Sometimes I Knit ... and Sometimes I Crochet

Faux Cable Shawl 

Pattern by Christopher Salas

Published in Vogue Knitting, Holiday 2016 Magazine.

I love to knit and it has been a while since a knitty update. I have missed spending time with yarn and the knitting needles. Instead I have spent quite some time over the last 12 months either hand piecing or English Paper Piecing, both of which have meant less time with yarn. Sometimes though you have to make time for the things you love, even if it means staying up till the early hours of the morning. And the Faux Cable Shawl was not only a great pattern (a charted repeat of rows and intuitive knitting) but the finished shawl is also a warm and wearable item.

THE YARN:

3 Skeins Madelinetosh Merino Sport

in Candlewick

More photos of the Faux Cable Shawl on my Ravelry Page here.

And sometimes I crochet ...

Hexie Love Actually Blanket

Pattern by Pink Stitches

My Hexie Love Actually Blanket may be the first crochet project that I have shared with you here but my history with the hook goes back quite some time. My mother taught me to crochet as a child and as a left hander I have fond memories of sitting opposite my mother to mirror her actions with the hook. Since then I have crocheted scarves and blankets (less successfully) and also curtains for my kitchen windows (more successfully). That was all some time ago.

THE YARN:

Primo Fingering by The Plucky Knitter

Picking up the crochet hook again after more than a decade is like riding a bike; a little wobbly at first but you soon pick up speed. I have been working on this project since early March and since then I have frequently questioned my decision to use fingering weight yarn for this project, but I think it is going to be awesome when it is done. Right now I am about a third of the way through and have ordered more yarn to join the Hexie units together. There's still a long way to go on this project but I am enjoying every chain and every double crochet (not so much weaving in all the ends).

More photos of the Hexie Love Actually Blanket on my Ravelry Page here.

Hexie Love Actually Pattern available from Pink Stitches.

Thank you for scrolling through my non-quilty photos!
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
More RPQ Knitting Projects
Red Pepper Quilts on Ravelry

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COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission. This is original content from www.redpepperquilts.com.

A Year End Knitting Update and 2015 Quilt Favorites

On this the last day of 2015 I thought it might be a good idea to update my knitting projects for the year. I have been knitting although it comes spurts and starts - frenetic knitting sometimes followed by frogging and long bouts of inactivity. Eventually a project comes off the needles and I wonder what took so long ...

The Pattern:  Loden Shawl by Irina Dmitrieva

My most recent finished knit is  Loden Shawl, a pattern by Irina Dmitrieva.  This shawl is a relatively easy project although it looks deceptively difficult! This shawl is worked from the edge up with botanical motifs and openwork. The pattern is charted which I prefer and involves active knitting that requires attention to the pattern detail; there’s always something happening on right-side rows, while wrong-side rows let you catch your breath.

The Yarn:  Debbie Bliss Fine Donegal in Snowdrift

This tweed yarn is perfect for this shawl. It is soft with subtle and complementary tweed flecks which adds a rustic feel to an otherwise delicate looking lace pattern. As always, blocking my knitted project is the secret to the amazing stitch/lace definition! I use blocking wires and blocking pins to block my knitted projects.

Click on any image for a larger view.

Also off the needles and freshly blocked is my Peak Color Shawl which I made over a two month period of stop / start knitting from October to December:

The Pattern: Peak Color Shawl by Plucky Knitter

This eye catching asymmetrical triangle is worked from side to side in Plucky Bello yarn. I purchased this project as a kit with set colors but I have substituted a skein of bright pink yarn for orange ~ a color I am more likely to wear. The orange yarn is Malabrigo Sock Yarn in Terracotta. Each section brings in a new color and a new stitch pattern.

The Yarn: Plucky Bello by The Plucky Knitter

This was a great easy knitting pattern - perfect for a confident beginner knitter wanting to try different stitch patterns. The pattern includes written and charted instructions and once you have established the pattern for each new stitch  quickly becomes intuitive although I did count rows and tick off charts as I progressed.

For more photos and all the details including links to the patterns and yarn please check my Ravelry page:

Loden Shawl

Peak Color Shawl

Goodbye 2015!

I have made 38 quilts this year - it has been a huge year! And considering that I spent at least 7 weeks away from my sewing machine/traveling overseas that makes it almost one quilt a week. Choosing my 2015 quilt favorites is hard for a little piece of my heart and soul are stitched into each and every quilt. These "favorites" have been chosen not only for their color, the fabric, and the design, but also for the process, the season, and the memories associated with that time... 

Click on any image for a larger view.

From left to right and top to bottom:
1.   Quarter Log Cabin Scrap Quilt
2.   Memories Quilt (pattern available)
3.   An Autumn Quilt 
4.   Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt (tutorial available)
5.   Fields and Furrows Log Cabin Quilt
6.   Kona Color Wheel Quilt (tutorial and templates available)
7.   Pickle Dish Variation Quilt (tutorial and templates available)
8.  The Fall Quilt - A Checker Board Quilt (tutorial available)
9.   Single Irish Chain Scrap Quilt 
10. Scrappy Quarter Log Cabin Quilt (tutorial available)
11. Worn and Washed Strip Quilt
12. Scrappy Bear Paw Quilt (tutorial available)
See all 2015 Finished Quilts HERE.

As always I am grateful for your support and encouragement, and for stopping by!

With warmest wishes for all things bright and wonderful for 2016.
Rita

COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission.

Hitchhiker Shawl : : A Finished Knit

Hitchhiker Shawl 

During the cooler months I seem to be more productive with the knitting needles. I love to sit and knit ~ especially early evenings (before I get stuck into late night sewing tasks) and usually enjoy simple pick up and put down knitting projects, preferring to challenge myself with sewing and quilting projects rather than the knitting sticks.

