FO: Celtic Cardigan

The kit of deliciousness

The pre-washed product

Et voila!





Pattern: Celtic Cardigan (Ravelry link) by Fleece Artist (the lovely people who brought us the Yarn Harlot's Garter Stitch Jacket)
Yarn: Scotian Silk in Seashore (I think - unlabeled as to colorway - gorgeous blue mixed with silver, gold, and bronze); kit purchased at Purl Diva
Needle: US10
Size: S/M
Mods: None.

This was a super quick knit, especially post-Dad's vest (sport weight yarn for a man who's 6'4"), thanks to large-ish needles and an interesting construction technique. It's all in one piece. You start at one side "seam", knit around the back, then the front on one side, then you go back, pick up and knit the other front. And then you pick up for each sleeve and knit down. I'm still unsure of the sleeve length - it's bracelet-y, which I like now, but Summer starts this weekend, so I may feel differently come December. I have enough yarn left to make another sweater, so I can certainly add to the sleeves, especially as they are knit down to the cuff.

Again, apologies for the lack of model shot. I will rectify that someday. I included the image with my Cubs cap to give a sense of scale pre-blocking. This one grows a bit, as has been mentioned on Ravelry. And apologies that some of the pics are a little blurry - you can see the cool stitch pattern nicely in the last one, though.

This yarn is awesome! I loved watching the color progression with each stitch and row. You have to use a circular or swing needle with this project as you knit each row twice, which added to the construction interest. And, of course, this yarn has silk in it, which just makes it even better. I should probably rename the blog "Silky" instead of "Purly".

FO: Tulips

Pattern: Tulips (Ravelry link) by Kat Coyle, Knitscene, Fall 2006 (the one with the famed Central Park Hoodie
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk in Blush, just under six skeins
Needle: US6
Size: small/38" bust
Mods: I decided to go with rolled stockinette for the hems both on the bottom and sleeves rather than garter borders (and I didn't start off on a smaller needle) - somehow seemed to go better with the i-cord neckline, which I did via a pick up and knit/i-cord bindoff rather than knitting up sufficient i-cord and sewing it on; I also did short rows for the shoulders and a three-needle bindoff, just to see if I could do it, and ... I can!

Love love love this sweater! I've worn it four (five?) times since finishing it ten days ago. J'adore the yarn, as we already knew from Mermaid Hourglass experience and a number of Kat's berets from Greetings from Knit Cafe. Apologies for lack of a model shot, but my photographer is at work, and if I didn't write this up now while Isobel is supposed to be napping*, it might not happen for a while.

Though it looks like this took me a month from my Ravelry page, it was actually a very quick knit - Mother's Day and my father's birthday popped up in there and took away a bit of knitting time.

*Sadly, she's not, so I'd better go settle her down.

FO: Hemlock Ring Blanket

This one's for Isobel, and, as you can see, she's pretty happy with it.


A pose with the new knit.


'Bel as monster.


In all it's glory.

This was a super-quick knit. I started on the 1st and finished on the 4th - gotta love worsted yarn and a US10 needle after working on Dad's vest on US4s. I used Misti Pima Silk in this glorious cornflower blue color and switched to an Addi Turbo needle for sanity. And I started off with Susan Reishus's circular beginning on a crochet hook. It ended up being 36", so more of a cuddle blanket than a real one. I'll do a proper post later with links and everything, but we've got a date at the park with Isobel and her tricycle before the weather turns beastly tomorrow.

Isobel at Knit Night

There has been a lot of separation anxiety around here the last couple of months. Isobel is very keen to have me with her every second of every day. During the semester Nick had an evening seminar on Tuesdays, so we found a very nice baby sitter (named Kathleen) who came on Tuesday nights so I could go to Knit Night at Yarntopia. All went swimmingly, leaving was no big deal, until we came back from our visit to the Chicago area, and suddenly Isobel was weeping whenever I left. Then it got to the point where she would talk much of the day on Tuesdays about how much she was going to miss me. Needless to say there were more tears and she was always awake when I got home (after nine).

Now that the semester is over, Nick and Isobel can have a little quality time together on Tuesday evenings, and I can have some quality time with knitting grownups. It really is lovely to spend a couple of hours with people who understand when you suddenly go quiet and finger your stitches intently (counting) or who have a pair of scissors handy or who have an opinion on the editors of Interweave Knits. To help Isobel with her separation anxiety, yesterday we decided I would have an escort to Knit Night, so she could see just where I would be (a place without significant allure for a 3.5 year old). Things went very well, though she was still awake when I got home. Progress, if not perfection.

This morning Isobel crawled into bed and informed us that last night "I was feeling a little shy." Which was met with hoots of laughter, as she is not a shy person. But that's what she thought, and I'm intrigued by this articulation of feelings. My little girl is growing up. Pretty soon she'll want to come to Knit Night with her own projects.

I did make some progress on the Hemlock Ring, having acquired an Addi Turbo. The yarn just dragged maddeningly on my Bryspun. While it is 30% silk and 70% silky cotton, I think the inelasticity of both fibers makes it slow to move on plastic. So, if I could just count correctly on the "action" rows, I'd be sailing. At least there are four plain knit rounds between the lace rows in the feather and fan border. Still have to decide which border to do when it's big enough.

Animal Adventures

We met this cutie Memorial Day Weekend in Maine at the Winter's Gone Alpaca Farm in Wiscasset. Unfortunately, we missed shearing, which was this past weekend. But we had a good time, and the weather was perfect.

I thought it was very cool that Isobel was so fearless around them. Of course, they are very gentle, so that helps.

As does living with Riley. He doesn't go up there every day, so it's always a fun event when he does.

I'm busy knitting a Hemlock Ring blanket with that lovely Misti Pima Silk. Hopefully have pictures of that soon, but it just looks like a bag of yarn right now. And the Celtic Cardigan is complete, though I'm undecided as to whether the sleeves are long enough.