Yet Another Wallaby (& upcoming projects)

I started my SIXTH wallaby last Wednesday. It is for my husband's cousin who is expecting her third child in April (a boy). I love this pattern. It is such an enjoyable knit. It's also a quick knit, especially if you are making the smallest size (Wanda Wallby, size 2)!

Here's the wallaby after 4 hours of work. I have completed the ribbing, part of the body and have added the pouch.

--front--

-back--

********************************
I am using the magic loop method to knit the sleeves (2 at a time).



********************************
I had my usual helpers...

********************************
I have not touched Glorianna at all. I think I will rip it out. I just can't get into this scarf at all. The same thing happened with the Trellis scarf. Oh well, I just got some yarn for another shawl. I am going to try the Leaf Lace Shawl, (a Fiber Trends pattern by Evelyn Clark).

I also will be starting Kuba from the book Knitting Out of Africa. This will be a nice challenge for me because it involves entrelac and I've never tried entrelac before.

Glorianna Update

I am through row 8 of the 2nd repeat of Glorianna. I'm using size 4 US (3.5mm) 24" Inox circular needles. Hopefully, I can stick with this scarf and not rip it out!!!

Glorianna

I decided to rip out the Trellis Scarf I started last week. I just could not get into it. I have now started Glorianna, a scarf from the Elizabeth I series. (It's one of three scarfs). I'll see if I can stick with this. I'm in kind of a rut right now. I'm just not sure what I want to knit. This, too, will be made out of Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud in peppermint.

Jungle Stripes: Complete

I finished my Jungle Stripes socks yesterday.




***************************************************
THE DETAILS
Pattern: My own basic cuff down pattern
Cuff: 20 rounds, k2, p2
Leg: 40 rounds, stockinette stitch
Heel: 32 rows, eye of partridge stitch
Gusset P/U: 18 stitches each side
Gusset Decreases: 22 rounds
Instep: 30 rounds, stockinette stitch
Toe: Circular toe, 21 rounds
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Sherperd Sock, Jungle Stripes
Time: Cast On - 12.21.05 // Cast Off - 03.05.06

More Jungle Stripes

My son was home sick today giving me some unexpected time on the needles since I did not go into work. I managed to knit away on my socks and am now 61% complete. I've turned the heel, P/U'd the gusset stitches and have knit 7 rounds of the gusset decrease.



I must admit, I had some help from my friend.

GOLD Medal Winner

for this...

Flower Basket Shawl

Jungle Stripes Progress (2S1C)

I am also working on my Jungle Stripes socks. The yarn is Lorna's Laces and I am using the magic loop method on size 1 addi turbos and am making two socks at once. So far, I have completed 20 rounds for the cuff (k2,p2) 40 rounds for the leg (stockinette) and 32 rows for the heel (eye of partridge) ==>53% complete.

Trellis Scarf

I started the Trellis Scarf from InterWeave Knits, Spring 2006. I'm using Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud in peppermint. (It's what I used for the Frost Flowers & Leaves Shawl & I have TONS left over. I cast on Saturday, 02.25.06 but really have not done whole lot of knitting on it. It's one of those things that I am not sure I really want to make right now, but for the lack of anything else, I started it since I had the yarn.

I have completed the beginning border chart. That puts me 18 rows into the project (5% complete).

Knits-N-Purrs Gallery now complete

I haven't posted here for a while because I've been busy updating my gallery of finished items. It took hours and hours and hours to complete. I had to go all the way back to 2002 and really pick my brains to remember what revolved around each particular project. But, I got it done, and now the gallery has all my finished projects with details to go along with it. I even managed to figure out how to create little thumbnails of each item which, with the click of a mouse, you are taken right to that specific FO. I also have a separate gallery for counted cross stitch items, although I have not done any recent stitching (not since 2001!). Got too caught up in the knitting bug...

Additional updates should not be bad at all, since going forward, I will update it as I finish each project.

Knits-N-Purrs Gallery: 2006

Knits-N-Purrs Gallery: 2005

Knits-N-Purrs Gallery: 2004

Knits-N-Purrs Gallery: 2003

Knits-N-Purrs Gallery: 2002

Knits-N-Purrs Cross Stitch Gallery

Enjoy!!!

Flower Basket Shawl (after blocking)

My Flower Basket Shawl is totally finished which makes it a gold medal winner for the knitting olympics. I really enjoyed knitting this shawl and will probably knit more.





***************************************************
THE DETAILS
Pattern: Flower Basket Shawl, (a Fiber Trends pattern by Evelyn Clark)
Time: Cast on - Feb 10, 2006 // Cast Off - Feb 19, 2006
Yarn: KnitPicks Essential in DUSK --> 3 skeins
Needles: Circular, size 6 US (4.0 mm), using a variety of lengths (16", 24" and 32"); Clover Bamboo for the two smaller sizes, Susan Bates-Silverado for the 32"
Cast-On: Figure 8
Lower Flower Basket Chart: FOURTEEN repeats
Dimensions: 63" x 47" x 47"
Extra Note: Knit for the Knitting Olympics, Team USA - Lace

Frost Flower & Leaves (after blocking)

***************************************************
STATS: Frost Flowers & Leaves
Pattern: Frost Flowers & Leaves from the book, A Gathering of Lace
Time: Start - Sept 25, 2005 // Finish - Feb 02, 2006 (about 4 1/2 months)
Yarn: Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud, Peppermint --> not quite 4 hanks
Needles: Circular, size 3 US, (3.25mm) using a variety of lengths (16", 24", 29", and 40"); Inox for the first 3 lengths & Addi Turbos for the 40"
Cast-On: Magic Loop
Chart 2 Pattern Repeats: FIVE
Edging: Pattern change - right cable rather than wrapped stitch
Dimensions: 51" x 51"

It's Blocking...Need I Say More?!

