Knitting Dragonflies

This pattern is the Melanie Shawl (free pattern), This is a repeat knit for me. I made the first one a little longer and can actually double it and wrap it as a scarf. This shawl I used 3 skeins of Lion Brand Homespun, I didn’t know what to do with it. I had started another wrap with it that was crochet and forgot how I dislike working with the Homespun yarn. It is so splitty! Terrible to crochet with (for me anyway)!  Knitting with this is OK and it is soft and fluffy, easy to care for, machine wash and dry on cool air. This was super fast and fun way to get rid of this yarn and ended up looking very nice. Good to toss over your shoulders or I keep it on the back of a chair for anyone who gets chilled in the house. Need more options for a rectangle wrap? Check out these free knit patterns: From Tonia Berry, a classic wrap (l ink ), Look at her other free pattern on Yarn and Soul ( link ) Marji LaFreniere offers this pattern that has some textured interest to it (link ) Fro...

It was the middle of summer, that time when the humidity is high and the temps are triple digits. Sultry outside and yet walking indoors your are greeted by the icy blast of chilly air that initially feels great, but quickly chills you. I started looking for a simple, fast wrap, but I wanted something a little edgy with some interest. But not too hard. I like the long  triangle shape of this wrap, easy to secure around my shoulders and keep my hands free while looking stylish. Added texture adds interest without being too difficult of a knit, and makes this wrap fast to complete. Pattern is Arqulein Shawl by Peggy Maxheim ( free pattern link ) I like how variable this pattern is, if you browse through the completed ones on Ravelry, it is amazing how different this pattern can look. Vary the yarn and color and size of this, and it can result in a small neck wrap or a larger body covering shawl. I had some various colors of my own hand dyed from peach solid to a darker pap...

I started the Berroco Lopi Sweater KAL Feb 1, and it has been a wonderful experience and so much fun. You can find them on the Berroco blog and/or the Ravelry Berroco group! Even if you are not planning on knitting a sweater right now, there is lots of valuable info there. The mods are very helpful and have made it easy enough to tackle even if this is your first sweater. The KAL knitters are an inspiring, chatty group. I”m making Afmaeli from Veddis Jonsdotturm see his designs in the following link: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/vds-jnsdttir This sweater was a free pattern and I love how it looked. I picked out Lettlopi to knit it in black, white and light gray. I’m happy with how it looks and the feel of the yarn. I did add a steek in the body, this meant some frogging, but the sweater felt so warm that I decided I would get more wear out of it as a cardigan. I’m hoping to put a zipper in it. Free Lopi Sweater Pattern Links My free lopi sweater pattern (link ) http://knit...

I started this sweater in the fall of 2012. I’m sure some of you have projects like this. Not disliked enough to frog,  but can’t get going enough to finish them. I got this sweater out repeatedly and counted and looked and deduced where I was in the pattern & usually knit another inch or so and then it went back to sleep in my bag. I finally decided to finish it or frog it. I gave myself permission to finish it and it was ok if it wasn’t perfect or even fit me. Sometimes I just need to jump in and create, I tend to be a perfectionist and that can leave me to think way too much and stop the creative process. This is a top down knitted sweater, I love knitting in one piece in the round, this is only the 2nd sweater I’ve knitted from the top down. I’ve done numerous bottom up in the round sweaters and didn’t think I would like top down. Well I love it. It is so easy to try on as you go and keep an eye on the fit. I modified this pattern quite a bit in the years. There is so...

I’m almost done with my 5 year sweater! Yes, that is the longest I’ve taken to finish a sweater, and I’m super excited. I totally went rouge and switched the pattern up. More soon when the sweater is totally done! May your knitting needles fly as fast as dragonflies……

Day 3 of knitting, as much time as I have, in the cold, snowy days we are having here. I’m coming along fairly well, starting to get a little anxiety about  the amount of yarn I have left. But we will see. I’m leaning towards a collar/hood situation. But I think my yarn amount will dictate how the rest goes. I love knitting top down sweaters, as you can try them on and make decisions as you knit. Happy knitting…..May your needles fly as fast as Dragonflies….

Does anyone else have that knitted project that has been hiding in the closet for years? I started the Zuma Tunic by Wendy Bernard in 2012. Yes that is embarrassing to admit, I looked it up in my Ravelry list. Egads! Yep, Jodi’s not feeling it either. I’ve actually packed this up and taken it on 4 different trips to start on again. It takes me a while to count & figure out what I’m doing and then get started. I’m not sure on the yarn, pooling? (some of my own hand dyed), do I have enough to finish? . Undecided about how deep the V is in the front of the pattern. Rip it and find another pattern/yarn? So I usually set all of these thoughts aside and start knitting for a couple of inches & then toss it back into the bag and  repeat the next trip. Well cut to present day, #1 I’m on a quest to finish all of my projects “on the needles”, #2. Weather, we just had an ice/snow storm and it is suppose to snow again tomorrow. OK, I decide to get that sweater out and dive in. Where I s...