Sunday, March 29, 2020

Cakes two to tango...

Happy to report on this windy, but beautiful Sunday that I finished the Cakes Two to Tango Shawl I started a little over a week ago:


 The yarn used was Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball in the colorway Community Coral.

The "Cakes Two" refers to using two cakes (or skeins) of self-striping yarn, and alternating the cakes every two rows to create a different kind of striping than one would get working straight off a cake (or skein).  Of course, you don't have to use self-striping yarn to make this shawl, but it sure is fun to watch the colorful stripes play out as you work.

And also, of course, I can't leave well enough alone and just let the colors show up where they will.  Well, actually I did - up through the first chevron, but as the shawl got longer and wider, I decided to cut up the skeins and roll balls of single colors so I could control the color placement a little better.



I wasn't much concerned with how the single stripes ended up laying, but I wanted the two darker (wider) chevrons to balance each other.  Looking at the above picture, I think they do - more or less.

But now I'm left with many mini balls of yarn of different colors, looking for just the right project to use them in:

At the moment, I'm thinking I will mix them with some compatible yarn(s) and make a linen stitch scarf.

On another YOP note, Maria at Yarning With Ruby has suggested we YOPers meet up on Zoom.  I'm happy to say, this morning our small group from church used Zoom to meet up and I liked it (once I got over seeing my own mug on the screen).  I've got my comfy little spot ready to sit and chat with my fellow YOPers if we can manage to make it happen.  

For non YOPers, I hope mentioning ZOOM encourages you to use it (or other chatting options) online to connect to someone(s) during this time of physical distancing (if that appeals to you).  I'm an introvert who's fairly happy to have long days to myself, but even I have started to crave a little face time with other human beings.  Now, if I can just get my sons to agree to meet me on it...



Stay well.





Wash your hands.  






Please keep healthy.



26 comments:

  1. Your shawl is beautiful Becki, the colours are so happy! :) Neat that you got together with other YOP-ers! What a fun idea. I'd be too shy I think! :)

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    1. DH and I met with some folks from church on Zoom this morning. I admit, it felt a bit awkward (just seeing my own face on the screen), but it was soooo good to see friends and hear their voices at the same time. I think it will get more comfortable with time. The YOPers haven't gotten together (yet). The idea has just been proposed. I'm just here to say it works pretty well, and could be a fun way to meet people I only know through their comments.

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    2. Oh I misread! :) I hope you do meet with your YOP friends. You all have been such a nice group for so long. I've done calls like that with a Google program called Duo. But it's really just been between me and Alex. I may have to meet with my lawyer (for the house) that way tomorrow and I'm a little nervous about it! And probably for the same reason, seeing my face on the screen lol!

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  2. One of my groups wants to start a zoom group. I don't think it's my thing, but I hope they have a good time. Another has gone virtual on Ravelry, started last Friday and was great. Posting pics of current work, exploring each others project pages. I hate the phone and being live on screen, so it would stress me out to do zoom or FaceTime.

    My son and I Skype regularly, and by mutual consent never use the camera function. We message. I'm glad this awful pandemic is at least happening at a time when some of us are able to be online.

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    1. I agree that being able to connect with folks online is a wonderful benefit of our time. And connecting this way has become even more meaningful during this pandemic. I appreciate and respect your feelings about Zoom or Face Time . Honestly, I felt that way when it was first suggested among the YOP group members, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt like I'd enjoy hearing the voices of people I've only interacted through blogs with. It will probably be a little awkward, but I'm game I've decided. :)

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  3. Oh they are lovely colours in your shawl and those leftovers will be lovely in a new project. Yes I hope the Zoom meeting goes ahead. I’m also an introvert. It is weird but I’ve been feeling more need for connection with others since my husband started working from home, he is used to chatting with people at work all day and I’m used to saying nothing all day so it is taking some getting used to meeting in the middle of the two extremes.

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    1. I know what you mean! DH's been retired (and home) since late last July, but with this new Stay At Home order togetherness has taken on a whole new meaning. I will be working quietly in my craft room, or really anywhere in the house, and I will hear him talking to someone - just out of the blue. He often calls people just to chat. I can't fathom what he can find to talk about with different people (usually, several in one day), and I'm pretty sure he questions how I can tolerate so much silence. After Zooming this morning, I called one of my sisters back for a very nice chat, and then I needed to talk to someone else about an upcoming project - and now here I am, vocally spent. Feeling pretty sure I've used all my (spoken) words for the day.

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  4. How rude of me not to comment on how lovely the shawl is. If you've seen the dollivers in my blog, I know exactly what they would suggest you make with the little wool leftovers.

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    1. Thank you, Liz! I noticed that I need to visit your blog and see those dollivers. :)

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  5. Wow, that shawl is beautiful and the color placement looks about perfect! As for Zoom, yes, our church used it tonight to connect with whoever wanted to, and it actually wasn't too bad since my husband and I shared a screen and sat further away-- I'm not comfortable with being so close up! Our adult children and extended family have been meeting up with the app called House Party. It's fun and easy to use, with a game option (Draw Something, for example).

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    1. I haven't heard of House Party! The game option sounds like a great idea. We like to play games as a family. I'll check into this.

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  6. Your shawl is gorgeous as usual. I'm not sure I would be so talented as to figure out the placement of stripes but it is a show stopper! I know nothing about Zoom but will look into today. I am pretty much an introvert and can go for days without talking to anyone unless it's the pharmacist or the grocery store clerk. But I'm game if I can figure it out. Can I get it on my pc? I don't have a cell phone but I do have an android tablet. Love the linen stitch scarf too....I remember when you made that one too. Stay safe and well!

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    1. Yes, Sam, you should be able to access Zoom on your PC. The way we did it, was someone created the meeting and sent everyone else an invitation. With the invitation link, it was as simple and clicking on it, clicking a couple of buttons (or maybe one more button) and we were suddenly in the meeting. There are some controls on your screen that you'll possibly need to fiddle with a bit (microphone and clicking the grid so you can see everyone's picture), but it's really very easy.

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  7. Gorgeous shawl. Perfect to wrap up in for tea on the porch I say. Well cone controlling the striping - and a linen stitch scarf is a good way to use up those bits and bobs.

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    1. Thank you, Mary-Anne. I really love crocheting the linen stitch. It creates a play between colors that say, single crochet just doesn't.

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  8. That is absolutely beautiful. The colors are perfect. The stripes are perfect to me in every way.

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  9. Very lovely shawl. Love the colors. Great idea for controlling long runs of self striping yarns.

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  10. Another beautiful project from your talented hands Becki! I'm not a shawl person because I'm always either dropping them, dragging them on the ground or dipping them in my soup but I wish I was. Checked back to see the scarf you are referring to and I think it would be perfect for your leftover yarn.

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    1. Thank you, Mary Anne. :) I'd drag a shawl of scarf in my soup, too, if I tried to wear one while eating. You're too funny.

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  11. Absolutely beautiful shawl and just the job right now - bright and cheery.

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  12. Handclap on how this shawl came out. Kudos to you on cutting up the yarn to control how the colors came out.

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    1. Thank you, Stef. You know I can't leave well enough alone! ;^)

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