Big Bad Bolero

I'm going to a wedding in August so decided to knit a cute little bolero for my "little black dress" that I am going to wear. I chose Fiery Bolero from the Summer 2005 issue of Interweave Knits. It's a pattern by Debbie Bliss.

I was really, really good and swatched, swatched, swatched. The pattern calls for size 5 US needles & DK weight yarn. I am knitting this with Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Silk DK in black. Well, this so called DK weight yarn is more like sport weight, so I couldn't get gauge until I went up to size 7 US. This made the fabric a little too loose for my taste, but I decided to go ahead with it anyway.

I knit the entire thing except for the ribbed border. As I was knitting this, I could not help but notice that the sleeves looked too wide. I kept going anyway. I finished it and pinned it together to try it on. Yup - sleeves are way toooooo big. The fit itself is good (without the border), but, once I add the ribbed border, well, can we say FROG POND????????.

Needless to say, I have begun this all over again on size 5 needles. I'm not sure if this will now be a little too small, but I really liked the fabric knit on size 5's. And, if it is a little small, I can always block it to the right dimensions (I hope). So, here we go again. It's a good thing I'm a process knitter, because I don't mind at all that I have to start over, even though I was almost finished with the first attempt.

Here are some pictures of the first go round. I'll post new pics with the new & improved smaller size once it's complete. I just hope I can complete this by the wedding which is August 8...

To Dream a Dream - Reverie

I had some yarn that I had initially intended to knit for socks, but it was a bit too thick for my taste so I decided to make a beret instead. This is Reverie, a free pattern on Ravelry. I'm not a big hat wearer, so I may only wear this at home.

Catching-Up on some Sunshine

Here's some pictures of my Sunshine socks from Cookie A's book Sock Innovation. It's for the June KAL.

Kai-Mei of the Sea (mermaid colorway)

I frogged my Lilac Kai-Mei's and cast on with a solid color -
Kai-Mei #2. It's in KnitPicks Essential in Mermaid.

The right sock is complete.

Decision Time

I think I am going to frog my Kai-Mei's and use a different yarn. I think the yarn is just too busy for the pattern.

Kai-Mei

I am working on Kai-Mei from Cookie A's book, Sock Innovation. I've joined the Sock Innovation KAL on ravelry. Each month, we vote on one pattern from the book and one pattern from any of Cookie's other patterns. For May, we chose Kai-Mei from the book, and Pomatomus. I had knit a pair of Pomatomus for my Mother back in March, so I am going to knit Kai-Mei for the KAL.

I'm using 100% merino wool, lace weight, from 100Purewool in the Sangria colorway. Because it's lace weight, I cast on 72 sts rather than the 66 sts that the pattern called for.

Needless to say, the socks look pretty tiny in the 3x3 rib. My son couldn't believe that it was an actual pair of socks, because they were so small.




Here they are slightly stretched. I have not tried them on yet to make sure of the fit, but I am pretty sure they will fit. I do have small feet, after all (US 5 1/2). This yarn is nice & springy, and soft to boot (excuse the pun)!

Montavilla...

...is frogged.

She hopped into the frog pond on Friday, May 1, 2009.

Montavilla & Spiral Bound

I have begun the Montavilla Market Bag from KnitPicks. I loved the colors of the organic cotton and though this was a good way to use all 4!





I also took a trip to FEDEX-Kinkos and fixed up some of my favorite books so they can now lie flat! I had been toying with this idea for a very long time, now, but had always chickened out. I recently saw some photos and decided it was finally time to take the plunge. I couldn't be happier. The books came out fantastically.

Roses for Glynis

These roses are from my garden & remind me of Glynis...












THE STATS
Pattern: Glynis, by Cookie A.
Source: Sock Innovation
Date: Cast On 04.07.09 // Cast Off 04.26.09
Yarn: KnitPicks Essential, 2 skeins; Confetti Multi
Needles: Size 1 US (2.25mm); KnitPicks
Note: Magic Loop; 2 socks at once

Glynis: 4 pattern repeats complete

I am working on Glynis, the first pattern in Cookie A's new book, Sock Innovation. I LOVE her patterns - they are absolutely ingenious. I just finished Pomatomus (my ravelry link), which was a birthday gift for my mom. I plan on making another pair for myself. Pomatomus is a free pattern on Knitty and can be found here.

Here's my progress on Glynis:







THE STATS
Pattern: Glynis, by Cookie A
Source: Sock Innovation
Date: Cast On 04.07.09
Yarn: Knit Picks Essential, Confetti Multi; 2 skeins
Needles: Size 1 US (2.25mm), KnitPicks Harmony circular needles
Method: Magic Loop

Catch-Up

I think I had better catch up on some of my projects. Complete details and additional pictures are on Ravelry.

Knotty or Knice socks by Chrissy Gardner
Knotty or Knice-Ravelry, October 2008







Career Check by Kathy Zimmerman
Career Check-Ravelry, December 2008






Simplicity by Janel Laidman, The Eclectic Sole
Simplicity-Ravelry, March 2009












Pomatomus by cookiea
Pomatomus-Ravelry, April 2009

Progress