Last Project for 2007

The last project I'm working on for 2007 is the Wrap Pullover from the Classic Elite Publication #9084, Uptown Knitting. It's knit with Classic Elite Princess & Duchess. I'm making mine in Privileged Plum. I originally had wanted to knit it in the Raspberry color shown in the pattern photo, but I could not find that color anywhere so I decided on the purple. It's a real interesting knit. You start out from the sleeve cuff and work your way in, knitting the body sideways. I'm knitting the sleeves and front & back at the same time and am just about finished. Then I'll just have to knit up the lower band and voila! - she will be finis!! This won't be finished until 2008, though.

Here are some early pictures of my progress. I have not taken any recent photos.





WRAPPING THE STATS
Pattern: Wrap Pullover by Cecily Glowik
Source: Classic Elite Publication #9084, Uptown Knitting
Date: Cast On 11.22.07
Yarn: Classic Elite Princess, 8 skeins; Classic Elite Duchess, 3 skeins; Privileged Plum
Needles #1 - Sleeves & Body: Size 8 US (5.0mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Needles #2 - Hem: Size 10 US (6.5mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Note #1: Knitting sleeve/body two at a time

Happy New Year!!! Happy New Year!!! Happy New Year!!!

Finished the Duster

It's been a long time since I posted. I just have not been in the mood. I've updated ravelry but just have not posted here.

I finished the Tilted Dusted and I love the way it turned out. The blue is such a beautiful color. I have leftover yarn so I am thinking of making myself a pair of Fetching. My hands are always freezing cold. With Fetching, I can type away at the computer all day at work and keep my hands warm. I'll even see if I can knit with them on, too -- we'll see.

Here are some pictures of my duster.















DUSTING OFF THE STATS
Pattern: Tilted Duster by Norah Gaughan
Source: Interweave Knits, Fall 2007
Date: Cast On 10.21.07 // Cast Off 11.16.07 (blocked and seamed and finished with buttons by 11.20.07)
Yarn: 11 skeins Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, Sapphire Heather (100% Peruvian Highland Wool)
Needles: Size 10 US (6.0mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Cast On: Long tail
Note #1: Knit 75 rows of the skirt rather than 83
Note #2: Knit a few less rows on the collar
Note #3: Used the "Revised Horizontal One-Row Buttonhole" from the book, "The Knitter's Book of Finishing Technique's" by Nancie M. Wiseman

Splish Splash

Well, my Tilted Duster has taken a trip to the frog pond. I had gotten as far as seaming up the sides and shoulders, had picked up 174 stitches along the cast on edge and knit up about 6 rows of the skirt, when I finally decided to take stock of the nagging feeling I'd had. This thing was just going to be a bit too small - a bit too snug for my liking. Even though I had gone up a size in needles to compensate for some extra ease, I still did not like the amount of ease, well, actually - lack of ease that was going on. So - I've started over, using size 10 needles (where my guage was right on anyway) and I'll just make the larger size so I'll have enough ease. Afterall, this is meant to go over a top, so I do need a little extra room.

It's a quick knit, so starting over shouldn't set me back too much.

Tilted Duster

I started the Tilted Duster yesterday & just love it. The color I chose is absolutely gorgeous - Sapphire Heather in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. This is going to be a fast knit. I've already completed the back & right front and am more than half way though the left front. I only hope I got the sizing right. I did my guage swatch and was right on, but went up a size in needles to get a slightly looser fit than the 36" size I'm knitting. If I just go up to the next size in the pattern, that would be too big at 40 1/2", so we'll see how it goes.









DUSTING OFF THE STATS
Pattern: Tilted Duster by Norah Gaughan
Source: Interweave Knits, Fall 2007
Date: Cast On 10.21.07
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, Sapphire Heather (100% Peruvian Highland Wool)
Needles: Size 10 1/2 US (6.5mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Cast On: Long tail

Embossed Leaves

I finished the Embossed Leaves socks from Favorite Socks. I've wanted to make this sock since I first saw it in the Winter 2005 issue of Interweave Knits, and the wait was well worth it. This was a fun, easy, quick pattern. I was not too happy with the yarn itself, but the color is perfect.











THE LEAFY LOW DOWN
Pattern: Embossed Leaves by Mona Schmidt
Source: Favorite Socks, 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave Knits (and also Interweave Knits, Winter 2005)
Date: Cast On 10.01.07 // Cast Off 10.20.07
Yarn: South West Trading Company TOFUtsies (50% superwash wool, 25% soysilk, 22.5% cotton, 2.5% chitin)
Yarn Note: Chitin is fiber from shrimp & crab shells & is naturally antibacterial
Needles: Size 1 US (2.5mm), Addi Turbo circular needles, 47"
Method: Magic Loop, 2S1C, cuff down

FOOTNOTES
FootNote #1: Cast On: Long-tail cast on
FootNote #2: Leg: 2 1/2 pattern repeats
FootNote #3: Heel: Eye of Partridge; 32 rows
FootNote #4: Gusset P/U: 18 sts each side
FootNote #5: Foot: did not add extra stitch for foot (kept it at 64 sts)

I'm In - I'm In - I'm In!!

