I will be flying off to Wintry New Jersey tomorrow for extended family fun. Look again in a couple of weeks for loads more goodies I have made. There are a few presents I haven't posted, plus I've been knitting in a frenzy this week trying to crank out more stylish cold weather accessories for myself. Happy Holidays to everyone, may next year bring peace and a windfall of yarn!
These are a couple of Christmas-themed Ball Band Dishcloths I made for my bf's grandma. I wrapped them with some Vanilla Spice hand soap for a festive Winter treat! Hopefully she will actually use them.
Project: Christmas Ball Band Dishcloths
Source: Mason-Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Sugar 'N Cream
Needles: US 7
Started: 8/18/06
Finished: 11/15/06
Comments: Obviously I wasn't knitting on them exclusively! The Ball Band was starting to drag for me.
Here's my Winter Clapotis. Hopefully it will be cold enough to wear it in New Jersey over Christmas. The second photo shows the colors more accurately, they are actually kind of muted.
Project: Clapotis
Source: Knitty
Yarn: Patons SWS in Natural Plum, 6 1/2 skeins
Needles: US 9
Started: 10/25/06
Finished: 11/13/06
Comments: Dimensions are approx. 63" x 18". I have been wanting to try this new yarn for awhile because it is a wool/soy blend. I have a skein and a half leftover, so I'm thinking of doing some sort of felted project. This is probably it for Clapotis, the pattern is easy but very tedious and I had to individually drop each stitch. It is worth the finished product though!
I gave my SIL an early Christmas gift last night because I won't be able to see her until next year, ha-ha. While it may be 70 degrees here, she will be traveling to Colorado the day after Christmas and I wanted her to stay toasty warm.
Project: Stacked Triangle Scarf
Source: My Own Design with simple knit and purl pattern from somewhere I cannot remember
Yarn: Misti Baby Alpaca Chunky in #M678, Forest Green Melange, 1 skein
Needles: US 10 1/2
Started: Mid Nov. '06
Finished: 12/17/06
Comments: Dimensions are approx. 51" x 2 1/2". This isn't a very good photo and the triangle pattern wouldn't show up very well because the yarn is so dark. The pattern also made three columns that overlapped and stacked on top of each other. It's sort of hard to explain, but the finished product looked pretty cool.
I haven't been posting, but I have been knitting. I finished my Winter Clapotis a few weeks ago, but I do have several more stitches to drop and just haven't gotten around to it. I also completed a couple more Christmas present which I will post after the new year. I can finally post the Fetching Mitts I knit for my mom. I thought they were going to be for Christmas as well, but I changed my mind and she got them early for her birthday. Now I can get to work on my own, which I've been itching to do for awhile.
Project: Fetching Mitts
Source: Knitty
Yarn: Misti Baby Alpaca in #2105/light grey, one skein
Needles: US 7 DPNs
Started: 1st- 10/2/06, 2nd- 10/5/06
Finished: 1st- 10/3/06, 2nd- 10/6/06
Comments: This was my first time using alpaca and I really liked the yarn. It's very fuzzy and soft, but it wasn't too slippery. Of course this pattern was easy and fun, as every knitter knows!
With all the new clapotis floating around, it seems like the pattern is more popular than ever before. Sarah has just completed one and the thread on Craftster is very hot right now. I haven't posted my Spring Clap before, so it seems like the perfect time.
I just started one last week that's heavier and warmer than the first one. I've finished the increase sections and hopefully this will be the last time I make one of these. The finished product is well worth the time, but I do admit to finding the pattern increasingly tedious and irritating!
Project: Clapotis
Source: Knitty
Yarn: Southwest Trading Company Bamboo in Bougainvillea
Needles: US Size 9
Started: 10/10/05
Finished: 4/12/06
Comments: Needless to say, I put this one away for a long time for other projects. Once I finally picked it back up again, I finished it very quickly. It's a great light wrap, perfect for chilly movie theaters. I used 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 skeins. The finished measurements are approx. 20" x 76".
I have also completed my most beloved Lady E. I still have to trim the ends of the fringe a bit, but I could not resist taking it out for photos on a crisp Autumn day.
In other knitting news, the sweater is on hold momentarily for gauge issues. I'm coming right along with my secret holiday presents and I've had another brain blip and decided I need a Winter companion for my Spring Clapotis.
I went a little crazy with the photos, so be prepared!
