I Did It!

I finally knitted a sweater, and keeping with my resolutions for 2009, it's for me.

Me blending in quite well with the white walls

It's the February Lady Sweater made from good-ole Cascade 220. I wish I would have made the next size smaller as it's a bit floppy in the arms. I decided to error on the side of caution and sized up to fit well in the chest area. Only modification I made was to work button holes every 2 inches to give me a total of 4 and not 3 buttons. I loathe gaping button bands. Started my sweater on December 26th and finished it on January 17th. I loved the lace pattern and the seamless construction. Going to have to find more seamless sweater patterns in my size :)

What the Hell I've Been Doing All Summer

To say I've let my blog go to the back burner this summer is a complete understatement. Now time to start playing a bit of catch-up.

Hubs and I have been completely occupied by the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel complete series DVDs since late June. Please don't do the math and figure out how many hours/days we spent in front of the TV. I have been marking the hours going by with tons of finished knitting projects and don't want to even think about it in terms of hours. :)

Last item off my needles, and largest summer project by far was the Serenity Baby Blanket made for buds Zoe and BP who are planning on starting a family this fall. This took me the vast majority of season 1-5 of Angel to complete, but I just had to knit a project inspired by Firefly, a show by Joss Whedon, while watching another of his series.

True to color shot

True to proportion shot

Mmmmm...cable-y and lacy

Cotton-Ease didn't block so well

Pretty center motif

I loved doing this project! If you want the knitty gritty details, see my Ravelry project page.

I'm Not Dead Yet

Been going through some, well let's face it, shit lately. May's completely sucked. Bring on July! I realize I may be getting a bit ahead of myself but that's the light at the end of the tunnel for me. :)

That's not to say that I haven't been busily stitching away. I have three finished objects I'm just now getting around to blogging.

First up, I've taken up cross stitching. Cross stitching had a bit of a rocky start for me as Bandit devoured two skeins of floss in one night. Let it be known that if an emergency vet ever gives you the instructions to dose your dog with hydrogen peroxide and have him exercise until he pukes that you're in for a long night. >.< This sampler is destined to be hung in our office at home.

Modified "Bite Me" Sampler from the Subversive Cross Stitch book

Also, I've finished the Pinwheel Blanket for Astro Knotts.

Such an easy pattern, but oh so cute and modifiable

Also finished a pair of socks for Mother's Day only 2 weeks after. Loved working the twisted stitch cables in this pattern.

Conwy Socks from Knitting on the Road using Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn

And, I'm over halfway completed with a pair socks for Hubs. Only been working on these since January! :-/

Gionormous Hub Socks

I'm sort of between projects at the moment with only the huge Hub socks to work on. I think I may have to pick up a lace project soon, too.

Finishing and Starting

The Idella scarf was washed and blocked last Sunday. I was shocked when I washed it as it grew several feet in length. It's pretty and over 7 feet in length. I was quite thankful for the blocking wires Hubs gave me for Christmas. I can't even begin to imagine how long it would have taken if I had to use individual pins. I used one skein of Malabrigo lace yarn (barely had a yard or two left in the end!) and did 17 pattern repeats per side.

Finished Idella

I started a new project Wednesday night, a Pinwheel blanket using Cotton Ease in "Lake". Round projects bring up an interesting question, how in the hell do you get a decent picture of a flat round project when it's in the hairnet looking bagging off the circular needles stage?

Laid flat and focused on middle - not too shabby!

Zoomed out a bit to see size, but it looks lumpy

Well, it DID look like a ginormous beret...

A New Year, A New FO

So long 2007, don't let the door hit you on the way out! Now is the time for me to reflect on the past year and take a look at my past resolutions. Only item which I resolved to do in 2007 on which I didn't make any progress was finally knitting a sweater; something which I've resolved do to for the past two years. For 2008, I'm admitting to myself that I'm just not a sweater knitter. My goals for the next 12 months:

• Take my look up a notch...or 12 - Too many Tivo-ed episodes of "What Not to Wear" have opened to my eyes that I need a more polished professional look.
  
• Admit defeat with Christmas knitting - Being up at 3:30 in the morning on Christmas morning with horrible achy hands stunk. I've got to learn to keep the scope of holiday knitting in check and manageable.
• Try colorwork - I'd really like to try my hands at a colorwork project this year, maybe a Fair Isle hat or something along those lines.
  

And now for the recent knitting!

