WIP Wednesday + Yarn Along | May 27

Just like last Wednesday, I'm sharing my current works in progress (WIPs). I love to see progress photos, so why not include some here?

Right now I'm participating in a knit along at my LYS. Last week, I posted a picture of the very beginning of my shawl...what I had managed to knit at the first meeting. Well, what I knit after ripping out my first attempt to go down a couple of needle sizes. I was good and had swatched the night before and according to the guage measurements, I needed a size 7 needle, so that's what I went with. Except when I was unhappy with the fabric as I was knitting the shawl. I knew I wouldn't wear it at such a loose gauge so I ripped it out and started over with size 5 needles. I know I am risking running out of yarn, but I'm okay with buying more to finish the project if needed. I will be at the shop the next couple of weeks!
 

[I couldn't help but include a close up of my pretty Rosewood needle. I am in love with these Dyakcraft Darn Pretty Needles.]

Last Sunday there was no meetup because of the Memorial Day weekend, so Courtney and I had our own little knit along party. We watched House of Cards and worked on our Melodias. It's such a simple knit...perfect for TV watching. In fact, it's going so quickly that I might have to make it 'meeting only' knitting.

Last Wednesday I also jumped into the Tales from the Isle of Purbeck MKAL (Mystery Knit Along). I have been hesitant to participate in mystery knit alongs where I can't see the pattern in its entirety before beginning. I like choosing a proper yarn and honestly, the control. However, I do love byannieclaire's aesthetic, so I decided to give it a go. Trying new things is good, right?

The pattern was designed with Hole and Sons yarn in mind. Their yarn is released in limited quantities and sells out in minutes. I think the last batch went in 2 minutes! Although I didn't get my hands on any, I do follow benjaminhole on Instagram, but it's more like I'm following the sheep, which is fun.

Anyway, I wanted to stick with the theme of the MKAL and stick with local / single source wool. The designer provided a list of similar yarns that would work in the Ravelry group, so after checking them out, I settled on O-Wool Local in the Hornbeam colorway. I was undecided between the Hornbeam and Wissahickon colorways because I love Wissahickon park, but the Hornbeam is a color I will wear more often. I went with O-Wool because it's a Philadelphia company! The yarn is a 50/50 merino alpaca blend with the alpaca coming from local Pennsylvanian and New Jersey alpacas.

I'm still waiting on my yarn, but hopefully it will arrive today and I'll be able to add some more yarn-y photos! MY YARN ARRIVED!

// Lauren

P.S. I'm linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along!