FishyKissKnits

Update on Frost Flowers & Leaves Shawl

Well, I'm finally at the finishing stages for the Frost Flowers Shawl.  It's taken so long because I've been working on so many other projects, and actually finished 3 other shawls since starting this one.
Part of the hold-up has been my dislike of the finishing edge on the original pattern.  I've been searching and searching, and finally found an old vintage pattern which has 2 leaves in a repeat pattern..... kind of reflects the 'spine' pattern in the shawl, and I decided that this would be perfect.  The only problem is that this pattern takes quite a bit of yarn, so I've decided that because I'm already incorporating 4 colours of Handmaiden Seasilk, and there is so much left over, I will use that in the edging as well, rather than using a single colour as I originally planned.  I love the look of this edge.  I've finished 1/4 of the edge, and about to change colours.  More later....

Shawl Updates

  Bel's shawl is off the needles and to me it looks like a butterfly.  Of course it will straighten out after blocking, but I'm tempted to let the edges with whatever fringe I choose ripple - it seems to want to do that anyway.  The colours look fabulous.  This picture was taken with my new camera in very low light, but I just had to try it. 












These 2 images are to show the progress in my Frost Flowers and Leaves Shawl, which of course has been put aside to work on the Bellflower shawl.  I think that the transitions here work from colour to colour.... and there is one more colour to add - more of a solid soft pink.

contents © Esther Budd, 2007. All rights reserved.

Emily's Birthday Shawl

Emily finally received her Birthday Koigu shawl yesterday.  She looked amazing in it, and as a coincidence was wearing a skirt that totally went with it.  Here are some other close-up shots - one of the fringe detail, the other of the lace stitch.

contents © Esther Budd, 2007. All rights reserved.

Final Colour

Down to the final colour.  Can't wait to finish.  I love the cast-off - the whole thing opens up like a butterfly.  The final emergence is the blocking.  Once the yarn hits the water you can almost hear the sigh as it relaxes.  So close.

And I wonder where Bel gets her love of rainbows.  Hmmmm.

Those colours seem strangely familiar!

I was looking at Ma's post about my shawl and it occured to me that the colours seemed strangely familiar. Two years ago I made this blanket (on baby T) made with 5 colours of a yarn I can't remember the name of right now.  How do you like them rainbows?! Seems that my palette hasn't changed an awful lot (I picked the colours for the shawl Ma is knitting for me from her stash).  And by the way Ma, I LOVE THE SHAWL!!!

Frost Flowers and Leaves

Now here is a project to cut any knitter down to size.  Frost Flowers and Leaves from Meg Swansons' A Gathering of Lace, which is a wonderful book.  After 2 false starts, I am finally almost finished the second chart of this gorgeous shawl.  It is fabulous.  I just love the look of this lace.  And I am so hooked on lace now that I think I have to start a 'dummy' project just for the nights when I cannot concentrate enough to work on the frost flowers. 

I've done my own version of a Charlotte's web type shawl using the same type of shaping but with a totally different lace and 6 colours of Koigu.  It turned out beautifully, and now I think I'll use another lace yet again, and do another one.  This time I think I'll use one of my stash lace yarns from Hand Maiden or Fleece Artist, but I'm not sure yet.

Anyway, here is a picture of the Frost Flowers in progress, and another of my completed Koigu shawl.

contents © Esther Budd, 2007. All rights reserved.

Instant Gratification Sweater

My Ribbon Twist sweater ("Beth" from the Ribbon Twist Collection by Kim Hargreaves) is done. It was such a quick knit. Gotta love it, even if the 12 mm needles are killer on my wrists! (and I am heading right into another 12 mm needle project that I can't say anything about!!!) I love the look of the sweater, but I am constantly pulling it up at the shoulders since it feels like it's falling off. If I were to make it again, I would probably use a thinner yarn for sewing it up, as it feels rather bulky around the armpits and shoulders. I suppose I could redo it, but that seems like such a p.i.t.a. I am also realizing that as much as I am attracted to bulky wools, especially very loosely spun wools, they are the ones that PILL like CRAZY!! All that being said, I do love the sweater, love the colour, love the style. Sorry about all the complaining!

A very overdue thank you to Mom for the sweater since she bought me the yarn about 2 years ago, I think! It feels good to use up stash yarn!

Must Knit Stash

Among the yarns that I have purchased in the last 6 months, are the above from Hand Maiden and Fleece Artist.  I'm drawn to soft, and colourful, in case you didn't know.  I have only 1 or two skeins of each, so my imagination will have to get to work if I'm to use them.  I have already knit a mobius shoulder wrap for Belinda, a (won't say what because she doesn't have it yet) for Emily, and am usually not drawn to smaller projects, so any ideas would be appreciated.

Socks are always a great 'I don't know what to do next' project.  They get me over the hump, so to speak.  After knitting a couple of pair, I usually know what's next on the project agenda.  These skeins from Blue Moon are fabulous.  Colour thing again.  And VERY SOFT.

Mmmmmmmmm.  More sock yarn.  From Schaefer, called Anne as I'm sure you know.

Blue Heron's Rayon Metallic.  This is also very soft, but I'll save it for a special project.  The glitter is a bit much for me at the moment, probably because of the wedding outfit that I made last year.  Enough glitter for a lifetime.

I spelled this wrong.  It's Misti Alpaca, and I bought it over the internet at Make One Yarn Studio.  A terrific place - if you are ever in Calgary, Alberta, you have to go.  So many gorgeous yarns.  Such friendly people.  If you cannot get there, they are great over the phone, or the internet.  I thought I'd do something cabled - must have been inspired by the cover of Vogue Knitting.  But it's the wrong time of year, so it will have to wait until the late summer.

Last is a single skein of Lorna's Lace's, Lion & Lamb.  I used the balance for a bag, and this is left over.  Too late to return it - the story of my life.  So it sits in it's glory surrounded by these other yarns.  I guess it's happy.  I hope so.

Lettuce Leaf Bag/Hat

Finished (or almost) Bag.  I call it lettuce leaf because of the rippling edge created with crochet.  I love this effect, and have used it on many projects.  The base of the bag is made with five sides of decreasing mitred edge triangles, using Diakeito Diamusee yarn. (3 balls, colour 41)

Close-up of the leafy edge creating a floral effect.  The 'flower' is created with 6 decreasing mitred edge triangles, then crocheted around to flute it.

And finally a close-up of the icord braided strap - here you can see the unfinished edge at the bottom towards the right.  I love the colourway of this yarn.  So interesting.  I'm thinking of making another one, and felting it.

The great surprise is that the bag looks wonderful as a hat for my granddaughters!  Found this out totally by accident, so that might be the next adaptation of this project.  Shorter straps, or no straps at all, and perhaps a smaller flower. 

contents © Esther Budd, 2007. All rights reserved.

Shrug

I designed this shrug and camisole(in progress)  using an afghan kit from Fleece Artist which was in my stash.  I love the colours, and the finished product is beautifully soft.

The body of the shrug is worked in a lace Stitch, 1 strand each of the kid mohair and kid silk, casting on and working to desired length to create a rectangle.  The lace trim is worked in 3 separate pieces using the kid silk only.  Two pieces are for the cuffs, the other, longer piece is for the trim around the neck and body edge.  The trims are attached with single crochet, using both yarns, then finished with backwards crochet. 

These garments are very easy to make and used up most of the yarn from the Fleece Artist afghan kit.

contents © Esther Budd, 2007. All rights reserved.