Here's Another One!

Taj Mahal

I designed this for knitonthent.com ......it came out today.....it's free.....made from yummy habu silk!
Oh yeah...and they did a wee interview with me too!

Rite Of Passage

My first Hap Shawl is complete and ready to swaddle a baby!
This one is going to a dear old friend in Scotland who's firstborn is due very soon. I'm even going to be able to hand deliver it as I leave for an extended stay in my homeland in 2 weeks!

I'm fairly happy with the end product except for my seams. I have to admit to being a little afraid of too much seaming as I never can quite make it look pretty enough. With this shawl it was also important to match up the stripes.......and then there were all the ends to weave in!
Anyhoo it will pass the baby's approval I'm sure!

I'm really not sure why I went with the pieced version of this shawl instead of knitting it in the round.....I think because I started off with the pattern from the Rowan Book (which is done in pieces).......however I also used Sharon Miller's Hap Shawl book for further guidance and instructions which helped a lot (and she provides instructions for working a shawl as one piece)......plus it has lots of interesting background info and great old photos.

I'll definitely be making more of these but accomplishing my first does make me feel that I have completed some rite of passage and can claim my Shetland heritage all the more justifiably!

I didn't get around to trying out my knitting belt on this as I realized I didn't have long enough dpn's.......hoping to find a willing Shetlander to demonstrate firsthand when I'm over there!

Pattern: Bressay Hap Shawl (from Rowan 42 and Shetland Hap Shawls both by Sharon Miller)
Yarn: Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift (I used a lot less than the pattern called for)
Needles: US#8/5mm (the Rowan pattern calls for US#10/6mm and the Hap Shawl Book a US#5 or 6)
Dimensions: Mine is 40'' square (the pattern gives 52''- however this will be plenty big for a baby)

Notes:If you fancy making one of these I highly recommend getting Sharon Miller's Hap shawl book...there is a ton more helpful info and you can decide if you want to make it in pieces or in the round.

My own free cowl pattern

This comfy Crofter’s Cowl is worked in a Shetland lace pattern with great stitch definition. Two halves are worked in the round then grafted together providing a mirror image of the Horseshoe lace. Something to take the chill off the neck for those long cold days of crofting!

Skills needed: Easy stuff!
Casting on/off, Grafting, simple lace pattern.

Finished Size
Circumference 18.5 inches
Height approx 8 inches from scallop point to scallop point

Materials
Approx 150 yrds worsted weight yarn (shown in Malabrigo Worsted- Colour: Azul Profundo)
US#8/5mm 16-inch circular
US#7/4.5mm 16-inch circular (can use a smaller 16 inch circular or scrap yarn. This is only used for holding the live sts whilst the grafting is being done)
Stitch Marker
Extra Stitch Markers (optional-for marking repeats of lace pattern)

Gauge
17.5 sts and 24 rows= 4 inches in Horseshoe lace measuring from the deepest point of the scallop for length.
NB Gauge isn’t crucial just try to be close if you want a similar finished circumference. If adjusting the number of lace repeats to make up for gauge issues then remember to increase by 10 st increments.
Finished Size
Circumference 18.5 inches
Height approx 8 inches from scallop point to scallop point

Download the pattern Here

Birthday Kitty

Holey Moley.....another post already!!
Today is my Daughter's birthday....last year of single digits......and I made her this kitty...very last minute....as in I knit all day yesterday and stayed up until 1 am to finish!

Some of you may think there is something familiar about this cat....you're right...it is a modified "Sophie" by Ysolda!
The head and body are the same but the appendages are modifications on the original....cats don't look so good with long floppy ears!

Maya loves it and has called this one Varjak after a character from one of her all time favourite cat novels ever...Varjak Paw...a Mesopotamium Blue with some Zen-like martial art skills!