Two finished things to talk about today! First, I finished the pair of striped plain vanilla socks I had been working on. These are knit using Hickory Lane Fiber Co’s sock base (75/25 SW merino/nylon) in the Luster Dust colorway with a contrast cuff, heel and toe (and stripes). A quick and easy knit that’s slated for the charity gift box. Since I used most of the contrast miniskein, I actually have enough yardage left of the MC for another pair, especially if I use some other mini for contrast cuffs, etc. My other option is to use this for half of a Musselburgh hat and I may go that route with a lighter color for the other half, so it’ll be reversible and look like 2 different hats. More on that once I decide the final destination.
Next, I also finished up Spirea. This shawl was a kit from A Verb For Keeping Warm and was the October 2022 club kit I’m just getting around to working up. I absolutely LOVED the yarn base – Flock, which is a single-ply Rambouillet wool (very soft, very springy) that was dyed in 2 natural-dye colors. I’ll be honest and say I didn’t think much of this kit when it arrived. The green wasn’t exactly my thing but I was proven wrong because this project is so lovely when completed and I enjoyed every minute of working on it. The shape is a simple triangle with increases along one edge, and the knitting is a basic knit/purl pattern with loads of texture. The contrast color flowers are added in as embroidered details and I think elevate this one to a lovely springtime vibe.
Modifications: I worked the embroidery a bit differently than the pattern is written. I used a single strand of the yarn and worked each petal double (rather than working with 2 strands of yarn). I found that made the flowers lay better. I also added a x-stitch over the center to anchor the ends of the yarn and I think it helped the flowers hold their shape better too. Additionally, I had enough of the main color to do one more full repeat of the pattern so this is a bit bigger than written (which I think is a good option – the original is more like a small shawl). Finally, I opted not to include the mini tassels on mine, as I like the clean I-cord edging.
Really delighted with how nicely this one turned out!
Knit One, Spin Too 
Wow that shawl looks great!
Thank you! I’m really pleased with how it came out!
These both look great! (They’re even a bit color coordinated, too.) I wasn’t sure about the embroidery on the shawl when you first mentioned it, but I love how it turned out!
I felt the same way about the shawl but I think it would have been too plain without the embroidery and I love the delicate detail of it.
Both are gorgeous. I really love that leaf green as the contrast with that floral feeling yarn.
Aren’t those colors pretty together? The green changes a lot depending on the light – but both are naturally dyed colorways.
Both projects look very much like Spring. The shawl is just beautiful.
Thank you so much! I totally agree – the colors are very seasonally appropriate 🙂