Friday, October 12, 2007

Ostrich Feather Smoke Ring

I have been spinning and knitting away on my first smoke ring. I love the smoke ring concept. I like the way it looks. I like the fact that it combines the purposes of a hat and a scarf in one garment, and I like the fact that it can't fall off when you are wearing it. I like the fact that it doesn't need artful arrangement, and that it is an appropriate accessory with indoor garments. You don't need to take it off at all. I even like the way "smoke ring" sounds, as if it made its way out of an old tale.
The Yarn: Spun fingering weight from Susan's Spinning Bunny 5 fiber sampler in Chocolate Covered Cherries, and Abby Franquemont's batts, Beyond Tweed. I thoroughly enjoyed spinning all the fibers, the variety of textures, seeing how the dye took differently on the different fibers. The colors are vibrant, and these gloomy-day photos don't quite do them justice. Abby's blend is a luxurious dark grey blend with accents of other colors, and I have a good bit left that I will spin alone for some matching fingerless mitts.
The Pattern: My own, using the Ostrich Feather stitch from the Vogue Stitchionary. This is an attractive stitch pattern, even though it loses something with the variagation of the yarn. I would like to try it again with a solid color to show off the pattern better.

Soft, warm, and bright enough to cheer a dreary day, my new smoke ring is a happy project. After the rush of holiday knitting is over, I plan on knitting more of these for myself.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is so beautiful! I love them too. Smoke ring is a new name for me.I first saw that as a wimple in Knitter's magazine 20 years ago. I love the old world, feminine, grace of a wimple/smoke ring.

I so envy your stash space! I have no space to call my own.

Alpaca Granny said...

Donna, this is beautiful. You are an accomplished knitter, I'm thinking!

Holly said...

Very, very pretty! You did a great job :~)

cyndy said...

Beautiful spinning and knitting!
Love the colors, and the yarn must be so soft!

Cary ~ My Wool Mitten at Serenity Farms said...

Oh Donna, I love it! And the colors are gorgeous on you....Girl, we have got to get together SOON for that spinning day ;D

Benjamin's hat is precious, too, he looks pretty happy with it.

Hugs, Cary

Theresa said...

Wow! The colors in that yarn are so gorgeous! It really turned out beautiful! Nice to see what you look like too! :o)