Greyhaven Cowl

Yay - a finished object!  I've had the urge to knit alot lately, mostly since the weather has cooled down a bit.  Winter in Florida is not the winter I've experienced in DC, but it gets cooler during the days and downright chilly at night.  Snuggling up on my comfy couch under a quilt with some knitting in my lap seems like just the thing!  I wanted to knit a gift for a dear friend of mine, and I thought a lacey cowl would be nice.  I found Grayhaven on Ravelry and dove into the stash.

I used Misti Alpaca in Cream and boy do I love this yarn.  Its soft and cozy and knits up beautifully.  The lace pattern on this cowl is really lovely, and she created it with a larger edge on the bottom, so it drapes nicely on your neck.  I think this is a perfect size to keep your neck warm and I think I might make another for another friend.  Or maybe for me!

My only modification to the pattern was using a US8 needle all the way through because I couldn't find my US7.  I had some difficulty with the purl cast off, but I got the hang of it towards the end.  I tend to be tight with a knit cast off, so I'll consider this in future projects.  The cast off here is still a little tight, but I think I can fix it.  I won't see my friend for a couple weeks, so I can re-finish it.  No models were available, so I took a shot of the cowl resting on an upside down flower pot. 

Do you find you knit more during cold weather?  Or maybe hand quilting or embroidery?

WIP Wrestling

WIPs, also known to knitters as "Works In Progress," are the bane of many a knitters' existence.  Many of us have half-finished projects laying around the house (or perhaps neatly collected), in whom we've lost interest, or lost a needle, or we need more yarn to finish.  A group on Ravelry has declared July to be WIP Wrestling Month - where the goal is to finish as many works-in-progress as possible, one way or another.   I have plenty of unfinished projects that are weighing on my crafter's soul, so I jumped in too!

I've finished a Harry Potter House Hat - in Gryffindor colors of course.  I originally started a House Scarf in hopes that I could wear it to the Half Blood Prince movie, but it was taking way too long, and I was frustrated with the color changes (one edge of the scarf is not very neat as you change colors).  I frogged it, and started the hat instead.  Took considerably less time, and although it is a wee bit too long for my head, I'm quite happy with it.  No errors!  This one is more burgundy & gold, than scarlet and gold, so it'll make a nice hat if I get to go to any Redskins football games in late fall.  I may knit the scarf at some point - I loved the quidditch scenes where everyone was wearing them.



I also frogged a shrug I have been working on for a little while.  It was about half finished, but I am not crazy about the way the colors were turning out, and I was sure I'd never wear it.  Life is too short to waste time completing a project, if your heart isn't really in it, isn't it?  I'll return to the pattern with a different yarn choice at some point, and return to the yard with a different pattern.  I have also been working on two gift scarves, which I aim to finish by the end of July.   Of course, the recipients won't need them for several months but I'd like to get them off my plate, so to speak, and get on with something new!

Next up on the needles will be Hermione's Cable and Eyelet Hat from JL Yarnworks.  After seeing the Half Blood Prince movie, I must, Must, MUST make one!  A big thanks to JL Yarnworks for sharing!   I loved the movie - all in all, I think they did a great job.  Its never easy to condense a book that size into a mere two and a half hour experience.  The best part from the knitting perspective, was of course when Dumbledore came out with the knitting magazine and said "I do love knitting patterns."  The best!  There was a nice range of knitted items to think about - I loved Hermione's sweater with the two different stripe patterns on each sleeve.  Unique!