All Purpose

Another pair of socks done, and in record time.

Pattern: Eurydice by SpillyJane for the Sock Yarnista Club at Three Irish Girls.
Yarn: Three Irish Girls Beckon Merino in Auspicious colorway
Needles: US 1 (2.25mm) circular using Magic Loop
Notes: This pattern was super easy and went really fast. I think they turned out really great. This was my first time working with the 3IG yarn, I have been a club member off and on for a while, and I really liked it. The colors knit up beautifully I think, and I’m excited to knit up some of my other club scores soon.

However, I think I’m taking a small break from sock knitting, just for October maybe. I really want to get at least one sweater done this fall and one done this winter (before the new year) and sweaters take me a while so I need to focus. So I’ve restarted my February Lady Sweater, and that will be my first one and then I might try to also do the Honeybee Cardigan because that seems like it would be fast and it’s perfect for Austin weather I think.

I’d love to also keep a smaller project on hand, in case I get the wild urge to take my knitting out in the world, but I think I’ll maybe do a scarf. We’ll see.

No Comments | In: finished object, knitting, work in progress | tags: cardigan, finished object, knitting, socks. | #

I managed to finish something for July, with plenty of time to spare even.

Pattern: Liesl by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton in Indigo
Needles: US 10/6 mm circular
Notes: Easy, easy pattern. I think this would be great as a first sweater project because it’s in the round, the pattern is easy to understand and it goes by really fast. It did take me almost a month to knit this, but that’s because I haven’t been knitting a lot lately. I didn’t do buttons at all, and I did the green version (low neck, half sleeves). I’m definitely making a winter version of this later this year maybe with some Malabrigo, because my Malabrigo stash? It’s getting out of hand.

The yarn is nice too, very soft and the colors are amazing, but it does shed. A lot. I’m hoping a wash will get rid of the excess fiber and the shedding will die down, otherwise I’ll have to only wear it with black.

No Comments | In: finished object, knitting | tags: 2009, cardigan, cotton, feather and fan, finished object, knit, knitting, lace. | #

The stash numbers to the right aren’t looking so great anymore. I have been staying in my budget, but I have still managed to add a lot of yarn to the stash so far this year. You see I got some good deals on destashes in January and February and then I bought some stuff for specific projects in March. Then I had this gift certificate from xmas for my LYS that I HAD to spend like now. I needed a pick me up what can I say. Then Webs had the exact yarn I wanted for a tank top on sale. I’ve racked up 8347 yards of new yarn so far this year (including sock club). That’s a lot. I need to ease up for a while.

I mean I have 14 sweaters worth of yarn now, and I have yarn (with attached projects) for every season. I really should not need any new yarn for a while. Right?

I have finished two projects so far this month, but they were small (only subtracting about 383 yards from the stash).

I finished some more socks and a hat that I don’t have a picture of because it really ended up being a mistake, but I’ll wear it.

I also started 3, no four new projects. I started a Lace Ribbon Scarf, some Leyburn socks, a Lush and Lacy Cardigan and another attempt at a plain ribbed hat for M.

I also really want to try to finish my Ribs and Lace tank from last summer up this month. I ad a very unfortunate incident with it. See I twisted the work with I joined to work in the round and at first I was like “oh I can just fix that whenever”, because I’ve twisted socks before and been able to recover (I also always noticed after one round and fixed it right then). Then I tried fixing it and it just wouldn’t untwist. So then I thought “well when I get to the part where I start working flat I’ll be able to fix it”. Then I got there and the darn thing still wouldn’t untwist. Then I Googled it and realized, to my horror, that no, unless you untwist in the first few rounds you are pretty much screwed. Yep. Then I read this enlightening post from the Yarn Harlot and learned I could fix the problem without starting over, all I had to do was do a steek, untwist and seam. Ta ha. Right. So I put the whole thing on hold while I got up the courage to try the steek, and I’m almost ready. Almost.

