XOXOKAL

I’ve cast on for the February Hugs and Kisses KAL, now tagged XOXOKAL on Ravelry.

Four pattern repeats done on my Fern Shawlette. The beads are very subtle here, but they do show up better in real life.

The yarn is Louet Gems Fingering in Willow, 100g, and Miyuki Delica beads (tubes rather than seed beads) in Celery.

It’s a pleasure becoming reacquainted with this pattern of mine. It’s not difficult, but it does require paying a little attention, and also pausing to add two beads on most right side rows.

I’m using my trusty Bead Aid to add beads to my knitting, and managing my beads with my bead tin. Do you bead your knits? One of the KAL prizes for the weekly drawings is a set of Bead Aids. I know someone will love theirs as much as I love mine!

There’s still time to join the KAL; we’ve only just started casting on. And the Criss Cross patterns are still on sale for 20% off with coupon code WEAVE, through February 10.

KAL details here.

For a little more fun, I’m giving away 2 patterns from this collection here and on Instagram. To enter, leave a comment and let me know which is your favorite! If you already own your favorite, let me know that and your hoped for pattern. On Sunday, February 8, I’ll draw a name from here, and a name from Instagram. (Do you Instagram? I’m PDXKnitterati over there, too.) You can find names of these patterns in this post.

When I’m not working on my Fern Shawlette, I’m being lured by the siren song of a new to me yarn.

This is Malabrigo Rastita, a DK weight slightly felted single ply yarn. I am enchanted by it. This color is Solis, a mix of greens and blues. Not quite as blue as this picture would lead you to believe, and knitting at night it looks only green, but by daylight it is gloriously both.

I can’t show you what I’m making with it yet, but I have already knit through one 100g hank, and I’m not bored with it at all.

OK, comment time. Let me know your favorite pattern from the XOXOKAL set! And anything else you want to comment on.

27 responses to “XOXOKAL”

Pingback: Hugs and Kisses KAL: Casting on soon! | PDXKnitterati
Paula Johnson | February 4, 2015 at 12:16 pm |

I think I’ll try the XOX mitts and hat. I already have the Fern a Shawlette pattern. I’m teaching your Filigree shawl right now. We are adding beads. Will post pictures of finished projects.
Paula Johnson | February 4, 2015 at 12:17 pm |

Oops, Fern Lace Shawlette.
pdxknitter | February 4, 2015 at 12:27 pm |

Fern lace shawlette is my fave. And I don’t own it yet…
Roxanne Stevens | February 4, 2015 at 1:03 pm |

Your patterns are very pretty. I really like the fern shawl.
Mindy | February 4, 2015 at 1:21 pm |

Love all your patterns but too scared to try the shawlette. My fav is the criss cross hat!
- pdxknitterati | February 9, 2015 at 9:04 am |
  
  Hi, Mindy: You’re a winner! I’m sending you a link to download the Criss Cross Hat pattern.
  
  >
- Mindy | February 9, 2015 at 4:12 pm |
  
  Awesome!! Thank you. You can send to my Ravelry account if that’s easier….my name on there is Hannahbug38
  
  Thanks again ☺️
Lee | February 4, 2015 at 1:51 pm |

Wow! The Fern Lace Shawlette is beautiful!
kingshearte | February 4, 2015 at 1:55 pm |

Malabrigo, man. I could just live in a beautifully coloured cocoon of their yarns. Is Rastita like a thinner version of Rasta?
- pdxknitterati | February 4, 2015 at 2:01 pm |
  
  I believe so; I’ve never knit with Rasta. Is Rasta a single ply,also? This stuff is just so very lovely.
lindarumsey | February 4, 2015 at 2:51 pm |

The Fern Lace shawlette is beautiful and would be great for Spring!
Linda Bryan | February 4, 2015 at 3:55 pm |

My absolute favorite is Sophie’s Rose but I have it. Sooo my next choice would be the Fern Lace Shawlette, perfect for spring. (Frankly I like all your designs so choosing only one is difficult. Your Sophie’s Rose took my breath away when I saw it in person, so I bought that immediately.)
aezeigler | February 4, 2015 at 4:37 pm |

Fern lace. I don’t really have a favorite, just don’t have fern lace and do have fern lace lust. Going to Instagram now…
Cathy W. | February 4, 2015 at 6:58 pm |

My favorite is the Garland shawl.
- pdxknitterati | February 4, 2015 at 8:32 pm |
  
  Hi, Cathy: Thanks for your comment! Garland isn’t one of the patterns in the drawing, but Fern is very similar, if you want to enter for that.
  
  >
Leigh Anne | February 4, 2015 at 8:51 pm |

I love the idea of the magnet for your bead aid. I found it so cumbersome trying to pick up the bead aid in my metal tin and a magnet is the perfect solution! What a simle solution to an annoying problem. Thanks Michele!😄
- pdxknitterati | February 9, 2015 at 9:38 am |
  
  Such a simple fix, yes? I love it. I see in my picture that my tin is a little dented, so I’m going to swap for the ginger Altoids tin I just found in my basket (it was Kiddo’s, and I knew I wanted to use it for something). The OCD part of me wants to find a ginger colored magnet to go inside; this green star matches the green tin!
  
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Becky | February 5, 2015 at 4:33 am |

My favorite is the Sophie’s Rose and I bought it and hope to join the KAL. My second favorite is the Fern Lace. For some reason I am a shawl lover and always gravitate to those first!
- pdxknitterati | February 9, 2015 at 9:09 am |
  
  Hi, Becky: You’re the winner of a copy of the Fern Lace Shawlette pattern! Sending it through Ravelry.
  
  >
SuthernGirl | February 5, 2015 at 6:44 am |

Fern lace shawlette is my fav closely followed by the criss cross beret….
Judy11 | February 5, 2015 at 8:49 am |

Fern Shawlette is my fav!!
Robyn | February 6, 2015 at 12:08 pm |

I love them all and if I have to pick one it would be the reversi cowl 🙂
julie | February 6, 2015 at 11:32 pm |

I really like the criss-cross mitts. Looks like I would learn a new technique knitting them.
Mai | February 7, 2015 at 9:28 pm |

Gosh they’re all so lovely but I think my favourite is the criss-cross mitss.
Carmen N | February 8, 2015 at 11:08 am |

My favorite is the Criss Cross Hat (asimplehomestd on Rav)
Debbie | February 9, 2015 at 4:22 am |

Cross cross beret is my favorite.