Peacock Feathers - One row of diamonds done!

I think modular knitting may be the knitting equivalent of junk food - you can't knit just one module.  I've had a migraine this weekend so needed mindless knitting and this certainly filled the bill.  It is also a bit addicting.  Each diamond knits up quickly and before you know it you're picking up stitches for the next one, and the next one and then you're done with the row.  I love the color play and the yarn is a real pleasure to work with.  I do need to get back to my test knit, though, and my head is feeling a bit better this morning, so I should probably get back to that now.


Pattern:  Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend by Louise Robert
Yarn:  Biscotte & Cie Bis-Sock in Peacock Feathers
Needles:  US 3 (3.25 mm)

Peacock Feathers - Base Triangles Done!

After finishing both my Karamagara Shawl and Sun on my Shoulders I decided that I needed another easy project to work on when my brain is too tired to work on my current test knit.  This is a pattern Biscotte & Cie, called Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend that highlights their self-striping yarn through modular knitting.  This is not the first time I have tried modular knitting.  Some years ago I tried a Norah Gaughan coat made of hexagons, but it really did not work out for me, although I may try it again with a different yarn, and some pattern mods.  Now that I have finished the base triangles I will work back along the triangles joining them with diamonds.  I will continue doing this until I have completed the triangular shawl.  The pattern is super simple and easy to pick up and put down.  Of course, this construction technique can be used to be make other shapes, and I may have to play around with it.  I did order yarn for another shawl this morning.  This is my first time using Bis-Sock and I really like it.  It has a great feel to it.

Pattern:  Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend by Louise Robert
Yarn:  Biscotte & Cie Bis-Sock in Peacock Feathers
Needles:  US 3 (3.25 mm)

Karamagara Shawl - Finished!

I finished up my Karamagara Shawl last Sunday and blocked it.  For some reason I wasn't enjoying knitting this, which was why I put it aside.  When I picked it back up I finished it quickly and am happy with the results.  I did not work any transition  rows.  I worked each skein until it was almost gone and then joined the next skein and kept going.

Here are some beauty shots.

And a close up of the beads in the top.

And in the bottom.

Pattern: Karamagara Shawl by Chrissy Prange
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Tinsel Toes in Mermaid Bouquet
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Sun on my Shoulders - Finished!

I finally sewed the buttons on this morning.  I'm not sure about this one yet.  I may tweak the design some before I knit another one.  The armholes are rather deep, although I knit them per the pattern.  I think that it is partly an artifact of the yoke construction.  Perhaps if I were wearing this over a shirt I wouldn't notice it as much.  The yarn is very soft and silky, as it should be considering that it is 50% silk.  That makes it have a lot of drape - think silk charmeuse, only heavier.

Pattern:  loppem by Norah Gaughan
Yarn:  aran silky merino by Sundara in Gold in the Sky
Needle:  US 8 (5.0 mm)

Karamagara - Chart 2 Done!

I finished up Sun on my Shoulders Sunday (beauty shots to come soon), so I picked this project back up.  The last time I worked on this was back in October.  It didn't take me long to blast through the rest of the repeats of Chart 2.  My yarn usage has been pretty much right on target and I've been using up each skein and then doing a direct switch to the next - just join and go.  I'm now ready to start the final charts, and figure out where I want to put my beads.  The recommended placement is in the yarn over columns, but I think I will put them over the center double decreases instead.

Pattern: Karamagara Shawl by Chrissy Prange
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Tinsel Toes in Mermaid Bouquet
Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Sun on my Shoulders - Three Skeins Done

I have knit through three of my four skeins of yarn and now I must decide if I want to keep knitting until I run out of yarn, or if I want to wrap things up by finishing out the repeat of the cable pattern, work a couple of reverse stockinette and call it good.  Right now it falls just below my hips.  If I keep going and use up my fourth skein it will probably go another 6 inches, which I think might mess up the proportions.  I think I will try finishing it up today and I'll try it on before I cut my yarn.  That way, if I don't like it I can always rip back and keep going.

Besides, the leftover yarn would make a wonderfully soft and snuggly cowl.


Pattern:  loppem by Norah Gaughan
Yarn:  aran silky merino by Sundara in Gold in the Sky
Needle:  US 8 (5.0 mm)

Sun on my Shoulders - Sleeves Done

I got to almost to the end of skein 2 last night, so I caked up skein 3 and finished off the sleeves.  Now I'll just knit on the body, increasing at regular intervals, until I run out of yarn.  I tried it on.  It fits quite well, even without blocking, and feels dreamy against the skin thanks to the silk.  This may make a nice basic pattern to play with.

Pattern:  loppem by Norah Gaughan
Yarn:  aran silky merino by Sundara in Gold in the Sky
Needle:  US 8 (5.0 mm)

Sun on my Shoulders - Upper Body Done

I am re-writing this pattern to work it from the top down.  Frankly I don't understand why you wouldn't work a pattern like this from the top down.  The translation is a bit challenging as the pattern is not well written and I'm basically trying to read it backwards, but I'm managing.  I took this picture just after I had placed the sleeve stitches on scrap yarn and cast on for the underarms.  I am now a fair bit further on, almost through my second skein.  I just wound my third and will finish off the sleeves before I continue with the body.

I did get a little confused and switched to the next size down when I was working my sleeve increases.  I'm not sure it will make a huge difference as far as the fit is concerned, but if it does I can always give this one to my sister who is a little slimmer than I am.  I have a feeling I'll be making more of this design.

Pattern:  loppem by Norah Gaughan
Yarn:  aran silky merino by Sundara in Gold in the Sky
Needle:  US 8 (5.0 mm)