Finally getting around to compiling pictures of the last few months' FOs!




Pattern: Based on the lace pattern of Knitty's Cozy
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, 2 skeins
Needles: #5 bamboo
Thoughts: My sister is a "classic casual" sort of dresser, so the nubby, denim-y qualities of the yarn make me immediately think of her. The Cozy pattern was easy to work with (easier even than Branching Out, IMO) and created a great 3-dimensional sort of texture.
Lessons Learned: LIFELINES, LIFELINES, LIFELINES...I added one after every two repeats, and they saved me on numerous occasions.





Pattern: Based on a felted needle case pattern in last winter's Family Circle's Easy Knitting
Yarn and Materials: 2+ skeins of WotA in Winter Night, trim in WotA Red. The interior is made from curtain scraps (just call me Fraulein Maria!).
Needles: #9 bamboo
Thoughts: This was a big square o' boring to knit, but it was something simple to work on while my kids were at their various summer activities. Adding an extra tier of pockets saved me from having to make another case for my circs, as I originally planned.
Lessons Learned: The front of the case wasn't supposed to curve like that, but I'm going to call it a "happy accident", as I like the line it created. While the exterior is still rather boring, I do love opening it up to see the poppies inside.




Pattern: MagKnits' Sophie
Yarn: Noro Kureyon, 2 skeins of 148
Needles: #10 1/2 circs, #10 1/2 dpns
Thoughts: I LOVED knitting this, and I couldn't be more pleased with the final result. I think this is the perfect project for a beginner looking to expand -- I finished it within a week, and I learned a handful of new skills without ever feeling overwhelmed. I plan to make several more of these for family gifts.
Lessons Learned: Picking up stitches, knitting in the round, mirrored decreases, i-cord





Pattern: Loosely based on Meema Spadola's Mini-Poncho
Yarn: ArtYarns Regal Silk in Lagoon
Needles: #8 bamboo
Thoughts: My mother-in-law is allergic to wool, so I turned to silk instead. She also loves anything to do with the ocean, so the gorgeous blues, greens, and purples of this colourway were a perfect match. The purse stitch almost makes it even look like a fisherman's net.
Lessons Learned: I *really* wanted to try something new with this yarn, but NONE of the first few patterns I tried worked. Either the colors obscured the pattern, or the pattern didn't show off the silk to its best advantage. Finally, I turned to back to purse stitch, knowing that it worked well with shiny yarns. The final result was sort of "ho-hum", but after blocking, WOW! I didn't think blocking would make that much of a difference with silk, but it gave the scarf a wonderful shape and drape. So, long story short, listen to the yarn. :P