January WIP

January is typically one of my busiest months work-wise.  I bring work home at night and there is very little knitting time.  But I would like to show you what I started knitting.

A pattern that has been in my queue for some time is the Joji Locatelli sweater called Japan Sleeves.  I thought I would start the pattern this month, originally thinking that all those rows of striped knitting would be easy for me when my brain is so engaged with work.  But much to my surprise after reading the pattern, I realized that I had to do the sleeve lace inserts first, repeating the lace chart about eight times! Not exactly t.v. watching.  So I decided that every morning when I have my coffee I would knit a few rows.  It is growing very slowly and by this rate I may have the sweater done by December!  Anyway this is the yarn I chose:  Madelinetosh Merino Light in Teddy Bear and Molly Ringwald, a beautiful pale pink.  I thought it would be a pretty sweater for spring.  Now the question is will it be spring of 2015 or 2016?

Japan Sleeves

The other piece I am working on is my second Pebble Beach Shawlette by Helen Stewart in Tosh Merino Light called Coquette.  I don't usually knit with pink and so I looked at many yarn lines to see what they had to offer.  Coquette, was by far, the prettiest pink I came across.  The slight variation in shades of pink made such a lovely skein of yarn.  This is going to be a special gift for someone's birthday.  The pattern is laid out in a unique way and on the side of the pattern the designer has written what percentage you have completed which motivates me in some way.  I think I can get it done in time, as it is an easy pattern to follow.

Tosh Merino Light in Coquette

Look what came in the mail for me from an Etsy sale held by Tanis Fiber Arts. This is her Orange Label Yarn, a soft blend of merino, silk and cashmere.  It is one of those yarns where you spend more time squishing it then knitting with it. The colourway is called Painted Jeans and is hard to capture on camera...a mix of blue, purple brown and grey.  I don't know what I will do with this yet.  Any suggestions?

Tanis Fiber Arts Orange Label

Oh well, back to my work.  I hope everyone has more time for crafting than I do at the moment.

Capall Dubh: Carol Feller

Setting goals is a tricky thing.  I am all about setting goals for myself but as I have become older I am trying to be kinder to myself when I don't reach my goals. I am trying hard to go with the flow and accept that some things happen that can alter what I want to achieve.

I joined Carol Feller's KAL in the fall with the intention of knitting this lovely sweater, named Capall Dubh, by mid December.  However, I did not complete it until the beginning of January due to work obligations and Christmas preparations.  In the past this would have bothered me but I decided to let it go and not worry about it.  Life happens.

This is the first Carol Feller pattern I have ever knit and I think it is very well written.  I used Madelinetosh Pashmina in the Alabaster colourway.  It is a sport weight yarn in a lovely merino, silk, and cashmere blend.  The colour is hard to photograph but I would describe it as the colour of honey with darker undertones.  This was the first time I knit with Pashmina and it is going to be so luxurious to wear.  

Madelinetosh Pashmina

The cardigan was knit from the top down and the sleeves were knit in the round.

 The lace pattern was easy to follow and the resulting cardigan fits very well.

I had to reknit the first sleeve as it came out way too tight.  Knitting two sleeves is hard enough but knitting three sleeves was torture!  Well I might not have met my deadline but I am starting the New Year with a new sweater.  As for other New Year resolutions I am going to try to enjoy the moment more and not always look immediately to setting the next goal.

Happy New Year to everyone!  I wish you all the best in 2015.