One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

The Tess Microfiber Ribbon that gave me a lot of trouble in the winding (partly, of course, because I didn't read the very clear winding instructions on the back of the label because I thought I knew better from last time I used this yarn), has also given me a bit of trouble as I started a project with it.
I decided to make the Essential Tank from Custom Knits, but make some mods based on the new Nicky Epstein Knitting on the Edge book I bought. The first edging I tried had you rotating the needle 360 degrees to make a twisted bit every 11 stitches. That's fine if you're working flat, but kind of a scary disaster if you're working in the round! Fortunately I was able to rip back and re-cast on without much trouble, and chose a different edging pattern...a very simple scallop that I think will look nice. Then, I decided to replace the ribbing in the center with a leaf motif from the Nicky book. I must have done something wrong on one of the first few rows, so I ripped that back and started yet again. Now things are moving along; I have about 2 inches done. It looks like it will be very close-fitting, which is what I am aiming for, as this ribbon stretches like crazy. We'll see. There's just something that hasn't been perfect with this batch of Microfiber Ribbon; I'm hoping the end results will be pleasing.
Tonight I will also cast on for my daughter's U of Michigan Earflap Hat, in honor of her committing to attend the University of Michigan next year! Lots of maize and blue yarn in my future! After the hat, I have an afghan queued up!
Did finish one of my On Hold Socks--looks very pretty! Will finish the second one after the tank is done.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

The Tess Microfiber Ribbon that gave me a lot of trouble in the winding (partly, of course, because I didn't read the very clear winding instructions on the back of the label because I thought I knew better from last time I used this yarn), has also given me a bit of trouble as I started a project with it.
I decided to make the Essential Tank from Custom Knits, but make some mods based on the new Nicky Epstein Knitting on the Edge book I bought. The first edging I tried had you rotating the needle 360 degrees to make a twisted bit every 11 stitches. That's fine if you're working flat, but kind of a scary disaster if you're working in the round! Fortunately I was able to rip back and re-cast on without much trouble, and chose a different edging pattern...a very simple scallop that I think will look nice. Then, I decided to replace the ribbing in the center with a leaf motif from the Nicky book. I must have done something wrong on one of the first few rows, so I ripped that back and started yet again. Now things are moving along; I have about 2 inches done. It looks like it will be very close-fitting, which is what I am aiming for, as this ribbon stretches like crazy. We'll see. There's just something that hasn't been perfect with this batch of Microfiber Ribbon; I'm hoping the end results will be pleasing.
Tonight I will also cast on for my daughter's U of Michigan Earflap Hat, in honor of her committing to attend the University of Michigan next year! Lots of maize and blue yarn in my future! After the hat, I have an afghan queued up!
Did finish one of my On Hold Socks--looks very pretty! Will finish the second one after the tank is done.

Churning Out the FO's!

As part of my break after completing the Argyle Vest, I finished the Vanessa Headband. I really love how it looks on and off my head! This particular color (Swan Lake) of the Misti Alpaca Handpaint Chunky is cool, soothing and gorgeous, but it sheds quite a bit, and I ended up knitting this project with a pillowcase on my lap. But the shedding may ease with time. Now that the weather is warming up a bit, I hope I still have a chance to wear this at least once this season!
The headband was easy and fun to make, and I think I really have the cabling without a cable needle down. I started out using Grumperina's method, but ended up using the method detailed in Stitch 'N Bitch Superstar Knitting, a book I am really enjoying. I am also working on a Cables Dishcloth now, so I can continue to practice this method. Cable needles, be gone!
Now it's back to my On Hold socks, and my usual process of knitting one sock monogamously, then doing a bigger project (probably a tank with my latest Tess Microfiber Ribbon), then sock #2. These will incorporate beads, and I've been playing around with where to place them. More fun ahead!

Churning Out the FO's!

As part of my break after completing the Argyle Vest, I finished the Vanessa Headband. I really love how it looks on and off my head! This particular color (Swan Lake) of the Misti Alpaca Handpaint Chunky is cool, soothing and gorgeous, but it sheds quite a bit, and I ended up knitting this project with a pillowcase on my lap. But the shedding may ease with time. Now that the weather is warming up a bit, I hope I still have a chance to wear this at least once this season!
The headband was easy and fun to make, and I think I really have the cabling without a cable needle down. I started out using Grumperina's method, but ended up using the method detailed in Stitch 'N Bitch Superstar Knitting, a book I am really enjoying. I am also working on a Cables Dishcloth now, so I can continue to practice this method. Cable needles, be gone!
Now it's back to my On Hold socks, and my usual process of knitting one sock monogamously, then doing a bigger project (probably a tank with my latest Tess Microfiber Ribbon), then sock #2. These will incorporate beads, and I've been playing around with where to place them. More fun ahead!

My Masterpiece!

I finished my son's argyle vest! This was definitely one of the most challenging projects I've completed, and one through which I've learned a great deal. I learned intarsia, duplicate stitch, and how to modify a pattern that includes a chart. I feel like my seaming/finishing skills also continue to improve with each project I make. I actually thought about paying a yarn shop to do the finishing on the vest, but it turned out to be very easy and enjoyable--the short-rows and three-needle bind-off for the shoulders worked beautifully, the picking up stitches for the V-neck was great (I used my terrific new book, Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book for that), and the mattress stitch seams look very good. I loved the KnitPicks Palette (which is a good thing, as I have almost 3 skeins of each color left!!), and I'm looking forward to making something with that, perhaps more colorwork.
Now I'm moving on to finish up a bunch of small WIP's and work on my On-Hold Socks before starting my next "major" project. I've already finished my Linoleum Dishcloth and will start another as "purse/train knitting." Also cleaned up my notions bag within my larger knitting bag; am thinking of getting another Della Q tote and two small Della zip bags for easier organization of tools. We'll see.
I went to our Borders, which is one of the casualties of the chain's bankruptcy, over the weekend, looking for knitting book bargains. All books were 20% off, which isn't as big of a discount as can be had online, so I didn't buy anything. Considering that I am in the midst of reading the 5-6 knitting books I bought around the holidays, it's probably a blessing in disguise. I did, however, have a 55% off coupon for A.C. Moore, which is in the same shopping center, so I rewarded myself with Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge, now in paperback, instead. I've wanted that book for a long time and look forward to getting creative with my edgings.

