My too many WIP's

Remember that New Years Resolution that I made to no longer allow myself more than 5 wip's at a time? Well, that resolution went out the window. I currently stand at 6, and I'm itching to start more. But, I'm not letting myself. Ok, so In the pic, the top left corner is a Boobholder from Glampyre. I am using Patons Classic Merino wool in the color Deep Olive. It's being made to wear with a brown tunic I have. The pink under it is a pair of Traveler socks. (pattern can be found on THIS page) I am using Cascade 220 in the color Baby Rose Heather. I am almost to the heel of sock #2. Below that, the grey, is a pair of Cascading Leaves socks (pattern found by joining THIS yahoo group) I am using Knitpicks Essential Sock yarn in the color Ash. The light purple to the right of those socks, is what I have so far of a Summer Swing Top (Pattern Found on THIS site) for my Niece's 2nd birthday. I am using Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece in the color Lilac Haze, and I plan to make another (for DD) using Victorian Pink. The blue above that is a basic top down raglan baby cardigan (with some details I'm adding). I am not getting into any more details than that, the intended recipient hasn't been born yet and his mommy doesn't know I'm making something for him (but if she reads here, she will know so I don't want to post too many details, this way something remains a surprise.) The Deep purple at the top right is what I have so far of a Lacy Hair tamer Headband. I found the pattern on InterWeave Knits Website (I think from the spring 2004 issue?) I am using Knitpicks Elegance yarn in the color Lilac.

Just a quick update

still not much knitting going on. I have way too many WIP's again, but none are really getting worked on much. DH had Dental Surgery on Wednesday morning so I'm busy spoiling him, and I'm having a period from hell, so not much of any fun/crafty/unnecessary things happening right now. In a few days I will update with a pic of the too many wips.

Not much knitting going on......

I'm not quite sure how, but I've been busier this past week than normal, but I haven't been doing anything much more than normal. I did manage to knit a little bit, though. I am working the heel flap on the Cascading Leaves sock I posted about, I've done one more pattern repeat on the traveler sock, I started working on a Lacy hair tamer headband from the Fall 2004 Interweave Knits, and I've also started on a boobholder. No pics yet, I am in a lazy mood and don't really feel like getting everything out to take a pic...lol

WIP's

It really feels weird not having Starsky as a WIP anymore. But, here's what I am currently working on. The purple is a Summer Swing Top for my niece Laney's 2nd birthday (pattern on freepatterns.com). I'm using Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece and the color is Lilac Haze. The Peachish/Pink socks are the Traveler socks I posted about with my finished Starsky (there's a link to the pattern in the comments of that post). I have 3 cable pattern repeats of sock #2 done. I'm using Cascade 220 in color baby rose heather. The Grey is the beginnings of sock #1 in a pair of Cascading Leaves Socks. This pattern is available in a Yahoo Group KAL, called 'TownsendSocksKnitAlong'. I am using Knitpicks Essential sock yarn in the color Ash.

I have yarn on order to knit a Boobholder for myself. I am going to make it without the border, and I'm thinking of changing the sleeves, but I'm not sure. I choose a dark olive colored yarn because the shirt I am planning on wearing it with (a smocked tunic) is a medium brown and I think it will look great. (IMHO, I look best in browns & mauves) I do have more shirts I can wear it with, but this shirt in particular is the one I need to wear something with.

Starsky is FINISHED!!!!!!!!

Not the best pic, but it's a great one considering my photographer is 6 years old :) I placed my beltloops a little high, and the sleeves are too baggy, but I love my Starsky! I was worried that this was a sweater that only looked good on skinny people, but, IMHO, I think it's flattering to me (a size 18) as well. (and speaking of my size, I've been loosing weight. I've only lost 11 pounds so far (WOOHOO!!!), but soon it will be 20, and then 50 and before long I'll be at my goal) This is the first adult size & first non raglan sweater I've done. I'm very happy with it!

I've also been working on a pair of toe-up socks for me. I can't remember where I found the pattern (I printed it a while ago), but it's called 'Traveler Socks" and It was a .pdf free online pattern. I have one completely finished, and one in progress. I am finished with the toe, and am on row 4 of my first cable pattern repeat.

FO

I finished the bag I knit for my niece, Justice's birthday Present. She will be turning 9 in August. The butterfly is just a little something I added, and is just tied onto the bag strap, so it can be removed and Justice can put it on something else if she wants. I didn't use a pattern for the bag. I just cast on enough stitches to reach around my 16" size 10 1/2 circ, and knit for several inches, changing colors every 4 rows. (except at the top when I ran out of black), when I got the bag to the desired height, I BO all but 6 stitches on each side of the bag. I knit 6 stitches from one side until I was almost out of that blue yarn, then I kitchener stitched the other 6 live stitches to the purse handle. I then turned the bag inside out and whip stitched the bottom of the bag closed. It only took one cycle in the washer to felt. The butterfly is a pattern I got from Stitch & Bitch Nation, it's the butterfly used for the 'Butterflies are Free' scarf pattern.

I did a lot of work on the belt for starsky last night. It still needs a few inches, but it was progress none the less.

This f!$@&^# belt is driving me nuts

The Belt for Starsky, that is. It's an easy knit, it's just that it seems that I knit and knit and knit and it never gets longer! I'm tired of working on it, but I just need to add about another freaking FOOT to it's length and it'll be good enough for me. I've also decided that I don't like the sleeves on my Starsky. They're okay, but they're just too wide/loose for my arms. I want a more fitted look on them, but I've already sewen the sleeves in and seamed everything up. Any ideas on what I can do now to achieve a more fitted look? I absolutely LOVE the rest of my starsky, it's wonderful and pretty, I'm just not happy with my sleeves. However, I'm NOT unhappy enough to undo the seaming and alter my sleeves.

I am also fighting the itch to post about a 'secret' project I have going. It's my best friends Christmas present and she reads here so I can't post about it. I could always start a new blog and post my secret present projects on there, but I want you guys to read those posts too, and I would have to post a link to the new blog so it really would be totally useless. So I guess I'll just have to keep my big mouth shut. Damn it.

This might hurt some......

I am almost finished with sock one of the pair that I'm knitting with Regia Strato (that I posted about before). I am less than an inch away from closing the toe. But I'm just not happy with it. (this is where it gets painful) I am going to frog the entire sock. It's pretty and fits well, I'm just not happy with the toe shaping I choose, and I'm not completely satisfied with my short row heel. Oh well. I will frog this sock and set the yarn aside and start on socks for my mom. I'm not sure which yarn out of my stash I want to use. Probably the Knitpicks Sock Memories in the Yukon colorway.

To some more pleasant news, I am almost finished with my Starsky! I have both sleeves finished, sewn in and all of the seams sewn, the only things left are to finish the belt and beltloops. I won't post any more starsky pics until I am completely finished with mine. I love it!

I've got a good start on my niece, Laney's, Birthday present. I'm knitting her a Summer Swing Top (from freepatterns.com) with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece yarn. I've got only 2 inches done so far, but it's a pretty quick knit.

Pic of Starsky

ok, here's a pic of what's done with Starsky. I had to have my 6 year old son take the pic (forgive my pajama pants...lol), and this was the best out of the 10 pictures he took. Starsky is still missing her left sleeve, belt and beltloops, which are all in progress. I expect to be finished soon (guesstimating a week), and even sooner if I make myself knit more than 4 rows a day. I've been going slow on this because the weather outside is beautiful and I've been outside running around with the kids. I made(making) the sleeve(s) 18.5 inches before sleeve cap shaping instead of the 23 inches the pattern calls for. I may be a big girl, but I have short arms.

WIP's

On my Starsky, I now have both front panels and the back panel finished, the collar finished and one sleeve finished. All of these are blocked, sewen togather and seamed. I am still working on sleeve #2 and I'm also working on the belt.

