Transverse Cardigan Is Done!

It feels great to have completed my first big project after my long hiatus making hats. The Transverse Cardi is really pretty and fits well. I followed a lot of suggestions from Ravelers, and while I am very happy with the way this sweater looks, I might try it again in a solid color and sticking more to the actual pattern (more cropped and without the wide band on both fronts). Now that I have made it and have seen how it all works, I think I would be more confident in trying it again and knowing how it would turn out. It is a really fun, ingenious construction. Even met the designer, Ann Weaver, on Ravelry during this process and that was fun.
Now I await casting on my first Knit, Swirl jacket. Before tackling this large project, however, I'm catching up on the Leafling Socks that I started last month. The bright green tonal is definitely not a colorway I would have picked myself (this is several years' old Rockin' Sock Club yarn), but I love it. I think I will smile looking down at my feet once these socks are done! So far, the leaf pattern on the leg is coming out very pretty. We'll see if I can handle what is reported to be a tricky heel construction. I ripped these back and cast on 66 stitches for the leg rather than 60; I'd rather have them a little higher (probably 7" leg, and a little looser rather than binding around the calf. I decreased down to 60 after a couple pattern repeats on the leg and will stay there for the rest of the sock.
Back to knitting!

Transverse Cardigan Is Done!

It feels great to have completed my first big project after my long hiatus making hats. The Transverse Cardi is really pretty and fits well. I followed a lot of suggestions from Ravelers, and while I am very happy with the way this sweater looks, I might try it again in a solid color and sticking more to the actual pattern (more cropped and without the wide band on both fronts). Now that I have made it and have seen how it all works, I think I would be more confident in trying it again and knowing how it would turn out. It is a really fun, ingenious construction. Even met the designer, Ann Weaver, on Ravelry during this process and that was fun.
Now I await casting on my first Knit, Swirl jacket. Before tackling this large project, however, I'm catching up on the Leafling Socks that I started last month. The bright green tonal is definitely not a colorway I would have picked myself (this is several years' old Rockin' Sock Club yarn), but I love it. I think I will smile looking down at my feet once these socks are done! So far, the leaf pattern on the leg is coming out very pretty. We'll see if I can handle what is reported to be a tricky heel construction. I ripped these back and cast on 66 stitches for the leg rather than 60; I'd rather have them a little higher (probably 7" leg, and a little looser rather than binding around the calf. I decreased down to 60 after a couple pattern repeats on the leg and will stay there for the rest of the sock.
Back to knitting!

Back to Reality

Well, my school fundraising event at which my friend sold my hats/headbands has come and gone--and not one item sold. I am somewhat disappointed in this, although the items were priced a little high for students. Unfortunately, the prices barely reflected the cost of materials and my time (priced extremely low). Now I guess I'll try a few more aggressive marketing techniques on my Etsy shop, but honestly, after my marathon of hat/headband knitting, it has been nice to get back to knitting for myself for pleasure.
My first project after the hat project was the GAP-tastic cowl. I had bought some luscious Malabrigo Chunky almost a year ago for this project, and I have been getting frustrated seeing every other person in Manhattan wearing an infinity scarf that I knew I could make! I only used two of the three balls of Malabrigo I had purchased--the cowl is still 10" wide and about 60" in circumference after blocking (which gave it a beautiful, drapy feel), which is way big enough for my 5'2" frame. I ADORE the Velvet Grapes colorway and would love to use it again. It also looks absolutely fabulous in the seed stitch of the pattern.
With the leftover skein of Malabrigo, I immediately cast on for the Axel Mitts to match. I like them because the cuff at the fingers is knit long, so you can cover your fingers completely or roll it back if the day isn't as freezing as it was today! So far, I've made mitt #1 in two nights and expect to be finished with mitt #2 by the weekend. Then, it's back to the sweater and shawl I started last summer (!) and I may also cast on some socks to take with me on a business trip next week.
Despite my failed attempts at knitting for dollars, I am happy to be back to exploring my wonderful stash and knitting nice things for ME!

