Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A START AND A FINISH

Well - there is nothing much exciting going on with me.  I found myself struggling with something to put into a blog post.  I knew I needed to venture into blog land and say hi to everyone but have very little to report on.

I had this lovely cowl just languishing literally 10 minutes from completion.  It only took about 20 hrs total to knit.  It quite lovely I think - the yarn is stunning and the pattern is an interesting pattern from Knitty.com called "Aibhlinn "  pronounced Aveelen I believe.  The original pattern calls for a much finer yarn however I saw this awesome version last year on the Knitch blog.  I'm getting off track here but Knitch is beautiful cool wonderful lovely awesome interesting well stocked shop in the Virginia Highlands historic area of Atlanta.  I was lucky enough to visit it last year in person.  I love to visit yarn shops - I have been doing this for years when I travel and sometimes I travel just to visit yarn shops - anyway - I keep a mental "top 5" list of my fave shops around the country and Knitch is definitely in the top 5.  Anyway - I keep up with their blog (make mental note to add them to my blog list) and when I saw this awesome cowl made into a bigger bulky cowl by using the bulky weight gorgeous hand dyed Blue Moon Icelandic wool - I remembered seeing it in the shop a few months prior and thinking - "OH WOW" exquisite yarn but what would or could I do with that - and it was far too expensive to just consider stashing it without a purpose (see I am trying to do better with that issue I have LOL) So obviously when I saw the lovely cowl using that yarn and also one strand of Rowan Kid Silk Haze - I was sunk - I was on the phone faster than you can say "would you please send me yadda yadda".  Here is the results - how do you like it?
there is a row of huge bobbles on the bottom - there was supposed to be a row at the top also but I eliminated that row - I thought it was too much and made the cowl look too heavy plus things like jewelry might get caught in the bobble row if around the neck edge.  the designer called the stitch pattern a spiral rib I think - here is a close up
As cold as our weather has been -I think I might still get some wear out of this cowl.

My mom was over for dinner last night and she was working on our guild SAL - the Vierlande 1863 sampler from the most recent issue of SANQ.  Here is a photo of the two of our WIPs side by side. 
We are both using the called for DMC - Mom is stitching hers on 14ct Oatmeal Aida and I am using 36ct vintage buttercream by lakeside.  She was concerned that I was getting ahead of her so she stitched while I knitted last night - finishing up the cowl pictured above.

We have another rug hooking retreat coming up this weekend.  WHEEEEEEE - Mom is actually going to get to attend this one - she has been out of town for the previous two that I have mentioned - it is at the Olde Green Cupboard - our favorite hangout and we'll just hook - eat - laugh - chat - eat - hook - laugh - you get my drift.  I am going to bring an older WIP out of hibernation - I spent quite a bit of time on Sunday going thru my rug hooking projects and deciding what would get my attention this year.  In the early part of the year - I try to assess what rugs I might could actually finish this year - some I might work on thru the year but never intend to be able to finish up.  I'll surprise you with a photo in my blog post next week after the reterat.  I don't want to spoil the surprise but it is something you should all be interested to see as it is very funky, folky and fun.  I worked on it at the Ocean rug camp year before last and have not touched it since so it was crying out from the bottom of the stack of WIP's "pick me Mel - pick me !"  when you see this rug - you will know that you can not deny the harkening of the angels.  Until next time - stay warm and keep those fingers moving.

17 comments:

beeinstitches said...

Well, I was definitely keeping the fingers moving this weekend. Had a number of finishes myself - YEEEEAAAAHHH to both of us! Enjoy the rug retreat. You always get a lot hooked! I'll be missing all the fun you guys will be having :-(

Margaret said...

Beautiful!!!! I love that cowl! The pattern is really neat and I love the bobbles on the edge! Probably wise to leave them off the other edge. I also love your WIP and your mom's -- it's fun to see them together! I'm looking forward to seeing more retreat pictures. It's so great that you and your mom get to go to these rug retreats!

Rugs and Pugs said...

Mel ~
Your cowl is beautiful!
Fun to see you and your mom's projects side by side.
Have a great time hooking this weekend and please post lots of pictures. I love to see WIPs.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Cari said...

Great cowl knit Mel. And your stitching is beautiful. I'm envious you'll be at the OGC this weekend. One day I'll take a road trip up there! Have fun. I always look forward to your hooking updates!!

Jackie's Stitches said...

Nice finish! I think you made a good decision to remove the bobbles at the neck.

I can't wait to see what you're working on at rug camp!

Nancy said...

Your cowl is beautiful Melody! I love the bobbles at the bottom. Beautiful work!

Nice WIPs too. Enjoy all your projects!

Alice said...

Both stitching and knitting are gorgeous. I love the colour of your new cowl. I envy you getting to do so much with your mom... lucky you!

Siobhán said...

Beautiful cowl! You have the pronunciation right, too--Aveleen or Avelynn, depending on what part of the country you're in. ;) Neat progress pic, too, of your stitching, showing the difference in your mom's piece and your piece! That's fun. :) Enjoy the retreat!

Ranae said...

Beautiful Cowl!
That's so neat o put the two WIP's together for a photo. I wish my mom cross stitched, your very lucky

geeky Heather said...

I still have fond memories of the class I took with my mom!! Your cowl is beautiful!! It was great to meet you last year...let me know if you're planning another Knitch trip anytime. =)

Susan said...

Hope you and your mom are having a great time at the retreat! It's wonderful that you can share this time together. Love the cowl!! It's definitely my color, so if you can't find a use for it, send it my way!

Bethany said...

Mel,

I can't believe how long it has been since going into your blog. I just love all you have accomplished. From Stitching, to knitting, to hooking, they are all absolutely wonderful. I have to tell mom to go on and look at your A&E, you know how she loves them and your rug is a beauty unto it's self. I want to grow up to be just like you.

Bethany said...

Mel,

I can't believe how long it has been since going into your blog. I just love all you have accomplished. From Stitching, to knitting, to hooking, they are all absolutely wonderful. I have to tell mom to go on and look at your A&E, you know how she loves them and your rug is a beauty unto it's self. I want to grow up to be just like you.

Bethany said...

Mel,

I can't believe how long it has been since going into your blog. I just love all you have accomplished. From Stitching, to knitting, to hooking, they are all absolutely wonderful. I have to tell mom to go on and look at your A&E, you know how she loves them and your rug is a beauty unto it's self. I want to grow up to be just like you.

Bethany said...

Mel,

I can't believe how long it has been since going into your blog. I just love all you have accomplished. From Stitching, to knitting, to hooking, they are all absolutely wonderful. I have to tell mom to go on and look at your A&E, you know how she loves them and your rug is a beauty unto it's self. I want to grow up to be just like you.

Bethany said...

Mel,

I can't believe how long it has been since going into your blog. I just love all you have accomplished. From Stitching, to knitting, to hooking, they are all absolutely wonderful. I have to tell mom to go on and look at your A&E, you know how she loves them and your rug is a beauty unto it's self. I want to grow up to be just like you.

Bethany said...

Mel,

I can't believe how long it has been since going into your blog. I just love all you have accomplished. From Stitching, to knitting, to hooking, they are all absolutely wonderful. I have to tell mom to go on and look at your A&E, you know how she loves them and your rug is a beauty unto it's self. I want to grow up to be just like you.