My Masterpiece!

I finished my son's argyle vest! This was definitely one of the most challenging projects I've completed, and one through which I've learned a great deal. I learned intarsia, duplicate stitch, and how to modify a pattern that includes a chart. I feel like my seaming/finishing skills also continue to improve with each project I make. I actually thought about paying a yarn shop to do the finishing on the vest, but it turned out to be very easy and enjoyable--the short-rows and three-needle bind-off for the shoulders worked beautifully, the picking up stitches for the V-neck was great (I used my terrific new book, Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book for that), and the mattress stitch seams look very good. I loved the KnitPicks Palette (which is a good thing, as I have almost 3 skeins of each color left!!), and I'm looking forward to making something with that, perhaps more colorwork.
Now I'm moving on to finish up a bunch of small WIP's and work on my On-Hold Socks before starting my next "major" project. I've already finished my Linoleum Dishcloth and will start another as "purse/train knitting." Also cleaned up my notions bag within my larger knitting bag; am thinking of getting another Della Q tote and two small Della zip bags for easier organization of tools. We'll see.
I went to our Borders, which is one of the casualties of the chain's bankruptcy, over the weekend, looking for knitting book bargains. All books were 20% off, which isn't as big of a discount as can be had online, so I didn't buy anything. Considering that I am in the midst of reading the 5-6 knitting books I bought around the holidays, it's probably a blessing in disguise. I did, however, have a 55% off coupon for A.C. Moore, which is in the same shopping center, so I rewarded myself with Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge, now in paperback, instead. I've wanted that book for a long time and look forward to getting creative with my edgings.

I'm a Cowl Girl!

With the cold, snowy, blustery weather we've been having for the past month and a half, I've wanted nothing more than warm, toasty and cuddly knitwear. Having bought the Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Chunky yarn at Vogue Knitting LIVE, I promptly knit the Loop of Luxury from CowlGirls. I finished it last night and wore it to the Super Bowl Sale at Down Cellar, my new favorite LYS. I've been there before, but never to their new location and I must say, the women that run the shop are warm, personable, fun, and eager to help--qualities that are not always found at Local Yarn Shops. I got lots of compliments on my cowl as I browsed the shop, and since I have a half skein of the luxe Misti Alpaca left over, I decided to buy another skein to make coordinating mitts. The cowl's colors look perfect with my winter ski jacket and the yarn feels so luscious that I want it on my hands as well as around my neck! They were out of the Falstaff colorway, so I bought a beautiful coordinating icy blue called Swan Lake. Combining this with the Falstaff, I'll be able to make the mitts and most likely at least a headband too.
I also bought 3 skeins of Malabrigo Chunky at Down Cellar, in the beautiful Velvet Grapes colorway, to make the Gap-tastic Cowl that is going viral! I was in NYC last weekend and noticed that these loopy cowls, or infinity scarves, are everywhere. I hope they are still everywhere next winter, as my queue is so full of cowls now that I will certainly be making them--and hopefully wearing them--for years to come.
Still making good progress on my son's argyle vest too--the front is done, other than a few duplicate stitch lines, and the solid back is moving along at great speed. It will be good mindless knitting for tomorrow's big event--THE SUPER BOWL--GO, STEELERS!!!

I'm a Cowl Girl!

With the cold, snowy, blustery weather we've been having for the past month and a half, I've wanted nothing more than warm, toasty and cuddly knitwear. Having bought the Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Chunky yarn at Vogue Knitting LIVE, I promptly knit the Loop of Luxury from CowlGirls. I finished it last night and wore it to the Super Bowl Sale at Down Cellar, my new favorite LYS. I've been there before, but never to their new location and I must say, the women that run the shop are warm, personable, fun, and eager to help--qualities that are not always found at Local Yarn Shops. I got lots of compliments on my cowl as I browsed the shop, and since I have a half skein of the luxe Misti Alpaca left over, I decided to buy another skein to make coordinating mitts. The cowl's colors look perfect with my winter ski jacket and the yarn feels so luscious that I want it on my hands as well as around my neck! They were out of the Falstaff colorway, so I bought a beautiful coordinating icy blue called Swan Lake. Combining this with the Falstaff, I'll be able to make the mitts and most likely at least a headband too.
I also bought 3 skeins of Malabrigo Chunky at Down Cellar, in the beautiful Velvet Grapes colorway, to make the Gap-tastic Cowl that is going viral! I was in NYC last weekend and noticed that these loopy cowls, or infinity scarves, are everywhere. I hope they are still everywhere next winter, as my queue is so full of cowls now that I will certainly be making them--and hopefully wearing them--for years to come.
Still making good progress on my son's argyle vest too--the front is done, other than a few duplicate stitch lines, and the solid back is moving along at great speed. It will be good mindless knitting for tomorrow's big event--THE SUPER BOWL--GO, STEELERS!!!

Vogue Knitting LIVE!

I attended Vogue Knitting live this past weekend and had a wonderful time. Took the train into NYC bright and early on a frigid Saturday morning. I attended a so-so lecture (in her defense, the lecturer was a sub for someone who couldn't show up), reveled in the marketplace, and took a great lace class with the diva herself, Anne Hanson.
The marketplace was smaller than at other events I've attended, such as Stitches or Rhinebeck, but there were some top-notch vendors including one of my favorites, Tess Yarns. Got my fix of the Microfiber Ribbon in a pretty tonal brown. Unfortunately, I only remembered part of the specific winding instructions--I correctly turned my swift on its side, but I incorrectly used a ballwinder, which is a no-no. I had to rewind both balls and needless to say, this was quite a mess. I have since researched and learned that ends can be joined by a little sewing with thread, and ends can also be secured with Fray-Check, which I now own! I think I will be fine and I will make the Ribbon Cable Tank, a pattern I had from the last Microfiber Ribbon I bought! I also bought some yummy Cultivated Silk and Wool in a beautiful teal color; I will use it for the Tuesday Night Cowl, which was on display in several different Tess fibers.
My other purchase was from the booth of one of my LYS's, Down Cellar in Basking Ridge, NJ. I bought 2 skeins of Misti Alpaca Chunky Handpaint in a lovely brown/blue mix (colorway Falstaff), and last night at Book Group I cast on the Loop of Luxury from Cowlgirls, a book I recently won! This yarn is unbelievably soft and beautiful. Can't wait to finish it...this is making it hard for me to go back to my argyle vest, but I am making good progress (almost done with the front!), so I will persevere.
Finally, I met some new friends who are from the next town to me. We exchanged Ravelry names and hopefully we will get together to knit!

