see mi knit

It's the March of the FOs!

A march because it's quite a few in a row and, well, it's March! Clever eh?

The reason I was able to finish so many was that it's been quite a hat heavy month in preparation for our snowboarding trip to France!  The woolly knitter in me was compelled to cover everyone's heads.  So first up we have the boyfriend's sister:

Pattern: Thorpe (ravelry link)
Yarn: RYC Soft Tweed and Rowan Big Wool for the border
Needles: Addi Turbo US10 and Brittany Birch US10

This was a great fast knit!  The wool is also soft enough for the girl who is still a bit new to wool and she wore it for at least 3 days out so I think she's a happy recipient.

Then we have the boyfriend's sister's boyfriend (who is basically my friend). Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to get him to model it so my boyfriend obliged on the last day:

Pattern: A modified Shedir (ravelry link)
Yarn: Rowanspun Chunky
Needles: US10s

I cast on 60 and basically followed the pattern for Shedir without any section repeats. I really like how it turned out and want to try again with a less tweedy yarn.

The boyfriend got two hats but we haven't had a chance to take a picture of the second one (another variation of Thorpe using Malabrigo) because that one didn't seem warm enough for snowboarding conditions.  But luckily the other one was pefectly snug enough for the slopes!

Pattern: Personal pattern named La Tania after the resort where we stayed (ravelry link)
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool Chunky
Needles: US 10 and Crochet hook 7.0mm

I cast on 60 and then worked a twisted rib stitch for about 5 inches.  The decreases were improvised until I was left with 6 stitches when I bound off.  It turned out to be too short (surprise surprise, after making it up) so I made a single crochet border along the brim for 3 rows.  I love the result!  The yarn is fantastic in my opinion.  I love the variegation and it just feels Solid, you know?

For myself, I finally got around to finishing this baby:

Pattern: Le Slouch (Ravelry link)
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK
Needles: Brittany Birch US8 dpns

Gosh, this took me embarassingly long to finish.  I originally started with some cheap ass metal DPNs which was a huge mistake because the yarn kept slipping off the ends.  So I set it aside.  Big mistake!  It hibernated for like 9 months!  But I finally got the right needles and it sped by quick.  It's super comfy and flattering. I'm a bit worried that it might stretch out too much though.  Because of its slouchiness, it is totally inappropriate for snowboarding, but that's ok cause I ended up buying other a different kind of head wear instead:

Hehe I'm such a dork.  It's not like I'm jumping off rails and stuff (although I want to start jumping next year).

I was able to finish off one last little treat for myself before the trip, and it got lots of use:

Pattern: Bowtie scarf (Ravelry link)
Yarn: RYC Cashsoft chunky
Needles: Addi Turbo US10

I luuuurve this saucy little number.  The color is rich and flattering.  It was a quick knit.  It's soft and easy to wear and less bulky than a full length scarf.  What's not to love?  I modified it a bit to accomodate the chunky weight and I'm very pleased with the end result.  And I love it when FO's look good with other FO's!

Whew! Ok that's all the projects I have to show for now.  I still owe one of the other Thorpe and a progress picture of a fingering weight, fair isle beanie in a herringbone pattern, which may be the last hat for some time ;)

I might be just completely behind the times, but I think this is one of the coolest things ever:

The Walker Treasury Project

From their About:

Every knitter knows that Barbara Walker's Treasuries are indispensable. We use them constantly for designing, for help with a difficult pattern, and for pure inspiration. Sometimes, though, the mostly black-and-white and small pictures keep us from seeing the full potential of a pattern. That's where the Walker Treasury Project comes in. We're gathering high-quality, color photos of all the patterns in all the Treasury books (including Mosaic Knitting) and putting them on the internet as a visual aide to this wonderful collection. Help your fellow knitter by choosing a pattern from a particular book, working up a nice big swatch in a light-colored yarn, and posting it to our blog. We can help you label and categorize everything. Also, keep in mind that we're not posting the pattern, just the picture!

I'm having a good time just browsing the eye candy and now I must go and buy all those treasury books.  I love the internet!

Don't worry, I'm still chugging along with the knitting. Actually, more than chugging, I've got 6, yes SIX, FO's to catch you up on but I'm waiting for the perfect photo shoot backdrop for them.

Bandwagoned

My Moreish socks are complete!

Pattern: Moorish Lattice from Sensational Knitted Socks
Needles: Addi Turbo circulars US1
Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight in Mustang Sally
Notes: Knit top down.  Pattern repeated twice on leg portion and twice on foot portion.  Once again, really lucky that two repeats was the perfect amount for the foot before starting the decreases.

These took me ages and ages to complete and it wasn't because they were difficult or anything.  The end of last year was quite hectic and I didn't get to knit that much while visiting the states.  Turns out that when you visit "home" for only two weeks a year, your time is taken up by friends and family who want to like, spend time with you. Go figure! ;)

I adore the colors and STR on addis is a declicious combination.

I am so scandalously MIA with my knitting!  The holidays were abuzz with activity and the travelling and events didn't slow down with the new year.  Thus, all I have to show these days is my first FO of 2008! (which was started like MONTHS ago in 2007. Sigh.)

Anyway, I finished kitchenering it in the car so I only have a crappy phone shot.  I'll do an update soon with nicer pictures and pattern details.

Vroooooooom!

In the meantime, you are welcome to visit the other blog which has a few more updates than this one.

Fingering weight yarn, however lovely in a dusty rose color, is still fingering weight yarn.

Fingering weight yarn, however gorgeous in STR Mustang Sally, is still fingering weight yarn.

Fingering weight yarn, however bewitching in alternate maroon/gold/blue/orange/pink, is still fingering weight yarn.

And fingering weight yarn is slow going when that's all you have on three WIPs.  Why am I doing this to myself?  I'm looking forward to getting these projects off the needles and moving onto bigger, bulkier, PHAT projects (as lovely and gorgeous and bewitching the current projects are)

Yeah, I say that but then why am I completely enamoured with this? Because last time I checked, 28 sts = 4” is still fingering weight. (Click for the FREE pattern on Berroco).

Norah Gaughan is a friggin genius.

Anais is here.

Pattern:  Anais by Norah Gaughan
Yarn: 2.5 skeins Jaeger Matchmaker Merino DK, color SH790 (teal)
Needles: Addi Turbo US 10 and 5

Hawk eyes will note that I modified the pattern despite my early proclamations that This Time I will follow directions.  What can I say, I'm a rebel.  Basically, I flipped the sleeve attachments around so rather than a cap sleeve, we have some fluttery ones.  Let me illustrate:

Schematically, that's the shape of the sleeve.  The pattern based on the model picture implies that you should seam the black edge to the top of the arm holes.  While I was seaming, I decided to flip it around so that the seam would be along the blue edges.  It was a risky move but I'm pleased with the result.

Overall I really like this sweater.  Love the yarn, both in terms of color and texture. I'm bummed about hearing Jaeger being discontinued but I've been able to acquire enough for at least a few more projects.  My only complaint would be that I wish the pattern had more guidance on the seaming of both the front motif and the sleeves.  This was the first time I really wished I had a dress form and I'm still not 100% satisfied with the results.   Despite that, I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with this cute sweater this season.