Today's Inspiration project comes from my Olympic knitting. In addition to finishing my Fireside Sweater before the end of the Olympics, I signed up for knitting the Citron shawl, a lovely pattern from the most recent issue of knitty.com.
I figured that with all the cables in Fireside, I would need a more straightforward, relaxing knit to help keep my sanity. The Citron is perfect. Essentially a stst knit, any chance at monotony is broken by the sections of beautiful ruching.
The ruching is my favorite part of the pattern. Ruching - isn't that a great word? So much fun to say, Come on, say it with me - ruuuuuching. Doesn't it make you smile? It gives me a little thrill each time I find an excuse to say it. I'm already trying to figure out what I can knit next that could have a bit of ruching just so that I can keep saying it.
As the designer notes, this pattern is tremendously versatile. Depending on what type and weight of yarn you use, you can create anything from the wispy laceweight schawlette, to a comforting worsted-weight shawl.
I'm going with the airy laceweight with Jojoland's pure Cashmere in light sage. A sacrifice, I know. One skein should do it. The pattern calls for 470yds of laceweight, and the Jojoland only has 400yds, so I'm going to eliminate 2-3rows towards the end to prevent running out of yarn.
Other possible yarn choices? Cascade's Baby Alpaca Lace. One skein is all you need.
Pretty much any sock yarn would look great in this pattern. A variegated with a long color repeat would be stunning. I'm thinking of Noro Kureyon Sock, Mini Mochi, or Ty Dy Sock.
Any of the Araucania Ranco Multis would look incredible with their unique variegation.
The possibilities are limitless!
While we're talking Inspiration Monday projects, I'll update you on my Three Brrr Bears bear.
The body is done, and I'm almost to the tip of the nose on the head.
With all the Olympic knitting staring at me from my knitting bag, I should not be working on this at all right now. But I can't help it. It is such a fun knit. Honeslty, I can't wait to see the finished bear. So because I am unable to help myself, the bear is getting knit NOW.
I finally got around to attaching buttons to my Talia vest from our fall KAL. I love the way it turned out. I used a slightly heavier yarn than called for in the pattern - 128 Superwash, but was able to get gauge and the fabric is awesome.
I made the medium and used only 5 skeins!
Ok, on to other fabulous knits in the neighborhood.
First up is Edie with her cowled pullover. She finished it just in time for a vacation in Paris. Isn't it perfect? As is so often the case with us knitters, the sweater was a team effort. Many offered advice and assistance, and the amazing Cheryl (pictured below in her Shalom Cardigan) got the tricky mobius cowl attached.
Adrienne finished her Mara out of Cascade Venezia. Lovely.
Mary Ellen is knititng alongside our Fireside KAL with a cabley vest (the cables will be on the front, this is the back):
Karen is in the middle of an adorable little lacey girl's dress:
Susan just started a Tea Leaves cardigan out of Dream in Color Classy:
Sue is making a fantastic shrug out of Lana Bambu and Kid Seta. The pattern? Well, it is Susan's design!! Her very first. I'm trying to convince her to write it up all official like.
Lisa just started the latest knitty.com pattern - a fabulous vest called Rooibos:
She is using 2 strands of Cascade 220 held together to acheive gauge.
Bridget is quickly approaching the ruffle on her Mara shawl. She is using Malabrigo Worsted in the Deja Vu colorway. We have more of this arriving on Wed according to the UPS tracking.
Luanne has whipped up another School Colors Scarf. I love her addition of the uncut pompoms at each end!
Luanne is also the first to finish knitting the Fireside Sweater!!! Yaaayyy!!! Check out the sleeve. Isn't it just gorgeous? She was blocking the pieces this weekend and then will seam it all up. I can't wait for the unveiling of the completed sweater.
That just about catches us up. Did you notice how I casually dropped the hint that a new shipment of Malabrigo is coming this week? Yeah, I thought it was pretty clever. More Shibui and Cascade are also expected. Fun!