Nothing much here

So I'm what you might call new to the design game. The Milky Way Scarf is my second pattern up on Ravelry. And it just tickles me pink to see that people seem to like it! Those little hearts are just about the greatest thing to see increase. But anywho.

On the knitting front, I've resumed progress on a couple of my lace pieces. I've completed the star and transition chart of my Laminaria Shawl. I'm really happy to be done with the star chart - not my favorite stitch. Nor is the 3 into 9 stitch thing you have to do in the blossom chart, but I have to admit the effect is very nice. But it's so fiddly!


Yes, that photo was taken on the back of a very obliging cat who was sitting in front of the picture window.

Yesterday, Mister Comfypants and I went to the next town over to see The Hurt Locker (which is a great movie, by the way - very intense). But we got done with our planned errands too early and had time to kill before hand. I'd noticed a thrift store we hadn't hit up before, so we headed over there. And I found these fabulous vintage creamers.

Now, they've nothing to do with knitting, but aren't they great? Pants and I love Mount Rainier, and I love beautiful small containers, so they are perfect. For something. I don't know what yet.

New Pattern: Milky Way Scarf

I'm pleased to announce my latest (second!) design: The Milky Way Scarf.


The scarf is knit from 400-450 yards of fingering weight yarn - I used a sock yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy in Midnight Derby. The lace pattern is quite simple, but creates an elegant effect. The undulating edging and random yarn overs evoke the night sky. The pattern is charted.



The pattern is available for free (FREE!) download at my Ravelry pattern store, or at the Dancing Ewe Yarns website.

This is the secret design I've been talking about the past couple of months. I submitted it to the Dancing Ewe's scarf from sock yarn design contest and am completely thrilled that the pattern took first place in its category of Opera Scarf. A big thanks to the Dancing Ewe and the illustrious judges for the incentive to design my first lace piece.

FO: Spey Valley Socks

Pattern: Spey Valley Socks by Nancy Bush from Knitting on the Road
Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote Luxury Sock
Needles: Size 2


First things first. I took these photos today. It was 103 degrees outside and those are wool socks. Just saying. I've got commitment people.

These socks are pretty awesome. I followed the pattern (except for the decorative pattern at the top where I accidentally omitted one repeat) and I adore them. I love the rounded toe, the smooth heel, the simplicity of the ribbing. They're great. That is, the pattern is great. Wildfoote yarn is fine, but it's never been my favorite sock yarn. It is nowhere near Luxury, in my opinion. But it does make a darn fine sock, even if it's not soft and smooshy and, well, luxurious. Let's see some close ups.



I started these socks in June. I finished the first one just before I went on vacation. I finished the second one while on vacation.

Then I started the Salto Socks in some Trekking XXL I had. The pattern is beautiful. It shows up gorgeously in light colors and the cable pattern is simple to memorize. I really liked how they were turning out.


Except for the sizing. I was using 1.5s and what I'm told is Trekking (ball band lost), and the socks were clearly going to be too tall and too narrow to accommodate my calves. It's a lovely pattern and I may knit it someday... with thicker yarn and slightly larger needles. Le sigh.

And now I'm back from vacation and sick of socks. I'm going to concentrate on finishing up a couple of lace projects I've got going and see where my whims take me...

Vacation!

Well, I'm leaving for a two week vacation! My contest scarf is all finished and turned in. I've got two knitting projects and a drop spindle packed. I am ready to go! I'll see you all in a couple of weeks. Here's a sneak peek of my contest design:


The cat is a bit too interested when I block lace....

Road Trip!

We took a weekend trip to the Olympic Peninsula (along with about a quarter of the population of Washington State, it sometimes seemed). We hiked, saw amazing scenery, but mostly we hiked the Ozette Loop. The loop goes for about 9 miles - three to the ocean, three along the coast, and three back the the trailhead. At the end of our first third of the trail, we were at Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the continental US. Which I thought was awesome. So naturally, I brought my knitting.



I knit about a row on my Spey Valley sock from Knitting on the Road. But mostly I hiked. And I am not used to hiking that much - I am very sore now.

The entire, long set, including a visit to Hurricane Ridge, is here.

Project storage is no picnic

I've got about a half dozen project on the needles right now. I have a variety of bags that I keep them in. I've got your basic canvas bag, a nice reversible blue bag, a variety of Halloween bags from the lovely cyclingkate, a cute drawstring bag with a bird on it, and my newest addition from Corrina of Picnic Knits.

You see, Corrina has this Etsy shop where she sells various lovelies. And one day I was so in love with some fiber that I had to buy it. So I got this:

It's very pretty, but I haven't spun a bit of it yet. I go through fits and spurts with the spinning thing, unfortunately.

As a little bonus, she sent along this bag:


You see, it's great because it has exactly enough room for a pair of socks and a nice flat bottom. As a bonus, it's reversible! I actually keep the yellow star side out because it's so happy.
That bit of blue is actually the scarf I've been working on for the contest. (I've got maybe 10" knit so far!) This is my favorite bag for small projects right now.

Designing is hard!

So I mentioned that my local yarn store is having this contest - make a scarf, in any of four categories, out of sock yarn. I've been interested in trying my hand at lace design. I've designed a pair of socks (On the Fly Socks), but the novel thing there was making up a stitch pattern. So this contest opportunity - with its prizes and celebrity judges - seems just the right nudge to get me going.

But I come to find out.... this is hard! And scarves don't even need shaping. I figured that, given my not insignificant experience knitting lace, this should be a breeze. But, uh, it's not. The rules of the contest specify that the pattern must not be published prior to the contest, so you don't get to see photos of the design I finally settled on, but I am going to show you the rejects.

(Washed out with flash - makes it easier to see the pattern.) The bottom design is the first try. But in addition to being fiddly to knit, it's pretty complicated and hard to see in a scarf. I like it a lot, though, and think it's got potential. Just not for this project. The design on top... eh.. not so much. It's simpler than the bottom, but still not hitting any notes.


Attempt number three: Something still not hitting right about this one. Subtle, but to the point where it gets kind of hard to see.


So what did I end up going with? Well... that remains to be seen. I'll post photos, and the pattern, after the contest is over. Early August.