Project: Lady Eleanor Stole
Source: Scarf Style
Yarn: Noro Kureyon in #124, 9 skeins for the body, 1/2 skein for the fringe
Needles: US 10 1/2, 32" circular
Started: 8/9/06
Finished: 9/27/06, Blocked: 10/2/06, Fringed: 10/22/06
Comments: I can really see myself making this again even though I probably do not need two of them. I may knit this stole a little wider so I can make myself a throw. I think this was the most fun knitting I've ever had. I really enjoyed the quick pieces of knitting that comprise entrelac. I learned to how to knit backwards so I wouldn't have to keep turning my work, but it seemed to strain my wrist so I used both. I'm pretty short, so I only did 5 knots on the fringe instead of 7. Finished measurements: 68" long without fringe, around 90" with fringe and 21 1/2" wide.
So I've finally completed my shawl and my stole. What exactly are the differences between the two, I really don't know. I did not rip back my shawl and I left the mistake in and bound off. You really can't tell at all. Onto the photos!!
Project: Candle Flame Shawl
Source: The pattern I used was originally posted on the Knit List a while back, but the link is now broken. I do know that there is a PDF file floating around out there somewhere.
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay in Agate, around 5 skeins
Needles: US 10
Started: 10/4/05
Finished: 9/30/06(!), Blocked: 10/7/06
Comments: This shawl was the bane of my existence when I first started it. It was by far the most complicated thing I had attempted and it tried really hard to kick my ass. Technically I guess it's a lace pattern because of the three yarnovers at the bottom of each flame that you can't really see, but obviously it's not nearly as complicated as most lacy & delicate shawls. I did learn to love this shawl though and it turned into a very relaxing and comforting project. I did not like how it loved to gobble up my yarn and leave me scrambling to find more. I definitely will not be knitting another triangle shawl for awhile, for while the first rows fly so quickly past, by the end it was taking hours to get a few rows done. Finished measurements are 31 1/2" from band to tip and 54" wide. I do believe this could stand to be bigger, but my mind and budget would not allow it. I'll probably search for a elegant vintage brooch to help keep it closed. I'm proud to have accomplished this and do so love the Autumnal subtle colors. The End!
I'm actually taking charge of my WIPs! I completed the main knitting of Lady Eleanor the other day and I immediately wove in the ends! There were only 2, but still that's a lot of progress for me. I wish I knew about the splicing method when I was joining skeins on the Candleflame Shawl, it has too many ends to think about and they easily could have been absorbed into the shawl had I known better. I'm going to block the stole this weekend and then add the fringe. Must use crochet hook, never a strong point with me, ahh!
Here’s a photo of Lady Eleanor:
In other WIPs, I actually did take a look at the shawl yesterday and still couldn't really figure out what I'd done wrong. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to bind off the stitches and leave the mistake in or rip back the 5 inches to the lifeline and re-knit. It doesn't sound like many inches, but with 500+ stitches, it's many, many more hours of knitting that I'd be redoing. I'm just going to have to figure out if the mistake will bother me enough if I leave it in. In all honesty I'd probably be the only one who saw it anyway and what with closing in on a YEAR of knitting this, I'm pretty ready to finish.
I finally felted my bowl and it is currently drying, photo to come soon. I finished another Christmas gift and will soon be starting another. I even have knit a little more on my sock, even though it's still boring! I'm doing pretty well this week I think. I'm going to try to keep my WIPS in order from now on, I wonder how long it will last. Perhaps keeping no more than 2 or 3 projects ongoing is the best idea.
I did have a mini brain glitch yesterday and decided that I must knit a sweater right away! I'm going to NJ for Christmas to visit the in-laws and it occurred to me that none of them would consider me a serious knitter if I wasn't sporting a hand knit sweater. It’s probably not true and it certainly doesn’t matter, but there it is. My next big project will be my first sweater. I’ve picked one out of Interweave’s latest issue and will be ordering my yarn from Knit Picks soon.
So here's the scarf I knitted last week. It's for the Think Pink Challenge that I just found out about. I mixed several yarns and knit it sideways, so it didn't take any time at all. It's going to be a teensy bit hard to part with it, if only because it's so Pink! I have a ton of the fringe left over though, so I'm going to add it to something else or wear it in my hair.
Project: Think Pink Scarf
Source: My Design
Yarn: TLC Wiggles, Plymouth Fantasy Naturale, Cascade 220 & Yarn Bee Party Girl
Needles: US 13
Started: 9/19/06
Finished: 9/20/06
Comments: I love this scarf and want to do this in all colors of the rainbow. This is also great for stash-busting. Just cast on as many stitches as you want the length to be and knit as many rows as the width you want. Super-easy! This is the first fringe I've made and it was kind of fun too.
I'm still working diligently on my stole. I really completed a lot while watching dozens of hours of tennis during the U.S. Open. I just started my last skein for the knitting part and then I will use one more for the knotted fringe.
