January 2017

The last day of January, so I thought I would do a quick update...

I managed to knit up another pair of Susie's Reading Mitts for a co-worker venturing in to the Northeast for the holidays.

A few adjustment for the heavier weight yarn and these were a quick knit.
Pattern: Susie Rogers' Reading Mitts
Designer: Susie Rogers
Yarn: Nashua Handknits Snowbird (2 skeins)

I completed the Cornrow socks. I added two rows of plain knitting between the twisted row to spread out the pattern. This one was on my needles for awhile, Just wasn't motivated to get them done.

Patten: Cornrow Socks
Designer:
Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in Cochineal

Then I cast on the Peace Project Cowl. These 2 skeins of yarn has been sitting at my desk waiting for a pattern... I'm sending this cowl to my mom. The color is washed out in this photo, it is a deeper purple.

Pattern: Project Peace 2017
Designer: Christina Campbell
Yarn: Crystal Palace Yarn in Sausalito (2 skeins)

And finally - on my needles now - First Track Socks. I am on the foot of the first sock...


Project: First Track Socks
Designer: Helen Kurtz
Yarn: Knit Picks Felici Botany

Zephyr Cove - DONE

Add this to the list "finished stitching, needs to be blocked!" A tiny bit of the dark blue (Jay) left, but I was playing yarn chicken with the light blue (Frost). And I lost, so I bound off a few rows short.



Pattern: Zephyr Cove
Published in: 7 Small Shawls; Year 3: Home is Where the Heart Is
Designer: Rosemary (Romi) Hill
Yarn: Knit Picks Glimmer in Jay and Frost


Yes, there are ends to weave in and blocking will help even out the garter stitch. This project gave me fits on the stitch count. Many rows were ripped back and reworked, so I am glad to have these off the needles.

On the needles...

I am not a "BLING" person. I know that. So, why would I purchase yarn that has silver flecks in it? I have been struggling to find a use for some Knit Picks Glimmer, 2 skeins each of Jay, Frost and (grey). The "glimmer" is subtle, but still just not my style. I have started and ripped out no less that 4 projects using this yarn. This try is Zypher Cove by Rosemary (Romi) Hill. I started with Jay and I'm pairing it with the Frost. The lighter color is a bit more blue that what shows up in the photo. All of the garter stitch makes this project go fairly quickly.

I've made it through the stripes and need to find some stitch markers for the short row before I move on. Happy stitching everyone!

Feather and Fan Scarf

 Someone asked for knitting lessons, so I taught her how to do a garter stitch washcloth. She called and was ready to move on to something else with some practice on how to read a pattern. We decided on a feather and fan scarf. After quick search of ravelry, I found this pattern. 

I decided to cast on to work along side her. So with a big ball of Vanna's choice I ended up with this. I worked the pattern as instructed until I ran out of yarn.

Yay! I'm moving out of my crafting slump.

Wisp - WIP

You probably already know about Knitty, right? I love to browse each issue when it is published and can usually find a few patterns to add to my every growing to-do list. Wisp is from the Summer 2007 issue.

The 15 row repeat is easy to remember, except for the edging which repeats every 5 rows... I've done 45 rows so far and have missed quite a few of the edge repeats... haven't decided whether I should continue or start again...

Haruni - Blocked

Remember this? I finally pulled out the blocking wires and blocked Haruni. It turned out larger than I expected, but it will be perfect to ward off a chill. Sorry I couldn't get a full shot of the shawl. My unconventional blocking method makes it a hard to get a full pic. The edges rounded out nicely I'll try to get a better picture eventually.

Entrelac scarf? - DONE

It's just about done, well, done because I miscalculated the yardage and the "scarf" is just not long enough. As much as I hate to frog this, I'm sure that I can find a better use for this yarn. Here's what it looks like...

I don't think blocking it will give it the length it needs to be a scarf. And it will lose much of it's weave if it's stretched too much. Oh well, think I'll just put it aside while I ponder it's fate.

Anyway, this was my first entrelac project and it really isn't as hard as it looks. I'm building up my confidence to start the Forest Path Stole. But for now, I think I hear a sock pattern calling me...

Entrelac - WIP

I'm making progress on the entrelac scarf, about 7 rows completed. It's not so bad to pick up and knit these stitches, but I'm still getting the hang of the side triangles. since the sections are short, it's nice to be able to pick up the project when I have a few moments to spare. So far it is still small enough for me to carry around. I'm wondering if it will be too wide for a scarf, but what do I know, we don't use scarves here. Maybe I can block it out to be a shawl instead. It'll be a great learning project anyway.

entrelac

I've decided that I would learn entrelac because the weaved effect looks cool. So with my second ball of Ty-Dy, in hand, I printed a the free pattern from Knitting Daily and jumped right in. I casted on 48 stitches rather than the 24 the pattern calls for. I also printed these instructions, but haven't had to refer to it, yet. No problem with the first row of triangles, and the second row seems to be going well, don't you think?

I also wanted to mention that I have finished the Travelling Woman, but I the cast off is too tight and it didn't block nicely. I've put it aside and will be trying a different bind off. So, pictures of that one will have to wait.

Traveling Woman Shawl

Have you been to ravelry? I just love the site as a resource for knitting inspirations. That's where I found the pattern for my current project Traveling Woman by Liz Aninante. Actually this photo is a bit behind. I was able to finish the first repeat of the lace chart this weekend.
The yarn is KnitPicks Kettle-syed Shadow in Jay. I just love this blue. I think I have enough of this partial skein to complete this without shortening the pattern.

Multnomah -DONE

Last week, I bound off the Multnomah scarf. I love the colors,  Since I switched to a larger needle, I was running low on yarn and decided not to do the full 10 repeats of the feather and fan. I'm surprised at how fast this knit up. The simple garter stitch, just flew off the needles. And while I had to rip back a few rows, while doing the feather and fan, it still was a fast project. Kudos to HelloKnitty for a great project!

This is a photo of it unblocked. It has been added to the growing pile of "things to be blocked". Once blocked, it will be just the right size to keep the draft off my shoulders.

Sock yarn in a shawl

I picked up this ball of yarn at the same time I got the yarn for the Open Cardi. The colors were soothing and I thought it would make a fun pair of socks. Well... it's been a little chilly here, so I've been thinking of knitting a shawl to cover my shoulders. I'm not sure how the colors will play out in a shawl. I really should stay away from varigated colors. I just don't know how to use them. But we won't know how it looks until I try right?

I casted on for Multnomah, which you can find on this blog. The link to the pattern is on the right side of the page. I made one small change and used less stitches between the yarn overs in the center. So far, so good. I still haven't decided if I like the way the colors are pooling.

The first section knits up really fast, garter stitch with increases at the ends and in the center. Great for knitting at the basketball game. The edging is done in a feather and fan, so it should also go fairly quickly.

a scarf to keep you warm

This yarn was an impulse purchase at my LYS in December. While I was waiting for my purchases to be tallied, I picked up a project that the shop owner was working on. A scarf for her sister. Soft, cuddly... washable? acrylic!?! Perfect for my mother - Do I have enough time to add this to my project list and mail it to the mainland for Christmas? It would be perfect for the early cold front in the Northwest. The bulky yarn should knit up fast on large needles and I'll only need one skein for a scarf. Please add this to my puchase!

The LYS owner generously offered the chevron pattern that she was working on, so I could get started right away. I carried this project with me so I could add a few stitches every chance I got. Size 10 needles makes this a speedy project. Blues, Browns, Orange, it was lovely to see the colors emerge.

After a week it was packed up, mailed, opened and used straight away!