Color Play Mohair Wrap

I've been working like crazy today to get the shawl finished. And I finally did it.

Pattern: Color Play Mohair Wrap from Churchmouse Yarns (we have the pattern in the store)
Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe - I used colours 364, 365, 366, 367

From Churchmouse Yarns

With their featherweight warmth and glowing colors, we think Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Kidsilk Haze Stripe are perfect yarns for this project, an easy-to-knit, easy-to-wear piece that's bang on trend. 

Notice that color blocks, or sections, are not equal in size. This is by design, so that the finished piece can be worn with colors falling where they may. Embrace the fact that each time you make this project, you will end up with a unique scarf or wrap! 

The yarn is held double strand on 4.5mm needles.

I keep saying that this is addictive and some of you are starting to believe me. :) This is my fifth wrap. I love watching how the colours mix together. As you are knitting you want to do 'just one more row' to see what is going to come next.

We could all knit the shawl using the same 4 colours and they would all look different. It will depend on the order that you do the colours in. Also, not every ball starts with the same colour. Let's say that the ball is purple, green and blue. My ball might start at purple. Someone elses could start with green and another knitters might start part way through the blue.

Since I finished a project, I get to start something new. We are leaving for TNNA in a week and a half. I need something new to wear. I'm thinking a summer weight infinity scarf. We'll see what I come up with tomorrow.

Last-Minute Cowl

I finished another cowl yesterday afternoon. There is nothing like starting a cowl and finishing it less than 24 hours later.

Pattern: Last-Minute Cowl from Churchmouse (the pattern is free)
Yarn: 1 skein of tosh ASAP in the colour cathedral
Needles: 12mm, 60cm

I think that if I was to make another one in ASAP, I would use two skeins. Or maybe take off a few stitches to make it not as wide but a bit taller.

Look who came out to play - my latest Color Play Mohair Wrap. My plan is to finish the shawl tomorrow while watching football. I've been trying to come up with a name. Since I don't know a lot about flowers, I went to the Elizabeth Bradley website to get some ideas. I'm still not set so I need to think some more. I hope it hits me soon. If you have a suggestion, please share. :)

My Knitting

My friend and I just braved the snow (okay it's barely coming down) to get some pictures.

My Clue #2 is growing. I have 6 more rows of Brioche and then onto the Sassy Slips.

My Color Play Mohair Wrap is growing too. It is my 'I don't want to think but I want to knit' project. There are just a couple more rows of the current colour (1 strand of pink with 1 strand of mauve/denim) and then it will be double strand of the pink shades until I'm out of yarn.

These colours were designed by Kim Hargreaves and are definitely different than the originals done by Kaffe Fassett. I love them both.

Beth is picking up my computer so I don't have to carry it with me tonight so I need to sign off now. Stay warm and knit lots tonight.

Clue 2

I watched the video for Clue 2 last night and then decided that 9pm might not be the best time to try a new technique. Instead I worked on my Color Play Mohair Wrap. A bit better project for watching TV.

Clue #2 - we are going to be doing Brioche. The stitch isn't hard but you need to concentrate. Please watch the video. I think it will make your life easier. Also, try doing a swatch first. Thicker yarn is good. Just make sure that you use circular needles because you need to slide the stitches back and forth on the needles.

I didn't really like the picture I took at home earlier today so my friend and I went out back.

We still have a few leaves left in the back yard.

Beth and I stayed up and watched How to Get Away With Murder last night. She remarked, and I agree, that it is a hard show to watch because it is hard to like any of the characters. They all lie and cheat and aren't extremely likeable. But I'm not a quitter so I'm going to watch the last few episodes to find out who committed the murder.

It's 8:30 and I just got home. Part of me wants to start Clue #2 but the intelligent part of me is saying to wait until tomorrow. I'm tired and frogging my knitting isn't something high on my to do list. And The Amazing Race is taping. I have to pay attention so back to my Wrap.

Prizes!!

What are the prizes going to be for our next KAL?

The first name drawn will win

A set of Knitter's Pride Dreamz Interchangeable Needles.

The second name drawn will win a $50 gift certificate to the store.

It grew a bit over the weekend. I'm working with colour C and D right now. I want to get going because I can't wait to see D (the denim/purple) with A (the pink/mauve).

We almost missed Homeland last night. Beth remembered at 8:58 to tape it. We really need to tape the episodes and sit and watch them all at once. You get through the episode and are on the edge of your seat until the next week.

It's light bulb night at our house. Our cousin is an electrician so we are trading dinner for work. Changing regular bulbs isn't bad but when you start with pot lights it can get tricky. And neither Beth or I like to stand on a ladder.


A happy email came through when I got to work this morning.

Just to let you know, we have begun building your new home! 

I guess that means we better get our house listed :)

A lot of knitting

When you get up at 3:30am to watch a sporting event, you can get a lot of knitting accomplished.

Here is my wrap when I got to work.

My computer stayed in his bag today and I knit while I was in the store. I don't normally do that because there are chores to be done but I was tired and knitting kept me awake. The wrap is growing.

My Rowan supplier informed me that the new colours of Kidsilk Haze Stripe won't be in the store until the end of October or beginning of November. I wish they'd get here sooner but it's out of my control.

