started out doing a long tail cast on using size 8 needles (the larger size was recommended for the cast on and bind off).  But after incorrectly estimating the length of the tail that I needed, twice, I decided to switch to a knitted cast on using size 5 needles.  After the cast on, the pattern starts off immediately with lace, and knitting lace directly after the cast on row proved tricky.  After running into trouble on the second stitch I decided to knit a row first and then start the lace pattern.  But first I had to count my stitches, again, and figure out how many I had lost - it turned out to be three.  I fixed that and happily knitted away.  The lace pattern looked trickier than it actually was and I memorized it quickly, but reading the lace was a little bit tricky and somehow I got off in the pattern and when I reached the end of the stitches I was not at the end of the row.  So, I went back to the start of the row and carefully checked the pattern to figure out where I had screwed up.  I did find it, somewhere between the halfway and two-thirds way point, and marked it with a split stitch marker, and then I went to tink back and discovered that some stitches had slipped off the needle.  Sigh.  Fixed that.  Tinked back.  I hate tinking centered double decreases.  Got back to where I had made my mistake and picked up the pattern again and when I reached the end of the stitches I was at the end of the row.  Success!  I stopped there for the night.

Pattern:  Peridot Necklace Lace Shawl by Alina Appasov
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Verve in Pesto
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Ladies Sweater - 1838

My one complaint about this company is their unimaginative names for their patterns.  This sweater is from Moments No. 005 by SMC Select. I think they used to be Gedifra.  This is a lovely sweater with lace sleeves and a scoop neck.  I did a swatch and got gauge, but I'm a little bit worried about the size, it seems kind of big to me, but looking at the picture I think it is supposed to have some ease.  I changed the knit 1, purl 1 rib to knit 2, purl 2 because I just don't like the look of knit 1 purl 1 rib.  I am also modifying the pattern to knit it in the round.  This is my mindless project.  I also have this yarn in red, and will probably make a second one in that color.  You see, I need some more nice tops to wear to work.  In the fall I will be starting in a new position and will have to dress up a bit more than I usually do (cargo pants and polo shirts).  I do have rules about dressing up, though, it still has to be comfortable - no panty hose, skirts, high heel shoes for me - so come fall I am going to be the slacks and sweaters girl.

Pattern:  Ladies Sweater - 1838 from Moments No. 005
Yarn:  SMC Select Extra Soft Merino Fino
Needles:  US 2.5 (3.0 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm)