New Knit Sample Muqarnas

Knitting

I am happy to report that I have completed the knitting of my Muqarnas top. It is blocked and ready to add to the booth next week at the Southern Comforts Fiber Market. I was hoping that I would finish in time to take it.

I ended up getting in a bit more knitting time this past weekend in which to get it done. On Saturday, after grocery shopping, dinner and some house cleaning, I worked on it for a few hours. Sunday, I took a day off and got almost all of the yoke decreases done. Monday afternoon I finished the yoke, knit the collar and sewed the underarms closed. I washed and blocked it on Tuesday.

I measured it before washing and it measured 43″ in circumference and 22″ total body length. Both of those measurements are close to the intended size, which is the L size. It grew a few inches in all directions after the washing. I find that can happen more with all over lace in fingering weight, especially in a seamless garment. It now measures about 46″ in circumference and 26″ in length. It is now the XL size. It will probably pull back in some. I am glad I made the cropped version rather than the tunic length. I think it would have been a dress if I had made the longer version.

I knit the sample from 240g (1180 yards) of our Classic Merino Bamboo yarn in the Rose color. That’s around two and a half skeins. I am a little bit annoyed that the third skein is lighter than the first two. They were all the same dye lot and looked close. Oh well, I hate alternating skeins and this is the chance you have to accept if you make the choice to not alternate.

I knit this using US 4 and US 2 needles. I originally planned to use US 5 needles but changed to US 4’s after knitting a swatch. The pattern calls for a US 6, but I knew that, for me, in this yarn, that was too large.

Reading

A quick report on recent reads and what I am currently reading:

• Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence – Ash – I finished this and I liked it a lot! **** If you are into historical fiction, you may like it too.
• Private Life by Jane Smiley – First read of this author. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but it was good. I read it over 5-6 days and I will be reading more by her in the future. ****
• Three Days in June by Anne Tyler – I borrowed it on Libby and started it yesterday. I’m already 50% done. It’s a short read and I enjoy her style.

Next Projects

I am not sure what I am in the mood to knit right now. I think a small project or something a bit simple may be in order. I’ll probably have settled on what that will be by my next post. So, so long for now, and thanks for reading!