I'm in!!!!!! I finally received my invitation to Ravelry - HOORAY!.

I signed up back on August 29, and got my invitation yesterday, so it took about 6 1/2 weeks. I was #29,807 on the list. Wow.

A Lacey Summer's End

My Summer of Love Lace socks are complete.



THE LACE LOW DOWN
Pattern: Summer of Love Lace Socks by JC Briar
Source: Rockin' Sock Club - August 2007
Date: Cast On 09.19.07 // Cast Off 09.30.07
Yarn: Socks That Rock Yarn, lightweight, Flower Power
Needles: Size 1 US (2.5mm), Addi Turbo circular needles, 47"
Method: Magic Loop, 2S1C, cuff down (after cuff is knit side to side and then joined)

FOOTNOTES
FootNote #1: Cuff: K2, P2 ribbing ; 17 rnds
FootNote #2: Leg: Stockinette; 13 rnds
FootNote #3: Heel: Eye of Partridge; 32 rows
FootNote #4: Heel Turn: 12 rows
FootNote #5: Gusset P/U: 16 sts each side
FootNote #6: Shape Gusset: 20 rnds
FootNote #7: Remainder of Foot: Stockinette; 32 rnds (foot total including gusset-52 rnds)
FootNote #8: Toe decreases: 21 rnds
FootNote #9: 3 needle B/O (16 sts)

Lace Cuffs

I finished the lace cuffs of my Summer of Love Lace Socks. Here they are blocking. There was alot of pooling on both cuffs, but I guess it just adds character!! The pooling happens in about the same areas on each cuff because I started each one at the same point in the colorway.







THE STATS SO FAR
Pattern: Summer of Love Lace Socks by JC Briar
Source: Rockin' Sock Club - August 2007
Date: Cast On: 09.19.07
Yarn: Socks That Rock Yarn, lightweight, Flower Power
Needles: Size 1 US (2.5mm), Addi Turbo circular needles, 40"
Method: Magic Loop, 2S1C, cuff down (after cuff is knit side to side and then joined)

Fuzzy Finis

My Fuzzy Feet are all knitted, felted, and fitted!!! HOORAY! I'm not too happy with the stripes not matching, but nothing I can do about that now. At least they're done, they fit, and my feet will be nice and toasty this winter.

Jazz-Purr

THE SCOOP
Pattern: Fuzzy Feet by Teresa Vinson Stenersen
Source: Knitty - Winter 2002
Date: Cast On: 09.18.07 // Cast Off: 09.19.07
Yarn: Patons, Soy Wool Stripes, Natural Pink (1 skein per foot); 70% wool/30% soy
Needles: Size 10 US (6.5mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Method: Magic loop, cuff down

Summer of love, here I come

Yippee!! I finished my 2nd fuzzy foot at lunch today. The whole thing only took about 3 hours. I'll felt the pair when I get home from work tonight.

So -- I'll be able to start the Summer of Love lace socks from the August Rockin' Sock Club this evening, although I probably won't be able to accomplish a whole lot because it's back to school nite tonight.

Obssessed

I got up at 5am this morning to start work on the second foot of my second attempt at my Fuzzy Feet. I made it all the way through the gusset decreases in just 2 hours. Now it's just the foot and toe and then washing machine - here I come. I may or may not be able to finish the knitting at lunch today. We'll see.

Unfortunately, the striping is not lining up. I wasn't able to start the color change at the same point on both feet because there is not enough yarn in one skein to do it. Each foot takes almost a complete skein so there's no room to skip parts of color. I suppose I could have cut and spliced, but that would not be fun. Oh, well - I can live with it. Besides, who knows if this pair will even fit. I'll consider myself lucky if they do fit.



The reason for my obssession?? - for my mad dash to the finish line??

I was inspired by this. This is the August Rockin' Sock Club sock, knit by Pat. When I first received the kit, I was very UNINSPIRED. I thought the colorway was awful, but seeing Pat's version truly changed my mind and now I can't wait to get started, but I want to finish my Fuzzy Feet first.

