Aeolian Shawl

I'm not finished with the Crescent City Shawl, but am still working on a knit-on lace edging. The Crescent City Shawl is for the bus.

In the meantime I am starting on the Aeolian Shawl from Knittyspin (free pattern) with the beads, it isn't a good bus project. So I started the shawl. It is such a pleasure to be using such beautiful yarn and beads.

My chosen yarn is Stormy Blue Label Fingering Weight from Tanis Fiber Arts.

I'm making the Flame Shawlette - 27" long and 64" wide. I am already confused on the first few paragraphs of getting started!

My beads are Metallic Variegated Blue Iris from Earthfaire

More yarn!

The Crescent City Shawlette mentioned below, called for 2 skeins each of the two yarns. I was rummaging through my yarn bucket for a needle and found the other two skeins. Too bad for me, I was going to do some house cleaning as soon as the yarn ran out, but alas have sat here all day knitting . . .

I also took the time to create a life line - it takes a while, but I believe it's much less time than I spent tinking for days. Run a contrasting piece of yarn through a row that is right, then if there's a mistake higher up, you can unravel your yarn back to the stitches captured with the contrasting thread/dental floss.

• Tink - the term used by knitters to mean unknitting or knitting backward. Actually knit spelled backward.

Crescent City Shawlette

This shawl is finished but not blocked. I have my wires but no where to block it yet.







The pattern is the Crescent City Shawlette.

I am almost finished with this shawl. There are only 88 rows, and I am about 20 rows from the finish line. My stitch count is off, and I've been unknitting and then reknitting for days trying to find it.

Knit Picks Aloft (75% Super Kid Mohair, 25% Silk; 246 yards/25g): Jade

Today I'm unknitting more rows to get to a place where I know it's right. This has been going on for several days whenever I get a chance. It's usually a yarn-over that I forgot to make, but cannot seem to figure it out this time.

Knit Picks Gloss Fingering (70% Merino Wool, 30% Silk; 220 yards/50g): Jade

I'll probably never use Mohair again, as it's quite fuzzy and guess it's just not my thing. My nose itches every time I knit with it.

It appears that I'm going to run out of yarn before I get to the end, so will re-order some today. This is what happens when you aren't on gauge! It will be gorgeous though.

After Hours Shawl

I've been on a shawl spree this month. Just received the After Hours Shawl Kit from Knitter's Brewing Company. The kit comes with the yarn, the pattern, beads and a really neat stitch marker.


The yarn is "Sock-aholic" - 75% Washable Wool and 25% Nylon. I chose a grey this time, as it's a color I haven't chosen before.

It should go beautifully with the Czechoslovakian Rocaille beads in silver-lined crystal with a mother-of-pearl finish. They are not pearly though, they are crystal. Adding beads to your knitting is something I just learned. I'll post the Aeolian Shawl soon - it was the first beaded shawl I've started.

How to make a cable stitch without a needle

I love cables, and keep loosing my cable needle. I mean, where are you supposed to put it when you're on the bus? I've heard of cabling without needles before, but tonight I decided to Google it and see what it was all about. Here's the explanation I decided to use. I'll try it on the bus in the morning.

The link is in the "Knitting Tips" tab above.

The Spirited Bohemian

The Spirited Bohemian was my identity before Joi Designs. It began when I started riding a bike for the first time around the age of 60. Check it out to get some history!

The Spirited Bohemian Blog

Lest one misunderstand, I am still and always will be a spirited bohemian, just started a new blog, that's all . . .

I always felt that I was a gypsy, and it was confirmed when we found my father's birth certificate a few years ago. His father was born in Romania! Very validating!

Today is the first day of the rest of your life . . .

"The Tree of Life & Joy" - what better items to incorporate into a logo. I have named my new business Joi Designs (Joi as in JOY!). And the tree of life is a favorite theme. My stitch marker guru, Sunne, is working on Tree of Life stitch markers for me.

I have so many skeins of yarn and new shawl patterns, it's time to share. I just love knitting shawls, more than I love knitting socks. Those that live near me will have the opportunity to learn to knit and take shawl and sock classes later this summer.

Gone are the days when I purchased cheap yarn, not understanding what I was missing. Yarn is a natural pleasure and it's made from so many fibers, it's always going to be a new surprise. The colors are amazing and the feel just to die for!

I am happy to have knitting for a hobby and to be developing the skills to make such beautiful articles. I've stopped driving back and forth to work everyday, and ride the bus. I knit on the bus, this gives me a full hour a day to figure out a lace pattern, find that dropped stitch or just simply knit peacefully to work and back again. Wish I had figured this out a long time ago.

I also make UltraSuede Professional Eye Patches for those who want to look professional and attractive, as an alternative to cardboard. These patches are well made and stand up to washing and drying.

This is a work in progress. This BLOG has begun and the Joi-Designs.com website will develop over the summer.

Stay tuned!