All Purpose

I might not be cranking out the knitting, but I sure am on a yarn buying frenzy. So many sales…so many destashes…so little will power.

The good news is I did manage to finish something in June, yippee.

Pattern: Ribbon Lace Scarf by Veronik Avery
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silkie Socks that Rock in Lagoon
Needles: US 4 (circulars because that’s how I roll)
Notes: Easy pattern, but you know it’s a scarf so it does seem to drag on, and on. The yarn is super yummy, so soft, would definitely like to work with this again. I’m not sure it would hold up great for socks, or at least for socks that actually got worn with shoes, but it’s really nice for something like a scarf or wrap or even a sweater. You can see more info on my Ravelry page (login required).

No Comments | In: finished object, knitting, ravelry | tags: 2009, BMFA, finished object, scarf, silk, STR, wool. | #

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 got all my July stash enhancements (aka, project yarn) now so I can share them.

First, I traded my Araucania Nature Cotton (in purple) for sock yarn (enough for 3 socks).

I have sent the Wildfoote off to another knitter as a random act of kindness (RAOK), I feel lucky to be able to buy sock yarn every month for my xmas socks and I know that not everyone has that luxury now or ever so I wanted to share the sock wealth.

Then I got some lovely Araucania Ranco Multy (or Multi) from a fellow Raveler:

I originally bought this as xmas sock yarn for one of my unscheduled gifts (ie, not on the knitting calendar so no fixed date for yarn purchase), but then I got the Tofutsies in that trade so I’m going to use it instead. So I think the Ranco will be for either a scarf or some other type of gift since the colors aren’t me.

Then I got this lovely, lovely Lamb’s Pride Superwash Bulky in Japanese Plum for myself. I’m making the City Shawl with it (pics soon).

I have one last skein that I got for my sister’s xmas socks, but haven’t gotten the pic loaded yet. Next time.

No Comments | In: knitting, ravelry, stash | tags: gifts, ravelry, scarf, socks, stash, trade, yarn. | #

Ok, so I got one of my Harmony Guides yesterday and while I didn’t find the exact stitch I was looking for I did figure it out with the help of looking at the diagrams and then trying to diagram/chart out my pattern. After reading it, crocheting the first row and paying attention to what my stitches looked like the directions for the second row finally clicked. It’s moving along swimmingly now:

I finished my wonderful Malabrigo purple scarf last week. It’s so freakin soft and snuggly I want to keep it wrapped around my face at all times. It would look a little weird though.

I’m also progressing nicely on my blanket for Ella, here’s the proof:

I also un-hibernated my Noro throw project just because I need variety in my knitting/crocheting so I don’t get bored or frustrated with any one project.

So a pretty good week of knitting, though not nearly as productive as I would like. I start my Sweater Workshop in like 10 days and I need to get a little further with the blanket and maybe finish the gloves by then.

In other news, I attended the HCW “blow-out” sale and was able to save almost $50 on the yarn for my sweater project. My yarn was not specially discounted but it was 20% off which is nice.

No Comments | In: crochet, finished object, knitting, work in progress | tags: blanket, crochet, finished object, gloves, knit, malabrigo, scarf, throw, work in progress. | #

Hmm, so I’m working on this new project (fingerless gloves) in crochet and I seriously don’t think I’m doing it right. Check it out:

It’s done in blossom stitch and it just doesn’t look right. I think I don’t really understand what I’m doing and none of my crochet books has blossom stitch so I’m kind of at a loss. I guess I’ll work on it a bit more then try to get to HCW’s or a book store to find a good crochet resource to help.

In other news, I’m almost done with scarf 7, yes I got scarves 1-6 done on time and 7 is my LAST ONE. Yay!

I’m making good progress on my scarf and I’ll be starting my sweater workshop pretty soon, I’m very excited about that.

No Comments | In: crochet, knitting, work in progress | tags: crochet, finished object, gloves, knit, scarf, work in progress. | #

So I’m so getting my ravelry invite either today or tomorrow (less than 600 people ahead of me), I’m psyched! I have been pulling together all my magazines and books, marking all my wishlist projects, gathering all my stash in anticipation.

I’ve finished scarf four and five and I’m almost done with six. Yes, I’m rocking the xmas crochet. I’ll try to do pics of scarf 6 and 7 soon, scarf five is already gone but is like the green scarf I did (#1 I think).

No Comments | In: crochet, finished object, ravelry | tags: crochet, finished object, patagonia, ravelry, scarf, xmas. | #

Here’s number three:

I am a wee bit behind on the xmas crochet. I need to finish scarf 4 today and I haven’t started it yet. Good times. I have a vision of myself at like 10 pm tonight (it may not seem late to you, but for me it’s the time to be getting into bed) furiously crocheting while baking bread and trying to create and burn a gift DVD of my wedding for my dad and stepmom. We’re going to their house tomorrow for a little xmas celebration since we won’t be with them on xmas this year, but in the holy land of malls: Dallas.

I did also get some nice things for myself in the mail yesterday. Check it:

Some lovely Malabrigo yarn in Velvet Grapes and the Fern Wrap Sweater pattern from Glampyre Knits. Do you think the sweater will work with the Malabrigo? Ravelry, I need you please hurry!

Not the best pic, but it’s Tilli Tomas Pure and Simple in Moroccan Blue. Oh how I wish I had bought enough to make the Fern Wrap in this, but alas I could not afford it. Maybe next time.

I also popped by my LYS yesterday to get some more Patagonia (scarf #4) and I signed up for a Sweater Workshop that starts in January. Yippee! I’m hoping to really take my knitting to the next level and actually learn how to finish properly.

No Comments | In: crochet, finished object | tags: crochet, finished object, malabrigo, patagonia, queue, scarf, stash, tilli tomas, yarn. | #

So here are the two scarves, the blue is done in colorway 212, and the green is 207.

No Comments | In: crochet, finished object | tags: crochet, finished object, patagonia nature cotton, scarf. | #