Flower Basket Shawl (after blocking)

My Flower Basket Shawl is totally finished which makes it a gold medal winner for the knitting olympics. I really enjoyed knitting this shawl and will probably knit more.





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THE DETAILS
Pattern: Flower Basket Shawl, (a Fiber Trends pattern by Evelyn Clark)
Time: Cast on - Feb 10, 2006 // Cast Off - Feb 19, 2006
Yarn: KnitPicks Essential in DUSK --> 3 skeins
Needles: Circular, size 6 US (4.0 mm), using a variety of lengths (16", 24" and 32"); Clover Bamboo for the two smaller sizes, Susan Bates-Silverado for the 32"
Cast-On: Figure 8
Lower Flower Basket Chart: FOURTEEN repeats
Dimensions: 63" x 47" x 47"
Extra Note: Knit for the Knitting Olympics, Team USA - Lace

Frost Flower & Leaves (after blocking)

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STATS: Frost Flowers & Leaves
Pattern: Frost Flowers & Leaves from the book, A Gathering of Lace
Time: Start - Sept 25, 2005 // Finish - Feb 02, 2006 (about 4 1/2 months)
Yarn: Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud, Peppermint --> not quite 4 hanks
Needles: Circular, size 3 US, (3.25mm) using a variety of lengths (16", 24", 29", and 40"); Inox for the first 3 lengths & Addi Turbos for the 40"
Cast-On: Magic Loop
Chart 2 Pattern Repeats: FIVE
Edging: Pattern change - right cable rather than wrapped stitch
Dimensions: 51" x 51"

It's Blocking...Need I Say More?!

FLOWER BASKET SHAWL

Knits-N-Purrs Gallery

I am in the process of creating another blog, Knits-N-Purrs Gallery, an on-line knitting journal to chronical my finshed projects along with details & notes specific to each project. Initial posts will also include items non-knit related, but crafty just as well, so that I can get all my projects on line in one place.

They're here!!!

My blocking wires arrived today so hopefully I will be able to block my Flower Basket Shawl this afternoon after work. GOLD medal here I come...

Once FBS is blocked, I'll block the Frost Flowers & Leaves Shawl.

Knitting Olympics Lace Event - going for gold

I finished the Flower Basket Shawl this weekend. I was able to manage 14 repeats out of the yarn, with just a little left to spare. Whew!! That was close -- a photo finish, I would say. The picture below shows the bit of yarn left over.



And here are some pictures before blocking. I hope to do the blocking within the next day or so. I had ordered some blocking wires 2 weeks ago, so expect those to arrive any day. If not, I'll just have to block her with pins. Afterall, in order to win GOLD, my project needs to be completely finished (see rules here) by the time the olympic flame goes out. That includes darning in all ends and blocking.






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THE KNITTY GRITTY
Pattern: Flower Basket Shawl, (a Fiber Trends pattern by Evelyn Clark)
Time: Cast on - Feb 10, 2006 // Cast Off - Feb 19, 2006
Yarn: KnitPicks Essential in DUSK --> 3 skeins
Needles: Circular, size 6 US (4.0 mm), using a variety of lengths (16", 24" and 32"); Clover Bamboo for the two smaller sizes, Susan Bates-Silverado for the 32"
Cast-On: Figure 8
Lower Flower Basket Chart: FOURTEEN repeats
Extra Note: Knit for the Knitting Olympics, Team USA - Lace

Success - at last!

Cleo finally decided to try out the felted kitty bed I made. She has slept in it a couple times, so I guess it will be a keeper. Jazz-Purr has also tried it out once or twice. Scooter is the only one who has yet to try. (She's the one sleeping in the background).




Jazz -Purr (my oh-so-sweet little boy)

A Judge's Review

I just "re-judged" my stitch count on my Flower Basket Shawl & I think I will be OK after all with 14 repeats rather than just 12. I am almost finished with the 12th repeat and I still have a little bit left of my 2nd skein. I had thought I would not even get through repeat 11 with this skein. I had started my 2nd skein on row 78 of the lower basket chart, but when I looked at my stitch count, I looked at repeat 7, row 8, but I actually should have looked at repeat 8, row 8, based on how I am counting my rows. In other words, row 78 means I have finished the entire repeat #7 and am on the 8th row of the 8th repeat. So what does this all mean?

Instead of the first skein getting me through 9,300 stitches, it actually got me through 11,300 stitches. That means my second skein should get me through about the 2nd row of repeat 13 and then I should have plenty of yarn left to get through the 14th repeat. My 3 skeins should be able to knit a total of about 33,900 stitches and total stitches for my shawl are only about 31,100 stitches.

