Friday, May 21, 2010

Two-Toned Shell

I thought I'd add the latest shots of the Two-Toned Shell as it fits me. And fit perfectly it does! Can't wait to wear it.


Now that I'm into the Lotus Blossom Tank, also knit from the bottom up, I am once again stressing about how it will fit. I think I will relax and enjoy it and if it doesn't fit, I'll rip!

Two-Toned Shell

I thought I'd add the latest shots of the Two-Toned Shell as it fits me. And fit perfectly it does! Can't wait to wear it.


Now that I'm into the Lotus Blossom Tank, also knit from the bottom up, I am once again stressing about how it will fit. I think I will relax and enjoy it and if it doesn't fit, I'll rip!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Lots of Progress!

Finished two projects this weekend while hubby was out of town!
First, my LAST pair of fingerless mitts for one of my daughter's friends. I have now made 10 pair of fingerless mitts for this lovely bunch of new drivers. I hope they all think of me and my wishes for their safety when they continue to wear them next winter.

These last two pairs (for a set of twins) were the Maine Morning Mitts from The Knitter's Book of Yarn, knit from leftover Malabrigo Worsted. I love this stuff! I now have bits left in three colors of Mal worsted, but I know EXACTLY how many yards of each thanks to my nifty new Eat Smart Precision Pro Kitchen Scale! I had been wanting one of these for some time, but when Clara Parkes wrote about hers in Knitter's Review a few weeks ago, I just clicked on the link and ordered it from amazon.com. It is really helpful to know how many yards of yarn I have left for planning stash projects. I know it will also come in handy in dividing sock yarn as I make more toe-up socks. And, I used it today to weigh a letter to determine whether it needed a second stamp (it did).

I also finished the Two-Toned Shell from Vogue Knitting. After much angst about how it would fit, I think (it is blocking as we speak) it will fit perfectly. And, as with most of the cotton projects I've made, it really smoothed out from a nice blocking. Here it is on the blocking board; I hope to be able to try it on later this week.

Next up--I will cast on for the Lotus Blossom Tank from an older issue of Interweave. I'll be using some KnitPicks CotLIn leftover from the sweater my mom knit and I put together for her about a month ago. I swatched tonight and figured out that some of my KnitPicks Options needles were in the wrong sleeves and I had swatched with needles that were too big! I think I have them all straightened out now and will cast on with #5's by tomorrow.

Lots of Progress!

Finished two projects this weekend while hubby was out of town!
First, my LAST pair of fingerless mitts for one of my daughter's friends. I have now made 10 pair of fingerless mitts for this lovely bunch of new drivers. I hope they all think of me and my wishes for their safety when they continue to wear them next winter.

These last two pairs (for a set of twins) were the Maine Morning Mitts from The Knitter's Book of Yarn, knit from leftover Malabrigo Worsted. I love this stuff! I now have bits left in three colors of Mal worsted, but I know EXACTLY how many yards of each thanks to my nifty new Eat Smart Precision Pro Kitchen Scale! I had been wanting one of these for some time, but when Clara Parkes wrote about hers in Knitter's Review a few weeks ago, I just clicked on the link and ordered it from amazon.com. It is really helpful to know how many yards of yarn I have left for planning stash projects. I know it will also come in handy in dividing sock yarn as I make more toe-up socks. And, I used it today to weigh a letter to determine whether it needed a second stamp (it did).

I also finished the Two-Toned Shell from Vogue Knitting. After much angst about how it would fit, I think (it is blocking as we speak) it will fit perfectly. And, as with most of the cotton projects I've made, it really smoothed out from a nice blocking. Here it is on the blocking board; I hope to be able to try it on later this week.

Next up--I will cast on for the Lotus Blossom Tank from an older issue of Interweave. I'll be using some KnitPicks CotLIn leftover from the sweater my mom knit and I put together for her about a month ago. I swatched tonight and figured out that some of my KnitPicks Options needles were in the wrong sleeves and I had swatched with needles that were too big! I think I have them all straightened out now and will cast on with #5's by tomorrow.

Sunday, May 09, 2010

A Great New Pattern

As I work diligently on my Two-Toned Shell (about halfway done and so far looking good); my LAST pair of driving mitts for my daughter's friend, and my first pair of toe-up socks (more on those later), I had the opportunity to take a look at a great new pattern from SweaterBabe.com!

The Dramatic Lace Wrap Cardigan will be available for purchase shortly from Sweaterbabe, but she kindly allowed me to take an advance look.
I have made SweaterBabe patterns before (my favorite is the Talia Vest, which appeared on Knitty.com--I liked it so much that I made it twice, onceT for me and once for my daughter) and I can't recommend her careful directions and unique designs enough.

The Dramatic Lace Wrap Cardigan is a top-down design with, as SweaterBabe describes it, "a kimono-like air," featuring 3/4 sleeves, and lacy, drapy front panels that can be wrapped around your waist, "pinned creatively," or left hanging in an elegant drape.
The back also features the big, lacy leafy design.

The pattern features sizing from XS (28-30" Bust) through 3x (52-54"), so your perfect fit should be achievable. As usual, there are also detailed explanations of all stitches featured in the pattern and large, clear charts. The yarn is knit in worsted merino (the sample used KnitPicks Swish Worsted, but the possibilities seem endless here) and can really serve as an all-season piece to layer over anything from a tank to a base layer sweater.

I can't wait to make the Dramatic Lace Leaf Wrap! For more information about this pattern, go to www.SweaterBabe.com. Photos here courtesy of SweaterBabe.

A Great New Pattern

As I work diligently on my Two-Toned Shell (about halfway done and so far looking good); my LAST pair of driving mitts for my daughter's friend, and my first pair of toe-up socks (more on those later), I had the opportunity to take a look at a great new pattern from SweaterBabe.com!

The Dramatic Lace Wrap Cardigan will be available for purchase shortly from Sweaterbabe, but she kindly allowed me to take an advance look.
I have made SweaterBabe patterns before (my favorite is the Talia Vest, which appeared on Knitty.com--I liked it so much that I made it twice, onceT for me and once for my daughter) and I can't recommend her careful directions and unique designs enough.

The Dramatic Lace Wrap Cardigan is a top-down design with, as SweaterBabe describes it, "a kimono-like air," featuring 3/4 sleeves, and lacy, drapy front panels that can be wrapped around your waist, "pinned creatively," or left hanging in an elegant drape.
The back also features the big, lacy leafy design.

The pattern features sizing from XS (28-30" Bust) through 3x (52-54"), so your perfect fit should be achievable. As usual, there are also detailed explanations of all stitches featured in the pattern and large, clear charts. The yarn is knit in worsted merino (the sample used KnitPicks Swish Worsted, but the possibilities seem endless here) and can really serve as an all-season piece to layer over anything from a tank to a base layer sweater.

I can't wait to make the Dramatic Lace Leaf Wrap! For more information about this pattern, go to www.SweaterBabe.com. Photos here courtesy of SweaterBabe.