No Comments | In: finished object, knitting, stash, work in progress | tags: 2009, finished object, harlot, knitting, stash, steek, work in progress. | #

So since it’s been so long I have several project updates and a lot of stash enhancement to report…at least I have photos to make it more fun.

Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in Vaa colorway
Needles: US 8 (straight)
Notes: My first Clap, I liked the pattern. It was simple and the effect is very nice and looks fancy, but isn’t really. I think the lace made a nice substitute. I wish I’d had the time/patience to use both full skeins of lace. I could have made it slightly wider and longer, but it turned out pretty good as is. I was totally sick of it by the time I finished, I think if I didn’t have decreases at the end (so I was knitting progressively faster) I would have been really cranky. But that’s just me. I totally plan on making one of these for myself using some Dream in Color Baby I got a couple of months ago.

Pattern: Thuja
Yarn: Cascade 220 in a charcoal gray
Needles: US 5 (1 29″ circular for Magic Loop)
Notes: Easy peasy pattern that knits up super fast when you use worsted weight. I hope the socks fit M, we’ll see I guess. My only issue with this was that the circular I used was I think 29″ and it wasn’t really long enough to do Magic Loop, so when I did the first sock I had some slight laddering, but it seems fine now that it’s done.

So that’s it for what I finished. I also started another pair of socks (Hedera) and while I love the yarn, the pattern has been a pain in the ass. But it looks great so I can’t complain too much. Hope to finish these by end of the month, but who knows.

And I’m still chugging away on the tank, but of course I haven’t picked it up since I’ve been back. I hope to finish it in November so I start my very own February Lady Sweater in Malabrigo, yum.

So now to the stash enhancement. I did ok on the trip. I spent more than I budgeted, but I didn’t go totally bananas overboard either. Here’s what I got…

In Ketchican I got these:

Kureyon for a travel blanket. I’ll collect single skeins of Noro Kureyon as I travel and them incorporate them into a blanket, probably a log cabin or Lizard Ridge. The color for this one totally reminded me of the rain forest hike we took in Ketchican.

Pink Carrot Creations is a lady from Ketchican who drives a truck part time. I have no idea what I’ll do with this…

The yarn is from Maryland, but I thought the colors were great so had to have it.

In Juneau I got this:

More Kureyon for the blankie, the colors are very Juneau.

In Skagway I got this:

Gorgeous Raven Frog Fiber Arts yarn (Elegante), it’s half silk half merino I think. The colors perfectly capture Skagway.

That’s it. I did buy one more skien of yarn in Skagway (Rabbit Ridge yarn), but it’s a gift for a friend it doesn’t count.

No Comments | In: finished object, gifts, knitting, stash, work in progress | tags: alaska, clapotis, finished object, hedera, juneau, ketchican, knitting, scarf, skagway, socks, stash, thuja, work in progress, yarn. | #

So I have the summer blues, so this post will be totally random probably. I haven’t done crap on my August xmas socks. I cast them on, knit to the heel and realized they were too big. I’ve cast on again and done the cuff, but I”m afraid these are too small now, and since I need to finish my mom’s cruise present I’ve been ignoring these socks. I’ll need to finish them later in September though, or something.

This month has been rough. I’ve been struggling with headache, nerve and muscle pain since the beginning of the year and while I’m pursuing treatments nothing seems to work that great. So I hurt. A lot. Every. Day. I love my knitting but right now thinking about knitting is better than actual knitting for me some days. Combine that with my desire for some cool weather so I’ve been dreaming about knitting the February Lady Sweater, and I’ve come up with a list of 4 different yarns that would be lovely (Classy, STR HW, Malabrigo, Nature Wool).

