Laura Kate

Sunday Sketching – On the Pond

Posted on August 13, 2023August 10, 2023 by Laura Kate

By now I have looked through all of my photos from the July trip and selected some for use in my art. Today I want to study this image of my husband and brother in a rowboat on the pond at brother’s property.

The picture as is tells the story of enjoying an early morning on the pond in July. I wanted to simplify the scene, focusing on the men, the boat and the pond. Using the photo editor, I re-framed it, increased the light and applied a filter, to reveal this.

I like this low-value image a lot and can visualize how I would paint it. But first I wanted to look more closely at the values, and also practice sketching the subject. So I took out all the color and zoomed in on the boat.

Now it’s perfect for sketching in graphite.

This was a fun and easy sketch. I’m inspired to move on to watercolors.

colorwork, knitting

Friday Finish: Sequences Convertible Shrug

Posted on August 11, 2023 by Laura Kate

Hot of the needles, just finished making my version of Sequences Shrug.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sequences-shrug

I started this project in early summer, as one of several stash-busting efforts. The yarn I wanted to use up was Remix Light, by Berroco. I had three colors of the stuff.

This yarn was crafted by recycling left-over fibers from other yarns and includes cotton, acrylic, silk, nylon and linen. I tossed in some left-over cotton marled yarn, to give me four colors to work with.

**Swatch showing the sequence of colors I chose for my version**

The designer did an amazing job in creating this pattern. By alternating columns of knit and purls stitches within the garter stitch rows, she made the garment reversible. I-cord edges on all four sides bring a nice finish. Of course, with my constant color changes, I had a bunch of ends hanging down one side. As I mused about the time and the potential disruption to the design weaving the ends would cause, I resolved to incorporate them into a fringe. Here is the fringed side about 2/3rds along.

And yes, I did have enough yarn to finish. I used the gold and white/black marled yarns completely. I have small amounts of the blue and pink left.

Look Ma, no ends to weave it!

I’m also really pleased with the I-cord edges, especially along the neckline.

Oh, and you may be wondering how it converts. This garment can be worn as a shrug, shawl or scarf. Soon I hope to upload a photo shoot demonstrating all the looks that are available.

Thank you, Lori Versaci. I highly recommend your Sequences Shrug.

knitting

Cast on Monday, working my stash yarn

Posted on August 7, 2023 by Laura Kate

With the Sequences Shrug 99% finished, (This will be revealed on Friday) I have cast on another project, again, targeted at shrinking my stash. I first wrote about this one back in June.

The pink and purple Elysian yarns were left-over from Lu’s simple sweater, completed earlier this year. That blue alpaca yarn is just a place-holder. Ultimately, I decided to purchase a yarn better suited for the project in mind, which is a child’s balaclava, designed by Gretchen Tracy at Balls to the Walls Knits.

https://www.ballstothewallsknits.com/p/about.html

The stitch pattern was adapted by the designer from Barbara Walker’s diced three-color check pattern, found in A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns.

After casting on, a skinny rectangle is knit with three colors of yarn. This weird-looking piece resembles a pre-historic but colorful creature from Unicorn World.

Knitting is continued by picking up around three sides and working in pattern until the helmet section of the balaclava is finished.

At this point, I am dubious about whether it will fit my intended recipient. But I’m willing to trust the designer and carry on with the pattern as written.

If it doesn’t fit Laura Lu, it will fit someone, somewhere.

To find Gretchen’s balaclava pattern, click on the link.

https://www.ballstothewallsknits.com/2014/02/kids-dice-check-balaclava.html