New Cocoons and Bed Jackets

I haven't talked much about knitting lately but, looking back over the projects I finished this winter, I've done rather a lot of it. Actually, what I did was make a commitment to myself to complete a number of works in progress, So while this might look like I've done a lot, most of it has been in progress for a couple of years. I just finished them up this winter and am definitely enjoying wearing the results.

The first is the What-Happened-To-My-Lady-Eleanor Shawl Cocoon: I have come to the realization that I have far more shawls than I am ever going to use. So I decided to turn a couple of them into cocoons. I did this by folding up the two short ends and stitching them to one long side, leaving a couple inches for the neck. Then I picked up stitches around each "cuff" and all along the remaining edge and knit an edging that makes it quite snug and comfortable to wear. This was knit holding three strands together --- one strand of Blue Heron fingerweight raw silk in a variegated blue-purple and 2 strands of Handpainted Yarns' laceweight wool in a number of colors which I changed off in alternating variations.

This sweater looks fabulous with blue jeans and a white tee.

That was so much fun to do that I took a second shawl made from Handpainted Yarns' Barbie Pink Boucle from Uruguay and did the same thing. The result is an incredibly elegant looking cocoon that I wore recently for a gallery opening with silk slacks and a silk shirt. It's shown here with one of Leslie Wind's gorgeous shawl pins as a closure.

I've come up with a formula (a opposed to a pattern) for the bed jackets I have been making. It's complicated but it gives me a chance to try out many different lace patterns. I have been trying to teach myself a number of new patterns so working them in these bed jackets with a textured yarn gives me ample opportunity to learn while working with a fiber that is especially forgiving and covers mistakes well. The first one is made of some yarn I bough on eBay ages ago. It is a recycled silk and rayon blend spun in Haiti. (left). The color is called Monet and it is a thick and thin, nubby yarn. It is another piece that looks great with jeans and a teeshirt. I had started this at least two years ago and am glad that I finally finished it because it will be good for coolish summer evenings.

Using he same technique I made a similar jacket in this luscious lipstick red and black silk-rayon blend again from an eBay auction. I admit I have no gift for photographing these things. The sheen of this fiber is just gorgeous but you can't tell that from my photos. Again this is shown with one of Leslie's Shawl Pins. This is much warmer than I thought it would be. I crocheted all around the cuffs and opening with a picot stitch to give it that finish.

And finally, my favorite, a beautiful, very soft, lightweight sweater made from Knit Pick's luscious Pima Cotton called Crayon in Periwinkle. This yarn may qualify for my very favorite yarn to knit with. I am currently working on a summer sweater in their Azure and I have a stash of their new color, Beach Glass, waiting. It is simply the softest fiber I have ever touched --- softer than angora and cashmere in my opinion. I have another bed jacket in their Crayon Pink and I wear it all the time. I'm showing the back of the jacket here so you can get a sense of the lace patterns used. It is going to be my friend all summer!

I also made a bed jacket similar to the ones above in a beautiful purple, nubby wool held together with a pastel-colored ladder yarn but my sister Lisa made off with it before I got a chance to photograph it. Oh well. At least it has a happy home.

So now that I have finished all these projects it is on to new stuff. I have a couple of scarves to photograph and post. I guess i should finish up all the scarves I've started next.

Sigh.

Thanks for reading.