19.5.14

kelpie





Kelpie was a looong project for me. Not because it is difficult, because it isn't at all. But because these last few weeks I've had other things on my mind and knitting has had to take a back seat. I think I'm back on the front seat now but have to admit it the speed limit may be a little more restrained from now on.

Kelpie of course is finished just as the weather is getting warmer, which leaves my somewhat Autumnal colour palette a little redundant for some months to come. But no matter, it is a welcome addition to my wardrobe and, for me, about as colourful as it gets. For, as well as all the other things it appears I'm intolerant to, colour might be one of them!

The bulk of Kelpie (by Jared Flood, Brooklyn Tweed) has been knitted with Rowan Fine Tweed. It was my first experience with this yarn and I have to say I loved every minute of it. One couldn't say it is particularly soft but it's the springiness I fell for. That and the inconsistency in its texture, for every so often a slight variation would approach the needles, be it almost dangerously thin, which meant it had to be treated carefully so as to avoid breaking, or thick and squishy in which case it added an interesting imperfection. Particularly for this shawl, which is rustic in style, this yarn is a perfect match. The other great thing about Fine Tweed is that it is sold in smaller, 25g balls, making it ideal for the stripes which take only four rows of each colour. More pics and full details of colours are here on Ravelry.

So I am actually at the point where I have nothing on the needles. A rarity these days. However I'm scheming already. I shall cast on for two projects, one a Spring/Summer top and the other? Another shawl, would you believe. It's only the colour I'm all of a dither about!!

And you? How are you doing these days?

29 comments:

  1. It's beautiful! Hope that the things which have been slowing you down are not serious and that you are able to drive whare you wish now?!

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    1. Oh yes, nothing serious thanks Jane. And thanks for the comment!

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  2. It's absolutely lovely! I've heard Brooklyn Tweed yarns can be quite scratchy so the Rowan Tweed is probably a far better choice. Kelpie is on my knitting list too, but who knows when I'll actually get around to making it.

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    1. Thank you Elizabeth. I have had some BT loft in my stash since last Summer and have yet to use it. I think the two yarns are pretty similar actually but the Rowan is perfect for this project.

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  3. Love your kelpie!! I too need to get something more on the needles. there are several possibilities. I do have a simple quilt I am hand-quilting with nice, large stitches after Jane Brocket. At least there is something in my hands!

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  4. Your very own Kelpie is a beauty...the colors you chose are perfect for this design. I like using that Rowan Fine Tweed, too. Aren't the colors beautiful?

    I'm currently working on a lacy triangular shawl design by Gudrun Johnston, from the new Brooklyn Tweed look book. I'm using a very soft lace weight yarn from Madelinetosh. The yarn is much finer than the BT yarn, so I also changed up the needle size...it's all a bit delicate, but is slowly growing and growing.

    Best wishes.

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    1. Thank you Frances. Your shawl is destined to be a beauty! You can't go wrong with Gudrun, nor a BT pattern and I say just the same about Madelinetosh yarn too.

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  5. joli châle, j'aime beaucoup, mes félicitations

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  6. I love this shawl! And I love the colors you've used. Im working on a shawl now that sadly keeps getting moved to the back burner for other projects I need to get done for other people! cant wait to get back at it though. I love these colors. I'll have to look this pattern up!

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  7. I love that shawl! I tend to gravitate towards really bright colors, but I'm trying to get some more versatile knits into my wardrobe. I bet you'll wear that all the time :)

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    1. Thank you very much. Yes, I think I shall get a lot of use out of this one :)

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  8. What a sweet thing! I've never worked with Rowan's latest incarnation of tweedy yarns (I've got oodles of their Scottish, Yorkshire and Harris 4ply tweeds in my stash) but I'm glad to hear that it's nice.

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  9. Precioso¡¡¡...me encanta

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  10. So pretty! I love your choice of colours.

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  11. The first blog I looked at this morning was by Kate Davies, who is also writing about Kelpies. http://katedaviesdesigns.com/ Then yours was next, more kelpies! Beautiful project. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. That's kind, thank you. I must head on over to Kate's blog ..

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  12. Its lovely Kate.

    I must have missed what happened .... I hope everything is OK?

    Do pop over and see some roses at mine:-)

    Jeanne
    x

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  13. This is gorgeous! And the colours are perfect, but then like you I'm not entirely happy when it comes to too much colour on the needles. I may love to dye stuff, but I'll leave the rainbows to other folk, soft neutrals are so much prettier and way more sophisticated.

    Fine Tweed is practically the only Rowan yarn I really like these days, you've used it beautifully here.

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  14. Aaah so beutiful! I got so distracted by the ravelry link for an hour or so I've only just made it back to comment! Happy clour choosing, xxx

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  15. It is absolutely beautiful. Just love it!

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  16. A beautiful kelpie... love the colours for the border. I would need to start knitting now so I had my shawl for autumn!

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  17. So lovely, i love your colour choices! im working on this just now, using Jamieson & Smith 2ply Jumper Weight, only on the garter stitch but getting closer to the border. Im really worrying i will lose track of when im knitting and when im purling, i only usually work in the round so ill have to remember the chart means different things when your going in different directions!

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There's nothing like a comment to stop me feeling like I'm talking to myself. If you leave one here I'll pop one back here too, so don't forget to come back and continue the conversation ..

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