WOW - a year sure went by fast!

My sister has been telling me to post, but what to post? I've been in a standstill since last May. Kids moved back in, I lost my sewing room again, then winter set in and I had extreme hibernationism, extreme!
 hibernation (haɪbəˈneɪʃn)n Condition affecting some mammals causing them to pass the winterin a dormant condition with metabolism greatly slowed down, as in non existent

Please talk softly and just leave me alone!

 I completed the After Hours Shawl (below), it's hanging as a valance over a kitchen window. It came out way too small.

After Hours Shawl

Crescent City Shawlette

I completed the Crescent City Shawlette and used a mohair blend - NEVER AGAIN! my nose is still itching! This one's not blocked yet. It also came out much smaller than the picture!

Allure Shawl

I completed the Allure Shawl, and my co-worker fell in love with it and I sold it to her for the cost of the yarn. This one blocked out really nice, I am going to make another one! I was getting better and I knew it.

Georgianna Shawl

I completed the Georgianna Shawl  for my daughter, blocked it and had fans blowing on it for 24 hours, then folded it nicely and Fedex'd it overnight just in time for a Christmas present. I don't even remember what it looked like. But she recently went to Florida for a week of resting and told me she had it with her! I also loved this one the minute I saw the pattern. I'm going to make another one of these too!

I started and ripped out three cowls, I walk and ride my bike and decided I should have one. The pattern I settled on is one I designed by looking for patterns that look good on both sides. I knew dimensions by this time, and it just came out beautifully! I used an alpaca/wool blend called Berroco Ultra Alpace Yarn in the color - Lobster Mix and I'm SO happy with it! It's really comforting, a wool and alpaca blend, and super soft. I was afraid that when it was finished, it would be next year, but  wound twice around my neck, helped me last through the unbelievable frigid April winter we had around here. Worn once around the neck it hangs on my shoulders and is very comforting and warm. I want to make another one for work for those cold air-conditioned days we'll get this summer. I also love to put it on in the morning so I can stay in my light pajamas and not be chilled. For next winter I'll make a hat and mittens in the same yarn and will have a full set! I need to take a picture of my cowl and will get that up soon!

I've made several socks since my last post, and they have all worn out by now. They were all two socks at a time, circular needles, toe up. I'll get back on a sock knitting binge and post those when I get there.

SO, I haven't been slackin', just curled up on the couch, when I wasn't at my day job, and knitting away as one should when they have hibernationism. It was cold and wet outside and dark. Knitting on the bus in the morning and on the way home at night. LOVE IT!!

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!