Saturday, August 30, 2008

In the Knitting News

I've had another reading binge, so it wasn't until this last week or so that I've picked up my needles. I finished another couple of charity hats tht had been OTN for a while as well as my Woodland scarf. And, in an attack of startitis, I cast on for another few projects. I joined the Fashionably Late KAL of smoke rings and found a pattern that was a really fun and fast knit, so I finished it in a week. The brown hat is Needle Beetle's Seaman's Cap in James C Brett's Marble acrylic yarn; it's lovely stuff to knit with. The pastel hat is from some old (2004) Encore Colorspun, just a simple roll-brim pattern.

Last weekend I decided to have a Lord of the Rings video marathon. Since I didn't have any truly mindless projects going, I started a simple V-neck vest for the A4A youth project. I got to nearly the point of dividing for the armscye while watching the extended versions of Fellowship of the Rings and The Two Towers; I'll continue with it today while watching The Return of the King. This is the first time I've watched these on our big 42in TV (Christmas present). I am again in awe of the wonderful work that Peter Jackson, his cast and crew did in making these epic films.


The Woodland scarf is my 'Elves' project for the 'One Shawl to Rule Them All' KAL at Ravelry. It was supposed to be a stole, but I found that the 2nd skein was so much different in color that I had to frog the entire thing and re-knit as a scarf with just one skein. The yarn is Dream in Color Smooshy in the 'Beach Fog' colorway; it made me think immediately of Galadriel and Lothlorien. Unblocked it's 6.5in by 54in.

The Smoke Ring is the Wavy Feathers Wimple, knitted with 1.5 skeins of Jojoland Melody, a superwash fingering weight yarn. Although the 2 skeins had the same dyelot and were bought at the same time, the 2nd skein is lighter, but I think in this case the slow transition is acceptable. Unblocked it's 15in long by 16in around.

Both of these patterns are easy and fun, well-suited for light TV watching or SnB knitting. The Wimple, in particular, is a doddle; with the purl stitch every 11st stitch, it's easy to catch any mistakes fast. I did find that using a row counter - in my case, a row-counter bracelet I bought at Hide & Sheep - helped to keep me on the correct alternating row of the 28-row repeat.

And for a bit of cat-love, here's a shot of Midnight lounging in front of our big TV, which radiates a lot of heat; she's not really a Stargate SG-1 fan, but we are, lol!


5 comments:

LisaW. said...

Middy looks good CBM ;0 Love that smokering, might make one myself after seeing yours. pretty scarf too, but your knitting...even mindless TV hat knitting....is lovely. Thanks again for your kind words about "Lulu" last week. I know you understand. Hug back ;0

Cindy G said...

A "fashionably late" KAL, what a good idea! I might make a Clalpotis or Calorimitry yet :-)

smariek said...

You've been busy! I did a LOTR marathon a few years ago. With the extended versions, it was really too much of a good thing in a short timespan, but boy did I get a lot of my Irish Hiking Scarf done! I'm currently working my way through reading The Two Towers.

Anonymous said...

CBM, You've knit up a bunch of lovely projects in your "reading" week. And the fresh fruits and vegies look just scrumptious. I sure miss the company of our week at Sunset Farm. I have finished a cotton mitered square baby blanket, some fingerless mitts, and an alpaca scarf recently but need a few days break. Shoulder bursitis is getting to me.
Hope your September is restful and filled with more beautiful projects.
Happy knitting,
Jamie

Anonymous said...

I have a friend who just knit a woodland scarf. It's a great pattern.