FO! Alphamitts

A few weeks ago I finished the Spiderman Mitts for Corwin's birthday, and Kaylee kept steeling them and putting them on. Corwin demanded that I knit Kaylee a pair of mittens of her own. After a night of searching Ravelry and getting Corwin to ok the pattern and pick out colors, I started on the Alphamitts. It took me two weeks of lunchtime knitting to finish these.

I presented Kaylee with the finished mittens this morning, and she was very happy. She took them to show her brother, and her daddy, then, smiling, tossed them in the trash.

2008 Finished Objects

All of these are on my Ravelry page, but I don't think I blogged about very many on here.

Baby Shrug


Nantucket Jacket


Tomato


Ropped Shell


Katja


Wakame Lace Tunic


Laminaria


Helena


Green Hoodie for Corwin


Lisel


Green Hoodie for Kaylee


Silken Scabbard


Francis Revisited


I did finish a lot more this year than I thought I did. Going through my Flicker page, I also realised I have a lot of WIP's hiding around, and a lot of items that went to the Frog Pond.

Two more FO's, A deadline, and a new Obsession

This post is brought to you by the dead batteries in my camera. Never try to blog about FO's with them.

I finished both the Monkey Socks that I have been working on since July, and the Shedir that I started as a quickie two weeks ago. Do I have finished pictures? Nope, and probably won't until next month (unless Target has some AA's in the dollar bin tonight). Once I sucked it up with the Monkeys, and turned the heal, I finished them in less than a week. Two trips to Dallas (with DH driving) and my fear of highways helped. I still have to weave in the ends, and I want to get a good FO picture before I actually wear them, but so far I love them. Sheidr I cast on one night while sitting in C's room, and couldn't put them down. I love the yarn (Elsbeth Lavoid Siky Wool) and dream of knitting a whole sweater in it, but am torn as to which one.

I have cast on for another pair of socks for my "take and go" project, Eunny's Bayerriche Socks in some of the left over Bare from Venezia, making it my, um, 5th Eunny project this year. I have over 1000 yards of this yarn in stash, so I know that I will have more than enough to make a pair. Lets hope that it takes me less than 4 months to finish this pair.

A deadline- I am almost done with my second Peacock Feathers Shawl! After months of this shawl just sitting there mocking me, I have made it past the endless second row of feathers, jumped through chart 7 in a week, and just this morning, at 6:30 am, started the final chart! If all goes well, I think I will have a FO by the end of the month!

I also have a new lace obsession. Ever since the Yarn Harlot posted pictures of her Wedding Shawl last year (October 24th post) I have been in love with it. I currently have the books (First Book of Modern Lace Knitting, and A Gathering of Lace) checked out from the library, and the crazy plan to try to re-create her masterpiece. I know my bridge wont' be anywhere near as perfect as hers, but I have ideas, and plans, and I hope to cast on for this as soon as I am done with the PFS. The yarn, the black Alpaca Cloud that has tried to be so many shawls this year, the failed Alpine Lace Scarf (twice) and the MS3. She has held up well to the repeated frogging, and I hope to reward her with something so perfect. I think I have lost only a few dozen yards due to frogging, and still have one full skein left to wind. I am going to judge how big to make the shawl by how much yarn is left after the peacock is finished.

So far my pregnancy is going well. I'm at 24 weeks as of yesterday, and the little girl is kicking up a storm right now. We have started buying a few items for her, and I have plans for a baby sweater or two up my sleeves, but that is going to wait a bit. No names picked out yet. I have some I like, DH has some he likes, neither has found anything that we LOVE yet. It will happen.

A whole lot of FO's going on

I'm behind on posting pics of my FO's, so I am going to try to cover everything I've finished in the last two months in one post. So fair warning, this is long, and photo heavy.

Pattern: Venezia by Eunny Jang

Source: Winter 2006 Interweave Knits

Yarn: Knit Picks Bare Peruvian Fingerling weight 2 1/2 skeins

and YarnTreehouse Melody 2 5 balls

Cast on: Easter 2007

Cast off: Sept 2007

Modifications: Changed to two color pattern instead of the 10+ colors in Eunny's pattern.

Added a scoop neckline instead of the boat neck.

I love this sweater, and wish that I could wear it this winter, but maybe if it is still cool after little girl is born in Feb.

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl (#2)

Source: Interweave Knits Fall 2006

Yarn: Misti Alpaca Lace, petal pink

Cast on Mid-September

Cast off 7 Days later

Mods-none.

