KAL -- Third Week

Part III of the Ridgely shawlette Knit Along has knitters working on the second side of the project. Here's the one that I'm knitting. You can see the lovely lace section (Part II) in the middle, the lace edging, and the start of side two of the shawlette.

Here's my shawl arranged on a jeans jacket. My plan is to use the shawlette as an oversize scarf to fill in the neckline of the jacket or arrange over my shoulders. I'm thinking that I'll wear a sleeveless top, maybe black, or else a black tank top to set off the gold and camel of the yarn colors.

KAL -- First week of knitting

Michelle Hunter, designer of the project, has named it "Ridgely," no doubt after the garter stitch ridges that form in the two color sections. This is a very doable and enjoyable project. If you have not started one during the April Knit Along, do consider knitting one. The CoBaSi yarn is fluid and drapes beautifully.

You will not find a lovely, funky accessory like this in the stores. And that, my friends, is why we knit. To make with our own hands great stuff that we like to wear.

One last idea. You could knit this shawlette in one color. This would eliminate using three balls of yarn and focus more on the lace aspect of the design. You would still learn how to use a chart for lace knitting, or you could use Michelle's row by row lace pattern directions.

I'm seriously thinking that my second Ridgely will be in the sea blue (Color 029) since when I look at my scarf drawer, there's very little blue looking back at me. Plus I have a lovely silver brooch with marcasites that I never wear. It would look good pinned to the oversize scarf. Cool.

Happy Knitting!

Wanda

A Lace Edging: First Week of KAL

Ridgely Shawlette -- A Knit Along -- 3 repeats done

The first few repeats of the lace edging on the Ridgely shawlette proved to be an exercise in lace edging. I have done a lot of lace knitting before but have not attempted a garter stitch edging.

I'm tickled with the results of my knitting so far. I'm using the CoBaSi yarn on a US#6 needle. My colors are gold and camel, since I'm planning to wear the scarf in the fall. Michelle Hunter's pattern uses one ball of main color for the lace edging, while another ball of main color and the contrasting color are working into a garter stripe shawl.

You can see the three balls of yarn in the top photo, as well as the slight increasing that is already building in the shawl part of the knitting. This is fascinating knitting. You'll have to concentrate and mark off rows. The Knit Along makes for a great way to learn something new and add to your "bag 'o' knitting tricks."

Nine repeats finished

Here's the shawlette after seven repeats are complete. The knitted fabric has wonderful drape and I am looking forward to wrapping up in my lace knitting very soon.

Happy Knitting!

Wanda

Shawlette Knit Along Starts Thursday

Just a reminder that the next Knit Along (KAL) starts on Thursday, April 4. That's the day that designer Michelle Hunter posts the first stage of the pattern for the shawlette Knit Along on the KnitPurlHunter website.

Why should you participate in a Knit Along?

1. The KAL paces your knitting.
2. The KAL gives you a goal to work toward each week.
3. It spices up your knitting hours.
4. A KAL gets you out of your knitting comfort zone.
5. You will learn new things about knitting and about your way of knitting.

Here's the blog post that introduces the shawlette Knit Along project.

Here's the blog post about color combinations for this project.

Here's a LINK to our website where you can order the yarn for the Knit Along. Remember that if you live in the Thumb area, you can stop by our office on Mondays from 10 am to 4 pm to shop for yarn and needles. That's the day that we ship website orders, too.

Plus, I'll be watching for orders during the week and get those out to you pronto so you can start the Knit Along. We ship Priority Mail which moves fast. If you order after Monday, you might be delayed a few days, but just plan some extra knitting time to catch up to the second week.

I hope you can join us as we knit and learn in April!

Happy Knitting,

Wanda Eichler
Graywood Designs

CoBaSi Combinations

The April KAL project is a shawlette knit with CoBaSi, a lightweight non-wool blend. It's a luscious yarn to work with. Michelle Hunter, designer of the KAL, says that this will be a stylish neck accessory or just right to warm shoulders for a cool spring evening.

Here's the blog post about this Knit Along that begins on Thursday, April 4.

Here are some color combinations for the shawlette Knit Along, You will need two main color skeins and one contrasting color.

Cool colors -- two shades of blue. Knit the shawlette to accessorize your favorite jeans jacket.

Hot colors -- pink and lime. Wear the light shawlette with summer tank tops and cropped pants.

