Made it!

Since we leave tomorrow for a week of vacation, and I wanted to get my One Piece Lace Pullover off to be finished, I burned the midnight oil last night, unravelling my ravels and finishing!

Here's a picture of what it looks like pre-blocking and pre-sewing together; I'm very pleased with it, loved making it, and now definitely want to make a Clapotis, preferable out of something as soft and yummy as this Brooks Farm Duet!

Now, just so I can be into something when we get to our vacation spot, I am casting on in the Peaches and Creme cotton for my daughter's pink cotton duffel bag, adapted from a pattern in Knitting with Ribbon Yarn. This is probably one of my more experimental patterns, in that I am not really following the pattern at all, just using it as a reference point and taking bits and pieces from other patterns and my imagination. I'm using small--size 4--needles, to ensure that the fabric is tight and secure. So we'll see how it goes. More to come when I return!

Made it!

Since we leave tomorrow for a week of vacation, and I wanted to get my One Piece Lace Pullover off to be finished, I burned the midnight oil last night, unravelling my ravels and finishing!

Here's a picture of what it looks like pre-blocking and pre-sewing together; I'm very pleased with it, loved making it, and now definitely want to make a Clapotis, preferable out of something as soft and yummy as this Brooks Farm Duet!

Now, just so I can be into something when we get to our vacation spot, I am casting on in the Peaches and Creme cotton for my daughter's pink cotton duffel bag, adapted from a pattern in Knitting with Ribbon Yarn. This is probably one of my more experimental patterns, in that I am not really following the pattern at all, just using it as a reference point and taking bits and pieces from other patterns and my imagination. I'm using small--size 4--needles, to ensure that the fabric is tight and secure. So we'll see how it goes. More to come when I return!

Tearing My Heart Out

It's been awhile since I've posted. Spent three days away on a business trip, and I packed two small knitting projects--my Marble Arches sock and my One Skein Wonders scarf...but didn't knit a stitch on either. I felt like I had to be working while on the plane with colleagues and clients, and during my stay I was busy with work-related activities from morning until I fell into bed each night. I missed knitting! It really grounds me.

So, I was happy to come home and have Knitting Group yesterday. I loved sitting around with the girls for two blissful hours of knitting on my One Piece Lace Pullover. BUT....I noticed that I had neglected to unravel at one spot where I had been supposed to unravel a stitch all the way down (this pattern is like the Clapotis, with unravels every 7 stitches of a lace pattern). I had already bound off above the unravel spot, and toyed with the idea of cutting the yarn, but I was afraid, and ended up ripping out 65 rows of mohair--not fun. While rewinding the yarn back onto the ball, somehow a big hunk came out of the skein and got very tangled. Two hours later, I ended up cutting the knotted part, but this morning, after some sleep, I patiently unravelled all of what I had cut off so I won't waste any of this gorgeous (but sticky!) Brooks Farm Duet.

Now I'm back on track and will be knitting with the satisfaction that I did everything I could to solve a problem. Here are a couple of shots of the sweater in progress, including a closeup of the unravelled pattern; I'm on the last sleeve, about 90 rows and I'll be done!

I think one of the reasons why I chose to rip was that I had also just found out that a dear friend has had a relapse of a medical condition. All should be fine, but I was feeling somewhat powerless, and at least the ripping (and the knitting) gave me comfort and the feeling that I could control my destiny. Better than any therapist, knitting is!

Another thing that's calmed me today is that I got Fiona Ellis's Inspired Cable Knits out of the library. I think I may need to purchase this book as I want to make EVERYTHING in it! Have any of you made anything from this beautiful book?

Tearing My Heart Out

It's been awhile since I've posted. Spent three days away on a business trip, and I packed two small knitting projects--my Marble Arches sock and my One Skein Wonders scarf...but didn't knit a stitch on either. I felt like I had to be working while on the plane with colleagues and clients, and during my stay I was busy with work-related activities from morning until I fell into bed each night. I missed knitting! It really grounds me.

So, I was happy to come home and have Knitting Group yesterday. I loved sitting around with the girls for two blissful hours of knitting on my One Piece Lace Pullover. BUT....I noticed that I had neglected to unravel at one spot where I had been supposed to unravel a stitch all the way down (this pattern is like the Clapotis, with unravels every 7 stitches of a lace pattern). I had already bound off above the unravel spot, and toyed with the idea of cutting the yarn, but I was afraid, and ended up ripping out 65 rows of mohair--not fun. While rewinding the yarn back onto the ball, somehow a big hunk came out of the skein and got very tangled. Two hours later, I ended up cutting the knotted part, but this morning, after some sleep, I patiently unravelled all of what I had cut off so I won't waste any of this gorgeous (but sticky!) Brooks Farm Duet.

Now I'm back on track and will be knitting with the satisfaction that I did everything I could to solve a problem. Here are a couple of shots of the sweater in progress, including a closeup of the unravelled pattern; I'm on the last sleeve, about 90 rows and I'll be done!

I think one of the reasons why I chose to rip was that I had also just found out that a dear friend has had a relapse of a medical condition. All should be fine, but I was feeling somewhat powerless, and at least the ripping (and the knitting) gave me comfort and the feeling that I could control my destiny. Better than any therapist, knitting is!

Another thing that's calmed me today is that I got Fiona Ellis's Inspired Cable Knits out of the library. I think I may need to purchase this book as I want to make EVERYTHING in it! Have any of you made anything from this beautiful book?

One Yarn Begets Another!

