Finished Object Friday - Sun and Stars Trillian

Holy Butterscotch!  I am posting twice in one week.  Stop the presses!  No really, this post has been in my mind for about 2 weeks but I was waiting on a couple things.

• First, I wanted to show my knit night group.  
• Second, I wanted to block it.  

Alas, only the first got done and I am impatient so you get to see the finished object now.

So while I have many things in the crafty pipeline (Three lovely shawls, three large afghans, and a cardigan) I can't help but cast on when I get the bug to do something.  This was definitely the case with Trillian and the brand new skein of Wollmeise in Maharani.  This skein was a Christmas gift from my friend Dianne who went to Germany before the holidays.  I was so spoiled and really have to amp up my Christmas game for this year.

The yarn is AMAZING.  I know a lot of people covet the yarn but please remember to use it.  While it is so lovely in the skein and all caked up, using it and knitting with it is even better.   It is so nice and easy to work with that I am completely spoiled with other yarns.

So, after untwisting and winding the skein, I was amazed at the depth of color and variation that came from 3 primary colors.  The yellow, red and blue each brought hues of secondary colors.  Green, oranges and teals were all present in the yarn and just shine as little color bursts through the cake.  It was a compilation of everything I love, bright, saturated colors and nuance with more subtle greens, teals and oranges.

I needed to pick a pattern to do this yarn justice.  I love all of Martina Behm's patterns and she designed them with Wollmeise in mind.  So of course I had to pick one as my first project with the yarn.  Now many have made and showed off their Hitchhickers but I wanted to make something a little less popular and a little more unique.  After debating for a few minutes with the yarn, it finally told me that Trillian was the way to go.

I cast on and ripped out several times because I got nervous about the "right" side looking good but after a while I just said Butterscotch it and went with it.  Boy am I happy that I did.

After I decided to just go with it

So I plugged on and with surprising single minded focus....okay there were some other projects going on but I worked mostly on this one primarily...I plugged along.  There were amazing moment when the pooling took my breath away and that is when the name was born.  I was struck by both the skein and the pooling that this yarn looked so celestial.  It was sunrises and sunsets on an inky dark sky.  It was pops of stars that shine and glimmer.  It was the Sun and Stars

There were moments where I was wrestling with it to get it so I was comfortable knitting. And moments where garter was getting a bit old.  But really I loved watching it grow and change.

Almost done!

The edging is the real star of the shawl

I just love the polling throughout the shawl

I just looks so nice anyway you arrange it

Whenever it's blocked and I can get a whole picture I will be sure to update.  Until then just enjoy the colors.

Check out more Finished Objects at Tami's Amis!

<3 Heather

Now for the Details:

Ravelry Page - Sun and Stars Trillian
Needles - Size 4/3.5 mm Chiagoo Red Lace Circular Needles
Yarn - 143 grams of Wollmeise Pure Wool in Maharani
Duration - 2 Months
Pattern - Trillian from Strickmich! by Martina Behm

WIP Wednesday - Err Thursday?

This week I finally managed to find the time to post.  This month has been weeks of testing at work and exhaustion.  Needless to say, I am a little late in picking my giveaway winner.  So let's discuss that first.

I received 33 entries for the giveaway and yesterday through the help of a random number generator, I am happy to congratulate POK as the winner of the giveaway.  I will also email you to let you know.  If you are reading this think about what color stitch markers you want and what pattern you would like.

Congrats POK!

So with that awarded let's talk about what I have been working on.

Sun and Stars Trillian

This is getting really big!

I have spent a lot of time working on this shawl over the past couple of weeks.  I have about 150 of the 191 stitches before I finish the last border.  I think this is going to be so lovely once it's done.  The yarn pooled again but the stripey effect is gorgeous too.

I was lagging on this a bit but I got new ChiaoGoo Red Lace knitting needles and I am so excited.  These needles aren't catching the yarn and the cord is really nice.  I am going to save my pennies to get a set of interchangeables.


Candy Skein Leftie

The base is more grey than the blue shown in this image

I actually got 2 new pairs of needles and couldn't wait to cast on something new.  I have been patiently waiting for the Trillian to get done but I gave in and cast on for this shawl.  Samie from NotYourGramsAfghan got me the Rainbow Mini Skeins for Christmas and I worked with Tami to get the base color which is Blackberry.

So after some creative winding (read: Big ball of knots on my lap) I got started.  I have up through the Lime green color done.  I just keep wanting to add colors.

What do you think?

Well that's it for this week.    For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Moving at the Speed of Snail

As a reminder, there is a giveaway going on so check out my Blogiversary Post for details.  Remember, the answers are in the blog so check out my old posts for the answers to the clues :)

While the rest of my life seems to be flying by my knitting seems to have slowed to a crawl.  Well the speed of a snail actually.   At work things are full speed ahead on various projects, my class this semester is fairly intense and everything else just seems to have some claim to my time lately.  Plus I have plans of plans of plans that I need to accomplish or just get started on.

Does else feel like their good intentions go to waste?  Lately, I feel so rushed.  I want to clean but am too tired or don't have time.  I need to do laundry but am getting home in time to crash for the next day.  Things just keep piling up, perhaps I just don't prioritize them high enough.  As this month winds to a close I hope to  make some positive changes in February.

Let's check out the yarny goodness!

Sun and Stars Trillian

Doesn't that blue just look lovely?

This gal has definitively been growing.  It is so lovely and squishy and is already 90+ stitches across.  I love this pattern as it's so easy and is great when watching or listening to something while working on it.  Plus it's all knit stitch so I can really turn the brain off.

I watched most of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy last night and loved Trillian and Marvin.  I can't believe it took me this long to see it.  Plus does anyone know why Martin Freeman doesn't keep his hair so lovely and fluffy like that.  Ugh I just want to run my hands through it. Sigh, but he is BAMF in Sherlock so what can you do?

Care of Weheartit.com

Ooh Shapely Boyfriend

Orange you glad I didn't say Banana?

So due to some crafty enablers on the Let's Go Pens board I made an impromptu trip to Grove City, PA to Wolf Creek Yarns.  So after some browsing, I bought some Berroco Vintage Chunky in Pumpkin to help finish this sweater.  And ever the child, I wanted to use the skein right then so I got some work done on the cardigan this weekend.  I am pleased with how it's coming though purling on the wrong side is a pain in the ass.  Seriously, it's a lot of stitches.

Well that's it for this week.    For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - It's a Hockey Night In Pittsburgh!

As a reminder, there is a giveaway going on so check out my Blogiversary Post for details.  Remember, the answers are in the blog so check out my old posts for the answers to the clues :)

Hello all, what a busy two weeks I have had.  Work is kinda crazy with a project going live and my class is a bit intense, but hockey is back!  I know that I am basically answering one of the questions for my Blogiversary (see big link above!) but I am just so happy to have hockey back on the air.

For those of you who may not know, the NHL was in a lockout due to contract re-negotiations for the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).  As a fan, this stoppage was annoying and frustrating but it's over an the excitement is pretty awesome.    I don't know what it about hockey.  I love the speed and precision of 6 players flying around on the ice a mile a minute.  It's intense and always can turn on you at any moment.

As a result, I love the Penguins.  They are my favorite but I love the sport.  The rivalries are great and the players and owners are amazing and generous.  Let's Go Pens!

Image from Wikipedia

But the best thing about hockey, is hockey knitting.  Seriously, a huge driver of my knitting and crocheting throughout the year is to keep my hands busy while I watch the game. While watching the playoffs in 2008 and the following year 2009 I could feel my blood pressure go up and my anxiety build as the games got more intense.  So when I started to knit, I realized how a bit of distraction kept me from throwing my TV out the window.  As a result, a ton of knitted objects are completed.

So this weekend when the season started, I made sure my knitting was handy and got so much done as a result.  Let's check out the yarny goodness!

Sun and Stars Trillian

I am so pleased with how the colors are coming together!

So this is really starting to get big.  I am about half way to the finished size before I start the final border.  I am in love with this pattern.  Seriously a great knit while watching any sporting event.  You zip across with garter stitch and then a bit of pattern and you zip back.

Really what I love is the yarn.  I had been acquiring skeins of Wollmeise over the summer but hadn't found the guts to crack open the hank and use the yarn.  Really the skeins are beautiful just to look at.  So with this pattern I knew it was time try out the yarn.

I am so happy with it.  The colors are intense and not bleed into my skin or my needles like some other saturated colored yarn I have tried.  but the colors are just popping in their own special way, I particularly love the way the color pooled in the middle there.  I feel like it's a shooting star amid a sea of sun beams and starry night.  I just keep picking it up to see what will happen next.

Hue Shift Afghan

All the pretty hues!

While this has been playing second fiddle to the Trillian Shawl above, I did manage to get two more squares done to finish the pink row.  I think finishing the row is a great driver to keep going and I know I will need to cast on for the second set of squares soon after I get done with this set.  I really love how these five colors look and can't wait to get the blues and greens.

Sweet Azalea Blanket

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend!

Although the Trillian has been the star of my crafting show lately, this one has been playing a supporting role. I suspect it's more about the character than the looks perhaps?   This blanket is made with the lovely pashmina base from Madelinetosh and it is so soft and luxurious.

But really, when you combine wool, silk and cashmere what wouldn't be soft and luxurious!   So thanks to the amazing yarn, I keep working at this shawl.  I want to finish the first skein soon so I can gauge the size of the finished shawl.

Well that's it for this week.    For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

And Remember, It's a great day for hockey!!

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Pink and Blue Sky

As a reminder, there is a giveaway going on so check out my Blogiversary Post for details.  Remember, the answers are in the blog so check out my old posts for the answers to the clues :)

So it's time for another WIP Wednesday but first I have a beautiful picture of the sunrise this morning and a small story

So I live in an apartment complex with 7 building in a U shape.  There are 2 small parking lots in the front near the top of the U and a large parking lot behind the set of complexes and down a flight of stairs.  My apartment is on the ground floor near the front parking lots.  However, those lots only hold 9 cars.  Everyday is a new battle for one of those spots.

I aim to park in front because if I have to see the lot, my car should be there right.  And if I have groceries or something to bring in, I want a close spot.  In general, I park in my preferred lot but lately it's been full (curses) and I have to park in the back. I just get annoyed the time to get a spot fluctuates lately, if I am not home by 6 pm I have to park in the back.

How gorgeous is this sky?

Anyway, this has resulted in not taking my suitcase in from my California trip. I finally caved this morning and before I got a shower, went to my car to move it out front to drag my suitcase in.  This picture was from my walk to my car.

So enough whining and onto the yarny goodness.

The socks from last WIP Wednesday have gone back into hibernation because I messed up the pattern.  The debate is on whether to just keep going or to rip back and fix.  I am leaning toward just finishing them though so we will see.

I did get some work done on my Hue Shift Afghan but don't have a picture of the progress.  I should have one next week though.

Sun and Stars Trillian

Wollmeise - 100% Wolle in Maharani 

I did however start a very special project.  My friend Dianne went to Germany with her family and made a trip to the Wollmeise Yarn Store.  She brought me back 1 skein that I gave her money for and 1 skein as a Christmas gift.  Honestly I could not wait to crack into the thing and started the Trillian shawl.

Lovely Little Yarn Cake!

So I wound the yarn and started the shawl.  I thought the yarn looked like sunshine and stars so hense the name "Sun and Stars Trillian".  I am in love with the pattern.  It's super easy but has such a lovely look and the drape is already awesome.

Love the color blend and the pop of yellow,

Honestly, this shawl continues to make make smile as I look at the colors and what more could you ask of your yarn and project.

Well, that's it for this week.  Class started last night and I feel as though this one will be interesting but intense so stay tuned for the updates.

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather