SPIRE KAL - Final Photos - by guest blogger Andrea

Hi everybody,

I took advantage of the end of summer weather we're having here in western Washington.  What a glorious day and a perfect time to bring this KAL project to a close.  I say that with some sadness. This project is one of my most challenging and memorable to date.

The beach a few blocks from my house was a good place to start.  I actually used it as the backdrop for another project: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/aksaxton/eurybia.  I then went a few blocks down the street to my favorite hometown park, Causland Park.  Here I found the perfect spots to really show off this shawl.

Causland Memorial Park (710 N Avenue) was built in the 1920’s by Louis Lepage and is on the National Register of Historic Places. A portion of the park is dedicated to Anacortes veterans from World War I to the Vietnam War.

 So here are pictures of my Spire.  I enjoyed the project so very much and always love knitting along with Kelli and Melissa and their blog readers.  I wonder what the next KAL might be?

 I go by this park every day.  It's easy to just drive by with one's blinders on.  Today, while walking around and studying its beauty, I am again reminded what a gem we have in town.

 

Happy Knitting, everyone.  Let's do this again soon!

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



yearned, imagined, mine ~ posted by Melissa

have you ever seen a yarn and knew in a snap that you must have it

 3 skeins of madelinetosh tosh dk 'Mansfield Garden Party'

and were lucky enough to know someone that was willing to sell it to you (thanks, Kyle!)
 

3 skeins become 1 giant cake ~ 225yds of 24-ply merino wool

and while you waited for it to arrive dreamed about what you would make with it 

colors reminiscent of Monet's paintings

and knew instantly when you opened the package that this yarn must become a certain something 

big, squishy seed stitch

and after casting on realized that this project couldn't be any more perfect
 

 My enormous 'Gap-tastic Cowl' turned out just as I had envisioned.  It's long enough to wrap loosely around my neck three times and narrow enough that it doesn't come up over my chin.  One strand of this colorway is pretty enough on its own, but lay 3 strands side by side and knit them together and there are so many different gorgeous color combinations with every stitch that it was really hard to put this project down!

I'm a bit envious of knitters who live in cold climates since I probably won't get too much wear out of this knit in the Pacific Northwest, but if I do get to wear it once or twice every winter, I'll consider myself lucky!

 

Is everyone planning their cold-weather knits for this year?  I can't wait to see what my friends decide are their 'must haves' this season, and be inspired by their choices.  Hope everyone is having a great week!   ~ Melissa

European holiday ~ a post by Melissa

Hey, everybody!  Here's what I've been finishing up while I was waiting for our fellow kal'ers to make some progress ~

It's called Dinner at the Eiffel Tower , a free (for the moment) pattern by Jessie Dodington.  And by her own admission, her first substantial design!!  I am completely impressed!  The pattern was written for dk weight yarn but I know me and the shawls that get the most use at my house are my lace weight knits so I did modify the pattern to make it larger, but the dk projects on Ravelry are all gorgeous!  I may have to do this again in a heavier yarn with no modifications, and that's saying alot since I rarely do the same project twice!

I had fun taking finished photos since it blocked so big and airy ~ I found quite a few ways that I'll be able to wear it.  I've also decided that I do like a semicircular shawl after all, as long as it's big enough to wrap around me nice and loosely.  I'm guessing this took about 3/4 of my madelinetosh Prairie lace weight yarn so about 630 yards or so (I don't have a scale so this a total eyeball guesstimate!).  And the color is bright and berry red with a slight blackish hue ~ it's fantastic.

Now it's back to the knit-along and time to pick up stitches for the border.  Kimberly and Kelly, how are you coming along?  Hopefully you're not entirely nupped out already!  Morgen is nearing the finish line ~ I think she may complete hers before me, even after such a struggle to get everything 'just so' in the beginning. 

Stay cool, everybody!  I know the Midwest has been a boiler room and we're supposed to have record breaking temps the next couple days so shut the blinds, turn on the fans and look forward to a little cooler weather this weekend!  ~  Melissa

I wonder when spellcheck will recognize 'Ravelry' as a real word!?!

little nupps on the prairie ~ a post by Melissa

My Chart A :  I'm up to row 23.  I decided to use the stitch markers (I usually don't) since backing out an entire nupp row took me an hour yesterday.  Now I count each repeat as I complete it ~ 16 stitches between markers ~ just on those rows.  It sure is easier to catch and fix errors right when you make them!  Darn Olympics and too many midnight bedtimes this week!  I'm tired :) !!  How is everyone doing?  Can't wait to see some photos of how your yarn is knitting up...now it's back to work!   ~ Melissa

four, three, two, one ~ a post by Melissa

Tomorrow is the big day!  Are you ready to cast on Kelli, Kelly, Kimberly, Morgen and Pamela?  Don't forget to get the little bits of errata before getting started ( here's the link again if you need it ).  And if there's someone reading this that wants to join, it's not too late!  It only takes a minute to add you to the group so just let me know!

I'm calling our 2012 New Year's Day Knit Along officially closed (thank goodness!).  I'm hoping NOT to be the straggler this time around but I make no promises.  Here are some final photos of my Bridgewater .  I wanted to get some shots at the beach but haven't had time yet, so these will have to do for now:

It was fun knitting this with everyone watching everyone knit this while mine sat in my knitting basket for 7 months.  I guess it's not really a 'knit along' if you don't knit along, right? 

I'm excited to get the new kal started, so I'll share my yarn choice:

I haven't been able to get a true picture of the color yet.  I'm going to do the lace weight version of Prairie and I'm using Madelinetosh Tosh Lace in 'Clover', which is a bright, happy shade of green.  I usually like to use a US4 or US5 needle with my lace but since this shawl has nupps I'm going to use a US3 since I like them nice and tight.  When you use a fine yarn on bigger needles they tend to look a little loosey, goosey (just my opinion!).

Can't wait to see photos of all your yarn choices and especially Kimberly's hand dyed yarn!  I'm excited to knit with you all and I should let you know Kelli is also, even though she hasn't chimed in for awhile.  She's having problems with her google log in that she's hoping to have fixed soon!

Prairie Party starts tomorrow!!  ~ Melissa

peaceful waters ~ a post by Melissa

My rav site is full of bugs that won't let me edit projects right now, so I'll just have to share my excitement on the blog (shucks!).  Bridgewater is blocked and drying ~ hopefully it doesn't take more than the day since I had to pin it to our bed.  I don't relish the thought of sleeping on the floor tonight...that would be a crummy way to spend our 18th anniversary (can I get a whoop, whoop!!).

Ready? .........

Isn't it gorgeous???  The center square looks like a calm tidal pool with not a ripple to be seen.  The yarn was amazing to work with (as usual) and blocked easily.

Preblocking the shawl measured 34" x 34" ~ I blocked it to 48" x 48" (I could have blocked it bigger but liked how it looked at this size) and I think it will probably relax down to almost the exact pattern finished dimensions.

I'm glad this one is finally done.  It's my first square shawl and there are a few things that I wish were a little nicer....that darn kitchener seam at the very end is not invisible when it's used to graft lace ends together and the seam bothers me.  All in all, though, I'm glad that I did it and am pleased with the result.  I have to admit ~ that 'holy crap, dude, have you gone mad?!?!' face that Wil gave to Jeff when he signed on for this kal kept randomly popping up in my head and Wil, yours was definitely the voice (face) of reason on this one!   ~ Melissa

I wasn't kidding!

I finished 2 more projects today...and NO, Kelli, Bridgewater was not one of them!

 Pattern: Cranberry Capelet by Thea Colman

 Yarn: madelinetosh merino dk in 'Warm Mushroom' (I've gushed 
 about madtosh before but in case you've missed it, ♥♥♥♥ x1000!

I started this on our knitting retreat this past October and it's been done for months other than weaving in ends and blocking.

Good grief.  Now I have to wait til summer is over before I can wear it....and it is darn cute on, too!

 Pattern: Kiss of North by Melissa Schaschwary

Yarn: Berroco Peruvia in 'Grano'

This was a really fast and easy knit and I can wear it year round....in fact, I have it on right now!

This is the second sweater I've made from the monster buy of this colorway I made right after I started knitting.  I think the rest will be going to THIS year's retreat to be sold at our silent auction!  ~  Melissa

Well, my Bridgewater is not......