I have also started working on birthday presents for my nieces Justice and Laney. Justice will be 9 in August and Laney will be 2 in August. I am knitting Justice a small striped purse that I will felt and then sew on a knitted butterfly, and Laney is getting a Summer Swing Top (from freepatterns.com).

I'm still working on that pair of Regia Strato Socks that I posted about before. These are going really slow because they're my 'for when I'm bored/waiting' project.

Yesterday, I didn't feel like knitting. So you want to know what I did? I went through all of my saved internet/free patterns and the ones I've already printed. I printed the ones I had saved then I organized all of the patterns into a 1" binder I have. I have a sock section, sweater section, hat section, a section for scarves/shawls/wraps, a misc. accessories section, general help section and a crochet section. I have 76 knitting patterns in this binder. If I want to add any more I will need a new binder. I could barely close the rings on this one.

Starsky! getting close......

This picture shows everything I have for Starsky. I folded the back section up onto itself so I could get it all into the pic, and you can see the two front panels, what I have so far of the collar, the finished sleeve off to the right, and the sleeve in progress to the left.

My mailman delivered a package today. When I answered the door, he handed it to me and asked "more yarn?". I laughed and said yes. (it was 10 balls of Knitpicks Get Away yarn in the colorway 'Nap') Both my UPS man and the USPS guy are both shocked when my packages aren't yarn. You guys should have seen the look of confusion when the UPS guy delivered 2 baby gates to me. He even asked me if they were to keep DD out of my yarn...LMAO!!!

Another Starsky Update

Now finished for Starsky, I have both left and right front panels and the back panel. I am working on one of the sleeves now. I would estimate that I'm about 1/3 done with this sleeve. Once I get both of the sleeves finished, I get to pick up stitches and knit on the collar of the sweater, then the belt & belt loops.

Other WIP's: since I've been primarily working on Starsky, I still haven't finished DD's sweater. I am still working the sleeves and then I just have to sew on the buttons. I am also still not finished with sock #1 in the pair I have going (still working the foot of the sock). I absolutely love the yarn (Regia Strato), but the size 1 needles are rough on my hands and if I do too much with them in a day, it aggravates my arthritis. This sucks.

Stolen Random

I stole this idea from Craft Pirate and I saw it on some other blogs as well.

Put your iPod on random/shuffle songs and list the first 10 songs that play.

Mine are:
1. Cheeseburger in Paradise- Jimmy Buffet
2. Crazy on You- Heart
3. Opspeculat- Creed
4. When I grow Up- Garbage
5. Heavy - Collective Soul
6. Frantic - Metalica
7. Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day
8. I will buy you a new house - Everclear
9. You Don't Know How it Feels - Tom Petty
10. Live and Let Die - Guns & Roses

Starsky Update

I've had a slow knitting week. I was hoping that by this time this week I would be done or near done with the right front panel. I've only got 3 banana leaf repeats done. I'm not sure why, but I just haven't been in much of a knitting mood. In the pic, you can see the back panel, the left front panel and what I have so far of the right front panel.

Hopefully, I will get out of this funk soon and resume my regular knitting pace. I want to finish Starsky so I can wear it a lot before the weather gets too warm, and I still have the sleeves, collar, belt and belt loops to knit. Not to mention the time for blocking and seaming.

WIP's

Here is a cardigan I'm making for DD using up some yarn that was wasting space in my stash. It's Lion Brand Microspun, using a strand of vanilla and a strand of lavendar held togather on size US10 1/2 needles. It's going really quickly, and looks much cuter IRL than it does in the pic. I'm working on the sleeves now, and I still need to find some buttons that will look cute in it. I'm thinking of making some wood beads into buttons for it.

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Here is a pic of my current pair of socks. I'm just doing basic 2 circ, cuff down, Stockinette stitch socks with a 2x2 rib for the cuff and a short row heel. I'm using Regia Strato yarn in the colorway # 5740, and size US 1 needles. Please ignore my pasty pale leg & foot in the pic. :)

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and here's my progress on my Starsky. In the post below you can see the finished back and left front panels, and here is a pic of what i have so far of the right front panel. I am done with the ribibng and am ready to start row 6 of the banana leaf chart. After this panel I get to start the sleeves.