I am really in love with Dream in Color yarns right now and everyday I have to restrain myself to keep from ordering enough for like 4 projects. The colors look so great. I really need to go check out some in person before I determine what I really want, but I’m trying to hold off until next Thursday so I have a halfway chance of getting it on sale if I can’t resist. I like so many of the colors that I’m like, well if I do a Clapotis in Baby then I could do color A, and if do a FLS in Classy then maybe B, oh then what about a FLS in C as well. It’s ridiculous. I do have a 1 skien of Smooshy that I bought after selling some stash yarn.

I’ve been thinking about sock clubs again…I think I might be burning out on socks. I know it’s shocking, but I think the “have to knit 1 pair per month” thing is getting old. I’ve pared down my sock gift list now because of this. Maybe I’m just pissy because I want some socks for me, and at this rate I won’t be getting any until next year. Anyway, uh back on topic. So I’ve been mighty tempted by Blue Moon Fiber Arts and their Rockin’ Sock Club. I almost signed up for it late this year, but then decided it just wasn’t fiscally responsible. I know sign ups for next years club are in a few months (like October) so I’ve been trying to figure out if I want to save up for it or what. I did some math and I realized if I bought 1 skien of every BMFA color I like I’d spend like $300, and I’d be getting like 15 skeins of yarn, and the sock club will be almost that much (it was $250-ish this year) and I’d only get 6 skeins of yarn…and some patterns. So I think I will once again be strong and forgo the sock club this year. Maybe if I can afford it I’ll sign up for a smaller club later in the year.

Let’s hope I snap out of this soon…

No Comments | In: fever, knitting, life, work in progress | tags: BMFA, buying, cardigan, doldrums, Dream in Color, knitting, knitting fantasy, sock clubs, STR, work in progress. | #

I’m so behind with FO’s and WIP’s and stash busting counts, that I think I’m just going to add up my numbers and call it a day. No, I guess I’ll show what I finished in July, it was a busy month.

First, I finished Ella’s B, which I already blabbered about enough.

Then I finished the City Shawl.

Pattern: City Shawl by Stefanie Japel
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Superwash Bulky in Japanese Plum
Needles: US 15 (circular)
Notes: I’m not too happy with the size and I think I’m going to order one more skein of the yarn and add to it. Maybe. It’s not in the budget though. The pattern is super easy though and the yarn is nice even with mohair I think I can wear it against my skin or with a light layer.

Then I finished a Calorimetry as a gift for someone…mysterious. Need to sew on the button still.

Pattern: Calorimetry by Kathryn Schoendorf
Yarn: 1 skein of Malabrigo Merino Chunky in Paris Night
Needles: US 9 (straight, Bryspun)
Notes: The Malabrigo has a following for a reason, the colors and softness of the yarn is amazing. I really love working with both the Worsted and the Chunky. I have worked 2 colors and have 2 more in my stash, so I guess I’m a junky. This is a super easy pattern and this makes a nice little gift for someone. I CO 88 and did 5 repeats instead (as several other Ravelers using Bulky weight yarn suggested).

Then in the last day I finished my July xmas socks (Impressionist Socks).

Pattern: Impressionist Socks by Closca de nou
Yarn: Koigu Painter’s Palette Premium Merino in P117
Needles: US 1 circular (Magic Loop)
Notes: Love, love, love the Koigu; the colors are so beautiful. Would definitely like a pair of Koigu socks for myself. The pattern is pretty minimal, but also not too hard to figure out in the vague spots, and it really shows off the Koigu colors.

No Comments | In: finished object, gifts, knitting, ravelry | tags: blanket, calorimetry, finished object, headband, knitting, shawl, socks, wool, wrap. | #

I finished Ella’s B! YES, before she turned 2. That’s big, right? I’ll post pics later. I need to wash and block because seaming really stretched out the cotton squares. I’m hoping a wash and block will bring them to heel. So I don’t see little Ms. Ella dragging this around any time soon since it weighs like a ton thanks to those Biggy Print squares, but hopefully she’ll enjoy it for a long time.

Whew, it feels good to finish that huge project. I would like to finish my crochet stripe blanket this month as well so I’ll only have 1 blanket/throw on the needles (Cavendish). I do want to do the Log Cabin blanket(Rav link) in Mason-Dixon Knitting, but I think I’m going to ask for the book as a present so I don’t know when/if I’ll get it.

So speaking of spending money…I have finally worked up a real budget and I’m trying very hard to stick to it. I have allowed myself to purchase yarn for 1 personal thing, but for the rest of the year I’m going to try to not buy anything else except sock yarn for gifts. If I make it to December and keep to this and can afford to I’ll then reward myself with a skein of Socks That Rock for me, if I like knitting it (I’ll be doing a STR pair of gift socks in September). I will allow myself to buy 1 skein of Noro during my Long Beach trip and 1-3 skeins during my Alaska trip in September (these will be used for that log cabin eventually).

I do find that not thinking ahead with my carefully planned craft spending gets me into trouble sometimes. So last month I bought a lot of yarn for summer knitting and I want to start one of those project now that the blanket is done. But I didn’t think about needles. The pattern is knitted in the round and I don’t have a huge selection of circulars for regular knitting. I did happen to have the recommended size needles but when I tried to knit with them I found them awkward and unwieldy, and thought it might be throwing off my gauge. I also realized I didn’t have the smaller needle called for in a circular at all. So I feel now that I have to get (= buy) needles for this project now, and since my gauge is all screwy I might need to get US 4 & 5′s and US 9 & 10′s. I’ve also determined I’m pretty partial to the Addi Tubo’s, but come on that’s $60+ worth of needles right there and that’s not in the budget. Anyway, I ended up buying the select sizes and a 24″ cable from Knit Picks in their Options interchangeable needles. It’s about $38 for that and I can add to the set as I need or have the money.

This thing with the needles happens a lot more than I’d like to admit for my projects, which is sad since I think I must have at least one pair of needles for every size now. In fact one year with refund money I bought the entire Bryspun straight needle collection (like US 2- US 15) and a selection of their circulars as well. I really do like the smaller straight ones, but the larger ones are too heavy for me and I hate the cable on the circulars. I’m hoping the Knit Picks will be great and I can sell my Bryspun circs and just build up the KP set as I need or can afford it. I really would like to do more of my sweater knitting in the round.

I also forget to consider things like patterns, like if I need a standalone pattern for a project I’m usually so focused on the yarn that I forget to factor in the pattern cost. This is not such a big thing since most standalone patterns are under $10, but I feel like the need to buy a pattern, or more needles leads to more needless spending. Or it has in the past.

I also think another thing I have to look out and plan better for are those swaps and sales I do through Ravelry. I got totally schooled by the USPS this week because I had some stuff for fellow Ravelers to send off and I didn’t have the right mailers and ended up using Priority Mail things. Don’t do it. It’s not CRAZY expensive, but it’s way cheaper to send 1st class and provide your own envelope/box.

Ok, enough of me rambling about budgets and crafting expenses. How about I talk about things I learned this week.

I learned how to do the Figure 8 Cast On last night! I started my first pair of toe up socks and I used that cast on for them. I watched this excellent video on YouTube by fiberfool (Rav name too) and then after I did the initial part I used Knitty’s great article about toe up cast on’s to figure out how to do the increases.

So to recap this totally long and rambling post…

I finished Ella’s blanket.

I started my July xmas socks and learned some new stuff to do it.

I am still swatching for the Ribs and Lace Tank.

I have blown my entire craft budget for July already (except that skein of Noro).

I will have new needles and about 2100 yards of yarn in the next week. Oh wait I didn’t talk about the yarn did I? Next time.