This will be a Birthday present for my sister in December.

I can't believe that I finished this in less than one week. This was the project that proved to me that my summer long knitting funk was over.

Pattern: Childhood by Natalie Wilson

Source: Knitty.com

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease

Cast on: September 29th, 2007

Cast off: October 7th, 2007

Mods: Added pockets for C, made the button band work, instead of snaps.

C loves this sweater, and wants to start wearing it now, even though it is in the mid-high 80's here in Texas.

Pattern: Mr. GreenJeans by Amy Swenson

Source: Knitty.com

Yarn: Ella Rae Classic Wool Print

Cast on: September 2007

Cast off: October 13, 2007

Mods: none

I feel that this sweater turned out way to busy for my tastes, and the button hole is much lower than I wold like. I still need to weave in the ends and sew on the button, but I'm not feeling the love for this sweater.

And a quick shot of a current WIP, Shedir from knitty.com
Cabely goodness. Yum! I'm knitting this in Elsbeth Lavod Silky Wool, and I'm in love with this yarn.

FO: Rusted Root

No photo of me wearing it, but I am done with Rusted Root!

Pattern: Rusted Root from Zepher Style

Yarn: Cotton Ease Sugar Plum, 4 skeins, has been in stash for 2 years.

Needles: Size 5 for body, 3 for ribbing

Size: Large

Cast on: May 2007, Cast off June 2007

Modifications: After 4 repeats I changed the leaf pattern to make both sides look neater. I left out the waist shaping on the body so I could maybe wear it for a month or so in pregnancy, not going to happen. Might go back and add another inch or two later on.

Its not a knit I see myself wearing out that much, maybe next spring and summer, but it was a popular pattern that I had stash yarn to knit.

There has been some knitting on other projects as well.

I'm about 60 rows in on the front of Mommy Snug. This has been my main week day knitting project this week, but I haven't done much knitting on it. There is something about rows and rows of 2X2 ribbing that drives one nuts.

I did get my new 16inch size 3 needles Thursday, and have done 2 repeats of the Venezia sleeve pattern since then. I think the longer stripes will work with the body, but I don't think I can get both sleeves to match up.

DH and I went and saw Spamalot Friday night for our anniversary, it was a riot, and not a complete rip off of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. My parents have had C since Friday, and they are due to drop him off any time now. While I loved having a child free day last night, I can't wait to have my little boy in my arms again.

FO: Leaf

Well, its not one of my favorite FO's, but its a FO.

Pattern: Leaf by Stephanie Japel

Yarn: Mystery Green Wool bought on Ebay.com, my first wool yarn purchase, 3 hanks.

Needles: KnitPicks Options, size 6, various length cables

Time: About 3 weeks, with working on other projects

Size: I started planning on making the 45" bust, but changed to the 40" after holding it up to me. I'm glad I didn't make it the larger size, since this thing is already big.

Modifications: I shortened the arms a bunch. I was going to skip the i-cord all together, but the neck was rolling way to much.

What I learned: Top down- this was my first top down sweater, but not my last, in fact I cast on for another top down about 5 minutes after I finished seaming this one. I-cord- in two years of serious knitting this was my first attempt at doing i-cord. I think I only minded it when it was time to attach the i-cord to the neck.

Depending on the dress I get to wear on our anniversary, this one might actually get worn once. or twice.

FO: The Cap Shawl

Its finally done! After 7 weeks, and one big frogging incident, I am finally finished with the Cap Shawl.

With the magic of Blocking, the shawl went from this: To this:
Pattern: The Cap Shawl from Victorian Lace Today

Yarn: Misti Alpaca Lace, three balls

Needles: Knit Picks Options size 4, the two standard size cords that came with the pack, plus 4 size 4 Susan Bates DPN's.

Size: Blocked out to 5 feet, which is smaller than the one in the book, but since I downsized both the yarn and needles, I'm happy with the size.

Time: A little over 7 weeks.

What I learned: Circular cast on and circular shawl construction. I loved working on this shawl, since it was (mostly) comprised of knit stitches. There were a few rows of purl stitches on the outer edge that drove me crazy, and I did leave one row off completely.

Pinning it out was less of a hassle than I expected it to be. One of my tape measures had a hole at the start that I was able to pin in the center and I used that to get all my points to the same length

Just a few more pictures before I close.

