January TIF and more knitting . . .

I finished my Take if Further Design Challenge piece. I used simple stitches and a variety of overdyed threads, some stone beads, and ribbon to stitch the spirit bear and flow visualization lines on a piece of silk dupioni. I still need to add backing to the piece. I think that I will make all the pieces the same size so that they could be made into a book. I used the theme from the challenge and chose my father as the person I admired. He is featured in the "Collectors Corner Column" in the Heard Museum Shop News. He shares his love of dogs and contemporary Native American Art in the article. You can see more TIF Challenge pieces on the Take it Further Challenge blog or in the Flickr group.

I also won the first contest I entered on the Knit the Classics Blog with my pocket for Belinda. I enjoyed reading Belinda and had fun making the Mermaid's Tail Evening Bag. Now I am working on a prayer shawl for the knitting ministry at church. I finished the knitting and now have to crochet 57 little scallops on the edge. I think it may take me as long to complete the crochet border as it did to knit the rest of the shawl. I am using Lion Brand Homespun in Color 329, Waterfall, and a Lion Brand Pattern for an easy triangle shawl. The color is beautiful and the shawl is very soft. However, the yarn seems to snag easily.

Knitting Finishes

I have finished some knitting projects this past week. The first is Sally Melville's Asymmetrical Vest from The Knitting Experience Book 1: The Knit Stitch. This is the first pattern book that I bought when I started knitting again six years ago. There is enough explanation and instruction for a beginner but the patterns are simple classics that are interesting but not difficult to make. My vest is knitted in Noro's Yoroi yarn which has been discontinued. I like the contrast between the muted colors and the bright, neon flecks. The yarn is very light weight but warm so it adds warmth without feeling substantial.

The second finished project is the Mermaid's Tail Evening Bag from Exquisite Little Knits by Iris Schreier and Laurie Kimmelstiel. I made it for Knit the Classics -- it is my Belinda Project. I used ribbon yarns from my stash. It is pretty and since it is knit in ribbon on size 3.5 needles, it is substantial enough to hold a pencil without it slipping through the knitting.

I also did some more work on my Bartholomew's Tantalizing Socks and am planning my next project -- Sally Melville's Best-friend Jacket in a Blue Lopi.