No Comments | In: finished object, knitting, resolutions, work in progress | tags: blanket, budget, figure 8, finished object, gifts, knitting, needles, patterns, socks, toe up, work in progress, yarn. | #

Uh, so I have no idea why I would sign up for a stash busting thing on the one hand and then 1) comb through every inch of my stash to document MORE stash that I didn’t count, 2) go to HCW’s and buy yarn and 3) Even look at the Elann and Little Knits sites leading me to purchase 3 sweaters worth of yarn. True I got three sweaters worth of yarn for $100, which is pretty good, but damn it I’m not supposed to be spending any money.

*sigh*

I have been (mostly) careful about the yarn purchases I’ve made, trying only to get things that were unique and/or highly desired for a long time (oh black purl I love you) or were needed for xmas knitting. How that Noro slipped in last time I have no idea.

This time I feel like I’m justified because while most of the time I can tell myself “you don’t need it now, it will still be there in a month, or six”. However, my near past experience with Elann has already taught me if I am interested in one of their house yarns and I like a particular color that I might want to buy it then because in a week, when I’m “allowed” to spend the money the color I want might be gone. The Little Knits purchase was more like, this is a great deal and color and yarn so I should not pass it up. Is that making excuses? I guess it is a bit and I will be definitely NOT buying yarn the rest of the summer (except 1 ball of Kureyon in Long Beach if I make it to a yarn store there; and xmas sock yarn once a month) or the fall, or the winter. Seriously, I’m going to try.

But now let’s talk about what I ordered (such a poor example)…So from Little Knits I ordered a bag of Louisa Harding Nautical Cotton, it was $24. For a bag, I mean really how could I say no! I got the wonderful darker green (#09). I think this is going to be a Ribs and Lace Tank from IK Spring 2007.

From Elann I ordered 10 skeins of Callista in Black (8990) which I think is going to be a Josephine from IK Summer 2007.

I also got 10 skeins of Coto Canapone in Medici Purple (10) which I think is destined to become the Surplice Lace Top from
Nashua Handknits: North American Designer Collection No. 4 (Rav link).

So between that and deciding to repurpose my Louet Merlin for Aleita Shell and the Lush and Lacy Cardigan I think I have enough big projects to last me through the warm months, and then I have plenty of wools in the stash for some projects in the fall/winter. I really might be set for the year.

No Comments | In: knitting, stash | tags: future projects, knitting, money, socks, stash, yarn. | #

So not much knitting in May. I didn’t finish anything at all. I started the Charade socks (like 5 times) and a crochet shrug, but other than that not much movement.

I did manage to get my garden started in May though and now I’m ready to really start busting out the knitting/crochet projects.

I have no idea why the Charade (Rav link) socks are taking me so long, except that my iPod died last month so no more podcasts. I got a new nano last week though so I’m hoping that will motivate me to get moving on the knitting. I am almost done with the leg portion of my first Charade and I’m hoping once I move past that I’ll be back into sock utopia knitting.

I have made decent progress on the shrug (Rav link), I’m starting the repeat for the back. I had been planning to buy yarn for a summer project, like a tank or something. But now I’m not sure if I’ll do that or just try to finish some of my larger projects, like the Ella blanket and the crochet blanket, and bust out some xmas socks. I do not want to be knitting socks feverishly the entire month of December.

No Comments | In: crochet, garden, gifts, knitting, work in progress | tags: crochet, garden, gifts, ipod, knitting, socks, work in progress. | #

I have finished the Monkey socks! Behold:

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A.
Yarn: ShibuiKnits Sock in Jewel (#4401)
Needles: US 1 40″ circular (can’t remember brand)
Ravelry: More details here (Rav link)
Notes: This was a pretty easy and fast knit. The cuff seems a little tight, but other than that the fit is good, better than the Jitterbug socks I made last month. I liked the yarn, very soft and springy. But the colors did pool a lot as the pictures show. I don’t mind so much and I doubt my stepmom will care either though so no problem. I did this top down using Magic Loop and a Kitchner graft on the toe.

No Comments | In: finished object, gifts, knitting | tags: finished object, gifts, kitchner, knitting, magic look, shibuiknits, socks. | #