Wednesday, April 28, 2010

a little dyed lace

I finished up my #2 for 10shawls2010. At the rate I'm knitting lace I wont finish the challenge successfully. But its fun non-the-less.

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Pattern: "Swallowtail by Evelyn A. Clark"
Yarn: Knitpicks Gossamer in Sunrise
Needles: 3.5mm
Start: April 4
Finish: April 18

I then overdyed it with grape koolaid. The sunrise was a really pretty color but totally stole away from the lace design. Making it a more solid color makes the lace pop out so much more. love the results.
This is #2 lace for two reasons. It was the second in my challenge and also the second swallowtail I knit. The first one was done in the same yarn. Which like I said took away from the lace. so when I finished this one up I over dyed both of them. The first one I did in black cherry koolaid. This is what they looked like before (the first one I knit is blocked the new one is not.

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After they were their nice new color I blocked again. This time much more aggressively. I love the final results.

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I also finished up my pink promise socks that I started back in October. They were a test knit. I finished the first one and half the second before putting them down. Then they were misplaced in our move. I found them when cleaning up the craft room the other day. Pulled them out and finished them up. Just in time for Mother's Day too. Not a true "mother's day" gift. MIL already tried the one on (back in october or november or something). I'm sure she expected them for christmas (haha). But Justin and Nathan are taking a trip down to VA mother's day weekend and they can deliver them then.

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Pattern: "Pink Promise Socks by Cheryl McLeod" (rav link)
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock in whisper
needles: 2.0mm
Start: October 11, 2009
Finish: April 25, 2010

The pattern is a really neat knit. she designed then as part of the SKA October challenge. They are designed to raise money for breast cancer research and awareness. All proceeds from sales of this pattern will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
They are a toe up design that is similar in style to Yarnissima. With a twisted stitch ribbon up the side and yarn over ribbons at the cuff. With a stretchy moss stitch pattern across the top and leg. With a pop of cable ribbon on the heel. She also recommended "Jeny's surprisingly stretchy Bind off" which is surprisingly stretchy. a great addition to toe up designs. I think it is both stretchy enough and "neat" looking. I was never a fan of the sewn bindoff because I could never get it to not look messy. Other toe up bindoffs were also either a little messy looking or not nearly stretchy enough. I encourage you to try this one if you haven't already. not at all hard to do. you dont have to measure out yarn before hand either.