Thursday, July 31, 2008

Laney's Sweater, FINISHED!!!















I love that feeling of accomplishment a knitter gets every time she/he finishes a project. This sweater I knit for my niece, Laney, for her 4th birthday. It's the Eyelet Yoke Cardigan sweater from Lion Brand, and for it I used Lion Brand's Wool-ease yarn in the color seaspray. I knit the largest size for the pattern (4) and it took all but a few yards of 2 balls of the wool-ease. I didn't really enjoy knitting this one. Each and every time I picked up this project I just kept thinking of better construction methods that would provide the same result. Knitting the pattern as written, there's just WAY too many seams to sew.

The other birthday present I'm knitting is nearing completion too, it's the February Lady Sweater I'm knitting for my niece, Justice. I finished the body and am about 1/4 done with the first sleeve. I still have a week and a half to finish it, so I'm sure it'll be ready in time.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Thursday = kicks yesterdays ass

I have had nice, calm and rather productive day today! Well, so far I have, it's not quite noon yet, so I guess my day *could* still turn to shit, but let's hope that doesn't happen.

I wanted to pop on here and show off my progress on 2 of my WIP's. First up we have my Nanner socks. Say it with me "ooooooOOOOoooo PRETTY!!" The pattern was a limited time only thing from WendyKnits, and is no longer available. The yarn is BMFA STR lightweight in Socktopus. This is my reward project. I get to work on it ONLY after working on either the February Lady Sweater or the Eyelet Yoke Cardigan for at least an hour. This method has turned out to be really effective for me. While I haven't touched the Eyelet Yoke Cardigan for a while now, I have made a lot of Progress on the February Lady Sweater.
I've only got a few more inches (2-3) for the bottom of the body of the sweater, and then I need to do the sleeves. I've been primarily focusing on this sweater because it's a lot bigger and will take more work than the eyelet cardigan, so it'll take longer to finish.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Monday, July 21, 2008

add another to the pile....

Considering my last blog post, I shouldn't have done it. But I did. And I like it. It feels good. I've been working so hard on the 2 sweaters that still need to be finished for gifts next month, that I became bored of them. I didn't want to knit. I was sick of those sweaters. I NEEDED something else, something new. I'm sure you can guess what I did. I CO a new project. Socks. Not just any socks, but Nanner Socks (Ravelry link). My fingers needed some luscious sock yarn sliding through them. They were tired of the yarns I'm using for the sweaters, they were protesting, demanding better treatment. So, my Nanners are being knit with some STR lightweight (my absolute favorite sock yarn) in the Socktopus colorway (ooohhh.....pretty). I only have the toe of sock #1 done (toe up socks), so no pics yet. I'll post some when I get more knit.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

I have WAY too many WIP's...

and I don't yet have pics of all of them.

I technically have 11 projects in varying states laying around the house, but honestly I think 3 of them have become UFO's and I don't know if I'm ready to admit it....lol Those 3 would be my half finished pair of Twisted Flower socks, my half finished pair of Earl Grey socks, and a dishcloth that I started one day at my desk because I was bored and haven't picked it up again. Some other projects have just been pushed aside for a little while because I have to concentrate on some projects with a deadline. Those temporarily on hold are Annemor #2, my Troll socks, my granny square blanket, and my Icarus shawl (which has been completely frogged and re-CO, no pic yet). For those not counting, we've mentioned 7 projects out of 11 thus far.

Now for those projects I'm actively working on.

First we have a baby blanket!!! My Cousin, Shelly, is due with her second child in October, and is waiting for delivery to know the sex of the baby. I'm using the Serenity Baby blanket pattern with Caron Simply Soft yarn in Grey Heather. A beautiful pattern in a gender neutral color, and still isn't a typical baby color.



And second we have an Eyelet Yoke cardigan that will be given to my Niece, Laney, for her 4th birthday next month. The pieces in the back are the body up to the armholes waiting on scrap yarn, and sleeve #1 is on the needle cable. after I knit sleeve #2 all pieces will be placed on one needle and worked together for the yoke. I'm using Lion Brand's Wool-Ease yarn in the color Seaspray.


Third, we have a big messy pile of crochet that will eventually be a blanket for my bed. See those long chain columns? those will be laced up when the blanket is finished, creating kind of a lacy cable look. I'm using Caron One Pound acrylic yarn....I despise knitting with the stuff, but when it comes to crochet afghans, it works beautifully.


WIP #4 has no picture because my camera decided to be a big monkey licker and crap out on me. The project is a February Lady Sweater that will be a birthday present for my Niece, Justice, next month. I can't believe that booger is turning 11. I am, again, using Lion Brand's Wool-Ease yarn, only this time I'm using color Dark Rose Heather.

There, now that I've posted about all of those projects here, maybe I'll be more accountable for them and they might actually get done.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

I Love Yarn Mail!!!

My most recent KP order arrived today! I was sucked in by the book sale and the new fall colors :) The book I got is 'Spin to Knit' by Shannon Okey, and for yarns, I got Gloss lace weight in Pinot, and the balls top to bottom are Essential Kettle Dyed in Boureaux, Essential Kettle Dyed in Soot, and Essential in Lantana. I need to get some gifts off of my needles, and then I can start working with some of this yarn :) I'm going to go back to smooshing my new yarns now.