Periwinkle Shrug - Restart

I had actually pulled this out a couple of months ago and had made considerable progress when I decided that I needed a do over.  This is a project from 2014 that has been hibernating for quite some time.  I decided as I was working the back that I had made the sleeve too long and now I risked running out of yarn before I completed the other sleeve.  The reason I had made the sleeve too long is that I wanted more width in the back.  So, I did some measuring and counting and decided that I just needed to increase faster by reducing the number of rows that I knit between increases.  I ended up going with increases every 6 rows.  Then I cast on again.

I will confess that I do not find this project very interesting to knit.  The yarn is lovely, but the knitting is pretty boring.  It does make a good project to work on when I can’t find anything else to work on, or I’m too tired to work on something more complicated, or I’m watching something that I actually need to pay attention to.

Pattern:  Quicksilver Lace Shrug by Kristiina V.

Yarn:  Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima

Needle:  US 2.5 (3 mm)

Aqueous Shawl 2 - Finished!

 

I finished this up last week.  It knitted up very quickly, about 5 days.  It helped that I had an unexpected Federal Holiday last weekend.  I was able to check my corrections and annotate the pattern, as well as verify my charts and additional notes.  I just need to go back through everything one last time and then I can send it off to the designer.  One of the things that amazes me about this yarn is the way the colors glow when you get them in natural light.  When I knit this the first time my skeins were actually overweight, so I was able to complete the shawl, with the errors that caused an extra stitch, with just those two skeins.  When I started this one I realized that I might have issues with running out of yarn.  Fortunately I had a full skein and most of a second skein of the Drops of Jupiter.  I did consider getting a second skein of the Sarah’s Violet, but I had already gotten a second skein of the Tupelo Honey when I was concerned about running out of yarn on the first one, so I used that for the last garter rows and the bind off.

The yarn has a marvelous drape and is very soft.  I have not made many shawls out of heavier weight yarns, but I really like these.  It blocks up beautifully, and the size and shape are just perfect.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl 2 - Art Deco Leaf Section Done

 

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, there were a number of errors in this pattern, but I want to make sure that my corrections are actually correct, so I’m knitting a second one to verify that.  As I complete each section I make annotations in the PDF of the pattern on the errors that I’ve found and what the correction should be.  Once I’m done I’ll send it back to the designer.  I’m also going to send her a Word file with my charts for the Dainty Chevron sections and the Art Deco Leaf section, along with my stitch count tables.  I am creating stitch count tables for the entire shawl, by section, that has the number of stitches on each side of the marker as well as the total for each row.  I started on this one on Friday, and have already made a lot of progress, despite having to spend a lot of time on the first Dainty Chevron chart to make sure that I figured out the error that resulted in the extra stitch at the end of that section.  Charting it was the only way, as there is a pattern to the increases and spotting the anomaly in the increase pattern was the key.  This was complicated by another variation on one of the rows that is driven by the nature of the lace pattern itself.  When I charted it for knitting the first time I had compressed both sides of the chart, but there were a couple of rows on the left side that I couldn’t compress, which made matching things up tricker when compared with the compressed rows.  In the end I expanded the left side back out, which allowed me to spot what was going on.

The colors for this one are Sarah’s Violet and Drops of Jupiter.  The Drops of Jupiter is from last year’s Camp Loopy.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl - Finished!

I finished this up last weekend.  I used up all by 1.5 grams of the Nightrain, and all but 4.1 grams of the Tupelo Honey.  The colors really glow in the natural light.  Now I need to update the pattern and test it with my other two colors so I can send it back to the designer and hope that she accepts it in the spirit it is intended.  It is a fun pattern.

