The Cable Girl

Finished Project: BFF Socks

2011-04-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

I finally finished these socks! It took me nearly 3 months, but I also knit a sweater and a half in that time. I really love the end result though and I think these socks will get lots of use.

The pattern is the BFF Socks by Cookie A. from her new book knit.sock.love (and published elsewhere as well). The yarn is Dream in Color Smooshy and I just love the deep raspberry.

I will have a new pair of socks on the needles by the end of the weekend!

Update: Half Zip Cabled Hoodie Now With Pocket!

2011-03-29T07:59:00.001-07:00

I have completed the pocket on my Half Zip Cabled Hoodie! I love it so far:

Knitting a sweater out of sport weight yarn on size 3 needles is a grueling task, but I think it will all be worth it in the end.

Update: Half Zip Cabled Hoodie

2011-03-08T13:12:00.001-08:00

I have reached the front pocket of my pullover. I am very happy with it so far, the cables look really nice and the yarn is lovely.

I need to really focus on the pocket construction so I am setting aside tomorrow evening solely for this project. Wish me luck!

Yarn is Here!

2011-02-25T09:09:00.001-08:00

My yarn arrived yesterday for sweater #2. It is a gorgeous shade of blue that I am already in love with. I did my gauge swatch last night and I love the way the yarn feels, totally different from my last sweater project!

This is a sport weight cotton hoodie (Knit Picks Comfy Sport), which is going to be perfect for late spring/summer on the beach. With that in mind I am challenging myself to finish by Mother's Day, just over 2 months. It is a very intricate pattern (lots of cables) and it is thinner yarn on smaller needles than the first sweater.

I cannot seem to link to the pattern, but here is page from the Knit 'n Style April edition, the sweater is the last one on the bottom right. And that is the color, love it!

Casting on tomorrow....

Finished Project: Cozy V Neck Sweater

2011-02-17T08:01:00.001-08:00

I finished my first sweater! And, I cannot wait to start another one. I loved working on this project, which took me 1 month and 2 days to complete. I love the finished product, although it is still blocking, but I have been trying it on as I go and I think blocking will just make it more fabulous.

I wound up using this bind off for some extra stretchiness and I like the result much more than the traditional bind off I had done on the body (p.s. undoing the original bind off was my least favorite part of the whole project).

I intend to wear this sweater Saturday and will have pictures taken of me wearing it, stay tuned!

In Search of a Stretchier Bind Off

2011-02-10T08:02:00.000-08:00

A lack of blogging about knitting does not equal a lack of knitting in this case. I have been knitting away on my two projects for me. I am working on sleeve #2 of my Cozy V Neck Pullover with the goal of finishing this weekend so I can wash, block and wear the sweater to New Hampshire over President's Day Weekend!

I love my sweater so far, but I am not totally in love with how tight the bind of is on the body. I have not bound off sleeve #1, leaving it on scrap yarn as I search for a stretchier bind off. Do you have a stretchy bind off that you like? Please send it my way, thanks!

Finished Project: Hiking Socks

2011-01-27T08:20:00.000-08:00

Around November my brother, ever the sentimentalist, was going on and on about how much he loves the socks I made him last Christmas. He said he would really love a pair of red socks, if I had the time. I assured him I did not have the time to complete them for Christmas, but his birthday at the end of January was a definite possibility.

It is winter and he wears big hulking boots to work, so I decided to make the tall version of the Hiking Socks in The Knitting Man(ual) by Kristin Spurkland. A friend had made them recently and they were a little different than the Hunter Socks I had made my brother before.

I used Lamb's Pride Superwash, as I always do for thick socks, it is the nicest softest most delightful yarn.

The birthday is Sunday and the socks are drying on the blockers as we speak. They seem huge, but he needs them to go up over his boots and if they are too big he could layer them over other socks for extra warmth. Did I mention how wintry it is here?

Update: Pullover Progress

2011-01-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

I am working along on my Cozy V Neck Pullover, my first adult-sized sweater! This weekend I reached a point where I could put the top on scrap yarn to try it on and I am so happy to report that it fits! It actually fits pretty well.

I have moved on to the ribbing and would like to finish that this week so I can bind off and bring it home and model it for my mother. Then I will tackle the sleeves...

I love the yarn, itis Cascade Pastaza and although it is a little sheddy and a little splitty it is soft in my hands, knits up beautifully and is a gorgeous heathered red with flecks of black that make a very rich vibrant looking sweater, the picture does not do it justice.

I am loving my first sweater project!

BFF Sock Update

2011-01-21T08:41:00.000-08:00

I totally forgot to mention on Tuesday that I used a new cast-on for my BFF Socks. Over the weekend my friend taught me the Long Tail Cast-on. Tackling those 2011 Knitting Goals early!

Now most people who only know one cast on know that one, but I didn't, I had only ever Knit On. I had read any number of books about Long Tail and could not get the hang of it, but just watching her do it a few times and I figured it out.

Cookie A recommends a Long Tail Cast-on for her sock patterns, so it was timely to learn as I was preparing to start the BFF Socks.

Here is an updated photo of those socks, it is slow going, but I am also knitting a sweater at the same time.

New Project: The BFF Socks

2011-01-18T13:53:00.001-08:00

So my friend Three Good Rats gave me a lovely holiday gift, the new self-published sock book by designer Cookie A. It is called knit.sock.love and you should buy it for the photos even if you don't knit socks or you know, knit at all. It is a gorgeous book and I find myself just flipping through it for the aesthetics.

Over the weekend I sat down with it and decided on the first pair I want to make out of the book and settled on The BFF Socks. Many of the patterns in the book are quite intricate and involve serious charting, this one has some charting, but it is a much simpler repeat and since I am also knitting my first sweater, I thought it best to err on the side of caution.

I am using Dream in Color Smooshy sock yarn in a beautiful magenta color that I bought myself as a treat in the fall at Windsor Button's Columbus Day Sale. I have a feeling I am going to love these socks!

Finished Project: Hat and Scarf

2011-01-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

While knitting many Christmas gifts I did manage to make myself a hat and scarf to go with the new coat I knew I was getting from Santa. The coat is a jewel-tone red and my current hats were all various shades of red that clashed.

I got some beautiful Cascade yarn in a black tweed, so it is black and neutral, but has flecks of many different colors so it is festive! I made a Brattleboro Hat in the Worsted weight and a simple 4 stitch pattern repeat scarf in the bulky weight.

The result is a nice set to match my new coat!

Finished Project: Woven Fingerless Gloves

2011-01-14T18:51:00.001-08:00

For Christmas I both gave and received the fabulous new book Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders as a gift. Immediately upon getting it I dug into my sock yarn stash and made these adorable fingerless gloves:

I used some Knit Picks Gloss sock yarn in Jade, making them a nice match to my new red coat, very festive!

I found the thumb gusset to be a little tricky and needed to do some weaving in to close the whole where I rejoined the yarn for the thumb, but the end result isn't too messy and the dark yarn helps hide the flaws. All in all, I am thrilled with my new fingerless gloves, and my newly painted nails!

New Project: Cozy V-Neck Pullover

2011-01-12T12:56:00.001-08:00

So I am planning to cast-on this weekend for my first adult-sized sweater. I have opted to do the Cozy V-Neck Pullover from Stefanie Japel's Fitted Knits for a couple of reasons:

1. I really like it
2. I think I possess the skills needed
3. A friend has already made it, so I have some resources

I bought the yarn the pattern calls for, Cascade Pastaza, in a lovely deep red. Here it all is:

I still need to get the needles as my gauge swatch indicated I needed to go up a size. If my plans for tomorrow or Friday work out I will be able to get the needles at Windsor and be ready to go come the weekend!

