Knitting, Fiber Art, and Lofty Thoughts
I finished my Marled Alaska Cowl this week(Ravelry link). They removed it from the Bad Sheep Yarn Co’s website for some reason. Yarn is Moondrake’s Soft Shawl in colorways Driftwood and Zombie held together. I find these colors difficult to photograph, but the above image captures them well.
Every stitch was a pleasure, and I love how the design lays around the neck and shoulders. It’s my new favorite cowl!
I finished my second pair of Plateau Joggers. The fabric is 100% merino wool interlock from Nature’s Fabrics. I may have enough to sew a matching Mile End Sweatshirt. This fabric was expensive, so I want to use up every little bit.
I’m not sure what I’ll sew next. I do have some navy wool flannel that I’m either going to turn into overalls or a jacket. I also have some plaid flannel I want to make into a wrap skirt. I guess I have plenty of options!
Happy Halloween! It’s my favorite holiday, as you may have guessed. I’m wearing my Sleepy Hollow dress and Cemetery Drive cowl today.
I have a leather jacket that an artist I know painted, and I love wearing it. But I don’t always love having the back of my jacket painted as it attracts a lot of attention. So I purchased a used, plain leather jacket on Poshmark and I’m very happy with it. I wouldn’t buy a new one, but a used one feels less harmful.
I haven’t been blogging much lately. I’m knitting and sewing here and there. I had another “this is my hobby not my job” epiphany. Work has been busy with events for Fair Trade Month. And now we’re moving into the holidays. It feels very sudden!
I needed a knitting pick me up, so I stash-dove and decided to knit an Aurealis sweater. I’m just now starting the short row shaping on the neck, so not much to see yet. I’ve updated my Year of Projects list.
I sewed some monster PJ pants for Bob.
This Halloween Livie shawl won’t be done today, so I may pack it away for next fall.
What about you? Any Halloween makes this year? Are you ready for the holiday season to begin?
In my previous post I linked to my Back Porch Shawl on Ravelry, and I’ve just realized not everyone can view my project page. D’oh!
Pattern is Back Porch Shawl by Diana Poirier. Yarn is Weekend Wool from Green Mountain Spinnery in Pumpkin, Lichen, and Poppy, I used three skeins of each color.
The yarn really makes it. Every stitch was scrumptiously soft and the autumnal colors are rich and warm. It was a relaxing, mindful knit. A perfect vacation knit! I will be wrapping up in this all winter.
Sleepy Hollow socks done! Yarn is Sleepy Hollow Kashmir from Fiber Optics Yarn.
I also made some candles today to use in my jack o’lantern luminaries.
I sewed a dress today! This is Seamwork’s Piedra Dress in There Will Be Cute’s Headless Horseman fabric from Spoonflower. I used the 100% cotton jersey for myself as I prefer the way all natural fibers breathe.
Close up selfie so you can see how cute the fabric is. It was a quick, successful sew. Which is good because I needed a win today.
Next up I will sew a couple of these for Freya in Halloween fabrics she picked out. She wears the same size as me, which is handy.
Have you had any crafting wins lately?
I finished my Point Edwards Mitts in Less Traveled Yarn’s Turning Leaves colorway. This project was my DIY Autumn Advent bag from August 21.
I found this to be an easy knit, and quick to knit up in DK weight yarn. They are super soft and squishy, and I’ve already popped them into my coat pocket. Ready for fall!
This week I’ll focus on my Arrowhead Cardigan and maybe cast on those Cozy Autumn Socks.
I finished my Pietra Pants yesterday! These fit perfectly and fulfill my need for “jeans” since I can no longer wear real jeans. The high waist with elastic in back is forgiving and so comfortable. I can wear it with my cropped hand knit sweaters! The lightweight chambray will be suitable for late spring to early fall. I wish I could make these in a medium weight, but the gathering in back would be too stiff and bunchy.
Pattern is Pietra Pants by Closet Core Patterns. Fabric is Telhio 4.8 ounce denim chambray in dark blue. This pattern was a treat to sew. I only got a little muddled on the pockets, but they have a tutorial that helped me through. I used the same fabric for interfacing, with some of my Grandma’s roll of Stitch Witchery on the pocket facings to keep them crisp. (I can still remember my Grandma giving it to me. I think she would be proud of my sewing.) I will make a pair or two in linen next spring.
In other news, my sister sent me some Halloween tea! Thanks, Lori!
Fiber Art
My art show reception was last night, and it was wonderful to visit with family and friends who ventured out in support. I sold two pieces, which I’m over the moon about! Here is a gallery of the pieces in the show.
I’m proud I was able to produce this body of work, and was really pleased with the feedback. Many people were surprised to see artwork made from wool. Someone said the work was really comforting, which was my goal. I think we all need a little bit of softness in our lives right now. The gallery’s website is at this link.
In other fiber art news, I experimented with fresh leaf indigo printing, which I shared about yesterday.
Knitting
I’ve been working on my Point Edwards Mitts, which I am really enjoying. I finished my Cemetery Drive Cowl, which I posted about on Thursday. And I finished a super secret birthday present for my MIL Margie, which I posted on Wednesday. It was a banner week for knitting FOs!
My DIY Fall Advent bag yesterday was the Ixchel Cowl in Farmer’s Daughter Fibers Moon Sisters. I don’t know if you can see the bronze sparkles in this yarn, but it’s beautiful. However, I just finished a colorwork cowl, and I’m not in the mood to start another one. I’ll store this for another time.
Sewing
I’m currently working on some Pietra Pants in dark blue chambray. I also sewed a dress last week. It was not horrible.
This has been a Year of Projects update. You can find out more about the group here (Rav link) or here: Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list. You can read my updated list of projects here.
I finished my Cemetery Drive Cowl on Tuesday! I love it. This yarn has so much subtle variegation.
Pattern is Cemetery Drive Cowl (Rav link). Yarn is BFL Mohair Fingering in Pitch and October from Forest Lane Fiber Co.
It’s been cool the last couple of days, and I cannot wait for autumn. Only 20 more days!
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