Wednesday 29 June 2011
In My Queue: A Civil War Era Shawl
Yesterday as I was passing the historic Willard Hotel in downtown Washington, I passed two ladies dressed in civil war era garb - no mean feat in the heat and humidity of the Washington summer, and indeed they were fanning themselves! One had a lace shawl draped across her arms, and it reminded me how beautiful shawls look.
A little while ago, I was surfing for vintage patterns and found a lovely website from the South Carolina Ladies Auxiliary (http://csa-scla.org/index/htm). From it, I plan to knit the Civil War Era Shawl, in the originally suggested colours of violet, black and gold. But what yarn to use?
While in Bath, Maine, on our recent New England trip, I visited the wonderful and amazing Halcyon Yarns (halcyonyarn.com) and was in heaven. Rows and rows of ceiling high wooden shelving stocking their own brand of beautiful yarns, plus a range of other quality yarns, and with notions, books, weaving and spinning supplies as well - looking at the examples of woven scarves made me want to buy a starter kit then and there! I left with a bag of pure silk yarn ends in varying colours (violet, black, gold among them) and some Victorian Brushed Mohair in violet - serendipity.
A little while ago, I was surfing for vintage patterns and found a lovely website from the South Carolina Ladies Auxiliary (http://csa-scla.org/index/htm). From it, I plan to knit the Civil War Era Shawl, in the originally suggested colours of violet, black and gold. But what yarn to use?
While in Bath, Maine, on our recent New England trip, I visited the wonderful and amazing Halcyon Yarns (halcyonyarn.com) and was in heaven. Rows and rows of ceiling high wooden shelving stocking their own brand of beautiful yarns, plus a range of other quality yarns, and with notions, books, weaving and spinning supplies as well - looking at the examples of woven scarves made me want to buy a starter kit then and there! I left with a bag of pure silk yarn ends in varying colours (violet, black, gold among them) and some Victorian Brushed Mohair in violet - serendipity.
Tuesday 28 June 2011
Monday 27 June 2011
Our plans for a weekend at the Great Lakes went awry, thanks to airline delays, so instead we made lemonade out of lemons, hired a car and set off through the Appalachian Mountains to West Virginia. That meant I needed some in-car knitting, so I cast on for the Insignia Shawl by Cecily Glowik Macdonald in this summer's Knitscene. I used some vintage cotton bought from a thrift shop in cobalt blue - a cotton shawl will be perfect for over-airconditioned inside spaces here in DC. And it's all garter stitch, perfect for the car.
However, I didn't have the required 4.5 mm circular with me, so talked my husband into a stop for coffee in the pretty town of Cumberland, Maryland, deep in the mountains and with a yarn shop (Millicents Yarns and More, http://millicentsyarns.com/). They were happy to help me out with a needle, and I was set for the weekend.
The "dreaming spires" of Cumberland, Maryland.
The Insignia Shawl
However, I didn't have the required 4.5 mm circular with me, so talked my husband into a stop for coffee in the pretty town of Cumberland, Maryland, deep in the mountains and with a yarn shop (Millicents Yarns and More, http://millicentsyarns.com/). They were happy to help me out with a needle, and I was set for the weekend.
Thursday 23 June 2011
Wednesday 22 June 2011
New England, Part One (Portsmouth)
Last week saw us travelling around New England, visiting historical towns, beautiful beaches, and mountain landscapes. It was a wonderful trip, and of course I also found time to drop in to a number of yarn stores - New England is yarn store heaven!
Our first stop was Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where I visited the Yarn Basket and bought 2 skeins of New England Shetland in the colourway "Peacock" (a shawl perhaps), and picked up an old Jo Sharp knitting magazine on a heavy discount.
While there I finished the Shibui ankle socks, which are in my knitting bag waiting to be blocked.
Harrisville New England Shetland in "Peacock"
The beautiful town of Portsmouth
The Yarn Basket
Our first stop was Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where I visited the Yarn Basket and bought 2 skeins of New England Shetland in the colourway "Peacock" (a shawl perhaps), and picked up an old Jo Sharp knitting magazine on a heavy discount.
While there I finished the Shibui ankle socks, which are in my knitting bag waiting to be blocked.
Thursday 9 June 2011
Shorts, Completed.
Well, who was to know elastic would be so hard to find in downtown Washington DC? My usual supplier of basic sewing tools (CVS!) didn't stock it, and it is just to hot to walk the streets looking for it, so I substituted a long shoelace as a drawstring in the shorts, and am very happy with the result, although the husband says they look too boyish.
I am getting into this sewing thing, so this morning will sort out the fastenings on a wrap skirt I have been working on, on and off, as that's all I need to do to finish it, and tonight maybe start a patchwork bag from all my leftover scraps from these two projects - something like this perhaps (from http://sewingtime.blogspot.com/2009/09/pink-penguin-patchwork-drawstring-bag.html)
As my shoulder improves, I have been able to work more on Frost Flowers, but am thinking about knitting the back plain - it will be easier on my shoulder (and that means I might get it done in time to wear it this summer), and I have a road trip coming up next week and need in-car knitting. For me, this can only be plain or purl knitting - I can't look down at my work in the car or I feel sick. I will probably throw the Shibui socks into my knitting bag too, to finish them off. Breaks are good knitting time for me, and usually good times to finish off projects.