2011 Knitting Goals

2011-01-03T08:05:00.000-08:00

So last year I made some knitting goals for myself and am happy to report that I accomplished all of them. I learned Magic Loop, did a color work project (actually did 3 or 4) and made stockings for my nieces.

This year I have the following goals:

1. Learn a couple more cast-on methods including long tail and provisional.
2. Knit my first adult-sized sweater
3. Write a simple pattern
4. Try Toe Up Socks

I am well on my way to the first 2 goals, setting up an afternoon gathering on cast-ons and choosing my sweater pattern, yarn and swatching for gauge for my sweater (more on that soon!).

Stocking Photos

2010-12-28T06:13:00.001-08:00

Here are a couple pics of the girls with their stockings:

Charly had already emptied hers.

Maddie was savoring the process!

Finished Project: A Parliament of Owls

2010-12-27T13:36:00.000-08:00

Here are the owls I made for my nieces. The pattern was in the fall/winter Knit Simple and they were in fact kind of simple and fun to make. The girls seemed to enjoy them, my 2 year old niece looked at hers and said "Who who!"

Finished Project: Watch Cap #2

2010-12-27T08:36:00.000-08:00

Here is my brother's Watch Cap, completed the day before this photo was taken, but still in time. He has already worn it to work to keep him warm and snuggly in these terrible conditions!

The Gift of Homemade

2010-12-21T09:03:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I gave a few homemade gifts, including the stockings to my nieces. My older niece Charly was completely in awe of her new stocking "I can't believe you made me a stocking Auntie!" it was just awesome.

Madison, at 2 1/2, just liked the thrill of more tiny presents inside. She reached her tiny arm down to the toe, sticking her tongue out with intense concentration, and recovered the last few little gifts.

I don't expect the girls to understand the value of these stockings now, for now they are a vehicle for the big man in red to fill with treats, but some day, when they are all grown up, they will have them to remember all those glorious Christmas mornings.

My brother also loved his homemade hat and is putting it to good use on these snowy days.

Cute pics to follow next week when I am back in Boston. Merry Christmas to all!

Finished Project: Madison Stocking

2010-12-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

Like Charly's Stocking before it, this was a 3 month labor of love. Countless starts and stops, but I am happy with the end result!

The plan is to take a photo of the 2 stockings stuffed and side by side, hope I remember!

Finished Project: Dad's Watch Cap

2010-12-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

I finished this on Saturday, but had to wash it and block it to soften up the wool and loosen up the ribbing. It blocked beautifully as Lamb's Pride Superwash always does.

I will be making one of these in a different color for my brother too, very easy pattern!

New Project: Watch Cap #1

2010-11-23T07:43:00.001-08:00

Saturday evening I cast on for this Watch Cap for my Dad for Christmas. Being a former Coast Guard guy the traditional Watch Cap is something he should like.

I am using Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Superwash in Heathered Gray and it is knitting up quickly and nicely.

Hope to finish in the next day or two.

Finished Project: Ballband Dishcloths

2010-11-17T07:11:00.000-08:00

I finished these last night in an effort to get some WIPs out of the way. I like the way they came out.

I am going to find a nice reusable kitchen container to put them in as a gift for Mom.

Finished Project: Charly Stocking

2010-11-16T08:40:00.000-08:00

Those of you that know me know I have done no less than 8 versions of this stocking over the past 3 months. I have finally produced a cobbled together pattern that I am happy with and have completed Charly's stocking.

So I started with a roll-top pattern from A Cuff Above, switched the cuff to 2X2 rib, charted the name band myself and used the tree motif from the book, did the leg in stockinette and substituted a real heel flap and turn for the short row heel in the pattern, did the foot and toe as written. It is a hodgepodge, but I like it!

Plan is to cast on for Madison's immediately so as not to lose momentum.

Finished Project: Brattleboro #1

2010-11-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

Here is my first attempt at the Brattleboro hat. I had this grand plan that I was going to make one for myself first to experiment with the pattern. I bought 2 skeins of yarn, one for my hat and a lovely skein of Malabrigo for a gift version.

In my ecstasy over the Malabrigo I cast on for that version first, having forgotten all about my plan. Luckily this first version came out gift worthy I think and it is scheduled to be gifted to someone for Christmas.

I like the hat as it is fancy enough to be a nice gift, but not crazy or too difficult. I am already working on a second gift version, which means I should get to my own around Easter.

I had another lovely button-buying experience at Windsor Button. This time I went through dozens of boxes of buttons with the very patient fellow who works there before settling on these.

It was tough to get a good photo, but they are silver with little hearts etched on them. Again, nice enough for a gift, but not too silly or fancy.

New Project: Lucy Ankle Socks

2010-11-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

This is the 2nd pair of socks in contention for Mom's Christmas gift. From the same book, A Cuff Above, as the Emma Lace Socks and the Ivy Socks I have already completed. This book has more than paid for itself, so glad I bought it.

The yarn for the Lucy socks is Deborah Norville's sock yarn available at AC Moore. I cannot remember how much I paid for it, but it was affordable. It is nice to work with (a little splitty but not bad) and the colorway is gorgeous.

It is self-striping and the non-pink stripes are variegated in gray, green and blue. It is a very subtle, very pretty multi-colored yarn. I am loving how it knits up.

Since these are ankle socks the leg portion is much shorter than normal, although there was a tricky maneuver to invert the sock after the zigzag cuff was done. This pattern has 3 different detailed cuffs you can work for variety. Have I mentioned I love this sock book?

Anyway, I did the cuff and the short leg in 3 nights, hope to construct the heel this weekend!

New Project: Ballband Dishcloths

2010-11-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago a friend made one of these dishcloths for me and it is one of the handiest household items I use. It fits over my Swiffer and can be used wet or dry to clean floors and does a bunch of other useful things. I have not been able to train it to clean on its own, but I am working on it.

It has textured rectangles of purl stitches set off by slipped stitches to give it a great scrubby ability.

I am making a set for my mom for her Christmas stocking. I got some fun stripey Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn and a couple different background colors and am having fun with this project.

Finished Project: Emma Lace Socks

2010-11-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

Here is the first pair of socks in contention for Mom's Christmas gift. I have cast on for a 2nd pair, when finished I will decide which is more gift worthy, the other pair will be mine.

I like these socks a lot, I think the pattern is pretty and the color nice. The yarn is kind of so so. I am holding out hope that it will be a little softer after blocking.

New Project: Winter Flame Scarf

2010-10-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

So here's to the power of social media! I saw this pattern on KnitPicks' Facebook feed and had to download it right away and go to their site and buy the yarn and start making it.

It is called the Winter Flame Scarf and it is fun to work on and coming out quite pretty. It is made with sock yarn and I love sock yarn. The resulting knit fabric is a little scratchy though and I hope that some blocking will soften it up so it feels nice against someone's neck.

I am only allowing myself to cast on to new projects after completing one. I started this after finishing the baby sweater. I have 2 more projects that should be completed by Sunday, so more new projects wait in the wings!

Finished Project: Eyelet Yoke Sweater

2010-10-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

Here it is, my first sweater! Done and with buttons sewn on and all.

I definitely need practice with the button thing. Luckily, little Haley won't know the difference between neat evenly sewn buttons and these.

The button buying experience was delightful. Windsor Button in Boston has these adorable Beatrix Potter buttons, with all your favorite characters on them. They were a little pricey, but since I used left over yarn and borrowed needles to knit the sweater, I didn't mind splurging on the buttons.

