It Doesn't Take Much

 Mention a KAL and, well, I'm in.  A few weeks back on Saturday night Zoom, Rosie mentioned that she was doing a MKAL (Mystery Knit-a-long) with Kate Davies.  The MKAL was for a shawl and also along the way a read along of Margery Allingham books.  

I've never read her or even heard about her, but the Saturday night Zoom knitters pretty much like the same genre, and I am a fan of Kate Davies, so I decided to sign up.  This will also be one of the several shawls I will be knitting for the PJKnits Summer of Shawls 2024. LOL

First up I went to PYS, and spent nearly an entire afternoon, trying to find some finger weight yarns that would work.  Unfortunately, and believe it or not, I did not have enough or enough colors to go into the shawl.  So, I went to my LYS, and found some Cascade Heritages that would fit the bill or so I thought.

I spent most of the afternoon again swatching and at the same time, second guessing my choices, pulling one more possible out of my leftover bin.  Using my handy mono function on my phone, I played around with the possible choices.

I was all set to sub out dark teal and put the purple in after swatching both with and without it.

And then, right before it went into the blocking bath, I've decided on leaving it in, and this would have been the new and final order of the swatch, if I did it again.

And thats it.  I'm done thinking about the colors for it.  Call it done!

Is That Sun Going To Stay Out??

 The sun is trying really hard to come out this afternoon without much success, but still I have a FO to block, my Musselburgh Hat that I cast on in 2022.  It has been a frequent front seat occupant for a while, just in case, I get stopped by construction or a train or, need a quick something to knit on.

The yarn was gift yarn so it checks off two boxes, a long term WIP and a yarn from one my knitting friends.

This weekend, we got together some of the Knit Wits, for another going away potluck!  Two this year are moving their households and leaving us to be nearer to their families.  It is super sad for us, but a nice move for them.

Thankfully, they are just a few hours away and there is always Zoom too!

Hope the sun is coming out where you are!  I am heading out to see if I can put some cushions on the front porch for some comfortable knitting this week!

It May Have Been Rainy All Day

 but, we are knitters so what should we do?

Bring out the Spring/Summer knits and put them on a finishing time line.  So, whats on tap, at least for today and going forward with these knits?

My first up project is the Wave Sweater from last Summer's Laine magazine.  I have been wanting to cast it on for a bit, and although, I have a couple of other sweaters to concentrate on, I really wanted to just see what the two colors look like together in person.  Once I get to that point, I'll sit it aside and finish a couple of others.

This is one of those other sweaters on the needles, the Daily Pullover from Purl Soho, and once I get a hat done, I'll concentrate on this for my public knitting, since it is a pretty easy knit for now.

And for a bit of a palette cleanser, I took a skein of gift yarn to start a simple scarf, Fluff, to go with a top I have.  It is another in public knit, so I am hoping to knit on it too, during t.v/podcast watching.

There is another test knit in the mix, but for now, not much to show, so I'll show it to you all down the road.

Have a good weekend!!

Feeling Good In My New Sweater

I recently finished a test knit for Beth MacDonald Stone, the Bermy Basic 28.  Even before I started test knitting it, I knew it was a great sweater design Beth had come up with.  I had been following her other Bermy Basics in other gauges, thinking what a fantastic idea to do all the math for us blind followers and collectors of yarn in our PYS (penny's or personal yarn shop) aka your stash of sweater quantities.

When she did a call out on her podcast for test knitters for the next round of Bermy Basics, I told myself why not, and sent off an email for any of the next three gauges she was doing, and also told her I was not afraid of finger weight yarn and what size I would like to knit.  She said yes, and so the hunt was on for yarn in pys and a design to ramp my Bermy Basic up and make it a bit different than just a plain one.  Let me just interject here, Beth was totally on board with all of the test knitters taking liberties with the design, add colorwork, add lace, add design elements, add texture!  The goal is to showcase that the knitter could take the design and make it their own.