Blocking was pretty straight forward.  With slip stitch edges I sometimes worry about the edges being too tight, but this one blocked pretty easily and without distortion.  I pinned out the top edge first and then the left edge (the bound off edge) and then worked may way back to the starting point.  I did have to do some adjustments, but not too much.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

 

Aqueous Shawl - Broken Arrow Section 2 Done

 

So, now I have worked through Garter Section 4, Broken Arrow Section 2 and Garter Section 5.  Starting with Garter Section 4 the stitch count of the shawl remains essentially constant (134 stitches on right side rows, 135 stitches on wrong side rows), with increases only on the section before the marker.  I have Dainty Chevrons Section 2 and Garter Section 6 left.  I was getting very nervous about having enough yarn, so I weighed my skeins to get yarn usage data during Garter Section 5 and I should just barely make it.  Remember how I have an extra stitch?  And how that extra stitch was on the section after the marker?  Well, when I worked the first pattern row in Broken Arrow Section 2 it worked.  No extra stitch.  Although there was an error in the pattern at the end of the row - it stated “repeat to 3 sts left, sl2 wyib, k2”.  It should have been sl1 wyib, k2 if you only have 3 stitches left.  I was fully expecting to have 4 stitches based upon where my extra stitch was, and was surprised when I didn’t.  So then I worked the wrong side row and discovered that my extra stitch was now in the section before the marker.  I have no idea how that could have happened as I have been extremely careful in the garter sections on where the increases occur.  I’ll be sending all of my notes as well as my charts to the designer when I’m done, so she can update the pattern.  I have charted the Dainty Chevrons Section 2 - much easier than charting the first one now that I know that lace pattern - and it is all set up in knitCompanion.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle: US 7 (4.5 mm) 

Aqueous Shawl - Garter Section 3 and Art Deco Leaf Section Done

 

I have now reached the maximum stitch count to the left of the marker, from now on that side will be decreasing.  Once again I charted the pattern from the written instructions.  Once I understood how the pattern worked it was pretty straight forward knitting.  I did learn the hard way to check my right side row before I worked the wrong side row.  Fortunately I made the mistake early on and only had to frog back 8 rows or so.  Trying to drop back stitches and fix it without tinking did not work.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl - Broken Arrow Mosaic Section 1 Done

 

I have finished Garter Section 2, Broken Arrow Section 1, and part of Garter Section 3.  I figured out that my extra stitch was on the second part, after the marker, which made working the mosaic section easy, I just had to take the extra stitch into account at the end of the right side rows and the beginning of the wrong side rows.  I marked up the pattern as I worked it.  I also figured out that the extra stitch is probably a pattern error, not mine.  I have the correct stitch count at row 16, and rows 18 and 20 both have 2 increases, so that gives you 72 stitches, which is what I have.  I’m making notes of all the errors I find and will pass them on to the designer.  I think I am the first person to knit this, other than the designer, as there are only 2 projects on Ravelry, including mine.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl - Dainty Chevron Section 1 Done

And the first lace section is completed.  So much easier with a chart, but not without a little challenge.  I had a mistake right near the end when I finished it last night.  I spotted it when I took a picture this morning.

See how the pattern is not quite symmetric on the spine at the top?  This is why having charts and being able to read your knitting is so important.  First I checked the chart to make sure I hadn’t messed something up there.  Nope, it wasn’t the chart that was wrong.  The stitch patterns were symmetric all along the spine.  So then I looked at my knitting and compared it to the chart.  It was pretty easy to see where I had gone wrong.  A yarn over in the wrong spot.  I tinked back two rows, which also allowed me to fix a weird yarn over on one of my CDD-P on the last row, fixed the yarn over and reknit.  All better.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day 

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Aqueous Shawl - Cast On & Garter Section 1 Done

 

It is time for Camp Loopy!  This year the theme is Circus Camp, and keeping with the three ring theme the project has to have three of something.  I went with three different stitch patterns.  This pattern has four different stitch patterns.  These are the original colors that I had picked:

Unfortunately there wasn’t enough contrast between the Nightrain (on the left) and Sarah’s Violet (on the right) so I ordered a skein of Tupelo Honey and it came in record time, so I was able to cast on last night.