Overall I am quite pleased with the end result!

Mom & Dad Projects

2010-10-20T09:17:00.000-07:00

I cast on for sock #2 for Mom Monday at knitting and have made some progress. I am making 2 pairs of socks (I hope) and then deciding which Mom is getting for Christmas based on the results. I would like to finish the Emma Lace Socks by November so I have all of November for the 2nd pair.

I also cast on for a hat for Dad using the leftover Lamb's Pride from his socks. Just a simple hat with a ribbed brim and stockinette top. I should be able to finish that soon.

I had to reblock the brim of the Brattle as I didn't block it wide enough. Also blocking is the baby sweater, which now has sleeves! I will go to Windsor for buttons Saturday and pictures will follow!

Sleeves Are Over Rated

2010-10-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

So here is the sweater for niece-to-be, almost done, just needs sleeves!

If she was going to be born in June I could just do some cute edging and call it finished, but since she is scheduled to arrive in mid-November, in New England, I guess sleeves are in order. Hope to finish up tonight!

Finished Project: Hunter Socks

2010-10-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

Finished Dad's Hunter Socks and they are now blocking and will soon be wrapped in tissue and put away for Christmas, yay!

On Saturday I went to the Windsor Button Annual Columbus Day Yarn Sale and got 4 gorgeous skeins of yarn. One of them, a lucious feast for the eyes and hands, Malabrigo Worsted in Brown Berries (seen here in the first stages of becoming the Brattleboro Hat that is everywhere these days) is so nice I am enjoying every second of working with it.

The Brattle is going to be a gift for someone.... I haven't decided who yet...

Sweater Progress

2010-10-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

I think I might actually succeed in making a baby sweater. I know I said that last year and I don't want to become "The Girl Who Cried Sweater!" but I think I am past the hardest part on the Eyelet Yoke Cardigan for my unborn niece.

Big thank you to Three Good Rats for the longer needles and the help deciphering the pattern. I have the arm holes on waste yarn and it is just stockinette and garter stitch to the bottom and then picking up the sleeves.

Right now I think it looks like a baby shrug, hee!

I am making progress on Christmas socks for Mom & Dad and a revisit to Stocking land for Madison and Charly. All in time for the Windsor Button Columbus Day Yarn Sale!

Knitting Machine

2010-09-29T06:39:00.000-07:00

No, I didn't invent one, I was one last night!

I knit 10 rounds of Mom's fancy lace sock, 20 rounds of Dad's much simpler sock and then cast on and knit 15 rows of a brand new project. That's right a new project, because what I need is more WIPs.

I do, however, have a new niece just a little over a month from arrival and I wanted to make her something. So I found some left over Knit Picks Comfy Sport Cotton in Honey Dew from the baby blanket I made in the spring and a pattern on Ravelry and cast on.

It doesn't look like much in the picture, but it feels great in my hands and looks really cute so far. I am playing it by ear as the pattern seems kind of confusing further on, but it is knitting up quickly and hopefully my friends can help me through the rough parts.

Also, I must revisit the Christmas Stocking debacle this weekend, progress must be made!

Socks for Mom

2010-09-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

Last week I showed you Dad's socks, now here is a look at the Emma Lace Socks from A Cuff Above for my mom for Christmas:

I am at the heel flap for sock #1 as of today and hope to work on the heel at my knitting group tonight.

The yarn is Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet in a pretty cornflower blue color. The yarn is very affordable but isn't quite the softness I would like, I will hold out hope that a Woolite soak and some blocking will soften it up.

Socks for Dad

2010-09-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

My poor dad has not received any handmade gifts, so I decided to make him a pair of Hunter Socks for Christmas, like I made my brother last year.

I am using the same brand of yarn, Lamb's Pride Superwash, in a lovely colorway called Sandy Beach. It is very slightly heathered and as the cuff of the sock grew longer I saw where it got it's name.

For my brother's socks I did a 2X2 rib and I decided to change it up for Dad, so he is getting a 3X1 rib instead, it looks nice.

These socks came out soft and warm and I hope my dad enjoys them on snowy winter days!

Stocking Stress

2010-09-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

So a couple of posts ago you saw the beginning of Madison's stocking with comments about the snowflake motif not working. While I worked out that chart (which I did with help from 3 Good Rats) I started on Charly's stocking which has a different motif.

It was Charly's stocking that I blogged about last week with the short row heel issue. So...

here it is!

It is done, but I have to admit, it might not be the stocking she gets for Christmas. There is something about it I do not like, it is floppy and not the right proportions or something.

I am happy with the color work at the top, the tree motif is cute and I charted the name myself!

I may try a whole new pattern for Madison's or I may try the same pattern on smaller needles to see if it comes out more stocking-like. Until then I am stepping away from the project glad that I started this in August.

Wrap and Turn Short Row Heel

2010-09-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

So I have made a lot of progress on my nieces' Christmas stockings, unfortunately I have frogged most of it for little errors. These are going to be family heirlooms, I want them to be as close to perfect as a homemade item can be. :)

I have gotten to the Wrap & Turn Short Row Heel 3 times now, here is how it looks:

Looks pretty good right? It took me 3 times to get even close to right and luckily Donna in my knitting group gave me some helpful instruction. Despite that I still have this problem:

A hole, big enough for my thumb to fit through on one side (and only one side). I don't know what I could be doing wrong. I am tempted to try one more time and then if the hole is still there try to fix it with some fancy sewing after the whole thing is done.

Any advice?

Christmas Stocking #1

2010-08-24T07:10:00.001-07:00

Here it is, the beginning of the holiday knitting! I bought the yarn on Saturday and cast on that afternoon. I got all the way through the red snowflake band and ripped back as I was not thrilled with the letters or the snowflakes. I like the lettering better this go around, the snowflakes remain to be seen....

The pattern is from A Cuff Above the same book I knit the Ivy Socks from. I love this book and I am adapting the pattern a little bit to make them unique for Charly and Madison.

Using Plymouth Encore Yarn, which is 75% acrylic and 25 % wool so it feels good and it should hold up for many years of Christmas morning fun!

Done!

2010-08-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

Of course I chose to block it on a brightly colored beach towel and it kind of blends in, but you get the gist of it, it is done!

I hope to give it to Charly this weekend and get a pic of her wearing it even.

Pulled out some sock patterns and sock yarn last night, I need something small to work on next.

Also planning to do the yarn shopping for the Christmas stockings this weekend, woo hoo!

Skirt Finished!

2010-08-11T08:53:00.001-07:00

I finally finished the seemingly-endless stockinette on Charly's dress. Seen here, with the top folded under, is the pretty waistband and very pink skirt (with just a touch of garter stitch edging):

Now all that remains is picking up the stitches along the armholes and neckline and doing a little edging. The instructions and logistics for picking up the stitches seem confusing, but I hope to figure them out Thursday evening.

Look for completed photos soon!

Look, I Finished Something!

2010-08-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

Two socks, completed! This is not a trick of the camera involving one completed sock and fancy photoshopping, this is two completed socks.

I am ridiculously happy with these socks. First time I worked with Knit Picks sock yarn and it is beautiful and soft and lovely to work with and really cheap comparatively.

Also, this was my first color work project, and I am pleased with the results:

It was very easy color work, but it was great for figuring out the technique and getting comfortable with it. I feel confident moving in to my September project of Christmas Stockings!

If I didn't hate Fall so much I would be counting down the days until I could wear these socks.

Still working on Charly's dress, 4 inches of stockinette to go before the finishing...

What I Have Been Doing

2010-07-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

Instead of knitting...

This past weekend I participated in my 6th 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk, my 4th as part of the All-Volunteer Crew. I lead a team of extraordinary women over a 4 day journey (can't forget Crew Training Day!) to help 1500 walkers raise over 4.3 Million Dollars for Susan G Komen for the Cure.

Here is my team from Pit Stop 2, every one of them a delight to work with!

I will be back knitting soon...

It's Growing

2010-07-20T13:24:00.001-07:00

Very slowly...

I have about 7 1/2 inches of skirt done, need 13.... I think 10 or 11 might be enough.

What's Next?

2010-07-14T11:45:00.000-07:00

I feel like I have been working on and blogging about the same 2 projects forever! I am trying to hold firm to my vow not to start anything new until I finish them, but I am getting antsy for new project ideas.

Anyone find a good pattern lately that they might like to do as a knit-a-long come August?

Round and Round and Round I Go

2010-07-10T10:40:00.001-07:00

Making some progress on Charly's dress:

After a few failed attempts I got the skirt stitches picked up and now I am in seemingly endless rounds of Stockinette, 13 1/2 inches to be exact.

It is good for my other summer project, re-watching Lost from the beginning, as I can certainly work on this and watch TV at the same time, but it does get a little mind numbing at times.

I switch off and work on my Ivy Sock now and then to break up the monotony.

I am so tempted to start a new project for the novelty of it, but I am trying so hard to finish these 2 projects before embarking on anything new. That hasn't stopped me from looking at patterns though!

Skirt Stitches -- Picked Up!

2010-07-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

Although I successfully picked up 132 stitches for the top of the Little Girl Dress, the 132 stitches for the skirt seemed to be causing me no end of difficulty.

Finally today I got them picked up and did the increase round (which was worded strangely -- and possibly wrong-- in the pattern).

So now it is smooth sailing in Stockinette for 13 inches before the finishing touches. Should make the birthday deadline with no problem!

Pictures soon!

Top is Done!

2010-06-24T14:10:00.001-07:00

Here is the top of Charly's dress:

I am very happy with it so far. The 3 Needle Bind Off was easy and neat.

I picked up the 132 stitches for the skirt and did the increase row and wound up with waaaaay too many stitches. I was too tired to figure it out last night so I just pulled it out. Try again tonight!

Ivy Sock #2

2010-06-21T09:33:00.001-07:00

In the wake of finishing the Waterfall Rib socks I cast on for Ivy Sock #2. Completing this pair will allow me to cross off my color work goal on my 2010 knitting goals list.

When I worked the color work band on this sock I did not do it the same way I did sock #1. On sock #1 I carried the MC for the 2 rows where only the CC was knit and it resulted in a very tight feel. I wound up snipping and weaving in the MC after the sock was finished and it looks messier on the inside than I would like.

So this time I dropped the MC for those rows where only the CC was knit and it feels and looks great! Now that the color work is done I hope this sock will fly by and I can block it out and see the results of my color work experiment.

Also, nearly done with the top of the Little Girl Dress for Charly!

It Looks Like Something!

2010-06-16T13:04:00.001-07:00

Look at that, it looks like the top/front of a dress! I had a major moment of pride Monday night when I figured out the instructions for the shoulder straps, I had never done anything like that and I was so confused at first by the instruction to join a 2nd ball of yarn, but then I stopped and thought about it and it made sense.

The straps look kind of skinny, partly because they are curling in a little and because they get edging that will be added later.

So now on to the back. The shoulders are joined with a 3 needle bind off, which I have never done before, so I will get to learn something else new!

Picking Up Stitches

2010-06-11T12:41:00.000-07:00

So I finished the cabled waist band on the dress for my niece and seamed it together. I then had to pick up 132 stitches evenly in the round to start the bodice. It took me 5 tries, but here is the result:

It looks a little wonky on the circulars, but I am pleased with it so far.

When it came time to pick up the stitches I divided the waistband into 8 segments so I only had to pick up 16 or 17 stitches at a time, even still it took me 5 tries before I felt I had them evenly spaced. I will have to do it again when I get to the skirt!

And, because it deserves a closer look, here is the cool cable:

Hopefully I have some momentum going now that it is starting to resemble a garment!

It Is Good to Have Goals

2010-06-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

I started 2010 with some knitting goals and I have done a good job of achieving those goals. Magic Loop and Color Work are now things with which I am comfortable. I have finished my first pair of Magic Loop socks:

This pattern is the Waterfall Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks. It is a 6 stitch 6 round pattern repeat that was fun and interesting to work on all the way through. You can see some of the resulting detail here:

The combination of YOs and K2TG creates a pretty lattice work. The beautiful yarn is Madelinetosh Sock and was a gift from Three Good Rats for my birthday last year. Since my birthday is now about 6 weeks away I am happy to have completed this project before the anniversary of receiving the yarn.

I am making good progress on the waist band for the Little Girl Dress, once the intricate cable is done I hope the dress will start to grow rapidly. I am also going to cast on for Ivy Sock #2 and try to complete my first pair of Color Work socks soon!

Progress!

2010-05-31T18:21:00.000-07:00

Between vacation and the long Memorial Day Weekend I have finally made some progress on my two main projects.

I am almost to the toe decrease on my 2nd Waterfall Rib sock and I am about halfway done with the intricate cable waistband for the Little Girl Dress.

Both projects are very fun to work on and keep my interest through serial viewing of old Beverly Hills 90210 episodes.

My goal is to finish the sock in the next couple of days. I will photograph the pair while they are blocking out.

Knitting on a Ship

2010-05-13T13:09:00.000-07:00

So, I have addressed knitting on a train (and in fact did knit on a train last week to/from NYC). Tomorrow I am going to try knitting on a ship.

I am bringing the appropriately ocean blue Madelinetosh sock (#2) to finish and the intricate cabled waistband of the little girl dress for my niece.

It is a nice variety of projects, both small and portable and beautiful colors for a vacation.

Updates and photos when I get back!

Think Pink!

2010-04-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

Last night I cast on for a cute little girl dress for my older niece Charly. Since Maddie's sweater was a bust I am trying to be optimistic.

The pattern is in this month's Knit Simple, it is shown in a cute turquoise color, but that color was unavailable online, so I went with a shocking shade of pink any 6 year old girl would love:

It is even (unbelievably) brighter in person, but Charly loves pink!

The pattern is interesting, you create the waistband in this cool and complicated cable pattern and seam it together. Then you pick up stitches for the smock and the skirt and knit in the round.

The yarn is 93% cotton and 7 % elastic so it has a cool feel to it and makes a nice fabric when knit. Keep an eye out for updates on this fun new project!

So Organized

2010-04-22T10:00:00.001-07:00

Last week I cleaned out my closet to begin the New England tradition of seasonal wardrobe revolution and piled all my yarn in the living room. Last night, I boxed/bagged and tagged all of it and listed it on my Ravelry stash.

It is now stacked neatly on my closet shelf with weight/color/yardage visible.

So encouraged was I by this progress that I then took all my knitting magazines and books and updated my Ravelry library and took the pile of circular needles off my desk, sized them and listed them on my Ravelry needles page and put them neatly in their case.

I feel very organized. Tonight I cast on for sock #2 of either the Ivy Sock or the Waterfall Rib, we'll have to see what I am in the mood for...

Baby Blanket Finished!

2010-04-20T13:10:00.001-07:00

And the baby hasn't even arrived yet! I am very happy with how it came out. I improvised a 5 sc shell border and it is a little uneven in places, but it isn't very noticeable.

