Wonderland Yarn cowls

A great knit shop in Petoskey, Michigan closed a few years back. It was a destination shop for me for many years, even when I lived 4 hours away. It was a very sad closing. But, of course, it was also an incredible stash enhancement opportunity. I was able to purchase these sets at a very deep discount.

Then came the search for appropriate patterns. Mad Hatter is sport weight yarn. I decided to knit a free pattern specifically designed for the yarn: Stephanie Shiman’s Accent on the Upbeat Cowl.

Hmmm. It doesn’t look like much, does it? It’s a very simple knit–great for social knitting, but as the knit unfolds it doesn’t send you into spasms of praise. And the color change jog, where the new yarn starts, is more noticeable than I’d like. If you give it to someone they’ll surely manage to wear the cowl with the jog smack dab under their chin.

Hmmm…for a second time.

This is quite a bit improved now, don’t you think?

This cowl looks so much better worn than it does while laying flat. The cowl has a beautiful drapey look. And the way the colors fold and flow. I like it!

This next sport weight cowl is another specifically designed for a Mad Hatter set: The Fab Five Cowl by Sarah Schira.

Again, it looks odd laying flat. But around the neck it’s a different story.

This final Wonderland Yarns cowl is Rainbow Road, by Jenna Krupar. Mine is knit from  5 mini-skeins of Frabjous Fibers’ March Hare, an Aran weight. March Hare is a 100% merino. It’s next-to-the-skin soft.

Here’s a closer look. It’s a sampler cowl, worked in simple knits and purls patterning. Especially in Aran weight, you’re finished so quickly there’s no time to be bored.

That’s a fake button band. The pattern gives the option of continuing the patterns over the stitches of that band. But when I saw this cowl knitted up at the shop closing I decided that the buttons worked well. I chose thin lightweight buttons so they don’t weigh the cowl down.

My experience with sets of mini-skeins is that my eyeballs fall in love easily. Then I get the set home and I have difficulty figuring out what to knit. If you’ve a set in your stash, consider these knits. Every one of these are worth a knitter’s time.

Rainbow Road and Turtles’ Journey

Isn’t BlueHairFelted head pretty? (GlassHead is jealous that her competitor gets top billing today). Blue Hair is wearing Rainbow Road, by Jenna Krupar. Mine was knit from a kit that contained 5 mini-skeins of Frabjous Fibers’ March Hare, an Aran weight. March Hare is a 100% merino. It’s next-to-the-skin soft.

Here’s a closer look. It’s actually a sampler cowl, worked in simple knits and purls patterning. Especially in Aran weight, you’re finished so quickly there’s no time to be bored.

That’s a fake button band. Normally I’d just continue the patterns over the stitches of a fake button band. But, I saw this cowl knitted up at a local shop and decided it worked well. I chose very thin, lightweight buttons. They won’t weigh the cowl down.

I decided to keep this one for me. So, nieces, this one won’t be in the holiday choose-your-gifts extravaknitza.

This one is for me too.

GlassHead has modeled this twice before for you. It’s Heather Anderson’s Turtles’ Journey Cowl. I knit this new one in Michigan’s-own Yarn Hollow Tango, an 85% wool,15% silk DK weight.

The way GlassHead is wearing it, it’s a little hard to see the story. These photos show the turtles’ journey through the dangers of the sand into the relative safety of the water.

 

Knitting the sand, well not too exciting. The waves are an easy lace pattern. And the turtles? Well the turtles are some of the most fun a knitter can have. Watching the bodies form is lots ‘o giggles.

GlassHead gets a far-off, starry look in her eyes as she sits on my dining room table, staring out at Long Lake. I told her, no sea turtles here. But we’ve got snappers, painted turtles, and the occasional (OK, twice seen) Blandings turtles. She’s not getting the finer distinctions.