Shawls Being Worn

Just a post with photos of the shawls from these two posts.

Two Projects Finished

Last week was fruitful as I finished two projects – one knit, one crochet. I finished a pair of socks I started in March as the mystery pattern. The construction is different as it starts with a knitted strip in a cable pattern for the back of the sock, then stitches are picked up all around to add width perpendicular to the back and then another cable strip was added for the front. I used Sockenklecks Edition Tausendschön by Schoppel-Wolle. This is my third and last “ball” of this yarn and it worked just right for this pattern. You can see my previous projects with this yarn here and here. There is no reason that these took me so long and in the end I just wanted them finished.




The other item finished was a baby blanket I crocheted. Usually I crochet blankets as they are quicker than knitting but it wasn’t the case with this one. At the start it felt like that I undid all that I worked. But once I got into the flow it was easy to see if I was making the stitches in the wrong place. I think this is the largest baby blanket I have made and should serve the baby for many years. The yarn is Bernat Baby Coordinates as baby blankets have to be made from a good washable yarn. And the pattern is from a Leisure Arts publication - Our Best Baby Afghans.




And I was so happy about finishing these that I persuaded hubby to take photos of the shawls I finished recently so there’s likely to be another post this week with photos.

And I couldn’t be content with finishing two projects and reducing my project count so another pair of socks was cast on. Although they are progressing much faster.

Two Pink Shawls

It may appear that there has just been sewing going on chez moi but, rest assured, the needles have been clicking away and two shawls were finished in June. Both from sock yarn that just so happened to be pink.

The first shawl was really using up the stash as I used the pink yarn shown in the first photo in this blog post. I had about 85 grams left from the pair of socks, so it was hard to consider them as leftovers. Then I saw a shawl pattern that seemed just right. In my post about the socks I commented on the variation in tone of the yarn. I didn't like it for the socks but it suits a shawl pattern just fine. The pattern is Summer Flies and can be found on Ravelry. The only photos I have of these two shawls are of them blocking so you'll have to take my word that they look really nice with summer dresses.



I am really excited to tell you about the next shawl as it used the last skein of yarn I bought on the Calgary yarn crawl - Merino Superwash Fingering by Indigo Moon. Although it is sock yarn, I just couldn't get my head into knitting socks with it and I did try earlier this year. I am sure it will be worn more as a shawl than socks.



The pattern is Kuuru and available on Ravelry or here. I left out one pattern repeat as I didn't have enough yarn.

I am a little concerned that despite my good intentions, the stash is not decreasing as much as I would like. I have one project close to completion, after that it looks like it will be a little while before I have anything to show off.

More Sewing

Yes here is another sewing project. If I am not careful my fabric stash will exceed my yarn stash. I blame the sales and coupons at Jo-Ann’s.

I have already posted about the bags I have made from fat quarter bundles and I just had to buy more. This time it was a pack of baby flannel. On the same blog as the bag pattern, I saw a star quilt pattern and decided that would be a good design for the FQs.

Here's a close-up photo to show that some of my joins came out well.



After the quilt top was finished, I needed fabric for the backing and binding. I considered sewing FQs to make a backing but Jo-Ann’s no longer had FQ packs with the same fabric. So I waited for baby flannel to go on sale and bought some for the backing and binding. I already had plenty of batting in my stash. Although I had given away most of my fabric, I kept all of the batting. I machine quilted in the ditch using invisible thread in the top. I’m not over happy with how it came out and am not sure I will use invisible thread again but maybe it works better on cottons.







Not perfect but overall I am pleased with the end result.

Yarnover Truck

It started with food trucks. Those vans that pull up to the side of a road or parking lot and sell food. Hot dog stands were a regular corner feature in most towns, now food trucks are becoming more popular throughout the country. The reception to these is mixed. Hungry people think they are a great way to be fed quickly without having to resort to a burger from a chain. Other food establishments feel that it is a threat to their business. There is also a concern of noise and mess.

 

What I love about food trucks is that, if there are a number of them in one place, everybody in the group can find something they like.

 

So what does this have to do with yarn you ask? Well it’s just a preamble to other trucks. What started as mobile eateries has developed into a variety of mobile emporiums. The difference between a food truck and a non-food truck is that instead of being served through a side window, you actually enter the truck to view goods.

 

I believe that the first non-food trucks sold clothes, but now entrepreneurs are using the format to sell all types of goods.

 

I heard about the Yarnover Truck when one of my Calgary friends linked to a report in the LA Times. I had been to food trucks (love the row of them in downtown Portland) but had not visited any other types, and, of course, I was interested in anything that sold yarn. Except they were based in the LA area and there was plenty to keep them busy up there so they didn’t need a freeway journey to other areas of Southern California.

 

I was very pleased when over Memorial Day weekend they visited two wineries in the area. Especially as I had a gift certificate for one of them. But alas it was not to be. Oh well it was just a place that sold yarn, right? There are bricks and mortar stores in North County where I can buy yarn.

 

So I was excited when they came to San Diego on 30 June as part of the West Coast Mobile Retail Road Trip.  Now, believe it or not, I did actually need some yarn. I had started a shawl, designed by a good friend of mine, that was worked in two colours. I used one colour from my stash and now needed another colour, although there was no rush as I had plenty of other things to make. (If I wasn't in public I'd be rotflmao right now, did I really write that with a straight face?) I took the project with me and was really happy to immediately spot yarn that would go with my project. And, it is the same weight the only difference is it is 75% wool/25% nylon whereas the original yarn is 100% wool.

 

I was very well behaved and didn’t really look at the other yarns. I don’t need any more yarn on spec even though there was some lovely dusky pink lace weight. My impression was that the truck mainly had lighter weight yarns although I did see some heavier weights. But that makes sense as in their market area you do not really need heavy weight yarn. Also, I don’t know if this was part of their business plan but thinner yarn takes less room. In other words you can stock more.

 

And as there was a food truck at the event, we patronized that too.

Oh, and as for the yarn I bought, no I have not used it yet as my next outing is to a bead shop,