My first problem was I really didn't have a sweater's quantity in my PYS that was going to fit the bill.  The second problem is that I knew I did not want to just knit a plain sweater in a variegate or tonal and have to helical knit.  

I want to my local yarn shop, The Fiber Universe, and she had two Malabrigo Sock yarns next to each other that I thought totally went well together, and started feeling a possible stripe vibe.

The consensus of knitters there at the time was they would look good together striped.  I was thinking of a Super Summer Sweater striping effect, but the more I thought about it, the less I liked duplicating a sweater I already had.  Then Fibonacci method came into my mind and after a little of googling settled on using that method for my stripes, and voila, my Bermy Basic started coming to life.

I won't bore you with all the details again, but finally finished it last week and got some photos yesterday.

I love it!  It feels good on and it fits.  

I was a tad worried as I knit it, wondering if it would fit, as others kept asking me if it would and the neck was an issue for other knitters as they thought it was going to be too close.  After a nice blocking, it fit perfectly, just right.  And the neck, while it is not a Summer sweater, it stays just where I want it to and doesn't fall down around the shoulders.

I made the sleeves bracelet length on purpose and was very purposeful about making sure the stripes came across the body and onto the sleeves just right.

When I went to take pics yesterday, I remembered a jean jacket that I had slated for the donate pile, as I didn't wear it much and only had one thing to go with it and that was a Summer tank, which just wasn't the thing to wear under it, so I popped it over my sweater and voila, I was in love with the whole ensemble especially for right now!

And that is the end of this test knit!  I am 100% in love with the pattern, the yarn, the fit and it just feels so good.  Check all of Beth's Bermy Basics out there now and those coming down the pike soon.  You won't be disappointed!! 

Finally Finished Friday!

 The Friday Tee from Petite Knit has had several starts and finishes in several ways over quite a span of time.

You can catch some of the details over on my podcast, PJKnits on You Tube, Episode 115.

Or check out my project page on Ravelry.  Friday Tee Project Page

Or over on Instagram, I'm pjknits there.

Although, it took me forever to have a finally finished, I am loving it so much!  Putting it on a list to knit again, changing up some of the mods that I made to mine to get a better fit!

Have a great weekend!  And Happy Birthday to my boys!

Episode 115 Is Up On You Tube

 

Watch it by clicking here

A Little Something Is Happening in July

 

I've Been A Bit Busy

 Hi Everyone!  It has been a bit busy here at Chez PJKnits since my last post.  

I made two visits to Iowa, last weekend for my oldest grandson's First Communion~

Today, a quick visit for Grandparent's Day for my oldest granddaughter.  This is the first time I have gotten to do Grandparent's Day, because of work, then Covid lockdown, husband's illness and then a colonoscopy last year.  This time I wanted to make sure I went, and don't regret the quick one day trip!

And in another week, I am heading back to watch the grands for the weekend!

I've been knitting on a test knit for Beth MacDonald Stone pretty monogamously!  I am onto the sleeves and really loving Bermy Basic 28.  If you haven't checked out her Bermy Basic Sweaters on Ravelry, you really should!  It is the perfect group of patterns for all kinds of weights of yarns from souvenir yarns to your stash.

I am such a fan of Beth so I am also going to be test knitting another of her designs.  Swatched a possible this morning.

And finally, I blocked the Friday Tee from last year, I'll share pics when I get the ends woven in.  In the meantime, have a good weekend!

Before The Rain Came

 We had some Spring!

And a moment to sit and knit on the porch for a bit!

For tonight, is back inside where I am dry and have touched my three knits that I am trying to concentrate on for right now~ a test knit for Beth Macdonald Stone

2 rows of decreases every day on my Hansel Hap.

A pair of socks, where I am testing out 9" circulars. Not sure they are going to replace my double points, the jury is still out on them.

And finally, had Easter lunch with this cutie yesterday!  Talk about love him!