A Secret FO that I can finally post: Whitlam Cowl

I've had one of those months where life just seems to get in the way of blogging (and knitting on some days!) and even when I had a spare moment I've been knitting away furiously on a birthday present for my Mum. Knowing she's a reader, and wanting this to be a secret, I've not posted any WIP updates. However her birthday has now passed and I did get it finished in time.
Remember the yarn that I solar dyed myself? 

When I dyed it my Mum admired the yarn and told me it was "really her colours." So I thought I would use it for a gift for her. She had also admired the pattern I picked up at Wonderwool on the Baa Ram Ewe stand for the Whitlam Cowl. So here's the details.

Pattern: Whitlam Cowl by Jo Spreckley

Yarn: DROPS Alpaca 4ply solar dyed by me with onion skins

Needles: 3.75mm straight needles

I can't recommend this pattern highly enough. It's brilliant. It's a 2 line repeat, that you can easily remember that makes a lovely lace pattern. I really hadn't done a lot of lace before (other than a lace border) but this was easy. I will definitely be making this one again, I want one for me! I washed and blocked it too and am glad to report that the colour was fixed in the yarn and has not faded.

Actually I finished this a couple of weeks ago but I've been frantically crocheting to meet another deadline as I promised my sister a shawl for a family wedding. I wasn't sure that I would get it done it time, but it's blocking right now! More details in the next post.

Yarny Update

Last Saturday, my Mum and I went up to London to the Yarn in The City Pop-up Market place. It was really a great day out and we got to see a lot of the vendors we have been following on Instagram, have a good  squish of the yarn and to add to our stash (of course!) Having been to a number of yarny festivals and events before I knew I would wander around aimlessly and overwhelmed by the yarny goodness available if I hadn't got a plan in mind so I spent a while prior to the trip trawling my favourites on Ravelry and noting down the types of yarn I would need to complete some of the projects. I promptly left this at home (how useless am I?) but at least having looked I could sort of remember what I was looking for.  I had also scoped out the vendors online and had a wish list of items to look out for.

It was great and we particularly loved Eden Cottage Yarns. Mum got 2 skeins and I got this charcoal Aran weight yarn, perfect for a hat or cowl project for the winter. We've also been looking online at her shop. So beautiful. Cannot wait to try them out.

I also have in mind to make the Industry shawl from Truly Myrtle. I've already downloaded the pattern and so when I saw this beauty from Travelknitter, I knew I had to get it. It's  going to be beautiful and should have good drape with this stunning yarn that's 50% Merino & 50% Silk.

Finally I got the 2 below from the Wool Kitchen, Beautiful yarns. Not sure what I will make with these. Again, perhaps they will be good for hats/cowls for winter... they are both DK so will need to do a bit of searching again on Ravelry. They were too good a bargain to pass up as I picked these ones from the sale basket.

In other yarny news, I have just completed my first swap! Louise from Knit British podcast was doing a hot drink & recipe swap and I decided to go for it! I got matched with Imogen from What Stitch Where and had so much fun putting together her parcel, with hot drinks, recipe, postcard, mini skeins, stitch markers etc. I even made a little notions/small project pouch from aran yarn, to put all her teas and goodies into. I didn't have a pattern  - I just improvised but it was great and quick - I would definitely make one again!

Today I received my parcel from Imogen and it was amazing. Thanks Imogen! 

I love it all but especially the project bag - it's just gorgeous. 

Finally, in terms of news, remember the Settler Shawl I made for the Truly Myrtle KAL? I won a prize! I won some dark purple Vanitas DK from Outlaw Yarns and a small tote.  The colour way is called Ephemera. It arrived after I paid the VAT to Royal Mail (can you believe they charge an £8 handling fee??) but it's just stunning. I'm going to make a Koru hat with this one and then if I have yarn left (which I should) I will try to make a cowl to match, Well that's the idea anyway, but I am permanently with a million ideas on the brain - I just need to set to and knit. With all this yarny goodness, I'm just trying to be restrained and finish a couple of WIPs...not sure how long I'll hold out, but we'll see!