Two-Color Doily

This is one of the few doilies I've seen that is designed to be a two-color doily. Unfortunately, older pattern books do not give credit to the designer. I think this designer incorporated the lace and color in a pleasing manner.

• Pattern: Knitted Two-Color Doily from Star Doily Book #104
• Thread: Cebelia size 30, cream and 799 blue (I love this color)
• Needles: 2.0mm (US0)
• Rounds: 82
  
• Finished size: About 12.5 inches diameter
  

Fluttering Again

Did I mention that I am crazy about the MimKnits Flutter Scarf? This is my second, but probably not my last, one.

• Yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr, approximately 500 yards (left over from my Weeping Willow shawl), color Elderberry
• Needles: US4 (3.5mm)
• Beads: Japanese 8/0 seed beads
• Finished size: Approximately 75 inches long

Meanwhile, my garden is doing well. The colors are always a source of inspiration.

Small Doily

Back in the day, variegated thread was common. While it does not work for many doilies — usually the more complex ones — it can be used more or less successfully for simple doilies, such as this one.

Details:

• Pattern: Small Doily from Nurhanne's yarnover site (a resource treasure for doily knitting fans). It is 42 rounds. The pattern directs you to purl rounds 36-38 and 40-43, but I knit them.
  
• Thread: J&P Coats size 30 crochet thread, small ball of 150 yards, color 19. The fact that it is J&P Coats means it is pre-1952 thread; J&P Coats and the Clark Thread Company merged in 1952.
• Needles: 2.0mm
• Finished size: about 8.5 inches diameter

Square with Diamonds

The Lacy Knitters Guild (and as a group on Ravelry) is an amazing resource for lace knitters. The newsletters are chock full of information about lace knitting. And, each issue contains patterns from the Lacy Knitters Collection, such as this one:

• Pattern: Square with Diamonds, Kunststricken 1637
• Thread: Cebelia, size 30, yellow, color 745 (this is an older thread, judging from the label)
• Needles: 2.0 mm (US0)
• Finished size: approximately 12 inches x 12 inches
  

I made this doily for my friend Debbie as she begins her new job and new adventures in Vancouver, Washington. I've known Deb for 23+ years both as a work colleague and as a friend. She is definitely a doily-worthy friend.

Weeping Willow

I greatly enjoy the shawl patterns from Two Old Bags. This one is Weeping Willow. Details:

• Weeping Willow Shawl from Two Old Bags
• Yarn: Zephyr, 50 percent silk/50 percent merino, color Elderberry (wonderful yarn, wonderful!)
  
• Needles: 4mm (US6)
• Finished size: 35 inches center back

I added 8/0 Japanese seed beads to the center of the diamonds, along one of the chevron and at the tips of the edging. The beads are nearly the same color as the yarn because I wanted to add a bit of sparkle and weight but did not want the beads to overwhelm the pattern or the yarn.

Two Unrelated Cool Things

Cool Thing No. 1: My friends Nancy and Michael framed the doily that I knit. Nancy selected this one, Egeblad, as a housewarming gift for their new home in Tucson. I like the way they framed it. I feel like my work is hanging in an art gallery.

Cool Thing No. 2: We spent two days in East Wenatchee, Washington, bottling wine for Fielding Hills. We helped bottle about 200 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon during our first shift and about 200 cases of the Tribute red blend during our second shift. No photos of the bottling line because we were working.

We enjoyed good company and hard work in a beautiful orchard setting.

And good meals with plenty of Fielding Hills' excellent wines.

One of My Favorites

The Fiber Trends Versatile Scarves pattern is one of my favorites because it is so — well, versatile. Any weight of yarn, any amount of yarn over about 200 yards, solid or variegated — whatever suits you. The pattern has three versions: triple eyelet border, basic garter and eyelet lace.

The particulars of my scarf:

• Pattern: Triple Eyelet Border from Fiber Trends Versatile Scarves
• Yarn: Unique Designs by Kathy Withers; kid mohair, shetland, angelica; 270 yards/2.8 ounces
• Needles: 4mm (US6)
• Finished size: 14 inches back neck length