Finally Finished . . . posted by guest blogger Jeff

I've finally finished the Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl! Pretty pics follow:

 

I've already started Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl number 2!

 

As far as the next knit-a-long, I think I'm going to sit this one out seeing as how:

 

 

I've already knit one. :)

 

Maybe I'll pick up my Niebling again!

I finished something! ~ guest blogger WillyG

Yay!  I finished something for the KAL!

I know, I know, it's not even a full week.  Like I said before, I was on vacation. But it really is a simple knit once you get going, and as lace goes,  pretty easy to catch/fix mistakes.  (And I did so.)

This shawl is all about imperfection.

See the little plying error?  I had a few of these.  As I got further into the shawl, I figured out how to tack these to the back of the fabric as I knit, but earlier on there are a few oddities to keep the perfectionists busy.

I also noticed as I knit that the color transitions came out a bit stripey for what I had envisioned. Someone overlooked this factor when he was blending the colors!!  But that's okay; I have several ideas for how to remedy this next time.  And there will be a next time.  This was superfun!  I already bought more of the same type of fiber in a different colorway...

Into The Whirled dyes the best colorways, no?

Now for my favorite bits about this shawl.
I love the fabric I ended up with - light and a bit drifty, but not so airy that it annoys me.  For some reason, I like my knits to have a denser fabric than many people - even when it comes to lace.  This turned out perfectly, and I'm delighted I was able to spin it.  WOOT!  Milestone right there.

I also love the color blending in the first section, more by default than anything.  The fibers were longer than the color blocks in the sea foam sections, so the olive crept in.

I'm also in love with the undulating movement created by the simple lace patterning.  For the lace newbies, it takes a bit of blocking to smooth out the natural bumps that form in the fabric, but once you do that it really pops.

I think the simple pattern shows a variety of yarns beautifully; I can't wait to see yours! And once again, happy May!!

May Day KAL~ post from Kelli

While at Vogue Knitting Live in Seattle I found this Terra sock: fingering weight,4 ply, 75% superwash merino/25% nylon,yarn from 'Three Fates Yarns' a small hand-dying company in Salem Oregon. This only skein is perfect for this May Day knit. It's varigated pink is called "Dalias". I can't wait to start knitting this yarn!

Habuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!! - Post by Guest Blogger Jeff

So, the Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl is a pattern that I want to knit multiple times - and I already have yarn picked out for three different versions! Woot!

The yarn I'm planning on using for the first STLS is...



Habu Textiles A-1 2/17 Tsumugi Silk

Definitely can't wait until May 1st!

The other two STLS's I'm planning to knit in...

Elemental Affects Natural Shetland Rustic Lace

and

 

Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran

 

pre-funk time! ~ posted by Melissa

There's still time to join the next knitalong (info link here) but with 10 days to go, how 'bout we start sharing our yarn choices!?  We're at 11 knitters so far with a few 'maybe' people still pondering.

Some you know and some you may not...here are links to everyone's ravelry pages so you can check each other out if you'd like:  Jeff, Penny & Caroline, Kelli, Jody, Amy, Annette, Will, Sue, Trudy, Dixie, Liz, Andee (welcome back!), Leanne (welcome back to you as well!), and me, of course! 

That's my yarn above ~ I'm fairly sure after winding a few options from my stash that I'm going to use this lovely cake of Madelinetosh Prairie laceweight in 'Wilted Rose'.

Anxious to see what you all are thinking and if you've got solid choices made yet!  When you're ready, let's get some photos up so we can all get a peek!

Happy weekend, all!  ~ Melissa



look what we've done & a new kal ~ posted by Melissa

I thought it would be a good time for an update as our Leaves of Grass knitalong winds down and we begin gearing up for our next adventure.
 

We started out this fun Jared Flood knit with 15 knitters.  Tracey's Leaves of Grass took an unexpected turn and she went down a completely different path and knit herself an absolutely amazing pi shawl (here's the ravelry link to what her yarn wanted to become instead ~ it's definitely worth a peek!).  We haven't heard from Annie since the very beginning when she admitted to wishing she had used smaller needles and was going to frog and start anew (Annie, where are you my friend?).  And we'll never forget this terrifyingly hilarious post from Andi where she describes how her Leaves of Grass bit the dust (Andi, I hope you knit along with us again!).
 

Heather has finished her Leaves and I have a feeling it won't be long before we see some finished photos from her (you have had one chaotic winter, Heather!).  Kelly, Morgen, Eileen and Will are still dutifully working on their shawls and I hope to see more photos from them soon (hint hint!).
 

And as you can see from the photo collage above, 7 of us have completed our projects and don't they look lovely!  Starting at the upper left corner and going clockwise, here we are proudly displaying what a few months of hard work and friendship has accomplished:  Leanne, Andee, Kelli, Annette, Melissa, Jeff, and Lori.
 

Kelli and I have had a wonderful time knitting with our old fiber friends, as well as the new.  And that brings us to the next adventure ~ our May Day Knitalong.  I started a page at the top of the blog with all the information ( here's the link ).  You can read about the pattern we chose and how to contact me if you're interested in casting on with us on May 1st.
 

Until then, I hope everyone enjoys the weekend.  I can't wait to get started on the next big thing!

~ Melissa