A Summer Scarf and Simcha News

This is a small accessory with a big impact and I love it!  It's the Pogona shawl by Stephen West and when knit in a light weight and vibrant yarn it is a perfect summer accent piece that will keep the chill off your shoulders in all those over air-conditioned places like restaurants and movie theaters. To wit I wore it to the swanky El Encanto Hotel in Santa Barbara to take my mother out for afternoon tea!

This is a my first Stephen West design but it won't be my last because I like the geometric element to his pieces.  I'm not sure how well you can see from the pictures but this shawl has a series of triangular shapes and has a combination of stockinette and garter stitch which gives the piece a lot of visual interest.  While typically my taste in knitting runs to the rustic I occasionally like to mix it up with a more modern piece such as this is.

Speaking of rustic versus modern shawls, it may seem that knitting shawls is timeless but there are definitely styles of shawls and colors preferences that change with time.  The more modern shawls mix several colors, have some type of stripes, and are not a typical triangle shape.  And while I have some of these modern designs on the needles, and I do love the pretty colors and different shapes, my true love will always be a very rustic style shawl because the reason that I knit is the process connects me to a bygone era and a slower way of life and allows me to experience what it might have been like to walk back in history.  But I do step forward in time too, as I have in this shawl.

Particulars:  Pogona by Stephen West; US 6 needles; 1 skein Hedgehog Fibers Sock Yarn (383 yards).  My only modification was to only knit 4 rows of garter stitch edging due to limited yarn but I think that was just the right amount of garter stitch edging in any event.  N.B. This is a pretty small shawl and I would almost call it a scarf except for the shaping.  My blocked (i.e. a relaxed block - because this is a merino wool it does not hold a block well) measurement is 50" x 14."

The Misadventures of Simcha ~

Can you believe that Simcha is now four and half years old!  And really, other than the first two years of his house destruction, challenging, constant need for attention, and endless outings and excursions to provide him with proper socialization the time has truly flown by.  It was an agonizingly slow process that took roughly four years to be completely out of the woods.  But I'm happy to report that while he is still full of personality now he is also obedient and affectionate with us.  And at long last we have the dog we always wanted and hoped he would become.  

Until next time, be well and love well and may your Summer be filled with color, sunshine and creativity.