I have some extra yarn and extra time since baby is not here yet, so I think I will do a little pair of socks and possibly a hat too.

Second Sock Syndrome

2010-04-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

So Ivy Sock #1 is done, ends sewn in and everything. It fits!

In an effort to avoid second sock syndrome I am going to cast on for sock #2 tonight and get it moving. Sock #1 is so pretty and lovely I really would like to have a pair.

I also need to make some serious progress on the baby blanket, I would like to get that project done before my May travel schedule begins.

Ivy Sock Update

2010-04-12T09:00:00.001-07:00

Things are progressing nicely with my first color work project. Ivy Sock #1 is almost done. With just a few inches of foot left before the toe decreases I am very pleased with this project so far:

I particularly like the heel flap construction which you can't really see very well here. I have tried for a close up, but I'm not sure that does it justice either:

Instead of a standard Sl1, K1 RS row on the heel flap this is a 4 row repeat with Row 1 the regular Sl1, K1 and Row 3 is Sl1, K2 *Sl1, K1* to last 3 stitches K2, Sl1, so the K stitches are offset giving it a kind of diamond pattern.

I know I am a true knit sock aficionado when I am totally entranced by a heel flap!

The Baby Blanket Groweth

2010-04-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

In just 1 week I have made some pretty sizable progress on the baby blanket for my assistant.

I continue to be very happy with the project and am now convinced I can get it to her around the birth of her child and not as a high school graduation gift for the kid.

I have 2 concerns left. First, running out of yarn. I have enough yardage and my gauge is correct, but I am nervous about running out of yarn. Mostly because I have no idea how much I will need for the edging and the pattern does not break it down.

The second concern is all the ends being woven in neatly. The pattern calls for these large skeins of yarn, so you only use 2 total. I am using little 50 g balls, so I will use 12 by the time I am done. I hate weaving in ends. Hopefully the edging will provided a good camouflage for the weaving.

Hopefully by this time next week I will be ready to start the edging!

Ivy Socks

2010-04-02T09:42:00.001-07:00

So I have done some color work this week. I cast on for the Ivy Socks on Sunday and got through the color work band by the end of Monday evening. Alas, the sock looked and proved to be -- too small.

So I tore out on Wednesday and cast on again in a larger size. And here we are:

Pretty, huh?

I love everything about this project. The pattern is written very well, the yarn is lovely, the whole thing is a joy so far.

Why Knitting Groups Rock: A Testimonial

2010-03-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

Back in February I began a baby blanket for my assistant who is due in May. I had some serious Goldilocks issues with the blanket.

The first was too scratchy and heavy, but I loved the pattern. Then I bought lighter softer yarn, but it made the pattern too floppy, so I switched patterns and things were going ok, but it just wasn't right and it was very slow going.

So Monday night at my knitting group, my sassy knitting pal (we call him "the yarn whisperer) said with all kinds of sarcasm dripping from his voice: "There is this other craft, called crochet, and it works great for baby blankets!" I should mention he was crocheting a baby blanket as he said this.

Now I started out a crocheter and since learning to knit have hardly picked up a hook, but I knew crochet was great for blankets and had actually found a pattern. So last night I started in crochet and have already done more than the 6 weeks I spent waffling on the knitted version.

It is great to have a group of like-minded crafters in your life to give you the encouragement, warnings and ideas that good yarn-loving folks need.

I love how this is coming out, I love how the resulting material feels and at the rate I am crocheting I will be done in plenty of time for baby's arrival!

A Gift Complete, A Gift Abandoned

2010-03-29T07:47:00.001-07:00

I finished the little baby socks to go with my earlier posted hat:

They still need to be washed and blocked, but are complete in plenty of time for the April gift-giving at my last hair dressing appointment before the arrival of the baby.

I hit a major snag (every pun intended) in the Corded Rib socks I was making for my mother's birthday. What I thought was an extra YO resulting in a bigger hole than normal was actually a dropped stitch (that I somehow made up in the heel construction). When I poked at it to investigate it ran all the way down the leg and left me so distraught I frogged the whole thing. No birthday socks for Mom. It is OK really as I just made her a pair for Christmas.

Taking advice from experienced knitters I decided to start a new exciting project to get me out of my rut. Last night I cast on for my first color work project! The Ivy Socks from A Cuff Above jumped out at me from a Knit Picks catalog and I immediately ordered the book and the suggested Knit Picks sock yarn (which is fantastic to work with).

Between finishing the baby gift and this exciting new project I hope to jump start my knitting again!

Kitchener Stitch

2010-03-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

No matter how many times I do it, I cannot remember how to Kitchener Stitch. I always need to re-read the instructions like 10 times and sit in a quiet well-lit room to be successful.

After many attempts at creating a baby sock/booty I think I have achieved success. One down and one to go and I will have a nice pair to go with the hat for my hair dresser's baby.

Pictures soon!

In a Rut

2010-03-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

Not unlike the rest of my life, my knitting has taken a turn for the hopeless. I am spinning my wheels on a number of seemingly-endless projects and none of them are making me happy at all.

The bad part is that all of them are intended as gifts for others and the idea of frogging them all is nauseating.

So, what to do? Suffer through and hope I will be filled with a sense of perseverance and accomplishment? Procrastinate until it is too late and I can give up? Start a new and exciting project to jump start my enthusiasm?

I could apply these same questions to nearly every aspect of my life right now. Wish I had some answers.

Look, It's a Hat!

2010-03-16T10:11:00.000-07:00

Look, an itty bitty baby hat! So cute!

The cashmerino feels really nice in stockinette. So I am thinking of revamping the matching socks to just have a ribbed cuff and a stockinette foot. The ribbing all the way down the sock is a little stiff for delicate little baby toes. I have plenty of yarn left so I could probably get two revised socks without having to frog the 1 I have done in 2x2 rib.

I will work on the alternate sock tonight and see how it comes out ...

Baby Blanket Revamp

2010-03-14T07:34:00.000-07:00

So I started a baby blanket for my assistant about a month and half ago. I like the blanket a lot (it is about 1/3 done) but not as a baby blanket. It is too heavy and a little scratchy for a baby with the acrylic yarn (which I chose for its machine washableness).

Originally I was just going to swap out the yarn and use the same pattern. I bought Knit Picks Comfy Sport which is 75% pima cotton and a tiny bit acrylic and also machine washable. The pattern calls for worsted weight, I didn't think it was going to be a problem, but it was.

The Wavy Cables and Eyelets pattern of the original plan did not hold up with the thinner yarn and was very messy looking. So I went in search of a blanket pattern written for sport weight yarn and found the Staggered Squares pattern on the Bernat site (you need to sign in to see patterns).

This is a 16 row pattern repeat and I have gotten through 2 repeats and really love the result. Not sure this pic will do it justice:

It is soft and looks very pretty in person. I am determined to keep going. The pattern is tricky, but I am trying to get through 16 rows a day and we will see if I can get it done and shipped by the middle of April!

So Many Socks, So Little Time

2010-03-10T10:06:00.000-08:00

So, if you read my last post you know I have 2 sock projects half done. Teenie weenie baby socks and big girl socks for me.

Of course I cast on for another pair of socks last week. The Corded Rib Pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks in a really pretty blue Happy Feet sock yarn for my mom's birthday:

Now a keen observer will think "boy those look an awful lot like the Waterfall Rib socks you are already working on." That casual observer would be right.

Sensational Knitted Socks is a great resource and they have a variety of patterns in various stitch #s. The corded rib is a 4 stitch pattern and the waterfall rib is a very similar style in 6 stitches. They are so close that I cannot go from one project to the other for fear of confusing the pattern repeat.

So for now I will focus on the corded rib as they are time-sensitive and the baby sock which is a very simple 2x2 rib and tiny. Hope to have these two sock projects done by the end of March.

Also, I have completely revised the baby blanket project, more on that later!

Bad Bad Blogger!

2010-03-03T06:02:00.001-08:00

Due to travel and IT issues I have not posted in over 2 weeks! Shame on me.

Double shame on me for not having more to report. I have finished one tiny baby sock (it has been Kitchenered closed since this photo):

And one me-sized Madelinetosh sock in this gorgeous blue and funky waterfall rib pattern:

And have noticed a mistake in the baby blanket I am making for my assistant. There is a garter stitch border that you knit at the same time as the pattern and in 2 places I somehow have stockinette. I noticed it out of the corner of my eye when I wasn't even working on it. I was only about 1/5th of the way through and I wasn't totally in love with the yarn for a baby gift... but, I did not frog it! I am going to finish the one I have on the needles at a later date for myself. It is very pretty and I won't care about the little mistake.

I ordered new yarn for Katy's version and hope to cast on again this weekend. I will need to knit like a mad woman though as I only have 2 months... (in a side note, I sent her a gift from her registry, so I really have more time if I need it and can send the blanket along after the baby arrives).

Luckily no trips in March, so I hope to get a lot of knitting done!

Babies, Everywhere! Project Updates

2010-02-14T18:53:00.000-08:00

So I spent most of today knitting, which is a wonderful way to spend a Sunday. I have made good progress on the Eyelet and Wavy-Cables Blanket for my assistant's baby:

It is a fun project to work on and I think it looks lovely so far!

Also, I found out Friday my hair dresser is having a baby in May too, so I thought I would make a hat and little socks for her. She is fairly certain the baby is a girl, but not 100%, so I went with green again (just to be safe) and got the Debbie Bliss cashmerino, which is really nice to work with:

This yarn is actually lighter than it looks in this picture (I have terrible lightening in my living room) and the cuff looks so much smaller in person. It works up super fast though, so this should be a fun project with quick satisfaction!

As you can see I am doing the baby socks in magic loop. My adult size socks are coming along quite nicely. I am finishing the gusset decreases and hope to do the foot on the plane to Florida on Wednesday!

Eyelet & Wavy-Cables Blanket

2010-02-10T11:33:00.000-08:00

My assistant in Michigan is having a baby in May and I decided to make her a blanket. Actually that isn't quite right... I bought the latest Creative Knitting and there was a cool blanket and I thought, who can I make that for? The pattern is sized as a lap/baby blanket, so I thought of Katy's baby.

It is a cool pattern repeat:

that makes a pretty cable and eyelet pattern. It is interesting to knit, but not too hard.

The color is slightly darker than it looks here. The bedding for the "unknown gender" baby is brown, cream and sage green. I am using acrylic yarn so the new mommy can wash and dry the blanket when needed.

I am excited for my first blanket!

A Learning Process

2010-02-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

One of the things I really love about knitting is that it is a learning process, with new things to uncover at every turn. With that comes mistakes though and I made a big one in my first magic loop project.

I was trucking along, as you can tell by my last couple posts. I had gotten down the leg, through the heel flap and turn, picked up the stitches for the gusset and was working the gusset decrease and the beginning of the instep when I noticed something odd...

I have tried to take pictures of my conundrum, but they do not show the stitch pattern clearly enough.

Long story short: I had knit the leg of the sock on the wrong side. The stitch pattern (a waterfall rib) was so pretty that even the wrong side looked nice and I didn't really notice my mistake, until I turned the work somehow in the gusset decrease and the instep pattern was correct (and different).

I debated leaving it as it was and having a cool transition look from leg to foot, it kind of flowed and twisted at the heel. Then I realized I was making these socks for myself on no time line with really nice yarn and should do it right. I also didn't want to learn a wrong behavior.

So I frogged a week's worth of knitting and started over. To date I am back to the heel flap and hope to turn the heel and work the gusset tonight. Lesson learned. I still love magic loop!

In other knitting news, I cast on and have done about 11 rows of a baby blanket for my assistant who is due in May. More on that (including photos) to come soon!

Magic Loop Update

2010-01-26T07:52:00.000-08:00

I love magic loop! It is as wonderful and neat and fabulous as I expected it to be. I find it works faster than DPNs because you have fewer joins to manage and transition through and it makes the work neater and tighter. Look at my progress since Saturday:

I am almost done with the leg of the sock. I know I will hit a snag when I get to the gusset as it looks quite different than on DPNs. My goal is to get through the heel flap and gusset before I leave for Michigan Sunday so I can just work the foot on the plane.

Also, this Waterfall Rib is gorgeous and this yarn is even more beautiful in person. These socks might be the best thing I have ever knit!

2010 Knitting Goal #1

2010-01-23T09:32:00.000-08:00

So last week I cast on for a pair of socks using the beautiful blue Madelinetosh sock yarn I got for my birthday in July. I cast on to DPNs and even though I did a gauge swatch I quickly realized the cuff was going to be way too big. So, I frogged it last night and this morning I took out my book on learning magic loop!

I have wanted to learn to do socks on magic loop and figured "no time like the present!" My stumbling block last year was joining the stitches in the round. I am fairly certain the way I joined my stitches (using a DPN to move the stitches) is not orthadox, but it worked! After a couple of rounds of K1P1 rib I feel like I might have the hang of it...

I cannot tell you how beautiful this yarn is, the colorway is gorgeous, I can't wait to make some progress so I can really see it in all its glory.

Not Knitting

2010-01-10T17:11:00.000-08:00

So I have some creative goals for 2010 that do not involve knitting.

One of them is a cross stitch sampler that I bought over the holiday shopping season. It is a 5X7 Santa print, that I really love with gorgeous reds, greens and a swirly blue back ground. It is the most ambitious cross stitch I have ever attempted (ornaments were really my limit before this).

When I bought it in late November, my mother (herself a skilled cross stitcher) commented cautiously: "You don't expect to complete that for THIS Christmas do you?" I assured her I was not nuts and my goal is to have it done before Christmas 2010.

I recently purchased a sketch pad and some pencils and have drown a few boxes so far.

I also crocheted a couple small Christmas gifts for a friend:

The tall item in the back is a knitting needle cozy and the three collapsible baskets nest inside each other. It was a fun project and reminded me that I should keep up my crochet skills too.

Winter is such a great time to relax with a crafty hobby and a cup of tea!

My 2010 Knitting Goals

2010-01-03T11:34:00.000-08:00

So, many years ago my friend started referring to New Year's Goals instead of Resolutions and I found the term much more productive and fun. So for the past few years I have written my goals, sealed them in an envelope and put them in the freezer to be unearthed the following New Year's.

Last year one of my major goals was to learn how to knit and I am happy to report I achieved that early in 2009 and have enjoyed my new found skill immensely.

One of the things I love about knitting is that there is still much to learn, so I offer up my 2010 Knitting Goals:

1. Magic Loop: I bought the extra long circulars and a book in 2009, but was not able to master this technique. I did learn how to do socks on DPNs and am happy with the 4 pairs of socks I completed in 2009, but I think Magic Loop will make this compact art even more compact and resolve some of my issues with laddering.

2. Color Work: Aside from striping I have not done any color work yet. I would love to work on charts and 2 or 3 colors to create something really unique and beautiful. Which leads to #3.

3. Christmas Stockings for my nieces: I would really like to make Christmas stockings for Charly and Maddie complete with their names at the top. I still have the stocking my grandmother made me and it is one of my most treasured possessions. I know my nieces would love their own special stocking!

