Ashen - Finished!

This dried a lot faster than I thought it would.  I had it pinned out on blocking mats for the first 24 hours, but once things had settled into place I pulled it off the mats and laid it on my mesh sweater rack, which allows air to circulate around it, greatly speeding up the drying process.

I didn’t do much pinning, just a little bit around the armholes, and the neck edge, where things did not want to lay flat.  Mostly I just laid it out and smoothed things into place.  I knit at a fairly close gauge, choosing my needle size based upon the diameter of the yarn that I’m working with - I pick a needle that is about twice the diameter of the yarn for garment knitting.  I really get annoyed with folks that say that to get more drape just use a larger needle and knit at a looser gauge.  No, if you want a finished project that drapes, choose a yarn that gives you a fabric that drapes.  If you knit a garment at a looser gauge than the yarn really wants all you end up with is a swatch that lies to you and a garment that does not fit properly.  Obviously, if you’re knitting lace, other rules apply.  That does require stretching out when blocking, but if you’re having to stretch out stockinette to meet the measurements called for in the pattern, you’re going to have a problem.

I tried it on over my t-shirt this morning and the fit is perfect.

Pattern:  Libraire by Tricot Design MCL

Yarn:  The Ross Farm Ashen Wensleydale 

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm) for the body, and US 5 (3.75 mm) for the ribbing.

Ashen - Neck and Armhole Edging Done!

Yesterday I was able to get a fair bit of knitting done on this vest.  I finished up the second skein of yarn, so I put point protectors on those tips and did the neck and armhole edging.  I did the neck edging first, going down a needle size for the ribbing to a US 5 (3.75 mm).  Given how dark and fuzzy the yarn is, picking up stitches was a bit challenging, but I used my Lumos knitting light, which made it a lot easier.  The pattern recommends a stretchy bind-off in pattern, and specifically calls out tubular bind-off.  I didn’t feel like going to all of that trouble, so I just did a regular bind-off in pattern.

I tried the vest on over my t-shirt and the fit is perfect.  I am very pleased with how the Wensleydale is knitting up, The knitted fabric is substantial without being too heavy, and I think it shows off the yarn beautifully.  I’ve already woven in all of my ends on the bodice, so now all I have to do is finish up the body and my vest will be done.

Pattern:  Libraire by Tricot Design MCL

Yarn:  The Ross Farm Ashen Wensleydale 

Needles:  US 6 (4.0 mm), and US 5 (3.75 mm)

Ashen - Upper Bodice Done!

This went very quickly.  The pattern is very well written and easy to follow and set up in knitCompanion.  I think I just wanted an easy and mindless knit, which this one is given how well written the pattern is.  The pattern actually has all the shaping written out for all of the different sizes, so all you have to do is find your size and follow it.  No expanding out condensed text with strings of numbers for each of the different sizes and the “at the same time” instruction with yet more strings of numbers for the different sizes.  I can follow those just fine, but sometimes you just want easy.  Now I’m into the body and it is just endless rounds of knitting that I can read during.

I am reading an actual physical book, a paperback, from my book stash (also known as a library) - Mars by Ben Bova from 1992.  You can’t even buy it on Amazon and it is not available on Kindle.  I know that paperbacks typically require a hand (or two) to hold them open, but I have this nifty thing called a book weight that I bought from Levenger.  I just put the book in my lap and lay this across the open pages.  I have to shift it up and down as I read, but it works and lets me do two of my favorite things - read and knit.

Levenger sells lots of neat stuff for readers, and fountain pens.  I really love fountain pens.  I am enjoying this knit so much more than Last Word, and I may have to make more than one of these vests.  The pattern does say that it is so quick and fun you will want to make more than one, and they may just be right about that.

Pattern:  Libraire by Tricot Design MCL

Yarn:  The Ross Farm Ashen Wensleydale 

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)

Last Word - Cast On!

After finishing up the two bolster pillows I wasn’t sure what I wanted to work on.  I have several WIPs that I could have picked up but just wasn’t feeling it.  I did cake up yarn for another Natasja Hornsby pattern, but it was a bit more involved than I felt like dealing with so I grabbed this wonderful yarn that recently made it in to my stash.

This is Ashen, 100% Wensleydale, from The Ross Farm.  It is natural, no dye, and is really lovely to work with.  The pattern is Last Word by Thea Coleman, and the yarn is the one called for in the pattern.  It came out this past March, and I bought the patten and ordered the yarn right away.  I did go down a needle size, but am working the second size.  I substituted a long tail cast on for the cable cast on, and did not do the increases on the sides after completing the ribbing.  I just didn’t see the point.  I’ve made a bit of progress, I’m almost through the first skein.

It is pretty easy knitting.

Pattern:  Last Word by Thea Coleman

Yarn:  Ashen from The Ross Farm

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)