Tantallon bis

Immediately after finishing Tantallon no. 1, I knew that a no. 2 would be in my future. Why? Because this is serious addiction knitting. Once those peerie bands take hold of you, you are powerless to stop. They are mind controllers!

The Specs

Pattern: Tantallon by Kate Davies (Needled)

Needles: size 2.5 addi turbo

Yarn: Shetland Spindrift: Merlin, Atlantic, Madder, Highland Mist, Ecology Pebble (!?) and Daffodil, about .25 of each skein. The lining is some bits and bobs of MadTosh laceweight.

Mods: None at all...

I wanted to make this another time as well because I wasn't 100% happy with the lining I chose for my first one--a dk cotton (?). What was I even thinking, by the way? It makes the brim stick out slightly too much. This lining is much more to my liking as it allows the hat to have a nice cloche shape, which is one of my favorite hat shapes.

Sullen Teen Alert! Sullen Teen Alert!

Shetland Spindrift is quite intriguing--on the skein is basically looks like twine, but it knits up into an unbelievably soft fabric. Luckily I am amassing QUITE the collection of odd skeins of the stuff. I see some sort of wrap in my future, maybe one like this one. However before I even think of such undertakings I have many other projects to finish. Hopefully I'll finish before the release of this tastiness...

Annabella's Cowl, or how boredom almost made me gouge my own eyes out

When I began this cowl, which is really just a giant knitted tube of laceweight + mohair blend held together, I thought 'Oh geez, this is so simple, I'll be done with it in a matter of days for sure'. Umm, no. It's 29 inches. Apparently you can add 'delusional' to the list of adjectives that describes me. But I'm so glad I stuck with it, because it's fookin' awesome!


The Specs:
Pattern: Annabella's Cowl by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas
Yarn: 3 skeins of Debbie Bliss Andes in 'Mustard' and .50 skein of Madeline Tosh Lace in 'Filigree'.
Needles: size 9
Mods: none. How would one go about making significant mods on a giant tube?



This project was tedious like WHOA. I mean like blinding-you-with-impotent-rage tedious. But now it's done and I do believe that owning it will be a special kind of joy. Why? Because it is versatile beyond belief. Are you checking all the different styles above? Sandrine is working it, is she not?



The pattern calls for Alchemy (yarns of transformation, whatever the hell that means) Silk Purse and Haiku, but since I couldn't get my act together and find any in time to begin, I made an appropriate enough sub I suppose. But me being who I am, I'll always wonder if not doing it in the called-for yarn was a mistake. I'll never know because I WILL NEVER MAKE THIS AGAIN. But I was jonesing for a scarf, and since blocking stretched it out to an impressive 41", I got my wish.

As you can see my Parisian Pal Sandrine has been called into modeling action for me once again. Reason you're glad I'm not your friend: she had a terrible sore throat and was getting over a nasty cold, yet I still made her trudge outside for our photo shoot. Added Gallic insult: the cowl was still semi-damp. Yes you read that correctly, I had a French person outside wearing a semi-damp garment wrapped around her neck while the wind was sort of blowing!! This is breaking so many rules that I kind of can't believe I did. But there you have it--it's all about me and my needs.

Tantallon

If I've learned one thing being the middle child, it's been how to pester and needle the living daylights of people. When I saw Kate's Tantallon on her blog and her mention on Ravelry that she 'might' be writing the pattern up, I joined the throng of clamoring knitters and added my voice to the chants of 'dooo eet dooo eet'. Luckily I didn't have to take it up a notch to a full on hector, because Kate sent me a version of the pattern and let me have a go at test knitting. Woo-hoo! I am leading a charmed life, am I not?

The Specs:
Pattern: Tentallon by Kate Davies (Needled i.e. a knitting force of nature that no health setback will ever derail)
Yarn: Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift: Cardinal, Eesit, Lichen, Moss, Yellow Ochre and Grouse, only .20 of each skein.
Needles: 3.0 and 3.5
Mods: AS IF!

Once I got my greedy hands on this pattern, I sent my personal third floor stash retriever (pictured below) up to bring down the perfectly organized by color ziploc bags of Shetland Spindrift (don't roll your eyes because I know you have your own version of this chez vous). Thankfully I had an embarrassment of riches from which to choose and cast on right away. Hoarding yarn: it occasionally works out in your favor.


This hat was nothing but pure joy to knit. First of there is a sweet little lining that makes for some interior softness. The pattern is designed to have contrast within and between the peerie bands, so the lines really pop on this baby. Once you get going you won't be able to stop because the pattern is magic and therefore completely mesmerizing. If you are new to stranded colorwork I see no reason at all to fear this pattern. It will likely be published quite soon!