All Things Halloween

Happy Halloween, dear friends!
I've got to head out trick-or-treating with the kiddos, so here's a quick collection of all things Halloween that describe my week leading up to today:

 A Halloween project bag, sewn by yours truly.

I was really pleased with the results from the comination of the contrast fabric (liner) and the main outer fabric.

As a side note, I teach piano lessons, and every year I try to make reviewing Music Theory fun and exciting by changing the up the scenery. The holiday is the best time to squeeze in extra reviewing because I can make it fun like this.

Welcome to the haunted music trail! It's not the best lighting, and looks better when it's a bit darker, but here's the jist of the trail leading up the haunted graveyard.

After every short excercise they get to trick-or-treat in my pumpkin buckets.

Hey, my twins just turned 8! Can you believe it?

 I have never made fondant for a cake, so of course I tried my hand at making them Minecraft cakes. Yeah, two cakes. And I've never make two cakes, let alone two fondant cakes. LOL.

It took a total of 10 hours (1.5 days), and the fondant got a little distored while picking the little squares up after cutting them. Oh well. The boys loved them and that's all that matters.

Finally, these were photos taken today of my burning bushes and Sunset maples. Ah...

 

 Have a wonderful and safe Halloween folks! We are about to go trick-or-treating now!

The Roundabout Shawl (KUAS Designs Pattern)

Good afternoon, dear knitters. I am almost ashamed to admit that nearly a year has passed since I last logged on. Between my Facebook group page for this blog and Instagram, I am still keeping up with sharing my makes, but this blog has seriously been neglected, and for that I am sorry.

I just wanted to peek in here to give you this update, as this pattern is fresh off the online press:

"The Roundabout Shawl"

I don't know if you remember the first version, the "Roundabout Shawlette," by this version uses aran weight yarn and has a lot more shaping. I'd like to think of it as a cosier version on those very cold days.

 See how narrow those are? The original is more scarf-like.

This pattern is beautiful in it's simplicity. The I-cord edging and lace panel are all connected, and it is knit up sideways. I have spent hours writing up a pattern with charts, the written out version, progress charts and colored markers to remind the maker of inc's/dec rows, because although there's eyeltes running the lenth of the shawl, some of it is just decorational.

Materials: 
Yarn: 425 yds/170g of aran (8 wpi) wool yarn.
This pattern used Yarn Bee’s Chloe yarn in the “Bisque” color.
Note: The lace panel will not block out properly if your yarn does not have at least 50% or more wool in it.
Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles, plus a darning needle.
Notions: 2 st makers, 150+ Blocking pins, a blocking mat, 1-2 oz of no-rinse wool wash & a towel

Gauge and measurements:
22 sts= 4’’and 34 rows= 4’’ in Garter Stitch
Prior to blocking: 58’’ long and 12’’ at widest point in main body; 2’’ lace panel section
After blocking: 68’’ long and 13.5’’ wide at the widest main body section; 2.5’’ lace panel section

Abbreviations: CO= cast on K=knit P=purl St(s)=stitch(es) M=(stitch) marker Sl=slip st k2tog=k 2 sts together Ssk=sl 2 sts each knit-wise, then sl the left needle into the front of those sts and k them together Yo=yarn over BO= bind off RS=right side WS=wrong side S2kp=slip 2 sts knit-wise, k1, pass the 2 sl sts over

Pattern Notes: the largest sized lace pattern chart and helpful progress charts can be found on the last page. The increase/decreasing shaping is always done on the RS of the work after the lace panel st marker. You’ll find yellow boxes marking those shaping rows. However, note that there will always be yarn-over holes on the RS of the work! Some yarn-overs are decorative (“sl m, yo, k2tog/ssk”) and some function as part of the increases/decreases. The 3 sl sts at the end of the RS of the work is your “I-Cord edging.”

 I just love the clean look of that I-Cord edging.

See you soon! I'm off to pick the twins up from the bus (they just turned 8!) and work on some Christmas knits that Sam requested. I hope you are enjoying fall!