In my last post, I mentioned how I had started a bunch of new projects again. I was taking steps to cure my cast-onitis or at least diminish its symptoms. Things improved slightly for a few days and then I had a relapse. In a BIG way.

On the other hand, I have finished three projects: one a large knit fingering weight shawl I designed, one a relatively quick crocheted shawl and a quick and easy crochet scarf.

My Hy Shawl. I designed this large shawl to wrap all the way around me and sit securely on my shoulders. It is based vaguely on hydrangeas. That design was, in turn inspired by the colours of the yarn.

My Isisisis shawl, in a vibrant yarn that just jumped into my cart and followed me home.

And much of the leftover yarn from the Isisisis shawl were used for this fun scarf, ready for giving to the Snowsuit fund next fall.

I also started and finished a swatch for an online class I am taking.

Those are all the finished projects for the last week or two. Great progress, yadda, yadda. Now, the bad news. I have started a few other new projects and rekindled interest and progress on another one. I also bought some yarn. Actually, quite a bit of yarn. Four skeins of Manos Fino. This yarn was supposed to be at my local yarn store in December and I have been waiting very (im)patiently for it ever since. Now, just four months late, it is finally here! I was hoping the colours would be more brilliant, like the Manos Silk Blend colours. However, the single ply yarn is so soft and gushy that it really doesn’t matter. I also bought 2 skeins of Manos Alegria, a sock yarn of merino and polymide (nylon) available in the most gorgeous bright colourways. Some beautiful yarn in what I call “Starry Night” came home with me. It has already begun transforming itself into a shawl.

Of course, I am designing this one on the fly a bit and so am working both in this fabulous yarn and am doing my swatching/planning shawl in a lesser stash yarn. So that is sort of two new projects on the go.

I have also started a project that I have been wanting to do for a long time: random lace. At bedtime, I am listening to an audio book. On right side rows, when the narrator gets to the end of a sentence, I do a yo, k2tog and then I continue knitting until the end of the next sentence. This is a fun relaxing project that may or may not work out. no pressure, just knitting.

My swatch for the online class I am taking has renewed my interest and ability to continue on a project that I had put aside for a while, my Gingham Dreams scarf. With the new way I have learned of holding my yarn, this project is definitely easier to work on than it was and I have been inspired to take it up again.

I am still working on my socks and on my Horai, Horai shawl, though I rarely work on the Horai, Horai at all.

The socks are for a retreat I am going to next month. The pattern is named after and designed for the Gatineau hills (where the retreat will take place). I chose this stunning colour way because we (and everyone else for miles around) often go to the Gatineau Hills in the fall to look at the changing leaves. The colours in this yarn reflect that beautifully.  

As is oh so typical for me, this is not just any crochet project, but one with stitches which not only am I not familiar with, but which I am sure human hands were not designed. The crossed double post crochets are meant to be done with the second stitch behind the first. That means that once you have done the first stitch, you go behind this stitch, enter the from the front to the back and then to the front again on the post of the previous stitch and then have to slip through to the back of the first stitch to yo, then retrace your path to complete the stitch. Yikes!  The puff stitches make me realize that I probably have never learned to crochet correctly in the first place, because my crocheting method makes it actually impossible to complete this 8 dhc puff.  Well, at least I am learning.

I chose to do a crochet shawl for its speed and because I really enjoy crocheting occasionally. So far, at this learning stage in this shawl, I am neither going quickly nor am I really enjoying it. However, once I have the method figured out, I am sure it will be a fun though challenging and probably not quick project.

Luckily, the few brain cells left in my possession, encouraged me to do a swatch before undertaking this project and so I am getting to learn the stitches on a small scale and on a swatch were mistakes really don’t matter. This swatch has extra rows and stitches so the ridge near the bottom will not be there on the finished shawl.

Queen’s Shawl

Here is a photo of my Queen’s Shawl gently flapping in the still wintery breeze of spring. (This week however, the temperatures will definitely me more springlike with expected highs above the freezing mark every day!)