Pattern: Dashing from Knitty
Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathered yarn with a long-lost ballband
Needles: US 7 Crystal Palace dpns
Project Thoughts: Mom's poor 2 year-old, much loved fingerless gloves popped a few stitches. Trying to fix black yarn made by eyes go buggy, so replacement gloves it is!

Having some fun with Hubs' new light tent for macro shots

Christmas: The Aftermath

Whoo boy. Christmas is done, and I thought my hands were about ready to fall off at 3:30 AM on Christmas eve night/Christmas morning when I finished the last of my Christmas knitting projects. Every spare moment that I could be knitting I was - in line at the Target deli, team building events at work, pre-Christmas gatherings, and several gaming sessions. This year's knitted gifts included:

• Reversible Cable scarf - still need to send
• Pair of Monkey socks for my mom
• Faroese Shawl for my grandma in PA
• Juno Regina stole for my aunt
• 2 pairs of men's socks in grey and black for my grandpas
• Mini Jayne Hat for nephew, Zach

Jayne Hat as modeled by Zach - very cunning I think!

Finshed Juno Regina stole modeled by moi!

I have picked the needles up after a day off for Christmas. Working on a pair of Dashing fingerless gloves currently. Hubs gave me a big skein of Laci yarn from Blue Moon Fiber Arts, and I downloaded a copy of the Irtfaa'a Faroese shawl from Knitspot.com today. Think I'm due a project to keep for myself after the flurry of Christmas knitting. :)

Knittin' Fool

Faroese shawl got a good blocking over the weekend, and the final ends were woven in. Second Christmas present is done! *dance*


Project Details
Pattern: Faroese Shawl from "A Gathering of Lace"
Yarn: 2 skeins of Malabrigo lace weight yarn in "Orchid"
Needles: Knitpicks Options US 4
Project Thoughts: LOVED this project. The yarn was wonderful to work with - not splitty yet very soft. The final piece is beautiful and is a very manageable size. Rarely do I say this, but I would reknit this project in a heartbeat. The Faroese shawl style stays on your shoulders easily, too.

Guess it's a very serious shawl based off my facial expression

I've started another Christmas present and am over halfway complete all ready. It's the His/Hers Reversible Scarf from "Cables Untangled". Simple quick knit using Malabrigo worsted weight in "natural", but my hands are itching for more lace knitting.

Cheap knitwear model for hire - will work for cookies...

or belly rubs while watching "Chuck"

Block Party

It's a block(ing) party!

Busy bee me has finished the Faroese Shawl, Monkey Socks, and have gifted Grandpop's Father's Day socks in the past few weeks. Better pics will be forthcoming - best I could do tonight in the dark :)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

After my recent lace disasters, I've scaled back on my project complexity for the time being. Enter a new sock on the needles for Grandpop. Knit 3, purl 2 all the way around the cuff. Counting to 5 is all I felt I could muster last week. Knitting these with no particular pattern in mind, 80 stitches around, trusty US1 dpns, and Paton's Kroy yarn.

Plain ol' sock = Good knitting vibe salve

One of my Knitty Sock Swap Pal, Knitchick07, received her sock package last week. I made a pair of Meida's Socks for her from IK's 25 Favorite Sock Patterns. These didn't take too terribly long to finish, mainly because I worked on them while listening to the Deathly Hallows audiobook.

Pattern: Meida's Socks by NancyBush
Yarn: Crystal Palace Panda Wool in "Teal Lake"
Needles: US1 dpns
Misc Thoughts: The cuff and foot repeat was really quite easy to memorize and knit on the go. The honeycombed heel is quite another story. I had to rip these back a few times after getting a bit lackadaisical with following the pattern. Overall, a very enjoyable knit!

Apart from still being sucked in by the Dresden Files books, I also have painted a new mini for a new D&D campaign. Perpetual cleric player me turned in her wooden holy symbol to play a rogue for this campaign. Rogues apparently wear much less clothing than clerics...

Much sadness ensued when I saw the wear marks on her hair and arm :(

More Socks!

Blogger ate my Movie Musings (not so) Monday post last night on Casino Royale. Instead, I give you another finished pair of socks!

Horcrux Socks

Project Specs
Pattern: Horcrux Socks from ImKnittingAsFastAsICan.com
Yarn: Sunshine Yarns "Hedwig"
Needles: Trusty Crystal Palace US1 DPNs
Modifications: To keep the fiddly factor down, these were knit over 4 needles, not 5 as specified. Also I made the cuff a bit longer. Kinda sad that the fab lace pattern in light yarn is lost against my pasty, pale legs.

