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 = 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=FAIL

enough said.

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.

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.

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.

Ornette-FINISHED!!!

I really enjoyed the process of test knitting these socks. And now you guys can knit them as well! The Ornette pattern is available to purchase now on Cookie A's website. I just kitchenered the toe of sock#2 last night, and got pics first thing this morning of the FO. I am already thinking about knitting another pair. Since these socks are mirror images there was absolutely NO second sock syndrome, and the cables are complex enough to keep me interested without being too complicated at the same time. The yarn I used was BMFA's STR lightweight in Rose Quartz, and if you are planning on making Ornette, you'll either need to use a yarn with more yardage than the STR, or buy 2 skeins. Since I only had 1 skein, the legs of my socks are pretty short.

Pinwheel

I finished Talia's Baby Pinwheel Sweater!!! It took less than a week to knit, and it was just the project I needed to get my sock mojo back! Now, it gets to go sit in a box until August...lol :) I needed to use a machine washable yarn for this, so I choose Lion Brand's Wool-Ease yarn in the color Rose Heather. I really enjoyed this quick knit, I think I will definitely have to knit another one in the future.

Now that I have this off the needles, I'm going to focus on finishing my Ornette socks and then I'll allow myself to CO the other birthday sweater (Justice's sweater is already started (Starsky Jr.) and sitting in my knitting bag, I need to start on Laney's) and the baby blanket for my cousin.

sinus meds are fun.....

Forgive me if this is short and makes no fucking sense at all, I'm on the good antihistamines that make me a little stoned, but at least I can breathe! :) Also, there's no pics today, I need to recharge the batteries for my camera.

I got a little tired of only working with fingering weight yarn, so I decided on Thursday (the 12th) that I needed a worsted weight project. So, I CO for a sweater for my niece Talia's birthday present. I know, her birthday isn't until the end of August, but it still needed to be done, and I was smart enough to choose a pattern that she will be able to wear for years. I'm knitting a Pinwheel Sweater for her, only making it a solid color instead of striped. I'm using Lion Brand's Wool-ease yarn in Rose heather. It's turning out to be a really quick knit, I'm only a few inches away from finishing the second sleeve, and then all that's left is weaving in the ends.

Ornette is close to being completely finished. I am working the foot of sock #2 (almost to the toe), but it's going pretty slowly right now because of the much needed break from fingering weight yarn. Troll is coming along at a similar pace, only I'm working the heel of sock #2 of that pair.

Once I get some of this stuff off the needles, I need to CO for more birthday presents (My Niece's Justice and Laney have birthdays coming soon, too) and a baby blanket for my cousin (due in October). Unless I have a drastic change of heart, I'm not knitting for anyone's Christmas gifts this year, so that's freed up a lot of ME knitting time :) it's been rather refreshing.

Ornette, Half Finished

I finished the right sock of Ornette!!! It has been a really fun pattern to knit, and with this pair, there is no chance of Second Sock Syndrome, as the Left sock is a mirror image and the stitches are different! I plan on casting on for the Left sock tonight.

TROLL!!!!!! In the dungeon!

I am working on another pair of socks. I haven't really had the urge to work on anything else but socks lately. The latest pair to be cast on is the Diagonal Cross-Rib socks pattern from IK's Favorite socks book. The yarn I'm using is discontinued Regia Strato in color # 5740, otherwise known as Troll. I took a lot of pics of my sock in progress, but in the end it came down to either choosing either a pic that showed the color off well or one that showed the stitch pattern well......I choose one that showed off the yarn colors.

Last week I finally finished a pair of socks that were intended to be a Mothers Day Present for my Mom. I cast on for those on May 3rd, and worked my ass off on them, but I only made it to just past the gusset on sock #2 by Mothers Day. So I took my time working on them and finished them on May 20th. I totally forgot to get a pic of them finished, too. It was the Anniversary Socks pattern , again from IK's Favorite socks book, and I used KP gloss sock yarn in Parsley.

How's test knitting Ornette going? Well, I'm working the right sock, and it's going really well. I've worked the foot and now I'm just waiting for the last part of the pattern to be given to us test knitters so I can knit the toe and get started on the left sock. When that happens I'll post another pic of the finished Right sock. I really have loved this process of test knitting, and I can't say enough how wonderful this pattern is. I already have plans to knit another pair using something from my stash with more yardage so I can make the leg portion longer than I can with the STR. Did you ever think you'd ever see me post about wanting to make a sock cuff/leg longer ? LOL :)

BTW- I just counted, and Ornette and Troll are my 6th and 7th pairs of socks in 2008. Not too bad...