The Pattern: Hitchhiker Shawl by Marina Behm

Hitchhiker Shawl is a very easy knitting pattern. Knit, knit, knit - with row increases at one end and a beautiful point-edge at the opposite end of each row. The 8 row pattern is easy to remember and as such this project was portable ~ filling in time when waiting ... for kids, appointments, trains, planes etc.

The Yarn:  Madelinetosh Sock in Maple Leaf

and Madelinetosh Merino Light in Silver Fox

Beautiful yarns! It is no secret that I enjoy working with Madelinetosh yarns and this project was no different. The only problem was that one skein of the main color (Maple Leaf) was not enough for me to make a practical size shawl, so towards the end of the project I added a second color (Silver Fox) by alternating the two yarns two rows at a time. I continued to knit and extended my shawl beyond that specified in the pattern, and the pattern easily allowed for that. 

For more pictures and details (including pattern links) of the Hitchhiker Shawl check out my Ravelry page:

There are more Hitchhiker Shawls on my knitting list! The perfect project for handmade gift giving.

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
More Red Pepper Quilts Knitting Projects

Cladonia III

As soon as my new curtains were up and being admired from afar, I turned to my yarn stash, and without so much as a moment of guilt I started a second knitting project.  I don't generally like having two knitting projects on the go (as I tend to forget what I am up to) but happily made an exception.  This time.

The Yarns:  

Madeline Tosh Merino Light

Butter, Antler and Silver Fox

The Pattern:  

Cladonia by Kristin Kapur (Again!)

Knitting is my time out, my relaxation, and I make no excuse for having repeated this pattern, Cladonia, for the third time.  It is for the most part very easy knitting and purling, increasing stitches at regular intervals with stitch markers as reminders to do so.  Perfect holiday knitting.

And the yarn ... so dreamy soft ... makes for the most gorgeous knitted "fabric". Some fierce wet blocking has also nicely removed the irregularities of my left handed knitting idiosyncrasies.

I have followed the pattern verbatim however admit to adding my own stripe study variation by introducing a third color, striping for three rows at regular intervals with the darker yarn which I then also went on to use for the lacy edge (and nicely finished up a leftover skein).

For more pictures and all the details check out my Ravelry page:

There is no shortage of shawls here; just days when the weather is cool enough to wear them.

Rita

Ishbel

Besides sewing I also enjoy a spot of knitting.  I caught the lace knitting bug about a year ago, and have since knitted several shawls including Laminaria by Elizabeth Freeman, Shetland Triangle and Swallowtail Shawl both by Evelyn Clark.

Ishbel by Ysolda Teague was a joy to knit, the charts were easy to read, and the knitting was rather easy.  Lace knitting looks far more complicated than what it actually is.  The same can be said for reading the lace knitting charts.  Although a level of concentration is required the process is simple if taken one step at a time.

I have used Malabrigo Sock yarn for this project in the colorway Alcaucil.  It is a soft merino yarn which has been kettle dyed to give it a deep rich color with subtle shadings.

Ishbel was a quick knit and will be found by a family member in a Christmas stocking soon!

Ishbel, the pattern, can be found here.  My finished knitting projects can be seen on Ravelry.

Cladonia IV ~ A Finished Knit

Another shawl and a repeat of one of my favorite knitting patterns - Cladonia.

THE PATTERN:  Cladonia by Kirsten Kapur

This knitting project was on the needles for some time.  I haven't been able to find/make time to knit, but I do intend to remedy that.  Knitting is still my relaxation, and I continue to enjoy this simple pattern even the fourth time around.  See:  Cladonia I,  Cladonia II, Cladonia III.

THE YARNS:  Madelinetosh Merino Light in Clover (discontinued) and Lagoon

I also continue to be smitten by these gorgeous yarns and saturated colors; a single ply with perfect stitch definition.  I wear my knitted shawls almost all year round and can tell you that this yarn is buttery soft, durable, and lovely and warm during the cooler months.

As I've said before, the lace section looks impressive and rather complicated.  It is however a simple lace knitting section.   If you're keen to try your hand at a lace knitting project I can highly recommend this pattern; the lace border involves not much more than a yo, ssk, k2tog and plenty of stitch markers.  It's definitely very do-able.

And as always, blocking my knitted project is definitely the secret to amazing stitch/lace definition!  I use blocking wires and blocking pins to block my knitted projects.  I don't have a blocking board but find that blocking straight onto the carpet works a treat - just don't mention it to the hubby!

 


For more pictures and all the details check out my Ravelry page:

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

Vintage Bouquet Shawl ~ A Finished Knit

The Pattern: Vintage Bouquet by Dani Sunshine

A knitting update today. This shawl was started and finished during my trip to Europe in August and represents hours of airport knitting (including more than 8 hours of delayed flights) and plane and train knitting; a most relaxing way to pass the time.

Vintage Bouquet Shawl is a relatively simple top-down knit with regular increases throughout the main body of the shawl and a lace edge with just enough interest and complexity to challenge a beginner knitter with some experience in basic lace knitting.

The Yarn: Madelinetosh Merino Light

 in Antler and Espadrilles

I have again used my favorite yarn - Madelinetosh Merino Light - a hand dyed single-ply fingering weight yarn in 100% superwash merino wool. The yarn is super soft (and an ideal weight for shawls) and is available in a great range of saturated colors. Choosing colors is as always a highlight!

 
For more photos and all the details check out my Ravelry page:

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
More Red Pepper Quilts Knitting Projects
Ravelry : : Red Pepper Quilts