The garter stitch section was pretty easy.  I got into the rhythm of the increases and didn’t count until the end and was delighted to find I had the correct stitch count.  After taking a picture I started on the next section, the Dainty Chevron section.  Lace.  Worked on both sides.  And no chart.  Ugh.  I struggled with the written directions last night and got about half way through when I set it aside after finding a couple of errors. This morning I put in one of my after-thought lifelines and ripped back.  Then I spent most of today charting the section.  It was pretty challenging at first, but once I figured out the pattern it went well.  I was even able to compress the chart with repeats and make everything line up.  The knitting went quickly, although I did find a couple of minor mistakes in my charting.  I did end up with one more stitch than the pattern.  But I’m not going to worry about it.

Pattern:  Aqueous Depths in Motion Shawl by Crystal Lee Day

Yarn:  Magpie Fibers Swanky DK

Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)

Seascair Blanket - Two Squares Done

 

Last year I signed up for Carol Feller’s Celtic Knit Club 2021.  I thought it would be something different to do.  The yarn is Blasta, a worsted weight that is 60% Fine Irish Wool, and 40% New Zealand Wool spun by Donegal Yarns in Donegal Ireland for her club.  It is non-superwash and I’m really starting to like the “old fashioned” yarns.  I think it is easier to knit them to gauge and to knit them evenly because it is sticky.  It seems to naturally knit up at a tighter more even gauge.  I just grabbed the needle size recommended and the squares blocked out to exactly the called for measurements (11 inches square).

I needed some mindless knitting the other day, so I grabbed a cake and cast on.  I have actually knitted all four of these plain squares from the first shipment, but the other two still need to be blocked, and Friday I started the first of the two cabled squares.  This color is Liath.

Pattern:  Seascair Blanket by Carol Feller

Yarn:  Donegal Yarns Blasta

Needle:  US 6 (4 mm)

Arrowhead Shawl - May Done

 

And here is May.  It is important not to overthink the pattern on this one.  I just do what the card says.  This one was a bit different, so for a second I wondered if it was correct, and then I reminded myself to not overthink it and just go with it.  Now I am all caught up on this project and can focus on some others that I have fallen behind on.

The colors so far:

January - Modern fair isle

February- Tiny House

March - Manatee

April - Birkenstick 

May - Coffee Grounds

Pattern:  Arrowhead Shawl by ChiWei Ranck

Yarn:  Madelintosh Tosh Merino Light + Tweed

Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

Arrowhead Shawl - April Done

I did fall behind on my Arrowhead Shawl, but this past weekend I pulled it out and finished up April.  I am almost done with May.  This is some nice easy knitting, perfect after a hard day at the home office.

I’m not usually a fan of neutral colors, but I’m enjoying this.  The colors thus far:

January - Modern fair isle

February- Tiny House

March - Manatee

April - Birkenstick 

Pattern:  Arrowhead Shawl by ChiWei Ranck

Yarn:  Madelintosh Merino Light + Tweed

Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)

 

Trinus Shawl - Finished!

 

It has been a little while since I last posted.  I guess I’ve been busy.  Not quite sure on what.  Once I got into the mosaic it became fairly addicting.  The only headache was juggling the three cakes of yarn.  This was a fun knit and I’m happy to say that my mistakes were minimal and usually quickly caught so there wasn’t much tinking going on.  I was a bit worried about the I-cord edging being too tight (I did try to keep it relaxed), but it blocked out nicely.

First I laid it out and smoothed it into shape, then I pinned the top edge, followed by the bottom edge, and lastly the picot points.  I did have to adjust mosaic curl on the top edge as I was pinning out the picots, and also the bottom edge, just to even things out.

Pattern:  Trinus Shawl by Ambah O’Brien 

Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Kiri

Needle:  US 5 (3.75 mm)