The idea with having this blog is that I'll track my projects as I complete them. Often – well, okay, sometimes – that works, and I'll get a post up at most a week or two after I've finished. This summer, though, I've been on a multi-project streak and have gotten magnificently far behind on writing about them. So I've decided to do a super-mega post all at once.

Sugar Sprinkles

First up, a project using one of the yarns I got last year in Amsterdam, Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles in Potluck. The first one was pretty but so stinky until washed; remember this? Naturally, I was curious whether the second would be sheepish as well. In fact, it was not, so the pungency of the first may be an anomaly.

I ended up making a Sugar Sprinkles shawl. It is a paid pattern on Ravelry, but if I recall correctly it was being offered for free for a short time. It's a simple shawl that almost has a crocheted look. It drapes very nicely and love the colours. Skinny Singles Sugar Sprinkles... You'd almost think I did that on purpose, huh?

Taumini

It's a darn good thing I love teals and aquas because the next project was a mystery box called the Fibre Muse Alchemy kit. This was the first issue in a limited member club run by a designer named Francoise Danoy. The contents are a secret until the box arrives, so it's entirely based on trust and hope. This first kit was a sign of good things to come.

The kit came with two skeins of yarn, as expected, along with some loose leaf tea (I wonder where I put that? I haven't tried it yet...), a goat milk lip balm, and some pretty little stitch markers as well as two shawl patterns to choose from. Each pattern could be completed with one skein, so you could make both if you chose. I decided to make Taumini. The other option was Caprius, in case you're interested.

It really needed to be blocked to show its beauty.

And this a truly terrible shot of me, and the shawl isn't well styled either but hey... it's what I have at hand to show you. I think it looks better in more of a casual drape and perhaps with a grey shirt (or different model entirely!). I think I've only worn it the once because it is quite a warm fabric. With September's coming chill, I'll soon be choosing it again!

Test pattern 2: All My Heart mittens

It was my second ever test knit, and just as good an experience as the first.

They're just so cute, right? I made them with Mary Maxim Footloose sock yarn, which I absolutely loved using. I made a small scarf with it once before, but I did not realize how little the shawl did the yarn justice. The colour was kind of bitsy and the bandana style scarf wants to curl at the edges.

This yarn really does want to be mitts or socks to bring its adorable self-striping to life. Obey the yarn.

Plus, I learned how to bead yarn. New tricks!

If I was making another pair, which I well might do, I would probably start the heart a few rows higher. What I would not do is try to make them matchy-matchy because I think that's part of their charm.

At the moment the pattern designer has not made the link live for purchase yet. I'll try to remember to come back and edit when she does. In the meantime, you can try searching for All My Heart Mittens by Ambur Hsiao on Ravelry.

Test pattern 3: No Frills Shawl

I've had this skein of Expression Fiber Arts yak-silk lace yarn in my stash for several months. It is the same kind of yarn I used for this shawl, which is still one of my all-time faves and, why yes, more of similar freakin' teal mix. Anyway, I love this yarn. Love it. I knew I wanted to make a shawl because it's a perfect shawl yarn, and apparently I don't have enough shawls. Yes, I am ridiculous. But I wanted to do something at least a little different.

When I saw the post asking for test knitters for the No Frills shawl, it checked all the boxes. Different, pretty, would look good in the tone-on-tone dark colour way, and I would totally wear it.

It's a beaut, alright, and it's now available for sale on Ravelry.

Whew! I'm exhausted. And I still have some cross-stitches to post. I've been having fun with those as well. I'll save those for another day and another lengthy post.