Monday, February 29, 2016

Azaleas and a new cowl..................



Over the weekend my azaleas bloomed.  I have a few bushes in my front yard and I am always happy to see them burst into color.  A true sign that Spring has arrived.


I finished this new cowl last night.  I love the pattern it is the 3 hour cowl pattern by Ijeoma Oluo of Malcolm and Marcus designs.  It is a free pattern so hop on over to Ravelry and print it out.  It took me a bit longer than three hours as I used thinner yarn, smaller needles and cast on more stitches.  I used Steam Valley Fiber, hand dyed silk yarn from deep, deep in my stash, 50% silk and 50% merino wool.  I bought this yarn a million years ago when visiting Rhinebeck with my sister.  I used size 8 needles, cast on 100 stitches (the pattern calls for a multiple of 4) and got knitting.  I think I used about 100 yards of yarn for this project, I have some left over so I might make number two with the rest of it.  It really is a fast and easy pattern and I love this yarn so it is a win/win.  It is always nice when older stash yarn finally finds the right pattern to shine with.


The pattern is much easier than it looks, really just three rows over and over until you have the width you want.   My next one will be longer, I might cast on tonight. 

I  also saw Lady in the Van, with Maggie Smith this weekend, oh my she was fabulous, although the movie was a bit too whimsical, for me it is a fascinating story loosely based on true events.

I am off to work, have a good Monday.


32 comments:

Karen said...

Oh, I love this cowl, Meredith. The yarn and the stitching, just perfect together. I checked the link and I like yours better:/ It has a much tighter stitch? and shows off the pattern so nicely.

Have a good Monday!

Babajeza said...

Enjoy spring! :-) Here it's snowing. Rrrrg. Hugs, Regula

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Oh the Azaleas always are so lovely when they bloom. Not yet here but soon?? Love that cowl, my daughter would wear that. Wishing you a good week.
hugs,
Linda

kathy b said...

I love your cowl Meredith! The yarn colors are wonderful> Great yarn and pattern match up!

Bridget said...

Happy Leap Day!

We used to have a lovely azalea in our garden, but it got some kind of disease and had to be taken out. I am hoping to be able to replace it at some point, since azaleas are just such pretty happy flowers.

Your cowl is just beautiful! What a perfect combo of yarn and pattern - it looks like a bouquet.

We saw "Brooklyn" over the weekend. I had read the book, so I was hesitant about the movie. Fortunately, it kept the spirit of the book.

I hope your week goes well!

Jennifer Hays said...

Your azaleas are so pretty, Meredith. I love azaleas. They remind me of when I was very little and we lived in Georgia. Lots of azaleas everywhere there. Your cowl turned out so lovely. It looks just like the azaleas. :) I hope you have a good week!

Gracie Saylor said...

Happy work week, Meredith! Thanks for the pattern info. I love the way your cowl looks and I hope it is a pattern I can follow, too. Maggie's movie is on my want to see list! xx

Helen said...

Such lovely flowers! Beautiful and springlike :) And the cowl is gorgeous. Have a good week! xo

Janet said...

Beautiful cowl, I love the colours in the yarn. I'll have to look up that pattern, it looks a real beauty. Have a good week.
Janet x

Anonymous said...

That is a very interesting pattern. Love the close up photo. The sheen in the yarn is just perfect for that type of pattern.

Sandi said...

I'm jealous. In the Northeast, we won't see our azaleas for some time.
The cowl is lovely. Sadly, the link does not work to get the pattern from Ravelry :( :( :(

Chris said...

Love your cowl! It's beautiful yarn and looks great with that stitch !! Your azaleas are so beautiful!! I have a little potted one on my house and they sure look quite exotic to
me. Have a good week!

Annette T. said...

The pattern in the cowl is fantastic. I just might have to have to try it. And it is so rich looking,

mamasmercantile said...

Beautiful cowl, the pattern looks so intricate it is stunning. Spring is definitely in the air, I am starting to think garden and a trip to Florida.

kristieinbc said...

Your cowl is wonderful, Meredith! So are your blooming azaleas. I can't wait to see Lady in the Van. I love Maggie Smith!

Andrea Ostapovitch said...

The azaleas are beautiful and the cowl is very pretty too. Great color blend.

Have a great week!

Danette Bartelmay said...

This cowl is absolutely Gorgeous Meredith! I love the yarn... the colors... and your stitches are perfect!!!
Those azaleas are stunning as well. Still having bits of snow off and on here in Illinois. Hoping for Spring ...
Maggie Smith is ALWAYS fabulous! I'm not familiar with this movie so I will be looking for it. Is it on Netflix, I wonder?

Vera said...

Ahhh, azaleas are so beautiful...as is your cowl. Love the yarn and the pattern. I, too, could not get the link in Ravelry to work???

Jo said...

What an interesting knit pattern, I've not seen that before. Love those flowers too, it has been nicer weather here too. Jo x

Judy S. said...

Hope your week is off to a great start! Love the cowl; what a pretty stitch pattern. I need that pattern! Thanks. Our azaleas are still sleeping.....

Lilbitbrit said...

I love the cowl and you have azaleas.

Teresa Kasner said...

Hi Meredith, I apologize for my late comments on your blog. They are not posting to my list of favorite blogs until a day later than you post them and they move down the list so sometimes I don't see them and am surprised you posted! ARGH! Our early blooming rhododendrons and azaleas are also starting to bloom.. so pretty! That cowl is amazing.. it reminds me of Celtic knots.. love it!! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Unknown said...

Lovely cowl, I really like its shade, too! And how nice that your Azaleas are in bloom, I'll have to wait a bit before starting to see some around here...

Unknown said...

Love the azaleas Meredith really beautiful it was the first day of spring here yesterday but you wouldn't think today we have hail stones, snow, sunshine and a wind like blowing a gail like no other. Love the cowl wonderful stitches and colours, dee :-)

Amber said...

That is a beautiful looking stitch. The yarn is lovely too.

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

You really do know how to make a girl feel homesick with those awesome azaleas! I so miss them. Such a lovely splash of color during Spring. The cowl looks lovely. I love knitted cowls, they feel so silky and soft against the neck. Yours looks yummy. Hope you have a lovely day. :)

Jo@awholeplotoflove said...

What a beautiful cowl. I have a skein of silk lace yarn waiting for the right pattern to be found! I loved watching Lady in a van Maggie Smith was the ideal person to play the character xx

linda said...

I love azalea's your's are beautiful, unfortunately they won't grow in my garden I did have some in pots but they never put on a splendid show like yours. The cowl is lovely thank you for the pattern link Meredith I hope your week is going well. :) xx

Toni said...

It looks great! And the flowers! Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ana BC said...

Gorgeous cowl ♥

Anita said...

Oh Meredith, the flowers are just gorgeous. The only thing we are sprouting around here seems to be snakes!! lol But we have just entered into our autumn and winter won't be far behind. Perhaps our gardens here in Aussie land will get a breather and finally have some nice green colour to it! lol
I'm loving your cowl too. I can't make out if it's a combination of the colours and pattern, or is it the pattern alone.....but it is smashing hot.
Cheers, Anita.

sustainablemum said...

I love the yarn you have use for your cowl, you are right it is a perfect match for the pattern. I haven't seen Maggie Smith in the Lady in the Van but I have seen it on stage several times. I imagine her version will be amazing she is the most wonderful actress.