ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

I have knitted 2 cowls from the chunky yarn – and sadly there was such a discrepancy in the yarn quantity that I cannot say my cowl can be created with only one 100 gram hank of the chunky yarn.

When I knitted my first cowl I loved it and so did some of you. The long colour change in this chunky yarn gives each hank a single colour repeat in a rainbow like effect, which is one reason for attempting the cowl with only one hank. When I knitted the second to test my pattern I ran out of yarn long before the planned completion of the cowl.

I then weighed the cowls and the first weighed in at 119 grams and the second cowl – weighed in at 82 grams hence the problem despite being created from 100 gram hanks of chunky yarn. I will undo the bind off on the second cowl and continue knitting with another hank, and we’ll see how the colour change works going onto that second hank.

I will also reknit the pattern with another chunky yarn with a weighed 100 grams and see how I get on with that. If that creates a gorgeous chunky cowl – then I will publish that pattern. If not then “C’est la vie”

I have just finished a little black shawl/scarf.

I had only one 50g ball of Naturally Woodland 12 ply (100m), colour 08 (black with tiny little flecks of bright colours – pinks, turquoise, blues, orange etc) for the body which I have knitted it as per my Danish shawl pattern. I had decided to add the frill / flounce at the point where the one ball of Woodland was knitted up and that is just what I have done.

I was quite unsure at that point if it really would be wide enough to use as a scarf. But I carried on and added a flounce using 2 strands of Naturally Mist Mohair in black, knitted together. The flounce is also in Garter stitch like the body with Yarn Over increases used to create it. At the side edges of the flounce I continued the increases as per my Danish shawl pattern.

The final two rows and the cast off edge were 1 strand Naturally Mist knitted together with another yarn which has a black main thread with tufts of yarn in pinks, purples and greys. I do not know the name of the yarn.

It looks great and fortunately is wide enough to wrap as a scarf, and also big enough to wear over the shoulders as a mini shawl.

There were 2 reasons I decided to knit this shawl now.

One is that my friend in New Zealand who is testing my Danish Shawl pattern was having trouble with my written pattern. We have discovered during this process that she is a visual knitter – and needed a chart, which I have created and she is winging her way through the shawl. My knit 2, Yarn Over, knit to marker, Yarn Over in knit – shorthand was not suitable for her. It has been great for me because I am much clearer now on writing the pattern and also I now have the chart which I will include with the pattern. She cannot be the only person new to yarn overs / eyelets that cannot see what will be created following my written instructions.

The other reason was that I needed a simple edge – and I have created a funky, but simple flounce or frill for the Danish Shawl to include with the pattern as well as the crochet edge option.

Something I had not considered is just how useful this pattern will be for a funky scarf / shawl, in this small size.

Naturally Woodland is 77% mohair, from New Zealand.

but I have reviewed all my draft posts, updated them and published them. They have been published as of the date I was writing them so you may find something you have not read before.

I have written the pattern for the Danish Shawl and that is being tried and tested by a dear friend in Auckland, New Zealand. Photos of my Danish Shawl and others from Den Gamle By.

I have nearly finished the English version of the Sleeveless Jacket pattern.

And of course I do have many UFO’s on the needles as well. But I am not going to talk about UFO’s anymore. I will only talk about completed pieces – could slip on that as it is not New Year so is not a New Years resoultion. In one sense it is New Year – this is the beginning (August 1st) of the last year we have here in Europe. Best Beloveds contract ends on July 31st 2011.

That is all the news for now for this website – now I have to do the same for our Travel and living in Europe website.

It has been two months of family time, some fun, some sadness, some reminiscing, and some very good times. Grandson loved having us in New Zealand as I hope did our daughter and other family members.

Son and family visited from Switzerland and Granddaughter of my Danish cousin came from Denmark of course, so here in the Netherlands on our return from New Zealand we had a houseful for nearly 2 weeks, very tiring and busy, but a great deal of fun as well – that is apart from my pizza on the Pizza Cruise on the Amsterdam Canals. My Pizza had so called Salami or some other meat – which was nearly shocking pink – I hate to think what had been done to it. I shall not eat another Domino’s Pizza whilst in Europe, not that I ever have done so before, but I will not do it in the future.

It certainly has been an excellent time for me – but knitting, designing, writing patterns, finishing pieces all went by the board.

I am now in serious catch up mode with peace and quiet in the house, other than my music that is.

Off to knit or maybe to write – not sure.

I also have a date for a bike ride this evening when Best Beloved arrives home.