Back to Reality

Well, my school fundraising event at which my friend sold my hats/headbands has come and gone--and not one item sold. I am somewhat disappointed in this, although the items were priced a little high for students. Unfortunately, the prices barely reflected the cost of materials and my time (priced extremely low). Now I guess I'll try a few more aggressive marketing techniques on my Etsy shop, but honestly, after my marathon of hat/headband knitting, it has been nice to get back to knitting for myself for pleasure.
My first project after the hat project was the GAP-tastic cowl. I had bought some luscious Malabrigo Chunky almost a year ago for this project, and I have been getting frustrated seeing every other person in Manhattan wearing an infinity scarf that I knew I could make! I only used two of the three balls of Malabrigo I had purchased--the cowl is still 10" wide and about 60" in circumference after blocking (which gave it a beautiful, drapy feel), which is way big enough for my 5'2" frame. I ADORE the Velvet Grapes colorway and would love to use it again. It also looks absolutely fabulous in the seed stitch of the pattern.
With the leftover skein of Malabrigo, I immediately cast on for the Axel Mitts to match. I like them because the cuff at the fingers is knit long, so you can cover your fingers completely or roll it back if the day isn't as freezing as it was today! So far, I've made mitt #1 in two nights and expect to be finished with mitt #2 by the weekend. Then, it's back to the sweater and shawl I started last summer (!) and I may also cast on some socks to take with me on a business trip next week.
Despite my failed attempts at knitting for dollars, I am happy to be back to exploring my wonderful stash and knitting nice things for ME!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! I thought I'd do a little recap of 2011 and make a few knitting resolutions for the coming year.
In 2011, I completed several projects of varying types, including 3 pair of socks (one long pair of boot socks for my daughter), one large afghan, my first argyle project--a vest for my son, several scarves and cowls, and many, many hats and headbands for my fledgling Etsy shop/school fundraising business. I am currently in the midst of knitting as many hats and headbands in my son's school colors as I possibly can before a January 14th fundraising event. I'm not sure that I like putting my own projects aside to do so many hats and headbands exclusively, but I don't think I will have to do that once I get this stockpile done. The only chance that I would have to keep up at this pace would be if lots of people want these items on the 14th, I sell everything I've got at the event and I end up taking orders to make after the event. After that, though, I should be free for my own pursuits and then whatever I sell on Etsy.

I have really enjoyed beginning to learn about knitting as a business. I would still love to find a way to make it work, but so far I can't see this being a realistic only source of income. I do love seeing my daughter's friends in their earflap hats and getting their wonderful notes and hugs of thanks for these ear-warming goodies!

Along with my current hat on the needles, I'm enjoing the Gap-tastic Cowl made of Malabrigo Chunky in the spectacular Velvet Grapes colorway. Hope to get back to some of my languishing projects (started in the summer) soon.

Wishing everyone a joyous, healthy New Year filled with happiness, peace, love and all that you wish for.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! I thought I'd do a little recap of 2011 and make a few knitting resolutions for the coming year.
In 2011, I completed several projects of varying types, including 3 pair of socks (one long pair of boot socks for my daughter), one large afghan, my first argyle project--a vest for my son, several scarves and cowls, and many, many hats and headbands for my fledgling Etsy shop/school fundraising business. I am currently in the midst of knitting as many hats and headbands in my son's school colors as I possibly can before a January 14th fundraising event. I'm not sure that I like putting my own projects aside to do so many hats and headbands exclusively, but I don't think I will have to do that once I get this stockpile done. The only chance that I would have to keep up at this pace would be if lots of people want these items on the 14th, I sell everything I've got at the event and I end up taking orders to make after the event. After that, though, I should be free for my own pursuits and then whatever I sell on Etsy.

I have really enjoyed beginning to learn about knitting as a business. I would still love to find a way to make it work, but so far I can't see this being a realistic only source of income. I do love seeing my daughter's friends in their earflap hats and getting their wonderful notes and hugs of thanks for these ear-warming goodies!

Along with my current hat on the needles, I'm enjoing the Gap-tastic Cowl made of Malabrigo Chunky in the spectacular Velvet Grapes colorway. Hope to get back to some of my languishing projects (started in the summer) soon.

Wishing everyone a joyous, healthy New Year filled with happiness, peace, love and all that you wish for.

Boot Socks, Just in Time for Winter!