Vogue Knitting LIVE!

I attended Vogue Knitting live this past weekend and had a wonderful time. Took the train into NYC bright and early on a frigid Saturday morning. I attended a so-so lecture (in her defense, the lecturer was a sub for someone who couldn't show up), reveled in the marketplace, and took a great lace class with the diva herself, Anne Hanson.
The marketplace was smaller than at other events I've attended, such as Stitches or Rhinebeck, but there were some top-notch vendors including one of my favorites, Tess Yarns. Got my fix of the Microfiber Ribbon in a pretty tonal brown. Unfortunately, I only remembered part of the specific winding instructions--I correctly turned my swift on its side, but I incorrectly used a ballwinder, which is a no-no. I had to rewind both balls and needless to say, this was quite a mess. I have since researched and learned that ends can be joined by a little sewing with thread, and ends can also be secured with Fray-Check, which I now own! I think I will be fine and I will make the Ribbon Cable Tank, a pattern I had from the last Microfiber Ribbon I bought! I also bought some yummy Cultivated Silk and Wool in a beautiful teal color; I will use it for the Tuesday Night Cowl, which was on display in several different Tess fibers.
My other purchase was from the booth of one of my LYS's, Down Cellar in Basking Ridge, NJ. I bought 2 skeins of Misti Alpaca Chunky Handpaint in a lovely brown/blue mix (colorway Falstaff), and last night at Book Group I cast on the Loop of Luxury from Cowlgirls, a book I recently won! This yarn is unbelievably soft and beautiful. Can't wait to finish it...this is making it hard for me to go back to my argyle vest, but I am making good progress (almost done with the front!), so I will persevere.
Finally, I met some new friends who are from the next town to me. We exchanged Ravelry names and hopefully we will get together to knit!

Sunrise Circle Jacket

As mentioned in my New Year's Day post, I finished my Sunrise Circle Jacket. Yesterday, the buttons I had ordered from Etsy Shop Muddy Muse arrived and they are a fantastic match. It was quite a challenging positioning the oblong buttons on the curved edge of the sweater (the pattern calls for toggles, which might have worked better, but I like the look of these buttons). After several attempts, I got it right and I'm very pleased wiht the result. I also did a YouTube Tutorial posted by Melissa Monday on how to crochet button loops--I would have totally done this wrong if I hadn't watched that video, and the only reason I thought of searching for a video is that a video clip of Cirilia Rose demonstrating button loops came up in my blog posts yesterday. I guess it was fate.
Anyway, after communicating with the designer of this ingenious pattern, Kate Gilbert, I decided to stick with the medium size rather than the small, and I'm glad I did. It was very difficult to determine whether this would fit because of the unusual construction (each front is knit in conjunction with a sleeve, and there is an ample hem all around the garment that really makes a difference once its sewed down). I did end up having to shorten the sleeves from the bottom a bit after knitting, and I may have removed a touch too much, but being a short person with short arms, one of my favorite things about knitting for myself is being able to custom-fit my sleeves, so I prefer them this length.
All in all, I'm very pleased with this pattern and it was a lot of fun to knit, even if the uncertainty of the size was a bit unsettling.
I wore it to work and was immediately complimented by my knitting co-worker. Priceless!

Sunrise Circle Jacket

As mentioned in my New Year's Day post, I finished my Sunrise Circle Jacket. Yesterday, the buttons I had ordered from Etsy Shop Muddy Muse arrived and they are a fantastic match. It was quite a challenging positioning the oblong buttons on the curved edge of the sweater (the pattern calls for toggles, which might have worked better, but I like the look of these buttons). After several attempts, I got it right and I'm very pleased wiht the result. I also did a YouTube Tutorial posted by Melissa Monday on how to crochet button loops--I would have totally done this wrong if I hadn't watched that video, and the only reason I thought of searching for a video is that a video clip of Cirilia Rose demonstrating button loops came up in my blog posts yesterday. I guess it was fate.
Anyway, after communicating with the designer of this ingenious pattern, Kate Gilbert, I decided to stick with the medium size rather than the small, and I'm glad I did. It was very difficult to determine whether this would fit because of the unusual construction (each front is knit in conjunction with a sleeve, and there is an ample hem all around the garment that really makes a difference once its sewed down). I did end up having to shorten the sleeves from the bottom a bit after knitting, and I may have removed a touch too much, but being a short person with short arms, one of my favorite things about knitting for myself is being able to custom-fit my sleeves, so I prefer them this length.
All in all, I'm very pleased with this pattern and it was a lot of fun to knit, even if the uncertainty of the size was a bit unsettling.
I wore it to work and was immediately complimented by my knitting co-worker. Priceless!

Review of 2010-A Productive Year

Happy New Year, everyone! I am proud of the knitting year I've had. I just tallied up my finished objects and found that there were 27 items, including my Noro Cable Comfort Throw, my just-completed Sunrise Circle Jacket, made with yarn that was three years old! (pictures and wrap-up to come as soon as buttons arrive and are sewn on), my first piece of knitted jewelry, and 9 pairs of knitted mitts for my daughter and all of her friends.
Along with my first attempts at beaded knitting (both in the bracelet and in the Citron shawl), I also started my first intarsia project--my son's argyle vest, which is in progress now. I have FINALLY gotten the hang of figuring out how much yarn to cut for each argyle diamond so that I don't have to splice mid-diamond. The earlier diamonds have some uneven stitches that were knit before I perfected this technique, but I'm hoping that blocking will even them out. I am about 5 inches below the armhole of the V-neck front, and then I will knit the back solid. This will be a very fine looking vest for my dapper 15-year-old.
For 2011, I'd like to try Entrelac (I've got the Lady Eleanor stole in my queue and the new Rosemary Drysdale Entrelac book on my nightstand to read first); I'd like to knit down my stash a bit, and I plan to knit another afghan for my daughter to take to college with her in September (I have a pattern picked out; just awaiting her final decision as to where she will be going so I can order appropriate yarn colors!)
If anyone is reading, I do have a favor to ask. I have one skein + of the Tahki Donegal Tweed left from the Sunrise Circle Jacket. I'd like to make either a hat or fingerless mitts. Any suggestions?
've been spending New Year's Day alternating between watching Bowl Games with my husband and catching up on knitting Podcasts, all while working on the argyle vest. Can't ask for a much more wonderful way to start the New Year! Hoping it's a Happy, Healthy one for all of you.
Back soon with the Sunrise Circle recap.

Review of 2010-A Productive Year

Happy New Year, everyone! I am proud of the knitting year I've had. I just tallied up my finished objects and found that there were 27 items, including my Noro Cable Comfort Throw, my just-completed Sunrise Circle Jacket, made with yarn that was three years old! (pictures and wrap-up to come as soon as buttons arrive and are sewn on), my first piece of knitted jewelry, and 9 pairs of knitted mitts for my daughter and all of her friends.
Along with my first attempts at beaded knitting (both in the bracelet and in the Citron shawl), I also started my first intarsia project--my son's argyle vest, which is in progress now. I have FINALLY gotten the hang of figuring out how much yarn to cut for each argyle diamond so that I don't have to splice mid-diamond. The earlier diamonds have some uneven stitches that were knit before I perfected this technique, but I'm hoping that blocking will even them out. I am about 5 inches below the armhole of the V-neck front, and then I will knit the back solid. This will be a very fine looking vest for my dapper 15-year-old.
For 2011, I'd like to try Entrelac (I've got the Lady Eleanor stole in my queue and the new Rosemary Drysdale Entrelac book on my nightstand to read first); I'd like to knit down my stash a bit, and I plan to knit another afghan for my daughter to take to college with her in September (I have a pattern picked out; just awaiting her final decision as to where she will be going so I can order appropriate yarn colors!)
If anyone is reading, I do have a favor to ask. I have one skein + of the Tahki Donegal Tweed left from the Sunrise Circle Jacket. I'd like to make either a hat or fingerless mitts. Any suggestions?
've been spending New Year's Day alternating between watching Bowl Games with my husband and catching up on knitting Podcasts, all while working on the argyle vest. Can't ask for a much more wonderful way to start the New Year! Hoping it's a Happy, Healthy one for all of you.
Back soon with the Sunrise Circle recap.

Blankets!!

I am so excited and thrilled to announce that I finished my Noro Cable Comfort Throw...almost two years in the making. I am really excited about the way this turned out. I used 13 balls of the Noro Transitions (so this is a very valuable blanket!), soaked the finished product in Eucalan and then laid out to dry. The Eucalan bath softened up the yarn considerably, and also relaxed the stitches so that the final dimensions were almost 60 x 60 inches. The throw drapes beautifully and is super-warm due to the content of the yarn, which includes a mix of fibers such as wool, silk, cashmere, mohair, camel, angora and alpaca. My family seems to love it, which is a great relief. I think I am going to stick to my plan to make the Lady Eleanor stole out of the remaining 7 skeins of Transitions. I think it will be luscious.
My family did put up quite the protest when I was ready to use the throw to replace a big old Lion Brand Chevron-style afghan I had made several years ago (pre-Ravelry, I think, so I didn't have any pictures). I had used a variety of Lion Brand yarns in this blanket, including chenille--which turned out to be disastrous. The chenille started worming a few years ago and there were huge loops hanging out everywhere on this throw. My husband and kids didn't care--they love this blanket (much more than the fancy Colinette AbFab Throw that I made around the same time). So...once the Noro blanket was finished and in place on our couch, I spent about 4 hours yesterday cutting the chenille loops and weaving the ends in to blanket with a crochet hook. Once done, I washed the blanket and put it in the dryer with the hope that the chenille would tighten up. It looks much better--here's the "after" shot (forgot to take a "before") but I still see some ends (see below) and I have a feeling that with time, the worming will happen again. But at least I can live with this blanket now without feeling disgusted, and my family can enjoy ALL of the blankets we have available. The weather is turning pretty cold, so it's nice for us all to have homemade throws to cuddle with in the family room.
I have beautiful shades of Manos for the Four Seasons Throw--I think I'll work on that over the holidays!
I'm making good progress with the Sunrise Circle Jacket--almost done the second front/sleeve combination, then just the back, which is the smallest piece, remains. The sleeves may be too long--it is very hard to estimate size on this unusually constructed garment--so I may get to practice ripping up from the cast-on edge if I want to make them the perfect, shorter length. I want to finish all the pieces, pin them together and try the whole sweater on before making this decision.
The argyle vest is also coming along. Not enough done to know if it fits, but the intarsia is looking pretty good so far! More to come on that.

Blankets!!

I am so excited and thrilled to announce that I finished my Noro Cable Comfort Throw...almost two years in the making. I am really excited about the way this turned out. I used 13 balls of the Noro Transitions (so this is a very valuable blanket!), soaked the finished product in Eucalan and then laid out to dry. The Eucalan bath softened up the yarn considerably, and also relaxed the stitches so that the final dimensions were almost 60 x 60 inches. The throw drapes beautifully and is super-warm due to the content of the yarn, which includes a mix of fibers such as wool, silk, cashmere, mohair, camel, angora and alpaca. My family seems to love it, which is a great relief. I think I am going to stick to my plan to make the Lady Eleanor stole out of the remaining 7 skeins of Transitions. I think it will be luscious.
My family did put up quite the protest when I was ready to use the throw to replace a big old Lion Brand Chevron-style afghan I had made several years ago (pre-Ravelry, I think, so I didn't have any pictures). I had used a variety of Lion Brand yarns in this blanket, including chenille--which turned out to be disastrous. The chenille started worming a few years ago and there were huge loops hanging out everywhere on this throw. My husband and kids didn't care--they love this blanket (much more than the fancy Colinette AbFab Throw that I made around the same time). So...once the Noro blanket was finished and in place on our couch, I spent about 4 hours yesterday cutting the chenille loops and weaving the ends in to blanket with a crochet hook. Once done, I washed the blanket and put it in the dryer with the hope that the chenille would tighten up. It looks much better--here's the "after" shot (forgot to take a "before") but I still see some ends (see below) and I have a feeling that with time, the worming will happen again. But at least I can live with this blanket now without feeling disgusted, and my family can enjoy ALL of the blankets we have available. The weather is turning pretty cold, so it's nice for us all to have homemade throws to cuddle with in the family room.
I have beautiful shades of Manos for the Four Seasons Throw--I think I'll work on that over the holidays!
I'm making good progress with the Sunrise Circle Jacket--almost done the second front/sleeve combination, then just the back, which is the smallest piece, remains. The sleeves may be too long--it is very hard to estimate size on this unusually constructed garment--so I may get to practice ripping up from the cast-on edge if I want to make them the perfect, shorter length. I want to finish all the pieces, pin them together and try the whole sweater on before making this decision.
The argyle vest is also coming along. Not enough done to know if it fits, but the intarsia is looking pretty good so far! More to come on that.

Making Progress

Since my last post, I've made quite a bit of progress on a number of projects!

1)I have indeed gone back to the Cable Comfort Throw, which is now about 75% of the way done! Since it is getting colder outside, it's actually nice to knit with a warm & growning afghan on my lap. And what could be better than Noro?! I had bought 20 balls of the Transitions when I started this project, not being sure how much I would need. I think I'm going to have several left, so I'm already thinking about what to do with the rest. I am not a huge fan of bulky-weight sweaters, but I do have a Noro book that has some pretty ones. My other choice, after seeing lots of projects on Ravelry, is the Lady Eleanor stole, from Scarf Style. On the spur of the moment the other night, I watched some YouTube tutorials about knitting backwards and taught myself in about five minutes. It's a lot easier than I thought! I will have to wait and see how many balls of Transitions I have left to determine what will become of them. Meanwhile, I'm really enjoying the afghan. My goal is at least 2 rows per day (as it is not at all portable); I should be done before spring!

2)Instead of the hooded vest that I thought I was going to cast on when I last posted (the gauge didn't work for my Tahki Donegal Tweed--one of the oldest yarns in my stash--and I couldn't figure out how to adjust it so that it wouldn't be huge on me), I opted to cast on the Sunrise Circle Jacket. This is a really fun pattern and lots of people have used the Donegal Tweed. I had to use size 6 needles to get gauge, but I think it will be fine--nice and firm, which is good for a jacket that is really outerwear. I am done the first piece (left sleeve + left front), and partway up the right sleeve. I THINK this will fit perfectly--it is kind of hard to tell with this intriguing construction, but I'm taking the leap of faith and going on!

3)My darling 15-year-old son has requested an argyle vest! I have never done argyle and have done very little intarsia, but I'm going for it. We pored over patterns on Ravelry and the one he liked (Argyll V-Neck) is from a book called Rowan Knitting for Him, which has gorgeous men's patterns. This vest has overall argyle patterning on the front and the back, but several Ravelers have suggested doing the front first and doing the argyle on the front only. I think that's what I'll do. I have to decide whether I duplicate stitch the zigzag lines as some people have recommended, or knit them in. The thought of doing all the duplicate stitch is not very appealing, so I may try to knit them in. We'll see. Ordered KnitPicks Palette--how fun is it to choose from among their 100 colors!--swatched, and I'm on my way!

Hope to have some good progress on all of these wonderful projects soon.

Making Progress

Since my last post, I've made quite a bit of progress on a number of projects!

1)I have indeed gone back to the Cable Comfort Throw, which is now about 75% of the way done! Since it is getting colder outside, it's actually nice to knit with a warm & growning afghan on my lap. And what could be better than Noro?! I had bought 20 balls of the Transitions when I started this project, not being sure how much I would need. I think I'm going to have several left, so I'm already thinking about what to do with the rest. I am not a huge fan of bulky-weight sweaters, but I do have a Noro book that has some pretty ones. My other choice, after seeing lots of projects on Ravelry, is the Lady Eleanor stole, from Scarf Style. On the spur of the moment the other night, I watched some YouTube tutorials about knitting backwards and taught myself in about five minutes. It's a lot easier than I thought! I will have to wait and see how many balls of Transitions I have left to determine what will become of them. Meanwhile, I'm really enjoying the afghan. My goal is at least 2 rows per day (as it is not at all portable); I should be done before spring!

2)Instead of the hooded vest that I thought I was going to cast on when I last posted (the gauge didn't work for my Tahki Donegal Tweed--one of the oldest yarns in my stash--and I couldn't figure out how to adjust it so that it wouldn't be huge on me), I opted to cast on the Sunrise Circle Jacket. This is a really fun pattern and lots of people have used the Donegal Tweed. I had to use size 6 needles to get gauge, but I think it will be fine--nice and firm, which is good for a jacket that is really outerwear. I am done the first piece (left sleeve + left front), and partway up the right sleeve. I THINK this will fit perfectly--it is kind of hard to tell with this intriguing construction, but I'm taking the leap of faith and going on!

3)My darling 15-year-old son has requested an argyle vest! I have never done argyle and have done very little intarsia, but I'm going for it. We pored over patterns on Ravelry and the one he liked (Argyll V-Neck) is from a book called Rowan Knitting for Him, which has gorgeous men's patterns. This vest has overall argyle patterning on the front and the back, but several Ravelers have suggested doing the front first and doing the argyle on the front only. I think that's what I'll do. I have to decide whether I duplicate stitch the zigzag lines as some people have recommended, or knit them in. The thought of doing all the duplicate stitch is not very appealing, so I may try to knit them in. We'll see. Ordered KnitPicks Palette--how fun is it to choose from among their 100 colors!--swatched, and I'm on my way!

Hope to have some good progress on all of these wonderful projects soon.

Bauble!

I finished my Bauble bracelet, which was a lot of fun. I learned a lot about stringing beads for knitting (as opposed to knitting beads into yarn, as I did recently with Citron), and I think I'd like to try this again. I wasn't 100% happy with the way this looked when it was done, so I wove some of the elastic cord through the looser parts and I think it looks pretty nice now.
So now that this is done in record time, the question is, what do I cast on next. I COULD work more diligently on my Cable Comfort Throw, which has been languishing on my needles for some time, and which is nice to knit on in the cooler weather. But since it is so big and not right for traveling, I think I will swatch and cast on for the hooded vest that has been in my queue for a VERY long time. I can have both of these things, plus my current socks, going at once.
I wore my Citron to a Bar Mitzvah today. It felt great and I thought it looked great, although no one mentioned it. I think there needed to be other knitters there to appreciate it!

