Fridays Fantasy Knits- I Dream in White Today

Do you love white?  White on Whites, cream and beige, segueing into taupe?  I love seeing the different textures in knitting.  Painting white is interesting because it's rarely just white- colors like blues and greys and the shadow of blacks come in.  Once I was in a pastel class where we were to copy a Master painting and I picked two Degas nudes.  Here's the two I worked on plus a Renoir- up close the whites and nude color (especially with the Degas) are really a layering of many colors.

Edgar Degas After the Bath

Degas-Woman at Her Toilette 1900-1910

Pierre-Auguste Renoir- Nude in a Landscape 1883

 The truly fascinating aspect of it was nothing I actually copied was flesh toned.  Up close it was a compilation of many colors that looked like flesh tone from the distance.  Whites are interesting because of all the different shades of light they capture.  Next time you look at a white object like a mug or teapot- really look, can you see the blues of the shade?  Is yellow captured in a reflection?  Really look.

Today I want to capture some white knits to dream about, to make now for the Spring and Summer months or perhaps later for a cosy White Woolen for the Fall and Winter.

                                                                  Halldóra long shawl

 Cream & Sugar: Lace Wrap

  Panna Frost Flower Lace Shawl

Panna Frost Flower Lace Shawl

Matrimonio Bolero

 Forest Path Stole

 White Swan Shawl

Panda Silk DK Fan Shawl

Imagining this in white-

Spring Cardigan

White Leaf

Metamorphosis Cowl Pattern

  

 Vogue- #02 Cabled Bolero

Rocky Coast Cardigan

 Wool & The Gang's Summer Breeze Sweater in Mixtape Yarn (recycled factory off-cuts)

Snowbird

Mmm, soft sweater

Folded Squares Cardigan 

  

Annie Cowl

Big Herringbone Cowl

Esther Knitted Swim Suit

Summer Fling

Wool & The Gangs- Sonic Sweater

Wool & The Gang's Sonic Sweater

Wool and The Gang's Zigazig Shopper Pattern

The Misti Brioche Honeycomb Sweater

Halldóra Long Shawl

Have a Happy White journey in knitting!

Technique Thursday- Doing up a Poncho and How To Follow a Knitting Pattern

Here I am with two beautiful skeins of re-claimed Lion's Homespun from a shawl partially made that I frogged (ripped out) in an unknown color. It's a green and teal and purple dusky blue on a white background. Thankfully I seem to have 2 skeins worth, or else I'll have to find something to match it to finish my poncho.

The poncho first caught my eye when I did Friday Fantasy Knits- I Dream Of Ponchos!  It appears to be a simple & easy design that should go up fast.  I'm particularly fond of the drape and the overall length of the poncho which is unique.  The description from the designer says it's been designed long and yet the sides are high for easy movement of the arms.  It sounds like a real winner.  Hopefully I can finish it by my trip back East for my daughter's graduation from college in Vermont Memorial weekend.  I'll be staying in the family Cottage in the Adirondack Mountains and it'll still be cold at nights.  It'll also be nice for the plane trip- I like something to easily drape over me, and take off and put on my lap to keep me warm.

Pacific Breeze Poncho

So here's a guide to following the directions if you are a newbie to knitting. I still have to check the charts for abbreviations of knitting terms- Knitting and Crochet Abbreviations.

So here's how the pattern starts:

Pacific Breeze Poncho Palm Tree Designs copyright 2014 (download available free- Ravelry- Pacific Breeze Poncho)

"BEFORE STARTING You will need: 

Lion Brand Homespun 98% acrylic, 2% polyester; 6 oz/170 gr; 185 yd/169 m 2 skeins Waterfall 

Size 15 circular knitting needle (piece is worked side to side but circular needle is needed to accommodate width)

 2 large stitch holders or 2 smaller size circular needles stitch marker

 yarn needle"

So first things first- do I have all my supplies?  I have my 2 skeins and I don't have the circular needles that are long enough, but I do have some very long size #15 needles so I'm going to start with that and see if it's got enough room.  I could use more stitch holders, but in a pinch using a bit of yarn and threading with a large holed yarn needle I can hold my stitches that way.  So I'm all good to go.

Let's say that  you don't want to use the recommended yarn or the pattern just asks for worsted weight. Here's a guide to yarn weights to help you search for the right yarn. You want to have the same weight to use the same needles and get the same results, unless you have the expertise to switch yarn wts. and adjust the needle size.  So if you need worsted wt. yarn that is rated a 4 or Medium Weight and called- Worsted, Afghan or Aran yarn.  Look for these numbers and description on the wrapper of the yarn purchased or the online description of the yarn.  The lingo gets easier as you get used to knitting, someday it'll be old hat.  Note the two different types of bulky yarn- Bulky or Super Bulky, don't interchange them- there is a huge difference in them.

     Next I should check the gauge- that means knitting a swatch that should make a 4 X 4 sample to check to see if I am knitting with the proper needle size, or do I need to just tighten up or go looser?

