FO: Michelle Sweater

Project – Michelle’s Pullover
Pattern Book – Top Down Classics #500860
Yarn – Patons Shetland Chunky
Blogger – YoElizbo

Finally rescued my Michelle sweater from my Mom’s house and sat down and got knitting. When I got the body done, I tried it on, and discovered that I loved it–and had a radical thought–not knit the sleeves long, but do them short so I could wear it through more than just the fall and winter months.

And here is where a top down sweater is so wonderful. You can get the body done and consider it step by step how you want to do the sleeves. So I knit a bit, and tried it on, and knit a bit more, and tried it on. But after all, the long sleeves won out:

What I love about this sweater is that I can wear it over a t-shirt or a tank or a long sleeve shirt and it is perfect weight for all kinds of weather. And the lace lets another color pop out a bit. Fun!

So there it is, my finished Michelle–which has quickly become my go to pullover. I’m still contemplating one for spring in another color–and this time with short sleeves or maybe just caps.

-YoElizbo

FO – Frou Frou Scarf

Project – Frou Frou Scarf
Pattern Book – Breathtaking #500879
Yarn – Patons Lace  #33427 Woodrose
Blogger – terriknitspatons

I had been waiting to write this post until I could get outside and take some pretty pictures.  The weatherman tells me that is not going to happen anytime soon.  So I will improvise.

When last I left you, I was hoping to finish the body of the scarf.  And I did.

Ruffles too.  Whenever I finish a lace project I am surprised by how unkempt it looks.  This is definitely its gangly phase.  A little patience and grooming is what is needed right now.

When working with lace, patience and grooming is obtained through pins and steam.  The scarf is much longer than my ironing board, so I blocked in two sections.  I pulled the scarf different amounts lengthwise and widthwise until I found the look I liked best, then I started pinning.  My ironing board cover has stripes which make pinning lace out very easy.  No ruler needed.  Once everything was pinned, I hit it with steam.

I love steaming lace!  I know that sounds odd, but it is true.  I love getting right down with the iron, hovering just over the fabric and watching the yarn relax.  You can actually see it move.  Thrilling!  The only problem with this method is a personal one.  I have curly hair, and after standing over a steaming iron for half an hour I resemble Albert Einstein.  I try to steam block in private.

Blocking ruffles is a little tricky.  They can not be pulled and pinned in the same way as a panel of lace.

For the ruffles I lined up the stitches and let the fabric mound where it liked.  This way I was able to straighten the curling, but keep the flounce.

What a difference!  So light and it drapes like a dream.

The edging was pinned and then sewn to the body.  I suggest using the same color yarn as the top layer of your ruffle.  Then weave in all those ends.  There a lot of ends.  Tons.  But it is worth the effort.

Lovely!  The scarf is wide enough to cover your shoulders as a wrap, if you feel a little chill, but thick and luxurious when scrunched around your neck.  One of my favorite projects ever.  Two needles way, way up!

-terriknitspatons

more Frou Frou

Project – Frou Frou Scarf
Pattern Book – Breathtaking #500879
Yarn – Patons Lace  #33427 Woodrose
Blogger – terriknitspatons

Last night I spread out in bed with Frou Frou.  I looked down to see that the yarn matches my jammies perfectly.

Pretty funny.

The project is sailing right along.  I would rate the pattern for beginning, but not new, lace knitters.  The lace pattern itself is very simple.  The same 10 stitches, in the same order, over and over again.  The only thing that changes is where in the order your row begins.  There is no patterning on the wrong side rows.  The reason I would not suggest it for a new lace knitter is because the  lace motifs do not line up.  It is difficult to look at the row you are knitting, in relation to the row you just knit, and be certain you have not made a mistake.

If you keep the faith and power through, it makes for a nice wavy fabric.  Look, I reached the pink yarn!

The scarf is so soft and fuzzy.  Can you imagine it wrapped around your neck?  I will not have to imagine for too much longer.

I am at the halfway point of the main body.  My goal for this week is to finish the scarf, get it blocked, and be ready to work the ruffles next week.  As if the soft yarn was not enough, ruffles!

~terriknitspatons

Frou Frou begins

Project – Frou Frou Scarf
Pattern Book – Breathtaking #500879
Yarn – Patons Lace  #33427 Woodrose
Blogger – terriknitspatons

Last night I began Frou Frou.  Patons Lace yarn is such a treat.  The thickness is exactly right for me.  The stitches are lacey and plump at the same time.  Top them off with a bit of mohair and your fingers want to keep knitting.

Here is the first pattern repeat.   The pattern is rated “intermediate”, but in reality it is not that difficult.  If you have knit a lace something before, this will be a good choice for you.

This photo really shows off the mohair.  The first repeat measure about 3 inches, which means I need to repeat it about it about  a hundred  eighteen times.

I can not wait to reach the pink portion of the yarn.  The current brown/grey is lovely, but the pink makes my heart giddy.

Soon.

-terriknitspatons