KTC prize and some FOs to Share

I received my prize for my KTC Tender is the Night Project. It's three skeins of Cascade 220 in a beautiful purple color. And as a bonus, I found out that the moderator who sent me the prize lives practically in my back yard - well about 45 miles from me, which around here, is practically in my back yard! We've talked about getting together and finding some yarn shops visit - that will be fun!

This is the shawl that I knit from the Schaefer yarn I got at the Fiber College in Searsport a couple weekends ago. I loved knitting with this yarn! It's soft and squishy, and even knit in a simple garter stitch created a great pattern. I love the colors in it too.

I'm becomming addicted to knitting these beaded bracelets. The first one was from the kit, but I've been modifying the pattern. I'm using metallic DMC embroidery floss, and Mainstays glass beads - they come in tubes available at A.C. Moore and I'm sure many other craft stores.

I made this one with some of the leftover beads from the kit mixed with the Mainstays beads, and changed the pattern to begin each row with a slip stitch, which made a much neater edge. I'm using size one needles, and casting on six stitches, knit a few rows, and then start adding beads after the slip stitch, every other row. Of course you have to string all of the beads onto the embroidery floss first - about 200 of them! But once you get the hang of it, it goes pretty fast. Then you just pull up a bead next to the needle, knit the next stitch, pull up another bead, knit the next stitch, etc. This one is a little gaudy, but I have a friend who will love it!

This one was made basically the same, but with just the Mainstay beads in a pink/purple mix. when it was finished I folded it lengthwise and stitched the two edges together, so it is narrower and rounded. I really love this one. It's probably going to me mine! The toggle clasps are also from A.C. Moore and are just sewn on to each end.