Friday, March 28, 2008

Busy ...


... but not with knitting. If I have free time, I'm in the garden marvelling over the little green things that defy all reason and pop out of the soil year after year. This is my 8th year in this house and it's nice to see things coming along.

All the gardening has left me with cracked, dirty hands. Not so good for knitting. And terrible for knitting hemp with my sharp Knit Picks Options. It's inevitable when knitting with this yarn and these needles: I will sustain a knitting injury.

And so I was sidelined for a bit. I wasn't knitting much of consequence since I don't enjoy knitting with a big band aid on my thumb (the needle exploited my dry, cracked thumb on a purl row and punctured the skin).

But I'm back baby! A washcloth is done as is my chevie.

Vandyke Lace Border washcloth


Pattern: Vandyke Lace border from Victorian Lace Today
Yarn: All Hemp 6, DK Weight
Needles: Knit Picks Options US 5s

This was a housewarming present for a friend. I had some All Hemp left in the stash and knew how well it softened with repeated washings. I knit a few garter rows and then knit the body in stockinette. At the end, I knit a few garter rows again, this time double looping on two of them. Then after another knit row, I crochet cast-on stitches for the Clarence border.

Thank you Victorian Lace Today! I am relying on this book more and more for lace information and ideas. There are also other lace books that I would like to get (this and this to be specific) but right now I'm saving my knitting budget for the first week in May.

Chevron Scarf


Pattern: Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: KPPPM
Needles: US 6s


I never said that I was a trend-setter in the knitting world (that's Liz!). In fact I am way behind the trend. But I do finally get there. I love this scarf. It seems so springy and colorful and fun.

I picked up the Koigu at The Needle Lady in C'ville. I was so worried about whether or not I had picked the right colors (when confronted with a large selection of koigu, my mind just freezes up). I love the way these two worked together.


Maybe this year I'll wear mine to MDSW ...

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

ann, if those yellow tulips were in my backyard, their pretty heads would be chomped off by the roving gangs of deer!

we have crocus and daffodils and hyacinths in bloom - the deer don't think those flowers are tasty morsels.

now, scarves in trees...mos def NOT seen up here! how nice!

happy spring to all in richmond!

HPNY KNITS said...

nice to have a garden to play with!

Anonymous said...

I sure wish we were seeing some green here in Michigan. It actually snowed about 4 inches the other day. And it isn't like we live in the Upper Peninsula; we live just north of Detroit. It has just been crazy weather. The day before the snow my husband pointed out that one of my crocus were starting to bloom, so I hope they don't die because of the last minute snow storm.

Liz K. said...

Your chevron is gorgeous. You're not trendy, your timeless!!!!

Michele said...

Hi Ann,
For your thumb, try come of that liquid bandage stuff (made by J&J and 3M). Works great on my mom's chemo cracked fingers and on Bill's finger cracks. Helps with healing and prevents infection plus it's waterproof and breathable. Paint it on 2x/d. I have a box of nitrile gloves I use for gardening. Want me to send you some to try? I have smalls and mediums. -- Michele (the uncle-in-laws wife)

Anonymous said...

The chevron is beautiful!!

Anonymous said...

Oh! The cracked, dried hands and yarn! What a horrible match. I hear ya!

The chevron is beautiful, as is the wash cloth. Isn't it amazing how long those scarves grow?

Knit and Garden On!