Projects for the Man

Now that Lizzy is done, I'm back to my Hedgerow Socks for my husband, as well as a vest for him. I've finished sock #1 but left it on needles as I'm HOPING that I have enough yarn (Sundara Sock) for the second sock. If not, I have a nice bit of Claudia Handpaint that would work for the toes, so I would rip back the toe of Sock #1 if that's the case.
As for the vest, he liked the Woodsy Ribs pattern from the Winter 2004 Knitter's Magazine, but wanted a lighter-weight yarn, so we settled on Rowan Felted Tweed, which I ordered from Webs, in a pretty midnight blue color flecked with light blue, red and yellow. I am also using the Ann Budd Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, which I recently scored on the KnitSwap list, to help me adjust the measurements since I'm knitting with a DK rather than worsted weight yarn.

I had to rip out the first attempt because the gauge I was getting while actually knitting the vest was different (6 stitches/inch) than the gauge I had gotten with my swatch (5.5 stitches/inch). Hopefully now it will be right on track.

Two projects for my hubby at once--isn't he lucky?

I listened to a new Podcast today that I liked very much: DivaKnitting. Podcaster/Blogger Cheryl Kemp does a nice Podcast in my opinion--a good length, useful reviews and information, and it's got good clarity. Go take a listen!

Projects for the Man

Now that Lizzy is done, I'm back to my Hedgerow Socks for my husband, as well as a vest for him. I've finished sock #1 but left it on needles as I'm HOPING that I have enough yarn (Sundara Sock) for the second sock. If not, I have a nice bit of Claudia Handpaint that would work for the toes, so I would rip back the toe of Sock #1 if that's the case.
As for the vest, he liked the Woodsy Ribs pattern from the Winter 2004 Knitter's Magazine, but wanted a lighter-weight yarn, so we settled on Rowan Felted Tweed, which I ordered from Webs, in a pretty midnight blue color flecked with light blue, red and yellow. I am also using the Ann Budd Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, which I recently scored on the KnitSwap list, to help me adjust the measurements since I'm knitting with a DK rather than worsted weight yarn.

I had to rip out the first attempt because the gauge I was getting while actually knitting the vest was different (6 stitches/inch) than the gauge I had gotten with my swatch (5.5 stitches/inch). Hopefully now it will be right on track.

Two projects for my hubby at once--isn't he lucky?

I listened to a new Podcast today that I liked very much: DivaKnitting. Podcaster/Blogger Cheryl Kemp does a nice Podcast in my opinion--a good length, useful reviews and information, and it's got good clarity. Go take a listen!

I Love Lizzy!

Lizzy is finally finished! Yay!

This project was a real test of my knitting skills, and I loved every minute of the challenge.

With the help of some fellow Ravelry friends, I learned how to:

- add a hem to this garment to keep it from raveling at the bottom - add waist shaping and alter the sleeve width for a more customized fit
- I also sewed this sweater together myself–one of the only times I’ve done this with a sweater, and it came out pretty well!
- The one thing I would do differently is this: I picked up stitches and did a 3-needle bind-off for the side seams, as I’d read that this was an option rather than sewing. It came out fine, but the seams (such as the sleeves) that I sewed look smoother. I guess I CAN sew!


All in all, a wonderful learning experience, and I adored working with Noro. I may order some more of this color (I have 3 skeins left) to make a Clapotis.

I Love Lizzy!

Lizzy is finally finished! Yay!

This project was a real test of my knitting skills, and I loved every minute of the challenge.

With the help of some fellow Ravelry friends, I learned how to:

- add a hem to this garment to keep it from raveling at the bottom - add waist shaping and alter the sleeve width for a more customized fit
- I also sewed this sweater together myself–one of the only times I’ve done this with a sweater, and it came out pretty well!
- The one thing I would do differently is this: I picked up stitches and did a 3-needle bind-off for the side seams, as I’d read that this was an option rather than sewing. It came out fine, but the seams (such as the sleeves) that I sewed look smoother. I guess I CAN sew!


All in all, a wonderful learning experience, and I adored working with Noro. I may order some more of this color (I have 3 skeins left) to make a Clapotis.

