As far as my blog goes, I think it might be best if I write September off. For some reason I just haven’t been able to get my $#&% together enough to sit down and type, even though I’ve had tonnes of things I want to talk about.
It’s the first day of a new month, so I’m hoping that’s enough of an incentive for me to pull my finger out (here’s hoping) and get back into my usual blogging rhythm.
Oh my god I spelt rhythm correctly without spell check. It’s the little things.
Today sees the beginning of the latest Olann and Knitalong and it would seem a little rude if Deirdre and I didn’t try and take part ourselves. (Ask me if I’ll feel the same when it’s a Crochet a Long?)
Designed by Maria Grandfield, the Sunshine and Sprinkles Cowl is a nice introduction to colourwork featuring a simple pattern that alternates between two colours every two stitches, with two nice “rest rows” in between.
I knitted the two sample versions for the magazine pictured above, both of which have been made using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. A yarn I’m sure most of you will have heard of and have more than likely used it. It’s a sportweight yarn made from 50% Wool, 33% Acrylic, 12% Cashmere. It’s a lovely yarn and in my opinion, a little heavier than most other sportweight yarns. The knitted fabric it produces is smooth, supersoft and quite dense, great for keeping you cosy.
My original colour choice pictured in the magazine staged photograph, complete with pattern, scissors and sewing needle, was a deep Airforce Blue, but I had an extra ball of the Navy in my stash and think the Burnt Orange ‘pops’ even more next to it. I have an Ivory too and am tempted to match that up with the Airforce Blue after.
Having made the other two cowls, I know my family and friends would prefer a tighter cowl, something more akin to a neckwarmer, so I’ve made a few changes to this version.
- The most significant changes are my needle size and stitch count. I used a 4mm to cast on 104 sts rather than the 140 Maria calls for.
- Next I switched to a 3.75mm and worked 10 rows of 1×1 rib. The design calls for 6 rows of garter stitch.
- I’ve then changed my needle size again to 3.5mm for the colour work.
The rib band will pull the neckwarmer in tighter to keep out the cold and I’m hoping that if the added wight does cause it to slip into itself, that it will still act as a barrier to the elements.
Laid flat the cowl currently measures 18cm across, so that’s around the 36cm mark, but stretches to over 25cm or 50cm in circumference.
The colours, I’m sure you will agree, really do compliment each other don’t they?
The KAL runs from today until the 1st of November and we’ve (as the magazine I mean) opened a Ravelry Thread for all the chatter and will get an FO one opened some time this week. There will be prizes to giveaway and I guess each FO, will count towards them, so the more cowls you knit, the more chance you have of winning.
In my head that means you could be knitting a Christmas present or two and maybe win another. How bad?
I’m going to quit while I’m ahead now and get back to my knitting. I’ve great plans to be back here later this week, so let’s see if I keep them?
Happy Making
Confessions of a Fibre Strumpet 