Neutrals, like brown with camel. Add flair to the neckline of a tailored jacket.

School colors, like Michigan State's green and white. Be stylish at a football game when everyone else is wearing store bought stuff!

Join the Knit Along this spring and order your yarn NOW from our website at Graywood Designs. I will be knitting right along with you!

Wanda Eichler
Graywood Designs

Shawlette KAL (Knit Along) Starts April 4

The first stage of our second 2013 KAL starts on Thursday, April 4 and you can be ready to knit by ordering your yarn from Graywood Designs and then, following the KAL on the KnitPurlHunter website.   Click HERE for more information about the project and the timeline.

Here's what we know so far. Michelle Hunter has designed a shawlette using non-wool CoBaSi for this next Knit Along. The summer weight project will be knit using US#6 needles, straight or circular, so it should be a fairly quick project to knit in lightweight yarn on medium sized needles. Maybe summer lace? Maybe another form of openwork? Who knows! That's the fun of doing a Knit Along (KAL).

Want to join? Here's what you do.

Choose your colors and order your yarn from us at Graywood Designs right away. You need two skeins of main color and one of contrasting. Check your needle stash, too.

The CoBaSi yarn is $8 per skein, plus we offer a 20% discount on this yarn. That brings the skein price down to $6.40. Our shipping charge is still only $4.95, so you will be spending under $25 for the KAL project.

Get your order in as soon as possible. We ship on Mondays and there are two of them before April 4 -- Monday, March 25 and Monday, April 1. We ship Priority Mail, so your order will move fast. AND we'll be watching for orders close to the April 4th date and will get those out to you pronto so you can be ready to go when the KAL is posted on April 4th.

Possible color combinations are:

• Neutrals, maybe camel for the main color with medium brown as an accent. Add some flair to a tailored jacket.
• School colors, like Michigan State's green and white. Stylish for a fall football game when everyone else is wearing store bought stuff!
• Hot colors, think pink and lime. Wear with summer tank tops and cropped pants.
• Cool colors, as in two shades of blue. Accessorize that jeans jacket of yours.

Here's the link to a previous shawlette that Michelle designed for a Knit Along.

And here's why you should join a Knit Along:

1. The KAL paces your knitting.
2. The KAL gives you a goal to work toward each week.
3. It spices up your knitting hours.
4. A KAL gets you out of your knitting comfort zone.
5. You will learn new things about knitting and about your way of knitting.

So, come and Knit Along with Graywood Designs and KnitPurlHunter this April.

Wanda Eichler
Graywood Designs

The Forever Scarf

I started a ribbon lace scarf using a design from Knitty several years ago. I would work on it and put it away; get it out again; put it away. You know the story of unfinished knitting projects, I'm sure.

The scarf is finished! I took the knitting along on a trip to Disney last month and got really, really motivated. Here I am, knitting on the scarf at our Disney hotel. Yes, that is my Element wrap that I am wearing around my shoulders as I knit in the cool outdoor Disney setting.

And here I am, wearing the scarf with a jeans jacket, linen pants and my usual black travel v-neck for an outdoor barbecue event at the convention we attended. I have probably pulled this scarf around my neck fifteen times since finishing it. I absolutely love this piece of knitting and am so glad that I took the time to make it.

I have a skein and a half of Sterling Silk and Silver yarn in this scarf. I used a set of vintage Boye metal needles, needles that I have had since high school days. The pattern is Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery from the Spring 2008 issue of Knitty.

Great pattern, compelling knitting, lovely scarf.

Free lace ribbon scarf pattern is HERE

Sterling Silk and Silver yarn is on SALE HERE.

CoBaSi Yarn at 20% Off

Mmm, here are bags of CoBaSi, the non-wool sock yarn that we have added to our website! This yarn is the first 2013 Featured Yarn and is available at a 20% off discount.

The first KAL (Knit Along) of 2013 uses CoBaSi for a toe-up sock pattern that is a delight to knit.  The socks take two skeins of yarn. You'll have a pair of non-wool handknit socks for less than twenty dollars. That's a good deal for knitters.

We carry twenty lovely colors of this fine yarn.  There is a great range of colors. Some of our favorites are pumpkin (069), moss green (008) and yellow gold (057). There are four different blues ranging from soft blue to a medium navy.

Order some today and enjoy using CoBaSi.