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, 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 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 by Jared Flood, Raveled
Malabrigo Worsted
US 8 needles

Great cabled hat, fun to knit.

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 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 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 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!

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 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.

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

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?

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.

(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!

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:

Istanbul

Turkish delight!

The art and history there was amazing

Pamukkale

The tile was one of my favorite things there

Aphrodisias

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 ....

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

Hey, those look like interesting socks!

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

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!

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!

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!

Chevron Scarf

This took forever! But, the results were worth it:

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

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:

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

Good FOs

I have 2 new FOs to share, both of which I just love.

First, the surprise (for me):

Goody Goody!

These are the 3rd shipment of the Rockin Sock Club and I really did not like the yarn or pattern when I got it. I've been really happy with all of the other packages, and I haven't started a few really beautiful ones, so.. why did I even start these? I'm not really sure, I just felt like I should plow through them, then start on the more exciting ones. And I am so happy with them! They are the most comfortable socks I have knit, I love wearing them! (Pattern: Gumdrop Socks, Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight - Goody Goody, US 1 needles)

Second: Remember this? Juno Regina!

So, pretty!

Pattern: Juno Regina by Miriam Felton
Yarn: Dream in Color Baby in visual purple
Needles: US 5

I posted about this a while ago, and its been done for a while too, but it took me a while to block it, and then longer to take pictures (well, pictures that did it justice)

I love this. More than the socks. The yarn is beautiful ... there is the smallest amount of variation in color that makes the purple really pop. I only used 1 skein, and its still pretty big. Its really soft, perfect to wear as a scarf (how I'll probably wear it most), although it would make a nice stole for the winter as well.

I love the way it looks with my go-to coat

One more piece of excitement:

New Camera!

Happy (very)

Just a quick post to share my happiness

Hot off the needles!

1. I finally finished my Chevron Scarf from LMKG. For those familiar with the book, this definitely took more than 8 hours. Its in need of a good blocking, but its turned out beautifully and I'll post more pictures soon.

2. I just had a wonderful bagel that was hand-delivered to me from Cleveland. Can't these come to Indiana, soon?

Oh, yeah, and...

Even Chief knows things are looking up

3. This would be what makes me very happy. And both of my states (Ohio and Indiana) were blue!

Crafty?

I am very happy with knitting ... I find the process of knitting relaxing (great for when I am watching a good sports game) and fun (watching a pattern emerge, multicolored yarn stripe/pool out...). Knitting , or maybe reading other blogs, has peaked my interest into other crafts. I love my handmade sweaters, hats, mittens ... what if I could sew? And fabric seems to be be just as enticing as yarn.

So, with the new apartment, and a limited budget, I made a small foray into the sewing world:

See the headboard? And the pillow?

I bought some pretty fabric and stapled it to 2 canvases, then hung them behind my bed. Obviously, very influenced by Apartment Therapy. Specifically this, alright not influenced, copied!

What to do with that leftover denim when you get your jeans shortened?

I then made a simple pillow using some more pretty fabric and the bottoms of some jeans that I had shortened a long time ago (and have been holding onto, including going through 2 moves because the jeans were expensive, and I couldn't throw away the scraps!). This was also influenced by the internets, I read Sew, Mama, Sew! sometimes, just wondering what if I had a sewing machine...

Afternoons = nap time, Chief was tres annoyed, but not giving up his turf!

Imperfect, yes. But I am happy. I'd love to learn how to sew. Maybe make some lounge wear pants, a new laundry bag, skirts....Right now, there is no time, but hopefully someday....

Late to the party, but just in time...

My first cowl:

Gloria Cowl
Misti International hand-painted sock yarn, held double
US 8 needles

It was a little big, I cast on 99 stitches - so, I did a gentle shrinking in the dryer, and its so nice when mistakes work out! The yarn was beautiful to start out with, but the drying process really enhanced the softness and fuzziness of the yarn from its alpaca content (but just a little, we don't want too much fuzz around our necks - itchy!) . Perfect for fall! I've been enjoying the weather, letting my apartment get a little cold and snuggling up with the cowl and a quilt. Now, if only the grocery weren't out of apple cider (how!) ... I guess other people love fall as much as I do.

So, keeping with the fall/october theme ... I have been a little spooked lately. This is a knitting blog, but I am going to go beyond that now, so don't read on if you just want knitting!


8 years ago, I thought, how much damage can one person do, especially if there is relative incompetence, they just won't know how to do things, so, nothing will get done. Well, we saw and will continue to feel where that went. Now, what about the thought of having someone even more so as the vp, with an above average risk of becoming the president, exhaulting and aiming to emulate a person who has done unmeasurable damage to this country's ideology (and democracy itself), whose job she hopes to have - very, very, scary. The top of the ticket doesn't fall too far from the tree either. If you aren't registered to vote, please do, the deadline is just a few days away, don't be late to the party! Wouldn't it be wonderful to have some optimism?

Just a picture post

Although blurry, Chief hasn't made an appearance on the blog for awhile ...



I am also only working on this project until its finished. This was the status on Saturday afternoon. I'm curious to see how productive I am (in terms of FOs) when I focus. I have 700 yards of yarn I'm hoping to use on this one.

Oh Noro...

So, I was just stopping into a wonderful LYS, and was completely enamoured by their selection of Noro sock yarns, specifically Noro Silk Garden Sock. The colors were amazing, the texture, and it seemed much softer than their Kureyon sock yarn. I got home and uncharacteristically immediately cast on for some socks. I wanted them to be perfect, basic socks. I wanted the socks to be twins (unlike my previous pair made out of Kureyon). I wanted to use as much of the yarn as possible. Maybe I have a low entertainment threshold and was too entertained by watching the colors change, or that they were knit on US 2 needles, but these flew off the needles and 10 days later (which includes a 4 day weekend in which I did not bring this project), a finished pair:

Noro Knee Highs - Basic toe up socks using this pattern
Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn - s258, and a white sock yarn from the stash held double
US 2 needles

Love them!

As I said above, I loved watching the colors change. I was almost successful with matching the socks, but, Noro, and its knots - sigh. There were 2 knots in my skein - the first came conveniently at the end of the first sock. The second came during the leg of the second (right) sock - it should transition from yellow to purple, but goes from yellow to pink. Its less noticable on the picture, and only threw off the colors a bit, but arg! Oh well.

Will I become a toe up sock knitter? I don't know. I do like the ability to use up all of the yarn without worrying about running out (for socks with yarn that you don't want to waste). And this cast on makes everything a lot less painful (I had been doing a crochet cast on for toe ups). I'm still more comfortable/familiar with the top down, and it seems to go faster (ending with the leg/boring part seems to make the toe up drag on a little more). We'll see! I have some lovely yarn that also will be toe up socks, and after that....

Boo!

Hi. Still here. Been busy.

Well, not that busy. Getting settled into my new job, home, classes (do I remember how to study, or even learn?), and city has been going well, but its exhausting and the blog has suffered. And then the Olympics and all of the political conventions on top of everything. But with all of that TV time, there has been knitting!

Another Koolhaas Hat, I felted my first one. I'm still upset, I don't want to talk about it.
Koolhaas Hat by Jared Flood (have you seen his new hat?)
Dream in Color Classy - Beach Fog (leftover from my Hourglass sweater)
US 8 needles

I've also knit a cowl (my first!) and am getting closer to being done with my Chevron scarf (it is taking FOREVER to knit this!), and started some socks. I'll post again soon with those, promise!