obsession du jour

I'm currently on vacation at my parents' winter home in Englewood, Florida. I've not been slacking, though! I have 2 knitting projects underway.

This first one is the outside part of a wallet, requested by a chorus friend of mine. I'm doubling up 2 different strands of cotton yarn, partly to meet the gauge of the pattern and partly because it is a really cool combo. Makes it kinda thick, tho. We'll see how it comes out. The stitch i am using is called a "linen stitch" and is easy to do but looks really cool and woven.


This second project is to be a circular lace scarf. the pattern is intricate and cool, the yarn is threadlike and delicate, and i was really proud that i was able to start it on double-pointed needles all by myself on only the second try. however, as you can see, it doesn't look a whole lot like the pattern at this point......more like a tangled mess.



Here, stretched out some, you can almost see a pattern in it. whether it is the same pattern as the pic only time and blocking will tell!


Back later in the week with updates...

scaley scarf: in progress

coming up next

well, i was all set to start this waikiki scarf pattern.
i first attempted it in leftover blue purple yarn.
unfortunately, as much as i love the colour,
stitches are so hard to sort out with a such
wiggly-chunky yarn, that i decided to forgo
it and try something else.

i went to the studio and bought a variegated red violet
version of Cascade's 220 Superwash Paints wool,
but after i crocheted the first 8 rows, i realized:
the yarn is better, but omg, i hate this pattern now.

last night, i came upon a simple little crochet
pattern that might show off the yarn much better.
it is teresa's "shell pattern scarf". as i started working on it,
i realized: "hey! these are not shells--they are SCALES!" LOL

snakiness: more than a just a theme...it is a lifestyle!

FI-NAL-LY!!!

It feels like I have been working on this potholder forever instead of just a couple of weeks. Having said that, it was a fun pattern to do, and despite some clear "issues" with tension, I wouldn't mind revisiting the pattern again at some later date. But for now, I think I am potholdered out!

Here's how it turned out:

Side "A"


and side "B"!

I labeled them A and B because to say there is a front and back side is a bit silly - depends on which view you like better which side is the front!

Now - on to choosing the next project........something i can do on the plane and during a week of vacation. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

redone & rejoicing

this is the finished snakish scarf all redone. it was designed using persian tiles afghan squares. it still rolls, but now i that it is soft, i find it charming.

here was the first attempt in acrylic

finished jelly

i finished this yesterday and it got my kid's approval.
i offered to add a face, but the offer was turned down.
stuffing it really stretched out the stitches too much
on the topside, for my liking. not sure how to fix that.

double knitting

I am learning this new way of knitting - and so I am practicing it by making potholders to take to my parents' "new" home when I visit them next month.

Here is the first one:
Front....
and back...


I kinda messed up a bit at the beginning, but i don't think mom will mind much! It makes a nice thick potholder. The other one will be a little more colorful and have a different pattern, but still this same reversible double-knitting thing, because I need more practice!