see mi knit

Spring socks

I need buttons!!

Hmmm, and some better white balance skills.  I've tried it on without yet blocking and it fits like a glove... very snug.  Totally wearable but yowza, blocking better not bring about any nasty surprises.

I finally got around to starting some socks!  Some of you may have noted that I was having a panic moment before leaving for my ski trip, trying to find a sock project to bring with me.  I eventually settled on Titania's Revenge (leftover from my membership in the Socks That Rock club) on some Lorna's Laces.  Well, I took it with me, knit about 3 inches, hated the lace patter and ripped out.

Then I started with a 3x1 rib intending to still do the cable pattern. I got all the way to the foot shaping and again, hated it.  The pattern was kinda cool but it was too big.  Ripped out again.

So I came home, pondered, dove into the stash, wound and rewound about three other skeins and eventually settled onto this:

Tess' Supersock & Baby using the pattern as suggested previously.  I am a very happy bunny.  Delightfully quick and the yarn is doing some beautiful subtle color changes and the color just makes me smile. Spring is here!!

Speaking of socks:

Brief bout of finishitis

So far the sock survey is 2 for Paraphenalia and 2 for No Purl Monkeys.  They both sound tempting, so what did I do?

I started on the Owls sweater of course.  I am absolutely hopeless. Thank you for your indulgence.  I am pretty sure I want to start some socks soon so your votes have not gone wasted.

To make up for my hopelessness, I do have some FOs to share!

Firstly the Razor Cami (rav link):

It's very "rowr"

The wool cotton is really nice to work with and it's surprisingly warm for a hole-y tank top.  I still plan to make a wee matching shrug for it, but the design of it is still forumulating in my head.

I also resigned myself to not finishing Craig's hat from last year in time for this year.  So instead, I went stash diving and whipped up a little something in a couple of hours (thank god for chunky wool!)  Unveiling Craig's snowboarding hat for 2009: Les Arcs (rav link)

He is not sad about the hat. In fact he is delighted with the hat.  He is sad because he couldn't get his PS3 to work.  Isn't my fiance a cutie?

Ok enough blurry pics of the cutie fiance, here's a close up of the  hat (after he finally got the PS3 working and could sit still for a minute)

It's your basic hat using a stitch called Irish Moss (stitch pattern follows).  I did a few rows in a different color to give it some zing.  I used some random Rowan Big Wool that I salvaged from a failed scarf.

Irish moss:
Row 1 - K1, P1
Row 2 - repeat
Row 3 - P1, K1
Row 4 - repeat

The decrease rows were a pain in the arse. I couldn't get my maths right to get it to decrease prettily while keeping the pattern.  I eventually got it but man, I'm glad he likes it!

I will now close with some pretty stash enhancement I'd like to share with you simply because it's pretty:

I'm almost scared to use it because I don't know what project would be worthy!

Teal FOs

I totally finished the hat in time.

I really like how it came out.  I contemplated putting a pom pon on top, but as it is a gift for a boy, Craig was quite stern with veto-ing the idea. (rav link)

The coloring is just bewitching. This is the second hat that I've made out of Araucania Nature Wool Chunky, which means I have one more skein left and I'm sure it's going to be part of the stash where I'm very very picky about what to make out of it.  The pattern is 18 Seconds to Sunrise (rav link) and I can highly recommend it if seeking a quick, satisfying knit.

Its been quite a knit productive week. I've also finished off Petersburg:

This was also really enjoyable to knit! I love bulky yarn.  This yarn in particular, Jaeger Extra Fine Merino Chunky, was a dream to work with. I am super sad it is discontinued!  Why oh why didn't I hoard it when I had a chance??

It's soft, lofty, and warm, all the hallmarks of Good Wool.

Some people who have made this weren't too keen on the belt loops and I can see what they mean as it kind of bulges out.  But I plan on using this as a house sweater to throw on when putting on the heater is overkill so I'm not too fussed about it.

Still complete

Just in time for the London outing tomorrow!

Still by Kim Hargreaves, from her book Thrown Together. Which, I think I've mentioned before, but I totally Love.That.Book.  Sometimes I buy pattern books even though I don't necessarily want to make most of the projects but because the pictures are pretty.  But Kim Hargreaves' books are beautiful and I want to make practically everything in there.