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And I am still working on my peacock feathers shawl. It's progressing at the insanely slow pace of about 2 rows a week. It is difficult to find enough time where I can concentrate on the lace pattern, but I LOVE knitting lace so it's worth it. I have also picked out my next lace shawl pattern. I'm planning on knitting the Shetland Tea Shawl from A Gathering of Lace (pg. 38). It's an absolutely beautiful circular shawl knit from the center out.

Starsky Update

I finished the left front panel this morning, and I've cast on for the right front panel. In this pic, the panels look a little mis-proportioned, but they're not. They just look that way because they're laying on the couch over where the cushions are uneven heights. The one in the middle rarely is sat on and the cushions on the ends are sat on all the time.

Not Knitting realted, but a great cause post instead

As I've mentioned several times before, I am a member of Sybermoms.com. Sybermoms is a parenting message board, which offers laughs, advice and a reality check when needed. It's full of women (and a few dad's too) who have some of the biggest hearts I've seen anywhere. Each year, Sybermoms holds an auction to raise funds for a great cause. This year, the Auction will benefit The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc. The auction will begin with a 24-hour auction on Thursday, April 6th at 7:00pm. The 24-hour auction will run until friday, April 7th at 7:00pm. The Live Auction will open at 8:00pm and run until all items have been up for bid. You can go to Sybermoms.com for more information about the auction. You do not need to be a paid member at sybermoms to participate in the auction. So, go to Sybermoms, register and happy bidding!

iPod Case

On Friday, DH gave me his iPod. So, naturally being the knitter I am, I immediately pulled some cotton out of my stash bin and knit up an iPod case (sorry for the crappy pic). I didn't use an existing pattern, I just took measurements of the iPod and did test swatching until I found what guage would work (fit accross width + 1/2 of iPod Sides). I used Lion Brand Cotton and size US5 needles. It was very simple to make. Here's the pattern, it's my first attempt at writing my own so post any questions in the comments and I'll reply as soon as I can.


Jackie's iPod Case Pattern:

Matierials : 100% cotton worsted weight yarn, size us5 straight needles, darning needle, velcro, sewing needle & thread.

CO 18 sts

Knit in Stockinette Stitch in desired color striping pattern until rectangle measures 8 inches, end with WS row.

The next two rows create a hole for the headphones to go through.
Next row : K7, k2tog, [YO] twice, K2tog, K7.
next row: P9, K1, P8

Continue in Stockinette Stitch and striping pattern for another 2.5 inches.

BO all sts & weave in all ends.

fold piece with right sides facing(inside-out) where CO edge is an inch below the headphone hole. Sew side seams. Turn case right side-out.

Cut velcro to fit under flap.
Sew velcro onto the case body and under the flap where the body and flap overlap when closed.

Voila! you're done. insert your iPod, plug in your headphones and enjoy!

Stash Pics

I've been working hard lately to use up/get rid of a bunch of yarn I had in my stash. The yarns in this pic is all that my stash now consists of. Too bad I don't have a before pic. I got rid of a bunch of crap acrylics and other yarns I just wasn't happy with.

Now my stash is MUCH prettier. In the pic you can see a pile of Knitpicks Sierra in Mist for my Starsky, some pink and purple Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece for some Summer Swing Tops I will be knitting soon (one for DD and one for my niece Laney), some knitpicks sock yarns (palette and memories), a ball of Regia sock yarn, some Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn, Lorna's Laces, some Patons Classic Merino, Bernat Satin, both Lion Brand and Sugar & Cream cotton yarns, CottonTots, knitpicks elegance, Patons Pooch yarn and a few hanks of Cascade 220. Not in the picture I also have a bunch of 100% wool scraps.

Progress on Starsky

Yesterday I finished up the back panel and last night I started on the left front panel. As you can see in the pic, I am almsot done with my fourth ball of Knitpicks Sierra. On the left front panel I have the ribbing done and once through the Banana Leaf stitch chart.