hanna birke

Sound of Waves shawl finished

yesterday i finished the Sound of Waves shawl for my mother.

it feels airy and soft but also warm - like a cloud.  the perfect shawl or wrap for keeping my mother's shoulders warm as she reads in bed at night.  the yarn is one strand of Spun Silk 20/2 from Catnip Yarns held together with one strand of Habu Textiles fine merino.  

 

there were a few times when i lost my way with this shawl - you can see one of the pattern repeats is heading off in the wrong direction.  i feel bad about not doing the pattern justice in this section but my mother won't mind and i just didn't have the stamina to start this one 3 times.  

i want to thank everyone for the comments on the photographs in the last post.  i forget to talk about how beautiful it is here.  i should take more photographs of here.  perhaps in the spring. 

sometimes i do end-of-year-posts and talk about my hopes for the new year.  at the moment i feel short of words and plans.  mostly i'm happy to have made it through this year.  i'm also happy to have a few days off to catch my breath. 

my only thought for the new year and creativity is that i'd like to be more experimental this year.  

wishing you all a happy new year and many hours of inspiration and creating in the months to come.  

miura cowl finished

last week i finished the Miura Cowl.

i cast on 133 stitches for 7 pattern repeats.  i like a longer, narrower cowl so could have cast on for 6 pattern repeats instead.

it's been a long time since i've posted a modeled shot - honestly these modeled shots are not my favorite.  i miss the younger, more rested, less stressed me ... but then most of us probably feel this way.  so here's the modeled shot.

happy as i am with this cowl i'm rethinking fiber choices in this milder, damp climate.  i find the merino that i loved in Alberta feels itchy here.  cashmere seems to handle the moisture better.  i'm also looking at cotton, rami, linen and hemp with renewed interest.  

but before i cast on for anything else i must finish the Sound of Waves shawl for my mother.  

will leave you with 2 inspiration links - this one for a great cowl and this one for some endearing sweater mending.