Bauble!

I finished my Bauble bracelet, which was a lot of fun. I learned a lot about stringing beads for knitting (as opposed to knitting beads into yarn, as I did recently with Citron), and I think I'd like to try this again. I wasn't 100% happy with the way this looked when it was done, so I wove some of the elastic cord through the looser parts and I think it looks pretty nice now.
So now that this is done in record time, the question is, what do I cast on next. I COULD work more diligently on my Cable Comfort Throw, which has been languishing on my needles for some time, and which is nice to knit on in the cooler weather. But since it is so big and not right for traveling, I think I will swatch and cast on for the hooded vest that has been in my queue for a VERY long time. I can have both of these things, plus my current socks, going at once.
I wore my Citron to a Bar Mitzvah today. It felt great and I thought it looked great, although no one mentioned it. I think there needed to be other knitters there to appreciate it!

FInish-Itis!

I guess a good trip to Rhinebeck is among the best motivators to finish things so that new ones can be started. Tonight I finished my Serendipity Socks, which came out really nice--the colors are so cheerful, and as I pointed out on Ravelry, I never would have chosen this colorway but got it as part of the Rockin' Sock Club a couple of years ago, and I am very pleased with it now that it's been knit into a beautiful pair of socks. Great pattern too. I have never been a big fan of short-row heels, and the directions in this pattern just didn't do it for me, so I used the directions (that I thought to be much clearer) from Socks a la Carte. Same result, but just easier for me to do with yarn overs vs. wrap and turns.
Next up, before I start one of my Rhinebeck purchases, is the Bauble bracelet from Knitty--one of the treats I bought myself after I did the beaded Citron. I bought a kit of all the beads from Earthfaire and I think this will be a good learning experience--the bead-stringing is pretty tedious. I will cast on something else to alternate so my eyes don't pop out of my head!
I think I'll start another pair of socks and then either a Rhinebeck project or the poor hooded vest that's been waiting patiently in my queue for two years. I bought the Skacel sock kit for which all of the proceeds go to the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research--may make those as a Christmas gift for the daughter of my friend who just passed away from this horrible disease. Kind of like a prayer shawl...The pattern looks very intricate, so I think I will use the yarn and the spirit of the project (the teal blue, etc.), but use a different pattern. Especially if I'm doing this as a relief from the teeny beads!

FInish-Itis!

I guess a good trip to Rhinebeck is among the best motivators to finish things so that new ones can be started. Tonight I finished my Serendipity Socks, which came out really nice--the colors are so cheerful, and as I pointed out on Ravelry, I never would have chosen this colorway but got it as part of the Rockin' Sock Club a couple of years ago, and I am very pleased with it now that it's been knit into a beautiful pair of socks. Great pattern too. I have never been a big fan of short-row heels, and the directions in this pattern just didn't do it for me, so I used the directions (that I thought to be much clearer) from Socks a la Carte. Same result, but just easier for me to do with yarn overs vs. wrap and turns.
Next up, before I start one of my Rhinebeck purchases, is the Bauble bracelet from Knitty--one of the treats I bought myself after I did the beaded Citron. I bought a kit of all the beads from Earthfaire and I think this will be a good learning experience--the bead-stringing is pretty tedious. I will cast on something else to alternate so my eyes don't pop out of my head!
I think I'll start another pair of socks and then either a Rhinebeck project or the poor hooded vest that's been waiting patiently in my queue for two years. I bought the Skacel sock kit for which all of the proceeds go to the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research--may make those as a Christmas gift for the daughter of my friend who just passed away from this horrible disease. Kind of like a prayer shawl...The pattern looks very intricate, so I think I will use the yarn and the spirit of the project (the teal blue, etc.), but use a different pattern. Especially if I'm doing this as a relief from the teeny beads!

FINALLY Made it to Rhinebeck!!

After many years of wishing I could go to Rhinebeck, I got to go today! It was a bittersweet drive up the NY Thruway, as I lost my dear friend yesterday. Rhinebeck became my therapy, and it was wonderful to have the whole day there alone to revel in all of the gorgeous hand-knit items everyone wore, to feel, smell and buy yarn, and to enjoy the gorgeous fall day with foliage at its peak.
I wore my Einstein Coat for warmth, and debuted my February Lady Sweater, newly finished and for which I got many compliments (and saw MANY others, in all shapes, sizes, yarn, and colors!). Seeing everyones amazing knitted finery at this show is truly inspirational. You just don't see all of these knitted masterpieces, casually worn with jeans and T's, in your daily life.
I left NJ at 7 am and couldn't believe the gorgeous sky as I entered the Hudson Valley--dramatic clouds and flaming trees! I got right to work with the vendors and visited some of my old favorites (like Brooks Farm) and some new friends--like Autumn House Farm. I even went to the Ravelry meet-up and met Jess! Very exciting.
Here's what I bought (pictures in collage form at right):
--One beautiful shawl pin from Annie's Sweet Products
--5 skeins of Autumn House Farm Finnean's Rainbow, which I may use to make their "Finnean's Favorite Getaway Pullover" pattern, or maybe a shawl, or maybe a different sweater. This is really cool yarn!
--1 skein of Creatively Dyed Steele, in colorway Sharon. I really love this unique, handpainted yarn. Amazing colors! I'm thinking I'll try one of the shawls in Romi's "7 Small Shawls" e-book, which I purchased just before Rhinebeck. Right now, Celaeno is in the lead!
--2 skeins of Brooks Farm Solo Silk, right now queued to make the Hypotenuse Shawl (by Ann Hanson, whom I also spotted yesterday!!)
--4 skeins of Brooks Farm Solo, to make the Triple S Shawl pattern by Knitting Fairy that I fell in love with when I saw two samples at the Brooks Farm booth
OK, now I have to finish the pair of socks I'm currently knitting and then decide if I can keep my willpower and continue working through my queue, or cast on one of the Rhinebeck projects ASAP!

FINALLY Made it to Rhinebeck!!

