cotton

Dear Page,

Having finished the Shetland Shawl and not being quite ready to take on another big project, I decided to use up some of my scraps of Lily Sugar N' Cream cotton yarn that I had previously used in making bibs. I decided to try to make a "sock" for a glass. I know that sounds somewhat strange and perhaps stupid to some folks but you know how cold your hand can get holding a glass of ice tea or soda with ice in it? On top of that, if the glass sweats, your hand get wet as well as cold. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to try to design a glass "sock." The first one I made, I started with a crocheted bottom to serve as a coaster as well as insulation and picked up stitches around the "coaster" when it became the right size. Then I switched to knitting and proceeded to knit a 1 X 1 rib for about an inch, then switch to stockingnette in a contrasting but coordinating color for another inch, and finally ended back with ribbing in the original color for maybe 1/3 of an inch. Here is the result:

Dear Mom,

So I have completed the back of the Fair Isle cardigan for Bee. It wasn't as difficult as I imagined, but it is a challenging knit for sure. The shine is a very soft and pleasant yarn. It has a tendency to look a bit fuzzy even as you knit with it, so I don't know how it will hold up over the long haul. I have to say that I am happy with how it looks thus far. The back alone has at well over 60 ends to weave in!

Dear Mom,

With one stripped sock done, I have half of a finished object. Should have cast on for the other sock right away, but instead started a new project (Ravelry link).

This will be the Fair Isle Cardigan from Zoe Mellor's Adorable Knits for Tots. I am using Shine Sport from KnitPicks as a substitute for the Rowan yarn called for. This project is fairly advanced for me with colorwork on right and wrong sides as well as more than two colors per row. Also the cotton yarn is less forgiving than wool. However, I think the sweater is really cute and it is good to challenge yourself once in a while. So wish me luck. I am reserving the right to abandon ship if need be, but am hopeful that it will turn out fine.

Page,

The Shetland Triangle Shawl is off the needles! It seems very small in spite of my adding additional pattern repeats and increasing the edging by 4 rows. I hope that blocking will help make it a usable size. It really did turn out rather well even if I do say so myself.

Page,

Thought I'd post an update on my Shetland Triangle Shawl. It is almost finished but it has been such a fun and relatively mindless lace project that I kind of hate to see it end. On the other hand, I have other projects that need my attention and others that I'm anxious to start.

Here is a picture of the beading that I added to the shawl but which wasn't a part of the pattern: