Bichons In Berry Sauce

The Odessa, she's done!

Pattern: Odessa by Kathy
Yarn: Rowan Cashsoft DK in Lime and some size 6 clearish-sparkly colored beads from Joann's. On the yarn, the color is much truer in the pictures with Abby.
Needles: Inox 16" circulars, sizes 5 and 6, size 6 dpns
Modifications: After I had the requesite 5.5" from cast-on edge, I did a couple more pattern repeats, just to make sure the hat would be long enough. I figured I'm a tight knitter anyway, so my row gauge is probably a little shorter than it should be. Tight knitting: the same reason I used a size 5 instead of 4 for cast-on.

Some of you might say, hey, what's up with her swirls? Why are they going in the wrong direction? How'd she manage to mess that up? Answer: all of my knitting goes in the wrong direction, unless I change up the pattern. I'm a lefty knitter, so everything I knit is really backward. Think of it as knitting South of the equator. Like toilets in Australia.

This pattern is very clear and smartly written! I'm thinking about making a few more of these, it really only took maybe 5 or 6 hours. Thanks to Kathy for making this pattern available to all of us!

I asked Abby to model the hat for me, and she said sure, but only if I get to wear it my way. I think she's trying to be one of the "cool dogs".

Posted by Nancy at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Last nite, I finally cast on for Odessa. Having just one project going seemed like too little variety. (And I know I'm supposed to be working on the Demi, but it's just not fun. Maybe in a year or two I will be ready to knit the Demi, but I think I got myself in a little over my head.) So Odessa it was. I purchased some generic clearish beads with a slight sparkle to them last week at Joann's; they seem to catch whatever color they're sitting next to and reflect it. Very pretty against the green.

I'm using the recommended Rowan Cashsoft DK in Lime. Since I've been working with a wool/mohair blend for Midwest Moonlight, this Cashsoft is supersoft and smooth to work with. I'm already a few inches into the swirly pattern! Knitting with beads isn't as hard as I thought it would be-- it is a little annoying to have to pause to pull the bead up, but this only happens every fourth row. I can deal.

Abby has been sleeping on my legs during my knitting time today. Since her haircut, she seems to like to snuggle a lot more. She's a very good little girl, and keeps herself occupied when her mommy has things to do. Notice how her tail is always a blur in the pictures? She's such a happy dog, she can't stop wagging it!

Posted by Nancy at 02:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

My college roommate is in town this weekend.. and she's a knitter too! She brought with her a super-soft pink baby blanket to work on. I'm still going on the scarf, but I have a Joann's coupon that expires today. I need to get some beads for Odessa and some straps for a dress. I'm thinking some clearish silvery beads and pink straps, the same shade as the piping. We'll see!

Posted by Nancy at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (69)