After many years of wishing I could go to Rhinebeck, I got to go today! It was a bittersweet drive up the NY Thruway, as I lost my dear friend yesterday. Rhinebeck became my therapy, and it was wonderful to have the whole day there alone to revel in all of the gorgeous hand-knit items everyone wore, to feel, smell and buy yarn, and to enjoy the gorgeous fall day with foliage at its peak.
I wore my Einstein Coat for warmth, and debuted my February Lady Sweater, newly finished and for which I got many compliments (and saw MANY others, in all shapes, sizes, yarn, and colors!). Seeing everyones amazing knitted finery at this show is truly inspirational. You just don't see all of these knitted masterpieces, casually worn with jeans and T's, in your daily life.
I left NJ at 7 am and couldn't believe the gorgeous sky as I entered the Hudson Valley--dramatic clouds and flaming trees! I got right to work with the vendors and visited some of my old favorites (like Brooks Farm) and some new friends--like Autumn House Farm. I even went to the Ravelry meet-up and met Jess! Very exciting.
Here's what I bought (pictures in collage form at right):
--One beautiful shawl pin from Annie's Sweet Products
--5 skeins of Autumn House Farm Finnean's Rainbow, which I may use to make their "Finnean's Favorite Getaway Pullover" pattern, or maybe a shawl, or maybe a different sweater. This is really cool yarn!
--1 skein of Creatively Dyed Steele, in colorway Sharon. I really love this unique, handpainted yarn. Amazing colors! I'm thinking I'll try one of the shawls in Romi's "7 Small Shawls" e-book, which I purchased just before Rhinebeck. Right now, Celaeno is in the lead!
--2 skeins of Brooks Farm Solo Silk, right now queued to make the Hypotenuse Shawl (by Ann Hanson, whom I also spotted yesterday!!)
--4 skeins of Brooks Farm Solo, to make the Triple S Shawl pattern by Knitting Fairy that I fell in love with when I saw two samples at the Brooks Farm booth
OK, now I have to finish the pair of socks I'm currently knitting and then decide if I can keep my willpower and continue working through my queue, or cast on one of the Rhinebeck projects ASAP!

Keeping it Going

So it's now less than two weeks since my last post--good for me! My dear friend continues to decline and I am trying to appreciate all the good things and wonderful people in my life to offset the sadness I feel. I am also trying to knit more...and I appear to be a bit more successful in that. Fortunately, this is a quiet weekend so I think I will get my wish to knit, blog, and prepare for my (fingers crossed) trip to Rhinebeck in two weeks!
I finished the first of my Serendipity Socks. I didn't use the short-row heel directions given in the pattern; instead, I followed the short-row directions in Socks a la Carte, as they just seemed easier to follow. I think the whole wrap and turn process and I don't get along, while the book's version uses yarn overs that are then knitted together. It's just a different way of achieving the same result. I'm happy with this sock, and LOVING my new Eat Smart Kitchen Scale, which I bought after reading a review on Knitter's Review. Clara Parkes gave wonderful directions about how to determine how many yards of yarn are left in a ball by weighing it on the scale. I used it for my Citron, but it is particularly helpful in an instance like this, where I made the Serendipity leg a bit longer than the pattern stated, and wasn't sure if I'd have enough for the pair. After Sock #1, I have 200 yards left according to the scale, and the ball started with 360 yards--so I should be fine. At a time when I am stressed out, it's nice to have a tool that helps take some of the stress out of knitting.
I ordered and received from Earthfaire a kit for the Bauble bracelet from Knitty.com. This will be my next beaded project, and I am excited! The question is, do I start and make this next, or finish my long-neglected February Lady Sweater--I just have the sleeves to do, and if I can do one sleeve per week, I can wear this to Rhinebeck! I'll decide by tonight--have some movies taped and ready to knit the night away!

Keeping it Going

So it's now less than two weeks since my last post--good for me! My dear friend continues to decline and I am trying to appreciate all the good things and wonderful people in my life to offset the sadness I feel. I am also trying to knit more...and I appear to be a bit more successful in that. Fortunately, this is a quiet weekend so I think I will get my wish to knit, blog, and prepare for my (fingers crossed) trip to Rhinebeck in two weeks!
I finished the first of my Serendipity Socks. I didn't use the short-row heel directions given in the pattern; instead, I followed the short-row directions in Socks a la Carte, as they just seemed easier to follow. I think the whole wrap and turn process and I don't get along, while the book's version uses yarn overs that are then knitted together. It's just a different way of achieving the same result. I'm happy with this sock, and LOVING my new Eat Smart Kitchen Scale, which I bought after reading a review on Knitter's Review. Clara Parkes gave wonderful directions about how to determine how many yards of yarn are left in a ball by weighing it on the scale. I used it for my Citron, but it is particularly helpful in an instance like this, where I made the Serendipity leg a bit longer than the pattern stated, and wasn't sure if I'd have enough for the pair. After Sock #1, I have 200 yards left according to the scale, and the ball started with 360 yards--so I should be fine. At a time when I am stressed out, it's nice to have a tool that helps take some of the stress out of knitting.
I ordered and received from Earthfaire a kit for the Bauble bracelet from Knitty.com. This will be my next beaded project, and I am excited! The question is, do I start and make this next, or finish my long-neglected February Lady Sweater--I just have the sleeves to do, and if I can do one sleeve per week, I can wear this to Rhinebeck! I'll decide by tonight--have some movies taped and ready to knit the night away!

I Love Beads!

Again, it's been far too long since my last post. I guess I am really writing this blog as a record for myself now, as I can't imagine anyone would be reading something that is updated so infrequently. Alas, life has gotten the way of both knitting and blogging. We have had some ill relatives and I now have a very ill, dear friend whom I've known for four decades. Suffice it to say that I've been preoccupied and sad.

I am also in a very stressful time at work, and I wish I could release that stress through knitting, but I am too busy working to have time to knit! Not a good situation. As a result, my Citron took me much longer than anticipated. The fact that I decided to go for seven pattern repeats--yielding a total of 732 stitches for the ruffle rows AND the beaded bind-off--also made this a slow process. I loved every second of it. I am hooked on knitting with beads! See my Ravelry page for more details. The favorites that come up on that project page will lead you to some of the tutorials I used for adding the beads and doing the beaded bind-off. I also got a lot of assistance in terms of what kinds and how many beads to buy, from Earthfaire. Excellent quality and customer service. I will DEFINITELY do more beaded knitting!

