Lorelai Shawl and Make2along

I finished my Lorelai shawl!!  Took me about 7 months but it's down and it's huge and I love it!!

Pattern: Lorelai Shawl by Shannon Cook 

Yarn: lots of different types (see my project page here)

 This project started with an OOAK (one of a kind) skein of DK merino/cashmere yarn that I had gotten from Tanis Fiber Artss. (The top and bottom blue)  I had the yarn for awhile and couldn't decide what to do with it. When this pattern was published I wanted to knit it but talked myself out of it.  A couple months later I was  looking at my TFA yarn again and all of a sudden I knew what to do with it.  I went to the basement and dug around in my yarn stash and came up with enough other yarns to make a Lorelei.

I wear it like this for warmth and to keep it out of my way on the front.  Handy when teaching kindergarten.

This is how I wear it most.

It is so cozy and warm.  I love it.  Here's a couple of ways that I can wear it.  I know I've heard some podcasters talk about how they aren't sure how to wear bigger shawls.  This is what works for me.

I wear it like this around my house to be cozy.

Jeni, of Tiny Paper Foxes is hosting a Make2along that ends at the end of January.  This idea is to make to items that go together to make a portion of a outfit.  For the second part of my outfit I made a Granville button up shirt.  I used a white quilting cotton to make mine.  The fit is perfect and I've got a button-up shirt that goes with almost anything!

I love the phrase make2along.  I'm at the point in my sewing and knitting where I'm really trying to make sure what I'm making fits with other things in my handmade wardrobe.

What do you like to make?  Are you interested in making outfits?

Striped Trap

Pattern:  Striped Trap

Yarn: Berroco Folio and Berroco Boboli Lace

 I loved using a busy variegated yarn, alternated with a plain yarn. I find it really shows off the variegated yarn rather than just being busy.  I will definitely be using this technique again for other variegated yarns.

It doesn't look like much when it's layed out flat.  It's a trapezoid.  I got to a point when I was knitting it when I wondered if I would wear it but it's one of my favourite knit scarves.  The ends stay tucked into place and don't fall down. 

 I wear it like this all the time.  With the larger section down to the front and the skinny end wrapped up around my neck.

I could wear it this way with it over my back, as more of a shawl but scarf style is more me.

Cozy, warm, colourful: perfect for winter.  Have you made anything warm for yourself recently?

"Mommy, I want pink socks!"

I went to yarn store today to get 2 balls of grey Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino to give me enough yarn to re-make a tee for myself. I came out with this much.

My son got a hold of one of the grey balls already "sigh" untangling in my future

Claire, my 3 year old daughter, took one look around the store and said "Mommy, I want pink socks.  Can you make me pink socks?"  She then went and found every pink yarn in the store.  I found the sock yarn section and started looking.  The first pink yarn she found was Manos del Uraguay!  @ $25 a skein.  NOT HAPPENING!  I steered her towards the Sock It Too Me Yarn.  Rainbow coloured but with pink in it.

I figure I can make a small pair for her and some ankle socks for myself.  Yeah 2 for 1! But my daughter is a bad influence on me.

Then when we went to pay I was seduced by a sample knit.  It's a shawl/scarf/wrap thing, called the Striped Trap.  It's so fun!

It starts with a small number of stitches stitches.  You increase 1 stitch every few rows and stop when you run out of yarn.  The main colour is used for a few rows and the the contrast colour is used for another few rows and then you switch again.

All stockinette so boring but easy to do without thinking.  It will take me a while but I figure I'll finish when the weather is cold and be able to wear it right away!

So I learned in May that even though I have projects planned I am easily distracted by other knitting projects and lots of household projects.

I'm almost finished my Regatta Tee for the TTTKal . . . . it was supposed to be done yesterday but I had a pounding headache.  I'll show you by the end of the week.

Anyone else have an accidental stash building shopping trip this week?

Past Projects: Green Sea Shawl

Since I've only started blogging recently I have so many projects that I've knit in the past that I haven't  shared. So I'm starting a series called Past Projects where I will share as much as I remember about the project.  I wasn't very good about keeping information about my yarn so I don't always remember what kind of yarn I used.

 First project I want to share is the Blossom Silk-Sea Shawl from the book 101 Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders. 
Yarn: Fleece Artist - silk/wool/seacell blend (I think)

It is a beautiful but easy lace pattern. 

I made this for my mom to wear at my wedding in 2008.  Turned out to be one of the hottest days of the summer so it didn't get worn then. My mom has worn it a few times to some of her dancing (my parent's go dancing at least once a week!) but she is always really warm so she doesn't wear it much.

This was one of my first lace things I knit and I love how it turned out!  Got me hooked on knitting lace things for sure.

I borrowed the shawl back from my mom a while ago to wear to a party. For some reason I haven't given it back yet. I've been wearing it as a scarf.

Doesn't it look great?  I'll give it back when she asks for it but right now I'm enjoying my hard work! Have you ever knit something for someone then acquired it back because they don't seem to use it much?