You've got to spend some time, love

Another Sunday, another day to spend quietly playing with yarn and beads, another day to post some updates to this blog.

I am in a swap on Ravely, one of the things we needed to send in our packages was stitch markers, so I made these yesterday to add to the rest of the goodies I am sending out:



I really like them, I bought that cheapy key holder to put them on so they don't get loose in the package. I also bought this yarn to send:


It is 100% wool and I bought a booklet of felted bag patterns to go with it.

I signed up for the Ravelympics, the Lace Longjump - here is my entry:


Zetor by Jatta Saukko in Handpaintedyarns.com lace color Hydrangea. I am really liking how this is knitting up, the yarn has a homepun feel and the color is lovely. I have until the closing ceremonies to finish.

I am still working on the Goddess Mystery Shawl, here is the last update:

I really love this yarn - it is Zephyr color Copper.

Of course since I still didn't finish that KAL, I had to join another, Mystery Stole 4 - I originally was going to knit this is the silver gray Colourmart silk I have, but the diameter on the stole, according to the designer is only 16", that silk is so fine, I would be lucky to get 10", so I decided to use the cone of Jaggerspun Main Line I bought from Sarah's Yarns last year. Here is the swatch I did:


The top is done on size 5 needles the bottom on size 3, I like the top better. The beada are from Beadaholique , the color is Witch's Brew, these are 8/0 that I ordered for the silk - I just ordered them in 6/0 so they will show up better on the thicker yarn.

Here is the yarn and the beads:


I have to run to the nursing home now - hopefully I will remember to finish updating this page.

Later...............

Ok, I'm back

I found the perfect beads to match that Claudia Handpainted Silk I bought at Garden City Stitches, look:


They pick up all the colors in this yarn! I am thinking about designing a stole with this yarn and beads using the Japanese Knitting Patterns Book 300 I bought online from a SaucyLouise's Esty shop. This book is phenomenal! There are patterns in here I have never seen anywhere else before, and even though the text is in Japanese, the charts and diagrams are clearly written and suprisingly easy to follow.






That is just a small sample! I am hooked on Japanese knitting and crochet patterns, one weekend soon I am planning a trip to Kinokuniya Bookstore
to browse through and pick up a few more. There is Japanese Knitting and Crochet group on Ravelry that is really helpful with working out the patterns.