Younger Than Springtime

On this first full day of spring, I have pretty yarn to admire.


Lisa Souza Zen

I haven't wet finished the yarn yet, so I expect that it will even out and puff up more after that's done.

The fiber is Zen Top in South Pacific from Lisa Souza that I purchased at Stitches West this year.


Zen Top - South Pacific
50% Superfine Merino/ 25% Tussah Silk/ 25% Bamboo





As usual, there's a hankette for Sam.


Lisa Souza Zen

Estonian elegance

Thanks for all the feedback on the Haapsalu shawl. It was a challenge and an accomplishment to finish this project, so much so that I haven't picked up another knitting project since. Maybe that will change this week.

I took the FO to the spin-in yesterday and asked Bill & Spinnity to help me with a few shots of it on the shoulders. It was nice to model my own FO.

It's beautifully elegant, even with jeans.


Haapsalu shawl


Haapsalu shawl


Haapsalu shawl

The shawl pattern is from The Haapsalu Shawl by Siiri Reimann and Aime Edasi. The shawl stitch pattern is called Silvia and the edging is at the bottom of page 181.



I tried to follow the instructions in the book for sewing on the edging, but I wasn't getting a point of the edging to line up at the corner of the shawl. After trying again and getting the same result, I recalculated the edge-to-shawl stitch ratio along the short and long edges of the shawl and voila, it all worked.

Back to spinning!

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today?

I'm wearing Zingiber socks.


Zingiber socks
Free knitting pattern

Changing gears

I haven't found a WIP that I want to pick up again, so I took Lisa Souza Zen Top and the Lendrum out for a spin.


Lisa Souza Zen Top in South Pacific

Isn't the colorway pretty? The fiber spins up beautifully. The singles are approximately 28-32 wpi and the yarn will be a luxuriously soft and light 2-ply.

Big time blocking

15 weeks after starting the Haapsalu inspired shawl, it's blocking.


Silvia

I blocked it to within an inch of its life (so to speak) and the lace opened up nicely.

I have ends to sew in, then I'll take photos of it draped. That's what it does best.

Dipped in butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar

I needed something sweet with my afternoon coffee, so I tried a recipe that I pinned: French Breakfast Muffins.


French Breakfast Muffins

Dipped in butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar--how could they be bad? They're quite good and perfect with a cup of brew.

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today?

I'm wearing cozy knit socks that my Big Sis made for me.


Socks from Big Sis