I also have some non-knitting crafting and artistic goals for 2010, including a cross stitch that I started yesterday and a hankering to take a shot at drawing... stay tuned!

So Many Beautiful Gifts!

2010-01-01T09:26:00.000-08:00

Last night I exchanged gifts with my friend Three Good Rats and she made me some beautiful things, including this amazing bag:

Pictures do not do it justice, it is so gorgeous. It has beautiful contrasting fabric inside:

I simply love it and cannot wait to use it for any number of wonderful projects.

She also made some adorable stitch markers (heralding my love of baseball) and adorable ornaments (my love of snowmen known far and wide):

They are not only beautiful, but kind and thoughtful gifts that I will cherish. Thank you!

I Love This Yarn!

2009-12-30T09:05:00.001-08:00

It is Plymouth Yarn Galway Paint Color 809. There is no adorably clever name for the colorway, but it is gorgeous and I love working with it. Here it is close up:

This is a simple 3 X 3 rib and I will block it to open up the pattern a little so the colors can be properly enjoyed.

I have enough yarn and have cast on for a matching hat too!

I bought this yarn in October on a whim and am so glad I did, it is a delight to work with and I think I will love the colorful set to go with my dreadfully boring black winter coat!

Christmas!

2009-12-27T13:19:00.000-08:00

So Christmas was a lovely peaceful time for all, despite a frantic start to the week that did not bode well.

We had a family dinner early in the week with my brother and his family to exchange gifts before the hustle of a houseful of guests on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day was just my parents and I and it was the loveliest day I can remember in a long time.

Ryan loved his socks! And, after receiving them on Monday, wore them on Christmas Eve:

They fit perfectly and he really loves them. They were such a delight to make I will certainly make him another pair next year :)

Mom loved her purple socks and the gorgeously-soft scarf I made for her:

This was my first attempt at fringe and, as you can see, it was very uneven. In an attempt to even it out it wound up shorter than I would have liked, but it still looked pretty.

I am excited to cast on for 2 new projects for myself this week (a scarf and a pair of socks using the gorgeous Madelinetosh yarn I got for my birthday in July), after finishing up one more gift to be gifted on NYE.

Hope everyone had a magical Christmas!

Knowing My Limits

2009-12-14T07:42:00.000-08:00

The holidays should be fun and when I embarked on a sweater for my niece I really thought it would be. Despite all the documented math issues, I did enjoy knitting all the cute little pieces.

It is the pieces that are the problem. I should have done a top-down raglan, what was I thinking! There is no way I can seam this sucker together in time for Christmas without going totally insane.

It is also unfair to ask other knitters for help with 2 weeks to go before Christmas.

So I decided this weekend that the sweater is going to be a Valentine's Day gift (it is very red and light weight enough to wear into March) and I will spend January learning how to assemble it. Problem solved.

Mom's scarf is blocking, photos soon!

Another Gift Done!

2009-12-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

So I finished my mother's socks, yay!

Here they are blocking on my awesome sock forms. It seems like a million years ago I started these, but it was the beginning of November. Since I am working multiple projects that doesn't seem too terrible.

I made them out of this gorgeous purple variegated Malabrigo sock yarn that was a delight to work with and is much prettier than the picture does justice.

I am almost done with Mom's scarf too, which I just love and will have to tear away from myself to give her. It is made out of a gorgeous red soft alpaca yarn that is glorious.

Also, all the pieces of Madison's sweater are knit, now I have to tackle seaming... stay tuned!

I Can't Knit and Blog...

2009-12-02T06:42:00.000-08:00

... Obviously. It has been nearly a month since I blogged because in every spare moment of time (and there are nary few this time of year) I am knitting.

I still only have 1 item completed for Christmas, but I am close to finishing my mom's socks (pictures soon). Last night I did the gusset decrease on sock #2 and now it is just the foot and toe (it is simple stockinette) so I should be able to finish them this week.

I have enough of Mom's scarf done to see the light at the end of the tunnel there as well.

And last night I cast on for another scarf, very simple 5X5 rib for my friend Karin.

With so many festive plans coming up though the holiday knitting season is dwindling. I did decide that in future years, socks are birthday gifts that can be focused on during non-holiday times, that should make it less stressful come Christmas.

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!

Why Did I Pick a Hobby With So Much Math Involved?

2009-11-10T06:22:00.000-08:00

So Sunday I tore out sleeve #1 of Madison's sweater for the 2nd time and last night I cast on for the 3rd time vowing to do the increases right finally.

While reading the pattern properly is my sole responsibility, it really could be written more clearly with the math done out a little more thoroughly so I have an idea of how many stitches should be on the needle at various points and not just the starting # and the ending #, because if after 54 rows the ending # isn't right I just wasted a lot of time.

Now I could multiply and divide out the # of stitches increased over the # of rows divided again by how often I need to increase (every 3rd row until 56 stitches and then every 4th row until 64 stitches), but math is hard.

Also this pattern is written for 6 different sizes and halfway through the sizes split and where my # was the 3rd one listed for most of the pattern it suddenly becomes the first one listed when the sizes break off and I totally missed that the first time...

Thank god I started early on the holiday stuff.

My New Sock Blockers

2009-11-02T06:07:00.001-08:00

So I finished my brother's Christmas socks, yay! One of the toes was way pointier than the other, but I figured with good blocking it would be fine.

I had heard talk of "sock forms" for blocking socks, but failed to locate them in any stores, but KnitPicks had them!

This is the large size for my brother's giant feet. I also got the medium size which looks perfect for women's socks.

I will take better photos of the socks themselves when they are dry and blocked, but I was so excited about the forms, they made the whole blocking process a snap!

I Have Completed...

2009-10-16T10:52:00.001-07:00

... the back of my first sweater:

I am so excited! It seems a little big to me for a not-quite 2 year old, but I would rather it be big than too small.

It is the Perfectly Plain Sweater from Alison Dupernex's Beginner's Guide to Knitting, it is an easy to follow pattern and it is really just stockinette with 1X1 rib on the collar, cuffs and bottom.

I am using Sirdar Snuggly baby bamboo yarn and it is so nice and soft and a gorgeous cherry red color, sadly despite being awesome yarn, it has no cool colorway name, what a waste.

I am going to see the Christmas recipient of this sweater next weekend and will surreptitiously measure her. Oh, in case I haven't mentioned her before, here's Madison:

Doesn't she look cute in red?

A Revalation

2009-10-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

So just now as I started working on my first sweater (a tiny little one for my niece), I realized why handmade gifts are so special... When you are working on a project for someone they are constantly on your mind. As I knit this adorable little red sweater I keep smiling as I picture my little niece Madison wearing it.

I had the same pleasant thoughts about my brother as I worked on his socks.

So, yes I could buy 2 sweaters for Maddie with the $$ I spent on fabulous bamboo/wool yarn, but I would be done with the transaction in 5 minutes. This project will keep me smiling over her sweet little face for hours and days.

Knitting in the Car

2009-09-28T07:39:00.000-07:00

Expect many more posts like this as we delve into the holiday season. "Knitting in Line at the Store" "Knitting While Walking Down the Street" "Knitting in the Shower" things like that.

In an effort to maximize all possible knitting time I took my knitting on 2 road trips this weekend (I was not driving of course). On Saturday I knit for about an hour while chatting with a friend in the car and had absolutely no problem whatsoever.

Sunday I knit for awhile while chatting with a friend and got totally nauseated. I guarantee it was not the difference in friends :) I will admit to being slightly hung over Sunday, so perhaps that was it, but have people had knitting-related car sickness before?

