Head And Shoulders (Necks Too)

My knitting goal for 2016, at first glance, seems to be to use up stash.  If I ask myself  what is the best way to use up stash, I have to answer that, for me,  it is by knitting small projects. Projects that take one skein of yarn.  Projects that cover the head, neck  and/or  shoulders. As far as my knitting is concerned, 2016 could be called  my 'head and shoulders' year.

I have two hats today to show off. This one is the Frederica Beret.

 

 A simple  tam with a deep, smocked band.  I have never smocked in my life before, so that took a few starts to accomplish.And I can't say that mine looks nearly as good as the pattern model, but not bad for a first attempt.  My Frederica was knit with Patons Classic.  The only mod was to rip back from the 4 inches of plain knitting above the brim to 3 inches.  Once the beret was finished I tried it on and felt it was way too much hat.  Rip, rip and I shortened it by one inch and like it much better.

The second hat is Quincy, 

a Jared Flood pattern that has been in my queue for years.  I am glad to have finally knit it.  And what an easy knit.  Mine done with Kertzer Sable, left over from my Glenora Jacket knit last fall.  Quincy takes only a few hours to knit and produces a very warm hat. The bottom band is knit first, twisted and then joined in a circle.  That twist produces a double thickness over half the hat. Cozy.  

Two for the head.  Maybe necks are  next.

Lessons Learned In Florida

Spending the winter in Florida taught me many things.  Not the least of which was 'Climate Matters'.

I guess if I had thought about it I would have known that with cold weather, one needs more hand knitted items - mittens, hats, scarves etc.  Conversely, if the weather is warm, one needs them less.  But beyond that, Florida taught me that is the weather is cold, and one doesn't stay outdoors for hours on end, then one has more time and more importantly, more inclination to knit.  When the weather is warm not so much.

And so my two months in Florida produced little knitting.  Here is the sum total of all I did - and that includes the 20 hours in the car going down and again coming home.

All of these projects, but one, are stash busters.  That being  a goal of mine for 2016.

A baby sweater.  Top down from Cabin Fever's baby book and using Cabin Fever, Cotton Tweed. A washable cotton /acrylic combo, perfect for a new Mom. 

A masculine cowl.  This pattern is a freebie from Chez Lizzie and used up some leftover Cacscade 220.

 Elizabeth calls it the Boring, Unglamorous, But Essential Neck Thingum.  Exactly - essential Canadian winter wear.


The shades of natural neck wrap is the Crescent Scarf from Cabin Fever. 

Although quite a bit heavier than the recommended weight for Crescent, my Cascade Eco Duo natural fibres in natural colours made a lovely soft squishy neck piece that stays put. 



This brightly coloured cowl, I might have completed before we set out for the south.  So if you have seen it previously, my apologies.

 It is a simple cast on of 100 stitches, then  an inch or so of stockinet sandwiched between an inch or so of moss and repeated until my yarn ran out.  This yarn too is very  soft and  squishy, barely spun and  brightly coloured.  A ball snatched  from another of Sandy's sister, Bag Lady Sue's great give-aways.  Thanks, Sue.

And lastly, a new purchase bought specifically for the trip.  It is a Shirley Brian  shawl kit that I bought at Wool&Silk in Shelbourne.

Shirley's creative kits make beautiful shawls.  Using 4 strands of cotton about the same thickness as sewing thread, the shawl is plainly knit except for the periodic  stitch patterns.  The stitch patterns take place at the same time as the colour changes.  No work for the knitter, though, as Shirley has tied off one strand of the previous colour together with one strand of the new colour.  This shawl started with the 4 strands of ivory, then went to 3 ivory, one green, then two ivory two green  and so on.  Fun to knit and the cotton is perfect for summer.

And that's it.  My lesson learned is that climate controls my knitting output.

Thursdays Are For Knit Group

Two months in Florida means it has been a long, blog-less stretch.  My apologies to readers who like to tune in each week to find out what's going on with the Meaford knit group.  But fair warning, we loved our first, winter-stay in Florida so much, we are seriously considering returning next winter.  What's not to love?  No ice to slip on.  No snow to shovel.  No blinding snowstorms to drive through.  Hard to beat barefoot on the beach.

Today was my first week back at knit group and I was sure happy to be there. I got caught up on the news about town and caught up on the knitting.

Sharon finished her Winter of 2016 Cardigan.  Red, garter stitch ( well, the sweater is called The Garter Stitch Cardigan but Sharon missed that point and did it in reverse stockinet) and a sassy swing  make it perfect for Sharon's colouring and body type, I think.  It look great.

Bonnie showed me her bright socks.  A pattern from my book Need a Sock? It's nice to know it is still being used.  Thanks, Bonnie.

Wilma has a baby blanket on her lap.  Using up stash she said. 

And what's that around her neck?   A Bandana.  This one crocheted in cotton she purchased at the LYS in Stony Plains Alberta when she was out that way this winter visiting her daughter. Wilma shared the pattern and I think a few of those might be on my stash-busting radar.  Thanks, Wilma.

Deanna has started a lovely shawl. 

The pattern is Autumn Wave and Deanna is using this yarn  (German, we think??) she purchased at the KW Knitters Fair.  Paying far less than the amount shown on the price tag she added.

It is nice to go away but it is wonderful to have  great knitting friends to come home to. And to think we do this every week.