(Pardon the bad hair and the big gut)

FO: Deep V Argyle Vest

Pattern: Deep V Argyle Vest by Eunny Jang
Yarn: Knit Picks Merino Style in Honey and Storm, about 10 balls total
Needles: Knit Picks Options, size 5
Size: 44inch bust
Start to Finish: About 3 weeks.
New Techniques learned: Stranded knitting on a larger scale, Steaks.

The top of the vest turned out way to big for me. I probably should have switched to a smaller size after the end of the waist decreases. I don't know if I will wear it much, but I think I am pleased with it.

I do plan to do another Fair Isle type project soon.

FO: Pearl Buck Swing Jacket

After much procrastinating on finishing this one, she is done! Please ignore my big fat gut
I finally got DH to help me take photos, but I forgot to make sure my hair and outfit were photo ready.

Specks:
Pattern: Pearl Buck Swing Jacket by Kate Gilbert from the Winter 2005 Interweave Knits
Yarn: Knit Picks Merino Style in Honey, Christmas present from my MIL, 11 balls
Size: 44 inch
Needles: Knit Picks Options, Size 4, various length cables.
Start: January 12 End: March 13th
Modifications: None. I hit gauge spot on for this baby. I love everything about this, from the color, to the sleeve lengths, to the seaming, yes even the seaming! I think this is going to work with me next week to be my work sweater, since the building is kept on frigid all summer.

FO: Print O'The Wave Stole

She is blocked and unpinned.

Stats: Print O' The Wave Stole, by Eunny Jang
Yarn: Knit Picks Shimmer in Turquoise Splendor, 2 skeins
Needles: Addie Turbos, size 3
Cast On 1/14 Cast Off 2/17
Mods: I knit in one piece instead of two in order to avoid having to graft the center.

Thoughts: I loved knitting this. The pattern was easy to memorise, and lots of fun. This is the first rectangular shawl that I have completed (two prior attempts went to the frog pond). I have decided that I HATE using variegated yarn for shawls. I got this yarn for Mother's day last year, thinking that I would knit Icarus in it, but I never got past the first chart with it. I do wish that Knit Picks would come out with this blend in a solid color yarn, since it feels so YUMMY to work with.

I do need to get better at at taking photos of my work.

FO: Endpaper Mitts

I finished them! My first foray into colored knitting.

The pattern was fun and fast, and I will knit it again with yarn that is more contrasting.

Pattern: Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang

Yarn: KP Palette in Fog and Hyacinth

Needles: Susan Bates Double pointed needles in sizes 1 and 3

Modifications: I used the long tail cast on since I was on the road and didn't have the instructions for doing a tubular cast on with me. I also only did two repeats of Chart A before I started Chart B, and they still come down far enough to go under my shirt/jacket.

Peacock Feathers is Finished! (mostly)

Friday night I finished knitting the pattened rows on the Peacock. That left only the row of plain knititng and the crochet bindoff for Saturday.

The Bindoff took time, but it wasn't as bad as others in blog land have mande it out to be. I guess it was because I crochet for years before I ever started knitting, and could get it done in almost no time.

The thing that worried me most about the bind off, was what if I had missed a YO on the last row, and I didn't have enough stitches to make all the bo's a multiple of 3. As I rounded the bottom corner (above) and saw that the stitches were lining up, I breathed a sigh of releif. But it wasn't until I got to the final six stitches that I finally felt confident that I compleated the shawl without screwing it up. I had another fear that C would come in, take the hook, and unravel the BO edge, and the entire shawl would unravel, but as you can see, that didn't happen.


Here she is in all of her unblocked glory! She is so beautiful! I can't wait until I have free time without C around to help to block her. That would have been today, since the University is closed due to the MLK holiday, but thanks to Mother Nature dumping and ice storm on us last night, his daycare is closed today as well.






While I had the camera out and was taking pictures, C couldn't help but try to get in the shot, so I present Peacock with C.

Pattern: Peacock Feathers Shawl byDorthy Siemens
Yarn: Baruffa Cashwool off white
Yarn Source: Simpatico Yarns
Needles: Addie Turbo Size 3, and D crochet hook.
Start date: November 24, 2006
Finish Date: Januart 13, 2007, with multiple frogs in the first few weeks.

Holiday Wrap up and goals for 2007

Its been a busy few weeks. The university has been closed for the last one and a half weeks, leaving me with a lot of knitting time.

