FOs!

Yes you read that title right FOs, as in plural. I have two to share today; I'm feeling productive and happy. Finishing these two inspired me to dig out some other UFO's and get cracking. If I can finish the small UFO's by this weekend then I'll tackle the larger ones. I'm resisting the urge to cast on new items. I want to cast on in the worst way. My fingers are itching for new wool, new needles and new ideas, but I will not cave in to my urges I will plug along and finish what I started. If I can do this then I will buy myself a Snuggs kit for adults in tan and light blue and I will be a happy little crafter.

First up on the bragging block is my Ripple and Ridge Scarf. I designed this myself from the Ripple and Ridge stitch pattern in Vogue Stitchionary Vol 1. I'm not sure if its okay to write up the pattern for sharing since all I did was that stitch pattern in repeats and set the yarn weight and length, but if you really want it I'll put it up for you.

Pattern: Ripple and Ridge Scarf

Yarn: Handspun Lace weight Superwash Merino/Tencel (50/50) dyed by Spunky Eclectic (its the September Colorway) 310 yards 28 wpi

Notes: This was a nice simple gratifying knit that would work well for variegated laceweight yarn that looks funny when knit in a more complicated pattern. The ripple effect really plays up the colors.

Here's a close up of the stitches to show you how they look.

I'm impressed with this knit, I loved it and I gladly gifted it to a very lovely co-worker who was ever so grateful and happy to receive it.

The next FO was a quick knit that I'm loving ever so much

Pattern: Sugar Plum Shrug from Interweave Knits Holiday Issue 2007

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere (bought 50% off at WEBS)

(Ignore my face it was early I'm not wearing any makeup and I'm sick as a dog)

Notes: This pattern is supposed to be knit in a mohair airy yarn, well I already have a shrug in brushed alpaca in white and I needed something different. This pattern required exactly the amount of cashmere I had so I figured I'd try it out and if worse came to worse I could frog. Knitting with the cashmere was like dipping my fingers in heaven, so soft and yummy I didn't want this project to end. The body is knit in one long piece and the lace pattern is easy to memorize. Then the cuffs and edging are knit separately and sewn on. I loved this piece so much I sewed the whole thing up as soon as it was done blocking, and wore it to work the very next day. I recommend this knit as a quick and gratifying piece, it’s a shrug so it knits quickly but it looks far more elegant and complex then it actually is. I can't tell you how much I love this shrug there are no words.

Subbing the worsted weight yarn for the mohair worked perfectly and I may knit this again in another non-mohair worsted yarn.

I end this post with the sun setting over Jersey City. I'm happy it stays lighter longer because I love coming home to this sight