Today seems like the perfect day to share a spoiler pic of Spring Snow with you all. The pattern is currently being test knit (thank you so much gals!) and one of the knitters has finished it already!!! That was super quick! I’m hoping to get some better photos taken in the near future to share with you all 
Happy Monday!
Still working steadily away on my new pattern and thought that today would be the perfect day to share a couple of spoiler pics.
I have chosen to name this shawl “Spring Snow” because it is soft, fluffy, and delicate, much like the last snows of the year. The basis of the shawl is a garter stitch triangle with a knitted on top edging and a lovely geometric lace border.
The patterns is in the final stage of writing and will soon be sent out to be test knit. I’m looking forward to making another Spring Snow already.
I’ve been working on a new pattern and have decided to give you a little sneak peek of what is going on. I’m being extra tricky too, because you can only see a teensy little piece but I will give you a few hints:
That, and I’m knitting it is Rowan’s Kidsilk Haze … one of my favorite yarns. I always feel incredibly spoiled when I get to play with this particular yarn.
So that is all I’m going to share about this project for the moment, but do check back as I plan to post more spoiled pics as I go along.
Happy WIP Wednesday everyone!
Sunday afternoon, I started coming down with a little flu-ish type bug. I snuggled up in my chair with a cozy blanket, a hot cup of tea, and some knitting and made a really great start on my Juneberry Triangle.
This is one of those patterns that I knew I just HAD to knit as soon as I saw it. I’m a big fan of Jared Flood’s designs and this one in particular is exceptional. I love how the lace patterns flow into each other, the superb texture, and the fact the pattern works well in both worsted and sport weight yarns. Actually, truth be told, since I’m currently knitting it in fingering weight yarn, it works well in that weight too. And it is quite surprisingly a quick knit (I’m currently finishing up the last 1/3 of the knitted edging) despite the intricacy of the lace patterns and bobbles which make this shawl pattern so wonderful.
Due to the healing combo of rest, good tea, and knitting I am feeling much better now AND I’ve almost finished a new shawl.
In other news, here in Prince Edward Island was are ushering in Spring with a bit of a snow storm. I was also told that on both Spring and Autumn Equinox that you can balance an egg on its end so you know that the kids and I had to try it out. And do you know what? It takes some time and patience but it really does work.
How are you enjoying your first day of Spring?
I’ve been wanting to knit an Orchid Thief for ages now and finally decided it was time.
I had originally started this pattern in some lovely magenta colored handspun Shetland but the yarn kept telling me it wanted to be something in garter stitch so who am I to argue with the yarn? I had some purple linen, some snowy white Kidsilk Haze, and some beautiful teal alpaca laceweights in my stash all wanting to be knit but in the end it was the bamboo that won out. And I am so glad that I chose this yarn.
The yarn is Belfast Mini-Mills Bamboo Laceweight and it is so soft, silky, and drapey when knit up (especially into lace). It also has a sheen to it so it give it that extra something. It makes such a light and airy shawl … I love it!
As far as actual knitting time, this project definitely counts as a knitting binge … I finished the shawl and blocked it in under 6 days! It felt like ages since I’ve knit lace because I’ve been having such a blast with colorwork lately, so when I started knitting the shawl I just couldn’t put it down.
What projects have you been working on lately? Is there anything that you just can’t seem to put down? I’d love to hear all about it!
Guess what? I have a lovely new Rock Island Shawl to wear today!
I fell in love with this pattern the moment I set eyes on it. I just HAD to knit one! I swatched in a number if different yarns but nothing really seemed to strike my fancy. That is, until I came across Kim Hartmann’s BFL laceweight in the “Tip It Ewe Lush” colorway” (love her names!). The deep, rich, merlot color with subtle variations was exactly what I was looking for.
The pattern also called for size 4mm needles but I tend to be a loose knitter and decided to go with 3.75mm needles instead and I am really happy with the results.
The new spring term on the HPKCHC started May 1st so I waited ever so patiently to cast on. I like to sit down in the early mornings before the kids get up or in the evenings, after the kids are in bed, with a big cup of tea and work on my lace projects. The last stitches were knit and grafted together yesterday morning and it was blocked out last evening. I’m really glad that I had a large supply of pins on hand because those 71 lace edging repeats used up a lot of pins! My fuzzy feline friend Bugsy helped out with the whole blocking process as well. He likes to lay down right in the middle of the shawl to hold it is place and batts his paw at any pins that aren’t in exactly-the-right-spot. He’s a real stickler! Unfortunately, he took off before I could snag a picture of him (he’s a bit camera shy).
Of all the pictures I took of the shawl, this last one is my favorite. The color of the shawl is closely mirrored by the hint of rhubarb stalks in the back ground and you can also see the massive piece of driftwood we brought home last fall.
What could be better than lace and a garden!
Photo © Gudrun Johnston. Used with permission
I LOVE knitting lace. The ethereal beauty of an intricate lace shawl, the luxurious laceweight yarns to dream about and plan with, the magic that happens when you block … I find it all so inviting and I know that many of you do as well.
One of my favorite designers is Gudrun Johnston of The Shetland Trader and today I would like to share with you one of her gorgeous designs … Flukra.
According to John J. Graham’s Shetland Dictionary, flukra means “snow falling gently in large flakes” in the Shetland dialect. Don’t you envision a quite winter scene when you look at the lovely lace pattern in the shawl?
Here are her comments on the construction of the shawl:
This shawl begins with a Shetland construction method to create the center triangle. Stitches are then easily picked up from the yarn over loops that are formed down two sides and the border is worked outwards from the triangle. The shawl is finished with an edging that is knitted sideways and attached to the live sts of the border as it is being worked. Lace is worked on both sides of the knitting, however there is no right or wrong side to the knitting. – Gudrun Johnston
Photo © Gudrun Johnston. Used with permission
This shawl is going to be my next lace project and I am so excited about knitting it! Got my yarn ordered and on its way (Malabrigo Lace. Yay!) and now all I have to do is wait patiently until the yarn arrives.
And here is the very BEST news … I will be giving away a copy of this pattern to one lucky blog reader!
To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post and be sure to include your Ravlery ID. The deadline to enter is May 15th by 5:00 PM Atlantic Time. On May 16th, the winner will be selected using random.org and will receive their pattern as a Ravelry Gift Download.
I know you want to knit a Flukra too!
I’m a huge fan of indie dyed fiber and yarn and am always so excited to come across new and delightful sources. Recently, through my travels on the web, I have come across the lovely Kim Hartman and her super yummy shop, At Knits End Yarns. She offers a great variety of yarn weights, fibers, and colors all dyed with Kool-aid. How cool is that! And I also enjoy the witty names she gives her colorways.
Pictured above it a monster skein of BFL (one of my fave fibers!) laceweight in “Tip It, Ewe Lush” colorway. This puppy arrived in the mail for me today and, I’m actually kind of embarrased to tell you, that I didn’t even want to bother trying to take super pictures of it before balling it up. I snapped a couple of quick shots and got knitty gritty! lol
Originally I had intended to use this skein to knit Rock Island Shawl but the more I looked at this skein, the more I wanted to knit something else. I decided upon Flukra by Gundrun Johnston and am over halfway through the garter stitch portion already.
Speaking of shawls, I’ve finished up my Echo Flowers Shawl this week but still need to get some good pictures of it. I’ve also finished spinning some luscious new yarns (including a new textured art yarn. Yay!) but you’ll have to stay tuned to be blog a little later this week for the details.
Happy knitting all!
Finished knitting and blocking my Morlynn Shawl on February 12th and am so happy with how it turned out. The handspun merino wool I used is incredibly soft and bouncy. I love using handspun for shawls. Originally, I had planned on using some Malabrigo from my stash but I just couldn’t resist using up my handspun for a really fun project.
I knit the medium version of the shawl and was very happy with the finished size. Medium makes a very good size shawl and is perfect for keeping cozy on these cooler winter day.
My biggest love with this shawl pattern is the fun leaf border. I just love how these little leaves decorate the edge! I would love to knit this shawl again in a beautiful reddish rust color.
I also wanted to wish you all a happy Valentines Day today. We have a fun family dinner of Mama-style fish and chips underway and can’t wait to dig in. I do the fresh haddock up in my super secret cracker crumb crust and fry it up in a little olive oil. The “chips” are oven baked potato wedges with a tiny sprinkling of parmesan cheese. It is a very healthy and delicious version of the classic fish and chips that we all love.
Hope you all have a wonderful Valentines Day!
I am SO excited to be able to share handspun Laminaria! I would have to say that this has been my biggest and most involved project to date.
It all started with this year’s Tour De Fleece. I picked up one of the new (and very beautiful!) batts at Belfast Mini Mills and I knew exactly what I wanted to spin … some really lovely lace weight yarn for a shawl. My goal for TdF was to spin 8 oz and I did it no prob!
Picking the pattern … that was the hard part. If you are a lace lover and have searched through ravelry for a new shawl pattern to try, well, there is no shortage of BE-U-T-FUL patterns to tempt you! I finally decided upon Laminaria because it looked like the perfect pattern for my handspun. There are two size options for the shawl but with 8 oz of handspun lace weight yarn at your disposal, you KNOW what size you’re going to pick … the BIG one!
My shawl took me two months of knitting, a bit at a time, to complete. Somedays I would do a whole (or multiple) chart repeats and other days I would just do a row or two. I was so elated when I finished it I just had to stand and stare after it was all pinned out for blocking. I’ve put it on numerous times since it has dried just to snuggle into it (I adore mohair!).
And I even tried it on Henri for some fun pics. He is a very wonderful model!
I’m eager to start another handspun shawl but I have to pace myself. I made myself a promise that when I finish up a coupld of holiday knitting projects I have in my knitting basket, that I can start on a handspun version of Rock Island. Nothing like a little incentive to get the job done 
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