Ravelry link

I modified the sleeves according to Roko's directions.  They're a bit longer than her version, I think I could have skipped the last 15 rows.  But they're not too long and I'm totally in love with it.

It's very lightweight but warm.  The yarn, Queensland Collection Kathmandu DK, was very nice to work with except for seaming when it kept breaking.  It as an annoying lesson to learn but eventually I got the hang of it.

Mmm squishy

I finished this weeks and weeks ago but finally got around to "really" finishing (ie blocking and button) this past weekend.

The pattern is the Shalom Cardigan and it was super easy!  It's knit top down and completely seamless, yum.  And the yarn I used, RYC Cashsoft chunky, is deliciously squishy, double yum. 
Now, before I can actually wear it in public I must break out of my habit of fondling it.  ravelry link

Despite the meager offerings of my local haberdashery I found a lovely little button for it:

Stick a fork in it

And with this little beauty, I am done with Christmas knitting!!!

The hat above is Zimmerman's Ganomy Hat.  I used some leftover Lion Brand worsted weight and the sucker flew by on US8 needles.  I finished it watching two football games on tv this afternoon.  It's meant for Caiden who is about 5 now and I hope it fits. It's definitely too small for my big noggin so if I make it again for an adult (which I plan to) I'll need to either add some more stitches or go up a needle/yarn size. Ravelry link.

But anyway, more importantly, Christmas knitting is done!

I was so happy this afternoon I even ventured with a little still life...

The more astute of you will note that I  have sneaked in a February sweater which hasn't yet been fully debuted.

Also a Zimmerman creation, the February sweater has firmly convinced me to be a ZimmerFan. This particular sweater is named January as the recipient is due to arrive around then.  I used Lion Brand Cotton Ease, colorway Azalea, on US 7.  Ravelry link.

Well that was fast.

Fresh off the needles as evidenced by the yarn sitting by my GTA playing model.

I would highly recommend the helical method for a hat so long as you do not mind that by its nature you will end up with a stripe that doesn't quite completely close (you can see I mean by that by the light green that suddenly stops before the decreasing in the dark green).  I am not that picky, nor is my recipient so I'm super happy with this super fast project.

Ravelry page with details.

 

That's another Christmas gift done!

Seriously, 3:42 am

Ahhh it's a lot easier to stay up and be obsessed with the election results this year.

Particularly since I can also occupy myself by presenting some FOs recently completed.

Pattern: Lacy Rib Bolero (ravelry link)
Yarn: Debbie Race Cotton Angora, about 2.5 skeins
Needles: US 10

The tattoo is fake, I was Amy Winehouse for Halloween and it hasn't come off yet :P

And fresh off the needles at about 3:00 GMT:

Pattern: Turn a Square beanie (ravelry link)
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease worsted, .5 skein burgundy and .25 skein cranberry
Needles: US 7 and 8

Back to the teevee and the internets!

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.

The Not So Cropped Becca Sweater finally got some finishing loving and is ready for its debut!

I am completely chuffed that my modifications turned out all right with minimal tinkering.  For those who missed the beginning saga, you can see the difference from the original pattern here.  Although I went back and forth a bit about how I was going to lengthen it, in the end, I think simply continuing the pattern all the way down was the correct way to go don't you think? :)

Pattern:  Cropped cable sweater from Rebbecca 29
Yarn:  Rowan Cashsoft Aran SH003
Needles:  Addi Turbo Circulars, US 7

Modifications:  I extended the fronts and backs to cover the length of my torso. I also decreased the length of the ribbing to be about 5cm instead of the original 10cm.  I also made the collar shorter because I ran out of yarn, but I think it's long enough, thank goodness!  A minor modification to the back was to continue the cabling pattern across, when the original directions asked to do "same as front".  Doing so would have created a vertical ribbing down the center of the back (ie the placket on the front) and I was just not having that.  The minor con to this modification was that the seams at the shoulders to not match up.  I've made my peace with this and I think it's worth not having a stupid vertical ribbing down the center of my back.   If I were to make this again, I would take some extra time so that the pattern on the back would allow for the seams to match at the shoulders.

I really like this sweater and I really like the yarn. It has a comforting weight to it which will be welcome as it gets colder, but the open front and short sleeves make it suitable for warmer weathers as well.  Basically, it's a good Fall and Spring sweater.  Besides tank tops like I wore above, I think it could also be cute with a long sleeve button down layered underneath.

Woohoo! What next??