This has been such a busy week!  Andy and I have been spending every free moment working on the deck to try to get it finished.  The majority of the construction is done, which is a tremendous relief.  We still have the stairs to put in and then can begin work on leveling up the ground under the deck so that we can have a cement patio poured. 

Andy and I sat outside this afternoon, put our feet up and had a beer.  It was so nice to be able to take a moment to relax and enjoy the deck and the beautiful day.  The new wood needs to cure for six months before we can paint the deck.  We plan on painting it, along with the house this spring.  It's going to be fun to choose a color and we are really looking forward to it!

I haven't had as much time as I would like to knit this week and am still working on the Bethesda's Socks for the Sock it To Me KAL.   I also have a new cowl design on the needles that I plan on taking with me next week while we are on vacation. Yep, that's right, we are taking a vacation!  This one doesn't include construction, cooking, laundry or anything of that nature. 

I have a blog post scheduled for next Friday which will have a BIG surprise and announcement which I think you will like.  If you follow me under Lara Smoot Designs on Facebook there will be a few hint's there during the week as well. 

Scrowl

Friday is finally here and what a relief!  It's been one of those weeks that even the simplest task seems to go wonky.  I plan on knitting on my Intersect Hat and relaxing while watching Neftlix or The Soprano's tonight.  We recently subscribed to HBO (there was a special deal) and have been able to watch a lot of shows that are new to us as well as get caught up on Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire.  We have also been watching Girls, which is a really odd show, but I can't seem to stop watching it so go figure! The best thing about tonight is that Andy has offered to cook.  He is making Italian Sausage, colored peppers, onions in a homemade sauce over Penne pasta.  I found some Cannoli at Fresh Market that the pastry chef guaranteed didn't come in contact with tree nuts, so we even have dessert.  

The Scrowl pattern is now available and is 20% off with coupon code: ShaliMarch2014 until 2/7.  Margi did an awesome job test knitting it and said she really liked the pattern.  I enjoyed knitting it and also wearing it.  It really blocks out the wind on the bone chilling days we have had recently.

From the pattern:

The Scrowl! It’s a scarf, it’s a wrap, it’s a cowl all in one; the perfect accessory to keep you warm and cozy while still looking stylish.

This is a very easy to knit pattern and uses two full skeins of Shalimar Yarns Edie Aran. Shown in the Penny Candy colorway. A great alternative would be Enzo Aran.

Both written and charted instructions are included.

I'm including this selfie so you can see what it looks like with a winter jacket.

My goal is to create patterns that are fun to knit and easy to follow and understand.  Knitting should be fun and patterns shouldn't be confusing!  There is nothing more frustrating (at least for me) than being in the middle of a pattern and not understanding what comes next or a technique that is being used.

I feel so blessed to have a  such a wonderful group of test knitters.  They give me feedback on what they like and don't like about how something is written or designed.  I know if something is working for me, but it's really important to have other eyes and hands on it so that it will work for others as well. 

I hope that you will find my patterns to be well written and enjoyable.  I would love to hear from you and see your projects!  

Wentletrap

My love of seashells started when I was a small child. I would collect them in my pockets on trips we took to the beach in Maine. Even in the cold days of winter my family would walk on the beach to enjoy the fresh sea air. 

 

Wentletraps are a family of small high spired mollusks. Their shells are one of my favorites – delicate and complex looking with their spiraling forms. The spiraling pattern of the Wentletrap Sock is reflective of the beauty of these exquisite sea creatures.

  I really enjoyed designing and knitting these socks.   The lace pattern is very easy to remember and makes Wentletrap a perfect project to take to the beach or pool this summer.  I strive to make my patterns easy to follow and as uncomplicated as possible while still being interesting to knit.  I hope that you will enjoy knitting them as much as I have.

Wentletrap specially priced at $4.50 until this Saturday, July 20.

My test knitters did a fabulous job.  Thank you so much Jan, Lyz, Bhama,  Lydia, Tamsyn, Jenna, Margi and Ann! 

Needles

A while ago a knit group, I had a conversation with one of the knitters about the importance of using the right needle for the yarn you are working with.  There are so many different types of yarn and needles out there and choosing the right ones for your project can make the difference between knitting in comfort or complete frustration. 

Knitting needles are the most important tool in my knitters arsenal. I was thinking about this the other day when I changed the type of needle I was using mid way through a project. I normally don't do this because it has the possibility of altering gauge, but in this case I really couldn't avoid it. I had been knitting along on a new sock design using Sanguine Gryphon Bugga and my trusted US 1 Harmony DPN's. My hands really started bothering me and continued to ache every time I worked on this project. Ive never had a problem with this yarn and I can't even count how many pairs of socks those Harmony's have made. This time it just felt like there was a lot of drag and my knitting wasn't smooth and rhythmic like it normally is. I tried the trick of rubbing wax paper on the needles which usually gets wooden needles slick. This time it didn't seem to make a difference. I wound up switching to my US 1 Signature Stiletto DPN's and no more hand pain.  Not only that, but I noticed that my knitting went a lot faster. 

I think of knitting needles as an investment.  Long after the first project I used them on they will still be with me knitting countless other projects. And just because one type of needle didn't work this time, it doesn't mean that it wont be perfect for the next project. 

I thought I would show a few of the DPN's that I use and talk about what I like about them:

Crystal Palace Bamboo
These are high quality bamboo and come with a super smooth finish. They glide nicely through knitting and have a more rounded tip than some other brands of needles. The bamboo will warm up in my hands and feels very comfortable. The rounded tips are nice for yarn that tends to be a bit splitty.

 

 

 

Knit Picks Harmony Wood

Made from laminated birch these have sharper points than the previous needles and a slightly smoother finish. They work well for projects with texture like lace and cables. The sharper points make it easier to pick up stitches.

 

 

 

 

HiyaHiya Stainless





Made from high quality stainless steel with a medium sharp tip. These needles are reasonably priced and preform like more expensive needles. They are smooth and surprisingly light weight. I like their tips and they are a good all around needle.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Needle Arts Stiletto Tip

If you are looking for the Mercedes of needles, then Signature is the way to go. They come in several different tip options and needle lengths. I really love the Stiletto tips, which makes them perfect for lacework. The body of the needles has a very slight texture to them - not enough to make them grabby on the yarn, but just enough to stop slick yarns like silk and cashmere from falling off the needles. The ends and tips are very smooth which makes knitting with a breeze.

 

 

 

When choosing needles it's best to pick what feels and works best for you. 

 

 

New sock: On Stranger Tides

Soon to Come!