Yarn Harlot Auctioning Shawl for Charity

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee and her family have been training for the Friends for Live Bike Rally, a six-day, 600 kilometer (that’s almost 373 miles!) journey from Toronto to Montreal in support of people living with AIDS. The ride is only a few days away, and Stephanie has been busing raising funds for the cause on her blog by giving away what she calls “karmic balancing gifts” to some of the people who have donated, as well as hosting auctions of knit items.

Today it’s the gorgeous Omelet shawl (which she allows to be spelled in the American way even though she’s Canadian), described on the pattern at Knitty as a half-circle shawl with a garter stitch border knit from the center back to the bottom, with yarn overs used for shaping. It was designed by Joyce Fassbender and knit by the Yarn Harlot herself.

Stephanie is taking bids until sometime tomorrow, with the highest bidder getting the shawl. She’s been asking through this process that people not bid on items they could realistically make themselves, but I’m sure there are a lot of us who get a little antsy at the thought of that much laceweight and that many charts.

This is a wonderful shawl and a wonderful cause, so go bid if you are able, and donate anyway if it moves you. Best of luck on your trip, Stephanie!

[Photo by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee via Yarn Harlot.]

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I guess I’ve decided it’s time to start knitting vests, and while I typically think of vests as being for fall, this one is decidedly summery.

Vanessa Ewing’s Fruit Salad Fest is covered with all kinds of fruits. I see grapes, blueberries, strawberries, peaches and kiwi all stitched up in rows for a cute and colorful vest.

This one is worked in sock yarn and comes in nine sizes. The actual finished chest measurement of the vest ranges from 29.5 to 59 inches, or 75 to 150 cm. It’s meant to be work with 2 to 4 inches/5-10 cm of positive ease. And while it’s called a vest it doesn’t look like it has any shaping, which gives it little cap sleeves when worn.

There’s a bit of ribbing at the armholes and neckline, and the bottom has a split hem. It’s worked in the round from the bottom up and includes steeks. It’s not really a pattern for people new to colorwork thanks to all the charts and different colors used, but if you’re ready to take on a challenge this would be a fun one.

Speaking of colors, there are 13 involved in this pattern, but a few of them aren’t needed in a huge quantity, so this could be a use for some mini skeins or leftovers from other projects if you have them in the right colors. This isn’t one where you can substitute colors that easily since they are meant to be true to real fruits, but you could use a different background color, make your grapes green or red, or change the blueberries to another fruit if you have different colors on hand.

Any way you slice it, this looks like a super fun knit that is sure to bring a smile to your face whenever you wear it, and to others whenever they see it.

Check it out and grab a copy on Ravelry.

[Photo: Vanessa Ewing]

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