I finished my daughter' Hunter Boot Socks, aka kilt hose, yesterday. She will be coming home from college for winter break next week, and I will give these to her on one of the eight nights of Hanukkah! They came out great, if I do say so myself--I have never knit knee socks, and these are even longer (16 inches, with a fold-over lace panel too!). I really enjoyed knitting these socks, which decrease from the calf down to the ankle and fit me perfectly (we're similar in size). I think I'd like to do a pair of knee socks for me! Any pattern recommendations?
I also liked knitting socks with Cascade 220 Superwash. I used size 4 needles and, despite the length, they went quickly. I started them in September, but really haven't worked on them much as I've been making hats for all of my daughter's friends, and have even sold a few in my Etsy shop! I am probably going to be doing a fundraiser for my son's high school in January and I will try to sell hats and headbands in the school colors there.
Next up--I may reward myself by making the Laura Nelkin Butin Collar, for which I ordered a kit as well as the e-book that contains this and other jewelry and accessory patterns. Then I'll get back to the Transverse Cardigan that I started in July!
Happy Holidays, everyone--stay warm!

Boot Socks, Just in Time for Winter!

I finished my daughter' Hunter Boot Socks, aka kilt hose, yesterday. She will be coming home from college for winter break next week, and I will give these to her on one of the eight nights of Hanukkah! They came out great, if I do say so myself--I have never knit knee socks, and these are even longer (16 inches, with a fold-over lace panel too!). I really enjoyed knitting these socks, which decrease from the calf down to the ankle and fit me perfectly (we're similar in size). I think I'd like to do a pair of knee socks for me! Any pattern recommendations?
I also liked knitting socks with Cascade 220 Superwash. I used size 4 needles and, despite the length, they went quickly. I started them in September, but really haven't worked on them much as I've been making hats for all of my daughter's friends, and have even sold a few in my Etsy shop! I am probably going to be doing a fundraiser for my son's high school in January and I will try to sell hats and headbands in the school colors there.
Next up--I may reward myself by making the Laura Nelkin Butin Collar, for which I ordered a kit as well as the e-book that contains this and other jewelry and accessory patterns. Then I'll get back to the Transverse Cardigan that I started in July!
Happy Holidays, everyone--stay warm!

Winter Wear

Happy Post-Thanksgiving! Had a wonderful long weekend with my beautiful daughter home from collehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifge. I loved spending time with her as well as seeing all of her friends--such a great group of girls. I gave two of them their earflap hats--three more to go in the "core" group of friends and one additional friend has requested a hat. At this rate, colleges all over the country will have samples of mhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gify hats, and hopefully this will lead to sales!
I have now made two official sales in my Etsy shop and look forward to growing my business.
As I said goodbye to my daughter until she returns again in three weeks, I promised that her Hunter Boot Liners , a variation of kilt hose, would be finished by Winter Break. Last night I powered through the first one while watching a too-close-for-comfort Steelers victory, and am about halfway through the decorative cuff of boot liner #2. I'm confident that I'll reach my goal. At 16 inches for the leg, these boot liners are a very significant project!
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is doing lots of cold-weather knitting!

Winter Wear

Happy Post-Thanksgiving! Had a wonderful long weekend with my beautiful daughter home from collehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifge. I loved spending time with her as well as seeing all of her friends--such a great group of girls. I gave two of them their earflap hats--three more to go in the "core" group of friends and one additional friend has requested a hat. At this rate, colleges all over the country will have samples of mhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gify hats, and hopefully this will lead to sales!
I have now made two official sales in my Etsy shop and look forward to growing my business.
As I said goodbye to my daughter until she returns again in three weeks, I promised that her Hunter Boot Liners , a variation of kilt hose, would be finished by Winter Break. Last night I powered through the first one while watching a too-close-for-comfort Steelers victory, and am about halfway through the decorative cuff of boot liner #2. I'm confident that I'll reach my goal. At 16 inches for the leg, these boot liners are a very significant project!
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is doing lots of cold-weather knitting!

Hat Mania!

After surviving four days and three nights without power after a freak October snowstorm, I am back to knitting as usual, and my chunky hats seem more needed than ever! I have been continuing to make gift hats and headbands for my teenagers' friends and hope that they will serve as good marketers for the hats and headbands in my Etsy shop.
I also made my daughter a nice, warm chunky ribbed scarf in her school colors and my favorite bulky yarn, Cascade 128 Superwash.
Now I am on to experimenting with some boys' hats from a fabulous book, Hip Knit Hats. So far, I've made the Skip and am in the midst of making the Pat designs from this book.
We gain an hour when we set the clocks back tonight--another hour to knit! Yay! Stay warm, everyone.

Hat Mania!

