Happy Monday Makings #18

Hey, Happy Monday! We are having more Spring weather than Winter and although it lovely, I'm sad. I was so looking forward to the cold rainy weather, cosy thick scarves, pancakes(most of you probably know it as crepes) and lots of yummy hot drinks. Okay, so we've had some opportunity for all that, but if you have to get rid of layers on a winter's day in the Western Cape, that's just wrong!

I wanted to share my third ever knitting project (completed from a pattern) with you guys. I found this pattern on Ravelry and was instantly smitten! It's a free pattern called the Vite Cowl designed by Kristi Johnson. I downloaded it immediately and rummaged through my stash in search of the right yarn. 

Way at the bottom of a bag of roving my gran had given me, I came across two balls of JanPaulBarnard Handsun Merino. What makes this yarn utterly amazing is that my maiden name is Barnard and this vintage yarn was locally manufactured! Most spinners, weavers and other textile companies in our country have closed down due to the massive inexpensive imports of Chinese products, so you can just imagine how surprised I was when I googled JanPaulBarnard and they still existed. Only now, they specialise in Mohair production and weaving finished products. I then tried out my 7.5mm  Bamboo knitting needles for the first time, I did a test run to see if the needles would provide the correct gauge with this particular wool and it was perfect! I think it took about three youtube tutorial vids and a whole week to finish my Vite Cowl…

-I never thought it would be possible for me to knit this amazing yet surprisingly simple pattern-

-doesn't this handspun yarn just give the pattern so much more character? I'm so crazy about this project that when I finished it, I wanted to do another one and that never happens to me- 

What have you been up to this weekend, knit anything pretty? Please share your projects in the comments below, I'd love to know what your making!

Have an awesome Monday!

xxx