Wednesday, July 22, 2009

As promised, 2 months later....

Mingus Socks

SOCKS! SOCKS! SOCKS! SOCKS! SOCKS! SOCKS! SOCKS! SOCKS! SOCKS! SOCKS! SOCKS!

MIngus Socks
Mingus Socks by Cookie A
Dream in Color Smooshy in Don't Be Blue

Poppy Socks
Poppy Socks by Cookie A from Knit1
Koigu KPPM

Lacy Ribs Socks
Lacy Ribs Socks by Wendy Johnson form Socks from the Toe Up
Colinette Jitterbug in Marble with Socks that Rock Lightweight in Lenore for the trim

Glynis Socks
Glynis Socks by Cookie A from Sock Innovation
Numma Numma Toasty (!I love all sock yarn, but I LOVE this yarn)

Kiila / May Mystery Socks for SKA on Ravelry
Kiila by Yarnissima (the May Mystery sock pattern for the SKA group on Ravelry)
Socks that Rock lightweight in Blue Moonstone

Magic Mirror Socks
Magic Mirror Socks by Jeanie Cartmel
Noro Kureyon Sock

Leyburn Socks
Leyburn Socks by Minty
Socks that Rock Lightweight in Banded Agate



Phew! This will teach me to wait 8 months before my first sock post! Part of my sock obsession is all of the KALs going on in Ravelry. I have 3 pairs on the needles right now that hopefully will get done by the end of this month!

Sunday, May 31, 2009

A post

Its very appropriate that my last post was titled hibernation ... I really didn't mean for it to go on as long as it has. I am going to blame it on my evening Spanish class that I took last semester: 2 hours 2 nights a week really cut into my free time!

There has been knitting, so if anyone is still out there here is what I have been up to fiber-wise:

Striped Illusion Scarf
Striped Illusion Scarf, Raveled
Manos Silk Blend in red and red-orange (hard to photograph)

From Knitting New Scarves by Lynne Barr. There are some amazing patterns in here, but this one jumped out at me and I love these colors together. I probably should have knit it a little longer, but there was a huge yardage difference between the 2 skeins, and I didn't complain back to the LYS. Because of the length and that its a little stiff because of the garter stitch, I haven't quite figured out the best way to wear it, but its really cool looking!

Estes Vest
Estes Vest from the Interweave Knits, Fall 2008, Raveled
Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky in bing cherry
US 10 1/2 and 9 needles

The cabling on this is beautiful, and there is an I-cord trim which looks really nice, but was a pain to knit (literally, my hands hurt after!). This vest is warm. I made the pockets larger, because as written they would barely accommodate my fingers.

Habitat Hat
Habitat by Jared Flood, Raveled
Malabrigo Worsted
US 8 needles

Great cabled hat, fun to knit.

Vanilla Twist HatVanilla Twist Hat
Vanilla Twist from Knit Circus, Raveled
Malabrigo Worsted
US 8 needles


This hat is for my mother. She is very picky with hats, they have to be tight fitting and not "scratchy." She has rejected a number of hats because of looseness. This one works! I has a brim, which keeps it snug, and Malabrigo is soft. I am going to add a pom for her someday, but I really like this hat and may make one for myself next year (its good for leftover yarn too if you use different colors).

Just Enough Ruffles
Just Enough Ruffles by Laura Chau, Raveled
Rowan Kid Classic, 2 skeins
US 9 needles

I totally did not read the pattern, and I omitted the garter edge. As a result, there is a lot of rolling, but I like the way that looks with the ruffles. I made this for a friend who was getting married on Valentine

Lace Ribbon Scarf
Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery in Knitty, Raveled
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock mediumweight in pond scum, 1 skein
US 4 needles

I made one of these about a year ago, and it was promptly stolen by my sister (she does wear it a lot, so I have to take that as a complement). But I really liked it! So, while I have a hard time knitting the same pattern twice (because there are so many patterns that I want to knit), this one I had to. I'm very happy with the results. It looked a little short with one skein, but after a good blocking its fine.

Finally,
Anthropologie inspired caplet
Anthropologie Inspired Capelet by Peony Knits, Raveled
Dream in Color Fatty in black parade, 1 skein!
US 11 needles

Nice, simple, quick pattern. I found a vintage pin from my great aunt that looks great with this. I think this will be a nice sweater for summer (I love the sleeveless tops, but I tend to get cold), or in the winter over a long sleeve shirt.



No Socks? Oh no, I have knit a few socks, but I'll save them for the next post. Thanks for reading!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Hibernation

Its been cold here and I've been in hibernation mode, which isn't so bad for a knitter. Although cold, there has barely been any snow in Indianapolis, which is a little disorientating coming from Cleveland and seeing that it is January (don't worry, I got my dose of winter weather and snow in my <48 hr trip to Cleveland in December). Anyway, I've been holed up at home, knitting warm things for when I have to venture out. Here are three winter staples:

An Unoriginal HatAn Unoriginal Hat
An Unoriginal Hat by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Being that its unoriginal in the first place I used the recommended yarn:
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Leticia in Space Dust ... The entire skein
US 11 needles

I love this hat. Its quite warm, but I find myself wearing it inside (while holed up) all of the time because its so soft! And its an easy, satisfying, fast pattern.


