Beyond Marinating
I spoke too soon the other day when I stated that I had the brioche set-up rows all set. Since this scarf is asymmetrical, there are increases and decreases on the ends, along with slipped stitches (I really like this because then the edges look so neat and tidy!). It's hard enough for me to remember to do everything correctly when just knitting along in one color, never mind attempting brioche in two colors. And with such neat edges, even small mistakes stick way out. Needless to say, I ended up ripping back to the end of the garter and starting over; I'm actually really glad I did this, it looks so much better now. Here I am at the halfway point through the brioche, where the color scheme reverses:
I'm liking the challenge and the look of the brioche, but will also welcome the return to fairly mindless garter stitch - mostly so I can work on it without having to count and pay so much attention!
I'm still working on the GLC afghan; as this thing gets larger, each color block takes more time. I'll post some pics when I've got some measurable progress to report.
In the meantime, I'm doing some daydreaming and planning. Here are a few of the ideas that are exiting the marinating stages and preparing to enter the queue of projects.
First is what I'll call the September Mystery project, until it has an official name; this is awaiting the pattern from Casapinka that will use all of the leftover colors from the summer's MKAL. The smaller balls are the leftovers; the grayish larger ball will hold them all together, somehow:
Next is August Hat, which will require some patience and focus to get the Latvian Braid right; it also needs smaller needles, at least for this portion. Don't red and white look out of place this time of year?
This next one started out as a doll or baby sweater, but I hated the entire process and outcome. I ripped it all out and now the yarn will become these cute little ankle socks (you can see that the Karbonz are already poised for action):
Here is a project that never happened. My mom and I went to a yarn store one time when I was visiting; they had a store sample of Veronique and my mom wanted one knitted in the same yarn, same color - Kidsilk Haze. I ordered the yarn but, after taking a closer look at the pattern, hated all of the seaming and was not brave enough to attempt the changes needed to make it in the round. Also, my mom is short, so this would likely require additional customization for arm and torso length. And there it sat.
Fast forward several years. I have decided, instead, to make my mom something else with the Kidsilk Haze. Add a bit of Malabrigo and a brilliant pattern and we have:
This pattern involves windows of lace that are formed by short rowing somehow; the windows will be the Kidsilk, and the rest of the shawl will be the Malabrigo. Stay tuned for that one, I may attempt to have it done before the first part of October! (Neuro has also made this shawl, or one in the Water family! These are really innovate and beautiful patterns.)
This last one is still in the final marinating stages, but here's where I'm at so far:
The yarn on the left was from the project that was holding my grandma's size I crochet hook hostage; the yarn on the right I got from Webs (last of the summer sale!) to go along with it all. I'm thinking about maybe making the Super Simple Summer Sweater, perhaps with short sleeves. My desire is to have a nice-ish sweater to wear in the warmer months. I've definitely been influenced by Denise of Yards of Happiness, who lives in the south and makes almost exclusively cotton or cotton-blend sweaters (by the dozens!).
Aside from some thunderstorms and much-needed rain, things in the country have been fairly quiet lately. I think the hummingbirds have left; they all appeared to be tanking up for their long trip south and I haven't seen them out there since Monday morning. Even the fruit flies have gone (or are floating in the mason jar, lol!).
I'm liking the challenge and the look of the brioche, but will also welcome the return to fairly mindless garter stitch - mostly so I can work on it without having to count and pay so much attention!
I'm still working on the GLC afghan; as this thing gets larger, each color block takes more time. I'll post some pics when I've got some measurable progress to report.
In the meantime, I'm doing some daydreaming and planning. Here are a few of the ideas that are exiting the marinating stages and preparing to enter the queue of projects.
First is what I'll call the September Mystery project, until it has an official name; this is awaiting the pattern from Casapinka that will use all of the leftover colors from the summer's MKAL. The smaller balls are the leftovers; the grayish larger ball will hold them all together, somehow:
Next is August Hat, which will require some patience and focus to get the Latvian Braid right; it also needs smaller needles, at least for this portion. Don't red and white look out of place this time of year?
This next one started out as a doll or baby sweater, but I hated the entire process and outcome. I ripped it all out and now the yarn will become these cute little ankle socks (you can see that the Karbonz are already poised for action):
Here is a project that never happened. My mom and I went to a yarn store one time when I was visiting; they had a store sample of Veronique and my mom wanted one knitted in the same yarn, same color - Kidsilk Haze. I ordered the yarn but, after taking a closer look at the pattern, hated all of the seaming and was not brave enough to attempt the changes needed to make it in the round. Also, my mom is short, so this would likely require additional customization for arm and torso length. And there it sat.
Fast forward several years. I have decided, instead, to make my mom something else with the Kidsilk Haze. Add a bit of Malabrigo and a brilliant pattern and we have:
This pattern involves windows of lace that are formed by short rowing somehow; the windows will be the Kidsilk, and the rest of the shawl will be the Malabrigo. Stay tuned for that one, I may attempt to have it done before the first part of October! (Neuro has also made this shawl, or one in the Water family! These are really innovate and beautiful patterns.)
This last one is still in the final marinating stages, but here's where I'm at so far:
The yarn on the left was from the project that was holding my grandma's size I crochet hook hostage; the yarn on the right I got from Webs (last of the summer sale!) to go along with it all. I'm thinking about maybe making the Super Simple Summer Sweater, perhaps with short sleeves. My desire is to have a nice-ish sweater to wear in the warmer months. I've definitely been influenced by Denise of Yards of Happiness, who lives in the south and makes almost exclusively cotton or cotton-blend sweaters (by the dozens!).
Aside from some thunderstorms and much-needed rain, things in the country have been fairly quiet lately. I think the hummingbirds have left; they all appeared to be tanking up for their long trip south and I haven't seen them out there since Monday morning. Even the fruit flies have gone (or are floating in the mason jar, lol!).
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