A New Picture

There was a break in the rain but it was still cloudy so the pic doesn't have the best lighting. I also need you to ignore my pasty pale skin :)

Enjoy ogling the pretty cables!

I Love this Sock

Test knitting for Cookie A's new sock, Ornette, has started, and I'm one of the lucky test knitters!
I'm starting with the Right sock (Right and Left socks are mirror images) and we've been asked to pause at 3 inches, which is where I am. Problem is that I love working on it so I want to keep working on it. But I'm being a good little girl......lol. So, to keep myself in line, I cast on a pair of socks to give to my mom for mothers day. I hope I can get them finished by Sunday. I'll post about them soon. Back to Ornette, I'm using STR lightweight in Rose Quartz, and I'm using 2.5mm dpn's.

The pattern for Ornette will be released in June 2008.

Holy Bleeding Monkeys, Batman!!!

A pair of socks in 10 days......damn that was fast! I knit up a pair of no-purl Monkey socks using STR lightweight in Tlingit. I love the pattern and I love the yarn so I couldn't keep my hands off of them. I finished the socks yesterday, and this morning I got them photographed. After I was happy with the pictures I got, it was time to put the Monkey's in a bath. I knew some dye would rinse out in the water, as it had been bleeding on my hands while knitting (I love this yarn so much that I SOOOOO did NOT care).
I was surprised, though, by the color that the water turned. I was expecting a muddy grey because of the amount of black in the yarn, What I got was a really pretty shade of pink. The pic was taken when the socks had been soaking for about 10 minutes, but the water didn't get any darker/more dye than this.
The socks are still drying, but they still look as good as they did before the bath.

Do you know how hard it is to take a decent picture of the back of your own head?

I knit a snood. I've always liked the way they looked in movies, and I've wanted one since I started going to Ren Fest 10 or so years ago. So, when I saw this pattern, I had to knit one.
The pattern is Snood Deux by Twisted Stitches. I'll need to use a few bobby pins to keep it in place when I wear it, but I still LOVE it :) I had it on earlier today, and I tried several times to get an okay pic of it (hence today's post title), but I failed my in quest, miserably so. Oh well, when I get someone willing, I'll have them take a picture of it on for me. The pattern calls for fingering weight yarn, but I didn't have any in my stash that was a color I wanted to use for a snood, so I combined 2 strands of lace weight for the substitute. I used leftovers of Jaggerspun Zephyr in Charcoal, and Knitpicks Shadow in Vineyard Heather.

I finally got off my ass.....

and I finished my Phineas socks! Well, depending on how you look at it you might as well say I got on my ass to finish them because I knit sitting down....LOL
This morning I sat down and finally knit the toe of sock #2 for Phineas. These socks were really easy, good, mindless knitting. They would have been a really quick knit if I hadn't gotten sidetracked with other wip's and a little thing called life...lol! The pattern is written to knit these socks toe up and magic loop. When I started these I wasn't in the mood for that particular sock construction method, so I knit these cuff down on DPN's instead.

The yarn I used is Knitpicks Essential sock yarn in the color African Violet. Ever since KP re-did the Essential line (a long, long, time ago), I've been loving this sock yarn. The old Essential was really rough and splitty, but the current essential is a million times softer, and isn't nearly as splitty (I haven't had any splitting problems, but have read that a few others in blogland have).

Right now, I'm trying to get as many of my WIP's off the needles as possible, because I don't want them distracting me in a few weeks. I'm going to be participating in something I'm really excited about. Cookie A is coming out with a new pattern, and told readers of her blog that she was looking for test knitters. I volunteered, and was one of the 24 that were picked! If you're wondering about the sock we'll be test knitting, go to Cookie's blog, and it's the purple sock pictured in her April 1st post. When we get started, I'll post progress pics on here (don't worry, Cookie said we could post about it on our blogs, I'm not breaking any rules).

I love baby knitting

I love to knit baby things. They go so quickly :) I've started knitting some little things for my Cousin, Shelly. She's pregnant with her second baby. I've been itching for another baby to knit for and she and her DH were more than happy to oblige....LOL! Shelly mentioned to me the other day that she wanted something handmade with love for her baby (and she went on talking about maybe making a quilt for the baby), and I started grinning. I've already started. well, at that point I just had some yarn bought for a baby sweater and had Serenity (ravelry link) picked out to knit for the baby. Anyway, this past Saturday, I was sitting around with the kids and I wanted a small project to work on because I'm kind of sick of looking at all of my other WIP's. So I looked through my stash for inspiration. I saw my skein of Lime & Violet Sasquatch Superwash in Buster Keaton sitting on top. I thought it would look great as a baby bootie & hat set. So, I wound the yarn into a ball, and cast on for Saartje's booties and a few hours later I had this:

hehehehehe....aren't they cute? I'm still trying to decide on a hat pattern though. I need something gender neutral because they aren't going to be finding out the sex of the baby. (pattern suggestions, anyone???)

