Purplish at Pompon

One of the things that really slows the process of blogging, for me, is the photoshoot. I may not be the worst with a camera, but I'm no expert and I'll settle for a few good pics if the light is okay. 

But. When it comes to taking photos of me wearing the newest FO, I have to ask - pretty please - the boyfriend to oblige. And I know he does not enjoy. He is such a talented artist, who can pull off about anything, but photography is just not his strong suit. Or maybe it's just that he doesn't care for it. Which makes him even more wonderful when he agrees to participate... I know he's always proud of me for pushing through the many projects.

Today I gave him a break from the job and asked Zoée* to be the photographer.

I had not one, but two new cardigans off the needles!  

First one is the second Rililie Design that I knitted, the BlueSand Cardigan.

BlueSand Cardigan by La Maison Rililie

  

I mentioned this cardigan in a previous post, when I blogged about the Dessine-moi un mouton. I was saying how it was a lot of stockinette stitch. Well, I felt a little bad afterward, since I got to the short rows and texture. And speaking of texture...

Look at those! And the stripes in the lining of the pockets, and the little contrast colour making an appearance right before the ribing of the neckband. So pretty. Again, I'm amazed by the attention to details that make such a difference.

Second project to be photograph was my Vitamin D.

Vitamin D by Heidi Kirrmaier

Also a great piece. The radial eyelet increases work really well and make a good fit. I'm also happy with my yarn choice. The Serena gives a very nice drape, plus the combination of baby alpaca and pima cotton is just warm enough for breezy summer nights. I need more of this yarn.

Lumpy Space (finally!)

I started knitting this shawl last summer (almost a year ago) with stash yarn. But it was way too busy for me and the Noro piece in the center made it really ugly (to my taste anyway). So I frogged the whole thing and used bits and pieces for a real crazy Enchanted Mesa that I have yet to photograph and that contains a rainbow array of colours, all from stash yarn!

But back to this Lumpy Space... I started an another one during fall, but then again, got stuck to a place where adding a new colour made the shawl look like candy. So I put it aside. 

Then I found myself clearing the yarn and project space of my living room and decided to put the various UFOs in bags and boxes (recycling these). This actually encouraged me to finish a few of them! For instance, I picked up my BlueSand Cardigan and just kept on knitting. Same for my Vitamin D. Now if only I could take some time to photograph it all! Meh, I'll get around to it now that I'm officially on holiday.

I took my half done Lumpy to the store and picked the colour to make it perfect. Thanks mom for your good eye for colours! ;)

This is what happened : 

Lumpy Space by Stephen West

I didn't block it yet, hence the wrinkled look. But it's already big enough, so no need to stretch it for now! Here's a full view :

And a funny picture with my dog sneaking in the back!

One of my favourite element on the shawl, is the gradient set I used. It's Julie Asselin' s Leizu Fingering in the Manoir colourway. I love it with the Sand Dune colour of the picot bind off.

More on the other projects real soon and happy Saint-Jean-Baptiste to all Quebecers out there!