I did just complete a last-minute scarf that I'll explain in more detail next week. I need to take photos of it over the weekend.
Since a post without photos is never any fun, I'm going to post some older things that I like and were made before this blog.
First off, is the Irish Hiking Scarf. I made this for my boyfriend Greg for Christmas.
Project: Irish Hiking Scarf
Source: Hello Yarn
Yarn: Noro Kureyon #52
Needles: ??
Started: 10/13/05
Finished: 12/21/05
Comments: Xmas present for Greg, knit in secret. My first cabling project, very fun. I used 3 skeins.
And this is a pretty cool photo that I took at my Grandparents a few weeks ago. Have a good weekend.
Well, iMac Jr. is in for surgery and probably won't be back for at least a week or more. Please send him your best wishes for a speedy recovery and no memory loss. Right now I'm using his momma, iMac Sr., and while she is a hardy and formidable computer, she tends to make everything look kind of wonky. She's very dependable, but lacks the sleek stylings of her offspring...at least she is purple.
Anyway I digress, I seem to be in a stalemate with my knitting. I've been steadily increasing the inches on my Lady Eleanor. She's a very fun and relaxing companion. I can totally see knitting another one, or maybe an entrelac scarf or pillow cover. I still have not felted my slippers and bowl. I need to weave in all the ends on the disappointing Dishcloth and I have not mustered up the courage to confront the Shawl. I did manage to get in a few rounds of my sock while waiting to speak with Mac's doctor, but so far it just isn't very inspiring at all. I don't feel bothered about any of it though, because of the joy of Eleanor.
Sadly, no photos on this post because the little upload tool isn't showing up, but maybe things will look bright again when Jr. returns. Ciao.
Out of the blue, I decided to start on my first sock last week. I was in between projects for about a day, so it seemed like a good idea at the time. I've finished knitting my Fuzzy Feet and they just need to be felted and they were pretty much like knitting giant socks so I figured I could handle a real one. I've had some Bernat Sox in my stash for quite some time so I pulled it out and decided to follow the pattern on the label (which you almost need a magnifying glass to read). The size is a Child's, but my feet are pretty small and even if they don't fit I can frame them or something. I think the colors are very pretty, all stripy and such, but do I hope this sock knitting thing grows on me. Knitters go on and on about knitting socks and some rarely knit anything else, but so far I don't find it quite as enthralling. First of all, I don't especially like dpns, I tend to really slow down when I'm using them and I have trouble with ladders, no matter how tightly I pull the yarn. I guess I can try the 2 circular thing, but somehow I don't think I'll care for that either. Secondly, I'm using size 3 needles and it seems to take forever to get an inch. Anyway I digress, it actually is progressing pretty well seeing as how I've finished turning the heel on the sock and I only left a small hole on one side. The photo is out of focus, but you get the idea.
I swore that I was going to finish the Candle Flame shawl before I started on Lady Eleanor and I intended to do just that. At this point the only thing I need to knit is the border, then I can block it and it will be finished. I put all 300+ stitches on a lifeline (checking several times to make sure I did have all of the stitches), pulled it off the needles and held it up to get a sense of how big it is going to be. I started putting the stitches back on the needle the next day, when lo and behold, I discover 2 or 3 dropped stitches! I've gotten much, much better at correcting mistakes in the past year, even in complicated patterns, and I wasn't afraid to play around with the dropped stitches. I tried different ways to re-incorporate them, but it wasn't working. I decided to look at it again in a few days and in the meantime my Kureyon arrived and I couldn't stop myself from casting on yet again.
Lady E looked a mess after the backward loop cast on and the first few rows, but she's maturing rapidly and has completely stolen my heart. There were a couple of mistakes in the first row that I'm too lazy to correct, but I figure most people won't see them anyway and I like to think a few imperfections make her more "real". In the photo she looks more like a purse, but that's just because of the circular needles. I might do an entrelac bag in the future though. I went with color 124 because there were limited choices in the WEBS closeout. Several other knit bloggers have used this color and it is mighty pretty. When I am sitting in my house this Winter all wrapped up in my jewel-encrusted Lady E, I will envision myself strolling the drafty stone corridors of a walled castle city. Can you tell I'm enchanted? This is after one skein (I have 10 in all), isn't she lovely?
Say hello to my new nephew Simon. He arrived Friday night healthy & curious. His nose matches those of his sisters when they were born and he has a very sweet disposition. Of the 2+ hours I spent with him yesterday, he only let out one little cry which quickly passed.
My favorite thing about brand new babies? Little tiny feet of course!
So the million ends of the baby blanket were finally worked in and the kimono finally sewn. Hopefully Simon will find some comfort in these items because I have definitely had him on my mind for most months of this year.
