In Time

I finished the Mitered Tank Top with over a week to spare before my son's Middle School Graduation. After much ripping--I became obsessed with having even stitches, and working in a yarn that is not wool really challenges me on achieving that even texture--I am very happy with the finished product. Light spritz blocking also evened out the stitches beautifully, so I'll have to keep that in mind for future projects. The top fits like a glove, and I think it will stretch, so I did very minimal blocking.
The Panda Silk DK ended up being so soft and was very nice for seaming. Just a bit challenging for a nice, even tension, and it was a bit splitty.

Before I start my next "main" project, I am going to finish one Solstice Slip sock. I figure if I do at least one sock in between bigger projects, since I'm not so good at the simultaneous sock knitting anymore, I will eventually get through my large sock stash.

Next up for "main" project: another tank, this time with my yummy Tess Microfiber Ribbon, purchased at Stitches East last fall. I'll probably do the pattern that they gave me with the ribbon, a scoop neck tank that can be worn with the scoop in front or back. More to come!

Socks DO Rock!

In order to finally finish my Sweet Pea Socks, which had been languishing for 9 months, I made them my #1 project rather than a secondary, "Pick up when you have a chance" project. It worked--I finished them in 2 weeks. Breaking my toe and having to stay off my feet a bit (ironically, while I knit SOCKS) helped a lot the first weekend. The socks are beautiful and the Silkie Socks that Rock is luscious.
I'm very pleased with the result, although now that it's May I won't be able to wear these for awhile. Something to look forward to.

I will immediately cast on for my next two-year-old Socks that Rock pattern and yarn, Solstice Slip in Socks that Rock Lightweight Firebird. This pattern can be knit either top down or toe up, and since I'm a novice at toe-up, I first thought I'd try that. But since I plan to cast on for Norah Gaughan's Mitered Top from Spring/Summer 2009 Vogue Knitting, which I want to finish in time for my son's 8th grade graduation in about 6 weeks, I think I better make these something I can handle easily--hence, I'll do them top down. I'll make toe-up one of my learning goals for the future. More on the tank once I get started!

A Calamity Becomes a Knitting Opportunity

Well, once again it's been awhile since I've blogged. Online life is a bit overwhelming, what with Twitter (I'm JerseyShoreDeb), Facebook and, of course, Ravelry. I have been working furiously on my husband's vest so that I could get it done--I started out not liking the intarsia work, but got into a rhythm and enjoyed it very much at the end. The finished result is really nice.
Too bad it's now too warm for him to wear the vest until next winter. Oh, well.

I decided to finish my Sweet Pea Socks before starting another larger project--the sock has been languishing since last summer and I thought it might help to work on it as my main project rather than a secondary afterthought. I am really enjoying it, I think I forgot how gratifying sock knitting can be, as it moves very quickly if you actually do it more than sporadically! I'm about halfway through the foot on Sock #1--I may be able to finish the pair in a week or so. The Silkie Socks That Rock seems to have a bit less give than an all wool sock yarn, which makes sense, but boy does it feel nice, and the colorway I'm using is beautiful. One day I'll be caught up to my two years' worth of unknit Rockin' Sock Club kits!

I've actually had a lot of time to knit this weekend as I broke my big toe Friday night. Just walked into a cement barrier in a restaurant parking lot. As someone who runs almost every day, the fact that I won't be able to exercise for six weeks is sort of freaking me out, but I guess it could be a lot worse. Spent yesterday with my foot propped on a pillow, knitting away on my sock. Yes, life could definitely be worse.

I'd Rather Be Knitting, But...

I thought I would take a few minutes from my very little knitting time tonight to post pictures of my daughter's Talia.

Yesterday was the first chance we had to take photos outside.
I am also quite into the Windowpane Vest that I'm making for my husband. I am almost through with the back--not bad, since it is a large piece on small yarn and needles. I am being pretty monogamous with it, other than a dishcloth here and there for train knitting, or a row or two on the Cable Comfort Throw when I feel like a change of pace.
At this rate, I hope to have the vest done in a month or so...then I will have a big decision about what to knit next--a shawl, a sweater--but most definitely something from my now significant stash.
Happy Knitting, everyone!

