Summer Knitting

I have pretty much abandonned my winter projects for summer knitting. I found this old pattern for a bedspread square and thought about actually knitting a summer bedspread. I made up a square out of DMC Senso to try it out. This is what I discovered: each square is 11" x 11" blocked and I needed about one entire ball per block (150 yards). As a result, I figure that I would need about 70 balls to make a bedspread. At $2.50 per ball that would put the cost around $200. Quite cost prohibitive. Sigh. Now to plan B, whatever that may be. (No pun intended.)



My other summer project is the Shetland Lace Shawl from A Gathering of Lace. I am up to row 35 on the first border. I feel like I am actually getting the hang of it and have been able to memorize each pattern row. My version is not as flowing as the one in the book because I am using thicker yarn. I think it may make a fairly wearable shawl though. I am often afraid to wear my Peacock Feathers shawl because it seems to fragile although it has held up so far.

Photo Shoot

I have been pondering the Soleil fiasco. The v-neck is too low and the strip up the shoulders is too wide. In addition, I would probably add a row of garter stitch at the edge to discourage rolling. I had thought of frogging it to the bottom of the v-neck and redoing it but quite honestly the bottom of the lace is curling also. I'm not sure that the yarn is a good blocker. I am thinking I will probably frog the whole thing and make up my own pattern. So discouraging. Sigh.

My WIP's lined up this morning for a photo shoot in the nice spring sun. I think I am spreading myself too thin.



First is the River Rapids sock in Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock. I LOVE this yarn. Generally I cannot wear primarily wool yarn because it feels like someone is pricking me with pins but this yarn is so soft. I love the way these socks are turning out and I have cast-on for the second sock to avoid second sock syndrome.



Next is Fulmar. I am slowly chugging along on it. I know that I am not going to finish it before next winter so I am somewhat unmotivated. I have been mostly knitting on it when I go to the LYS.



Another Alice Starmore design on the line-up is Donegal. I substituted Knitpicks palette in this sweater. I am not sure how I like the colors and have been contemplating frogging it. I figured that I would keep plugging along though and see if it grows on me.








Next we have the Shetland Lace Shawl from Gathering of Lace. I have finished the first edging and am now working on the first border. I anticipate the border to be the hardest part because the pattern is fairly long and hard to remember. This will be my main summer knitting so I imagine I will work on it more now.






Finally last weekend I took a field trip to ThreadBear in Lansing. What a great yarn store. I was so overwhelmed otherwise I would have probably bought more. I came out with 2 skeins of Misti Alpaca for gloves and 3 skeins of bamboo yarn. I haven't decided what I want to do with it yet.

In parting, here is a first flowers of the season shot. Spring is here!

Soleil: It's Time for Summer!

I have finished and blocked Soleil from Knitty.com. This sweater used 5 skeins of Rowan Cashsoft Baby DK in crocus.

Since taking the picture I have added another row of single crochet to the arm holes to keep the sweater from curling so much. After trying to wear this sweater under a cardigan yesterday I am finding the sweater not very wearable. Every time I lift my son up the sweater pulls down and I end up flashing everyone. I feel like the sweater just barely covers what needs to be covered with the result that I end up pulling it down or up all of the time. I am considering adding some croched lace to the neckline. What is a girl to do? Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Soleil blocking: I'm ready for summer!

I have pretty much finished Soleil. It is currently blocking on the floor. I tried it on before blocking it. Thus far I'm not really sure about it. It is extremely low-cut and it is also not very long. Perhaps it would work better on someone petite. The sweater also requires some pretty severe blocking to open up the lace on the bottom and to keep the armhole edge from curling. This concerns me a bit because it is a summer sweater that you would not wear over another shirt. As a result it seems that the sweater would require a lot of washing and hence blocking every time. Anyhow, I will post a picture when I am able to wear the sweater.