Project: Heartbreakingly Cute Baby Kimono
Source: Mason-Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Sugar 'n Cream in Key Lime Pie, 1 1/4 skeins
Needles: US 6
Started: 6/16/06
Finished: 8/7/06
Comments: The pattern is easy, though not very exciting. I became pretty over this when I ran out of yarn and had to eventually go to 3 different stores to find it. I did find the same dye lot though! It does look pretty sweet all sewn together and be-ribboned though.
Project: Simon's Baby Blanket
Source: My Design (Diamond Brocade taken from The Harmony Guide 450 Knitting Stitches Volume Two) with 3" Seed Stitch Border
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Worsted in Green Apple, 12 skeins
Needles: US 8
Started: 4/24/06
Finished: 6/15/06
Comments: Dimensions are approx. 22" x 50". This yarn is so soft & very stretchy, I love the feel of the seed stitch. I do wish the skeins had more yardage, as each skein only got me a few inches, hence all of the ends to weave in. I did notice after washing & drying the yarn already seemed to pill a little as well. The previous baby blanket I made was way too small so I cast on a whopping 193 stitches for this, perhaps I overcompensated? I think it will be nice to wrap the baby up nice and snug in this extra long blanket and hope that Simon will use it for years to come. It can double as a wrap for the weary momma!
Ok, now I really have to stop buying yarn. My rubbermaid box thing has almost reached capacity & I really don't have the room or the want to have a stash spilling out of every corner of my home. I just ordered some Noro Kureyon from WEBS for my Lady Eleanor because they are having a great sale, which I've been waiting for. My goal is to finish my Candleflame Shawl first and then have Lady E completed by Christmas. That sounds easy enough, especially since I've started some of my Christmas knitting this week and am moving swiftly along.
I did pick up some Baby Alpaca Worsted & Chunky this weekend courtesy of my LYS:
I think I'm going to make a squishy hat with the chunky green to match the first scarf I made and I'm not sure what for the orange. This is my first alpaca and boy was I missing out! This is the softest stuff imaginable and I love these colors.
In other news I've been pretty successful with my small projects this week. I've finished knitting a bowl, I just need to felt it this weekend. I've also knit one slipper and am working on the heel flap of the second one. Those will also need felting. I've also finished my first christmas present. I'm trying to get a good head start so I won't be knitting like crazy on Christmas Eve like the Harlot. The Ninepatch Dishcloth is almost finished, for me it's a lot slower going than the Ball Band. I think I finally understand when I hear people complain that cotton hurts their hands. All for now...
Finally, Waterlily from Interweave Knits Spring '06 issue. I've been lusting over this since Feb. or something. From the first cast-on to the final blocking, with a few days of doing nothing, this only took me 11 days! I knew it would be quick, but this really surprised me because I'm a somewhat slow knitter. I made the largest measurement because I was worried about fitting the bust. The bust size came out perfectly but the rest is a little loose, of course the lower half is knit on larger needles so that makes sense. I think it really looks better than these photos show. I don't have to wear a top under it, it really doesn't come down that low, but you can't see the eyelets as well without a background. All in all, I think I did pretty good for my first garment and I'll probably wear this from time to time. Now I can move on with my life and don't have to continue pining away after this yarn. I do still get distracted by all the pretty garden colors when I'm wearing it though.
Project: Waterlily Top
Source: Interweave Knits Spring '06
Yarn: 3 1/2 skeins of Colinette Giotto in Florentina. I found a much cheaper source in London, Loop
Needles: US size 10 1/2, 11, & 13 24" circs
Started: 7/18/06
Finished: 7/29/06
Comments: Things I learned while knitting this top- 1) Provisional Cast-On, 2) Shaping a garment, 3) Three Needle Bind-Off (the pattern didn't call for it, but I didn't want any bulky seams!), 4) Steam Blocking. There were no mistakes in the pattern and it was very straightforward.
More knits for nephew Simon, who will be arriving in 2 1/2 weeks! The One-Hour Booties from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation are made with Bernat Cotton Tots in Jelly Belly. I held it doubled & used US size 8s. The Baby Hat is from One Skein, and it also used Cotton Tots (different dye lot, that's why it's brighter) and US size 7 DPNs. Both were relatively easy knits, I just hope Simon has a petite head and feet.
I'll start today with 3 Ball Band Dishcloths I made while I was completing the blanket. These are addictive, as I'm sure every knitter knows. From left to right: Sugar 'N Cream in Hot Purple & Patio Pinks, Grape & Beach Ball Blue, Playtime & Hot Blue. US size 7 needles.
