Friday Fantasy Knits- In a Peachy Pink Mood

Yellowstone Cardigan by We Are Knitters

I'm in a peachy pink mood lately.  Maybe from seeing pictures of the blossoming Cherry Trees in Washington and just aching for Spring. 

 

   Our buds are out, but only the flowers in my apartment are blooming (thanks to my husband) and a few brave cherry trees I could see in town in warm spots and one down below out my 3rd floor window (I have an amazing view of mountains and tree tops, I'm up here with the birds chirping).  Colorado boasts the most snow in March and did not disappoint, with a big blizzard a few weeks ago. 

Cherry Blossoms, Washington, DC

So as I near finishing my Fearless Cardigan (everything is knitted up and I'm planning to sew up the seams tomorrow) I dream of getting some lovely pink or peach yarn and do up something light for summer.  The peach cotton yarn from We Are Knitters is really drawing me.  

                                             

                     

                                                                 

                                                                  Yellowstone Cardigan

                                          

 So Pink, Peach flit through my mind. I once read in a Real Simple magazine that Pink can up lift people's moods. 

 And God decorated the earth in Spring with lovely shades of pinks, peaches, whites and the magenta and rose of Magnolias. 

 I dream of Magnolias- they were in New Jersey where I grew up in Princeton and there the buildings of the campus would be covered with blooming bluish purple Wisteria, while the mirror pool would reflect Magnolias in Spring.

So here's a collection of possible projects for you and me. Pinks and peaches, just dreaming of Spring and for many you're walking under those blossoms now. Enjoy before the petals fall. But then thankfully we have the blooms of summer to enjoy.

Julia Sweater- Wool & The Gang in Shiny Happy Cotton

 

Alexandria Cardigan

119-21 Bolero with lace pattern by DROPS design

Fluffy pink cloud sweater / Rosa sky-genser

167-13 Pink Connection by DROPS design

167-12 Pink Connection Cardigan by DROPS design

Pink Ice Shell

Emma Sweater by Wool & The Gang with Shiny Happy Cotton

                                                                          Petal Pink

Pink Memories

Sabrina Sweater by Collage Vintage and We Are Knitters

The Sabrina Sweater (Dream it in Peach- link above)

89-8 Pullover

139-3 Peach Melba by DROPS design

                                       Acadia Sweater by We Are Knitters- Sweater Kit

#03 Eyelet Pullover

And if you're itching to start a cooler weather cardigan in pink this one is divine-

The Wonderwool Sweater by Wool & The Gang in Crazy Sexy Wool

An example of this Spring's style in J.Jill:

Happy Knitting in the Pink and Peach!!!!

Technique Thursday- Chinese Waves Scarf

   Chinese Waves

I found the Chinese Wave stitch one weekend when I was searching for a relatively easy stitch that could be mindless be done and I've fallen in love with this one. It's very rythmic to work on and satisfying once you get a hang of the pattern repeats and tale-tell signs of where you are so you don't lose your place in the pattern.  Beautiful, easy and functional- it's thick and soft and will do up nicely for scarves with no curling at the edges. So I'm creating a design called The Waves Scarf.

The Chinese Waves stitch-

A fairly easy stitch which is a variation of the Garter stitch- Knits and slipping stitches- that's about it. When you slip a stitch it's up to you whether you do it purl-wise or knit-wise, as long as the yarn is held to the back (for the loops of the waves). Slipping knitwise creates a twist in the stitch and creates a tighter, denser fabric. I opted for the purlwise slip finding it easy and fun (remember to keep the yarn in back!).

                

                                                          Chinese Waves Stitch

Cast any odd number on stitches on, for this scarf I did 21 on a #15 needle:

Row 1- Knit all Stitches

Row 2- Knit 1, * slip 1, knit 1; repeat from* to end

Row 3- Knit all stitches

Row 4- Knit 2, *slip 1, knit 1; repeat from* to last stitch, knit 1

Repeat all rows for stitch.

                                                       

  

To make this scarf I used a leftover skein of Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable Yarn in a forgotten color!  The wrapper is unfound and I can't seem to make a match.  It actually is a purple yarn with dark blues throughout it, but my tablet turns it blue.  It's pretty in the pictures and real life -just very different.  I'm almost done with my bit of skein and I saw a green and slightly purple version of this yarn at Walmart and I'm thinking of ending it in a different colour- so half or 1/3 is done in one purply yarn and the rest in that lovely almost olive green.  

This scarf is knitted on size 15 needles and the yarn is described as weight category 4, which is worsted; but it feels a bit bulkier than that to me.  

When knitting the Chinese Waves Stitch you need to do a repeat of knit and two different rows of slipped stitches.  One starts with 2 knits first and the other one knit.  So the pattern is staggered.

  A few hints on the road knitting this I have found out a few things.  First, keep your stitches relatively loose. You are continually creating a loop on one side and a lovely lofty material, By keeping it loose it will have a nice thick, springy feel and not too hard texture.  

When knitting- the loop side is actually the side you are doing the knit stitch (kinda freeing the loops you created the previous row by slipping stitches and knitting).  Also if you knit 5 or 6 stitches into you slip row and then turn the piece and look on the other side- if you look carefully- there are slips being created over a short knit row below.  If you see another sweeping loop underneath you are repeating your previous slip row and you need to stagger the rows!  So if you started with one knit then slip, back up and do two knits first, then the slip.  And the reverse is true.  It just isn't a regular pattern to the eye and seeing tell-tale signs to where you are really helps.  This I learned from ripping out a whole evening while watching a show with my husband. Yes, it can be mindless after you learn what you are seeing.  Unless you have a better memory than I do.  When I want a mindless knit- I'm not kidding.  Now that I've got the rhythm and the mistakes down it's a more mindless knit! 

   

           

      

Wednesday's Yarn Along

Come join us at Wednesday's Yarn Along hosted by Ginny at Small Things and post what you are currently knitting and reading.

                                                                                                 Dishcloth #3117 by Lily Sugar'n Cream and Bernat Design Studio

I'm actually finishing up The Scam: A Fox and O'Hare Novel and I'm ready to go on to a new book. I love these books, but I think I've read them all back to back and I'm ready for something new. I also never take this long to finish a book. I've been so focused on blogging and knitting these days I don't get the books done as fast as I used to. On one hand that's good (I certainly save money not buying as many books and I drag out a good story). But on the other hand reading for me is where I stop and rest. I need to read. To stop life, my thoughts. It's my calm. So I need to start a new book, close my computer and knit, that also calms me. It's my set point. That place where you say- ahhhh, I'm home.

So I want to finally start that new book I bought a few weeks ago- New Leaf by Catherine Anderson. Seems an appropriate title since the leaves here just started to pop out of the trees the past three days. Spring has finally arrived. Of course one cringes saying that here in Colorado because it is bound to snow as soon as you declare it is spring! But I'm thinking Spring thoughts!

My washcloth can be found on last week's blog- Technique Thursday- Knitting a Dishcloth for Beginners to Advanced Knitters.

Skip on over to my Cooking Blog Savory & Sumptuous for a really good recipe for vinaigrette that's healthy and a highlight of my My Favorite Kitchen Gadget blog today.