Started at Last!

After swatching, winding yarn, and drooling for months, I cast on the Feather and Fan Shawl last night at long last. My summer-time opus knitting has begun!

Sock Machine

Through our week-long plus Heroes marathon, I've been a pretty productive knitter! Last Thursday, I finished the Whitby socks and gifted them Friday night.

Project Details
Pattern: Whitby from "Knitting on the Road" by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Fleece Artist Sea Wool
Needles: Crystal Palace US2 DPNs
Pattern Thoughts: The cable/diamond front was very easy to memorize and even more fun to knit. The Sea Wool was nice to work with, and they knitted up very smooshy. The heel turn was a bit odd with a slipped stitch pattern, but looks very nice.

After finishing the Whitby socks, I cast on a par of Horcrux Socks Thursday night..

And finished the first last night

Yeah! My Mountain Laurel is blooming!

Another Finished Object!

Only a week late for their hoped for Mother's Day debut, I present Fancy Silk Socks!

In repose after a long night of blocking no flash to show the lace better

Blared with flash for more true to color shot

Project Details
Pattern: Fancy Silk Socks from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks

Yarn: J Knits in "Indiana" colorway
Needles: My old sock standby needles, Crystal Palace US 1 dpns
Duration: May 4, 2007 to May 16, 2007
Project Specs: I worked the first sock in record time and used the first recommended toe which had me decrease to 8 stitches and pull the yarn through to finish the toe. Results were rather nipple-y and awkward. Second sock ended with a 20 stitch kitchener stitched toe with much better results. This marks the first time I've ever ripped out a toe of a finished sock to rework it. Overall, I loved this pattern with the kitchenered toe. When I ripped out the first toe, I found the J Knits to be very splitty, but it softened up to almost a buttery texture after blocking. :)

Another Lost Weekend

Whew, where did the weekend go? Last thing I knew, I was nice and cozy on the couch knitting away for hours watching "Bones". But, oh, what a knitting filled weekend it was!

First off, let me reveal last week's mystery knitting. It's a set of Dashing fingerless mitts from Spring '07 Knitty. They are for my pal, Zoe whose computer is in a cold room.

Project Specs
Pattern: Dashing from Knitty Spring '07
Yarn: less than one skein of undyed Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted
Needles: US 7 Crystal Palace DPNs
Project Thoughts: The Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted was so soft and wonderful to work with. Pattern was clearly written. I was able to finish both in two evenings worth of knitting. But, oh, I stink at making thumb gussets!

First Finished Fancy Silk Sock on the Sidewalk

Friday night, I cast on a Fancy Silk Sock using the J Knits sock my SP, JaynesHat, sent me. Call it a perfect combination of a beautiful, fun pattern and pretty sock yarn, but I couldn't put it down all weekend! Lace + Sock = Knitting Addiction

Saturday, I went to my first ever knitting group, the Lace Group at Stitches N Scones. I quietly observed from the outside for a few minutes, but everyone was so welcoming that before I knew it, I'd been there knitting for almost 2 hours! I definitely plan on coming back next month. :)

Grrrrrrreat Socks

Finished Tiger Socks

After the first sock marinated in my works in progress basket for awhile, I was surprised that I was able to finish the second sock over 3 days. Spurred on by Mother's Day closing in, I was able to finish them off though. For my next pair of socks, I plan on using Nancy Bush's Fancy Silk Sock pattern from "Knitting Vintage Socks". The need for lace is calling to me, regardless of how cute these tiger stripey socks are.

Currently on my needles is a secret - shhhh! Covert knitting makes for spotty blogging, but hopefully I'll be able to finish the second half of the covert project this week.

Jayne, the Dog That's Not Called Jayne!

How's it sit? Pretty cunning, don't ya think?

I think it's the sweetest thing ever.

Hell, he poses like a true knitwear model after a rough and tumble hour at the dog park!

Pattern Specs
Pattern: Jayne Hat Kit from Wear With Style
Modifications: No mods this time
Needles: US 10.5 Crystal Palace Bamboo DPNs
Thoughts: Loved this project! It was a great quick turn around project that fit in with my hellish schedule this week. I've been wearing it around the house all afternoon. :)

Finished!

