princessdeia

Yarn: Knit Witches Silk Laceweight in Storm Grey.
Pattern: Lace Scarf from Debbie Bliss Pure Silk Collection (Link to Ravelry).
Needles: 3.25mm
Notes: There is not much to say about this pattern, it is a really simple lace repeat, but the silk yarn makes it really dramatic. I used the laceweight yarn rather than the DK the pattern suggests, this and the smaller needles to made a skinnier scarf, I just kept knitting until the scarf was about 80 inches.

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Pure Silk in 07.
Pattern: Shrug from Pure Silk.
Needles: 3.25mm and 4mm.
Notes: I didn’t make many modifications to the pattern, only on the shoulders, where I used short row shaping for the shoulders and also grafted the shoulder seams.

I actually finished this project over the summer and I was waiting for the perfect sunny day, to model the shrug for my blog. However, our summer was non-existant so the photoes where never taken, I wore this shrug over the weekend and remembered I needed to take the photos.

Over the weekend, I sat down and re-thought my idea for Janice’s scarf, I decided to knit her the Lace Scarf from Debbie Bliss Pure Silk in some of the KnitWitches Silk I brought at KSS. My plan was for a washable, warm scarf, that could be worn everyday… so of course, I am knitting a skinny thin silk scarf - the complete opposite of my own spec. The lace pattern is really simple, so there is no problem of me meeting my deadline of next week, even though I am working on 3mm needles.

Actually, I am getting a little concerned about my knitting projects. Jason has even mentioned that I had far too many things on the needles (I spot 7 progess bars on my sidebar), the hoodie and gretel beret are nearly finished, I just need to weave in the ends or block them. But I am worried about my pomatomus sock, the first one was finished in August, in fact I remember knitting this whilst sitting outside I Knit one glorious summer evening - and I haven’t even thought about casting on it’s twin… is this my first real case of SSS.

I have not had much chance to knit recently, I took my Pomatomus socks to IKL Wednesday last week and managed to complete another repeat of the pattern (it really is a dreamy pattern).

Over the weekend the little knitting I did do was all concentrated on the back of my Silk Shrug, which I managed to finish. Whilst knitting the fronts I had decided rather than decreasing the stitches for the shoulder I would use short row technique, as I think it looks neater.

Rather then, bind off the stitches I left them “live” so I could use the three needle bind-off. However, I have only ever used this technique on stocking stitch and I was concerned how it would look with this pattern, and I was too scared to try it on this project so I opted to use Kitchener stitch to seam the shoulders together.

In other knitting news, my Sockapalooza Socks arrived today, I am wait to hear from my pal to find out what the pattern and yarn is before posting them so watch this space.

I am trying to organise my life at the moment – this year has been a little chaotic and I have a few things on the horizon that require me to be more organised. I am starting with a little time management (I have been using numerous buzz words lately) – my newest thing is Life Hacks! Unfortunately, a major part of this is trying to spend less time online this means writing less in my blog, commenting less on blogs and not reading forums.

Of course, like all things one plans other things get in the way – like reading The Deadly Hallows – no spoilers here! And I have recently become addicted numerous social networking sites (yes I am full of buss words today), what with my playlist on last.fm, new features to Facebook (Casting Spells and Movie Compatibility Quizzes) and lets not forget the knitters social networking website Ravelry. I uploaded all my old projects last night, joined several groups and this morning even created a group!

To make matters worse, my stash is calling to me – all my recent stash enhancements are sitting in box, but every so often I hear a little cry “I want to be a pair of monkey socks”, “I would be a lovely pair of Fetching Gloves” or “autumn is coming, we will need a nice warm sweater.” So instead of having one large project on the needles and a few smaller ones, I have have two major wips and my chevron scarf and all I keep thinking about is casting on some socks. I think I will cast on my Pomatomus socks on next week for Project Spectrum as I have some amazing purple yarn.

I have been devoting most my time to the Silk Shrug, it is a long slow process, I am on the back now and it is over 200 stitches per row, the pattern is really easy and I love the way it looks - but it is taking forever!

I have spent the last few days stuck at home looking like a hamster with toothache. I am on horrid tablets, and have been warned to stay away from alcohol for the next few weeks. (I will come out in a rash ). Luckily hiding out in my bedroom has given me the perfect opportunity to knit! I decided to cast on my Pure Silk Shrug - originally, I started out swatching and I was going to practice the lace pattern before jumping into the actual shrug.

However, when I realized the sides only started with 18 stitches (I am making the medium size), I jumped straight in, and night and mornings worth of knitting and I am on the second side. I thought I should do the back last when I was more confident about the lace and cables.

Stupidly, I could have used this time to finish off the socks I have on the needles and then I could post some FO (I think my lack of knitting this year is embarrassing).

Still to the yarn goddess is around to cheer me up and my Knit Picks order arrived look at all the goodies. Most of this is planned for future projects, Central Park Hoodie, Fetching, Coronet and maybe a River Stole.

1. Undamaged Box, 2. Shimmer in Turquoise Splendor, 3. Shimmer in Morning Mist, 4. Shimmer in Stained Glass, 5. Andean Silk in Navy, 6. Wool of the Andes in Arctic Pool Heather , 7. Palette in Brindle Heather, 8. Palette in Navy