Yes, I’m out of sweater purgatory – for the moment, anyway. With the weight of the Effortless Cardi – which I love, but is basically a massive, albeit luxurious slanket – off of my needles, I’ve been ready to start casting on some smaller projects. And what was calling my name? Shawls! That’s pretty unusual in itself, since I typically run out of steam after a few pattern repeats… but I have two on the needles and I’m knitting them with some serious enthusiasm.
The Peach Bandit, which looks strikingly like a sting ray at the moment.
The Peach Bandit is coming along extremely well. I’ve completed five repeats of the body chart and am ready to start the edge chart. It’s the perfect lace pattern for me – engaging, but not extremely complicated or fiddly. And no major hiccups to mention… yet.
Daybreak is coming along (…and check out that fluffy yarn!)
The other shawl I’m working on is the Daybreak, designed by Stephen West. I’ve been ogling this pattern for ages, and finally got an itch to cast on when I realized I was going on a little trip this upcoming weekend, and really wanted something simple that I could knit on the road. (I find an excuse for everything, eh?) So, I made a quick trip to Woolworks to pick up a few skeins of fingering wt yarn. I ended up choosing The Fibre Company’s Canopy yarns in Obsidian and Blue Crown… and I’m in love. The yarn is impossibly soft and lofty, so it’s pretty addictive. I’m already on the stripes section after just a few knitting sessions.
These smaller knits are an excellent detour from all the massive projects I’ve been focusing on over the last few months, and it’s great to be really enjoying the process of making them. Also, they seem rather appropriate for springtime knitting – lightweight shawls to be worn with jackets or to cover bare shoulders. Do your project choices shift from season to season? Once spring arrives, do you prefer to use cotton, linen, and other lighter fibres? Do you find no problem with a half-knitted aran sweater in your lap around mid-July?
Happy knitting!!
xx
Love the shawls! Beautiful colors
I do knit with cotton in the summer, although not too much, my hands hurt after knitting with it. Socks are a good summer wool project, because they’re small – nothing big on my lap! This year I want to try wool blends with tencel, silk, cotton. Maybe I could make a shawl or sweater if the yarn feels cooler.
I like the new space. It’s something I have been considering too, but decided it was too much hassle at the moment. How are you enjoying working with wordpress?
That Daybreak is going to look lovely. I really like mine. It’s great for this time of year when it is to warm to wear a jumper but too cool to wear a t-shirt. Adding the Daybreak to the mix just keeps me at the perfect temperature.
My choice of projects changes with the season, not so much what to knit in what season, but if the thing I am knitting is done at this time, can I use it?? For example, the two shawls I was working on when in the pile last Nov/Dec … they will emerge shortly and the two thick wool scarves I am working on will go in the pile! I don’t think my type of fiber changes, but the weight definitely does.
Uhm. OMG. So cute.
The new blog looks nice!
Day Break looks like it’s going to be a fun project. I love the stripes.
i’m a bandit lover too
both times i’ve knit the pattern, the shawl seemed to just fly off my needles! hooray for getting your mojo back, rachel!!
So glad I can comment now that you moved! And it’s always nice to see I’m not the only knitter who keeps the needles moving after the snow melts. The projects vary depending on whether I’ll be in the air conditioning or not!
I like the texture of the Peach Bandit. It looks like it’s going to be cuddly!
can’t wait to see your daybreak and a finished shot of your effortless cardigan!