Design Project: Lacy Mesh Cowl

My latest design project... A lacy mesh cowl for spring and summer made from linen. This is my first time working with linen and I have to say that it does take quite a toll on your hands. First off... It gets to be pretty heavy. Even after the 2nd ball I started to feel the weight of it. And secondly... It's a bit of a stiff yarn that can get pretty rough to work with... Literally. Although, my hands became really soft and smooth from working it, the downfall was that it became hard to work with over long periods of knitting.  But on the plus side, I've heard that after blocking it softens right up. So that will be my next step. 

But for now it is my "something light and pretty" accessory for the warmer weather! Yay!

It started with this...
Punta Yarns: Rope-Light Hand-Painted Linen
I fell in love with the colours... light lavender, blues, greens, and yellows

I cast on a whack load of stitches... and chose an openwork mesh pattern.
Then I just kept knitting... until...

VOILA! A cowl emerged!

It was so much fun and easy too!

Knit Project: Strathcona... Again.

So here is my SECOND attempt at the Strathcona...
I realized I read the pattern wrong and messed up the stitches in the first one :( But it still looked ok so I'm gonna finish it as is... But I at least wanted to knit one up properly. So, after consulting my knitting teacher/friend Rebecca & talking it out with my hubby, I figured out what I did wrong. And so here is the start of my new properly knitted Strathcona scarf.

The yarn is Cotton Cascata by Regia in the "Tugela" colourway. I totally fell in love with the colours and it's knitting up so nice. And now that I'm knitting it up properly... I can't wait to finish it!

Woot!

Knit Design Project: Inara Cowl... DONE!

So it's finally done! *phew*

I think my Inara Cowl that I designed turned out pretty good. :) It's warm and cozy but light and airy so its great for the transitioning weather between winter and spring. Plus it gets breezy here on the island so it keeps the chill off quite nicely.

The only complaint I have about making this cowl was the yarn. The Patons Lace that I used was crazy to work with. No matter how carefully and slowly I pulled from the ball it would get snagged and cause a bunch of problems. I guess that's due to the mohair cling to itself. Plus I counted at least four yarn barfs that slowed things down a lot. If I absolutely HAVE to use this yarn again I will definitely draw the yarn from the outside.

But all in all it was a wonderful little project. It makes a nice snood too, doesn't it? :)

New Design Project! The Inara Cowl

As if i didn't have enough in my yarn bowl... ^.^
I started something new! I found this yarn at Michaels. It's Patons Lace in Arctic Plum. It is THE prettiest colour I have ever seen. I needed to get it. So I pulled up the Michaels 50% off coupon on my phone and bought it. Then I started knitting it up into the "You Are My Sunshine" cowl but then I decided that I didn't want the stripes in it. So it will be just straight open work lace from bottom to top... hence the Inara Cowl was born. A new pattern design for me. Woot!

We'll see how it turns out...

New Design Project! The "Love Is..." Cowl

I had a skein of Punta Yarns Mericash yarn in baby pink and I wanted to make something cute and cozy. Just a few days before Valentine's Day and I had wanted to try making my own pattern of hearts using knits and purls. So I came up with this.

It's still in the design phase. The name is inspired by my mom's favourite little single-panel comic called "Love Is..." I thought it was a good fit.  So it's a combination of row of hearts then a few rows of openwork lace (the lace was mainly my husband's idea being the hopeless romantic that he is. ~.^)

So far it's looking pretty cute! We'll see how it turns out...

New Design Project! The "You Are My Sunshine" Cowl

I'm getting anxious about the knitting class I'm taking next week.
So I just need to knit SOMETHING! :D

I've been trying to find an openwork, lacy looking cowl pattern that was ka-razy simple to do. I've looked everywhere but with no luck. :( So I decide to try and make one up for myself... I'm winging it as we speak. This is the 3rd project I've ever done in the round... but it's my first I've ever tried without a pattern.

A-a-and here it is... so far... The "You Are My Sunshine" Cowl.

I'm using a meri-cash yarn (merino wool and cashmere) by Punta Yarns in "butterscotch." It's feels incredibly soft and luxurious but light as well. I can't wait to finish this for the transition from winter to spring! ^.^
Wish me luck!

*fingers crossed*