FO Friday......two shawls.

 

Hello my friends, how has your week been? I'm back today with not one but two FO's and they are both shawls.

The first one is a test knit that I've just finished for Helen Stewart of the Curious Handmade Podcast it won the Unwind Brighton design competition and is aptly named Pebble Beach. It will be released on the 14th July but for those attending Unwind Brighton, it will be part of the programme!!!

I used Eaden Yarn gradient in Ombré Aqua on 4mm needles and once blocked was 55" wide and 15" from the centre of the neck to the bottom edge.

It was a very enjoyable knit, it holds your attention been a lace pattern but saying that it is not a difficult lace and once I'd read the row I was on, I didn't have to check back again as it was easy to memorise. It feels so light and airy across my shoulders and is perfect for the summer. I will be knitting it again but in a more luxurious yarn, probably with an alpaca content, ready for those winter months. There are more photos of my Pebble Beach project page.

My next shawl is On the Pier by Justyna Lorkowska, this pattern is part of the Unwind KAL's that are going on.

This shawl is a simple garter stitch body with an eyelet detail and lace border, I knit it in Drops Alpaca for the main colour and some leftover Juno Arts Alice 4ply. Again there are more photos on my On the Pier project page.

Thank you so much for stopping by, I really appreciate your lovely comments and encouragement. Have a great weekend.

xxxxDebxxxx

 

 

 

 

Yarn Along......Unwind KAL's.

How is everyone today? Well I'm definitely going to Unwind, the hotel and tickets are all booked, we decided to go for a long weekend. I haven't been to Brighton since my girls were very young and I'm looking forward to exploring Brighton as well as spending the Saturday at a yarn and fibre festival. I did ask my husband if he wanted a ticket, to look around with me but declined which is probably a good thing as he won't know how much I've spent!!!!!

Over on Ravelry, there are a few different Unwind KAL's going on at the moment on the Unwind group, I decided to take part in two of them. The first is the Pavlion Mystery Sock KAL by Rachel Coopey, I finished Clue 1 just in time to start Clue 2, which was released on Sunday.

I'm not going to show the full sock as I don't want to spoil it for anyone who's knitting them and hasn't finished the leg, all I will say is the pattern is gorgeous, with lots of cables, think of Brighton Pavilion, the clue is in the name! I've finished Clue 2 on the first sock, which takes you to turning the heel and I hope to finish the second sock, before Sunday when the last clue is released.

This is my first mystery KAL and wasn't sure whether I would like the not knowing but I've really enjoyed the process, I like keeping to schedules and love that I will get a pair of socks finished in three weeks. I will definitely do another one.

The other KAL I'm taking part in is the On the Pier, a beautiful feminine shawl by Justyna Lorkowska, I chose to do this one as it's a very simple lace shawl and knew it wouldn't take long to finish as the main part was all Garter Stitch and then a simple lace border, perfect for the evening when I'm watching TV.

I'm using yarn from my stash and the main colour is Drops Alpaca in the Light Grey Pearl Mix and the contrast colour is some leftover Juno Alice in the colour Second Site. I've only got a few more rows before I start the lace section.

Jodie came down, this weekend and I asked her to look through some of my knitting books to see which baby patterns she wants me to knit. One of my favourite books is called Lullaby Knits by Vibe Ulrik Sondergaard, it's full of beautiful but more unusual patterns. One of my favourites is the Small Cable Cardigan which buttons down the side and that is one she chose, yay!!!! I wasn't sure whether she would pick it as it's modeled by a baby girl but I think it's quite unisex.

The pattern uses two balls of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and again I had some in my stash so I could cast on straight away. It's partly knit in pieces then you knit all the pieces together on long cable needles with a raglan sleeve.

I'm still reading The Perfume Garden and as I get further into the book, I'm enjoying it more and more. The chapters alternate from 1936 set in Spain during the Spanish Civil War to Valencia 2002. The two eras are now coming together and the characters are intertwined, very enjoyable. I did go to the library, yesterday, and picked up this book, Paris by Edmond Rutherford. I love the city of Paris and I'm always drawn to anything Parisian, from the blurb on the back of the book it is an historical novel, I'd be interested in what you thought of it, if you've read it.

I'm taking part in Ginny's Yarn Along and Tami's WIP Wednesday, thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of your week and I'll see you on Friday with a finished project.

xxxxDebxxxx