The Travel Knitting Dilemma

Work is progressing nicely on my Gatsby Girl as well as my Ridged Feather Socks. Yesterday we went to visit our kids at camp and that meant a 3-hour+ round-trip car ride. I worked on Gatsby Girl on the way up and Ridged Feathers on the way back.

I am almost done with the rib and cable section of the back of Gatsby Girl, and will soon be ready to start the lacier bodice. I am going to use a ball of yarn of a different dye lot for that part as I think the different stitch pattern will help to hide any slight differential in color. I am really loving this pattern so far. I hope the finished product is as nice looking as the WIP!


As for the Ridged Feather socks, they are growing on me. The "In-Place Afterthought or Forethought Heel" was a new experience for me. I am fairly new at provisional cast-ons and that was the most challenging part of this heel. That, and the fact that I had not circled the # of stitches to cast on provisionally for my size, and after I had knitted a few rounds of the heel, I noticed I was short 11 stitches and had to rip out and start over! But the heel turned out lovely, and I now have a new heel in my repertoire. Gotta love Charlene Schurch! I must get her new book.

I am almost down to the toe on these socks, which is good, because we leave for a 10-day vacation in a few days and I need to be strategic about my knitting: what to take on the plane (probably the socks, so I'd like to be well into the leg of Sock #2), what to pack in the suitcase (probably Gatsby Girl, with enough yarn of each dye lot so I won't run out), and perhaps for safety's sake, my Midwest Moonlight scarf, which I haven't worked on much lately but is very portable.

Since we'll be away on August 2, I also mailed my Sockapalooza Pal's socks off to her with the adorable label that Mad Caterpillar designed--thanks, Danielle--it was the perfect way to finish off my project. I can't wait to hear how my pal likes her socks when I return, and I hope I get some too!

The Travel Knitting Dilemma

Work is progressing nicely on my Gatsby Girl as well as my Ridged Feather Socks. Yesterday we went to visit our kids at camp and that meant a 3-hour+ round-trip car ride. I worked on Gatsby Girl on the way up and Ridged Feathers on the way back.

I am almost done with the rib and cable section of the back of Gatsby Girl, and will soon be ready to start the lacier bodice. I am going to use a ball of yarn of a different dye lot for that part as I think the different stitch pattern will help to hide any slight differential in color. I am really loving this pattern so far. I hope the finished product is as nice looking as the WIP!


As for the Ridged Feather socks, they are growing on me. The "In-Place Afterthought or Forethought Heel" was a new experience for me. I am fairly new at provisional cast-ons and that was the most challenging part of this heel. That, and the fact that I had not circled the # of stitches to cast on provisionally for my size, and after I had knitted a few rounds of the heel, I noticed I was short 11 stitches and had to rip out and start over! But the heel turned out lovely, and I now have a new heel in my repertoire. Gotta love Charlene Schurch! I must get her new book.

I am almost down to the toe on these socks, which is good, because we leave for a 10-day vacation in a few days and I need to be strategic about my knitting: what to take on the plane (probably the socks, so I'd like to be well into the leg of Sock #2), what to pack in the suitcase (probably Gatsby Girl, with enough yarn of each dye lot so I won't run out), and perhaps for safety's sake, my Midwest Moonlight scarf, which I haven't worked on much lately but is very portable.

Since we'll be away on August 2, I also mailed my Sockapalooza Pal's socks off to her with the adorable label that Mad Caterpillar designed--thanks, Danielle--it was the perfect way to finish off my project. I can't wait to hear how my pal likes her socks when I return, and I hope I get some too!

Summer of Socks Continues

Today was one of the first days that I attempted to knit at our community pool. It was a very hot and humid day, but once I cooled off in the water, I was able to pull out my knitting, and of course, a sock is the perfect summer project in that it doesn't weigh you down.
I am enjoying my Ridged Feathers from Sensational Knitted Socks,and the Meilenweit 100 Fantasy, while not as squishy and soft as Socks that Rock, is growing on me. I'm satisfied with this pattern for this yarn, even though this self-patterning yarn would have looked fine (and maybe even a little better?) with plain stockinette. I just like to have some type of pattern interest to keep me going.
Meanwhile, the Gatsby Girl Pullover is coming out beautifully. These two projects are a nice contrast to one another for these hot summer days.

Summer of Socks Continues

Today was one of the first days that I attempted to knit at our community pool. It was a very hot and humid day, but once I cooled off in the water, I was able to pull out my knitting, and of course, a sock is the perfect summer project in that it doesn't weigh you down.
I am enjoying my Ridged Feathers from Sensational Knitted Socks,and the Meilenweit 100 Fantasy, while not as squishy and soft as Socks that Rock, is growing on me. I'm satisfied with this pattern for this yarn, even though this self-patterning yarn would have looked fine (and maybe even a little better?) with plain stockinette. I just like to have some type of pattern interest to keep me going.
Meanwhile, the Gatsby Girl Pullover is coming out beautifully. These two projects are a nice contrast to one another for these hot summer days.

Gatsby Girl

I have started my Gatsby Girl Pullover, from the Fall 2006 issue. Unfortunately, my dad spent the last week in the hospital, and I had literally cast on for this sweater the night before I was unexpectedly called to be with him. I knit a few rows each day at the hospital and I now have about 7 inches done--I just finished the waist decreases and I will now start increasing.


