Diamonds from the Sea

Two posts in two days? That's unheard of! I really wanted to share a photo of the latest project off the needles though -- Frost Diamonds from the Winter 09 issue of Knitty by Stefanie Japel. Here it's done as a smaller shawlette in Wolle's Color Changing Cotton in the "Seaweed" colorway. Aren't those colors lovely? I'm looking forward to wearing it over a light summer top once those warmer days are here again.

Pay no attention to those two loose ends that haven't been worked in yet -- soon, soon! How about a close up of the stitch pattern?

Eventually she hopes...

...it will all come together in perfect harmony. Until then, here's a photo of the random pieces of Sally Melville's Cross-Over-Rib top.

You'll notice that the original is done in all one color of Koigu -- my version, however, is not. I'd like to say it was a deliberate design decision, but in truth, that's what I had. I've collected quite a few random skeins of Koigu over the years, probably with an eye to making socks -- or knitting something modular, but somehow they just never got knit. So, we shall see. It's an awful lot of knitting if it doesn't work out!

The back has a third color introduced, (a darker shade of olive), with the two yarns of the fronts blended at the bottom. This was done to tie together the colors of the front, and, more importantly, to ensure that there would be enough yarn to knit the back. Here's hoping!

Here's a closeup of the back -- (clicking makes bigger)

It will take a lot more knitting until it's finished (34 stitches x 40 rows per 4" goes slowly around here!), but I'm powering through, because I have some absolutely lovely Color-Changing Cotton from Wolle that I can't wait to get started on.

And who knows? Maybe there will be a photo of a sleek Italian vintage sewing machine to feast your eyes on soon!

Look Ma -- Crochet!

See, I do still work with yarn -- and very lovely yarn it is too!

Stats: Color Changing Cotton 4-ply from Wolle. Colorway: Sunburst 2 Amount: 2 50 g. balls Pattern: a scarf from Ondori Crochet Lace, a Japanese crochet pattern book. Hook used: 4 mm - F

Of course you know there has been some sewing done -- but that's a post for another day.

Little things

'Blue Ocean' scarf -- Stats: Waikiki pattern available free from the NaturallyCaron.com web site. Size F crochet hook. Yarn used is Color Changing Cotton (CCC 4) from Wolle's Yarn Creations .

And a dainty little facecloth -- Knit from Rowan Linen Drape (discontinued). Pattern is Petal Dishcloth from Dishcloth Boutique.

And I'm Back...

There now, that was a nice, relaxing break, but prime knitting/crocheting weather is approaching and it's time to get serious.

While away, I discovered a fun new yarn -- Color Changing Cotton from Wolle . Want to see what I made? Sure you do! First up, is a cute little shawlette -- Traveling Woman by Liz Abinante.






And then, with the leftover yarn -- a decorative little scarf from a Japanese accessory crochet book.



See how the yarn slowly changes color? (As always, click on the photos for bigger.) It's four strands of cotton that has one strand changing color at regular intervals, for a mesmerizing effect. Well, possibly I'm easily mesmerized (!) but it is fun to watch the changes happen.

The original scarf went off to the big city with one of the daughters, but I liked the effect so much that I'm now working on one for myself. Normally I hate to repeat patterns, so you can understand just how much I've enjoyed working with this yarn.

There's more to come -- including Adventures in Natural Dyeing -- whereby I tear up my yard looking for good candidates for the dye pot, so y'all come back!