Now it's back to my Serendipity Sock and my February Lady Sweater. Hope there's more time for knitting and blogging SOON!

I Love Beads!

Again, it's been far too long since my last post. I guess I am really writing this blog as a record for myself now, as I can't imagine anyone would be reading something that is updated so infrequently. Alas, life has gotten the way of both knitting and blogging. We have had some ill relatives and I now have a very ill, dear friend whom I've known for four decades. Suffice it to say that I've been preoccupied and sad.

I am also in a very stressful time at work, and I wish I could release that stress through knitting, but I am too busy working to have time to knit! Not a good situation. As a result, my Citron took me much longer than anticipated. The fact that I decided to go for seven pattern repeats--yielding a total of 732 stitches for the ruffle rows AND the beaded bind-off--also made this a slow process. I loved every second of it. I am hooked on knitting with beads! See my Ravelry page for more details. The favorites that come up on that project page will lead you to some of the tutorials I used for adding the beads and doing the beaded bind-off. I also got a lot of assistance in terms of what kinds and how many beads to buy, from Earthfaire. Excellent quality and customer service. I will DEFINITELY do more beaded knitting!

Now it's back to my Serendipity Sock and my February Lady Sweater. Hope there's more time for knitting and blogging SOON!

Big Time Catch-Up!

I can't believe it's been exactly TWO MONTHS since I've last posted. I'm sorry (if there's anyone out there reading!).
Life has been hectic even though it's summer, which usually gives me a bit more time since my kids are away at camp. We completed our kitchen renovation in early July and that was very time-consuming and ate into both knitting and blogging time. We also went on a glorious vacation to France in late July...so here we are.
First, some notes on the trip. I brought three knitting projects with me: a dishcloth (which I never picked up); my Salish Sea Socks (which I almost finished and did finish last night);
and my newly cast on Citron, which I am making in the gorgeous Dream in Color Starry in Black Parade, and which I am going to attempt to bead on the bind-off.
I worked on the Citron on the plane over and during some car and train trips, and worked on the socks at various intervals. I was all set to finish the socks on the plane trip home and make significant progress on the Citron--after all, the trip home was an 8-hour flight, all daytime hours--when BOOM! the dreaded confiscation of the needles that I've read so much about happened to me. We've gone on about 5-6 trips out of the country the past several years, and I've been lucky each time until now. I begged to keep my needles, but the French equivalent of the TSA was very unsympathetic. So I read and watched movies and pouted the whole way home.
Needles have been replaced now, socks finished, shawl on the fifth repeat (almost done, although the rows are getting Loooong!), and I guess all is well. But it still bothers me that needles aren't allowed on flights from Europe to the U.S.
On a brighter knitting note from our trip, I visited the outpost of La Droguerie in Le Bon Marche department store in Paris, and bought absolutely perfect buttons for my February Lady Sweater, which will wait until my Citron is done to be finished. The fantastic yarn, button and notion outpost in this luxe department store was absolutely fabulous!
So now I'm home, really enjoying the Citron, and about to cast on for my next socks--Serendipity, which according to my notes was the first sock of the 2008 Rockin' Sock Club year. This was the last year I participated, so I guess I'm down to five STR skeins once I finish this pair. I do have other sock yarn in my bin, but once I finish the Socks that Rock, I might think about joining another sock club. I do so love knitting socks! The Salish Seas were a lot of fun. My first Cat Bordhi pattern AND my first successful toe-up pair. Judy's Magic Cast-on finally clicked with me, and the arch shaping in this pattern was neat too. The socks fit very well and I see why people are in awe of Cat. I don't know how she thinks of all of these variations!
Kids are still away for a few more days and DH off on a business trip tomorrow--this is my last chance for a summer knitting marathon, and when I'm not at work, this is how I plan to spend my time!!

Big Time Catch-Up!

I can't believe it's been exactly TWO MONTHS since I've last posted. I'm sorry (if there's anyone out there reading!).
Life has been hectic even though it's summer, which usually gives me a bit more time since my kids are away at camp. We completed our kitchen renovation in early July and that was very time-consuming and ate into both knitting and blogging time. We also went on a glorious vacation to France in late July...so here we are.
First, some notes on the trip. I brought three knitting projects with me: a dishcloth (which I never picked up); my Salish Sea Socks (which I almost finished and did finish last night);
and my newly cast on Citron, which I am making in the gorgeous Dream in Color Starry in Black Parade, and which I am going to attempt to bead on the bind-off.
I worked on the Citron on the plane over and during some car and train trips, and worked on the socks at various intervals. I was all set to finish the socks on the plane trip home and make significant progress on the Citron--after all, the trip home was an 8-hour flight, all daytime hours--when BOOM! the dreaded confiscation of the needles that I've read so much about happened to me. We've gone on about 5-6 trips out of the country the past several years, and I've been lucky each time until now. I begged to keep my needles, but the French equivalent of the TSA was very unsympathetic. So I read and watched movies and pouted the whole way home.
Needles have been replaced now, socks finished, shawl on the fifth repeat (almost done, although the rows are getting Loooong!), and I guess all is well. But it still bothers me that needles aren't allowed on flights from Europe to the U.S.
On a brighter knitting note from our trip, I visited the outpost of La Droguerie in Le Bon Marche department store in Paris, and bought absolutely perfect buttons for my February Lady Sweater, which will wait until my Citron is done to be finished. The fantastic yarn, button and notion outpost in this luxe department store was absolutely fabulous!
So now I'm home, really enjoying the Citron, and about to cast on for my next socks--Serendipity, which according to my notes was the first sock of the 2008 Rockin' Sock Club year. This was the last year I participated, so I guess I'm down to five STR skeins once I finish this pair. I do have other sock yarn in my bin, but once I finish the Socks that Rock, I might think about joining another sock club. I do so love knitting socks! The Salish Seas were a lot of fun. My first Cat Bordhi pattern AND my first successful toe-up pair. Judy's Magic Cast-on finally clicked with me, and the arch shaping in this pattern was neat too. The socks fit very well and I see why people are in awe of Cat. I don't know how she thinks of all of these variations!
Kids are still away for a few more days and DH off on a business trip tomorrow--this is my last chance for a summer knitting marathon, and when I'm not at work, this is how I plan to spend my time!!