So the pattern next tells me the gauge and finished size of the garment is:

"Gauge: 10.5 st = 4 inches and 7 rows = 4 inches"

This swatch is a tad bigger width wise- but just by a whisker and I think with this garment I'll be all good. It's totally off on the number of rows equaling 4 inches, but I can knit to the measurement that I want.

I want a gauge swatch a tad bigger than the 4 inches because the edges can be less accurate, so I'm going to cast on 12 stitches and knit away on size #15 needles and see what is the measurement of my swatch and if I need to make adjustments.  Use the same pattern of knit that the pattern is in.  This one is a garter stitch- Knit on both sides.  Different knit patterns will use the yarn  differently and measure differently.  I have skipped this stage and rued the day.  Sometimes its not necessary- let's say you're making a blanket and you've got all the recommended materials for that pattern and you're willing to chance it.  But it's also good to see what the swatch feels like- you might want a looser gauge, a more flexible drape and you decide to go up a needle size.  Or else the swatch is just too loose and you don't like it- then going down a size might be necessary based on what you like.  We all knit at a different tension so it's a really good idea to swatch first.  

Here's the rest of the pattern:

INSTRUCTIONS 

Front CO 4 st 

R1: K1, k1 k1tbl (increase), insert st marker, k1 k1tbl, k1

R2: K 2, k1 k1tbl, slip st marker, k1 k1tbl, k2 

R3: K to 1 st before marker, k1 k1tbl, marker, k1 k1tbl, k to end

R4: k3, p to last 3 st, k3

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until there are 90 st on the needle ending with R4. 

With right side facing, place 33 st on st holder or smaller circular needle. 

Bind off 24 st. Place remaining 33 st on other st holder or circular needle. 

Back Work same as front up to final row 4. With right side facing slip 33 st knitwise. Bind off 24 st. Slip remaining 33 st

Finishing Sew shoulders together. Kitchener Stitch will weave them together without leaving a noticeable seam. (Check out YouTube for tutorials.) Allow front and back to roll at neckline to form collar.

Notes- THe first row you're going to knit one stitch, then knit in the front of the next and keep the stitch on the left needle and go into the back of the stitch to do "tbl". Then slip both off- so you have done an increase. Repeat, then knit 1. Remember you are dealing with knitting 4 cast-on stitches. You'll have 6 stitches by the time your done.

I went over the knitting basics on my first Technique Thursday- Technique Thursday- Put Your Knit On! How to Knit from finding patterns on Ravelry, shopping for yarn and an exhaustive list of tutorials on how to do the knit stitch.

Here's another key guide I find helpful and I love this company-Tin Can Knits. They have lovely wonderful tutorials and their patterns are liberally seeded with these tutorials and made for beginners to more advanced.  I really enjoy them- Tin Can Knits Patterns and their learning to knit collection (I love their Maize Mitts) Tin Can Knits- The Simple Collection.

So looking at the above guide from Tin Can Knits you will be doing a few knits, then- 
K1-tbl - which is knit through back loop (this twists the stitch), you also K2, which means you knit 2 stitches together. M- means placing a marker.

So here I go- I'll post updates as I knit.

Wednesdays Yarn Along With Me

Wednesdays Yarn Along is a meme hosted by Small Things.  She asks us to share a picture of what you are reading and knitting.  You can share here and there at Small Things.

I'm currently reading New Leaf: A Mystic Creek Novel by Catherine Anderson and loving it!  The main characters are great and engage you- their believable and the plot is just getting going but I like it- saving a damsel in distress and her child, by marrying her.  It should be a good read.

     Today I'm working on several projects.  I'm playing with A Chinese Wave stitch lately and now I've taken the stitch and modified it a bit so it can go on a circular needle.   Technique Thursday- Chinese Waves Scarf and Tuesday's Eclectic Thoughts- Designing a Chinese Wave Cowl  I want to design a cowl pattern.  This stitch is perfect and has a spongy loft to it, especially on very large needles.  I'm using Lion's Hometown USA yarn now.  Next I'm going to try a larger cowl loop and move into Lion's Thick & Quick yarn to see what result I get.

     On my personal front of knitting for me: The Springtime Dishcloth is coming along well (Technique Thursday- Knitting a Dishcloth for Beginners to Advanced Knitters). Also I'm going to start a poncho using 2 skeins of Lion's Homespun yarn that I got from frogging a shawl partially knit years ago. It's in a beautiful variegated green and periwinkle blue hints on a white background and it just looks like spring. This should go up fast a be on my shoulders soon enough for Spring weather.

Pacific Breeze Poncho

  

Have a Happy week knitting and reading.

Today's Tuesday Teaser

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat. 

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Today's Tuesday Teaser is from Catherine Anderson's New Leaf by Catherine Anderson, pg.256. I'm cheating a little bit and giving you 3 sentences.

"Sweetheart, you don't have to- I didn't expect you to..."

Her Mouth curved into a tremulous smile. "I closed up early and came home to fix you a special dinner, including a sourdough made with your new starter."

     I love Sourdough- so I couldn't resist. If you're interested in starting your own sourdough starter (it's really healthy) check out my baking blog Making Josey Baker Bread- Step One: The Starter. I intend to blog one of my favorite breads- Honey Whole Wheat Walnut-Sunflower Seed Bread with sourdough snuck into it real soon.

