May Flowers - Half Way Done

After finishing up my English Garden shawl I immediately cast on May Flowers.  The pattern is the Impressionists MKAL by Helen Stewart.  I actually created a project page back in March, but never got around to choosing my yarn, getting wrapped up instead in a couple of other projects that took priority.  After getting back from Bead & Button and focusing on my English Garden shawl I decided to use my other Spring Trio on the Impressionist shawl, and as my husband will attest, once I decide on something I want to execute.

The colors are, from top to bottom, Wildflowers, Ranunculus and Bluebird Skies.  I really like the speckled Wildflowers skein and the way the pink blends with it while the blue pops.

Pattern:  Impressionists MKAL by Helen Stewart
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Kiri Spring Trio
Needle:  US 4 (3.5 mm)

English Garden - Finished!

Last week I concentrated on finishing up my English Garden shawl, and thanks to coming home early on Wednesday with a migraine I was able to finish it.  Here is a shot of it blocking on my spiffy new gridded blocking mats.

When I got to the final green lace section I discovered that I was short 4 stitches (yes, I do make mistakes, and no, I don't always catch them).  I didn't know at the time what happened (I didn't really try to figure it out, I just counted my stitches noted the discrepancy and kept knitting), but when I was blocking the shawl I found them - four missed yarn overs on the last increase row.  I fudged the lace pattern at the edges to make it work.

Pattern:  Snowmelt Shawl by Helen Stewart
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Kiri - Spring Trio - English Garden
Needle:  US 4 (3.5 mm)

English Garden - Making Progress

This project also took the trip to Bead & Button with me, and I did manage to make some progress on it.  I am now through the A and C color sections and about to start the B and C color section.  I need to get some of my WIPs done as I have some projects that I want to get started on, including some designs of my own.

This is a semi-circular shawl, which I had started on April 2, but then it sat in one of my project bags for two months until I restarted it on June 1, modifying the start to give it a better neckline.  I also modified the cast on.  The pattern called for knitting an I-cord and then picking up stitches in the I-cord, which I thought was just making your point the hard way.  I did an I-cord cast on instead.

I also started out deeper in the shawl, to make the neckline more wearable.  The yarn I am using is one of the Spring Trios from The Unique Sheep.  English Garden on Kiri.

Pattern:  Snowmelt Shawl by Helen Stewart
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Kiri - Spring Trio - English Garden
Needle:  US 4 (3.5 mm)

ECOLO Shrug - One Side Done (Almost)

I took this project with me to Bead & Button and managed to make some good progress on the first side.  I am working on the last color on side one.  I've had to modify things a little - only working 4 rows of garter after the ruffled section on the yellow green and yellow skeins, but it is all good.

Pattern:  Traveling Zebra Shrug by Carolyn Blakelock
Yarn:  Biscotte & Cie Bis-sock
Needles:  US 2.5 (3 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm)

Blueberry Fields Shrug - Center Panel Done

I finished up the center panel of the Blueberry Fields shrug over a month ago, but forgot to post about it.

I have the yarn caked up and split into 2 so it is ready to be knit up as soon as I finish my ECOLO shrug.

Pattern:  Traveling Zebra Shrug by Carolyn Blakelock
Yarn:  Biscotte & Cie Bis-sock
Needles:  US 2.5 (3 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm)

Beach Party Shrug - Center Panel Done

There are two things that happen in June:  Bead & Button, and Camp Loopy.  I did sign up for Camp Loopy but I haven't started my June project yet.  I'm not going to put any pressure on myself, if I do it, I do it, if I don't, I don't.  I just got back from Bead & Button yesterday, after driving for two days (from Milwaukee WI to King George VA).  I'll go back to work tomorrow.  This looks to be our last Bead & Button show.  I go there to work for my sister, who is the co-owner of Beadcats.  The show has declined a lot since I started working for them in 2001.  That was the only year that I was able to fly to the show.  Starting in 2002 I drove, bring all of the booth infrastructure and they flew, shipping the stock.

I actually started this shrug in May after finishing up the center panel for the Blueberry Fields Shrug.  I took this, along with both of my other in progress shrugs (ECOLO and Blueberry Fields) along with me.  I finished up the center panel while working in the booth - business was that slow.

These small projects fit perfectly in my small project bag, that Carol Perrenoud, the other half of Beadcats, made.

I wore it on my wrist and could knit while working in the booth.


Pattern:  Traveling Zebra Shrug by Carolyn Blakelock
Yarn:  Biscotte & Cie Bis-sock
Needles:  US 2.5 (3 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm)

Irish Spring - Finished!

After finishing up my test knit and my Watermelon Shrug (the two largest WIPs in my pile) I focused on this project, finishing it up this past Friday.  The pattern as I've modified it is really sized for 100 g/400 yd skeins, so I have some leftovers as the yarn I used comes in 113 g / 434 yd skeins.  I could have added another repeat of the green and yellow but I just didn't feel like dealing with the math.

Pattern:  Liken by Sivia Harding, modified to be a cape
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Kiri
Needle:  US 4 (3.5 mm)

Watermelon Shrug - Finished!

I took a break from my test knit and finished up my shrug just before the Memorial Day weekend.  This one has been on my needles since last fall - just before Thanksgiving.  Yikes.  But it is not the oldest WIP I have.  I like the larger size of this one - 5 stripes instead of 4.

Pattern:  Traveling Zebra Shrug by Carolyn Blakelock
Yarn:  Biscotte & Cie Bis-sock
Needles:  US 2.5 (3 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm)