Secret Agent a.k.a....

Dirty Unicorn

Pattern:  Emissary
Yarn:  Republic of Wool/Twist Fingering

This is my first purchase of Republic of Wool and I love it.  The yarn is hand dyed in small batches and not easy to get hold of on the East Coast.  It's soft and the colors are beautiful.  I chose "Dirty Unicorn" for the best grandaughter in the whole wide world (BGITWWW).   She loves all things unicorn "even dirty ones."

After reading through the pattern I cast on for the size 10.  I chose the twisted rib for the sleeve and body hems.  I wish now I had knit the neckline in twisted rib.  I slipped the first stitch on every row purl-wise with yarn in front.

Pretty little selvedge.

   

Pretty Dirty Unicorn!

Knitting went smoothly up to the sleeve join.  It was when I had to pick up two silly stitches that I knit into trouble; the ends did not meet well. After three attempts I put the project away for weeks. The fourth time around all went well on one sleeve.

Please excuse the shadows. I was outside trimming Mock Orange shrubs.
I cannot wait to give BGITWWW's cropped cardi a soak!

The second sleeve join has been horrendous!  I have stretched the fabric at he join so much that I and have to go way way back to firm up via the purl side.  I only have 11 rows to knit and this will get done but am too frustrated presently so I started another project.  I do plan to finish this before the end of this month.

The swatch was spot on for this in a size 10 from the pattern but it is quite roomy in the back and the sleeves so I knit it an inch longer in length.  The positive side is that there is growing room and I'm confident the yarn will withstand the test of time!

...Happy Trails....

It's a Wrap with Super Color Powers!!!!!!!!!

Type your summary here Type rest of the post here

Ode to Ashes' Anthro Wrap

An explosion of color in every row!

Pattern:  Radiant Wrap by Healther Walpole
Yarn:  House of A La Mode Bangin Bulky


As I knit along I see a dramatic and unique wrap pining for the cold.  The colors are vibrant and the fabric has a soft hand with some respectable weight to it.

I knit a very long swatch and rolled it up to look like a pretty floret before frogging it.

Swatch Floret

The Gauge:   My gauge for this swatch on US 10 1/2 bamboo needles is 3.25 stitches per inch. I should cast on 65 stitches for a 20" wide scarf (not 80 as the pattern instructions read).

Bamboo Needles

However, I have decided to use addi Turbo Rocket needles.  Daughter-who-doesn't knit sent these via Amazon and they are amazing!  Stitches slide off the needles without drag and the tips are sharp! Vrroom!

My gauge for this swatch on US 10 1/2 Turbo Rockets is 3.12 stitches per inch so I should cast on 62.  I will actually cast on 64 stitches; 62 for the pattern and 2 for the selvedge edges.

addi Turbo Rocket Needles

  

The Selvedge:  I slipped the first stitch of every row with yarn in front and knit the last stitch of every row. This creates a chain like decorative edge that is smooth along the sides.  Later I will lift up each selvedge stitch with a needle to even out the tension.

Swatch with Chain-Like Selvedge

Happy 4th of July!   BGITWWW and I walked to the lake.  I was able to knit a few rows on this while she read Warriors.  The breeze masked the 88° temperature and the water was quite cold but refreshing!  

 

Ch-Ch-Cha Changes...

...Happy Trails....