Shrug it off

I've been doing a lot of machine knitting this month. I go to a monthly machine knitting group and we agree on a challenge each month. Something we can all knit. Last month it was to knit a summery garment. I knitted the Araucania Ruca Cardi but only got the body done in time for the May group:

Last weekend I finally got around to knit the sleeves. I set one in and sewed up the side and underarm seams on one side. Tried it on and the sleeve is far too tight. Now I did have problems when I was setting in the sleeve cap. The sleeve cap was smaller than the armhole but I thought it would be okay but it wasn't. So I need to rip out the sleeves, re-calculate and re-knit sleeves, which ofcourse I haven't done yet but i will do it this weekend as I really want to finish this cardi. I've also got to decide what to do about front button bands. I did originally think about doing an i-cord edging but I'm not sure.

Our group challenge for June is to knit a very simple shrug. We're doing the rectangular kind. Knit a rectangle and sew up the sleeve seams. I'm not all that keen on this shape of shrugs as I'm not sure it's all that flattering on me. But I did knit two last weekend. I decided to use it as an opportunity to experiment with stitch patterns. the machine has a pattern type called tuck stitch which I love and if you take a few needles out of use you get tuck lace.

Last year I did a very simple waist coat using a tuck punch card with some needles out of use. I'd written down 2 needles in use and 2 needles out of use in my note book which means every 2 needles on the machine I take 2 needles out of use. That didn't work, so I looked at the waist coat and it looked like 3 needles in use and 2 out. I was wrong again but I ended up with a really nice stitch pattern.

I decided to use this for my shrugs. I did the first one in Supreme Sock in a colourway I dyed last week and fell in love with. It took 200gr.

I had 2 skeins of either Ocean Silk or Silken Sock which I dyed last year and had kept for myself.

Although it's the same stitch pattern knitted at the same tension it does look a bit different.

I did take some pics on my dress form but taking pics of this type of shrugs on a arm-less dress form is not easy, so I'll have to try and get someone to take photos of me modelling it this weekend.

I'm currently knitting a cardi for me using another tuck stitch pattern and Manos del Uruguay Serena. I fell in love with Serena when I designed with it earlier in the year. I thought it would be too thick for my machine but tried it and it's okay. I've finished the back of the cardi today and will be starting one front tonight. i'm hoping to finish it this weekend. I need some lightweight summer cardigans, although at the moment i'd rather wear my cashmere cardis.

I've put up a preview of my new Daisy Shawlette on Ravelry today. I managed to get one of the coveted Ravelry pattern ads for June and I decided I wanted to use it to advertise my Daisy Shawlette.  I'm wondering if I made the right decision as the pattern is not ready yet but I need to get on with it this weekend and get it done. I'm aiming to get it published by the end of next week. Vanessa did some modelling for me today but I wasn't 100% happy with the photos I got so I need to do some more. But here are some from this afternoon:

And here are two that Vanessa probably won't be happy for me to show:

I have been dyeing yarn this week and there will be a shop update. Rain today has delayed drying so the shop update will be on Saturday or Sunday. I will send out a newsletter when it's ready and there will be a special offer in the newsletter. If you've not signed up, the sign up form is in the side bar - don't miss out on great discounts.