Accessories, oh how satisfying it is to knit something under 500 yards. I have been so busy cranking out sweaters that I had forgotten how nice it is to be able to finish something in just a few days. Last week I finished up this Woodsmoke Scarf by Jared Flood which is from Brave New Knits. (the restock of this book
is in the mail to us and will be here this week). The project gave me a chance to work with Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool in fingering weight, which is newer to the shop. It is quite dreamy..very soft. Has little sections where the yarn is a little thicker and has a tuft of fibre. Because the yarn is dyed in the wool, it has a gorgeous heathered finish. I really really enjoyed working with it.
Once this was finished, I focused on finishing up another Springtime Bandit, which I had started during my last lace shawl class. I chose the Sugar colorway from Miss Babs in Yummy 2-ply, since my other Springtime Bandit is done in the worsted weight that the pattern calls for. I decided it would be different enough in fingering weight to warrant owning another one. The dusty rose colorway is also one of the hot colors this season (so says those color people) and since my pale pale skin doesn’t like dusty rose, a shawl in the color seemed like a good way to have just a touch of it in the wardrobe. The shawl is blocking, and I will post photos this week. So given that two small projects were knocked out, of course I started another one. I have been really wanting to work with the new Pear Tree merino (read all about it here), and I went looking for a cowl project for it. Again, I selected a color that is on the hot list this season, their “Duck egg” colorway.
The pattern that I decided to use is the Balustrade Cowl by Adrienne Krey. It is a great lace sampler, using three different lace patterns. It is working up very quickly (uses US#8 and 10.5) and uses just two hanks. I have to say that I am finding the Pear Tree to be more of a worsted weight, instead of the DK that the label indicates. I think I will start to hunt down good worsted weight sweater projects for it. I also think that I might have enough yarn leftover for a pair of matching fingerless mitts…I will know for sure tomorrow. But really, do any of us have matching knitted things? I know I don’t.
So if you haven’t knitted with this stuff yet…I would really encourage it. We probably have some hanging around that you could play with. Just to get a taste, wander into our fibre room and squeeze on the roving. I want a pillow made from the stuff. I can’t wait to have a cowl of it hanging around my neck! I promise that I will try really really hard to put this thing on a mannequin so that you all can see and play with it. It will be hard to part with it for the season, but I will try…