Flurp

I couldn't think of a title for this post, so I asked my 6 year old what I should use. He said 'Flurp', so there it is. :)
I bought a book that can only be described as beautiful. The book is 'Selbuvotter :Biography of a Knitting Tradition' by Terri Shea. (btw- i ordered it from knitpicks and it was, I think, the quickest I've ever received an order from them. I placed the order Wednesday morning and my package arrived Friday morning) Looking through the patterns in it, I just had to run to my stash, pull out some fingering weight yarn, and CO something, any of the patterns would have done. I decided to start with Annemor #2, one of the child sized patterns in the book. They're intended for my DD, Hannah, even though she probably wont be able to wear them until next winter, as it's already the end of March and I doubt we'll have very many more mitten wearing cold days (if any). I'm already itching to buy some new yarn and start a pair of mittens for me.


There's also a small chance that I *may* be getting a spinning wheel. A friend of DH's has unfortunately fallen on hard times, and his wife has a spinning wheel that they're talking about selling. I told DH to tell them that if they do decide to sell it, I would LOVE to buy it from them. I don't have any details about the wheel, DH didn't think to ask about it, but I don't really care, because at this point, I want a spinning wheel SOOOOO badly that I don't care what it is, I just want one.....LOL

My Purple Greenjeans is DONE!

I finished my Mr. Greenjeans! I had to shorten the sleeves, and I added some buttons, but those are the only pattern changes I made. I used WEBS Valley Yarns Northampton in the color Amethyst. This sweater took about 3 weeks to knit.

Other than finishing this sweater, I've started a cardigan for my niece Morgan's upcoming birthday (march 25th), and I bought some yarn to knit my niece Justice a Starsky Jr for her upcoming birthday (in august). I have two more nieces with summer birthdays that I need to plan gifts for as well. One will be turning 4, the other turning 1. Any pattern suggestions?

Where the F%$# have I been?

Long time no post....nice to see you again....yadda yadda yadda....LMAO

Here at home I have been going on a HUGE organizing and purging crap kick. I'm just sick and tired of looking at the clutter and we really don't need this much CRAP sitting around the house. Soooo, I've been busy getting rid of old kids toys that no longer get played with, old baby, kid and grown-up clothes that don't fit anyone anymore and general odds and ends that I'm just sick of looking at. I'm slowly feeling better about the clutter levels around here, but I still feel like I don't even want to sort through it anymore, I just want to throw it all away. But, I can't do that. There are some important documents that need salvaged and I really do want to keep the coming home outfits that each of my kids wore on their trip home from the hospital after being born. Once I get those things out, I'm just going to chuck the rest.

Even with all the lugging of boxes and sorting of crap, I have been working on some yarn projects. I started 2 new projects that have been my primary focus and I still don't have Phineas or Earl Grey done....oops. oh well, they'll get done eventually. My 2 new wip's are a Granny Square baby blanket I'm crocheting for my cousin who's pregnant, and a Mr. Greenjeans sweater for me.
This first pic is the baby blanket. I'm using a crappy, frustrating, snaggy yarn, but it's soft, squishy, warm and machine washable. It's Joann Sensations Rainbow Boucle yarn that self stripes in shades of red. It was on sale for $5 and it's over 800 yards so I took a gamble on it. I wont be buying anymore of it (but I did buy a ball that shades from black to grey when I bought the red ball so I have another ball to use up, maybe I'll use the black/grey ball for a boarder on the red) This blanket is working up pretty quickly, I've only been working on it for 2 days now and it's big enough to cover my legs (but not my feet) when I have my footrest up. Granted, I'm only 5'2", but still, it covers my legs....LOL

This is my Mr. Greenjeans. I'm using WEBS Valley Yarns Northampton in the Amethyst color. I'm really pleased with this yarn so far. It's not the softest yarn, but it's not scratchy and totally wearable against your skin. It has great stitch definition, It's just a fantastic all purpose wool yarn. As for the sweater, it's a really simple top down raglan sweater (and if you've been reading my blog long, you've seen I really like doing the top down raglans) with cables. I'm finished with the body and I'm several inches into sleeve #1. Still left to go is the rest of sleeve #1, Sleeve #2, and then the button band/collar.

damn...I'm out of things to write about on here, so I guess it's back to de-cluttering the house.