Based on a 14 repeat shawl, I am about 69% complete which should put me in great running for a medal. I will be able to complete this before the Olympic flame goes out. HOORAY!!!

Knitting Olympics - Day 6

I am coming along nicely on the Flower Basket Shawl. I am through the 6th row of the 11th repeat of the lower basket chart. However, I think I am only going to be able to complete 12 repeats before I start the edging. If I go any farther, I think I will run out of yarn, and I do not think I can get any more before the olympic flame goes out. One skein got me through about 9,300 sttiches. I am nearing the end of my 2nd skein (I only have 3 total) and I have knit about 18,100 stitches, or about 8,800 for the 2nd skein. That means I have about 500 stitches left with this skein, which would get me through about 2 more rows, not even completing the 11th repeat. With 14 repeats, I calculated about 31,100 total stitches for the shawl, but at my current run rate, I can only get about 27,900 sttiches out of the 3 skeins I have. With 12 repeats, the completed shawl will be about 24,700 so that looks like what I will have to go for. Based on the 12 repeats, I am about 73% complete.

Knitting Olympics - Day 5

My Flower Basket Shawl for the Knitting Olympics is coming along quite nicely. I have just completed the 8th repeat of the lower flower basket chart. The pattern calls for only 7 repeats, but I wanted a larger shawl, so I am going to go with either 12 or 14 repeats. If I do 12 repeats, then I am 48% complete. If I go for 14 repeats, I would be 38% complete. I'll see how it goes. I'm using KnitPicks Essential & really like this yarn. It has a nice spongy feel to it.

This has turned out to be an extremely easy knit. Maybe too easy for the olympics? My biggest challenge is completing this on time, so I guess it still counts.

Felted Kitty Bed

I finished the kitty bed but I am not too happy with the felting results. I washed the thing FIVE times and it still did not felt all that much. I used Lionbrand Landscapes yarn and will NOT be using this yarn again for felting. It did not live up to its labeling for felting. It also took DAYS to dry.

Here's the finished product. Not only did the felting give me trouble, but none of my 3 cats even want to use it. See how Scooter is lying outside the bed??



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The Specifics
Pattern: Felted Kitty Bed
Time: Cast on--> 02.03.06 // Cast off--> 02.06.06
Yarn: 6 skeins-Lionbrand Landscapes, Spring Desert & a partial skein-Lion Brand Fun Fur, Light Blue
Needles: Size 10 (6.0mm) Clover bamboo circulars (Maybe if I had used a larger needle it would have felted better??)

Overzealous recipient

Gosh - Jazz-Purr is certainly anxious. He's already using his kitty bed & it was not even off the needles!!! I put it down for 2 seconds, and Mr. Jazz-Purr came strolling in, as determined as could be, and crawled right into the darn thing. At least I know he's appreciative of all my hard work!!!








I finally coaxed him out and binded off. Pre-felting dimensions are about 18" high and 20" wide. I'm hoping to get some time this evening to felt it. I'll post pictures post-felting once it's done.

Team USA - Lace

I just joined Team USA, specifically, the lace team. It has all the same rules as Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics, but as the name suggests, it is for US olympians only. I'm going to start training tonight after work by making a couple gauge swatches to help me decide what needle size I'm going to use for the Flower Basket Shawl.

I am currently working on a felted kitty bed from Wendy.

I ordered some blocking wires today, so once I receive them, I can block FF&L.

Frost Flowers & Leaves - FINISHED!!!

As the header suggests, I have finished the FF&L shawl. It took a little less than 4 hanks of KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud and a little less than 4 1/2 months. The picture below is the shawl before blocking. It currently measure about 37" x 37". I'll probably do the blocking this weekend.



STATS: Frost Flowers & Leaves
Pattern: Frost Flowers & Leaves from the book, A Gathering of Lace
Time: Start - Sept 25, 2005 // Finish - Feb 02, 2006 (about 4 1/2 months)
Yarn: Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud, Peppermint --> not quite 4 hanks
Needles: Circular, size 3 US, (3.25mm) using a variety of lengths (16", 24", 29", and 40"); Inox for the first 3 lengths & Addi Turbos for the 40"
Cast-On: Magic Loop
Chart 2 Pattern Repeats: FIVE
Edging: Pattern change - right cable rather than wrapped stitch

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As far as what to work on next: I have a pair of Jungle Stripes socks OTN that I have not worked on because I was enjoying the FF&L shawl way too much to stop... So, I'll work on those for a while until next Friday, when I'll begin the Flower Basket Shawl for the Knitting Olympics. I'm going to use KnitPicks Essential sock weight yarn in dusk.