Never Fear the Wraps-Front Side Helleborus

A glimpse so far of progress on Helleborus Yoke Sweater. This sweater has side to side construction beginning with the right front side. You are knitting the body and the yoke simultaneously and working your way to the underarm. You are following a cable pattern for the yoke, as well as doing a moss stitch for the body, all the while watching your row count for your increases, and then throwing in a few wraps and short rows to make it really exciting. It helps to write it all down! This is the first time I have done "wraps" and short rows for shaping. I have watched a few tutorials and have found them to be helpful in visualizing wraps and what their purpose is, as well as how to do them. I am still catching on to the technique as well as how to do the knitting on the rows following the wraps in order to close up the "hole" that wraps make. I looked at Knittinghelp.com as well as Techknitter (see links to right) as well as googled "knitting wrapped stitches" to find more tutorials. Every project it seems I learn a new skill or technique. Isn't that the great thing about knitting? We can be a fearless knitters!

Tweedy Alpaca Has Arrived!

A package arrived in the mail today. Could it be? Yes it was! My first 8 skeins of Tweedy Alpaca. Oh, Happy Day! So now I can make this... out of this!...

Let the casting on begin! (Helleborus Yoke by Mathew Gnagy from Knitscene magazine)

Wearin' of the Green

Check out the cute cupcake for my hubby with Guiness/Irish Cream flavoring, which we snagged at U- Village Trophy Cupcakes. Fun place!
And in the spirit of the "Green"...I will show you what I've been dreaming of making next:

Helleborus Yoke, from Knitscene Winter/Spring 2010

Love, love, love it! I have some "Green Bushes" Aran weight wool that I got in Portland at Dublin Yarns, made by Kerry Woollen Mills in Ireland. I thought: How appropriate for a cute cabled sweater such as this.., but it calls for a bulkier weight yarn so I am thinking this over. The Thaki Tweed Alpaca they used in the magazine is no longer available in the green, and most stores I have checked do not carry it.

Edited to add: I did find some of the olive green Tahki Tweed/Alpaca at two online shops, in two separate states. I found 8 skeins at: FiberWild. They had great customer service and were a pleasure to work with. The other 3 skeins I found at: MyKnitch. The amazing part is that the skeins are of the same dyelot! After days of searching, I about fell over from shock learning that news! Unfortunately this yarn is discontinued, so if you intend on doing this pattern, you will need to scour the nation to find it, or use another bulky. I will save this Aran wool below for another project :) Enjoy your darlin' corned beef, and Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!

Happy 75th Birthday, Dad!

And Dad got his own pair of Fingerless Fetchings (modified and made a bit longer in the hand and in the thumb to fit man hands, and without cables) for his Birthday! Now he can stop stealing Mom's gloves! Happy Birthday Dad! I love you!

Go USA! Vancouver 2010!

I am so fortunate to have a friend who traveled to the Vancouver games and brought back these hot items for li'l ol' me!

Apparently they were all the rage and sold out. I am so blessed to have such a thoughtful friend, Carol, who brought them back for me! Go USA!

Visiting Snohomish and Country Yarns

The cowl's a big hit!

Wearing the new cowl to visit the nearby quaint town of Snohomish today in the glorious sunshine! We took a walk along the Snohomish River. The Cascade mountain range was on display today and looked in fine form, snow topped and beautiful. I did try out some of the Java Inn coffee while in town. They have moved out of this building recently to a new location down the block...

I found some of the Mirasol "Hacho" merino wool that I like to make the "Baby Surprise Jacket" out of at the Country Yarns shop.

This was a great shop to visit and had very friendly staff and clientele. They also had a room in the back where they offer a place for spinning, as well as alot of beautiful locally dyed roving available for purchase, just ready for spinners.

A peek inside the shop!

And of course, a wall of wool, my personal favorite!

And that's about all I had time for since I had a half hour timeframe in which to shop! Yarn, coffee and sunshine...no better way to spend the day!

Ninebark Cowl-ympics!

The Ninebark Cowl from the Berroco Design Team that I loved at first sight using the pattern in the winter/spring 2010 Knitscene Magazine. I made mine detached from the vest (a modification of the pattern in the mag) Shown here blocking:

And folded up so you can see the 1st repeat at the neck, then the 2nd and 3rd repeat which are done on the flip side for the remainder of the cowl.

I substituted in Inca Gold in a plum color and Cascade Heathers 220 in brown. I also substituted a darker green Lustra yarn, along with the coral and teal Lustra.

And shown trying on with my still wet hair!

This cowl was completed during the Winter Olympics so I will always think of that when I wear it. Next..on to casting on the Cascade 220 Brown vest that will accompany it!
You may also view this pattern on Ravelry.