Here is a quick look at what I finished in the last month and what I’m working on in March.
FINISHED
I finished my Close To You shawl worked in Mountain Colors Bearfoot in the Rosehip colorway! I ended up only having enough yarn to complete 18 full repeats of the 14-row pattern and then bind off. So instead I finished the 17th repeat and ended my shawl there. I used US Size 1 (2.50 mm) needles for this and think I should have gone up a needle size or two for it.
The pattern called for a picot bind off. I tried that for a few inches and didn’t love it so I ripped it out and instead did a traditional bind off. I’m really happy with how it turned out! We’ve had too little sunlight to get a great picture of the wingspan. But trust me, it is beautiful!
I’ve also finished four hats for this upcoming hat design. I like writing hat patterns where each of the sizes follow the same directions with the only difference being the gauge of the yarn and the number of beginning ribbing rows. And that is what I’ve done with this design – each hat in the pile starts with the same number of cast-on stitches and follows the same directions and written or charted directions. From top to bottom the yarns used are Knit Picks Galileo in the color Firefly, Knit Picks Gloss DK in the color Doe, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted in the color Amber Heather and Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted in the color Rust. This one is ready to call for testers as soon as we’re back from our Spring Break road trip…. except I’m thinking very, very hard about adding a fifth (smallest) size in fingering yarn.
The Neve Cowl test knit is almost finished. As always, my test knitters are amazing and I really value their time and input! I’ll be releasing this pattern mid-March.
And the Emma sweater test knit is moving right along. All test knitters are awesome, but sweater test knitters fall into a category all their own since knitting a sweater while also providing feedback and suggestions on the pattern is no joke. I’ve got 9 amazing testers for this sweater and I’m so very grateful to each of them!
My very helpful husband agreed to take some pics of me in my Emma sweater sample garment when we finally got some sun in late February. It was snowy which makes for great sweater pictures. It was also COLD and windy but I was cozy wearing this sweater. I can’t wait until I can start wearing this sample sweater for real after release! Also, I’m hoping I can find a picture or two with me and without those stupid yellow lines in the background when I’m editing.
I finished this pair of socks. They are made out of lovely, lovely Knit Picks Imagination sock yarn in the colorway Seven Dwarves that I found while I was tossing the stash for design submission samples. I knit the socks with my traditional 58-stitches and on US Size 1 (2.50 mm) needles.
And finally, I finished both of my mid-March contracted deadlines ahead of schedule! It felt really great to get them done and in the mail near the end of February.
ON THE NEEDLES
I’m getting really, really close to done with this pirate inspired two-tone scarf out of the DK Treasures Yarn from Treasure Goddess Yarn in the colors Ghost Ship and Pieces of Eight. I’m using US Size 5 needles and like how the slightly smaller size needle really helps the cables pop. I’m still on schedule to release this one for test knitting in late March.
I’m also working on updating this cowl pattern for self-publishing. The Tiffany Cowl combines simple knits and yarn overs with basic decreases in a simple lace repeat. Perfect for quick, easy vacation knitting as well as a good introduction to lace. The cowl is long for a draped-scarf feel. This cowl was originally published in I Like Knitting magazine. The rights have released back to me so I’m now free to republish it! Samples above are out of Knit Picks Gloss DK in the color Black and Filatura Di Crosa Fancy MiniTempo.
And now that I’ve finished all of the big deadlines that were looming, I’m ready to cast on my next sweater design out of this Valley Yarns Northfieldin the color 03 Chestnut. Top down, cabled, raglan, positive ease, DK weight. I’m excited about this one and hope to cast on it on before we leave on our Spring Break road trip so it can come along as trip knitting.
I also started a Sockhead Cowl out of the same Knit Picks Imagination sock yarn in the colorway Seven Dwarves on the same size US Size 1 (2.50 mm) circulars. I’d forgotten how much I loved this yarn and and how much of it I’d purchased. So after I finished the socks above, I still had lots since I originally planned to knit a vest out of it. I’m loving this cowl and think it will also come with us as road trip knitting.
I liked the first Sockhead Cowl so much that I cast on a second one too. This one is out of Online Supersocke 100 in the color Sport on US Size 2 (3.00 mm) circulars and I’m enjoying watching the colors change as I go. It will likely come with us as road trip knitting too.
And finally – I’ve completed 3.5 mittens. I count them as completed even though they are still missing thumbs because I hate doing the thumbs and will leave them for last, last, last when I have a huge stack of mittens to do all at once. I make almost all our mittens out of Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted on US Size 6 needles following my own simple mitten recipe. I have enough skeins in a travel bag to make another 5 pairs of mittens. I’m taking these along as road trip knitting too.
If you were counting, that makes 4 different knitting projects that are coming with us on our Spring Break road trip – a new sweater design, 2 different Sockhead Cowls and a bunch of mittens. That is probably overkill but we’ll have extra space in the car for this trip and I’m bringing it all. Also? I’m getting excited about hitting the road. I’m really looking forward to visiting the Southwest where I feel more myself and changing my view and frame of reference for that week!!!
