Yellow and Violet

First, the yellow. I completed my Double Dog Dare ...


Project: Golden Circles Table Runner
Materials: linen fabric, DMC perle cotton embroidery thread in dark and light gold, cotton backing fabric
Techniques: hand sashiko-style embroidery, machine topstitching





It feels good to have finished this project. The anxieties that accumulate around unfinished things are really not worth living with. Now I'll think about whether I want to do another Double Dog Dare.

Next, the violet.  I blocked Flukra yesterday and wore it all day today  ...


Pattern: Flukra, by Gudrun Johnston
Yarn: Fearless Fibers Laceweight Merino
Needle: US4 Hiya-Hiya
Dimensions after blocking: 55 inches on the long (top) edge; 26 inches height at center



Wouldn't change anything about it; it's soft, light, and warm. The color is exquisite and the size is perfect for wearing either draped over the shoulders or wrapped around your neck kerchief style.



I love how the shawl grew organically from a very simple beginning:



Spring might be coming early this year. The other day I saw a bird flying up into the wooden roof at Atkins carrying a long piece of straw in its beak. Nest building can only mean one thing!

That White Stuff

Looks like somebody in my building was happy about the snow this weekend. We really haven't had much since the two feet on Halloween weekend. And I'm not complaining!

It was snowy, and it was cold ... zero F when I woke up this morning. But my head was nice and warm while I did the day's errands, thanks to this FO:


Pattern: Bosc Hat by Robin Ulrich
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool, natural mix
Needles: US5 and US7


Bosc is a roomy beret in two sizes. The pattern is clearly written and easy to follow. If you like the lace stitch pattern, you might be excited to know there's also a matching, really elegant scarf.

I was a busy bee this weekend knitting swatches for a couple of new spring designs (more on them another time). I also worked a little on Rebecca Ringquist's 2010 Stitch Dictionary sampler:





This one has some new-to-me stitches: couching, coral knots, Algerian Eye, bullion knots.



Let the white stuff fall.  On my sampler, I'm dreaming of the bright colors of summer.

Let's Do the Twist

I love twisted stitches, so when I saw that the design for Kirsten Kapur's 2012 Mystery Sock KAL would include cables and twisted stitches, I signed up right away. I've never done a mystery KAL before—have you?

The pattern calls for solid or semisolid yarn, so it seemed like a good match for the skein of light grey hand-dyed yarn from Fiberphile that I picked up at the Loopy Ewe last summer.



Spoiler alert! Photo of the cuff coming next ... if you're thinking of joining this KAL and you don't want to know in advance what the design looks like, stop reading now.


Pattern: Through the Loops Mystery Sock 2012, by Kirsten Kapur
Yarn: Fiberphile 2-ply Squooshy Sock in the Mithril colorway
Needles: US 0/2.00mm

I've been reading the Ravelry spoiler threads for each week eagerly, to see how people's socks are coming along (I don't mind knowing in advance). This week's clue includes a few bobbles, and already there are some great tips on Ravelry on ways to work them.

It's not too late to sign up for the Through the Loops 2012 Mystery Sock KAL (and the pattern is offered at discount through February 1).

Speaking of twisted stitches, there are are fair number in my Pomegranate pullover—they give both the lace panel and the neckband a lovely crisp look. This morning I was excited to see a really beautiful completed Pomegranate posted on Ravelry. Take a look at Katie's awesome Pomegranate:

Pattern: Pomegranate by Bonnie Sennott
Yarn: Quince and Co. Chickadee in Honey
Needles: US 3/3.25mm and US 5/3.75mm

Katie did a fantastic job with the lace panel, the short-row set-in sleeves, and the folded-over neckband:

The Honey colorway of Chickadee is just beautiful:

Doesn't she look happy? Katie modified the pattern by knitting the back in stockinette. This is a nice option if you want the sweater to go faster:

Congrats, Katie, on your expertly knit Pomegranate. Now that I've seen yours, I want one in the same Honey colorway!

I Dare Me

Some time ago ... well, perhaps quite a while ago ... I began embroidering a table runner with a simple sashiko-style circle motif. Like all projects, it began with great joy. Golden circles for my table, how lovely that will be!



When I began it, I anticipated buying a new table to replace to the less-than-wonderful one I've had for so many years. But then ... that didn't happen due to other expenses ... so the table runner languished, half done, for most of last year.



This is silly, I finally decided last month. Finish it and use it, even if there is still no wonderful new table. Stop wanting everything to be perfect.



So I finished up the embroidery. And I cut the backing piece (the wavy red fabric). Progress!

But that's as far as I went. Of course, I've been busy with many other projects—publishing new designs, personal knitting, painting, embroidery—not to mention a full-time job. But really, how much time does sewing a few seams take?

As soon as I saw the Double Dog Dare over at the Squam blog, I thought of my poor unfinished table runner. So I took the dare: my golden circles will be smiling up at me from my tippy old table by the first Thursday of February.



Got something big or small you need a little push to do? Take the Double Dog Dare! As a back-care booklet a doctor once gave me says, "an action detained is a tension retained." Won't you feel great a month from now when you've finally done something you've been putting off?