Flip Her Over Man, She is Done

The Peacock Feathers Shawl is Blocked, and ready to give to D next time I see her, or when N says its a good time to do it. I love how she turned out, and hate that I have to give her up, but I do have yarn in the stash to make another one for me, in a blue green.
Detail of the point of the shawl pinned out. I opted to keep the side feathers shallow, but to do a full pinning on the center feather. I think she turned out lovely, and not too big. She is 82 inches across (I know, because I pinned every inch on the top to keep a straight line), but I didn't take the measurement of the height. It hits me just below my bottom, so it won't drown D too bad.
I've made good progress on the POTW stole. I am almost done with the 20th repeat, and should finish the last 14 this week. The color of the bridesmaid dresses match the midshade blue perfectly, so I have a feeling that this will be worn that night as well. I actually like how the yarn is pooling, and hope the first skein makes it for the whole body, so I don't have to match the striping.
I've also made good progress on the PBSJ. I finished the back Friday night at movie night, and cast on for the yoke this morning. The yoke is going fast and should be finished tonight or tomorrow. I couldn't capture the details of the armhole or neck shaping thanks to the insane curling of the stockingnet, so more detailed photos will have to wait until blocking.

A Very Productive week.

I finished the PFS on Saturday, but haven't blocked it yet, maybe tomorrow when my parents have C for the day, that way I can vacuum and pin out on C's floor.
I finished the first Endpaper Mitt on Sunday, before going over to Danny's for a haircut (my first in a year...Yikes), bud didn't cast on for the second one right away. Instead I decided to work on Lucie for a bit...
Then I noticed that I had dropped an edge stitch on Lucie 20 rows back. *sigh* To the frog pond she went for now, until I can either tighten my gauge enough to work on one of my circular needles (from a 2 to a 3, which is in use, but more on that later) or I break down and buy a size 2 circ (with my next knit picks order, after the yarn diet has shed some more weight).
So I did an actual gauge swatch for the PBSJ, and hit gauge on my size 4 knit pick options, and cast on for the back panel. So far this is an easy knit with just enough of a cable to keep me from getting completely bored. I am on row 30, almost done with the large bottom triangle. I have to say, I am impressed with how the pleats come together, but not as happy with working with the KP Merino style as I was last time. I am knitting on bigger needles, but it feels like the yarn is bigger than the last batch I got for Christmas of 2005. But, as I get further into my second ball of yarn (already) I see it getting softer, and thinner, so maybe there was just one ball of yarn that was too bulky. We will have to see. Hopefully this doesn't end up eating all 20 balls of yarn, because I really want to have leftover to knit the Deep V Argyle Vest.
I also cast on for the POTW stole on Sunday, using an invisible cast on from Victorian Lace Today, and after a few false starts with the cast on, it has been smooth sailing so far... The only thing I don't like is how I have to move stitch markers with almost every row, but if I keep track of my YO's I think I have come up with a way to do it without having to move markers. More on that later. As of last night, I am six repeats in (of 34 if I knit it in one piece)
Monday was a holiday, so more knitting on the two new projects.
Tuesday it was back to work, and it was frigid, not cold, but frigid, in our building. I cursed myself out for not completing the second Endpaper Mitt all day, and cast on for it at lunch. I made an executive decision to put all other knitting on hold and to get the second mitt done ASAP, and stayed up late Tuesday night working on the first repeat of the color chart.
Tuesday night/Wednesday morning that light chance of snow that wasn't going to do anything turned into a major storm for the area, bad enough for the University to close (during the first week of classes for the Semester!) so I had more time to work on the second Mitt, when C wasn't demanding my full attention (his daycare was closed that day as well). That night when S was putting him to bed, I finished the second mitt, wove in the ends for both of them and blocked them. Thursday morning, my hands were glad to have their warmth.
Thursday night was back to knitting on PBSJ and POTW. This weekend I hope to block the PFS, get some more done on the PBSJ, and do another couple repeats on the POTW.

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.