The Finish Line

In a week that has included few "wins", either at work or at home, I approached yesterday--having finished the two fronts and back of the Lizzy cardigan--determined to overcome my angst about finishing. The sweater pieces, which are my first example of really altering a pattern with shaping to fit me, seemed to be exactly the right size. I decided to start the finishing that I could do with the fronts and back before I knit the sleeves, so that the whole finishing job wouldn't be so daunting at the end.
I did the three-needle bind off for the shoulders (beautiful), the simple picking up of stitches and then binding off for the slim collar (perfect), and the ruffled bands down the fronts (fun and festive!) Anxious to see how my hems would come out, I even sewed some of them, and will finish joining them together after I sew the side seams, which will happen after I knit and set in the sleeves.
So far, this finishing experience has been nothing short of exhilarating. I am definitely at the stage where I should be finishing my own garments, and as long as they don't involve crocheting, there's really no reason I can't do this work. Yesterday's experience proved that I can. I am anxious to make the sleeves and finish my finishing. Hopefully this is the start of a new chapter in my knitting career.
And did I say how much I love Noro???

The Finish Line

In a week that has included few "wins", either at work or at home, I approached yesterday--having finished the two fronts and back of the Lizzy cardigan--determined to overcome my angst about finishing. The sweater pieces, which are my first example of really altering a pattern with shaping to fit me, seemed to be exactly the right size. I decided to start the finishing that I could do with the fronts and back before I knit the sleeves, so that the whole finishing job wouldn't be so daunting at the end.
I did the three-needle bind off for the shoulders (beautiful), the simple picking up of stitches and then binding off for the slim collar (perfect), and the ruffled bands down the fronts (fun and festive!) Anxious to see how my hems would come out, I even sewed some of them, and will finish joining them together after I sew the side seams, which will happen after I knit and set in the sleeves.
So far, this finishing experience has been nothing short of exhilarating. I am definitely at the stage where I should be finishing my own garments, and as long as they don't involve crocheting, there's really no reason I can't do this work. Yesterday's experience proved that I can. I am anxious to make the sleeves and finish my finishing. Hopefully this is the start of a new chapter in my knitting career.
And did I say how much I love Noro???

Immediate Gratification

Tempted by several Super Bowl Sales in a number of local yarn shops (and I did go to one to buy yarn for my husband's requested vest), I decided that what I really needed to do was delve into my stash and use up some of the single skeins I've bought at previous Super Bowl Sales and never used.

Last year, I bought a skein of Lamb's Pride Bulky to pair with a single skein of Patons Glittallic that I had gotten from a swap pal. I had the intention then of making the Spiral Rib Bag from One Skein. Never even started, this project was forgotten as others took its place. Now I pondered doing baby hats for Afghans for Afghans (which I may still do), but I looked at the Spiral Rib Bag pattern again and decided to give it a try. I knit with these two skeins held together, and since both are bulky weight, this made for a tight, sturdy fabric. The bag is big enough to use as a sock project bag, it's really cute! The Glittallic is completely used up and the Lamb's Pride is now a little oddball.


Mission accomplished! It's great to finish a project in ONE DAY! Now, back to Lizzy and my socks. The sock weight yarn and size 1.5 needles feels sooooo thin and tiny after the double bulky weight bag!

Immediate Gratification

Tempted by several Super Bowl Sales in a number of local yarn shops (and I did go to one to buy yarn for my husband's requested vest), I decided that what I really needed to do was delve into my stash and use up some of the single skeins I've bought at previous Super Bowl Sales and never used.

Last year, I bought a skein of Lamb's Pride Bulky to pair with a single skein of Patons Glittallic that I had gotten from a swap pal. I had the intention then of making the Spiral Rib Bag from One Skein. Never even started, this project was forgotten as others took its place. Now I pondered doing baby hats for Afghans for Afghans (which I may still do), but I looked at the Spiral Rib Bag pattern again and decided to give it a try. I knit with these two skeins held together, and since both are bulky weight, this made for a tight, sturdy fabric. The bag is big enough to use as a sock project bag, it's really cute! The Glittallic is completely used up and the Lamb's Pride is now a little oddball.


Mission accomplished! It's great to finish a project in ONE DAY! Now, back to Lizzy and my socks. The sock weight yarn and size 1.5 needles feels sooooo thin and tiny after the double bulky weight bag!