Since this is my first project roll call post in this blog, I’m going to give a brief outline of everything that’s on my needles now, but in the future my goal will be to just give a weekly update of what I’ve been working on in the last week or so. You can also find all of my projects in their various stages on my project page at Ravelry.

Sapphire Etherea

Sapphire Etherea – This very blue and very fluffy shawl/scarf marks my return to crocheting after a looooooong hiatus — like about 20 years — and there’ll be more on that in another post soon.  This project was quick and easy, but the mohair combined with open and airy lacework produced some great results, if I do say so myself.  Unfortunately due to a little playing around with swatches and the almost impossible task of ripping out mohair, I ran out of yarn about 4 inches too soon.  Another skein is on the way and then I’ll complete and block.  Photo here is unblocked, but it would be totally wearable that way as well.

Milky Way Yoke

Milky Way Tunic – This is my most recent knitting project, which I began as a “travel project”.  It’s knitted in the round, from the top down, and incorporates an easy to memorise yet interesting textured rib pattern.  I’m using Cascade 220 Heather Wool, which is a reasonably priced 100% wool.  The colourway is Galaxy.

Danish Shawl

The Danish Shawl – I love the textures in this unique shawl and decided to use some Alpaca wool that I purchased on my recent trip to Denmark.  My husband thinks that I only inhabit the monochrome world of blacks and greys, so this chocolate brown/blue grey combination is a deviation…well, okay, it still has a bit of grey in it, but I’m trying! I’m about a third of the way through section two.  Section one was fairly simple, I’m just wondering if I would have preferred it without the contrast garter stitching.

Tundra Sweater Coat

Tundra Sweater Coat – I really love the cables, applique flowers, and vines on the back of this deliciously warm looking sweater coat and had to give it a try.  It’s kind of an extension of the Flower Hat that I made last winter, but obviously kicked up a few notches.  It’s certainly the biggest project project I’ve undertaken in terms of sheer square footage, but in reality the only difficult part will be the back of the sweater with its cables and applique. I’m looking forward to the challenge and to wearing this beauty.  Will have to be careful to only wear it on clear days, though.  I think this sweater plus getting caught in a downpour would equal several pounds of outerwear! I’m currently on the second sleeve.  The cuff construction was interesting and results in a welcome deviation from the traditional ribbed cuff.

Think Pink Summer Cowl

Think Pink Summer Cowl Tank – Well, this one has been languishing on the needles for a few weeks now.  In a word, it’s a bit boring.  Okay, that’s actually two descriptive words, but I do like the idea of it and can’t bear to label it completely boring yet.  It’s another travel piece, so maybe I’ll take it on the train with me on trips into the city and get back into it.  I do love the cotton/linen much more than 100% cotton, which I find tends to grow and become misshapen when wearing the finished product.

London Beatnik Back Section

London Beatnik Sweater – This is a project I started knowing full well it would take some time.  I can’t wear it until late fall anyway, as it will be warm.  This was my first project with Berroco Ultra Alpaca and I love, love, love this yarn.  I’m also really enjoying the pattern, even though it definitely requires concentration on my part.  This is something I work on during the day, when I’m on my own.  (Bless his cotton socks, hubby still hasn’t figured out the difference between “talking knitting” and “full-on concentration knitting”.)  I’m about two thirds through the front piece and although I haven’t done enormous amounts of cable knitting I think I’ve got the hang of it and am really happy with the way this is looking.

Rolling in the Deep Blue Sea Dress

Rolling in the Deep Blue Sea Dress – The name of this dress was inspired by both the colours in the yarn, (again, the lovely Berroco Ultra Alpaca), and Adele’s Rolling in the Deep, as I listened to her album 21 quite a bit while in the initial stages of this dress.  This is the first dress I’ve tackled, and so far so good.  The chain pattern is accomplished not through cabling, but through slipped stitches, which makes for an interesting but not overly complicated knit.  I’ve kind of got my cable fix in with the Beatnik sweater anyway.  This has been put aside for a bit while because I needed to get DPNs in the correct size to do the sleeves.  The DPNs arrived yesterday, so I hope to get back to this soon.  It’s a little daunting to be honest.  I know I’m almost in the home stretch as far as the body of the dress is concerned, (and the cowl looks fairly easy after all of my lace shawl practice), but attaching the sleeves and getting the yoke right is going to require some intense concentration as I’ve not done this type of construction yet and matching up the pattern may be tricky.   I think it’s one of those things you just have to jump in and tackle!

Am I Blue Shawlette

Am I Blue Shawlette – This work in progress is about to become a finished object!  I finished the interminable picot bind off yesterday, gave it a good soak, and it’s on the blocking board drying.  I should be able to pull it off later today and get a photo.  I keep going back to this pattern, the Holden Shawlette, because it’s quick, relatively simple, and gives elegant and wearable results.  It’s become a go to gift for all these reasons as well.

I’m actually surprised that I only have seven active projects right now.  (Eight if you count the Am I Blue Shawlette.)  I guess that’s because I’ve finished three projects in the last week and made a promise to myself to work on some of my sweater-y projects before starting anything else.  It’s hard to believe that we’re in mid-July.  That crisp fall weather will be here before we know it.