Wednesday's Yarns - Christmas Gifts

     I'm starting to work on some Christmas cowls I started this summer.  One I ripped down because the stripes on the cowl just looked sloppy.  I started over with just the Blue Heather yarn.  But I'm glad I started over.  I also was using two different patterns.  The first one does look great - Very Gifted Cowl and I'd love to do it up some point with maybe a cashmere yarn KnitPicks carries - Bare Capra Yarn and tea stain dye it.  But instead, I was falling in love with the other cowl I was making Meriboo Cabled Cowl by Lisa Ellis.  It's a simple design with little cable twists.

 Meriboo Cabled Cowl 

      For one cowl I decided I wanted a plain look, so I opted for stockinette.  I also made a mistake on the cast on edge, instead of 1 x 1 rib I just went into autopilot and did a 2 X 2 rib and I didn't realize it till I compared the cowls.  I decided for this stockinette cowl it looks even better, giving the knit a bit of a ruffle, adding movement to the fabric.   But I do like the 1 X 1 rib for the twisted cable cowl.  For both cowls, I increased the stitches cast on.  For the plain stockinette one I increased by only 14 stitches and the other cabled cowl I increased by 20 to stay in pattern.  At this point, I don't know which works better, but I felt the original cowl would be a little too tight.

     I'm thinking of getting more of this amazingly soft yarn by KnitPicks, Swish DK Yarn and making more simple cowls for family and friends.  While I love the cable twists, to make more I want a mindless knit I can do and listen to Audible, or pause in my knitting to read my book or knit on while watching a show with my husband at night.  Mindless knits always win with me.  For an even more elegant, soft knit try KnitPicks' Capra DK Yarn, a merino wool blend with cashmere, also in many pretty colors, and on sale this month of November at KnitPicks.

Please note: If you make this cowl or any other item on a circular needle check out the TinCanKnit's Support page for how to cast on circular needles. Their technique stops the gap from happening between the beginning and end. A little tricky to master, but worth it. I just repeatedly pull on the yarn tail and casting on yarn so the connection is tight, a bit of a balancing act, be patient.

Dreams of Lilacs (Amazon)

     I just started another Lynn Kurland book.  Did I mention I'm going to try and re-read her time travel romances?  My current book is Dreams of Lilacs.  It's great, as all her books are.  This time we're back in the 1200's.  Isabella, the youngest 23 yr. old daughter to Lord Rhys de Piaget is feeling restless, overlooked, and wanted by suitors only interested in her dowry.  She's overshadowed by many daring brothers who have gone on adventures, but she is always sent to the solar to sew.  Or so she tells her twin brother why she's ready for an adventure.  I think this is partially true, but there's a sinister plot afoot, someone has threatened her entire family in a missive she received from someone anonymously.  It tells her she must secretly travel from England to France alone and meet with him at an Abbey or else her family dies.  She clouts one brother on the head, dressed as a lad, sets sail and gets shipwrecked and her head gets hit in the process making her forget why she's there and who she is, for a while.  A fearsome Lord in France, who was grievously injured the year before, mistakes her for a boy and takes her in.  You can imagine the rest.  Lynn Kurland's tales are always laced with a bit of comedy, and tongue and cheek, daring adventures and sweet romance.

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