Pattern: Aviendha Shawl (can be found at Ravelry.com)
Needles: Size 4
I retired recently. A co-worker gave me a gift certificate to my LYS. She's also a knitter and we've had many fun conversations about knitting and patterns over the years.
Thinking of "Y" words for this project, "yummy yarn" and "yak" come to mind.
The yarn is lace weight and a little slippery to knit with. Bamboo needles might be easier but I prefer the tips on "Knitters Pride" needles. Knitting stabilizes and gets easier after the first couple of rows.
The pattern requires a cast-on of 372 stitches. Garter stitch is very easy knitting but I find that tension is very important. Stitch markers are used to track decreases.
Because I am using a center-pull cake, and because the yarn is so slippery and would fall on itself as the cake gets smaller and knot itself, I am using a "yarn bra". The bra keeps the "cake" compact. These can be purchased at your local yarn shop. You can also use an onion bag or a nylon stocking/knee high. (The color way is aqua and not blue.)
I was inspired with the color way after seeing my daughter, Amy, wearing one of her hand knits a a knitting retreat we attended earlier this year.
It is so much fun to have a daughter who shares my knitting passion and has become a very accomplished knitter herself. Her yarn stash will soon rival my own.
We have traveled together to three major knitting events in recent months. We inspire each other. Having 1/1 time with my daughter is wonderful.
I have several completed projects that are awaiting blocking and I will post again soon.
Happy Knitting!
You're so blessed that you and your daughter can attend knitting events together. She's very talented. She must take after her mother. That yarn looks gorgeous. I can't wait to see your shawl when you get done. I'm the same way about my knitting needles, got to have or use certain ones for certain knitting projects. How does Yak yarn feel?
ReplyDeleteYak is very, very soft. Because it is "down", there is a slight "halo".
DeleteSo good to see you blogging again :). I wish my daughter was interested in knitting but no, she's not a crafty kind of girl. You're daughter is beautiful, like her mother :).
ReplyDelete