All I've shown this year on the blog is embroidery, but I have kept the knitting needles going behind the scenes. I'm perhaps a bit obsessive as a knitter. I like its rhythmic nature, plus I get to wear the results.
Lately I'm especially enamored of garter stitch. The repetition is meditative: it's knit stitch on both sides, and no purling, plus the fabric made by knit stitch is thick and cushiony. I knit this shawl from a free Ravelry pattern: Kay's Tess D'Uberville Shawl by Kay Meadors. It's blissfully mindless knitting, and I used leftover fingering weight yarn from the Faire Isle vest I made for my mother last year. The color changes synced up nicely with the increases in the pattern. I've noticed that I have a minor fascination with stripes these days.
When I wore this shawl to work, one of my colleagues was very complementary and also let me know that her birthday was coming. I was happy to take the hint and to reward her enthusiasm for knitwear. Over the Christmas holiday I made her this shawl, the Ridge and Furrow Triangular Shawl by Sue Grandfield, also free on Ravelry.
Although not entirely knit in garter stitch, the ridges are garter. This shawl was made from some reclaimed raspberry tweed wool, and the stripes are made from a skein of Noro Kureyon, a beautiful Japanese yarn with long color repeats. My colleague was very happy with her shawl. When she wears it to work she stops by to show me.
I decided to make myself another shawl with some leftover wool and alpaca blend yard that I had in my stash.
The pattern, 22.5 Degrees by Martina Behm, is also free on Ravelry.
I've made this pattern before, but this time I made it extra long to wrap around my neck. It's a garter stitch feast, soft and drapey.
I'll return to the embroidery needle next week. In the meantime, I'll curl up on the couch with some knitting. Happy Easter and Happy Passover to those who are celebrating this weekend.
9 comments:
I love shawls and I love garter stitch and I love Ravelry free patterns =-) Yours are beautiful! I really like the one you made for your colleague! The colors are great. Hard to go wrong with Noro, IMO and the recycled yarn is yuh-uh-uhmmy! =-) Happy Spring!
Lovely creations....AGAIN! I want to touch them!
Those tassels on the ends of the points are mighty jaunty!
Lovely shawls, Barbara! I like the addition of tassels also. Have you seen the Ravelry pattern Sothia? Stripes and a ruffle. Seems like I've been working on socks lately as I had a bad case of SSS!
I knit basically scarves, afghans, and hats, but I've been wanting to do another shawl: yours are fabulous, and I especially like the one you knit for your co-worker. Those tassels amke a nice statement.
Love the shawls Barb! You are inspiring me to knit again, who knows, I just might have to try that first one. Hugs, Finn
Your CQJournal blocks are so lively and sweet too...love what you are doing. And the knitting is wonderful, too!
And....must confess...it gave me a special thrill to catch a glimpse of Barbara's Door in one of the photos..... ;-)
I love things that are practical and
beautiful at the same time! If you add the meditative pleasure of the creation, it is even better!
Those stripes turned out great! And I love the tassles on the ends of the shawl for your coworker. I'll have to tell my sister about that treatment for the next shawl she makes for me. :- )
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