I was rather surprised that this turned out to be another green shawl (the third in only a few months). On the skein and even knitting with it, the Aquas Malabrigo Sock yarn looked like distinctly teal (a greenish blue) but all made up the greens in the yarn dominate.

The shawl is lovely and rather large (about 60″ or 150 cm) diameter. However, it is not large enough. I was hoping for something that would wrap me up and keep me warm on these chilly spring evenings, but this does not quite do the trick. I know for next time that a round shawl with only 160 rows (and 705 sts per row) is too small.

Regardless, it is beautiful and I love to look at it and to feel it draped around my shoulders keeping those and the upper half of my arms nice and warm.

I have already started my next shawl with Malabrigo Sock. This one will be different is shape, design and colour. It is in various shades and hues of purple (gee, I hope it doesn’t turn into a green shawl too!). This is really a wonderful yarn to work with. I am really enjoying it.

Malabrigo Sock (Lotus)

Since most of my projects are more complex lace, I needed a fairly mindless and easy project for carrying around and chose the beautiful, ethereal Horai Scarf.  In progress, it is really not very attractive at all, the proverbial “dog’s breakfast”. This shawl will go from ugly duckling to beautiful swan during the blocking process. 

Last year, my finished projects included three shawls and several shawlettes, plus lots of scarves and other things. So, this year, I finally feel like I am ready for the challenge.

I joined the 12 Shawls Forever group at Ravelry and have committed to knitting (or crocheting or weaving) a dozen shawls during 2013. So far, things are going well. In January, I finished and submitted a shawl called Mysterious Fingers because it was a mystery shawl that started off my knitting a long and laborious stretch of cast on/bind of fingers. It is a pattern my Joji Locatelli, called Echoes of Color.

In February, I finished another mystery, called Springtime in January, a bright springy green shawl that I started in January. It is from the pattern Aimatia by SusannaIC.

A few days later, I finished yet another mystery shawl, Tempting Fate (my version of Temptress by Boo Knits). This was originally going to be for my mom for her 84th birthday, but as she kept admiring my Holiday Holiday as I wore it, for her birthday, I gave her the choice between the two and she chose the brighter blue Holiday Holiday. So I get to keep my Tempting Fate. Yippee. It is beautiful and made from the softest yarn I have ever had the pleasure of knitting with, a Lichtfaden silk and baby camel blend. 

This is Holiday Holiday (my Billie Holiday by Susanna IC)

I am only about 20% of the way done but totally enjoying it! It would be really cool if I could get this done before the new year, but I am not putting any pressure on myself at this point. Just relaxing and enjoying the process.

Vanilla Almond Crescents (Vanilkové Rohlíky)

Ingredients:
240 g butter, unsalted
120 g almonds, ground
250 g flour
80 g icing sugar
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon milk, if needed
vanilla sugar, to coat

Directions:

This is my mom, mixing the dough.

Mix flour, almonds and sugar.  Cut in butter and egg yolk.  With your hands form a dough.  Cover with plastic wrap and chill for ten minutes to overnight (if overnight, let it sit on the counter for an hour before continuing).

Roll into balls about 3/4″ diameter, then roll the balls into short, thin logs and wrap around a finger to form a crescent shape.

Place on cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes.  Crescents should be very light golden.

When still warm, roll them in vanilla icing sugar.
Store in an airtight container.

The staff where my father-in-law is are really marvellous and so dedicated. It is a privilege to do something small to repay them for all their patience and kindness to the residents.

THIS is what 50 scarves, cowls and shawlettes looks like:

I had considered laying them all out and seeing how much space that takes, but decided I just don’t have enough room.

This scarf was done by casting on 16 stitches (though any multiple of 2+2 will work).

Every row: Sl1 wyif, *yo, ssk, repeat from * to the end, k1.

Bind off (or cast off) with a loose bind off.

A PDF of the pattern with all the details is available from my Ravelry store. Follow my blog to get updates when new patterns are posted!

If you knit this is a natural fibre and block it, you will really open up the lace and bring out its real beauty.