Knit Blackwater Abbey Yarns

Back in the Saddle

Well, I guess I never was on the horse in the first place but I have now started my BWA project!  I bought several patterns and just couldn't get myself to knit texture.  The pattern I finally decided on is from Rowan #36 and is called  Brier. The simple classic jacket lines are more like what I wear these days.  The back and sleeves are knit in two pieces and one half the back is now done. I had to see how it would wash and block as I was nervous about how hard the yarn is.  It softened nicely and yet, still holds the shape well. It should work up perfectly in this style.  The color is Chestnut and it is richly warm in shade with flecks of gold and red.  It's the perfect fall color.   It feels good to be knitting with wool again after a long summer away.

Celtic Dreams is done!

Celtic Dreams is completely finished, and is blocking as we speak. I did it!
sorry about the lousy photo...

An additional picture of the sweater on an actual person is on my blog.

Down to the skirt

I made it through the number of repeats the pattern called for, and thought I would do one more since I like my sweaters to be superlong.

But I tried it on, and decided it's going to be just right with 6, so I've made it through the first half-dozen rows of the skirt, and then I'll be picking up for the sleeves. I'm pretty excited by how well it's coming along - it need serious blocking, but from others' notes, this sweater in this yarn blocks like a dream.

Finally Knitting-along

I finally made a decision to use the BWA pattern (Celtic Dreams) and not try to make one up myself... and so there is now officially progress!

I finished the first pre-in-the-round side, and just finished picking up for the second. I'm pretty pleased so far, though I might have some trouble with the instructions when I get past the armholes...

I've hit a snag!

Marilyn in the Moss colorway

Hi knitalongers!  I have finally started Marilyn!  And it's not going so well. I detailed the process in today's entry on my blog. Come on over and read it through and tell me what you think!

Thanks, Sandy

Questions Abound

The two extra colors of yarn that I needed for the Chinatown jacket arrived. I love the three colors together and the pattern will make a very nice coat for next fall/winter.  It's hard to get myself to cast on however, as spring is here in a big way and I want to have some summer knits to wear THIS year.

There is another dilemma.  This pattern is knit in pieces. Two fronts and the back. There is no shaping and no real reason that I can see not to knit it as one piece. In fact with the rolled trim (it's the gold edging on the photo) would look better if this was knit as one piece because it would be hard to mattress stitch that roll together. The big problem is that this would be a very large project to do from front to front. It would be heavy and impossible to knit during the warmest days of summer...all that wool in the lap. Ugh. But most likely I wouldn't knit on it in the dog days of summer anyway. I'm still deciding what to do. Guess I should just ball up the yarn and keep thinking.  Suggestions are welcome.

Let's talk about cable needles, shall we?!

While we're not all doing the same sweater for this knitalong, we're pretty much all doing one cable project or another, so let's talk about cable needles.  Do you use one?  Do you do something like Wendy's Cabling Without a Cable Needle? 

I ask this question because last night at our Stitch n' Bitch, the subject sorta came up when I realized I'd forgotten mine.  A friend offered to lend me one of hers, but since I tend to clamp the cable needle between my teeth between cables, I declined her generous offer.  I didn't want to slobber on hers and give her my germs, you see.  I remarked that it seemed like I should be able to cable sans needle but had never bothered to master it.  Several of us agreed that it looked more complicated than it was worth to master the skill when it's so easy to use a cable needle.  One of the other knitters there said (somewhat smugly, I thought) that she'd never used a cable needle at all and saw no need for them. 

What are your thoughts? 

A joiner!

I was so excited to see a blackwater abbey knitalong starting up. Perfect timing, really as I had just ordered the Marilyn pattern and began the dreaming. The dreaming about the project is possibly the most fun part, don't you agree? It starts out as a small idea and turns into a full on plan somewhere along the way. 

I am excited to begin but I do not anticipate it being this weekend. I am in the process of seaming up my Peace Fleece everyday cardigan and am trying to show some kind of restraint in not casting on before the finishing is done.  I do not want to prove to anyone that I have some kind of knitters attention deficit thing going on!  I'll deny it to the death.  :)

As I said, Marilyn is my knit of choice and I plan on using the color Moss. I actually ordered some of the forest yarn but it seemed a bit dark, so it will be some other project. I think it would be a great felted project!

250 stitches to cast on!  I do not look forward to that counting session but when it's over, the fun will begin!

Thanks for having me in this knitalong and I look forward to seeing your projects take shape!

Sandy

http://www.sandysknitting.com/

3 1/4 Inches

Since casting on this Monday, I've worked 23 rows and I'm already 3 1/4" into the back. I need to knit 15" even before I start the armhole decreases so I obviously have quite a bit to go, but the knitting is mondo fast. The only slowdown happens on the cabling row -- there are 2/2 cables divided by purl / knit / purl along the entire length -- but even that goes quickly. I've been working a few rows every day and managed to do a great deal of knitting yesterday at "Knit Club".

I even worked on the vest on my way home in a pitch black cab! I was bored and it was icky, damp and dark thanks to yet another snow storm. Even the normally bright street lights weren't getting  much light into the cab. I wondered if I could manage to knit in the dark, and decided to give it a go. I worked one full even row and got partially through a cable row before deciding that, although I was doing really, really, really well, I didn't want to jinx it and mess things up. I was, of course, immensely pleased that i could knit by touch.

You can see pictures of my progress over at my blog.

Liz

Yarn is Here But....

My yarn and pattern arrived.  The yarn is so rich in color...it's Chestnut and I'm very happy with it. I might give it a bath before winding, as someone suggested, as it is very rustic.
The Lacy Cardigan pattern isn't as 'cool' as I thought it should be.  It isn't knit in the round!  I don't think the lace would match up the way it's written and the collar is funky and the neck too big.  I could make the necessary changes (and maybe will someday) but I have decided to knit Marilyn instead.  It will be more interesting and the construction is more to my liking.  So, now I'll be waiting for the pattern. I'll post picture of the yarn when I can get a good one...it's raining cats and dogs here and inside pictures are too dark to show the richness of the color.