Knitting Update: Tilted Cowl

Since we took a trip to Las Vegas to get re-married by Elvis I needed a travel knitting project. I spent entirely too much time going through my Ravelry library trying to find something that would be a good travel project. I finally settled on the Titled Cowl (pattern available on Ravelry). This was originally a mystery knit along, but I didn't find the time to cast on during the mystery. I decided it would be a good use of these two balls of Knit Picks Chroma Twist, fingering weight.

I cast on at the gate waiting for our first flight. 

By the time we boarded I was well on my way. 

Somewhere over the middle of the country I finished the first section.

Then joined in the round to work section 2. 

I didn't plan for this section to be this subtle, 

You almost can't see the single row striping in this section. 

On the return flight I started working on section 3. Now the color is shifting through my second ball of yarn. The gradual stripes are perfect for this pattern. This will be my carrying around project for a while until I finish it. Working with Chroma Twist makes me think I should pick up some Chroma Twist Bulky. I bet the hats would be amazing!

Pattern: Tilted Cowl by Jenny F
Yarn: Knit Picks Chroma Twist Fingering
Needles: Knitter's Pride 4/3.5mm Dreamz Fixed Circular Needles, 32"

Knitting Update

Sometimes I realize I've made a major mess. This was my knitting bag after I finished up a shawl. I had to get everything sorted and set back up for my next project. I have set an arbitrary hard limit on the number of knitting projects I will allow myself to have going at one time. This has forced me to be very careful about the projects I pick (three shawls is a bad idea) and I've finished several small projects along the way.

I finished two bandana cowls, a Tensfield hat and one Dotted Rays shawl.

What's next? first up is another Dotted Rays Shawl, this time using this hand-painted yarn from Knit Picks Stroll.

A hat with the pattern Langfield using Chroma by Knit Picks.

What is the third project? I'm still working on my second Electric Boogaloo Cowl made with the absolutely yummy and awesome wool/silk blend from Freia Handpaints.

How many projects do you have on needles at the moment?

Waterfall Bandana Cowl

Sometimes they get it right.

Remember the last bandana cowl I made? bandana

I had Darling Husband try it on and he said "can you make it longer?" I love a knitting challenge. I looked over the wonderful directions from Ravelry and decided I could definitely pull it off.

A few more rows here, a few more rows there and I had a much longer and easier to hide your nose in bandana cowl.

This one was made using a single hank of Kaleidoscope Worsted from Blue Ridge Yarns. I love how it pooled as I worked the rows.

This wonderful superwash Merino is called waterfall (color #022). It was great to knit with. I've handed it over to DH for what seems to be quickly fading winter weather.

Do you have any fun small projects that are great as take-along projects? This would make a great weekend project if you're in a pinch for a gift.

Bandana Cowl

I like small, one-ball, knitting projects that are easy to shove into a bag and take along. These are the projects that I work on during the 10-15 minutes it takes my husband to drive us to the super market. Or the 15 minutes one spends waiting for a haircut. Or the time one spends waiting for a doctor's appointment. Waiting for dinner to reach the table at as restaurant. All those little moments that can seem wasted.

I found this fun bandana cowl pattern on Ravelry and decided it might be a great way to use up a single ball of hand-painted that I had dyed a few years ago. The shape is interesting and the cowl works up quickly.

I plan on making the next one a little longer, maybe adding length to the garter top and bottom hems, too.

You can find the pattern, and other great things, at Purl Soho.

Have you discovered any quick, one-ball, knitting projects?

Electric Boogalloo Cowl

A few post ago I told you about a local quilt shop I discovered called Fibre Space.

I got down to business with two balls of Freia's Fibers. One of Pixie and the other of Nightshade. I love this yarn. A soft and yummy blend of 70% merino and 30% silk.

The pattern is the Electric Boogaloo Cowl by Tina Whitmore and available on Ravelry.

I worked on this cowl during those times that so often seem like wasted time. 

The time when Darling Husband is driving you to the supermarket, or waiting at the MVA. (This is my actual slip from the MVA. I waited there for about an hour for my number to be called. Thank goodness I brought the knitting.)

Those little moments of waiting are perfect for stitching up a couple rows. The pattern is simple and the yarn really shines.

I'm so glad I tried this pattern and this yarn. I have two more balls of Freia's Fibers so I'm all set to get stitching!

Have you discovered any new local shops? What about a new product that was such a wonderful surprise?

Retail Therapy: Fibre Space

In an effort to find some of Freia's Fibers locally, I did some searching for yarn shops near where I work.

Google dutifully lead me to the Fibre Space. This is a great little shop with helpful staff and so many things to see.

I was warmly greeted by the staff and they showed me where to find the tasty yarn I was searching for.  Look at all these balls of Freia's Fibers!

I love these ombre yarns.  They are so colorful and soft and oh-so yummy.  It wasn't easy to narrow down my choices, but I managed to pick just four different colorways.  From left to right I'm pretty sure these are Metropolis, Dirty Hippie, Nightshade and Pixie.  I'm in a strange relationship with the Electric Boogaloo Cowl and these yarns are part of that relationship.

I also picked up this set of knit blockers since I do seem to have at least one shawl that has been finished for a couple years and has never been blocked.

Yummy yarn!

Since I managed to hit the $100 mark, this bag with their super-fun logo, was free.  The bag is $2 if you don't hit the mark, but it wasn't a difficult task.  I'm sure I'll be back when I need some more retail therapy.  I love finding friendly, local shops with awesome yarns.

Wardrobe Wednesday: Electric Boogaloo Cowl

I was scrolling through Instagram and came across a pattern from Freia Fibers.  It looked fun, was simple and used ombre yarn.  I had some leftover Noro and some Lamb's Pride so I decided to try it out.  (This is why I usually end up with two or more of everything, because I try it out before I make the real thing.)

Years ago I bought several different balls of Kereyon by Noro.  I also had some Lamb's Pride.  I figured the contrast would be good enough to see the pattern develop in this pattern.

With so few working stitches, this is an easy project to carry along to stitch a couple rows in the car while going from place to place.

Check out the Electric Boogaloo Cowl on Ravelry, grab some ombre yarn and get stitching!