...done, that is! Far from it, but my horseshoe lace is! And just in case I haven't mentioned it recently

 .... I (heart) Jared Flood!        ~ Melissa

(My project notes can be found here )

Hip to be Square

Ok, this may be the last time you hear from me for days and days (I know, promises, promises) so I thought I'd show you my finished center square before I go pick up 700+ stitches for the lace border.  I do love Madelinetosh Prairie lace weight in garter ~ it makes such a warm, squishy fabric that's hard to stop fondling.  I even made my husband grab a handful and give it a good squeeze so he could feel it.  My increase sides each measure about 23 1/2" and my decrease sides measure 25", this despite the fact that I made a good effort of never having any unsupported weight hanging from my needles on the downside and distorting/stretching my stitches.  I'm sure I'll get it to even out in the blocking process, but it is definitely a poser why the same number of rows on each side of center would have that much of a size discrepancy.  Hmmmmm ~ I've got lots and lots of time to try and figure it out in the next couple hours while I'm getting all those hundreds of new stitches on the needles for my first lace chart....and a color change!    ~ Melissa

Geometry and knitting

I had a Spirograph when I was a kid that I would spend hours with making all these intricate symmetrical designs.  I think that's what I love about lace.  What do you see when you look at designs by Herbert Niebling?  I see such beauty in the minute detailed repetitive order of everything that his brilliant mind came up with.  And I see the same beauty in even the simplest symmetry, like my cake of Madelinetosh 'cove' caving into itself as more and more of it disappears into my Bridgewater.

I so love every part of knitting ~ from planning to completion ~ but especially the transformation of your fiber as you select it, wind it, knit it and block it, and all the different forms it takes during each step of the creative process.  I might be a faster knitter if I wasn't so darn distracted with every little thing that happens along the way!

If you had to pick one thing, what is your favorite part of a project?  Is it the planning?  Is it casting on that first stitch?  Or maybe wearing your finished piece?  What a wonderful craft we all are lucky enough to have discovered and come to love.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend and I can't wait to see the first finished Bridgewater!  I'm feeling like it's only a matter of days before there's a FO posted.....and I'm anxiously awaiting it!

~ Melissa

Melissa's 'progress' ? ? ?

97 stitches of garter this row
97 stitches of garter
I knit 2 together
then knit to the end
96 rows of garter to go.......

96 stitches of garter this row
96 stitches of garter
I knit 2 together
then knit to the end
95 rows of garter to go........

heavy sigh.......

a downslope in an uphill battle...

The uphill battle is that I'm still laboring away on the garter square of my Bridgewater, but I am officially done with increases and onto the decreasing.  For some illogical reason, I feel like this second half is going to take less than the 2 weeks it took to do the first half since I'm sure I'll somehow gain momentum with the rows getting shorter and shorter and shorter.  I know, it makes no sense, but it's a good mind frame, right?  In the meantime, here's a picture of my work in progress, which I'm sure would make a good base for a gorgeous Bridgewater Triangular Shawl.....hmmmmmm.    ~ Melissa

Evolution

Even though I'm slowly trudging along on the garter section (130 stitches on the needles and still increasing....slow slow slow):

my Bridgewater is evolving from my first vision, and then my second grand plan, to now my third and I think final idea.  I'm still going with the 2 color version I recently came up with:

That's Madelinetosh 'Cove' for my garter section on the left and 'French Grey' on the right for the lace.  I think I may have mentioned somewhere that this 'grey' that I got from Knit Purl in Portland is most definitely a pretty shade of brown.  I was worried that this one skein was not going to be enough for the entire lace section so I ordered another skein from Jimmy Bean and what do you know, the 'French Grey' that came is absolutely a shade of grey.  And instead of freaking out that the 2 batches of madtosh are not even remotely similar in color, I'm so excited!  I've decided that the brown (grey) will be the largest first section of lace and then I'm going to use the grey (grey) for the final lace chart.  I see both colors in the multi-colored 'cove' so the major difference in dyes is a wonderful misfortune I do believe. 

Now if only I could get to the lace sections.......sigh (happy sigh but sigh all the same!).  ~ Melissa

Tick Tock

I see Kelli popped on earlier and posted her yarn choice (I've seen it...it's amazing!).  Is everyone as excited as I am to get started on Bridgewater?  I had a brainstorm this morning that I think will take my knit from gorgeous to spectacular!  Instead of my original choice of Madelinetosh Lace in Winter Wheat, I've decided to use Madelinetosh Prairie and do the center garter stitch section in Cove and all the lace borders in French Grey.  I'm afraid that my original choice is too close to the Jared Flood knit I did last year (Rock Island) and with this being twice as big, I decided I didn't want to work with such a similar colorway.  What do you think of the new yarns?

I can't wait to cast on tomorrow!  It feels like Christmas Eve as a kid!  Can't wait to see what yarns Kelly, Morgen and Jeff have chosen and to get this show on the road (don't forget to check for errata ~ there is some if you have the book and not the downloadable version).  What a great way to start 2012!  And if you haven't joined us yet and would still like to, just leave a comment and we'll get you added so you can kal with us.  Be safe tonight everyone and don't stay up too late ~ we've got some knitting to do!  Tick tock, tick tock....    ~ Melissa

New Years Day KAL Revealed!

