Swatch Island

Hmm...having trouble deciding on an alternate color scheme in case my Knit Picks order doesn't arrive by August 1st for the WestKnits Mystery Shawl KAL 2011: Earth & Sky. So far I'm really not liking these. I bought things to match some stash, but that really never works. As it is, I'll need to buy new, but I love that the Brown Sheep Nature Spun sport is so affordable. Here it is in charcoal and gray with my stashed Rowan Felted Tweed. I think it needs a denim blue instead of the red. The fabric has really nice drape on size 4. These photos are really crummy and I folded the swatch because it's curled.

Here is the stashed Koigu with the new Dream in Color Smooshy in a dark black raspberry sort of color. I love the DIC and Koigu separately, but so NOT together. The koigu will be sent back to it's originally purchased purpose: socks. Now I need something to go with the Smooshy.

I'll most likely end up doing the KAL with the knit picks yarn as that is my palette of choice these days: tidepool heather (a turquoise), celadon heather, verdant heather (a dark greyish green).

WIPs Week

Well, it's been over 2 years since I posted, but I have been knitting and crocheting. Recently joined a new knitting group after several failed attempts trying to get some of my Hip Mama friends together. There was interest, but with motherhood, child emergencies come up at the last minute resulting in cancellations.

I'm going to join in on the WestKnits Mystery Shawl 2011 KAL, which means freeing up my size 4 needles. Stephen West's "Herbivore" had been hibernating on those needles for a while because the twisted rib stitch was so slow. On Thursday, I retrieved the project and pressed on, finally completing it Saturday night. The cast-off took the entire duration of a movie! Ugh. Will block today, pics to follow soon. I wasn't pleased with the Malabrigo Sock yarn either, it pilled/fuzzed up a lot while working on it. My hands get dry and snaggy in winter, which really fuzzed up the yarn despite using hand lotion. Not sure what yarn I'll use for the KAL, pics of color choices coming soon.

Now I'm going to spend the next few days completing my Citron, using Dream in Color Baby in a lovely shade of mossy green. Love that yarn, picked it up at a nice sale price. I'm using the whole skein, so modified the pattern and calculated more section increases.

I'm also going to unravel a cotton cowl in progress (that had a major mistake) and set it aside possibly for a Boneyard Shawl in the future. It's a nice denim blue that will be great with jeans.

After I finish the KAL, I will start a Daybreak. I am really in love with Stephen West patterns.

So once I finish up a few things, that leaves only a couple WIPs remaining: Lady Eleanor, Hanami Stole and a Clapochet. My Lade E has about 4 skeins to go, Hanami has 1 chart to go and Clapochet is half done, using Zauberball sock.

Other crochet projects are a Hexagon baby blanket (half done) for a brand new baby, and another hexagon blanket for my daughter. Almost done with a daisy square throw as well. These will be mostly be winter projects since they grow on one's lap when joining.