When I'm done with those, that will leave me with only a design I am working on, and this:
It's a little too hot in DC to want to knit a wool afghan right now; I am nearly through the first strip though, so this one will be travelling back to to chilly North Yorkshire with me in August, for finishing over the autumn/winter.
I am getting into this sewing thing, so this morning will sort out the fastenings on a wrap skirt I have been working on, on and off, as that's all I need to do to finish it, and tonight maybe start a patchwork bag from all my leftover scraps from these two projects - something like this perhaps (from http://sewingtime.blogspot.com/2009/09/pink-penguin-patchwork-drawstring-bag.html)
As my shoulder improves, I have been able to work more on Frost Flowers, but am thinking about knitting the back plain - it will be easier on my shoulder (and that means I might get it done in time to wear it this summer), and I have a road trip coming up next week and need in-car knitting. For me, this can only be plain or purl knitting - I can't look down at my work in the car or I feel sick. I will probably throw the Shibui socks into my knitting bag too, to finish them off. Breaks are good knitting time for me, and usually good times to finish off projects.
When I'm done with those, that will leave me with only a design I am working on, and this:
It's a little too hot in DC to want to knit a wool afghan right now; I am nearly through the first strip though, so this one will be travelling back to to chilly North Yorkshire with me in August, for finishing over the autumn/winter.
Tuesday 7 June 2011
Adventures in Sewing
In order to give my sore shoulder a break from knitting I have been dabbling in sewing lately, and last night after work settled down to make a pair of shorts for the sweltering DC weather, using Sky Turtle's suggestions at:
http://skyturtle.net/2009/05//26/how-to-make-an-easy-peasy-pair-of-shorts/
Sky Turtle's beautiful shorts
I used some cotton fabric I'd picked up at a thrift store, dark red with small white stars all over it, and drew around my pyjama pants to make the pattern. I don't have a sewing machine here in DC so leisurely spent the evening hand sewing the seams (using backstitch). I will finish them tonight, just need to get some elastic for the waistband - they have turned out pretty well.
I managed to squeeze in some knitting as well - picked up and knit the gussets on the second Shibui sock (while sitting in the shade on the Mall at lunchtime watching people jog by under the hot DC sun!), and did 5 rows on Frost Flowers before bed.
All in all, a pretty productive day!
http://skyturtle.net/2009/05//26/how-to-make-an-easy-peasy-pair-of-shorts/
I used some cotton fabric I'd picked up at a thrift store, dark red with small white stars all over it, and drew around my pyjama pants to make the pattern. I don't have a sewing machine here in DC so leisurely spent the evening hand sewing the seams (using backstitch). I will finish them tonight, just need to get some elastic for the waistband - they have turned out pretty well.
I managed to squeeze in some knitting as well - picked up and knit the gussets on the second Shibui sock (while sitting in the shade on the Mall at lunchtime watching people jog by under the hot DC sun!), and did 5 rows on Frost Flowers before bed.
All in all, a pretty productive day!
Monday 6 June 2011
Travels around America
Almost at the end of my year in America, I suddenly thought I should be blogging about my travels here! Yesterday saw us travelling back from beautiful and sleepy (at this time of year!) Cape Cod, where we spent the weekend, and where I visited the impressively well-stocked Black Purls Yarn store in East Sandwich. I bought two skeins of "Sugar Rush" in white there. Wonderfully soft, I had never seen this sugar-derived yarn before. Normally I buy local yarns on my travels, but if I can't find any I look for something unusual, and this fit the bill.
At the airport and on the flight home I worked on a pair of summer ankle "sports" style socks in Shibui Sock (bought from one of my current LYSs, Stitch DC), using my usual sock pattern, the Vogue Universal Sock Calculator and adapting it to make ankle socks. The Shibui is very pretty, not quite a solid, but a little unforgiving to work with - and I am using Kollage square needles which should be giving me a more even knitting texture than usual (thanks for the needles, Janie!).
At home in the evening I managed four rows of the Frost Flowers top before my shoulder starting aching and I had to stop, sadly.
Our next trip is Maine, stay tuned...
Cape Cod - Dexter's Grist Mill
Black Purls Yarn
Shibui Sock
Frost Flowers Top (available as a free download on Ravelry)
At the airport and on the flight home I worked on a pair of summer ankle "sports" style socks in Shibui Sock (bought from one of my current LYSs, Stitch DC), using my usual sock pattern, the Vogue Universal Sock Calculator and adapting it to make ankle socks. The Shibui is very pretty, not quite a solid, but a little unforgiving to work with - and I am using Kollage square needles which should be giving me a more even knitting texture than usual (thanks for the needles, Janie!).
At home in the evening I managed four rows of the Frost Flowers top before my shoulder starting aching and I had to stop, sadly.
Our next trip is Maine, stay tuned...
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