I'll be doing the feather dance this weekend!

I have 8 3/4 rows, plus bind off, left on the PFS. I didn't get much done on it last night (only 2 rows or so) because my back is killing me, and I went to bed early. I didn't get my morning row done either, because C was awake as soon as I got out of the shower and wanting some Mommy time. *Sigh* I am optimistic that I will have it finished (sans blocking) before N gets to our house tomorrow night for his game. Even if I wind up finishing it while the boys are hanging out. I am actually looking forward to doing the crochett bind off. Crochett was my first pashion, even if I have't done more than a simple chain for a provisional cast on since I made C's baby blanket.

I sent DH out to find the Winter 06 Interweave Knits yesterday, and Barns and Noble didn't have it, so I will be checking out a few other places this weekend. I will get my hands on it so I can start charting out my color variations for the sweater (even if I can't buy the yarn for a few months). That will give me the chance to do a few more stranded projects before I invest the time and money into Veniza.

SO much for knitting just from my stash...

After Seeing the swatches FlyinMySoup did for the Veniza pullover, I think that I must add that to my To do List. But I am seeing a sweater done in shades of pink and green, or green and purple, with blue swirles. If my math is right (and since I don't actually own a copy of the Fall IWN, so it probally isn't) my size would only take 18 balls of Palette, and therefor I could make the sweater for $40 ish. But since I won't have any money for things like that until after the tax fairy commeth, I should be able to know out a project or two before then.

I am on row 236 of the PFS. I know I can finish it this weekend. I might not block it this weekend, but it will be done. I will try to take some photos of it this weekend, since I don't have time to take photos and upload them durring the week (thats precious knitting time, and its dark by the time I get home, plus I need to spend time with C)

Lucie will not make a good travel project, since she is being knit on straght needles, so I will probally cast on for the POTWS or the PBSJ once the Endpaper Mitts are done.

Shake Your Tail Feathers

I had to use that title. I am on the edging of PFS #1 The end is in site. I can't believe that I made it through chart 7 in a little over a week! I think I might have this baby done in the next 10 days, if I can get 3 rows done each day (one in the morning, and two rows done after C is asleep). Of course, I am at work and don't have a new picture of it.

The Endpaper Mits are going slowly. They have been downgraded to a lunch time/car project, but since we haven't gone anywhere where I haven't been the driver all week, and I have been working through lunch to get some comp time earned, there hasn't been much progress in the last week.

The Lucie sweater body got ripped out and I cast on for a sleeve, thinking that I could get a better gauge of how much of my yarn that this is going to take, and if I can keep my gauge consistent.

The Merino Style that I got for Christmas is probably not going to work for the weekend pullover. Even though it has the same 120(ish) yards to 50 grams that the called for yarn has, the ball I pulled out to swatch with does not match the sample strand pictured in the magazine. I think I might have to come up with another project for it, maybe the Perl Buck Swing Jacket from a previous issue. That jacket has grown on me in the last few months, and from the FO's that I have seen while browsing the web. Plus, I should have enough yarn left over to make EJ's Deep V Argyle Vest with the Storm and Honey Merino Style. Two projects for the price of of one.

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.

10 days

That's it. 10 days until my birthday.

Also, 10 days until H's birthday and I have lots of knitting to finish for her.


I have the first Jaywalker sock done and I am done with the leg of the second one. I have also tarted a Calorimetry out of the leftover yarn from C's birthday sweater, which was a real quick knit. I cast off on it last night, but haven't taken any photos yet.

I haven't done much work on D's PFS in the last week. I am back at the point where it was frigged, but I have been focusing mainly on getting the Jaywalkers done. I think when they are done, I will go back to the PFS full time.

C did some holiday shopping for me on EBay.






2200 yards of fingerling weight Austrian Merino wool. I think I see a Lucie coming up, which will take me forever, which is good since I joined Wendy's Knit From Your Stash 2007 project. I think I have enough birthday and Christmas yarn coming, if not, I can hit Simpatico with birthday money that my brother is going to give me. I think my one "Get out of Jail Free Card" will be used for the Firecracker sale in July.

