Start-itis Yarn Along

The air is heavy with start-itis and delusions of non-stop knitting! Here are just a few of my day dreams:

First up is a lace scarf with Anne Hanson's Wheaten pattern using lace yarn from our alpaca The Eleven. I'm not sure if this is the right combination, especially the cable part. The swatch is already blocked. Any thoughts? (Sorry for the bad lighting.)

Second is a hat (or possible cowl) made from Lopi spun yarn with 10% tencil from our alpaca Dark Star. It will be a child's hat thanks to lack of stitches. It is deliciously heavy and warm!

I've had my eye on making these fingerless mitts for a few years and some Malabrigo Rios at the ready. My LYS is closing its doors, and when I was shopping the tremendous sale yesterday, I happened upon the pattern book and bought it. I prefer paper patterns to downloads: WIN!

At the sale I also found some very pretty yarns whose colors did not photograph well. No spoilers, but I hope to show you a reveal of several projects at the end of December. I love planning ahead!

My list of imminent projects is even longer, but I better stop here for now. Happy Spring! Be sure to join Ginny and the other knitters here: http://www.gsheller.com/2016/03/yarn-along-272.html

Spring-ing

Spring is here a month early. According to my photo records from last year, daffodils weren't blooming until April 19.

Gooseberries throwing out new leaves.

It wouldn't be Spring without fresh eggs. Both Heinrich and Athena started laying eggs again about 10 days ago.

I'm also knitting a hat and a shawl, because you know, you might need one with all this warm weather we're having!

Happy Spring!

Knitting Treat!

My first project using our yarn from Shady Grove Alpacas 100% Suri is complete! I decided to knit the Wheaton Cap by designer Anne Hanson of www.knitspot.com. The yarn is sport weight and from our alpaca named The Eleven.

The unblocked hat had a lot of definition and contour, thanks to the massive amount of spinning oil still in the fiber.

   

There was an interesting architectural and sculptural concept to the hat.

But of course alpaca in general, and Suri specifically, relaxes A LOT in the bath. A beautiful sheen, halo, and drape developed through the blocking process. And the color lightened a little after all the oil and grime got washed out.

The pattern is more subtle post wash, but oh my is this hat soft and pliable! This fiber stretches quite a bit, so even though I was conservative in choosing the head size, the fabric stretched enough to fit almost loosely. The drape of the extra fabric in the back of the hat is almost overwhelming, so if super slouchy is not your style, knitting it a bit shorter is advisable.

Looking around to see what everyone else is knitting? Check it out here: http://www.gsheller.com/2016/03/yarn-along-269.html