Twisp of Fate

I have been working on some scarf ideas that may make it as far as the pattern stage.  If not, at least it has been fun to “unvent” some things, and to bring along at least one project that has been languishing for quite a while!

First up is a 3-texture shaped scarf using a lightweight wool, a light mohair with glitter, and a lightweight kid mohair boucle.  I also shaped the tails, as I dislike fringe and wanted something more graceful than just a blunt end.  Working title:  Sedimentary Scarf (because this one reminded me of sedimentary rock layers).

3 differently textured yarns, and the swatch

Trial 1 of Sedimentary Scarf

The long tails came out WAY too long, so I have artfully pinned them up behind the drapey cowl part for the picture.  Next one will hopefully be “just right”.  I do love the colors in this one, though.

Next is a project I started a couple years? back.  It is a slip stitch pattern scarf (but not linen stitch) with attached corkscrew edging.  The first time I tried the edging, which came from Nicki Epstein’s excellent “Knitting on the Edge” book, they were knit individually and then sewn on.  Not fun mainly because of there being way too many ends to darn in when done.  I came up with a modification that lets me knit them as I go across each end of the scarf (this is after the body of the scarf is finished).  I had two scarves knitted in quite different colorways, but had never finished the edgings.  Well, the first one is done now, and I am working on the second.  Working title:  Corkscrewy.

If I put these up on Ravelry, there will be a Big Announcement here on the blog!

I also finished a version of Hitchhiker by Martina Behm.   This is written for sock weight yarn, but I had been given a “challenge” skein of Mountain Colors  Weaver’s Wool Quarters last fall (350 yds in 100 gm, DK weight).  Actually a small group of us were each given 1 skein of this yarn with the challenge being to bring back something made out of it next October.  So I just knit away on a size 7 needle until I ran out!  It is definitely big enough to wear as a neck scarf, so I am pleased.

I have also been spinning up some of the rovings I bought at Taylored Fibers in Quilcene WA, on the Olympic Peninsula, last fall.

13 oz. – equal parts merino, alpaca and BFL (Blue-faced Leicester)

16 oz. – 50% merino, 30% bamboo and 20% silk

first skein of 18 oz merino/alpaca/BFL with some silk noil

I am building up a stash of roughly worsted weight handspun yarn to use as pattern weft in some shawls I want to do for my show at the Winthrop Gallery that opens at the end of May.

Which brings us to weaving!  After two months away from the looms, I am happy to say I put a new mixed warp for scarves onto Kingston this week, and am starting to weave again.  This colorway reminds me of the colors and textures you see in the rainforests on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State.

Rain Forest warp on the loom

first Rain Forest scarf underway