HolidazedHolidazed Socks
Holidazed Socks by Anne Hanson (the last 2008 Sock Club shipment)
US 1.5 needles

I think that these would be amazing in a solid colored yarn. For me, a big part of staying warm is wearing my handknit socks.

Fiddlehead Mittens
Fiddlehead Mittens! by Adrian Bizilla
A mix of Rowan aran and DK tweed yarns with bright orange mohair held double for the lining

Fiddlehead MittensFiddlehead Mittens

I finished the bodies of these last winter, but finally did the linings. They are super warm and I have been getting a bunch of compliments. From looking at the Ravelry projects, it looks like its hard to go wrong with this one. I like the solid ones a lot!

What has everyone else been doing to stay warm?

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

2008

Happy New Year - I hope that 2009 is a healthy and happy new year for everyone!

It was a good year for me - I moved to a new city, began a fellowship, and had 2 wonderful vacations with my sister to Israel and Turkey. I got a new car and camera. Maybe its the new setting, or just time, but I feel good - like I am finally coming out of a fog that I have been under for a few years. There are a lot of people who have not been as fortunate this year, and I hope that events in the Middle East do not escalate anymore than they already have, but I am optimistic that come January 20th things will start to get better for everyone.

Knitting-wise, I had a lot of time to knit this year (so, it was a productive year) and ventured into lace knitting. My favorite projects are the Juno Regalia shawl, Gumdrop Socks (they just feel so good on!), and the Montreal socks (I have a suspicion that the next time I come across this yarn I will just buy it and cast on for another pair before I know what happened...). On the needles now are 2 single socks, a vest that needs finishing, the beginnings of a sweater, and the linings of my Fiddlehead mittens. So, those should be the priorities for the start of 2009, but there are a few patterns that I am just smitten with.

2008 Knitting
(R-L 1. Clapotis 2. Jaywalker Socks 3. Montreal Socks 4. Montego Bay Scarf 5. Serendipity Socks 6. Jules Socks 7. Sock Keychain 8. Blackberry Cover 9. IPod Cover 10. Lace Ribbon Scarf 11. Potamus Socks12. Hourglass Sweater 13. Leafling Socks 14. Marigold Socks 15. Adamas Shawl 16. Jess's Shawl 17. Koolhaas #2 17. Noro Knee-highs 18. Gloria Cowl 19. Juno Regalia 20. Gumdrop Socks 21. Chevron Scarf 22. Twisted Flower Socks 23. Amanda Hat 24. Evangeline Mitts for Judi 25. Salish Sea Socks 26. Iceland Sweater 27. Uptown Boot Socks 28. Cabled Hat 29. Lenore Socks 30. Soltice Slip Socks 31. Picot Monkey Socks)


There are a few projects up there that I just finished, and will blog about soon. Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Vacation Pictures

I just got back from a wonderful holiday with my sister to Turkey (while vacation is probably a more American term, this was a big and wonderful trip and holiday seems more appropriate). I am way behind on the gift knitting, but in case you need a break too, here are some pictures:

Blue Mosque
Istanbul

Turkish delight at the Spice Bazaar
Turkish delight!

Mosaics at Kariye
The art and history there was amazing

Pamukkale
Pamukkale

Tile in Konya
The tile was one of my favorite things there

Aphrodisias
Aphrodisias

Cappadocia
Cappadocia

I highly recommend a trip to Turkey if you get the chance, we had a wonderful time. Now, back to work, I think that I need to have one FO a day to get everything done that I want to ....

Saturday, November 29, 2008

If I am going to put so much work into a pair of socks, I better make sure that people notice them!

If I am going to put so much work into socks ....
Hey, those look like interesting socks!

Introducing ... Bright Socks - from a very intricate (but fun) pattern:

Twisted Flower Socks
Twisted Flower Socks by Cookie A.
Cherry Hill Tree Supersock in Yellow
US 1.5 needles

I enjoyed making these, but they did take a while (I never managed to get the pattern memorized). The pattern is great, and makes some beautiful socks, but they are complicated, even down to the heel!

Twisted Flower Socks
Cabling/lace on the heel!

I know that the color is really bright, maybe even a bit too so, but I'm happy with it and this pattern for a few reasons: a. flowers! (they can be bright yellow) b. its a solid yarn (necessary for this pattern so as not to obscure anything) and c. its a beautiful pattern, and I guess that I do want people to notice!

Twisted Flower Socks

I love knitting socks: they are great portable projects, usually fairly quick to knit, handknit socks feel so good on ... but, for me, a large component to it is sock yarn. I love sock yarn. I have a hard time getting solid colorways because the multi-colored skeins are so enticing to me, but the color (although just one) to this yarn caught my eye. Its very bright, but I couldn't resist! I know there are only certain things that I can wear them with, but I think it will be fun when I do!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Chevron Scarf

This took forever! But, the results were worth it:
Chevron Scarf
Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts

Started 1/2008 - Finished 11/4/2008
Less than one skein of Socks that Rock Mediumweight Lucy and Banded Agate
US 5 needles

Chevron Scarf

It ended up about 90 inches long ... It was longer initially, too long, I had wanted to use all of the yarn. So, after casting off, I ripped back. 90 inches is long enough, I think.

I also made myself a camera strap with some Ikea fabric:
Camera Strap

Camera Strap
I'm still learning how to use the camera...