I forgot to take a picture of the hank before I wound it into two balls, so all you get here is a picture of it in the balls and the teeny-weeny hank that comes with it. It is the Socks That Rock light weight yarn, Flower Power. The pattern for August is Summer of Love Lace by JC Briar. The cuff is first worked flat and then joined and the remainder of the sock is then worked in the round from the top down.

Fuzzy Wuzzy

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair
Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy
Was he

---- well ----
my Fuzzy Wuzzy did have hair
---- but ----
my Fuzzy Wuzzy had no flair

My Fuzzy Wuzzy was a weeeeeee bit too small.

So - what am I talking about, you may ask? Well, Fuzzy Feet, of course, from the Winter 2002 issue of Knitty.

I was inspired by Nicole of Stash and Burn fame to knit some Fuzzy Feet. I'm using Patons Soy Wool Stripes. I guess I left my fuzzy foot in the wash too long, because it is a little too tight on my foot, although I can wear it -- but I won't. I plan to make another one to replace it and then make the second foot, making them both a little bigger. Fortunately, I had only made one foot and felted that to see what the outcome would be. The first foot only took about 6 hours to complete, including the felting, so not too bad.

Pre-Felted Fuzzy compared to a normal sized sock

Pre-Felted Fuzzy alone

Post-Felted Fuzzy on my foot - looks OK, but its too tight around my toes
Yikes! It hurts!

Fuzzy & Scooter

THE SCOOP - Fuzzy Wuzzy with no Flair
Pattern: Fuzzy Feet by Teresa Vinson Stenersen
Source: Knitty - Winter 2002
Date: Cast On: 09.17.07 // Cast Off: 09.17.07
Yarn: Patons, Soy Wool Stripes, Natural Pink (1 skeins/1 foot); 70% wool/30% soy
Needles: Size 10 US (6.5mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Method: Magic loop, cuff down

Now that I have a better idea of the felting process I can better guage my next attempt...and here it is.

Post-Felted Fuzzy #1 compared to Pre-Felted Fuzzy #2

This is the second attempt of the first foot. I added 5 extra rows to the cuff, 4 extra rows to the heel flap and 8 extra rows to the foot. I'm going to go ahead and knit up the second foot and felt them both at the same time. If they fit, great. If they don't, oh well. I enjoyed the knitting and that's what really counts.

THE SCOOP - Fuzzy Wuzzy - 2nd attempt
Pattern: Fuzzy Feet by Teresa Vinson Stenersen
Source: Knitty - Winter 2002
Date: Cast On: 09.18.07 // Cast Off: 09.18.07
Yarn: Patons, Soy Wool Stripes, Natural Pink (1 skeins/1 foot); 70% wool/30% soy
Needles: Size 10 US (6.5mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Method: Magic loop, cuff down

...and that's a wrap...

Charm Wrap is now complete.



THE DETAILS
Pattern: Charm Wrap by Mary Jane Mucklestone
Source: Knitting Daily
Date: Cast On: 08.15.07 // Cast Off: 09.17.07
Yarn: Lion Brand, Vanna's Choice, Silver Blue (7+ skeins); 100% acrylic
Needles - Cast-On: Size 11 US (8.5mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Needles - Lace Pattern: Size 10 US (6.0mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 24"
Needles - Body: Size 9 US (5.5mm), Clover Bamboo circular needles, 29"
Needles - Sleeves: Size 9 US (5.5mm), Susan Bates circular needles, 32"
Note: Sleeves were knit in the round using the Magic Loop method

It's 99% A Wrap

I'm almost finished with my Charm Wrap. I am currenly working on the belt, but only have about an inch or so to go on that and then I have the two belt loops and then I am done. I would guess that would be no more than a half hour more on this project.

I really like the pattern, but I would not use this yarn again. As I had mentioned in my first post regarding this project, I had gone chintzy on the yarn and did not want to spend a whole lot, so I bought Lion Brand, Vanna's Choice. I should have gone with my first thoughts and bought wool, but I didn't. Oh well... Anyway, this is just something to throw on at work when I get cold (which is practically all the time). Where I work, it is extremely casual - jeans everyday, so this sweater will fit right in. (Keynotes from the big boss are self evident of the casualness...).

As usual, Scooter wanted to be a part of the photo shoot.

Back in Blue

Here's the completed back of my Charm Wrap along with a close-up of the lace edging. I've folded and pinned it in half to help it block a little in anticipation of the dreaded seaming yet to come.

It's a Charm

I have begun the Charm Wrap from Knitting Daily. I fell in love with this sweater the moment I laid eyes on it. It will be perfect for the upcoming cool weather.

I'm using Vanna's Choice in Silver Blue. I know - it's 100% acrylic, but I did not want to spend a lot on yarn, and I figure this will be a good sweater to just throw on when ever. It's more a casual thing than anything else, to be worn almost entirely with jeans.

