Ta Daa

••DRUM ROLL PLEASE••

My Icarus Shawl is finally complete. It took me 13 days less than a year but I finally did it!!! You can also take a look at Icarus in my gallery of finished objects.

Here she is pre-blocking.

Scooter is giving her "tail" of approval...

Blocking

Blocking close-up

Fashion Line-Up

THE DETAILS
Pattern: Icarus Shawl, by Miriam Felton
Source: Summer 2006 issue of Interweave Knits
Date: Cast On - 05.19.06 // Cast Off - 05.06.07
Yarn: KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud, Autumn (2+ skeins)
Needles: Size 3 US (3.25mm), Inox Grey circular needles, 32"
Pattern Notes: 5 repeats of chart 1
Dimensions: 72" wide across the top; 35" from top center to bottom point; 50" along the sides

Edging Left To Go

After 58,407 stitches, Icarus is 95% complete.
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All 4 charts are done.
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There are only have 5 rows of the edging left to knit.
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Then there's blocking.
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Then she's done.

90% Complete

As the heading states, I am 90% complete --

-- on Icarus.

It's now taking about a half hour to complete each row. I completed 2 rows at lunch today, sitting outside under the beautiful sunny blue skies of Northern California. What a delight. Then I had to go back to work.

I have 7 rows left of chart 4 and 5 rows of the edging and then I will be finished with the knitting. So, that's 12 rows at a minumum of 30 minutes each, or at least 6 more hours of knitting. And because the stitch count increases with every other row, I'll probably be up to 45 minutes or even an hour per row once I am on the edging. I would estimate probably another 8 to 10 hours total on the shawl. Then, of course, it needs to get blocked. I think I am still looking at a few more weeks, with sock knitting added in here & there. I cast on for Icarus May 19, 2006, which means I have just enough time (I think) to complete it before the year marker hits me in the head. I have 22 days to knit 12 rows & block. I think I can manage that -- or so you would think. BUT - only time will tell.

Picture updates

Here are some progress pics of my Inside Out socks. They are still at row 61 of the cable pattern of the leg. My inspector, the ever-so-cute Jazz-Purr, was out in full force today giving me his approval on the work completed so far.













My Icarus Shawl is now 77% complete. I finished chart 3 and now just need to begin chart 4. After that, the edging is all that remains.

Quick Update

I have no new pictures to share but thought I'd give a quick update anyway.

I am just about complete with my Inside Out Socks. Changing to US size 1 (2.5mm) really did the trick in loosening up the leg just enough to get it comfortably over my heel. I now just need to decide how tall I want my socks. I can either just go another 4 rows of the cable pattern (65 rows total) to put me at about 6" for the cuff or I can go 14 more rows (75 total rows of the cable pattern). I'm fairly certain I'll have enough yarn - it's just a question of length. Typically, I like my socks on the shorter side. I'll just see how I feel once I finish row 65.

I actually would have been finished over a week ago, but I've been working on my Icarus Shawl exclusively. I'm in the middle of chart 3 which puts me at about 75% complete. I'm at the point now where it takes 15 to 20 minutes just to complete 1 row.

I'll post progress pictures within the next couple of days (maybe!).

Progress Report

*****Progress on my Inside Out Socks*****

Here, I'm about two thirds of the way through the foot. I'm using size 000 (1.5mm) Addi Turbo's, 47". I started out using the 40" length but with such tiny needles, I needed to go to the longer length to work the Magic Loop easier.



In this picture, I'm just about finished with the foot. The goal here is to end at about 1.75" before the back of the heel.



The heel is finally complete. I knit about 69 rows for the foot and then started the heel. I switched back to size 0's (2.0mm), still using a 47" length. It's actually quite interesting the way the heel takes shape using the short row technique. And there's no need to worry about picking up gusset stitches!! Knitting these socks from the toe up has been a lot fun and a great learning experience. I am really enjoying knitting something in a manner entirely differently than what I am used to.




Here's a view of one heel complete next to the other sock "in waiting."




*****Progress on my Icarus Shawl*****

Icarus is moving along quite nicely, as well (about 55% complete). I've pretty much decided to go with just 5 repeats of chart 1, although I still have a few more rows to go before I make a final decision. I do think the shawl will be big enough, though, without the 6th repeat.

Inside Out!

The name of the pattern is Inside Out and it is designed by Kaci Kyler Hays. The yarn is Socks That Rock Yarn from Blue Moon Fiber Arts in the colorway Monsoon. It's the first edition of the 2007 Rockin' Sock Club. This is my first foray into knitting toe-up socks. I've wanted to try toe-ups, but have been kind of intimidated by the thought of it. I know how to knit cuff down, I really enjoy it, and I think I am pretty capable of knitting any type of sock from the cuff down. So if that formula works, why fool with it? To coin an old phrase: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Well, forget that. I love trying new things with my knitting. I enjoy teaching myself different techniques and taking on new challenges, so why not try toe-up socks? The perfect opporunity came with the Rockin' Sock Club's first kit for this year. And so far, I'm not disappointed. Here are the toes, short rows and all.




And true to form, I am knitting these both at the same time using the Magic Loop method - 2 socks on one circular needle. I'm using Addi Turbo's. For the toes, I used size 0 (2.0mm), 40". The pattern instructions called for a crochet provisional cast on, but I prefer using the magic 8 method. In that way, my extra stitches are already on a needle and therefore very easy to pick up and begin kintting.

Cleo came by and gave me her official meow of approval.



I'm now about 13 rows into the foot of my socks. I'm using size 000 (1.5mm), 40" Addi Turbo's. (The pattern was written for a size 10 foot and I'm only a 5 1/2, so I am using smaller needles). You may not be able to tell from the pictures below, but the pattern on the instep is slightly different from the pattern on the sole.