After work I had a long nap so now I'm wide awake. A new show premiered this week and we have it taped - How to get away with murder. It is from the creator of Grey's Anatomy. We're going to watch in a bit - more knitting!! It's safe to say that I'm obsessed.

It was for a good cause

The dinner went extremely well last night. Of course we came home with a van full of goodies. My family has never met an auction (live or silent) that we haven't liked.

Beth and I have a 65" TV for the new house. It's going to live in my parent's basement until moving day. We're afraid that dad is going to open the box and move it into his living room.

There were two amazing planters and I came home with both. One is at the store and the other at my house.

Some pottery.

Two different sets of hockey tickets - one for a game in Toronto and one for a game in Buffalo.

My dad went crazy in the baking section going home with a dutch treat that I can't spell, a lemon pie and a carrot cake. He is on a bit of a sugar rush right now.

Another surprise came in today - a new set of Karbonz interchangeable needles. These are a special set with short tips to make 40cm (16") circulars. The needle sizes are 3.5mm-6mm.

Special Tips are designed to produce circulars in 16'' (40cm) length. Each tip measures 4'' (10cm) and is to be used with cords provided in the set

• A revolutionary product!! New-age needles made from High-Tech carbon fiber with tips in nickel plated brass!
• Combination of two versatile materials - light bodied carbon fiber & sharp brass tips - is guaranteed to provide an unparalleled knitting experience!! No other knitting needle comes closer to this!!
• Carbon fiber is one of the most versatile material used in manufacture of the new generation aircraft, space ship, automobiles, etc.!!
• Shiny, smooth brass tips comes in perfect points, flawlessly tapered - Ideal for all types of yarns and for every project
• The needles have high tensile strength, are light weight with lot of flexibility
• Surface made of carbon fiber helps the stitches move smoothly on the needle!!
• Resilient, flexible cords lay flat, with no kink or twist – easy to store
• Warm to touch & gentle in the hand
• Available in a convenient packing of the seven most used sizes
• The set includes 2 cords to produce circular needles of various lengths
• Available in an attractive black and grey fabric case with see through vinyl for safe storage

There hasn't been enough knitting lately. Here is the shawl so far.

I'm almost ready to join in another colour. The Ryder Cup started this morning. The plan was to wake up at 2:30 to watch but I was so tired that I couldn't do it. I had it on in my room but I kept falling asleep. I'm going to bed early tonight and will get up early tomorrow morning. More knitting time!

September KAL

Don't forget about our September KAL. You still have time to join.

• From now until October 15, 2014, the KAL is your choice. 
• Pick a shawl or wrap that you want to knit. Fingering weight or bulky. Your choice. If you can finish more than one then you will have more entries into the draw. We ask that this is a new project. Please share pictures. I love pictures :)
• The prizes so far (more will be added)
• A Soakbox of your choice from the great selection we have in the store.
• 2 skeins of Rowan Fine Art - you choose the colour
• Everyone is welcome but we can only ship prizes within Canada.

Please post pictures of your progress in our Ravelry group.

Dana has finished her project and it looks great!

Pattern: Palmyre (purchased on Ravelry)

With its little touch of « Art Nouveau », Palmyre is a very cosy shawl, that will soon become a ally of choice against the temperatures sometimes a little fresh in midseason, or for the long summer evenings. Built in a crescent shape, with a large part of stocking stitch and just a hint of lace to finish, this is a simple pattern, rather quick to knit, that will appeal to beginners as well as more advanced.

Yarn: double knitting weight - you have many, many choices

If you'd like to share your finished project for the KAL, please email pictures to me. I'm always happy to share other knitter's projects.

I got a bit crazy with the knitting last night. And I should get a big chunk done tonight. New Survivor and the finale of Big Brother.

But not as crazy as I'm getting in the store. If I'm unpacking then I might as well rearrange. I might regret that tomorrow when things still aren't back in order. It's been a bit of one step forward, two steps back.

The Color Play Mohair Wraps have a new home. They all live together now.

Yes, I am obsessed with these.

It's knitting time!!

Number Five

The new Marblz interchangeable needles arrived last week while I was at Camp. All Knitter's Pride interchangeable needles work with the same cords so if you have a set of the Dreamz (wooden) or Karbonz needles then you can try these tips. If you don't have a set we have individual cords in the store.

• Range of eye catching colors
• The hand-crafted colors and patterns have been developed in a special way by a group of skilled workforce – so each needle appears exclusive and different than the other
• A great aid to simplify the difficult part of knitting!! MarblZ needles provide the right ‘grab’ that allows for easy handling of slippery yarns, picking up stitches in a fast manner and helps in controlling those difficult stitches!
• Sharp and Gradually Tapered Points are ideal for all knitting projects
• Lightweight, smooth, with the right flexibility – yet exceptionally strong & durable
• Warm to the touch and gentle in the hand

8mm

4mm 

 4.5mm

6mm

I can't wait to try them. We started with a few sizes because I purchased them without even seeing them. If you and I like them then we will be adding more sizes.

I'm almost unpacked. Then I need to rehang garments. I had enough of my chores this afternoon so I sat down to knit. The Color Play Mohair Wrap is growing.

I was almost to the lime when I went to bed last night. I was tempted to stay up for a few more rows but I knew that I wouldn't get out of bed this morning. The wrap is so addictive.