Some Long-Term Projects

It's been awhile since I've posted...some family things going on, but now I am back in the groove. I finished the Talia vest for my daughter and it is beautiful...however, the buttons that I ordered online seem to be lost in the ether, so we will wait a few days and figure something else out if they don't arrive. I'll post pictures once it is complete, on my beautiful daughter!

I next started the Men's Windowpane Vest for my husband, from the Winter 2008/2009 Knit Simple.
It involves some intarsia, in little groups of a single stitch every 18 stitches. It is slow going (on #5 needles, DK weight yarn) but I think it is going to be lovely when it is done.

My other big project is the Cable Comfort Throw, which I'm doing in Noro Transitions.
I am loving this project and I'm so happy I splurged for the Addi #11 circular needles--it makes such a difference to have this yarn, which has about 5 different textures in it, go flying over those needles.

More to come!

A Fabulous FO!

I finished my Tai Chi Cardigan! This sweater features mitred squares, stockinette squares and seed stitch squares, is knit in strips and then put together with 3-needle bind off. I fell in love with it at Stitches East in November and purchased the kit from Great Yarns! booth.

I absolutely adore how this sweater turned out! I made it a bit longer than the stated measurements and narrowed and shortened the sleeves to fit my short arms. It required some math, but I did it! I am really gratified in how I have learned to alter sweater patterns to FIT, a skill I really believe I've mastered in the past year. After all, isn't this what knitting your own garments is all about? I am really going to enjoy this sweater, I think.

Another skill I'm still working on mastering--and doing better--is finishing. My mom had made the Easy Basket-weave Cardigan from the January issue of Creative Knitting in a soft acrylic, and she asked me to put it together for her. Although I'm not fond of acrylic, it was somewhat easy to manage for sewing together. I had a bit of struggle with the set-in sleeves, but otherwise, I did a pretty good finishing job, if I do say so myself. I think I am getting to that next level, which feels terrific.

Next up in terms of my "main" projects: another Talia vest, this one for my daughter, in black Cascade 220. Progress and details to follow!

Happy New Year!

As 2009 begins, I am thankful for good health, a steady job and a wonderful family, even though the health of some of our older family members is failing. We'll hope for the best on all fronts as we turn the calendar page for a fresh, new 12 months.

On the knitting front, I counted 17 finished objects on my blog sidebar for 2008, although I know there were others that I just didn't document on the blog. I have to say that if there was one trend in my knitting last year, it was knitting ADD--the inability to focus on one project. I attribute this most likely to the fact that I am reading more blogs, listening to more Podcasts, bought more books and certainly because of my fondness for Ravelry--I just can't seem to refrain from starting new projects.

I have also built up the biggest stash I've ever had, and hope to keep it at its present state and start to whittle it down this year. So what did I do to ring out 2008? Yesterday morning I bought 3 skeins of Lion Wool Prints to make a scarf for ISE7 Scarf Pal! Nothing in my stash seemed to match my Pal's preferences, so I bought something new and hope to use all 3 skeins for the scarf.
I tried two different patterns and settled on the Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf and have already knit over a foot. I should have no problem finishing this easy and enjoyable scarf on time.

Yesterday I also couldn't resist a great new book, Knitting Noro, which I got at Borders with a 30% off coupon. I am in love with Noro yarns, but I fear that this book is going to cause me to buy more of them....we'll see. For now I'm just enjoying looking at the pictures and reading about this amazing yarn company.

While on vacation last week, I made great progress on the Tai Chi Cardigan while on vacation and I am now in the home stretch of that lovely project. This sweater, with its collection of bright and unusual colors and patterns, will always remind me fondly of our trip to Mexico--it almost has a feel of the Mexican textiles we saw throughout the week.


So now for a few knitting resolutions:
1. Try to contain my stash and work through my Ravelry queue
2. On a related note, knit more socks--I have so much stashed sock yarn and I usually have a pair of socks going as a secondary project at all times. The problem is, I'm now working on so many things at once that the socks continue to fall to the end of the line (the socks on my needles now were the only project I didn't work on out of 4 things I took on vacation, for example).
3. Learn some new techniques--last year I learned entrelac and mitred squares; maybe this year I'll work on colorwork.

That's probably enough for now--back to knitting while I have the day off!