I have some really lovely, summery yarn in my stash waiting for me to knit something proper for early August. But I’m just not feeling it. My heart is fully set on nice, winter wool, sweaters, hats, scarves (I’ve even had a passing thought or two about gloves!) and blankets. I LOVE BLANKETS. So my beautiful cotton blend is waiting for a better time (probably in winter, when I’m fed up with all the cold weather knits….), while I’m knitting with Wensleydale wool from the West Yorkshire Spinners. It’s still “leftovers” from a Christmas project for my Friend , and judging by the fact that even now after knitting the hat and cowl I still have 1 whole skein left, I’m not the best yarn-strategist in the world. Oh well, at least I don’t have to play yarn chicken I guess…?
The cowl is a free pattern by Frankie Brown – I chose it because I liked how it combines different yarn colours and I thought it would be a good way to mix the hot pink and light gray wool. It’s also one of my favourite types of knitting projects: easy enough to memorise it quickly, but requiring just a little more attention than plain garter stitch. I made it a little wider than the pattern instructs and because this wool is quite stiff (and a bit scratchy, but worn on the neck it feels better than expected), it is just enough not too roll down and to cover all neck nicely.
And then I made the hat, simple and slouchy, that I can wear with the cowl or with my pearl gray crochet shawl. I didn’t follow any pattern, since it’s just stockinette stitch knitted in the round, with 2×2 rib.
I have to say that working with pure, non-superwash sheep wool feels different than knitting with anything else. You can feel the sturdiness of the yarn, and at the same time it’s very light. It’s also really waterproof, I played with a strand with my cat and when she dropped it into water (Ciri loves to drown all her toys, usually in the morning I have to remove her stuffed mice from the water bowls and refill them with fresh water!), it just didn’t sink and stayed completely dry. Which means it’s going to be great for Irish winter, yay!
When I finished knitting this little set, I went on to work on a blanket. Because why not, right? So even though my summer projects are high at the top of my Ravelry queue, they keep being pushed down all the time. But I’m sure one day their time will come, too ๐
I hear you. I’ve got five shawls at various stages of completion and only one is light weight enough for spring or fall. The rest are intended for cold weather. I need to start making hats again (I make “chemo” hats for one of our local cancer centers), but I just can’t get motivated. I’m just too into these shawls (two rectangular, two semicircular and that triangular one you so graciously proofed the pattern for– thanks for that!)
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There’s just SOMETHING about knitting shawls, right? ๐
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I want to be knitting on more than just my socks (and occasionally my sockhead hat); however I must get that crochet sweater coat finished first ๐ Luckily, I always have socks going.
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Which reminds me to add some socks to my queue too!
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The cowl is pretty, and I like the classic hat. Pink and gray is a wonderful combination – I liked it from your friend’s shawl, and I like it now. Good use of the leftovers too. It’s so difficult to find a use for them – I just used a couple of them in a fun project but usually, I can only think of crocheted wall hangings… ๐
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Unless like me you have as many leftovers as the main project yarn ๐
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I have some of those too, so it’s either yarn chicken or crocheted wall hangings, lol.
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Your knits are beautiful! I especially love the cowl ๐ I think it’s good that you’re knitting what you’re wanting instead of waiting to knit something summery.
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Thank you! That’s the privilege of knitting as a hobby, I can do what I want, not what I have to ๐
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Matchy matchy! I love the cowl especially. My next project is going to be pink and grey as well, does that mean we’re starting a trend? ๐
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That’s a good trend to start I think!๐
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These are not just pretty, they also look so cozy! I love knitted hats especially these slouchy ones. Great job!
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