I loved working with this colour. There’s just something about greens! I’m definitely looking forward to autumn, and this shawl will be perfect for chillier days. The pattern is Gudrun Johnston’s Wast Side Shawl and the yarn is Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in Peat Mix. I’m a big fan of Gudrun’s patterns. In fact, this is my second in a row. The shawl is worked from the edging inwards, so once you move to the body you feel like you’re almost done!

Wishing my knitting partner for life a very happy birthday today!

[Photos courtesy of Chris]

[Ravelled]

Wabbit Season

Doublish

Catacomb

There’s so much to love about Malabrigo – it comes in fantastic colourways and is unbelievably soft. The Malabrigo Junkies on Ravelry love it so much they’ve named an entire month after it – Malabrigo March.

Alexandra Tinsley of Presents Knits has designed five cute and easy accessories using Malabrigo yarns. I love her take on the earflap hat, Wabbit Season. It’s so sweet with the pompoms and flaps that double as little pockets. This pattern also placed first in the Malabrigo Junkies Malabrigo March 2010 Design Contest. Congratulations Alexandra!

The collection includes two hats and a shawlette (pictured here) as well as a ruffled scarf and headband/ neckwarmer. You can buy the patterns separately or together in the ebook Go Go Malabrigo. If you’re not on Ravelry, you can also buy them from Alexandra’s Etsy store.

[Photos courtesy of Alexandra Tinsley]

Last week’s post got me to thinking about more stash-busting projects. Patterns that would make great holiday knitting with the added bonus of using up small amounts of yarn. I took a trip through ravelry and came back with these great patterns.  Some of them old favourites, some of them new (at least to me!):

Fetching (L, courtesy of Knitty) and Emerald Fingerless Mittens

Fingerless Mitts

CanCans by Erica Lomax

Upp by Védís Jónsdóttir (from Einband, available from Schoolhouse Press)

Fetching and Dashing by Cheryl Niamath

Purl Beret (L, courtesy of the purl bee) and #24 Lace Beret (courtesy of Vogue Knitting, Holiday 2009)

Hats

#24 Lace Beret by Kate Gagnon Osborn

Purl Beret by The Purl Bee

Ripley by Ysolda Teague

Herringbone Cowl (courtesy of Lauren Osborne, Hungry Knitter)

Cowls

Herringbone Cowl by Lauren Osborne

sev[en]circle by Kirsten Johnstone (free ravelry download, login required)

Cabled Cowl by by Olga Buraya-Kefelian

mara (courtesy of madelinetosh)

Shawls and Other Shoulder Warmers

DROPS 108-53 by DROPS design

shadow[]box by Alison Brookbanks

mara by Madelinetosh

Otto (actually, I like to call her Churchill)

Toys

Otto by Ysolda Teague (or any of Ysolda’s toy patterns, really)

Pile-able Pups by Anna Hrachovec

Rotary Dial Telephone by Katie Park

My bear knit for the Mother Bear Project

Charity Knitting

Good for stash-busting anytime of year, but especially now in colder climates like mine…

afghans for Afghans sends handknit and crocheted blankets, sweaters, vests, hats, mittens and socks to the people of Afghanistan.

Blankets for Canada creates blankets for Canadians in need.

Mother Bear Project sends handknit or crocheted bears to children affected by HIV/AIDS.

This long, lacy triangle was knit from Terhi Montonen’s adaptation of Strikkelese’s immensely popular Baktus scarf.  The pattern was named after a character from the Norwegian children’s novel Karius and Baktus. The end result is part scarf, part kerchief and part shawlette. Lots of options here!

This is a perfect project for knitting up leftover sock or sport weight yarn. I knit mine with another all-time favourite, Misti Alpaca handpainted Suri & Silk. It’s so very lovely to knit with and to wear.