Shawl time

Elizabeth Zimmerman's 100th Anniversary PI Shawl done in Isager Alpaca 1

This beautiful shawl was designed by Mwaa Knit Obsession as a tribute to Elizabeth Zimmerman.  It is based on EZ's camping trips which she describes in the Knitter's Almanac.  The first book I bought on knitting was Zimmerman's Knitting Without Tears in the 1970's.  I still have it and although I knit without tears, I can not help to laugh to tears whenever I read it.

My lovely daughter-in-law doesn't know I was knitting this for her.  I picked it because of the symbolic nature of the patterns included in this shawl.  The designer picked a paw print pattern to represent EZ's cat, Kline and all furry animals.  I thought it could also symbolize that my daughter-in-law was born in the year of the rabbit   The slanting twigs represents walking in the woods with the dappling sunlight. For me it symbolizes the trails my daughter-in-law hiked with our son (especially the Lost Coast trail) and the life they are building together. The willow leaves represents family growing strong.  The waves and droplets edge signifies the Pacific Ocean and that she is a water sign.  I knitted it with a very fine alpaca from Isager bought at my favorite yarn shop, Mendocino Yarn Shop.  This shawl is so light and soft.  Well-suited for our moderate climate.  I think it came out beautiful just like her.

Still working my way through all the maybe it's a full skein basket.  Just when I thought I had gotten a good handle on the  one skein  here and there I found a stray bag with 3 skeins of different yarns.  I started making hats again.  I have to admit hats are fast and fun to knit.

 Graham by Jennifer Adams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

drawing by me done in Jo Sharp DK and Red Sharpie

Travel Shawl by Veronik Avery

Now I did sneak in the shawl from Knitting 24/7 by Veronik Avery into my knitting basket.  At first I didn't know what gives with the beginning until I realized that the shawl is not triangular but a square.  This isn't too clear in the photos, but it was actually a nice surprise.  I love the thought that it is useful as a lap shawl or folded for extra warmth.  Once started it goes along with its own rhythm.  In between I will continue to use up my one skein stash.  I already started to think headbands and cowls. Maybe some mittens.  Fingerless gloves.......

Stripe Hat by Me using leftovers

While sorting through my yarn I found a UFO hiding out in the pinks basket.  There was another small ball of Suri Alpaca in ac variegated taupe/rose/ecru wrapping itself around a little bit of blue alpaca yarn.  It was love at first sight.  Plain and simple they knitted themselves together, knit row in blue, purl row in rose in the round.  That way there is no right nor wrong side.  Just put it on and away you go!