wabisabi

FO: Swallowtail Shawl

The colour is actually a periwinkle blue, but I despair of ever taking a decent photo of anything ever again.

Other details:

Pattern:  Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark, from Interweave Knits, Fall 2006.

Yarn:  Misti Alpaca Lace (100% baby alpaca, 400m/50g).  I actually used about 35g total, so there's a little left to play with.

Needles:  3.5mm Addi Turbo circular.  The points are just a tad not pointy enough, but it was the only circular in that size that wasn't occupied.

Other Details: 

Out of necessity, I'm knitting a few gifts this year for Christmas, so this one is going to be a gift for my mother.  I was going to do a second one for my sister, but she hinted around that she might like another pair of socks, so that's what I'll get to next.  Or Soon.

I honestly wasn't sure how I felt about the bud lace with the lily-of-the-valley and the pointed edging, but blocking worked its miracle one again, and I'm quite pleased with how it came out in the end.

I was briefly taken aback by the nupps.  I know, I know, my mind has been elsewhere and although I read "nupp", it didn't actually register until I got to the chart.  It wasn't possible to purl5tog using the Addi, so I grabbed a 2mm dpn and used that to finish off the nupp.  It was a pain for the first row, and then I got a rhythm going with it and it was fine.

This leads me to a bit of news I wanted to share -- a few folks wrote to me to ask about the fate of the shop Shall We Knit -- Karen's intention was to be open in October, but bureaucracy being what it is, she hit a big of a snag.  However, she's working on Plan B -- so the shop is coming, just delayed a bit.

It will be worth the wait, I think -- I've already had a bit of a look-see at some of what she's going to be carrying, and have heard news of some leads she's working on.  However, she's recently acquired some of the Misti Alpaca, including the lace weight, and my Swallowtail Shawl will be on display at an Open House she's holding December 1st and 2nd.

Here's the nitty-gritty:

Artisans Christmas Open House
December 1 & 2

Friday 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

273 Peel St.
New Hamburg, Ontario

Featured Vendors include Shall We Knit, Gethsemane Gardens, Roving Spinners and Frankenfibre.

I know that Karen was ordering more of the Candace Eisner Strick kits as well, for this.

In Other News

Thanks for all the good thoughts sent our way -- we were buoyed this morning, too, by all the emails The Other received -- he'd decided to get some references prepared Just In Case, and has got back an amazing number of messages from folks not only more than willing to help out, but saying such nice things about him.

And it's a glorious, sunny day here for a change.  Amazing what a difference it makes to one's mood!

FO: The Other's Winnipeg Socks

Pithy Details:

Yarn:  Regia Canadian Colors "Winnipeg".  It's been so long since I started these, I can't find the label with the number.

Needles: 2.0mm Inox dpns

Pattern:  Short row sock pattern out of my head.

Colour Commentary:

After the success of the first pair of socks I made for The Other, I asked him to pick out another colour.  This is what he chose.  He said that he had to wear black and brown and navy socks to work, so he wanted some colour for around the house. 

He was born in Winnipeg.  No, neither of us can fathom why these colours suggest the 'Peg, but there we are. 

I think I've been carrying these around with me for months now, never really making much progress.  But I've not had much ability to concentrate lately, so mindless sock knitting it was. 

Of course, I'm now working on a much smaller pair for our niece that is just whipping along nicely.

BTW, the colours I couldn't remember the other day?  India colours.  Madras and suchlike for colour names. 

FO: Socks (Toronto)

Pithy Details:

Yarn:  Regia Canadian Fashion Colours Number 4732 "Toronto"

Needles: 2.0mm Inox dpns

Pattern:  Short row sock pattern out of my head.

Colour Commentary:

I bought this yarn as a treat just before my fateful birthday, and though it was further down in the sock queue, decided to work these after the orange ones after The Fall.  I always get a kick out of Regia's colour choices for places -- a while ago I bought a variety of their European city colours, and figured that Minsk must be a pretty bleak place -- the yarn was all shades of grey and white.

Since I was born in Toronto, I decided to choose the Toronto colour -- I've also made socks for The Other out of the Canadian Classic Colour Number 4748 Orion, and they're really lovely.  The Other labelled this pair "Cranberry Orange Kiwi", and I have to say, they do remind me of a fruit salad.  Maybe the colour designers knew about Kensington Market, and were inspired by it.

FO: Socks (Orange)

Pithy Details:

Opal Yarn, colourway unknown, bought out of the bargain bin at the Tutto Factory in Germany.  2.0mm needles.  Pattern out of my head.

Colour Commentary:

I think this yarn was in the bargain bin because the black "jacquard" doesn't fall in the white section, but half into the orange.  But they're a cheerful colour, and I'm pleased with how they turned out.