Never Frog Pond

Beaded Madeira Diamond for October

By now, thanks to the likes of speedy knitters like MarciaViola, you have all had a peek at the October clue all knitted up. Here is my version with beads. Many of you are probably cursing the p3tog, but keep your eyes on the prize! It is such a lovely pattern.

The jury is still out on November. I figured out that many of you may not know the specific name of the patterns that are being suggested, so I have been fishing for some photos:

Frost Flowers

 Frost Flowers is a perennial favorite. The stitch count may be a bit large, and it is a two-sided pattern with purl decreases on the WS. Really gorgeous though!

Print O' the Wave, Eunny Jang's pattern

Print O' The Wave(also known as Grapevine Trellis, and other names) is also a really gorgeous pattern, though not difficult at all, and only patterned on RS. Though it is made famous by Eunny Jang's stole (which is a free download!), it is an old, traditional stitch.

Lily of the Valley Estonian Scarf

Lily of the Valley is arguably the best known of the Estonian stitches - it has nupps, and nupps are not really optional because the pattern does not happen without them. But it is worth the effort!

My very own Ishbel!

Ishbel uses the Trellis Shell pattern, which is quite basic but still very beautiful.

Rose Leaf Pattern

 Rose Leaf, and the closely related Elm Leaf, are two very classic patterns. Neither one is hard to work. This one on the picture has some nupps added, but they are not part of the pattern itself.

Cat's paw pattern

 Cat's Paw is a basic element of the Orenburg patterns and others. Very basic. We probably won't be using it for November because, erm, there is a bit of it in December!

December  is progressing at a good clip. Here is a view of my table, strewn with swatches, sketches, charts, books and bits of yarn:

The edge is practically knitting itself. I had selected a few background stitches, linking combos and edgings, but at the very first try, I liked the result so much I decided that was "it". Sometimes, it is best not to over think a design! Now, we just have to teach it to turn corners...

Speaking of which, since this is going to be an educational experience for a few of you, how would you feel about a tutorial mini-pattern? I am thinking a little swatch with border attached all around. It could be used as a very fancy washcloth, or my favorite, with a bit of cloth for backing, as a potpourri bag that can be a Christmas present. It would give you a chance to practice attaching borders and turning corners before you tackle the big, bad shawl border.

Meanwhile... chaos ensues
Remember that little leak in my shower? well, it is turning rapidly into a major bathroom remodel. Something like the Sixtine Chapel of the bathroom remodels. We spent most of yesterday removing the salmon-and-sage wallpaper that came with the house. It must have been superglued to the wall, I swear!. Underneath, the wall is heavily textured, which means sanding and spackling until the cows come home. The tiles were made on Mexican time, which is to say a month later than promised. But they arrived yesterday! And painfully, the project progresses. 

 
And while waiting for tiles, DH grew restless and started to remodel baby's future bedroom (he is almost two years old, so he needs to get out of our bedroom... now!). Also disassembled the guest's bedroom bed, shuffled some other furniture and moved the computer around... so now more of the house is in disarray.

"look, mom, a wet bar!"

The toilet is temporarily relocated to the backyard so we can work on the wall behind, which gave the dogs some high hopes. They figured out quickly they could not drink out of it, though.

All of this has put a serious crimp on my knitting time. Sylvar is progressing slowly due to major modifications made to the pattern. First, I had to go a size up to a large, and trust me, I am petite. It is not so much a fault of the pattern but of the yarn, which is classified as worsted but seems to knit more like a DK. I have heard this before from Madeline Tosh yarns, so buyer beware. I also decided to do away with the 6-inch garter border, because it is unflattering to my Mediterranean hips, and instead carried the pattern all the way to the bottom with a narrower garter and a few increases to make it more fitted. I am starting on the sleeves, and I am worried I may have to add short row sleeve caps to avoid bunching at the armpits, but I will knit a few inches and try them on. The sweater made a trip to the Tuesday's knitting group and got groped a lot :)

MadTosh Worsted in Tannenhill for this Sylvar sweater

Cliffrose is pretty slow going, but I can't be happier with the choice of yarn. Soft, buttery, and with lovely stitch definition. My fear/hope is that I won't have enough yarn to finish and I may have to buy more in a contrasting or harmonizing color for the edging. waaah.

Cliffrose in SG Gaia Lace