New Counterpaane Mitts

I just finished a new project using my counterpane system.  This time I used the lace square to make a pair of mitts. I used the same square HERE, for a white shawl and HERE for a gray scarf.

KAWS (Kansas Alliance Of Spinners and Weavers) will be here before you know it (first weekend in June) and this class is fun to teach and I now have more finished samples than ever before.

Gray Counterpane Scarf

In a few weeks I will be teaching my Take The Pain Out Of Counterpane knitting class. It was time to finish another project using my counterpane modules. One third of this project was knitted eight years ago (at the time I came up with the idea for the class). Last week I finally finished the scarf. I ended up making eight squares and twelve rectangles in all.


Yarn And Needles

I hand spun a worsted weight yarn using 50% merino and 50% angora (bunny). The bunny is mine, so I know it is naturally colored. I purchased the gray merino fiber from Jagger Spun and cannot attest to it being natural or dyed.  My gut feeling is that it is dyed. The last photo show a close up of the fabric surface because bunny gives the fabric such a wonderful halo.

I started this with size five double points. Looking back, I wish I had used larger. But that is what I started with so that is what I finished with. With the winter we have had in Missouri, thick scarfs are good.

The Nice Design Surprise

I did not realize that the edges of the piece would become scalloped. This just happened as I was sewing (mattress stitch). These scalloped border made the piece for me and I love it. I think the scallops really shine when the scarf is tied. To me, it looks like a jabot.

Jabot Style

This photo demonstrates how I first sew two triangles to one square and create the scarf using these larger sections.

The Angora Halo

I think this is going to be my comfort scarf. It was cold here this weekend and I had the flu to top it off. I put this warm fuzzy thing around my neck and I just felt better!

For an idea how versatile the square can be, here is my shawl post from September that uses the same square. I just knitted it a lot larger and with lace weight yarn on very large needles.

"Take The Pain Out Of Counterpane" Shawl

Here is the shawl laid flat. Thee counterpane squares 
are sewn together. The lace is knitted separately 
(a great small take
it with you project) and then crocheted 
or sewn to the shawl.

I finally finished my “Take The Pain Out Of Counterpane” shawl using lace weight 2 ply yarn that I handspun. This is a project that evolved from my class, which I developed and teach mentioned above. 

Unfortunately, I didn't keep records on the yarn. I think it is Merino, Mohair, and silk. I'm glad I had enough because it would have been a problem to reproduce it. This is why is is always smart to keep records, even if you think you will never need any more of what you are making. This has to be one of the few times that I didn't take down very specific notes on a yarn. And hopefully, it will be the last time. I think I learned my lesson. I was getting very worried at the end of this knitting project because it looked like I was not going to have enough yarn to finish with. 

For anyone not familiar with this class, here is my class description”.

“Explore a historical (Counterpane can be found as far back as the 15^th century) technique with new twists. I have created a system that combines classic Counterpane patterns to make very modern designs.  After this class, students will be able to combine patterns learned to create hats, scarfs, shawls and more. Students will also learn or review knitting simple lace patterns.  The Counterpane squares will be knitted on double-point needles and lace on straight needles. Participants will leave with a booklet of the patterns covered in the class to further their experimentation to create their own original designs. “

The front as it naturally lies. I don't know why, 
but the edges just naturally overlap 
(tad good thing).
I can also see a cool pin down there

The back of a counterpane garment is always
 the more dramatic, I think

The side sits short right at the arm. 
This is great. It helps the shawl to 
stay in place and does not 
interfere with activities. 

A close up of the single crochet that I used to
connect the square panels.

A close up of the lace edging. this is
a 9 stitch-6 row pattern and very
easy to memorize.

Just for the fun of it, I added some Angora around the neckline for some
extra softness.

And of course, there are always more then one
way to wear this
shawl.

I did consider color.
However, after dying
 these three
 steps of blue violet,
 I decided that I just wanted white.
 But, I now have some beautiful
Periwinkle yarn!

This is my second larger project. The first was “The Beast”, a jacket, which can be found here.

As usual, if will be a while before I have anything else for this blog. I am working on a pair of socks, a “Change Of Row”(another technique that I developed) lap blanket and want to finish another counterpane project that I started about four years ago.