Snowed in with a warm new shrug

I love how absolutely quiet the world grows when it is snowing.  Even though I live in town, my driveway is rather long and you cannot see the street from my house.  And although I have neighbors within sight on all 4 sides, they are really only in view during the winter months and then if I go search them out; my position, half-way down a series of small ledges makes for a certain semblance of privacy. 

When it is snowing it seems quite isolated.  I have no idea what is going on in the world beyond the white blur outside my windows.   The FedEx delivery person walked down my driveway to deliver a package this afternoon and said the town had finally plowed the street just ahead of him.  He also told me there had been a major accident near the construction site on the main highway just outside my house and the highway had been closed for several hours.  I never knew.  That explains why no one came to plow until we had over 8 inches on the ground, no one could get to me.  I suppose it is a good thing I didn't have to go anywhere.

So instead I did a little Christmas baking and puttered about the house, and did a little knitting as well.  I also took a nap because I have a vicious cold, and there is nothing quite like a snowy day and a cold to make one want to curl up and hibernate.

It was  also a perfect day to wear my cozy new shrug that I knitted over Thanksgiving.  If you have been reading my other blog, PurlsandMurmurs  you might know that I had finished it, and I promised a picture of me wearing it but I hadn't gotten to it yet.

In fact, I wasn't thrilled when I finished it, It clung to the body too much, and seemed to bunch up around my neck.  So in a fit of frustration I threw it in a corner, and then moved other things on top of it because I had to clean out the bedroom to put in a floor.  By the time I found it again it had been shoved and pulled and stretched and it looked quite relaxed and cozy.  In fact I am quite fond of it now. 

Ignore the spots on my tee.  I did not spill my lunch on my tummy.  I had just leaned over the wet railing to stare down at the neighbor below .  Silly me.  This picture was taken yesterday, when it was nice and occasionally sunny, and didn't look at all like we were about to get a foot of snow.

I shall reiterate the details here since I am going to be combining blogs and in the future will just use this blog for all my creative endeavors.  There will probably be a few bits and changes around here as I find my way through incorporating new bits, but don't worry there will actually be sewing as well.

This shrug was inspired by this pattern from Tahki-Stacy Charles :

I looked for the yarn, Shannon, at my LYS but they did not have it.  As I was wandering around avoiding my knitting one evening, I saw the Nashua Vignette that I ultimately ended up using. 

When I looked at the pattern Theresa pointed out that it was very similar to a pattern written for Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande, and that the shaping was a little nicer in the Plymouth pattern.  Since I wasn't using either yarn, I decided to go for the Plymouth pattern.

This is the photo of the Plymouth Shrug:

When I looked at the patterns they are not that different, and are actually about the same size (although you wouldn't know that from the photos) but the shaping for the armhole opening is different.

In retrospect I suspect the Tahki pattern might fit better around the arms.

I am knitting it again, this time in the recommended Baby Alpaca Grande.  This is not the recommended sequence of events.  I probably should have knit the alpaca shrug first, then modified the pattern for the wool.  But then I have always had a strong tendency to go at things backwards and upside down.

Comments

[Allie]

I'm just wondering if you can tell me where you got the pattern for your shrug might be found. I have some Misti Alpaca in my stash and saw the shrug at our local knitshop, which is closed for the next two days. I don't see a link for the pattern on your wonderful blog?
Thanks so much!

[Gina]

I think ignoring the knit for a short time really worked some magic. It looks fantastic, and the fit is perfect.

[Carolyn]

I am so glad that you are combining blogs. I always forget to check the other one since I'm a sewing girl! The shrug is very, very cute and looks great on you!

[none]

I love the shrug - I had to pay $$$ for that one from Juicy Couture, I don't knit. And your photos in the snow...from Phoenix, that conjures up lots of Minnesota memories!