I don’t want to know how long it has been since I last posted so I won’t look. Like the rest of the country, I feel like I’ve been held in thrall to the election and now that it’s over, I’ve been released back into real life. The weather has been a joy, the store has been just busy enough, and friends and family are all okay so far. I sincerely hope that you and your folks are all in the same situation – healthy and content.
Usually this time of year I’m busy planning and knitting for classes to start after the holidays. We haven’t decided to do classes yet and if I do, I already have projects and models done so I’m kind of at loose ends. After my garter-stitch craze, I really didn’t have a lot of ideas, so I’m taking the easy way out and letting someone else decide what I’m going to knit. How’s that, you ask? Well, here’s how, since you asked so nicely.
I signed up for Helen Stewart’s Knitvent 2020 e-book on Ravelry. She does a series of mystery patterns every year and I looked back at the projects from previous years. They have always been nicely designed, mostly small gift-y things that often can be made from stash or leftovers. She releases a pattern (or 2) every week for 5 weeks; so far this year she has released two.
Here’s the first one, called Window One Hearten Cowl. I used scraps from a Stephen West project that got a little too weird for me. Here’s her version:
and here’s mine:
My scraps – lots of fingering weight and lace weight mohair:
My finished cowl, a little shorter and a little smaller around.
Next up is the Tidings Shawl. Her version:
Mine, which is just getting started:
The pretty texture would show off better in a smooth yarn, but I’m using some tweedy stuff that I love and that’s, yes, in my stash. I’m also including more stripes than she did so I can use up the yarn more evenly and I hope use just one skein of each. And also because it’s more entertaining. We’ll see!
If you go on Ravelry and type “Knitvent” into the search box on the Patterns page, you’ll see a lot of her projects from this year and previous years. They’re all available as single patterns, too, not just a collection, so you can pick and choose what you like. Right now I’m happy to just go along for the ride!
Here’s what is happening store-wise for Thanksgiving, which is November 26. I’ll be closed on that Thursday, obviously, but open 11-3 on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday that week (no late hours on Wednesday). Then I’ll be closed the following week because of eye surgery, although if all goes well, I may be open Friday and Saturday but I just don’t know so please plan accordingly!
Stay well, my lovely friends!