Thursday night, I finished knitting the North Star Scarf. I ended with 7 full pattern repeats , 2 repeats shy of the pattern specifications. I didn't want to tempt the knitting fates by trying more repeats with the wee bit of leftover yarn. In a fit of energetic productivity, blocking commenced this afternoon.

Cause of this evening's back crick
But wait..

ARGH! A MISTAKE!! Why couldn't I see this big honkin' mistake before blocking?

Artistic pose over the snowy April afternoon

Really, the bathroom and I aren't orange. Guess it's new camera time!

Project Specs
Pattern: North Star Scarf from "Arctic Lace"
Modifications: Only completed 7 out of 9 repeats due to short yardage
Yarn: Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud in "Horizon Heather". The Knitpicks website has this listed as needing one skein of Alpaca Cloud, but to have a full-sized version, buy two skeins.
Needles: US 3 Knitpicks classic circs
Project Thoughts: Once I got the hang of the slippery Alpaca Cloud, the KP classic circulars were very nice for the lace work. Loved the pointy ends. Pattern was very well done with easy to read charts; I especially liked the inclusion of plain knit stitch counts between pattern elements on the chart. The evenness of the k2tog and k2togtbl kept the stars crisp looking. Overall, I loved this project, and it's a major downer that it's finished.

My Socks

Last night, I finished a second pair of socks for me. This is the first pair I've kept for myself since my first pair I completed last winter. They're mine, all miiiiiiiiine! *cackle*

See how well they match!

Ignore the pasty white legs and focus on the socks

Project Specs
Pattern: Oak Ribbed Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks
Needles: US 1 Lantern Moon DPNs
Yarn: Opal's Rainforest Line in "Fish"

I enjoyed this pattern, even though I did screw up the heels. The Opal yarn didn't seem splitty and was pretty easy to match to each other. I was pretty paranoid about breaking another Lantern Moon DPN, but they all stayed in one piece. I liked the way this toe was worked over 28 rows with a series of K2TOGs. No sloppy SSKs on the toe of my socks :) They kept my feet nice and toasty today, too!

The Lost Weekend

Looking back on this past weekend, all I remember was a lot of episodes of CSI and lots of knitting. Stressful week demands that I have a weekend to unwind, and that's exactly what I did for three days.

First off, I finished a pair of socks. I really tried to get these two socks to match up perfectly, but wasn't as lucky as my last attempt with self-striping yarn. Ssshhhh...these are a present that will be going in the mail tomorrow.

Plain ol' stockinette almost-matching socks

I realized Saturday night that I have a sock addiction. As soon as I kitchener stitched the second toe shut on the previous pair of socks, I casted on a new pair. Stitcking with the general grumpy, stressed-out mood I was in last week, I chose the Madder Ribbed socks from Knitting Vintage Socks. I'm using my new Lantern Moon DPNs on these and am enjoying them quite a lot. Definitely grippier than the Crystal Palace DPNs though.

Grrr.....Madder Socks

Sunday, I reserved a big chunk of time for knitting for me, myself, and I. Since it was 12° outside, the motivation for knitting a thin lacy scarf wasn't there for me. However, I did resurrect my Saffron Cables Afghan from the depths of the WIP basket. It was definitely bulky weight wooly afghan weather, and I was able to crank out 10 new rows of knitting until my hands felt like they were falling off.

Ready for Row 25, only a bajillionty left!

MMMMM...cabley goodness

Redemption

Whew! As you can tell by the new look of my blog and the obnoxious spamming of XML updates to Bloglines, I've moved to the new Blogger. The move itself was simple and gives me access to labels. Look for lots of label usage. :)

Further redemption was found last night when I finished Grandpop's socks around 2 AM. I'm not a bad granddaughter after all.

Photographic Evidence of Finished Socks with CSI Season 1, never mind the pasty leg and pajama bottoms.

Pattern: Gentleman's Sock with Lozenge Pattern from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks
Materials: Knitpicks Essential sock yarn in Navy, 2.01 skeins used (broke open the third skein for the toe of the second sock. Crystal Palace US1 DPNs.

I did enjoy knitting these, but due to the 10 row repeating stitch pattern these were only knitted around the house. Much cursing ensued Wednesday night when I completely screwed up the second to last pattern repeat when I was too involved in a rerun of House. I love the re-vamped Essential sock yarn line. It's a bit thicker and much softer than the older skeins I used on the cabled socks a few weeks ago. These and Clapotis #3 will hit the post office tomorrow for mailing if I can get all the dog fur out of them!