WIP Fever

Suddenly, I am awash in WIP's.
I am now on my third attempt at the Woodsy Ribs Vest. I had done a gauge swatch and gotten 5.5 stitches/inch, then after knitting about 3 inches on the project (remember, this is for my 6-foot husband and is being knit in DK weight yarn--130+ stitches!), it just didn't look wide enough. So, I ripped it out and started again, this time using a gauge of 6 stitches/inch as my guide and 148 stitches. After I had knit 10 inches, I measured the vest against the sweater hubby had said fit perfectly--and the vest was a good two inches wider (meaning it would be 4 inches wider all around). I now had a very good sample to measure gauge...and it was 5.5 stitches/inch! I should have stuck with my first instincts. So I ripped again, and am now back on track with about 3 inches done. I wouldn't have finished it before the end of winter weather anyway, so I figure I have until next fall to finish!
Since the pressure is off on the vest--and it is a bit tedious to knit--I have a few other things going on the needles. My cousin is having a baby this summer and I was dying to use up my Rowan All Seasons Cotton. I had thought about Knitty's Trellis, but it's just too complicated for a project that I'm going to be knitting off and on, even though everyone on Ravelry who has made it seems to love it. So, I searched and searched and came up with Knitty's ChildHood--it is an ADORABLE hooded sweater, and is just right for the All Seasons Cotton. I did have to order a contrasting color for the striping. My stash Cotton is charcoal grey, and since I don't know the gender of the baby, my daughter helped me choose a delicious pistachio green for the contrast.
I still think it might be a bit masculine, so if it's a girl I might embroider a little pink or green heart on the front. I do a bit each night and it is coming out just darling so far. I should have plenty of time to make it, but...
I just got my International Scarf Exchange 6 pal, and am about to cast on for her! I have a pattern in mind--Knitty's Argosy--but am deciding between two yarns. I'm going to swatch tonight and then cast on, as I have a May deadline for that. The good news is that many of the Ravelers who have made this scarf comment that it knits up quickly.
Other than the vest, I notice a pattern here...I've mentioned three Knitty patterns! I do find their patterns consistently well written, and I think partially because they're free, many of them seem to have huge followings on Ravelry, so there's a great cross-section of projects to look at.
I'll be keeping busy, triaging all of these projects...my Saucy Socks are on the back burner, but still a favorite!

WIP Fever

Suddenly, I am awash in WIP's.
I am now on my third attempt at the Woodsy Ribs Vest. I had done a gauge swatch and gotten 5.5 stitches/inch, then after knitting about 3 inches on the project (remember, this is for my 6-foot husband and is being knit in DK weight yarn--130+ stitches!), it just didn't look wide enough. So, I ripped it out and started again, this time using a gauge of 6 stitches/inch as my guide and 148 stitches. After I had knit 10 inches, I measured the vest against the sweater hubby had said fit perfectly--and the vest was a good two inches wider (meaning it would be 4 inches wider all around). I now had a very good sample to measure gauge...and it was 5.5 stitches/inch! I should have stuck with my first instincts. So I ripped again, and am now back on track with about 3 inches done. I wouldn't have finished it before the end of winter weather anyway, so I figure I have until next fall to finish!
Since the pressure is off on the vest--and it is a bit tedious to knit--I have a few other things going on the needles. My cousin is having a baby this summer and I was dying to use up my Rowan All Seasons Cotton. I had thought about Knitty's Trellis, but it's just too complicated for a project that I'm going to be knitting off and on, even though everyone on Ravelry who has made it seems to love it. So, I searched and searched and came up with Knitty's ChildHood--it is an ADORABLE hooded sweater, and is just right for the All Seasons Cotton. I did have to order a contrasting color for the striping. My stash Cotton is charcoal grey, and since I don't know the gender of the baby, my daughter helped me choose a delicious pistachio green for the contrast.
I still think it might be a bit masculine, so if it's a girl I might embroider a little pink or green heart on the front. I do a bit each night and it is coming out just darling so far. I should have plenty of time to make it, but...
I just got my International Scarf Exchange 6 pal, and am about to cast on for her! I have a pattern in mind--Knitty's Argosy--but am deciding between two yarns. I'm going to swatch tonight and then cast on, as I have a May deadline for that. The good news is that many of the Ravelers who have made this scarf comment that it knits up quickly.
Other than the vest, I notice a pattern here...I've mentioned three Knitty patterns! I do find their patterns consistently well written, and I think partially because they're free, many of them seem to have huge followings on Ravelry, so there's a great cross-section of projects to look at.
I'll be keeping busy, triaging all of these projects...my Saucy Socks are on the back burner, but still a favorite!

Interlude

I finished the Hedgerow Socks with a bit of yarn to spare!
I'm really pleased with the way they turned out, and I loved both the Sundara Sock yarn and the pattern. I was worried at the end that I'd made the foot too short for my husband, but I blocked them out to his foot length and now I think they'll be perfect. The picture doesn't do the beautiful purply color justice.

Before starting on my next pair of socks, I did a quickie project from 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders.I'm now on my third set of iPod headphones; I am hard on the iPod as I carry it in my purse and listen when walking back and forth to my parking lot at work (mostly knitting Podcasts, of course, of which there seem to be a bunch more these days!) I took the His 'n' Hers Shower Soap Holders pattern and made it up in some pretty Muench String of Pearls yarn that I had left over from a tank top I made a couple of summers ago.
The seed stitch picks up the subtle shimmer in the yarn just beautifully, and the case is cute. I'd definitely make the pattern again for its real purpose--to hold soap--and it would make a great holiday or swap pal gift with a unique scented soap inside.

I love these fast (two nights!) projects, they help keep things interesting. I am having a bit of trouble getting my Mojo going for the Woodsy Ribs vest, but it is looking good so far and I just need a good chunk of time to work on it and see some progress (I have about 5 inches done so far, and garments for a 6-foot man DO take more time than those for 5 foot 2 me!)

Next up: I'll cast on for my next pair of socks, and will think about starting a sweater for my cousin who will be having a baby this summer.

Interlude

I finished the Hedgerow Socks with a bit of yarn to spare!
I'm really pleased with the way they turned out, and I loved both the Sundara Sock yarn and the pattern. I was worried at the end that I'd made the foot too short for my husband, but I blocked them out to his foot length and now I think they'll be perfect. The picture doesn't do the beautiful purply color justice.

Before starting on my next pair of socks, I did a quickie project from 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders.I'm now on my third set of iPod headphones; I am hard on the iPod as I carry it in my purse and listen when walking back and forth to my parking lot at work (mostly knitting Podcasts, of course, of which there seem to be a bunch more these days!) I took the His 'n' Hers Shower Soap Holders pattern and made it up in some pretty Muench String of Pearls yarn that I had left over from a tank top I made a couple of summers ago.
The seed stitch picks up the subtle shimmer in the yarn just beautifully, and the case is cute. I'd definitely make the pattern again for its real purpose--to hold soap--and it would make a great holiday or swap pal gift with a unique scented soap inside.

I love these fast (two nights!) projects, they help keep things interesting. I am having a bit of trouble getting my Mojo going for the Woodsy Ribs vest, but it is looking good so far and I just need a good chunk of time to work on it and see some progress (I have about 5 inches done so far, and garments for a 6-foot man DO take more time than those for 5 foot 2 me!)

Next up: I'll cast on for my next pair of socks, and will think about starting a sweater for my cousin who will be having a baby this summer.