Fuss Free Cowl #5

 O yes! Another one in the series, which includes the new yarn I ordered. Only one skein was the basis for all this color. Cascade 220 Superwash Sport. It's the yarn cake on the right that changed colors all along the way. Genius. I used contrasting yarns from my stash as the colors changed. Great way to use my yarns that are a lighter, thinner weight.

When the cowl part is worn in front the shawl part covers the back neck and shoulders, down to mid back. Very cozy and easy to wear under a coat. 

 I love how this design looks like a scarf that is tucked under at the neckline, but it is really sewn in place. 

Enough congratulating myself (!!) This is available for $60 plus shipping. Email me. 

++++++

Then this is the cowl I finished knitting yesterday for the gal in Alaska. The Dotty Cowl.  So soft and warm. When you have an item that is worn next to the skin, it is important to use yarn that has no itch factor. This is Malabrigo Rastita 100% merino, paired with Chroma Worsted from Knit Picks, the graduated pastel dots.

I guess summer is over

 My little maple is glowing and hanging onto its leaves. I planted it this spring and am so happy to see it really does turn red.

 This is the second planting of zinnias, which came up after the flood ruined my first crop. I didn't actually plant these, but they volunteered from the dropped seeds in the bed. Happy to have them for a few more days, now that the temps have dropped to 26 degrees.

 And my purple clematis survived the flood and looks even better than it did in the summer. 

But let's talk about knitting. I sold this shawl over the weekend to a former 'collector' in Alaska. 

She saw it when I posted it on Instagram which I rejoined, as my knitting is burgeoning and I must move inventory (doesn't that sound like I am a shopkeeper?). She asked for a shortie cowl, and I said I would knit one and send it off with the shawl. So I have been knitting all day yesterday and will continue today until it is ready to photograph and ship out. I love this. 

But it occurred to me that I should post the socks that I recently knit and offer those up, since they are not my size and are really very nice, if I do say so myself.

They are knit from 100% merino superwash, which means pop 'em in the washer and lay flat to dry.  They are extra squishy soft and if the wearer has long narrow feet, they would be perfect.  I wear a size 7.5 shoe and these are about 1.5 inches too long or I would keep them. Why would I make socks that don't fit me? I was so in love with the knitting that I got carried away. Typical. 

Anyway, a nice gifty for someone special this season?

$25 plus shipping. Email me.

Silky Creamy Cowl

        

Well...this was a dream to knit. Silk and merino yarn (50/50) light as a feather and yet so very warm. The color is just slightly off white, and has a tiny halo of fluffiness, which makes you want to pet it. 😊

I love the stitch definition, too, with a soft shine to each stitch.

Available for $45. Plus postage. Email me.

Fussfree Cowl

It's called the Fussfree Cowl because it just works without fiddling. It stays put where you want it too and requires no pins and no...Fuss! 
It can be worn as a cowl or a shawl or a hood, whatever the wearer needs. I used the best of the best yarns for it, Malabrigo Rastita, 100% merino DK, and Silky Merino 50% silk, 50% merino, so the drape is lovely and it's not too thick and heavy. This weight means it can stay on when one's coat is off.

I knit it in the classic slip stitch patterns, five rows of single slips and five rows of double slips. Since this is a rectangle it can be knit in plain stockinette, or garter or fancier stitch patterns or multiple yarn designs, cables, lace, anything! The sky is the limit. Watch this space for more variations.

This version is available for $60 plus postage. Email me.

 If only this mannequin had a head...this is as close as I could get it to show how the hood placement would work.

Laid flat back side first and then front side.

Here it is in progress, almost finished and steam. It measures about 15" deep and 39-45 long, your choice.

To knit on the diagonal just cast on 3 stitches and on the right side increase on either edge until desired width is achieved. 

Then continue to increase on the left edge while decreasing on the right edge until the left edge is as long as your finished piece requires. 

Then decrease on both edges until there are no more stitches. 

Sew the end of one side to the side of the front, matching pattern, if you have one! Choose yarns that have a nice drape, DK, worsted weight or lighter with needles that work with the yarn to produce a fabric you like.  Then send me pictures of your choice, as you know I will appreciate your work.

Holy Cowl

 I'm ready for the priesthood. Ooh, is that what they call this garment ? A Priest Hood? Nahhh..

 Here it is reversed with the pointy part in back. Worn over the head like this with that point tucked into the coat, is a good way to keep you warm. 

And then worn indoors as a shawl in the back and a cowl draped in the front...it's just right! I likey!

 For once I made something just for myself.  Knitting in black is not for the timid. I had to have a lamp trained on my work the whole time, and still made mistakes and had to rip out. 

 I used up a lot of my mix of black merino yarns, some of which were worsted weight and some DK, which I didn't realize until I started knitting with them. To make this work I began with the worsted and then used the DK doubled and when that ran out, single. So some parts are heavier and thicker and others lighter and sheer.  This is visible in this picture, where the bottom is a single DK and above it doubled. Wearing it, it's unnoticeable. Anyway, I am sure to get a lot of wear out of this as I actually have lots of black and white in my wardrobe. Not a surprise. And it will be a great head warmer when I pull it onto my head and tuck the end in my coat. 

I'm pretty excited about the possibilities of this shape, as it requires so little fiddling to wear it. And it couldn't be easier to make. Well, if one doesn't want to do multiple yarns or fancy stitches, or even knit it on the bias as I have done here and in the previous version. 

It is merely a rectangle, about 39-40" long and in this case about 13" wide. I began with three stitches and increased on each edge until the desired width was reached and then kept the dec on one edge and inc on the opposite until the desired width was reached. Then dec on both edges until no stitches remain. Simple!

I confess

I   HAVE   ORDERED    MORE   YARN. 

Stay tuned.

Shawl Selfies

How do people do it? I can't seem to take a good selfie in the mirror or otherwise. 

I looked for something in my wardrobe that would work to coordinate with the colors in this cowl and this is as close as I could come. I have nothing woodsy-fernsy. It's just not in my closet. I decided that this old Marimekko shirt was close, with shades of rust, gold and sage on black. 

I'll have to try again with yarns that are within my bailiwick. 

So that means ordering more yarn....o no! hahahaha

Wrap Me Up Shawl

 

Noro Silk Garden, 45% Silk, 45% Mohair, 10% Wool

I love this yarn! It is so soft and lightweight, like a whisper, yet warm and cuddly. This is a shawl you could easily make yourself and enjoy wearing all fall and winter. 

Here's the pattern:

With this yarn, I recommend size 4.5mm needles or US 7. Four skeins is all you will need of Silk Garden, or around 450 yards of a light worsted or DK yarn.

Cast on 3 stitches, 

Row 1 K

Row 2 P

Row 3 K 1, kfb.  On the last stitch S1 with yarn in front as if to purl 

Row 4, (wrong side) K to last stitch, S1 with yarn in front as if to purl. This row creates a ridge. You now have four stitches.

Repeat these four rows, increasing every third row and keeping the edge stitching.

When half the yarn is used up, it is time to decrease.

On Row 3, instead of kfb, you will k2tog, and continue decreasing every third row until the last three stitches remain, bind off. Simple!