Author: Laura

  • take it off my hands!

    Thanks for all the compliments on the manos cardi! It’s a bit light to wear right now, but once the weather warms up I’m sure I’ll wear it lots.

    I went to Elann and, for fun, put a whole bunch of stuff into my shopping cart that I would buy if I had money – this was all stuff that I could come up with projects for. Total – a little over $200 CDN. Yikes. Then I whittled away at the list, deleting a whole bunch of Sonata cotton (just went up today) and reducing the number of balls of yarn. I’ve made it down to three yarns:

    Berroco Pronto Print – 15 balls
    For either the “Cashmere Pullover” from Weekend Knitting, or a Corrugated asymmetrical sweater, both by Teva Durham.

    Elann Esprit – 5 balls
    For a sweet, summery top based on “stripes go round” from last summer’s IK.

    Schachenmayr Aurora Colour – 7 balls
    For either a summer top or another Clapotis.

    Total: still over $100 CDN. Hrmph. I’m definitely getting the Esprit soon, but the others I’m sure about…maybe if I can destash?

    Is anyone interested in..

    1. 12 balls of Elann Peruvian Collection Highland Wool, Tuscany Green
    100% Peruvian Wool, L423
    109 yards per ball
    Original price $2.25 USD – lot for $20 USD

    2. 2 balls Elann Highland Wool, Ink
    100% Peruvian Wool, L893
    109 yards per ball
    $3.50 USD

    3. 6 skeins of Lion Brand Cotton-ease, Cherry Red, still in bags
    50% cotton, 50% acrylic
    207 yards per ball
    $18 USD

    Prices don’t include shipping. I’m open to negotiation, too – make me an offer. cosmicpluto at hotmail dot com.

  • frog pond

    First though, pictures of the finished manos cardi! (Pattern will be forthcoming.)

    It’s soo much drapier after being Eucalan-d and blocked out – I added some length to the sleeves by blocking. I don’t know if I’ll put a clasp on – maybe just one button or something.

    The urban aran, however, has bit the dust.

    I realized that although I thought I was making a 40″ finished size, it was actually the 44″ size. A wee too big. The large ball on the left was the sleeve – I spliced in the ends as I went, so that’s a good 2.5 balls wrapped up in one. Times like this I wish I had a winder… now what to do with the yarn? Ribs are really nice in this yarn, as are cables, and I’d still like to do a cardigan-jacket thing.

    Perhaps an asymmetrical opening…I’m also going to swatch with two strands and see what kind of fabric I get – seems easier to find patterns at bulky gauge rather than chunky, although I’ll probably still end up designing this myself.

  • three steps back

    Okay, I lied about the whole cardi picture thing. But it’ll happen soon, really.

    You know that sock picture I posted the last time? Well, I really should’ve taken pictures of this, but I ripped out that entire cuff. It was a tad too small. So now I’m working on 68 stitches with a long-tail cast-on, and I’ve got about four inches back. I’ve also decided that I’m not going to do a normal heel flap – they’re too square for me. So short-row it is.

    Oh, and I sort of finished Betty. I was in a hurry to get it done, so I didn’t really do all the finishing that qould be required for it to actually be worn outside the house. It needs the elastic in the waist and the hook and eye tape, and the slides weren’t working because the straps were too thick, so it they aren’t adjustible. Ah well.

    Pictures later.