Tuesday's Eclectic Thoughts- Designing a Chinese Wave Cowl

     I'm working on creating my own cowl design. Playing with The Chinese Waves pattern that I discovered a few weeks ago- Technique Thursday- Chinese Waves Scarf.  This pattern is very lofty, but the pattern described was for a flat knit on straight needles.   A knit and slip stitch pattern on both sides.  To achieve the same pattern on a circular needle I've modified the pattern stitch a bit to a knit on one side and then purl and slip it purl-wise and I get a great result with the wave still in the front.  I'm not sure if that's the official way to do it, but I'm pleased with it.  It has a pleasing thickness and springiness to it and I am knitting it on a large needle to give it lots of loft.  So I'm doing it up in this cheap Lion's Hometown USA (a Super Bulky Yarn) and when done I'll get some Lion's Thick & Quick Wool-ease to try it out in a slightly larger pattern to see what works best.  I'm hoping to design several of my own cowl patterns to sell by Fall.

     Want to share your knits? Post Tuesdays on Frontier Dreams on Keep Calm and Craft On.

     I finally have my Fearless Cardigan all knit up and it's awaiting a moment for me to sew him up. He is so soft.  Looking forward to snuggling into this large and loose cardigan in chilly mornings.  Past posting on this treat of a knit: Wool & The Gang's Fearless Cardigan.

     In a peachy or pink mood now that Spring is arriving?  Take a peek at my Friday Fantasy Knits- In a Peachy Pink Mood for inspiration.

     Take a look at the best photographs literally in the world in Today's Positive Thoughts Blog- Photography at it's Best- The Sony World Photography Awards 2016. (All credits for photos on blog).

Musing Mondays and a Plethora of Knitting Projects I'm Enjoying

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

                              

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Name a book everyone should read at least once.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your answer in a comment in Books and a Beat. Thanks!

     This weekend I started a new book: New Leaf: A Mystic Creek Novel and I am enjoying it tremendously.  I haven't gotten far into it, but the first paragraph grabbed me of its description of the snowy small town.  "The headlights of the county-owned crew-cab truck cut through drifting snowflakes to bathe quaint store-fronts in flashes of gold as Barney Sterling circled the town center of Mystic Creek and then turned right onto Main Street...".  I could imagine the little towns back East in Upstate New York and Vermont that I used to pass through during snowstorms.  Old store fronts. Some open, others closed but with a remnant of an old sign making you wonder what was there and what it was like long ago.  I think Mystic Creek is supposed to be a town somewhere in the West, but it reminded me of old towns back East. 

      I love creative descriptions of quaint small towns and the characters that fill them.  So far this book isn't disappointing me.  I love the sheriff, Barney and the rye sense of humor he displays. He describes how he wished either his name was different or he had picked another occupation because of the Barney Fife jokes.  The story has wrapped itself around me already and I'm wondering how it'll play out as Taffeta Brown tries to skirt Barney's advances because of some hidden past she is hiding from.

Catherine Anderson's books are always a very good read.  The previous book in the Mystic Creek Series:  Silver Thaw: A Mystic Creek Novel was good.  And a few years ago I read everything of hers I could find, so I'm sure I'll like this one.

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Name a book everyone should read at least once.

I would always recommend my favorite Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.  It's an adventure and romance (but not in the traditional sense) that will draw you into another world, one which you hate to leave. 

                                                      

 This week on the knitting front I have several projects going (as usual).  I've finished knitting my Sumptuous Fearless Cardigan and I need to sew up the seams. 
                                                                                

 I'm still working on a few prayer shawls for myself and my Mom- A Prayer Shawl.  I find the rhythmic knitting is good for watching shows at night.  My husband and I have been watching "Once" from the beginning. 

     I started designing a cowl using the Chinese Wave stitch in white and that is looking pretty good so far.  When I'm done with this size I'm going to try making it into a bigger loop and see which works better.  Perhaps with a twist?  But the Chinese Wave stitch makes such a wonderful squishy deep knit.  It was just a matter of figuring how to do it in the round on a circular needle.  I kept thinking of it in the middle of the night when I went to bed.  How to make a garter stitch on a circular needle and have the waves show in the front?  Ended up simple- I just had to think it through.  And by jove I've got it!  It's so lovely.

 I'm also fantasizing about ripping out an old unfinished shawl and using the yarn for a poncho I saw in Friday Fantasy Knits- I Dream Of Ponchos!

Pacific Breeze Poncho

     I also have my dishcloth to finish- Technique Thursday- Knitting a Dishcloth for Beginners to Advanced Knitters. 

                                                      

I love flowing from one project to another depending on what mood I'm in.  But I also cook and bake like that- flitting from one to another bowl or pot until it's all done together.  It works in the cooking department.  We'll see about the knitting one.  I somehow lack the patience to work on just one thing tills it's completion.  I think letting myself enjoy what I can't wait to get my hands on and then circling back to a previous project all re-freshed and enthusiastic works better for me than forcing myself to finish just one project I just began.  This is after all supposed to be fun.

Have a great week reading and knitting too!

 My Day-