I am technically participating in "Knit from Your Stash?" Technically, that is. One of the caveats of this program (for me, anyway) is that if yarn is needed to complete a stash project, it's OK to buy more. The problem is, concentrating on finding matches for these destashing projects is taking time away from knitting!

Here's part of the saga: I had a ball of Kristha Metallic Yarn in a beautiful pink, brown and white colorway. I had bought it last summer to mix with another oddball that I'd gotten as part of the One Skein Secret Pal Exchange. My daughter fell in love with this metallic ribbon, but it's only about 60 yards, I can't find more of it online, and even if I did, it is expensive. I found a pattern for a cute Duffle Bag in a book I'd gotten out of the library, Knitting with Ribbon Yarn, by Tracy Chapman. We decided to do most of the bag in a straight cotton and then do some accents with this ribbon. After getting some tips on cottons from my Yahoo Knitlist friends, I settled on the Peaches & Creme Worsted Weight Cotton in Baby Pink, which I ordered directly from the manufacturer, Elmore-Pisgah. It should be arriving soon and I'm looking forward to making this bag.

Then, I had gotten 2 skeins of "Bumblebee" DK weight yarn as a gift from April as part of her destashing. I thought they'd be perfect for my Pittsburgh Steeler fan son for a pair of socks. After measuring his almost adult size foot, I realized the 280 yards wouldn't be enough, so I ordered a skein of Filatura di Crosa Zara in Bright Yellow to fill in the toes and heels.

Now I'm determined to stop shopping--even if it is contributing to destashing--and get back to work on my One-Piece Lace Pullover, which is proceeding nicely, and my second STR Marble Arches sock. With two plane trips coming up soon, I'll have to figure out which small project to take with me--either the sock or the scarf that's been languishing in my knitting bag.

One Yarn Begets Another!

I am technically participating in "Knit from Your Stash?" Technically, that is. One of the caveats of this program (for me, anyway) is that if yarn is needed to complete a stash project, it's OK to buy more. The problem is, concentrating on finding matches for these destashing projects is taking time away from knitting!

Here's part of the saga: I had a ball of Kristha Metallic Yarn in a beautiful pink, brown and white colorway. I had bought it last summer to mix with another oddball that I'd gotten as part of the One Skein Secret Pal Exchange. My daughter fell in love with this metallic ribbon, but it's only about 60 yards, I can't find more of it online, and even if I did, it is expensive. I found a pattern for a cute Duffle Bag in a book I'd gotten out of the library, Knitting with Ribbon Yarn, by Tracy Chapman. We decided to do most of the bag in a straight cotton and then do some accents with this ribbon. After getting some tips on cottons from my Yahoo Knitlist friends, I settled on the Peaches & Creme Worsted Weight Cotton in Baby Pink, which I ordered directly from the manufacturer, Elmore-Pisgah. It should be arriving soon and I'm looking forward to making this bag.

Then, I had gotten 2 skeins of "Bumblebee" DK weight yarn as a gift from April as part of her destashing. I thought they'd be perfect for my Pittsburgh Steeler fan son for a pair of socks. After measuring his almost adult size foot, I realized the 280 yards wouldn't be enough, so I ordered a skein of Filatura di Crosa Zara in Bright Yellow to fill in the toes and heels.

Now I'm determined to stop shopping--even if it is contributing to destashing--and get back to work on my One-Piece Lace Pullover, which is proceeding nicely, and my second STR Marble Arches sock. With two plane trips coming up soon, I'll have to figure out which small project to take with me--either the sock or the scarf that's been languishing in my knitting bag.

Marble Arches: One Down

I finished the first of my Socks that Rock Marble Arches socks, just in time for the first of this year's Rockin' Sock Club packages to arrive! I am really pleased with the way the yarn striped on this sock; I hope Sock #2 looks similar! I also love the new Socks that Rock colorway, and the pattern looks like one that I will be able to handle--not quite sure yet if I will use it or another. I won't give away too much info as I know everyone hasn't gotten their kits yet.

The Marble Arches photo is taken with the sock on my brand-new Fiber Trends Sock Blockers, which I purchased yesterday while on a business trip to Philadelphia. A meeting was canceled, which gave me time to sneak into Rosie's Yarn Cellar and purchase the Sock Blockers and a new pair of #1 DPN's. Now I am thinking I would like to try socks on two circs, and the consensus of my fellow Sock Club members is that the 24 inch length is the best, so I may use this opportunity to try the #1 circs to see how I like the KnitPicks Options needles...

Now it's on to Sock #2 and more on my Lace Sweater.

Marble Arches: One Down

I finished the first of my Socks that Rock Marble Arches socks, just in time for the first of this year's Rockin' Sock Club packages to arrive! I am really pleased with the way the yarn striped on this sock; I hope Sock #2 looks similar! I also love the new Socks that Rock colorway, and the pattern looks like one that I will be able to handle--not quite sure yet if I will use it or another. I won't give away too much info as I know everyone hasn't gotten their kits yet.

The Marble Arches photo is taken with the sock on my brand-new Fiber Trends Sock Blockers, which I purchased yesterday while on a business trip to Philadelphia. A meeting was canceled, which gave me time to sneak into Rosie's Yarn Cellar and purchase the Sock Blockers and a new pair of #1 DPN's. Now I am thinking I would like to try socks on two circs, and the consensus of my fellow Sock Club members is that the 24 inch length is the best, so I may use this opportunity to try the #1 circs to see how I like the KnitPicks Options needles...

Now it's on to Sock #2 and more on my Lace Sweater.