The Old

First off, the Alexstrasza Cowl…

1. 11/22/08 - The repeats on the right-side rows were wrong.  The pattern should be repeated 4 times, not 8 times.  This has been corrected and my humble apologies are herewith tendered.
2. 04/03/09 - The stitch count for row 6 was off.  This has been corrected.  Thanks to Beverly in Texas for the heads up!
Materials

Classic Elite Miracle, 50% Alpaca/50% Tencel, DK weight, 108 yds per skein - 2 skeins

Size 6 straight or circular needles - knitter’s preference.  Piece is worked flat.

Gauge

About 6 sts/inch, blocked

Finished measurements

8.75” tall, 20” around.

M1

Insert left needle from front to back under running stitch between the needles.  Knit this stitch through the back.

Cast on 106 sts, loosely.

Row 1:  (Wrong side and all other WS rows)  P1, K1, (P11, K2) 7 times, P11, K1, P1.

Row 2:  K1, (P1, M1, SSK, K4, K2tog, K3, M1, P2, M1, K3, SSK, K4, K2tog, M1, P1) 4 times; end K1.
 
Row 4:  K1, (P1, M1, K1, SSK, K2, K2tog, K4, M1, P2, M1, K4, SSK, K2, K2tog, K1, M1, P1) 4 times; end K1,

Row 6:  K1, (P1, M1, K2, ssk, K2tog, K5, M1, P2, M1, K5, SSK, K2tog, K2, M1, P1) 4 times; end K1

Row 8:  K1, (P1, M1, K3, ssk, K4, K2tog, M1, P2, M1, SSK, K4, K2tog, K3, M1, P1) 4 times; end K1

Row 10:  K1, (P1, M1, K4, SSK, K2, K2tog, K1, M1, P2, M1, K1, SSK, K2, K2tog, K4, M1, P1) 4 times; end K1.

Row 12:  K1, (P1, M1, K5, SSK, K2tog, K2, M1, P2, M1, K2, SSK, K2tog, K5, M1, P1) 4 times; end K1.

Repeat these 12 rows 6 times and bind off loosely.  Block and mattress stitch ends together. 

Notes

1.  This could easily be worked in the round by eliminating the selvedge stitches (which are included in the pattern) and working the WS rounds as: P1, (K11, P2) 7 times, K11, P1.  Cast on would, of course, be reduced to 104 stitches.

2.  This only barely breached the second ball of yarn so if you were content with say 5 repeats of the pattern instead of 6, you might get away with a single ball.

The bag is also complete - well, complete enough to use :)  I’m still thinking about adding an inside pocket but haven’t yet decided how to do it or if it’s really even necessary.

It made its debut yesterday and I’m very pleased with it.  I’m also absurdly pleased with the dumb little bird which I’m fondly thinking of as a name tag :)

The New(ish)

I uncovered a project I started quite a while ago and which just kept getting away from me.  I had originally intended to make this tall enough to be used as a hood as well as a cowl, but the rest of the yarn got used up in other projects.

It’s based on The Wavy Feathers Wimple which uses the gorgeous Japanese Feathers stitch pattern - one ideally suited to working in the round :)

I wound up pulling out a couple of rounds just to have enough yarn to bind off with.  This is an incredibly soft piece, made from Knitpicks (discontinued) Ambrosia (80% baby alpaca/20% cashmere) and is like wrapping a kitten around your neck.  Without the claws, of course…

And I’ve been wanting to make something for one of the girls that I see at the hospital regularly.  She has made my life easier on countless occasions and does her job cheerfully and very well indeed.  I’d noticed over the years that she has a strong preferences for shades of purple and turquoise and I finally remembered that I had some strongly turquoise fingering weight in the stash - Turquish Delight the first yarn I ever dyed.  Well I dug that right out, rummaged around for beads (you’ve seen these before on the Glacial Gauntlets) and got to work…

If the lace pattern looks familiar, it’s the same as was used on the Dana Victoria mitts except that instead of a bobble in the middle, there’s a bead.  I will discontinue the beads over the palm as they might make holding a glass uncomfortable or insecure.  But so far I like it :)

There was also some swatching following a discussion of a possible aran vest at Chatters Saturday evening.  While I was able to come up with something I liked, I now realize I’m going to need a great deal more yarn than I have to execute the project so it’s going on the back burner, probably until after the holidays.

I’ve got enough to work on for now anyway!

Have a great week :)