Instep

Sole

Needless to say, I have not knit Icarus for a few days. I may work on her a little bit tonight. I am making slow, but forward, progress on her, so that's a good thing. I'm up to row 150, which is not quite half way through the 5th repeat of chart 1. I still haven't decided whether or not I'll go for the 6th repeat. I'm 42% complete if I stick with just 5 repeats & 35% complete if I go with 6 repeats.

Rockin' Sock Club

Stay tuned for updates regarding this:



I'm back to knitting socks - this time a toe-up pair. I'll try to post some progress pictures this weekend. I'm using the magic loop method, 2 socks at once.

I also am still working on Icarus. I'm on the 5th repeat of chart 1, although I haven't decided yet whether or not I'll go for the 6th repeat.

The checkerboard afghan is still on the back burner. I probably won't pick that up again until at least this current pair of socks & the Icarus shawl are complete.

Icarus Shawl -- FINALLY

Well, after an EXTREMELY long hiatus, I picked up the Icarus Shawl a little over a week ago. The pattern is from the Summer 2006 issue of Interweave Knits, by Miriam Felton. In a matter of 8 days, I have gone from a measly 3% complete to 31% complete. I should be finished with this in about 2 weeks if I just continue to work on this and this alone. However - I may decide to knit 6 repeats of chart 1 rather than just 5. I'll decide that once I finish the 5th repeat. Right now I am about half way through the 4th repeat.



Of course, that means my sons's Checkerboard afghan is now on the back burner. It's about 40% complete.

...not another Wallaby...

A colleague of mine at work is having a baby (a little girl) in about 6 or 7 weeks. So, I thought it was about time I made another Wallaby. I started with the sleeves first - knit using the magic loop method - 2 sleeves on one needle. I'm using Lion Brand Jiffy in the San Diego colorway. This is Wallaby #7!!!!!





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THE DETAILS
Pattern: The Wonderful Wallaby
Source: Cottage Creations
Time: Cast On - 11.12.06
Size: Wanda Wallaby (children's size 2)
Yarn: Lion Brand Jiffy, San Diego (#319)
Sleeves: Magic Loop (2 sleeves on 1 circular) {ribbing-size 6 US (4.25mm) (K1,P1) (12 rnds); sleeves-size 8 US (5.0mm) (42 rnds); Susan Bates Silverado, 32"}
Extra Note: For a colleague of mine at work. It's a girl!!

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My next project will be Fiesta Socks by Lucy Neatby. The yarn is from Blackberry Ridge and is 100% wool, fingering weight, in Cream & Tropical Fish.



I guess this means that my Arrowheads sweater & Icarus shawl are still on hold...

Icarus Shawl @ 32 rows

Fail Safe Progress

Here are some progress pictures of the Fail Safe Socks. As always, Cleo likes to be a part of my knitting. The first 2 pictures are after 2 repeats of the pattern.






These next 2 pictures are after 5 repeats. That's long enough. The next step will obviously be the heel.





I certainly like the way the colors are patterning this go round. With the 56 stitch cast on, it was pretty ugly. The green almost looked like a dingy grey because of the way it was coming up against the other colors. With the 64 stitch cast on, more of the "pastel-i-ness" is showing through.

UPDATED Stats:
Cast on: 11.05.06 (64 sts)
Yarn: KnitPicks Memories, Paper Dolls
Needle: 2S1C; size US1 (2.5mm); Additurbos, 40"
Pattern: Elongated Corded Rib
Source: Sensational Knitted Socks, Charlene Schurch
Method: Magic Loop
Cuff: 15 rnds; (k2,p2 rib)
Leg: 5 repeats of the Elongated Corded Rib patttern

KAL:

I officially joined the Sensational Knitted Socks KAL yesterday.

I also joined Lacevember - . This is a lace KAL only active during the month of November. Hopefully, it will give me the push I need to make some progress on my Icarus shawl.

The Amazing Lace - Challenge #1: Meet the Team

Call me crazy, but I joined yet another KAL. This one's THE AMAZING LACE. OK - so I have now entered the world of reality knitting...and no, I have never even watched The Amazing Race on TV. For reality TV I watch American Idol. (Go Taylor!!).

In this KAL, we are presented with challenges every two weeks. I know it will be tough & back-breaking, but I'm up for the challenge. I will be making the Icarus Shawl (yes, I also belong to the Icarus Shawl KAL, among others). The pattern is from the Summer 2006 issue of Interweave Knits, by Miriam Felton.


Our first challenge is to introduce ourselves.

There's me, Tammy, and ---

---my teammate, Autumn, a finicky red head. She hails from the Alpaca Cloud Provence of KnitPicks County. I hope I can keep her spirits in check. She can be pretty feisty at times. Oh well, I guess that's the nature of red heads. At least I can use that to my advantage. She'll be the one pushing our team to keep on going.


She even has her own name tag, so I guess that makes her an official entrant, the VIP, so to speak. The one in charge. The head honcho. The big cheese. You get the picture... She has the personality traits to keep us ahead of the game. I don't even have a name tag. Go figure...



Autumn's ready to travel the world in our adventure together. I'm looking forward to going where no knitter has gone before. Of course, we're going to need some form of transportation, some way to take us on our journey.




And this is it - our official means of transportation (we have plenty of spares in case of a breakdown, or worse yet, if we can no longer afford gas).





And then, of course, we have our Amazing Lace Board of Directors who will be monitoring our progress.

Our Announcer - Scooter

Our Chaperone - Cleo

Our TroubleMaker - Jazz-Purr

READY. SET. GO!