Pros and Cons of Multiple Projects

2009-09-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

So, I am currently working on 3 projects: an Irish Hiking Hat, the Stupid Lace Scarf that Hates Me and the Hunter Socks.

I like the variety of having multiple projects going, but I find I never get into a good groove with any of them and they all seem to be going very slowly.

I am resigned to not finishing that Lace Scarf in my lifetime, but the others are really plodding along.

I don't know if it is a result of not enough knitting time in general or because I don't really get on a roll with a project so that I can knit faster. It is as if I am starting over each time I pick up a different project. Perhaps that will change when I am a more experienced knitter, but in the mean time, I feel behind all the time.

Knitting for Boys

2009-09-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

I don't mean "Boys Knitting" as I have absolutely no problem with that (unlike the woman who accosted my friend Jimmy on the train one day and told him knitting was a woman's craft) I mean taking the time and effort to make a handmade item for the oafish sex.

Some men truly appreciate handmade items and treat them with the love and respect they deserve, others leave them on the floor of the bathroom wrapped in a wet towel until they smell like last week's old cheese.

I am going out on a limb and making a pair of socks for my brother. This was met with awe and confusion by my mother who asked very politely if I remembered what my brother was like. Now distance does make the heart grow fonder, but I know my brother is a big boorish brute of a man, but here's the thing: he asked. Nicely. He asked nicely and with sincere interest in my craft that I knit him a pair of socks for Christmas.

So, I have cast on:
and started a very simple, very wearable, very washable pair of socks for my brother. The yarn is Lambs Pride Super Wash so it is both washable and sturdy and warm. The colorway (which I love) is called Rootbeer.

It is a very simple 2X2 rib that looks ridiculously tiny, but has a nice stretch that looks natural and meant for an adult male foot.

I don't know how long these socks will grace the planet before they end up left by the side of some fishing pond, but my brother asked. Nicely. And I can't say no.

Progress Thy Name is Patience

2009-09-09T08:16:00.001-07:00

This is by far the furthest I have gotten on the Stupid Lace Scarf That Hates Me. How did I do it?

Very slowly.

Each day I do 4 or 5 pattern repeats (8 or 10 rows) and I count the stitches each time. At this rate I should have a full length scarf by Memorial Day, but it will be done and done correctly!

Knitting has taught me many things, not the least of which is the true meaning of "a stitch in time saves 9."

Irish Hiking Hat and Scarf

2009-09-04T09:23:00.001-07:00

So I wanted to learn how to cable and a friend at knitting group showed me the basics and it really did seem as easy as everyone promised me it would be. I was going to do some practice cables, but decided to jump right in to the Irish Hiking Scarf (which is apparently a popular pattern for young cablers like myself).

Once I got rolling someone at knitting group mentioned there was an Irish Hiking Hat pattern as well and I got all over-excited (as I am prone to do) and started on that too (here is a solo shot of just the hat):

and loved working with cables!

Now the end result of my impulsive hat-making was that my scarf is much shorter than I would have liked (I only bought yarn for a scarf and then took some to make the hat), it is a suitable scarf length, but I tend to prefer longer scarves. Also, the hat doesn't actually fit my ginormous skull...

So, we are chalking this up to practice and I will donate this set to charity, it is perfectly functional and fashionable, but not quite perfect for me or a gift.

While working on this set I found a pattern that was adapted from the Irish Hiking pattern, but is reversible! It is called the Palindrome Scarf (and hat!) and I believe that will be the gift project I will be starting soon for various Christmas gift recipients.

Oh, and this came in the mail yesterday:

So much yarny goodness!

Stupid Lace Scarf that Hates Me

2009-09-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

Pretty, yes? It is very pretty and it is very nice yarn and I bought said yarn and got the demonic pattern on a very nice rainy day in Portland, ME with knitting friends... BUT... I have frogged this scarf 4 times due to unexplained phenomena that would have Mulder and Scully scratching their heads.

I am a new knitter and I make lots of mistakes, but I have been proud to learn how to fix many of them. I can unknit and pick up dropped stitches pretty well, but this pattern has had me in a tizzy.

There are yarn overs and pssos and I have been comforted by more experienced knitters that agree that those two things make dropping and adding unwanted stitches very easy.

I am giving this one more try and when I finish it I am going to lobby to have it displayed at the Smithsonian.

Holiday Knitting Part 1

2009-09-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

My family has a tendency to overdo the holidays, seriously overdo. Every year we say we are going to cut back and every year it is a maelstrom of gifts to both give and receive. I love presents as much as anyone, but it does become quite stressful.

The economy is forcing us, as a nation, to scale back and I am going to try to do the same with gifts this year. As you know, a handmade gift is not often less expensive, but I feel it is a greater value for the money spent and it comes with a whole lot of heart.

This doesn't mean I won't be frantically purchasing fine-smelling body lotions and books, DVDs and adorable clothes for my little nieces, it just means that nearly everyone will be getting a handmade gift this year.

I began considering what I was going to make (I have only been knitting for 8 months, so my repertoire is limited) back in early summer and kept promising myself a spreadsheet of details: who, what item, do I have the pattern, yarn in the stash, needles, etc. Well last night I sat down and got as far as writing a list of names of people getting handmade gifts and while it was a small step towards my grand color-coded spreadsheet, it did make me feel better.

September is an amazing time to stop and regroup, buy new pencils and notebooks and start fresh. I hate the fall, everything dies after all, but having a good list of projects to work on will get me through those increasingly dark days until the twinkle of holiday lights start to brighten up the place.

International Mat of Mystery

2009-08-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

Life has gotten in the way of blogging again of late and I apologize, but I am going to try to use this blog to keep myself on task with the myriad knitting projects I have in various states of completion.

One such project, now completed, is my mat. Some of you know about this mat and have been awaiting it with enthusiasm and I appreciate that.

The only thing truly International about this mat is I discovered it in the Summer issue of Knit Simple while flying from St. Petersburg to London on my way home from Russia this spring.

The mystery came from who was going to receive the mat and what room it would look best in. It was designed as a bath mat and I considered making it as a gift, but wound up keeping it myself and putting it in the kitchen, so really not its intended result.

I made it out of Cotton Ease in Sand, Lime and Seaspray (the pretty oceany blue) and it is super simple. I knit it on Size 9 circulars, really long ones, 32" I believe. The neutral colored rows are 6 rows of double-strand garter stich and the colored stripes are single strand stockinette (4 rows). The result is a lovely texture under my toes.

The worst part of the project (really the only unpleasant part) came from weaving in the ends. Like any striped project the ends were endless. I tried to weave as I went to save myself some aggravation, but knitting was always more fun than weaving and I wound up with a ton left at the end.

I may make another of these as a Christmas gift. If I do that I will need to come up with a non-skid surface for the bottom as it is really not nice to kill your loved ones with Christmas gifts.

I finished my Irish Hiking Hat today and am nearly through the scarf (although I think I need more yarn...). I also ordered some yarn for Christmas gifts. I will be giving nearly everyone on my gift list a handmade item this year, dammit, I will!

Boston Musings is now The Cable Girl

2009-08-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

Hello to my 3 or 4 readers...

After being the world's worst blogger for the past year I have decided to re-tool my blog to a topic that is center stage in my life these days, knitting. The same old URL with a new title!

I learned how to knit this past January and have been picking it up pretty well, but I thought I might share some observances, patterns and projects and maybe ask for some help along the way.

I am just about finished with a project that I will be putting up soon!