After surviving four days and three nights without power after a freak October snowstorm, I am back to knitting as usual, and my chunky hats seem more needed than ever! I have been continuing to make gift hats and headbands for my teenagers' friends and hope that they will serve as good marketers for the hats and headbands in my Etsy shop.
I also made my daughter a nice, warm chunky ribbed scarf in her school colors and my favorite bulky yarn, Cascade 128 Superwash.
Now I am on to experimenting with some boys' hats from a fabulous book, Hip Knit Hats. So far, I've made the Skip and am in the midst of making the Pat designs from this book.
We gain an hour when we set the clocks back tonight--another hour to knit! Yay! Stay warm, everyone.

Sweet Feet!

My poor husband has been patiently waiting for his Cauchy Socks to be finished. I have been so busy on my earflap hat kick that hishttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifsocks--begun on 4th of July weekend--have taken a definite back seat. Finally, this morning, I finished the socks. I really like the way they look--very masculine and a simple pattern with some interest both for the knitter and the wearer.

In other foot-related news, I'm now going back to the just-started Hunter Boot liners for my daughter, the college girl. I am using the Toirneach Kilt Hose pattern, from Knitty.com back in 2007. Because they are supposed to be worn with kilts, they are knee-high and have a fold-over cuff that my daughter can cuff over the outside of each boot. They are going to be very cute!

I'm also continuing to make earflap hats like crazy. Here is one of my daughter's friends modeling hers:

OK, friends, time to get back to my knitting and Podcasts! Will try to be back before too much time has gone by.

Sweet Feet!

My poor husband has been patiently waiting for his Cauchy Socks to be finished. I have been so busy on my earflap hat kick that hishttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifsocks--begun on 4th of July weekend--have taken a definite back seat. Finally, this morning, I finished the socks. I really like the way they look--very masculine and a simple pattern with some interest both for the knitter and the wearer.

In other foot-related news, I'm now going back to the just-started Hunter Boot liners for my daughter, the college girl. I am using the Toirneach Kilt Hose pattern, from Knitty.com back in 2007. Because they are supposed to be worn with kilts, they are knee-high and have a fold-over cuff that my daughter can cuff over the outside of each boot. They are going to be very cute!

I'm also continuing to make earflap hats like crazy. Here is one of my daughter's friends modeling hers:

OK, friends, time to get back to my knitting and Podcasts! Will try to be back before too much time has gone by.

GO BLUE!!

I've been busy knitting up a storm for my new ETSY SHOP! I am going to be making hats and headbands to start, all in collehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifge or high school colors. My crack marketing team consists of my daughter, now a college freshman, and all of her friends at colleges throughout the country; and my son, a high school junior who has been proudly talking up my goods to his friends!
Still learning the ins and outs of being an online seller, but I have my supplies and I'm ready to roll.
A few examples of what I can make in any school color combo:

It is AWESOME to be making up my own patterns for these items too!

While watching U of M's AMAZING win against Notre Dame tonight, I worked on a pair of liners for my daughter's Hunter boots, an apparent college staple! A Ravelry contact gave me the idea to use a kilt hose pattern so that I'd have the wide cuff to turn down over the boots. Great idea! I am making the Toirneach Kilt Hose out of Cascade 220 Superwash in the Daffodil colorway that I've now used for about five different projects! We'll see how it goes!

GO BLUE!!

I've been busy knitting up a storm for my new ETSY SHOP! I am going to be making hats and headbands to start, all in collehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifge or high school colors. My crack marketing team consists of my daughter, now a college freshman, and all of her friends at colleges throughout the country; and my son, a high school junior who has been proudly talking up my goods to his friends!
Still learning the ins and outs of being an online seller, but I have my supplies and I'm ready to roll.
A few examples of what I can make in any school color combo:

It is AWESOME to be making up my own patterns for these items too!

While watching U of M's AMAZING win against Notre Dame tonight, I worked on a pair of liners for my daughter's Hunter boots, an apparent college staple! A Ravelry contact gave me the idea to use a kilt hose pattern so that I'd have the wide cuff to turn down over the boots. Great idea! I am making the Toirneach Kilt Hose out of Cascade 220 Superwash in the Daffodil colorway that I've now used for about five different projects! We'll see how it goes!

Waiting for the Storm

As we in New Jersey and elsewhere on the East Coast await Hurricane Irene, I finished the first of my Cauchy socks for my http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhusbahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnd. It was a bit challenging figuring out how to modify the pattern as the yarn is very skinny--about 9 stitches/inch, which is smaller than I'm used to for socks and different from the pattern's gauge. I finished sock #1 this morning and it fits its intended wearer, but does need to be stretched slightly for a perfect fit on the foot.