I am really loving this pattern! First I thought it was coming out too big, but the ribbing really pulls it in and now I'm hoping it's not too tight! I'm using the Rowan Cashsoft DK (the yarn called for in the pattern) in the Kingfisher colorway (a pretty blue-green, or teal). This is a case of my buying the yarn for something else, and then spotting this pattern that called for the yarn. It is a little bit of a different pattern style for me, but I think I'm really going to like it. I LOVE Interweave!

Gatsby Girl

I have started my Gatsby Girl Pullover, from the Fall 2006 issue. Unfortunately, my dad spent the last week in the hospital, and I had literally cast on for this sweater the night before I was unexpectedly called to be with him. I knit a few rows each day at the hospital and I now have about 7 inches done--I just finished the waist decreases and I will now start increasing.


I am really loving this pattern! First I thought it was coming out too big, but the ribbing really pulls it in and now I'm hoping it's not too tight! I'm using the Rowan Cashsoft DK (the yarn called for in the pattern) in the Kingfisher colorway (a pretty blue-green, or teal). This is a case of my buying the yarn for something else, and then spotting this pattern that called for the yarn. It is a little bit of a different pattern style for me, but I think I'm really going to like it. I LOVE Interweave!

Finally...Finished!

I finally finished the BonBon Tank! This pattern really gave me problems...as I've reported, I had to rip it out and restart it twice because somehow my gauge was off..this yarn is very stretchy and somewhat temperamental (breaks easily, etc.)

Then, the yarn started pooling badly, so I ripped back again and alternated between two different balls. That worked out much better.

And finally, when I knit the armbands/straps, they were huge and weirdly shaped, so I ripped them out and finally figured out how to make this thing fit. Thankfully, I got to this stage last night and since today was a midweek, overcast Fourth of July, we spent it catching up on movies on TV so I could rip and redo, rip and redo several times before I finally settled on an acceptable strap length and width across the chest and back. I think I will enjoy wearing it, but it was not an enjoyable knit.

The one redeeming feature of this pattern is that there's no sewing together!

Now I am able to swatch for the Gatsby Girl Pullover..the Rowan Cashsoft DK feels luscious!

Finally...Finished!

I finally finished the BonBon Tank! This pattern really gave me problems...as I've reported, I had to rip it out and restart it twice because somehow my gauge was off..this yarn is very stretchy and somewhat temperamental (breaks easily, etc.)

Then, the yarn started pooling badly, so I ripped back again and alternated between two different balls. That worked out much better.

And finally, when I knit the armbands/straps, they were huge and weirdly shaped, so I ripped them out and finally figured out how to make this thing fit. Thankfully, I got to this stage last night and since today was a midweek, overcast Fourth of July, we spent it catching up on movies on TV so I could rip and redo, rip and redo several times before I finally settled on an acceptable strap length and width across the chest and back. I think I will enjoy wearing it, but it was not an enjoyable knit.

The one redeeming feature of this pattern is that there's no sewing together!

Now I am able to swatch for the Gatsby Girl Pullover..the Rowan Cashsoft DK feels luscious!

In Praise of Etsy

While working on the seed stitch that is the home stretch of my BonBon tank (I will probably finish it tomorrow night, now that I am in a summer mode with the kids off at camp), I was thinking about Deb at Fearless Fiber's request that we fellow bloggers spread the word about Etsy. If you are not familiar with Etsy,it is a fantastic site where Indy crafters sell their wares to those of us who love to buy from small, independent vendors. My first experience buying on Etsy was actually at Deb's own shop, and since then, other Etsy purchases for me have included cool beaded stitch markers from Three Owls Knitting. I like to browse Etsy and bookmark favorites--not only is this a haven for knitting-related products, but there are also hand-crafted bags, soaps and perfumes, journals and hand-crafted paper goods, pottery, food, clothing, etc. It's the kind of site (like Ravelry) where one can get lost, but as Deb notes, it's the kind of site that sometimes doesn't get credit where credit is due. So as she has suggested, I'm "shouting to the world that Etsy is a place worth visiting," and I hope you'll spread the word.

More on my knitting, Summer of Socks, etc. soon!

In Praise of Etsy

While working on the seed stitch that is the home stretch of my BonBon tank (I will probably finish it tomorrow night, now that I am in a summer mode with the kids off at camp), I was thinking about Deb at Fearless Fiber's request that we fellow bloggers spread the word about Etsy. If you are not familiar with Etsy,it is a fantastic site where Indy crafters sell their wares to those of us who love to buy from small, independent vendors. My first experience buying on Etsy was actually at Deb's own shop, and since then, other Etsy purchases for me have included cool beaded stitch markers from Three Owls Knitting. I like to browse Etsy and bookmark favorites--not only is this a haven for knitting-related products, but there are also hand-crafted bags, soaps and perfumes, journals and hand-crafted paper goods, pottery, food, clothing, etc. It's the kind of site (like Ravelry) where one can get lost, but as Deb notes, it's the kind of site that sometimes doesn't get credit where credit is due. So as she has suggested, I'm "shouting to the world that Etsy is a place worth visiting," and I hope you'll spread the word.

More on my knitting, Summer of Socks, etc. soon!