Scarf Swap

Yesterday I mentioned that I was in a scarf swap with Jamie from Deep Space Knit. Here is the lovely scarf she knit for me:

And a close up:

It is long and beautiful!! We first swapped the yarn that our scarf was to be knit with. I sent her Blue Heron Yarns "Rayon Metallic" (above) and she sent me Nashua Handknits "Ivy": an alpaca/merino mix with a hint of sparkle. I adapted the Meandering Vines Shawl by Susanna IC (pattern available as a Ravelry download) and knit this scarf:

Unfortunately, that is the only picture I took of the scarf. I hope it is keeping Jamie warm!

Monthly Adventures June Swap

I realized that I never really discuss my Monthly Adventure swaps or share the goodies I have received. Swapping is so much fun: you meet some great people and get fun presents! So from now on, I will starting posting about my swaps.

My favorite group on Ravelry is Monthly Adventures. I know I have mentioned it before here on my blog. It started as a simple holiday swap last year (my first swap ever). It has evolved into a month swap with occasional small KAL/CALs. It's a great group, very chatty, fun, and supportive. I look forward to reading the posts every day from this group!

So for June, the swap involves lace. We are sending and receiving a pattern and yarn for a lace shawl or stole. We helped our partners out by listing some of our favorite patterns in Ravelry. It is fun to secretly 'spy' on your partner to discover fun gifts for them. This month my package came from the same person I sent a package to!

I am so excited. Above is my package from 'GreenAlgae'. She sent me a pattern I have been wanting to make for SOOOOO long: Hanami ! The Hanami stole was designed by Melanie of Pink Lemon Twist (the creator of Mystery Stole 3/Swan Lake which I knit last summer--see below).

I can't wait to cast on! But of course, I do need to wait, because I have 2 projects I absolutely must finish first (Zum dirndl and SKP sock 3, which I haven't even cast on yet...). My desire to start this pattern will be inspiration to finish the other two. Thank you GreenAlgae--I am off to knit!

Sophisticated Monster Hat Complete!

I am so happy with how this came out!

Here are the details:
Pattern: Sophisticated Monster Hat: Slightly Loopy Hat and Brainmonster combined
Yarn: Peruvian Uros Aran from Elann.com; I used 1.25 balls making size M-L

Color: 1930 Desert Rose

Required Gauge: 4.25 st/inch; My gauge: 5 st/inch, stocking st in the rnd, unblocked
Needles: I used US 9 / 5.5mm (but I knit tight)
Comments: All of my kids want one, so I am sure there are more monsters in my future!

Monthly Adventures

My "Holiday Swap" Ravelry group has turned out to be quite a lively bunch. In December we decided that holiday swapping was not enough, so we have morphed into "Monthly Adventures".

I was too busy with unpacking in January to join that swap, but I have jumped right back in for February. This month we are having a "Tops and Pots" swap: a hat/headband/head covering of some sort and a recipe. The "top" needs to made with red, pink and /or white yarn in honor of Valentine's day. It's a secret swap and I got my partner this weekend. Now that I have done some research on my partner, I have figured out what I am making. I am going to morph 2 patterns:
Slightly Loopy Hat and Brainmonster and make "The Sophisticated Brainmonster". Normally I would not make a "Monster" hat for a swap, but my partner said she wants one for herself...I hate that I am confined to certain colors. I will be traveling next week and I hope to finish the hat then.



It needs to complete by the end of the month so I can mail it out on time. Here I go...