I'll start Sock #2 right away to prevent second sock syndrome, but will then cast on another earflap hat for one of my daughter's friends--the first of many as "my girls" head off to colleges around the country. I've become an expert at determining college colors from the Web--many actually have a page with their official Pantone colors. This first hat will probably be finished on our 8+ hour drive to take our daughter to school in a few days. I hope the rhythm of the stitches will keep me calm as I prepare to separate from my wonderful daughter!

Waiting for the Storm

As we in New Jersey and elsewhere on the East Coast await Hurricane Irene, I finished the first of my Cauchy socks for my http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhusbahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnd. It was a bit challenging figuring out how to modify the pattern as the yarn is very skinny--about 9 stitches/inch, which is smaller than I'm used to for socks and different from the pattern's gauge. I finished sock #1 this morning and it fits its intended wearer, but does need to be stretched slightly for a perfect fit on the foot.
I'll start Sock #2 right away to prevent second sock syndrome, but will then cast on another earflap hat for one of my daughter's friends--the first of many as "my girls" head off to colleges around the country. I've become an expert at determining college colors from the Web--many actually have a page with their official Pantone colors. This first hat will probably be finished on our 8+ hour drive to take our daughter to school in a few days. I hope the rhythm of the stitches will keep me calm as I prepare to separate from my wonderful daughter!

Coming Up for Air

Wow, it's been almost a month since I last blogged and I feel like it's been a year. I haven't even knit for several days this week, which is unlike me. We returned from a vacation on August 1--after enjoying scenic locales like Prague, pictured above--to find my mom had been in the hospital and was now in rehab (at 90, she is fine now, but there has been a lot to do related to her care--thank goodness I am one of three sisters!); my daughter needing to prep for college and also needing a lot of TLC to get her in the right frame of mind for her big move; and work at its most intense in about a year. If something had to give, unfortunately, it was knitting.


I did successfully get my knitting needles through security in Vienna and Frankfurt and happily knit both going to Europe and coming home. My plane knitting of choice was the Transverse Cardigan, which is mostly stockinette at this point. Since it is a uniqhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifue, sideways construction, it will be a gamble as to whether it will fit or not, but I am measuring as best I can compared to finished sweaters and also favoriting a bunch of examples of this sweater on Ravelry.


I have also been enjoying the Cauchy socks for my husband; I would like to make sure they are done in time for winter and I am not even down the leg of Sock #1 (but almost)--so I think this will become my priority project for now.

Last weekend, after our trip, we went on a 6-hour car trip to visit my husband's parents, so I used the time to make the Gull Hat for my daughter's boyfriend in his soon-to-be-college colors of purple and gold. I loved this pattern and would consider making the sweater in the same pattern in the Norah Gaughan Men book, which I like very much.

So now I guess it's back to the socks, and hopefully more time to knit!

Coming Up for Air

Wow, it's been almost a month since I last blogged and I feel like it's been a year. I haven't even knit for several days this week, which is unlike me. We returned from a vacation on August 1--after enjoying scenic locales like Prague, pictured above--to find my mom had been in the hospital and was now in rehab (at 90, she is fine now, but there has been a lot to do related to her care--thank goodness I am one of three sisters!); my daughter needing to prep for college and also needing a lot of TLC to get her in the right frame of mind for her big move; and work at its most intense in about a year. If something had to give, unfortunately, it was knitting.

I did successfully get my knitting needles through security in Vienna and Frankfurt and happily knit both going to Europe and coming home. My plane knitting of choice was the Transverse Cardigan, which is mostly stockinette at this point. Since it is a uniqhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifue, sideways construction, it will be a gamble as to whether it will fit or not, but I am measuring as best I can compared to finished sweaters and also favoriting a bunch of examples of this sweater on Ravelry.

I have also been enjoying the Cauchy socks for my husband; I would like to make sure they are done in time for winter and I am not even down the leg of Sock #1 (but almost)--so I think this will become my priority project for now.
Last weekend, after our trip, we went on a 6-hour car trip to visit my husband's parents, so I used the time to make the Gull Hat for my daughter's boyfriend in his soon-to-be-college colors of purple and gold. I loved this pattern and would consider making the sweater in the same pattern in the Norah Gaughan Men book, which I like very much.
So now I guess it's back to the socks, and hopefully more time to knit!