One Sock Down, Too Many Projects in my Head!

I have been spending more time working on my Saucy Socks, and finished sock #1 while watching "Into the Wild" with my husband last night (great movie and even better book). I broke my second DPN on these socks--the set was old and bending, and I think because these socks are made with 4 DPNS instead of 5, I had trouble trying the sock on with just 3 needles around. I ordered a set of KnitPicks Harmony DPNs to replace this set; it will be a good way for me to try out the Harmonies and also finish Sock #2 without a struggle.
The Muse Wrap is coming along now that I have ripped and reknit it--I can "read" the pattern MUCH better now and have caught a few mistakes before they become too serious (in other words, before finishing a row!). However, this project is long--I am on row 78 of 400 projected--and does require some concentration. So my mind has been wandering in a couple of other directions:
1)Ready,Set Knit Podcast is going to be doing the Staghorn Tunic as a knitalong. I showed my daughter the pattern while visiting her at summer camp, and she liked it! So I've ordered the yarn and thought it would be fun to knit along with Kathy and Pixie.
2)Dishcloths--this has never really been my thing, but I do like the Peaches & Creme cotton that I've used for various projects and I have decided I would actually like to start using dishcloths rather than sponges in my kitchen. So I joined the Yahoo and Ravelry Peaches & Creme Cloth of the Week groups and may buy a skein or two to take with me on vacation. This will, however, put my Four Seasons Throw even more on the back burner.
The dangers of the Web, and more time on my hands to surf while the kids are at camp! But good problems to have.

One Sock Down, Too Many Projects in my Head!

I have been spending more time working on my Saucy Socks, and finished sock #1 while watching "Into the Wild" with my husband last night (great movie and even better book). I broke my second DPN on these socks--the set was old and bending, and I think because these socks are made with 4 DPNS instead of 5, I had trouble trying the sock on with just 3 needles around. I ordered a set of KnitPicks Harmony DPNs to replace this set; it will be a good way for me to try out the Harmonies and also finish Sock #2 without a struggle.
The Muse Wrap is coming along now that I have ripped and reknit it--I can "read" the pattern MUCH better now and have caught a few mistakes before they become too serious (in other words, before finishing a row!). However, this project is long--I am on row 78 of 400 projected--and does require some concentration. So my mind has been wandering in a couple of other directions:
1)Ready,Set Knit Podcast is going to be doing the Staghorn Tunic as a knitalong. I showed my daughter the pattern while visiting her at summer camp, and she liked it! So I've ordered the yarn and thought it would be fun to knit along with Kathy and Pixie.
2)Dishcloths--this has never really been my thing, but I do like the Peaches & Creme cotton that I've used for various projects and I have decided I would actually like to start using dishcloths rather than sponges in my kitchen. So I joined the Yahoo and Ravelry Peaches & Creme Cloth of the Week groups and may buy a skein or two to take with me on vacation. This will, however, put my Four Seasons Throw even more on the back burner.
The dangers of the Web, and more time on my hands to surf while the kids are at camp! But good problems to have.

Lazy Days of Summer

After making the Clementine Shawlette in less than a month, I am now adjusting to the fact that my next major project, the Muse Wrap from "The Very Gorgeous Sublime Kid Mohair Book," is going to take quite a bit of time! I cast on a week ago and after a few days and just 17 rows, I had to rip out the whole thing. Not an easy task with mohair, mind you. This is the type of project that is difficult to rip out a few stitches or part of a row, and I just hadn't had the feel for the pattern, so there were mistakes every few rows. After casting on again, I feel that I really know the pattern and can tell as I knit across if I am making a mistake or on the right track, so frogging shouldn't be necessary again (I HOPE!) I am now back to row 18, where I left off.

That's the good news. The bad news is that this pattern is supposed to be 400 ROWS long! Since I am short, I expect that I won't have to knit that many rows, but nevertheless, this will not be a quick project. It is also not the type of project that is easy to put down mid-row, so I think it will be strictly at-home knitting. The yarn does feel luscious, and the pattern is knitting up very pretty, so I know I'll enjoy the finished product, it's just far from an immediate gratification item!
This means my Saucy Socks are getting more attention--I'm about ready to turn the heel on the first one, and the Socks That Rock feels soooo nice as a contract to the fuzzy mohair--and I may even pick up my long-ago started Manos Four Seasons Afghan as another alterative, on-the-go project as well. The afghan isn't even in my Ravelry projects, it's that much of an afterthought at this point. I do hope to give it more attention, and the slow pace of the mohair may cause that to happen.

Lazy Days of Summer

After making the Clementine Shawlette in less than a month, I am now adjusting to the fact that my next major project, the Muse Wrap from "The Very Gorgeous Sublime Kid Mohair Book," is going to take quite a bit of time! I cast on a week ago and after a few days and just 17 rows, I had to rip out the whole thing. Not an easy task with mohair, mind you. This is the type of project that is difficult to rip out a few stitches or part of a row, and I just hadn't had the feel for the pattern, so there were mistakes every few rows. After casting on again, I feel that I really know the pattern and can tell as I knit across if I am making a mistake or on the right track, so frogging shouldn't be necessary again (I HOPE!) I am now back to row 18, where I left off.

That's the good news. The bad news is that this pattern is supposed to be 400 ROWS long! Since I am short, I expect that I won't have to knit that many rows, but nevertheless, this will not be a quick project. It is also not the type of project that is easy to put down mid-row, so I think it will be strictly at-home knitting. The yarn does feel luscious, and the pattern is knitting up very pretty, so I know I'll enjoy the finished product, it's just far from an immediate gratification item!
This means my Saucy Socks are getting more attention--I'm about ready to turn the heel on the first one, and the Socks That Rock feels soooo nice as a contract to the fuzzy mohair--and I may even pick up my long-ago started Manos Four Seasons Afghan as another alterative, on-the-go project as well. The afghan isn't even in my Ravelry projects, it's that much of an afterthought at this point. I do hope to give it more attention, and the slow pace of the mohair may cause that to happen.

Shawl Time

As summer moves more quickly than I'd like (as it always does), I have found more time for knitting. I zipped through the Clementine Shawlette in about 3 weeks. This was a fun, easy project and it looks really fantastic in my mix of Tilli Tomas Rock Star and Tilli's Pure & Simple. The rattan color coupled with the golden beads gives this a really dressy, pretty look. I was holding my breath that I'd have enough yarn, even though my Ravelry friends had assured me I would. And I did. just a tiny bit of Pure & Simple and NO Rock Star left, so it's perfect. You wouldn't want to have a lot of this pricey yarn left over. I am looking forward to wearing this Shawlette for a nice summer evening out
I finished the grafting of the shawlette during a very long drive back from a weekend at the Beach for 4th of July. I then worked on my Saucy Socks for awhile, and got back in the groove on those. I should be up to the heel on Sock #1 very soon. I will continue to use these as my "second of two" projects, but at least I have my sock mojo back.
Tonight when I got home I cast on for the Muse Wrap, from the Sublime Yarn "Very Gorgeous Sublime Kid Mohair Book." I bought this yarn a year ago at the Wooly Monmouth in Red Bank, NJ, also on a trip home from the beach. It is a yummy pale green and I fell in love with the wrap, which was featured in the store's window. I'm not sure how I'm going to like knitting with the Kid Mohair--it is a bit slippery, and this pattern has it knit on large needles, but I think the finished product will be lovely, and perfect for my chilly, air-conditioned office.
All of this productivity feels good--I had hoped to stop in a yarn shop on a trip to the Berkshires that we took at the beginning of the weekend. My goal there was to buy yarn to make the Printed Silk Cardigan from Interweave, but it will be nicer to stock up for that long-term project once I whittle down my stash a bit.
Happy Summer Knitting!

Shawl Time

As summer moves more quickly than I'd like (as it always does), I have found more time for knitting. I zipped through the Clementine Shawlette in about 3 weeks. This was a fun, easy project and it looks really fantastic in my mix of Tilli Tomas Rock Star and Tilli's Pure & Simple. The rattan color coupled with the golden beads gives this a really dressy, pretty look. I was holding my breath that I'd have enough yarn, even though my Ravelry friends had assured me I would. And I did. just a tiny bit of Pure & Simple and NO Rock Star left, so it's perfect. You wouldn't want to have a lot of this pricey yarn left over. I am looking forward to wearing this Shawlette for a nice summer evening out
I finished the grafting of the shawlette during a very long drive back from a weekend at the Beach for 4th of July. I then worked on my Saucy Socks for awhile, and got back in the groove on those. I should be up to the heel on Sock #1 very soon. I will continue to use these as my "second of two" projects, but at least I have my sock mojo back.
Tonight when I got home I cast on for the Muse Wrap, from the Sublime Yarn "Very Gorgeous Sublime Kid Mohair Book." I bought this yarn a year ago at the Wooly Monmouth in Red Bank, NJ, also on a trip home from the beach. It is a yummy pale green and I fell in love with the wrap, which was featured in the store's window. I'm not sure how I'm going to like knitting with the Kid Mohair--it is a bit slippery, and this pattern has it knit on large needles, but I think the finished product will be lovely, and perfect for my chilly, air-conditioned office.
All of this productivity feels good--I had hoped to stop in a yarn shop on a trip to the Berkshires that we took at the beginning of the weekend. My goal there was to buy yarn to make the Printed Silk Cardigan from Interweave, but it will be nicer to stock up for that long-term project once I whittle down my stash a bit.
Happy Summer Knitting!