Moving Right Along

The PFS is almost back to the point that it was at when I showed it off last. I am about halfway though chart 2, and so far, so good on this time around







The first Jaywalker is about halfway through the foot. I love how pale the colors are in this (pardon the washed out look from the flash) I hope H enjoys getting them for her birthday.







The Holiday decorations are all done. The Santa's Marching Band has made another appearance, the first in our new house. C hasn't been as thrilled with it this year as he was last year, but our new neighbors said they have the same band ready to come out when they unpack the Holiday stuff.

Trial and error

After much trial, error and frogging, I finally made it off of Chart 1 of PFS again, and stuck a lifeline in there so fast. I'm started the second feather pattern on Chart 2 this morning, and hope to be back to where I was by Sunday, but next week the Jaywalker socks are going to be bumped to the top of the knit list, so I can have them done by the morning of the 24th. I only hope they will fit H's foot, since they are a tad too tight for me. I turned the heal on Saturday, and should finish the gusset of the first sock today, so I don't think I will have a problem.

We are 90% of the way done with holiday shopping. Saturday was all about shopping for C while he was with is grandparents. We got him a ... Well, you are going to have to wait until after the holidays to find out.

I did decided to gift out my Swallowtail Shawl to S's grandmother, since she is so hard to shop for, and it is small enough for her to get on and off in bed. I think in January I will start holiday knitting for next Christmas, knitting socks for everyone, but I haven't really decided yet.

I also want to say I hate the lighting in our house for trying to get pictures. S hates having any overhead light on in the evening, and it is too dark to use natural light when I get home, so I try to get photos on the weekend, but we are too busy.

A Frogging we will go...

Warning**Photoless post ahead.

I decided to give sock knitting another shot. I am currently working on a pair of Jaywalkers for my twin's birthday present. We are broke, and I have had the yarn (Trekking in pastels, C destroyed the band so I don't know the colorway right now) that had been a SIP for the last 11 months. Monday night I came home and frogged that sock and cast on the Jay's. So far it is an easy and fast pattern, and I think I will have the pair done before our birthday, even if that means PFS is put on hold for a bit at the end.

speaking of PFS...
I did a stupid mistake. I set her down mid-row, when I had less than 20 stitches on one of the needles, because C needed me RIGHT THEN. When I went back to PFS after C was calmed down, I forgot that I was mid-row, and accidentally pulled the needle out of the 20 stiches. After trying for 30 minutes to get the stitches on the needles, and failing due to the very delicate nature of the yarn, I made the ultimate decision to frog. Since I was knitting commando (no life-lines), that ment frogging the entire shawl.
All
100
rows.

*Sigh*

I did break the yarn and keep some as a pseudo swatch to show N how soft the yarn knits up, and if he wants to tease D with the yarn, than that is good.

C saw the 'swatch' and asked if my knitting was broken.


I did cast back on, and I am almost done with chart 1 (again), and I think I will install lifelines (if I can find something that isn't white dentle floss) between charts. I am only working on this after C goes to bed right now, since he likes to poke the needles in the ball, and has tried pulling the yarn off the needles.

It Came! It Came!

The pattern for the Peacock Feathers Shawl came in the mail on Friday! It is taking all the will power that I posses not to throw the last 8 rows of Icarus aside (and take off the needles since I only have circ needle that I like to use in the right size) and get started on this beauty.

I didn't finish chart 4 this weekend, but I think with hard work, and ignoring the husband and child, I should finish it tonight, and get started on the 4 rows of edging and binding off either tonight or tomorrow!

I am so close to being done with this puppy that I can cry, and Icarus has been a fast knit. I CO on 10-30, and am almost done 3 weeks later.

I only hope that PFS is as fast, especially since I hope to knit another one for myself out of KP Alpaca Cloud in either Midnight or Tide Pool. I put both on my holiday wish list, and will make another Kiri out of the one I don't use for PFS.