Next up: Baby Genius Burp Cloth & Baby Bib O' Love. I didn't make these in matching colors because I just used what I had in the stash, but I like the different colors. The burp cloth is SnC Early American Ombre & the bib is Country Brown Ombre, both using US 6 needles.
Almost everything is completely finished: knitted, woven, blocked, photographed and given away. I'm still steadily working on my shawl, a few rows here & there. I expect it will be finished soon. I've been working on it for so long now, it's become kind of a comfort thing. I've grown much more proficient since I began the shawl and now it's a breeze to work the pattern. It's going to be very strange when I finally complete it.
I'm still searching for another ball of Sugar 'N Cream to complete the last couple of inches on the Baby Kimono and then will have to sew it up. About half the ends are woven in on the Baby Blanket now. I was hoping to finish it by this weekend, but I had to finish Waterlily. That will teach me to leave UFOs lying around for a month!
Ok, I can't get my photos uploaded right now, so I guess I'll have to try again tomorrow!
I have finished knitting Waterlily! There was some confusion when it came time to undoing my provisional cast-on but everything worked out. It fits too! Now there comes the monumental task of weaving in millions of ends which fills me with dread. I have started, but it is very slow going as the ribbon yarn does not like to pull through stitches, plus I'm a little concerned with the looseness of the stitches. I don't want to be wearing an unraveling top. I will finish it by Sunday, I swear! Until then here's a pic of pretty flowers from my Grandmother's garden.
I finished the shaping of both fronts of my top and I'm working on the middle back. Tonight I'll start on the straps of the back and should have the top finished by the end of the week. I'm surprised at how fast a knit it is, but it does call for rather large needles (13, 11, & 10.5). It's a very easy & straight-forward pattern and I think it was a good choice for my first garment. Of course, I did manage to fudge something along the way & decrease some stitches or something. I'm not really sure what I did wrong, other than not counting the stitches on every row (!), however after inspection, everything is going smoothly again and all looks good. I just hope it fits okay and is somewhat flattering. Hopefully I will be wearing it at my family's birthday/ pool party this weekend.
I have some Lamb's Pride on the way from Kyarns 'cause it's on sale, apparently prices are going up on August 1st. It will be used to make some Xmas pressies and some Fuzzy Feet for me. I think it would be good to make the slippers before I make socks.
Until I finish my top and post some photos, here's one of my kitty Amelie. She loves to show off her shaved belly.
Now that I'm *this close* to finishing the baby items, I can start my Waterlily Top. It will be my first proper garment. I cast on yesterday and have knit a few inches already...so far, so good. I managed to successfully cast on using the provisional method, so that's the first new trick I've learned knitting this project. I've already switched to the second needle size and I'm hoping to stay focused on this so I can complete it in a couple of weeks. I LOVE these colors, it's nice to watch them fade into one another.
Ok, so my hat is done. Next time, I have to be more careful when choosing which colors to wear near my face. I wanted to make this pattern and I had the right amount of yarn, more in fact, but I really neglected the fact that bright green & blue would contrast highly with my fair skin and red hair. Ah well, maybe if I let my hair go back to its original color someday, the hat will look better.
Anyway, the knitting got a lot easier a few rows into it. The knit 2 tog tbl could be tricky though. The pattern is from Little Turtle Knits. I think the purse stitch is very pretty and shows off the gradual changes in color very well. I used US size 9 16" bamboo circs for all but the first few rows.
It's a little uncomfortable modeling a wool hat when it's 100 degrees outside! I'm glad to be done with this impulse project and get on with other things.
In other knitting news, I was so close to finishing my Baby Kimono yesterday when I ran out of yarn! Eeek, I hate that! So now I have to trek all the way out to Hobby Lobby to get another skein of Sugar 'n Cream that probably won't match my dye lot just so I can knit a lousy 2 or 3 inches. How annoying!
I finally used my birthday gift certificate for kpixie and bought some sock yarn. I'd better actually start knitting socks before I succumb to any more sock yarn! The yarn by All Things Heather is hand painted in the softest, most beautiful colors. This one's called Cornflower.
It's about time. I really seem to burn right through projects, knitting like crazy then binding off and forgetting about them. I suppose I should be happy with myself that I at least finish the knitting part. I just need to get into a new frame of mind and remind myself that "finishing" is just that- completing the project entirely. Anyway, a few are finished now and my Kool-Aid dyed hat is just about to come flying off the needles, and I promise to weave in the ends right away. Hats are easy anyway, only 2 little strands to worry about...Photos to come soon, soon.
So I finally devoted time to Kool-Aid Dying over this long weekend. I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted in Natural and followed
