Tag Archives: kal

Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 25, 2012 | 3 comments

I finished my Silver and Gold KAL project. It wasn’t the lovely silvery yarn from Knitted Wit. I decided to knit another Hoppy Blonde Webfoot for a UO Duck fan, instead. Gold! And I finished a couple days go. It’s blocked and wrapped, and waiting to be gifted. No picture, though; it was dark when I wrapped.

I also gave my Madelinetosh Pashmina Filigree to a dear friend. Two knit gifts, and only one on deadline. Perfect.

If you participated in the KAL and would like to enter the drawing for a yarny prize, please contact me by Dec. 31 to let me know. I saw the pattern sales go out, but haven’t heard from you! It’s been a busy month, I know.

We started our Christmas Day with mimosas and Cinnamon Roll Waffles. After seeing this on the web, we had to try it. They were pretty tasty!

Wishing you a peaceful day. How are you spending it? We’ll be having 14 at dinner tonight. Prime rib is in the oven and smells heavenly already…Mookie can’t wait!

3 Comments

Posted in foodies!, Knit

Tagged christmas, kal

Zen Rain KAL

Posted on May 27, 2011 | 8 comments

Thank you for your kind comments about Zen Rain! I’m really pleased with this design, and even more pleased that we’re having a knitalong.

For those of you knitting along, what yarn are you going to use? I’m currently on the ruffle of my third shawl (this one is for me, me, me). It’s knit with Alpha B’s Luxe yarn, 50%superwash merino, 50% silk. The color is stainless steel, with lots of shades of gray in it. It has a lovely sheen, and it’s really soft.

But to be fair, I should be knitting along with you! I’d happily knit another one of these; I just have to decide what to use. I’m not much of a skinny yarn sock knitter, but I do have a small collection of sock yarns, so I’ll pick one of those. I can hear you wondering, why does an avowed non-sock knitter have a collection of sock yarns? I picked up several at Deb Accuardi’s pre-Sock Summit luncheon a couple years ago (I really hope she does another luncheon this year), and I also have some from yarn clubs. It will all get used, somehow.

What do you think of a girly-girl pink, extravagantly ruffled Zen Rain? I have this gorgeous skein of 100% Rambouillet single ply from Knitted Wit; it’s part of her Community Supported Yarn/Fiber club. Berries were her inspiration for this first delivery.

Let me know what you’re using. If you’re not in the KAL yet, but would like to be, let me know. I’ll give you a discount coupon code to use at the Ravelry checkout; the code is good through June 4. And I just started a Ravelry group so we can all post pictures and discuss as we go. Are you on Ravelry? The group is PDXKnitterati

Note: I think you have to go through Ravelry to have the option to use a coupon code. The Ravelry pattern page is here.

Cheers,
Michele

Let’s knit!

8 Comments

Posted in KAL

Tagged kal, zen rain, zen rain kal

Introducing…Zen Rain

Posted on May 25, 2011 | 12 comments

When I learned that there would be a Sock Summit in 2011, I knew that I wanted to design something special with sock yarn to commemorate the occasion. I wanted a shawl that would be a souvenir of Portland, where it rains, and rains, and rains. I asked Lorajean Kelley of Knitted Wit to dye a cloudy gray sky for me, and she did it with Bling, which is merino, silk, and silver.

This is Zen Rain. I was inspired by rain running down a window.

It’s shallow, and really wide, with a girly-girl ruffle. The extra wingspan lets the ends twist in a riot of ruffles, if you’re inclined to wear it that way.

You can also knit it with a more sedate ruffle, if you insist.

You can purchase this pattern through Ravelry on the pattern page now, or at the Knitted Wit booth at Sock Summit in July. I’m hoping the only rain we see at Sock Summit is Zen Rain!

Would you like to do a Knitalong? I’m thinking it would be a fun June project. The pattern will be $6, but if you’d like to participate in a KAL, let me know in the comments and I’ll send you a coupon code for $1 off the pattern, now through June 4.

Thanks to Rachel Nichols, Tami Hawes, and Christina Morales for test knitting for me.

12 Comments

Posted in Knit, pattern design

Tagged kal, zen rain shawl

What is a sock

Posted on April 3, 2009 | 16 comments

What is a sock start, but a gauge swatch?

Yesterday’s foray with the Bleeding Heart Shur’tugal left me cold. That big blobby pool of pink just didn’t make me happy. The spiral reversed direction between the ribbing and the dragon scale pattern, and the area where it reversed was like a big pink eyeball. I couldn’t take it, so I ripped it out.

The pattern calls for 64 or 72 stitches. I had already reduced it to 56 stitches on size 1 needles because I’m using STR Mediumweight instead of Lightweight. I knew if I increased to 64 stitches, I would have to knit on size 0 or 00 needles. No way. So I went the other direction, and cast on 48 stitches on size 2 needles. (ETA: I thought they were 2’s, but they’re still 1’s! I guess I can switch back to my new Lantern Moon blondwood Sox Stix, since they’re the same size as these Brittany Birch.)

(Please excuse the harsh lighting. The sun actually came out, hooray!)

What a well behaved spiral. Just what I wanted, and it looks a lot like the spiral on the designer’s revised pattern for Shur’tugal. (Ravelry link for the updated pattern, but I don’t think you can get it elsewhere. Join Ravelry; it’s free!)

So I’m much happier. The sock is a little snugger, but still big enough for my leg and my foot. And there’s no pink eyeball. Ahhhhh.

16 Comments

Posted in Knit, ravelry

Tagged kal, Knit, ravelry, shur'tugal, socks that rock, yarn