Peacock feathers is growing up fast. I haven't had any trouble working on her for the last few weeks, and I am up to row 197. Since there are 249 rows on the shawl, I think I am almost done. I don't have time right now to hunt up the shawl calculator to find out how far I am done with it, but I think I can finish it in January.

I am participating in Wendy Knit From Your Stash, as I posted about before the holidays. I think I have enough to keep my busy to last the next 9 months, and if I run out, well then, I guess that means I can buy more yarn.


Pictured:
20 Balls of KP Merino Style in Honey to knit the Weekend Pullover from Fall Interweave Knits 2006 (Christmas Present from my MIL)
9 balls of the Austrian wool that I am using to knit Lucie (Christmas Present from C)
10 Balls KP Merino Style in Storm to knit ??? (Left over from the Kimono Styled Sweater)
8 Balls of Brown Sheep Nature Spun to knit ??? (Left over from Cromarty)
2.25 skeins KP Shimmer in Turquoise to knit EJ's Print O' the Wave Stole
3 skeins each of Alpaca Cloud in Tide Pool ( Peacock Feathers #2) Iris (???) and Midnight (???) (Birthday and Christmas presents from the DH)
Some random sock yarn that doesn't look pretty when knitted up that I will use if I have to.
2.5 balls of Russian Angora yarn (left over from the Not-So-Portland Pullover)

I finished the Trekking socks for my sister, but didn't get a FO picture of them. She liked them, and thought they were much nicer than the last pair of socks I gave her.

I also finished the Calorimetry for Heather. She was confused when she opened the package, but when she tied it on, she thought it would come in handy. Since it is knit from the leftover C's yarn, she thought it was cute that they matched.

I did start two new projects:
Endpaper Mitts in KP Palette Fog and um, a too light purple
And I started on Lucie on Um, gulp, size 2 needles to get gauge. I have 2200 yards of this yarn and I HOPE it is enough to finish the sweater. If not I don't think I will be able to get anymore of the yarn.

I've also had a lot of time to get some reading done. DH got me Victorian Lace Today for my birthday, and I know I have to knit several of the shawls and scarves from there. DH also got me Wendy Knits and Yarn Harlot's Knitting Rules for Christmas. I think I will have to get yarn to make Ingrid, probally more palette, and I will swatch with the left over yarn from the Endpaper mitts.

FO: Icarus

Stats: Icarus from Interweave Knits Summer 2006 by Miriam Felton
Yarn: Skacel Merino Lace in Cranberry
Needles: Addi Turbos size 3
Start date: October 30
End Date: November 22

I think this was one of the fastest knits I have ever done. From start to finish, it was just over three weeks. I think the fact that the pattern was so easy was such a help to me. After the first day of knitting, and first pattern repeat, I didn't have to refear to the chart again until I was on Chart 2. I did find a bunch of mistakes in my work after I was done with this, snags that didn't block out, SSK and K2togs that were backwards, but I am not going to let them bug me, and nag at me, keeping me up late at night any more.

I did let C help me unpin in Friday night, and he had a blast pulling up all the pins. I guess that means that I can't do any major blocking while he is awake or around.

The shawl did keep me nice and warm in the chilly banquet hall where R had her wedding (which was so beautiful!)





I did cast on for PFS on Wednesday night, and I am on chart 4 right now. This was taken 24 hours ago when I was just starting chart 3. So far PFS is a lot of fun, and I can see myself knitting another one for me. I do hope it doesn't turn out as large as Icarus, since D is so tiny

FO: Kimono Styled Sweater

Pattern: Kimono Styled Sweater from Knit Picks
Yarn: Knit Picks Marino Style in Storm
Modifications: I left off the optional belt

It took me almost 4 months to knit this sweater. I gained 15 lbs durring construction, and the sweater is a little snug on me. Back on the diet so I can wear this.

Sorry for the pictures being so dark, and the inabilty to read the cables.

FO: Not-SO-Portland Pullover

Pattern: Portland Sweater from Fall 2006 Interweave knits
Yarn: Angora Goat50%/Wool 50% from Russia
Yarn source: Ebay.com
modification: I put a split in the reverse stockingknit section of the body since I didn't have a larger needle. I used a sport weight yarn instead of a lace weight mohair. I modified the neckline for more of a scoop neck instead of the high neck in the original sweater.
Knit in just over 3 weeks

Due to the itchness of the yarn, I doubt I will get much wear out of this sweater.