I also fell in love with this. It's interesting to see how one size looks on different body types. Here's the link to the pattern. I may be knitting it next...

...although I still have the checkerboard afghan to finish.

Endless Summer Picture

As promised, here are a couple pictures of my summer top, Endless Summer.

Endless Summer Ends and Do-Overs Begin

I finished the Endless Summer top on Saturday and will post a picture soon. It came out a little big, but I'd rather have it a little big than too small. However, I do think I could have gotten away with making it in the smaller size. It came out to the exact dimensions I had anticipated, but the way it fits, it just hangs, so a snugger fit may have been more appealing. Oh well - you live and learn. I may make it again - it was a fast & easy knit. Knitting in the round rather than front and back separately certainly saved on seaming. I only had to set in the sleeves and that was not all that bad.

The mesh pattern in the sweater is really pretty. It adds a lot of texture as does the seed stitch. All and all, a great pattern. That's why I may just knit this one again. I very rarely knit the same item twice because I get too bored, but this one just may be a winner. I would change the color combo, though, and use a different yarn - maybe a cotton blend or wool.

HERE ARE THE STATS
Pattern: Endless Summer by Katherine Hunt
Source: Knitter's 87 (Summer 2007)
Date: Cast On: 07.14.07 // Cast Off: 08.04.07
Yarn: Lion Brand, Micro Spun, Lavender, Lime and Buttercup
Needles: Size 5 US (3.75mm), Inox circular needles, 16" and 24"


I just started back into the checkerboard afghan for my son. I had been knitting this, but I ripped that out on Saturday & Sunday (yes - it took 2 days) and started it over in crochet. I did not like using 6 skeins at once - too much tangling up and my floats for the color changes were too big (and discovered too late), so I decided to just start from scratch. I figured I'd try crochet and see how that goes for awhile. I'll post pictures on my progress soon.

This is the checkerboard before it got sent to the frong pond:



I am also going to start the Arrowheads sweater as well. This is the progress I hade made almost a year ago before that got sent to the frog pond because my gauge was waaaay off. I think I am ready to tackle this project again. It's about time I learned two-handed fairisle.

My Next Project...

...is Endless Summer by Katherine Hunt from Knitter's (K87), Summer 2007

Pics from Knitter's K87, Summer 2007

I actually liked a lot of projects from this issue, so I may be knitting quite a few.

I'm going to knit this particular sweater out of Lion Brand Microspun in lavender, buttercup and lime. I've wanted to try this yarn for quite some time now, despite hearing alot of complaints about its tendency to split, but I had not found that "perfect" pattern that fits the guage. Well, this particular pattern fits the bill. My guage with the microspun is right on. The yarn is so soft and the colors are so fun & frivolous. And -- so far, I have not had an issue with the yarn splitting. I can tell from the yarn ends that the tendency is definately there, but as long as I watch out for that, I do not think it will be a problem.

One change I am making to the pattern is that I am going to knit this in the round. I want to avoid as many seams as possible.

Solstice Slip is 100%

My Solstice Slip socks are finished. They were a lot of fun to knit, especially because of the wonderful color. The slip stitch pattern and cabling was purrrfect!

I actually finshed them on Jacob's 15th birthday. Happy Birthday, Jacob!!!!!





THE DETAILS
Pattern: The Solstice Slip by JC Briar
Date: Cast On: 06.25.07 // Cast Off: 07.14.07
Yarn: Socks That Rock Yarn, Firebird, light weight
Needles: Size 1 US (2.5mm), Addi Turbo's circular needles, 47"
Method: Magic Loop; 2S1C; Toe-Up

FOOTNOTES
FootNote #1 - CO: Figure 8 Cast On for Toe (size small)
FootNote #2 - Toe Shaping: Short rows, garter stitch
FootNote #3 - Foot: 60 rounds - stockinette sole, pattern on instep (7+ pattern rpts)
FootNote #4 - Heel: Short rows, garter stitch
FootNote #5 - Leg: 40 rounds in pattern (5 pattern rpts)
FootNote #6 - Finish: no cuff ribbing, just bind off in pattern

75% complete

Here are pictures of my socks at the 75% complete juncture. These were as of July 10. I've completed 21 rounds of the leg (2+ pattern repeats).

22% on Solstice Slip

I LOVE the colors !!!!!!! And the pattern is great, too. I think Scooter loves the socks as well. I have completed 24 rounds of the foot (3 pattern repeats). I probably will knit 3 more repeats of the pattern before I start the heel -- I'll see how it "measures" up.

Here are some progress pictures of my Solstice Slip.