My Merino Mantra

Eye Candy Friday - 7/3/09

Eye Candy Friday - 6/19/09

Past, Present, and Future

Agatha - Elsebeth Lavold

Pattern:  Agatha by Elsebeth Lavold, from Book Two - The Sentimental Journey Collection
Yarn:  Ming (50% silk / 50% merino wool) by Artfibers
Needles:  KnitPicks Options 47-inch circular

This yarn is so wonderfully soft.  Actually, to call this yarn soft would be an insult to Ming, as it is so much more.  It's scrumptious, it's divine, it's - heaven.  The colors are muted, yet saturated, and distributed perfectly when knit into this top.  The yarn itself has a beautiful sheen, and a very slight halo. 

I love Elsebeth's designs.  To knit Agatha in Ming was just sheer pleasure for me.  I can't remember exactly how much yarn I used.  I'll have to figure it out.  All I know is that I could knit with Ming forever and not mind one bit.

Eye Candy Friday - 6/12/09

 

Eye Candy Friday - 6/5/09

Witches Wand - Tall Bearded Iris




As you can see, the "wand" is the bright, orange beard

This is the first time in 4 years that this iris has bloomed for me.  In fact, it has never bloomed before.  I needn't take its sluggishness personally, though, because even iris experts find this variety temperamental.  It's a pity, too, because it is one of the most striking irises I own.  The color shown is true to form.  On shady days and at twilight, the standards (the tall top of the iris) darken to almost match the falls (the bottom half of the iris), making the beard shout out all the more loudly.

Eye Candy Friday - 5/29/09

Eye Candy Friday - 5/22/09

Winnifred and the Saga of Silky Cashmere

I love this yarn.  It knits up like a dream, and it's silky smooth, even better than a dish of soft butter on warm toast.  However, at 44 yards per skein, it takes a little work and more than a few pennies to finish an apparel item. I spit spliced all the ends, and believe me, that was a lot of work, not just because the skeins were a puny 44 yards, but also due to the fact that the silk made it harder to felt.  Plus, I narrowly squeaked by with just enough yarn.

 

Pattern:  Winnifred by Elsebeth Lavold

Yarn:  Silky Cashmere by Elsebeth Lavold (55% silk, 45% cashmere) - 44 yds/40 m/ 25 g / .88 oz

Amount Used:  20 oz / 566 g/ 1000 yds / 906 m

Needles:   KnitPicks Options size 8

 

This sweater is so soft and wonderful!  It feels like I am wearing nothing, but it is way better than nothing.  It's simply divine!

Another great part about this project, was that I learned a new technique on cabling.  I still use a cable needle, but I use a longer regular knitting needle, and it never leaves my left hand.  WOW, I learned the technique quickly, and used it on this entire sweater.

 

I had this wild idea that I wanted to wear something red for St. Valentine's Day, so I got the yarn from Webs in January.  All they had left was 21 skeins, and I bought all of it.  It really took no time to finish, except that as I neared completion, I realized that I would not have enough yarn.  Webs was out.  I found another place which had more, and I was safe.  I was still surprised that I didn't have enough yarn, though, because my gauge was spot-on, and I always shorten the length and the sleeve length in patterns.  That is as close as I ever want to get again without having enough yarn.  I usually buy extra yarn, but I only took the chance on this purchase because this yarn is just so scrumptious!!!!

Eye Candy Friday - 5/8/09

Herringone Mittens and Opus Spicatum - GO BLUE!

Pattern:     Herrinbone Mittens by Elli Stubenrauch

Needles:    Size 4 (3.5mm) KnitPicks Options 47-inch circular

Yarn:        Cascade 200 Superwash in MAIZE and BLUE!

Modifications:     I changed the cuff to a smaller diameter for a better fit, and I also gave it a rib with a twined herringbone edge.  They fit perfectly!  Most mitten patterns are too large for me, and I have to alter them anyway.  I will make these mittens again.  It's a cool pattern, and it's lots of fun to knit.  The Superwash Cascade is the perfect yarn, especially for me using a size 4 needle. 

Pattern:      Opus Spicatum by Kate Gagnon

Yarn:           Cascade 200 Superwash in MAIZE and BLUE!

Needles:       Sizes 6 (4.0mm) and 7 (4.5mm) KnitPicks Options 47-inch circular

Modifications:  I changed the number of stitches for the cast on, then knitted more repeats of the pattern.

This design gives me convulsions!  Really, my eyes played tricks on me the whole time I knit this hat.  I like a more slouchy beret, so I had to really block it severely to get it to shape nicely. 

Last year at this time it was cold, so hats and mittens were in order for baseball game days.  I'm not sure if I will get to wear these this year, but I'll be all set for next season.

Eye Candy Friday - 5/1/09

Eye Candy Friday - 4/24/09

Eye Candy Friday - 4/10/09

St. Clair River, Port Huron, Michigan








Blue Water Bridge, Edison Park

Eye Candy Friday - 4/3/09