An Awesome New Knitting Book!

For those of us who get excited about new knitting books, this post is dedicated to you!

Despite my knitting activity which is relatively busy I'm still struggling with moving beyond simple rectangular-type projects. Scarfs, hats, blankets and afghans, a lap top cover, a nice little soap sack, a purse here and there... several more scarves, a few more hats... I've looked longingly at sock patterns, I've admired sweaters, but so far, I've not gone there.

With a yen to do more (ok, bad pun, but I would have been remiss to not even try), I saw KNIT KIMONO by Vicki Square on Amazon. I patiently waited for it to move beyond pre-order status, and when it was finally released, I splurged on a treat for myself and bought a copy. I'm so glad I did!

I found the history information about the kimono really fascinating, and the projects are wonderful! A kimono is basically just rectangles, so it's perfect for knitters like me. A variety of styles in this book, the author provides simple instructions for those who are bold enough to go out on their own and design their own versions, as well as pretty and practical projects for the less adventuresome of us who want something that will look darn close to the picture accompanying the pattern. I can focus on learning new stitches and knit my rectangles! There's one gorgeous pattern I think I'm going to try first. Keep your fingers crossed for me and hopefully I'll be posting a completed kimono variation here very soon!

The drawback is several of the projects are oversized or long... this means lots of yarn and lots of yarn can be expensive. This has its upside too. For those of us with very limited yarn budgets, it does force us to be more creative and less lazy. Can't just rely on the pattern. We've got to work to come up with more frugle yarn options, perhaps changing a design, carrying a "yarn needed list" around with us when we happen across the perfect sale. But I'm excited about the possibilities this book brings to my knitting future. I've only felt this way about one other book: Mason-Dixon Knitting by Kay Gardiner and Ann Meador Shayne.

Long Over Due

OK, I'm out of my funk and getting back to doing fun things, getting back to being productive again. I finished the prayer shawl and gave it to my friend for her birthday. The color was perfect for her, and I'm hoping the shawl brings her some comfort in the coming months of autumn.


I knitted it using a Feather and Fan stitch, 3 skeins of Homespun "Waterfall" and US 11 bamboo needles. I loved the feather and fan pattern, especially how nice the scalloped ends of the shawl were without me even needing to be aware that's what was happening. I found the free pattern on the internet.

Once I finished the shawl, I went back to an afghan that I had started before last Christmas and never finished. I had decided to donate a completed afghan we're having at work for a fundraiser so, it was now or never to complete it. I ended up taking most of the stitches out and starting over, but today it was completed, almost two weeks before the fundraiser. There's a first for me!


The afghan was knitted with 2 skeins each of Homespun colors Gothic (kind of a black & purple), Quartz, Bubble Gum and Lavender Sachet. I used Speed Stix needles (US 50, or perhaps pointy broom handles!) and a Lion Brand 6 Hour Afghan . Instead of only 3 colors, I used 4 and I decided to go without the fringe. The other afghans using this pattern that I had made (and I've made several of these for Christmas presents last year) had the fringe and it was messy. My friend Jane had improvised on the pattern and we decided to go without fringe and make a border for the ends and sides. It's a much better afghan! (Thank you Jane!!!).

I'm starting on a baby set, a gift for a friend's new granddaughter. There's a hat, a blanket and (drum roll...) a sweater! Yes, I'm going to try a sweater. It's a baby sweater, but it's still something that is more than a rectangle. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Of course, pictures will be posted when I'm done. I'll also post more about the patterns.