*insert sound of chattering teeth here*

For the past week, my neck of the woods has been 15-20 degrees (fahrenheit) below normal for this time of year. Next week isn't looking much better. Tank is relatively unfazed by the cold. Although she's taken to snoozing on my reading blanket more often.





Of course, I've been thinking about knitting wool socks for myself, but a friend requested a scarf. Her hair is short, and she's usually feeling chilled when the temps drop below 70F.

Luckily for her, I've decided that 2015 is the year of Using Up The Stash, this gives me an jump on that goal.

I knew I had the angora which I had purchased under the delusion I would look elegant in a cardigan of 100% angora, instead of a rabbit fur-covered version of Violet the blueberry from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

I pulled the pale blue angoa yarn from the stash. However, I knew my friend would need a bit more substance in her scarf for added warmth, I also pulled my two skeins of Malabrigo Silky Merino in off-white that had been lounging in the stash.

Next, I didn't want a scarf for her that constantly needed adjusting, and she wears hats to keep warm. I like cowl scarves as they can also be pulled up and used as a head scarf, too.

I pulled out my SNA circs (size 8 US - 24") and got to work. As I have that whole work thing during the day, then cooking-chores-errands-sleeping taking up precious knitting hours after work, I'm only at 50% after 6 days of knitting.











Next up, continuing the parade of dishcloths for the girl and her beau. They've moved into new digs, and I've wanted to give them something for their kitchen as we're a family that takes our food to heart with delighted passion.

I'm mainly using garter stitch or bee stitch for the dishcloths. I'm using Dishie (KnitPicks) from the stash, Sugar'N Cream (Lily) from the stash and some bought on sale at Jo-Ann Fabrics.

FO - Ribbed Bolero Shrug

I *adore* this shrug! However, it took some work, in addition to knitting it up, to get this ready for wearing.

I washed it, then blocked it. The bits of merino wool in the alpaca bloomed to the point it looked like I had a fistfight with a fucking lint trap. Just look at it!









Three hours, one Ott Lite, one pair of needle-nose tweezers, and one pair of razor-sharp embroidery scissors: both sides de-linted (I just made it a word, shut up).









It looked like sheep had been shagging on my bedroom floor:





Then the seaming...





Ta-dah!












* * *


Needle
US 6 - 4.0 mm
US 9 - 5.5 mm

Yarn
Caden's Moon Alpacas

Weight
Worsted / 10 ply (9 wpi)

How much?
10 skeins = 2000.0 yards (1828.8 meters)

Colorway
natural

Purchased at
Knit & Knot in Bettendorf, Iowa

Cold, Warm, Cooler, Warmer, Rain, Rain, Rain, Rain...

Welcome to autumn in the Midwest!

I did some fall cleaning of my to-do list for knitting, updated my plans for 2015 projects list, and cleaned up my WIPs piles around the ranch.

Currently, I have a length-wise scarf in silk yarn and camel/silk yarn that's just monkey knitting. I take to places/gatherings were I do more talking than paying attention to the pattern.

And then I have this in the works, based on the Women's Shrug Bolero Jacket. It's more a vest, and it's made out of local alpaca wool, spun with bits of merino wool. I've added a few inches to each panel as "the girls" are much larger than any of the models I've seen wearing the shrug/vest.

I've said it before, I'm not one for "mock cables." However, this? It's actually quite nice in the patterned panel.

Six Weeks Later And There's Snow Flurries

Seriously. Back in August, heat and humidity we had not seen all summer long this year. Today? Snow flurries this morning as I walked the Tank. Welcome to living in the Midwest.

And while the blog has been idle of news, I have not been so unproductive. I studied like a possessed person and passed my boards (massive relief), managed to catch my first cold of the autumn season (damn it), and get a bit of knitting done.

This is for a friend who celebrated a milestone birthday this year:




It went through several styles of scarf before I settled on the cowl in the bee stitch. It's lightweight, soft, smooshy, incredibly warm, and the color is a delight. Good thing it's not blue or I'd have to knit the friend something else!





* * *

Down and dirty details:

Needle
US 8 - 5.0 mm

Yarn
Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere 4-ply

How much?
2 skeins = 400.0 yards (365.8 meters), 110 grams

Colorway
Raisin d etre

Purchased at
Jimmy Beans Wool in Reno, Nevada

* * *

Next up, I'm continuing work on the Ribbed Bolero Vest in which I may looking like a molting yak, but it'll be cozy when I'm not taken hostage by Fire In The Disco this fall and winter.

Just Go Ahead And Sing The Heat Miser Song

It's been ugly hot and humid around here. I'm so beyond grateful for AC, let me tell you. Listen, I adore my central air and my dishwasher pretty much equally on any given day, but if push came to shove, the dishwasher would get the heave-ho.

So bless the AC gods for the bountiful amount of cool, low humid air in my home.

Now, to the good stuff: a wrap for a friend.


*ALERT: some of the photos are crap.*


I've been searching for six months for a good pattern. This friend is a better dresser than I am. Seriously, I'm good with a button-down oxford or sleeveless shell and a pair of slacks, she's easily two steps above me. So it couldn't be just some run-of-the-mill stockinette stitch cardi. I settled on a wrap with the drop-stitch pattern and minimal, yet effective, garter stitch to give it some substance.










What's nice about this particular wrap and pattern is that it can collapse down into decent-sized scarf for when winter makes its inevitable return bringing snow up to our asses and temps in the deep freeze zone.







Tank approved of it being napping material, too.



* * *
Needle
US 8 - 5.0 mm

Yarn
Malabrigo Yarn Silky Merino

How much?
4 skeins = 600.0 yards (548.6 meters), 200 grams

Colorway
Ankara green

Purchased at
Knit & Knot in Bettendorf, Iowa


Notes
Cast on 90 sts.
Knit 6 rows.
K1, wrap stitch continue to end.
Knit next row, dropping wrapped yarn between sts.
Knit 4 rows.

Repeat pattern to desired size.

Word.

Updating and Frogging

For a while now (over two years) I've thought about adding a collar to the Peacock Shrug I knit eons ago. This thought would flit around my brain every time I wore it during the fall or spring, but then forgot about it when it was washed and packed away for a season.




Today I needed a break from boards review, and decided to once-and-for-all pull out the items I had marked to frog, reskein the yarn, wash it, and then pack it away for future use of the yarn. I came across a "shoulder shawl" I had made from some acrylic sky-blue yarn and some of the leftover Peackcock hand-spun yarn from said shrug.





I couldn't decide on the color for the stitching together, so chose some leftover Malabrigo Silky Merino in turquoise and the Handmaiden Sea Silk in the pumpkin (bronze) I had knit the baby sweater.







Tank was of no help...





I'm quite pleased with the results!







Tank was her usual snoozy self.



"Dude, it's Malabrigo. I'm supposed to resist napping on it?"



And for your viewing pleasure, one of my roses from the garden...

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Timmy was suffering an existential crisis from the bottom of the well.

Right, these are the things I think about while I'm knitting.

What have I been knitting? A variation of the Tulips sweater for Miss Ruby Fantastic who belongs to one my favorite people.





















Down & Dirty Details:

Needle:
US 6 - 4.0 mm

Yarn
Handmaiden Fine Yarn Sea Silk

How much?
0.75 skeins = 327.8 yards (299.7 meters), 75 grams

Colorway - Pumpkin

Purchased at Knitty Noddy


Malabrigo Yarn Silky Merino

How much?
0.5 skeins = 75.0 yards (68.6 meters), 25 grams

Colorway - Turquoise

Purchased at
Knit & Knot in Bettendorf, Iowa