This year we decided to stray from the norm (how many Calendar Scarves does one girl need ~ 4 is plenty!) and we've chosen Jared Flood's Bridgewater, which can be purchased directly from his website, as a Ravelry download or as part of the booklet Classic Elite #9108 ~ Made in Brooklyn.  The pattern calls for 1800 yards of lace weight yarn (my yarn choice is pictured above ~ Madelinetosh Lace in Winter Wheat).  Neither Kelli or I have made a square shawl and we both are pretty enamored by all of Jared's patterns and thought this would be a great way to start 2012....knitting some lace with a few good friends.

So far we are 4 ~ Jeff in Pennsylvania (jmkorn on Ravelry), Morgen in Washington (she's joined us before ~ she's acoldwintersnight on Ravelry), Kelli and myself.  There's plenty of time between now and when we cast on New Years Day, so if you have Bridgewater on your wish list and you want to join in the fun this year, just let us know!  We'll add you to the blog as a guest contributor and we'll have a great time encouraging each other, helping when we get stuck and sharing photos as we go.

Looking forward to knitting with you guys ~ it will be fun as always!    ~ Melissa

Party Girls

Jo and Zoe's first play date!

Tuesday night was our knitting guild's 2nd birthday party and what better place for the girls to meet for the first time?!  It was a really fun meeting ~ everyone brought snacks, there were cakes from Snohomish Bakery, members shared their ribbons from the Evergreen State Fair a few weeks ago, there were prizes for UFO's ~ biggest, smallest and oldest! ~ and the new officers were sworn in for our upcoming membership year.

It was great to see our guest blogger Morgen, who surprised me with an unexpected, tremendously generous and oh, so loved already, birthday gift:

Zoe cuddling with my birthday yarn

Yes, that's my favorite yarn ~ madelinetosh ~ in a weight I haven't tried ~ sock ~ in the most beautiful variegated colorway I've ever seen ~ Magnolia Leaf.  There's a little over 1000yds which is plenty enough to make a gorgeous shawl.  I'm going to have so much fun planning for this yarn!!  Thanks again, Morgen ~ I'm still shocked ~ and thanks also for the loan of the book.  I can't wait to delve into this one!

There's been little knitting time lately as I've been spending every spare minute getting ready to start my position as 'Knit News' reporter for the guild.  I'll have the opportunity every month at our meetings to do a presentation on any topic that happens to strike my fancy.  I'm close to done with my first presentation ~ the topic is top secret until October ~ but I have to say, every person that I contacted on Ravelry in regards to project, photo, and pattern sharing has been so generous and encouraging that I think I'll be able to work through all my jitters about speaking in front of the group on a regular basis.  I'm excited to see if I'm 'interesting' or if I 'bomb' ~ as a fairly new knitter, what do you talk about that would interest a room full of lifelong amazing crafters.  It will certainly be a challenge!  I'll let you know how it goes after our next meeting.  Wish me luck!

I did manage to finish a project this week ~ just what the doctor ordered since nothing feels 'done' right now (home, knitting, guild, you name it) and I needed to complete something. 

This is Vitamin D by Heidi Kirrmaier in one of my top 5 favorite yarns ~ Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in Coffee Bean.  I'm thrilled with this knit and the drape of the yarn.  I'll get a ton of use out of this one this fall and winter.  This was a great knit with a little math and short rows, which kept all the stockinette from getting too boring.  I loved this pattern.

That's about all that's new for me ~ Kelli just finished a really pretty vest but if you want to see it you'll either have to check her out on Ravelry or razz her a little here to post more often (I'm all for option #2 ~ give her some grief, please!!).  Enjoy the last week of summer as we start hunkering down for some cooler weather and prime knitting time.  Happy weekend, all!      ~ Melissa

[Edited to add:  DANG ~ I was just rereading this after I posted and I HAVE finished something this summer ~ look at that awesome deck I'm standing on!!!  I stained that all by myself ~ 2 coats of stain and 38 man(or woman!)hours later ~ it took just about every single minute of sunny weather we had this summer that I wasn't at work!!!  So proud ~ and so pooped ~ but it is FINISHED!!!!  I get excited when it rains now since the water beads up which means I did a good job ~ yeah, for me!]