Here is a look at what I’ve finished over the last month and what I’m working on in July. Please note the links throughout this post are to the Ravelry listings unless they say otherwise. I know the new look of Ravelry is really bothering some people, if this is the case for you I’m sorry you are having to deal with this and hope they’ll have it figured out soon.
FINISHED
The Malachite Shawl and Malachite Cowl are finished and released! The Malachite Shawl is a semi-circle worked from the top down with simple increases, garter stitch edging, banded sections that continue from the top all the way through the bottom edge and whorled lace repeats at the bottom. The Malachite Cowl is extra-long for a draped-scarf feel and uses the same lace and bands as the shawl. Both projects evoke the natural beauty of the mineral malachite with banded and whorled sections. The Malachite Shawl Lace is charted and written.
With Ravelry really bothering some people, this was the push I needed to finally open Tallgrass Knitting (my Etsy Shop).
Currently, the shop carries many of my original knitwear patterns and stitch marker sets. Soon it will also carry a limited number of kits. I’d forgotten how much I love working with beads so I had a lot of fun hand-wiring the stitch markers!
ON THE NEEDLES
The Hot Chocolate Hat test knit is just starting now! The Hot Chocolate Hat combines a simple cable with a mock cable in an all-over repeat. This hat uses the same cables as my Café Blend Cowl making a nice matching set. This pattern in written in 5 sizes. I’m excited for this test knit since hat test knit threads are some of the most fun! With multiple people testing each hat size and usually 5-6 sizes that means lots of knitters are popping in and out of the thread and I love it. the sample hats out of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes on US Size 7 (4.50 mm) needles.
The Astrid Tee is in test knitting. The sample garment for this top down tunic is worked in Treasure Goddess DK Treasures yarn in the color Ruby Daggers. I really love this color and plan to wear the tee the next time I need to dress up a bit to go out and about. ….I’m not quite sure when that will be since we’re still in the middle of a pandemic with cases rising faster than ever in our area….but I know it will happen at some point and I plan to wear this tee when it does.
The Prairie Winds pullover is sooooooo close to done. But not quite done. I still need to finish designing the neckline for this one. Then all that will be left is sewing in the ends, washing, blocking and writing the pattern. I’m hoping to have this test knit starting in August. I love this sweater with the slightly belled sleeves and lace at the bottom of the body and sleeves! The sample garment is knit in Miss Babs Woodbury (their fingering weight merino and silk blend) on US Size 2 (2.75 mm) needles in the color Old Gold.
This top down cabled sweater design is coming along too. I’ve just separated the body and sleeves. From here I’ll knit down the body a bit before measuring to be sure the pattern math and fit is working as it should. After that it will be pretty quick to finish out the body and sleeves. This one makes me very happy – I love the color, I really love the cables and I love the feel of the weight of it in my lap (even in the heat of summer since I’ve only been knitting on it inside in the air conditioning). The sample garment for this one is knit in Knit Picks Gloss DK on US Size 6 (4.00 mm) needles in a deep teal color named Kenia.
And I’ve been working with beads and crafting more stitch marker sets.
The garden is really growing too. The tomato plants are now almost all taller than I am. The husband’s hops is climbing past the second story windows. The okra isn’t very tall but has started producing okra every day. And the peppers are looking so healthy! We’ve only found a handful of peppers actually growing so far. I’m hopeful we’ll have more as the summer continues. I tried some new pepper varieties this year and one of them has the most beautiful purple flowers plus black peppers. I have no idea what they taste like yet but the plant is so pretty I’ll be growing them again even if the peppers aren’t great.
It feels like we’re finally settling into all the changes in 2020. I hope the same for you. Please be kind to yourself and others as we all move forward. Take care!
