What's on my Needles

Hmm.... I actually did a lot of knitting, but it doesn't look like it... I guess the inches don't add up too much when you've got over 300 stitches per row in laceish fingering weight (Row: 32 stitches per 4 inches, Height: less.)  Plus, I knit the stitches behind the key hole there.

Scalene progress in Blackberries

I made the mistake of counting how many stitches are left.... over 10,000... really?  really?  only 33 more rows tho.  I wish my photo showed the irredescent quality of the MadelineTosh yarns.... so pretty!

Next week's goal.... complete it & start the blocking.
Check out Judi's What's on your needles Link up
Have a great week-end... and happy stitches!  b

What's on my needles? Linky to Patchwork Times



Scalene in my Triple Crown Blackberry patch



May was a long month.... but more about that later, perhaps.

 For now, I just want to post @ progress on My Scalene.   I started this on May 1st to participate in Ravelry's MadMay2012....

Obviously, didn't complete by May 31! Still, work continues....the fingering weight yarn is quite tiny and there are lotza stitches!  (it takes 32 stitches to go 4 inches & about as many rows to go up 4"..... )  My goal for this week is to get through the wide stripe in the pattern.  I've made one of the key-holes & the other one is at the end of the wide stripe.



The pattern is by Carina Spencer  Usually I am not a fan of asymmetrical patterns, but there are so many ways to wear this.... (check it out on Ravelry if you can.) The directions are clear so far & there's lots of help on Ravelry for modifications which help to keep the edges even and relaxed; and I love, love, love the yarn... Madelinetosh's Tosh Merino Light in Fathom (darker color) and Blue Gingham (fingering weight.)  You can not see in this photo, but the yarn has real depth of color and almost an iridescence....  

Madelinetosh in my Alchemyst rose



Judi over at Patchwork Times has a little linky party happening to help us stay motivated to keep on keep'n on with our projects.... Thanks so much Judi!

MadMay2012

Knitters to your posts.... MadMay2012 will be starting in 4 days.... So what is it?  I only heard about this marathon last week.  It is hosted by a HUGE group at Ravelry Madelinetosh Lovers group  If you don't know, Madelinetosh is a manufacturer of wonderful modern natural fiber yarns.  The Ravelry group is having an event in May which includes Knit/Crochet alongs, tips, prizes and tons of fun online social sharing. 

Blue Gingham & Fathom MadTosh next to Alchemyst Rose

Earlier I had printed off the pattern and gathered my tools, needles, yarn.  These are the two colors I am using.  Yesterday was the first day we were to swatch.  I did.  I got guage.... but it's tiny @ 32 stitches over 4" in pattern.  I wound my yarn, thoroughly reviewed the pattern, looked on Ravlery and made note of changes & techniques others have employed with the pattern I plan to use: Scalene by Carina Spencer.  One potential problem with the pattern is its tendancy for the edges to be too tight; to mitigate this, I'm following the suggestion to put a YO (yarn0ver) after the first stitch of each row, then drop it as one knits back, thus keeping the stitch count correct.  I did this in my swatch & it definitely helps. 

To enter into the competitions, we are not to cast on until May 1, so I'll set it aside and focus on getting other projects completed, so I can knit, knit, knit in May!  Happy Stitching!

Spring rains finally here and One Flower for Wednesday

Well, fortunately we have been getting much needed rains the last couple of days... just in time to sweeten the berries forming on my blueberry bushes and raspberry & blackberry canes.  Ymm.

Here is a photo of a flower added to my Grandmother's Flower Garden lap quilt; it is nestled in my favorite rose: Alchemyst.  As an inconsistent gardner in zone 7 who doesn't use chemicals, I am always delighted when my rose leaves are free from blackspot... short lived I'm sure.

Go on over and check out other lovely hexis and great tutorials for English Paper Piecing at Karen's Journey of a Quilter One Flower Wednesday sign-in

Now, I will most likely take a month long break from One Flower Wednesday to focus on some quilting UFO goals and because next Tuesday, May 1, will begin MadMay 2012 on Ravelry.

For those who may not know, this is a wonderful free website for knitters.  I looked on the site to try to figure out how many members there are, but couldn't.  I joined in December 2008 when I think there were about 250,000 members.  Seems like I remember there are over a million now.

At any rate, in May, one of the groups "Madelinetosh Lovers" has a competition/Knit&Crochet Along; Madelinetosh is a fantabulous yarn, in luscious colors.  There are over 6,200 members in this group.  Our goal in MadMay is to begin and complete knitting projects using Madelinetosh yarn.  I think it is so funny that knitting can be made competitive!  Now, I am too slow & have too many irons in the fire to win anything... but I just love, love external accountability to help with completion of projects.  So I plan to knit a pattern by one of my favorite designers, Carina Spencer: Scalene knitted scarf in yarns from my stash:- colors: Gingham (a silvery blue) and Fathom (a deep blue.)  We start our swatches tomorrow & cast on May 1. 

Hope you are all enjoying yourselves.  Happy stitching!