Knitting: August Projects

Here is a quick look at what I finished in the last month and what I’m working on in August.

FINISHED

The Eugenie Cowl test knit is almost finished with just one tester still working on her cowl. As always, I really appreciate the feedback, time and work from the test knitters on this. Their extra eyes and hands really do make a huge difference in the release of a quality pattern. I love this one and have been wearing the long version of it this summer when I want to dress up an outfit. I made the long version sample out of Knit Picks Shine Sport in the color Reef which felt like a very nice fit for the shark fin lace. Plus I love the feel of the cotton and modal blend for a summer knit.

And the Amaranth Scarf test knit just started. I made the sample for this one out of Malabrigo Arroyo in the color Fucsia. The Amaranth Scarf alternates between simple Lace and Welt Sections to help avoid curling and keep Amaranth a quick knit. Lace charted and written. Named Amaranth because the lace panels evoke amaranth blooms. Amaranth is an ancient super-grain rich in fiber, protein and antioxidants that can thrive in just about any climate making it a valuable food crop. In fact, it is so valuable that it is one of the “Future 50 Foods: For Healthier People and a Healthier Planet”. Find out more about the Future 50 Foods here – https://www.wwf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-02/Knorr_Future_50_Report_FINAL_Online.pdf

I finished the knitting on this cabled shawl. I love, love, love this one! I’m planning to wear it to our annual Renaissance Festival trip this year. It feels solid yet fancy to wear. The stockinette stitch body at the top helped keep this a quick knit while the section cables that continue from the very top edging all the way to the bottom finishing of the shawl give it a polished feel. The cable repeats use complementary cables to really pull this design together. Getting the design just how I want it took extra time and ripping back. But the finished shawl is more than worth the extra effort!! I’m still working on final patterns edits and sample garment photography. After that, I’ll be ready to call for testers on this one. I expect the test thread will be active and running strong when I wear my sample to the Ren Fest this Fall. But I love this one enough that I’m not willing to wait to wear it. Sample worked in Rowan Pure Wool Superwash DK in the color Dust.

And I cast on and finished my cowl for the Glorious Goldalong through Knitting Vicariously. The beautiful gold yarn from Treasure Goddess in her new colorway Copper Cove in her worsted weight was such a joy to work with that I barely put the project down once I started. So.much.fun. I picked the short version of my Neve Cowl and I’m looking forward to wearing it as the weather turns cooler. I won’t be going to Rhinebeck this year but really liked the idea of joining in and giving a little nod to the Knitting Vicariously podcast. Also this helps me feel a little bit connected to Rhinebeck even though I cannot be there in person.

Finally, I finished a sample hat out of this Plymouth Galway Worsted in the color 11 Royal Blue and am in the process of completing the hat pattern in 6 sizes for submission to an upcoming publication.

ON THE NEEDLES

I finished the body and bottom ribbing on this sweater design. I’m very happy with how it is coming together. I’ve got one sleeve about 1/3 of the way done and expect both sleeves to be done before the end of August. The pattern writing for this one will be pretty straight forward since I’ve got a lot of practice writing sweater patterns in multiple sizes and because I did the sizes grading math before I even cast on. This sweater ended a bit shorter on the body for my size than many of my other designs and I’m liking the feel and fit of it. I’m not sure yet if this represents a change in my overall aesthetic or if it is a function of the slightly more positive ease in this design. I’m knitting the sample sweater in my size out of Valley Yarns Northfield in the color 03 Chestnut using US Size 4 needles.

I cast on a cowl design in two sizes with some yarn support I received from Miss Babs in their Kaweah DK yarn in the colors Dark Roast and Russet. I loved this yarn already just from winding it so I’m excited to get started on this one! And I really appreciate the support and the faith in my vision! I want to get this one into test knitting in early to mid September so testers have plenty of time to complete it before we plan to release it in November.

I’m getting ready to start working on a new shawl design out of this beautiful Dream in Color Jilly in the colorway Green Lantern. I’ll be calling this one something like Malachite Shawl and I’m really itching to start working on it.

And a sweater design with this yarn support I received from Brown Sheep in their new Prairie Spun DK yarn. I’ve used this yarn for several cabled sample submissions recently and can’t wait to start on a sweater in it. I really appreciate the support and the faith in my vision! I want to get this one into test knitting by the end of October at the latest so testers have plenty of time to finish before we plan to release it in January of next year.

And finally I’ve got another sweater and yet another layering tunic design bumping around in my head waiting to get on the needles. Not to mention the two commerical sweater ideas that I accosted strangers to photograph over the last few weeks. But I haven’t quite picked yarns or finished letting these ideas percolate in my mind just yet. So they’ll have to wait until next month at the earliest.