Thursdays Are For Knit Group

The travelled have returned.  Sharon R back from Paris and Doreen back from Trinidad & Tobago both had things to show us from their travels.

Doreen's  show and tell had nothing to do with knitting,  but sure is fun.  Look at her hair.

Doreen, whose next major birthday starts with a 9 is the most young at heart woman I know.  You look great, Doreen and your hair makes me smile.

Sharon R brought home yarn. 

 Mohair and silk from the   'most famous yarn store' in Paris. I'll take her word for it, as I've never been.

 

Even the shopping was an experience, she said.  Line up to point to the hank of your chosen colour hanging on  the wall.  Wait while a clerk winds off the amount you want,  then line up to pay.  Wouldn't the yarn stores here like such line ups?

Our other Sharon was busy this week with her loom.  Isn't this gorgeous? 

 Woven with two different variegated shades of Patons Lace. Even the fringe is exceptional.

 

Jean  brought in her newly finished Swallowtail for 'Show & Ask', not Tell.  

Is it too small," she asked?  "Will it keep me warm in the air conditioned hall, when I attend the conference?"  The answers were mixed.  Some said no.  Some thought yes.  It is Alpaca after all, so maybe.  Nice work, despite the size, Jean.

Wilma spent the morning finishing her latest summer 'tee' and wore it to Knit Group this afternoon to compliments galore.

  Nice colours. Nice fit.  Nice work.  

Knitters make great, armchair travellers.  We have something to busy our hands while we listen to

the stories of  those who have returned form far away places.  Great fun.

Cotton Concerto

Today, I am wearing the Fern Poncho while knitting on my next piece of summer apparel.  Summer is short here in my neck of the woods.  If I want my summer pieces to be completed in time for summer wearing, I need to keep my needles flashing.

This next knit - my penultimate piece of summer knitting I think (or perhaps, penultimate minus one)  is Linen Concerto.

 Without the linen.  Mine is being knit in cotton. The pattern I picked up in Florida while shopping at the LYS with Ruby.

She picked up the pattern and said to no one in particular
" Oh, this is really cute."   When she replaced it on the shelf, I took a turn looking at it.  I liked it.  And bought it.

Right now, the back is  finished up past the shaping and  to the armholes.

From this point, I hope to hang it on my machine and finish it off that way.  The front is started.  

The A Line shape is interestingly created.  There are decrease stitches at each side and also on either side of 6 centre stitches.  And for some reason that I cannot fathom at the moment, the deceases are being created - in my opinion -backwards.  On the right edge, is a K2tog, slanting right.  On the left edge, decreases slant to the left with an SSK.  I'm not sure of the reason for the  slant towards open space but decided maybe the designer has something special in mind.  I am following her instructions waiting for the 'something special' to make itself clear to me.

I'm hoping this will knit up quickly.  I'd like to finish my summer knitting before going to the trailer in early July.  I've got wool planned for the  north country.

Sheer Is Done

Sheer Panel Top, a pattern I first noticed in the Summer 2013 issue of Vogue Knitting, is finished.

 

Two years  from inspiration  to completion.  About average for me.

Pattern:  Sheer Panel Top from Vogue Knitting,  Summer 2013 issue.
Yarns: Coral - Super 10 Cotton.  Green -  Americo Cotton Flamme. Yellow -  Cotton Tweed. 
It took a ball and a bit  of the Super 10, all but a small amount of the ball of Cotton Tweed and about a third of a ball of the Cotton Flamme.  The Super 10 and the Cotton Flamme were scores at last fall's Knitters Fair.  I purchased them for  $4 each.  The Cotton Tweed had been a gift. No bank accounts were damaged in the knitting of this top.

Needles:  4mm
Mods:  #1. At the armholes, I continued to make decreases beyond where the pattern suggested stopping to knit straight.  The idea was to  better fit my 14 inch shoulder width.  But - I neglected to account for the rolling under of the un-trimmed armholes, so now I have a bit of a racer style top.   I like it still.
#2.  I wouldn't guarantee that the colour changes were worked precisely where the designer intended.

I knit this top a bit longer than my normal length, as it has a bit of an A line and is meant to drape and  swing a bit.  The Super 10, though, seems  a bit stiff for the 'swing'.  At least, in this new state, it is stiff.  Hopefuly it will get more drape with wear. 

As always,  the proof is in the wearing. I have worn it twice now. 

Yesterday, to knit group  where it received  many compliments.  This morning,  to the car dealership  - my car needs brakes - where it went completely unnoticed.  It feels good on though and that's the test.