A Cowl and Mitts

Yarn: Mondial Extrafine Merino wool, colorway #500.

Cowl Pattern: Pashmina Cowl by Joelle Hoverson from the book, "Last Minute Knitted Gifts."
Needles: #5 ( 3.75mm) circulars.

Fingerless Mitt Pattern: My personal pattern.
Needles: #1 (2.25mm) dpns

Comments: Both were quick and easy to knit, and the yarn is really soft.
Perfect for typing.

You Win Some...

And some don't turn out exactly as you hoped.Yarn: Rowan Summer Tweed, 70% silk, 30% cotton, colorway #508.
Pattern: #294 Summer Open Cardigan by Knitting Pure and Simple.
Needles: #10 (6mm) 32" circular and #7 (4.5mm) 16" circular.Comments: The pattern is written for a loose gauge on a worsted weight yarn, and I probably should have used a wool, rather than the Summer Tweed. The pattern is very nicely written--as are all the Knitting Pure and Simple styes--and I wouldn't mind making it again in another yarn. It knit up quickly and feels really light to wear, perfect for summer nights.
I made the sleeves a tad too long, although the yarn might have a tendency to stretch in length, but I don't think I will go back and change them. The length does hide some aging elbows!

It might look better to me next summer, as I finished it just in time for winter.

Still knitting...

Projects, Small and BIG

Yarn: Louett Euroflax in a creamy white.
Pattern: Dragon Scales Washcloth by Theresa Gaffey, from the book, "Knitter's Stash."
Needles: US#4 (3.5mm)
Comments: The Judge thought it looked like a curtain, and it is a pretty good sized washcloth. I love the look of it unblocked.

Okay. Here's the BIG project in my life:
New siding for the house. It used to be red. Now it's taupe. No longer will I be able to add to my directions, "It's the red house on your right."

A Softly Ruffled Scarf

Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed, 50% Merino wool, 25% Alpaca, 25% Viscose--colorway SH152.
Pattern: Ruffled Scarf (Ravelry Link) by Christine (Tina) Lorin, whose blog is Knit Tenacity where you will also find the free pattern.
Needles: #5 Addi Turbos
Comments: I loved the pattern and the yarn . If you haven't knit with Rowan's Felted Tweed, give yourself at least one skein to make something lovely.

The pattern achieves the undulating ruffles by the use of short rows. No wrapping, though, since it's all garter stitch. Blocking was recommended, but these photos show the scarf unblocked.My modification was to cast on 76 stitches, rather than 90. This necessitated some other changes in numbers, but the scarf still looks the same--just not as wide--as the actual pattern. I might make some fingerless mitts with the remaining yarn.

The Noro Vest--in Sock Yarn

Lots of stitches using sock yarn...
Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn, 70% Wool, 30% Nylon, Coloway #S233
Needles: Size 2 (2.75mm and 3mm)
Pattern: Olivia, from Noro Catwalk by Jenny Watson Designs, Book 1.
Comments: The shoulders are slightly extended on this pattern--I understand bigger shoulders are coming back! I really like the nicely fashioned neckline.

I stopped the lower edge ribbing at 4," rather than the 4-3/4" called for in the pattern because I was concerned that the knitting might puff out a little after the ribbing and at the wrong spot for my body. I'm wondering now if I should have carried the ribbing up further and made it an empire look. But this way it give me room to layer it over a shirt.When I reached the area just above the body where I had to add another ball of yarn to proceed toward the shoulders, I tried to match each side at least color wise.

However, the vest does match the socks I made last year:Still knitting...

An Extra Ordinary Scarf

Yarn 1: Twisted Sisters Daktari, 100% Cotton, slubbed. Colorway "Argent."
Yarn 2: Jarbo Garn, 100% wool, Colorway "Ghost Country."
Pattern: Long Ridged Scarf from Jo Sharp's book "Knit," Issue #1.
Needles: Size 6 (4.00mm) Addi Turbos.
Comments: You would think a pattern wouldn't be necessary for such a simple project, and you'd be right. However, sometimes seeing a pattern like this is just what is needed. I loved knitting it while riding in the car, watching TV, and meeting with my knitting friends.

This scarf was made as a gift, but I like its nubby squooshiness so much I'm not sure I can part with it. The two yarns knit together amicably, with no tangling and no knots, and the resulting fabric is more attractive than each yarn separately.Do I block or not?
P.S. What I really meant was not extraordinary, but extra ordinary--to my mind extraordinary sounds like it's really, really ordinary. Who can really know the English language???