FLOWER BASKET SHAWL

Knits-N-Purrs Gallery

I am in the process of creating another blog, Knits-N-Purrs Gallery, an on-line knitting journal to chronical my finshed projects along with details & notes specific to each project. Initial posts will also include items non-knit related, but crafty just as well, so that I can get all my projects on line in one place.

They're here!!!

My blocking wires arrived today so hopefully I will be able to block my Flower Basket Shawl this afternoon after work. GOLD medal here I come...

Once FBS is blocked, I'll block the Frost Flowers & Leaves Shawl.

Knitting Olympics Lace Event - going for gold

I finished the Flower Basket Shawl this weekend. I was able to manage 14 repeats out of the yarn, with just a little left to spare. Whew!! That was close -- a photo finish, I would say. The picture below shows the bit of yarn left over.



And here are some pictures before blocking. I hope to do the blocking within the next day or so. I had ordered some blocking wires 2 weeks ago, so expect those to arrive any day. If not, I'll just have to block her with pins. Afterall, in order to win GOLD, my project needs to be completely finished (see rules here) by the time the olympic flame goes out. That includes darning in all ends and blocking.






***************************************************
THE KNITTY GRITTY
Pattern: Flower Basket Shawl, (a Fiber Trends pattern by Evelyn Clark)
Time: Cast on - Feb 10, 2006 // Cast Off - Feb 19, 2006
Yarn: KnitPicks Essential in DUSK --> 3 skeins
Needles: Circular, size 6 US (4.0 mm), using a variety of lengths (16", 24" and 32"); Clover Bamboo for the two smaller sizes, Susan Bates-Silverado for the 32"
Cast-On: Figure 8
Lower Flower Basket Chart: FOURTEEN repeats
Extra Note: Knit for the Knitting Olympics, Team USA - Lace

Success - at last!

Cleo finally decided to try out the felted kitty bed I made. She has slept in it a couple times, so I guess it will be a keeper. Jazz-Purr has also tried it out once or twice. Scooter is the only one who has yet to try. (She's the one sleeping in the background).




Jazz -Purr (my oh-so-sweet little boy)

A Judge's Review

I just "re-judged" my stitch count on my Flower Basket Shawl & I think I will be OK after all with 14 repeats rather than just 12. I am almost finished with the 12th repeat and I still have a little bit left of my 2nd skein. I had thought I would not even get through repeat 11 with this skein. I had started my 2nd skein on row 78 of the lower basket chart, but when I looked at my stitch count, I looked at repeat 7, row 8, but I actually should have looked at repeat 8, row 8, based on how I am counting my rows. In other words, row 78 means I have finished the entire repeat #7 and am on the 8th row of the 8th repeat. So what does this all mean?

Instead of the first skein getting me through 9,300 stitches, it actually got me through 11,300 stitches. That means my second skein should get me through about the 2nd row of repeat 13 and then I should have plenty of yarn left to get through the 14th repeat. My 3 skeins should be able to knit a total of about 33,900 stitches and total stitches for my shawl are only about 31,100 stitches.

Based on a 14 repeat shawl, I am about 69% complete which should put me in great running for a medal. I will be able to complete this before the Olympic flame goes out. HOORAY!!!

Knitting Olympics - Day 6

I am coming along nicely on the Flower Basket Shawl. I am through the 6th row of the 11th repeat of the lower basket chart. However, I think I am only going to be able to complete 12 repeats before I start the edging. If I go any farther, I think I will run out of yarn, and I do not think I can get any more before the olympic flame goes out. One skein got me through about 9,300 sttiches. I am nearing the end of my 2nd skein (I only have 3 total) and I have knit about 18,100 stitches, or about 8,800 for the 2nd skein. That means I have about 500 stitches left with this skein, which would get me through about 2 more rows, not even completing the 11th repeat. With 14 repeats, I calculated about 31,100 total stitches for the shawl, but at my current run rate, I can only get about 27,900 sttiches out of the 3 skeins I have. With 12 repeats, the completed shawl will be about 24,700 so that looks like what I will have to go for. Based on the 12 repeats, I am about 73% complete.

Knitting Olympics - Day 5

My Flower Basket Shawl for the Knitting Olympics is coming along quite nicely. I have just completed the 8th repeat of the lower flower basket chart. The pattern calls for only 7 repeats, but I wanted a larger shawl, so I am going to go with either 12 or 14 repeats. If I do 12 repeats, then I am 48% complete. If I go for 14 repeats, I would be 38% complete. I'll see how it goes. I'm using KnitPicks Essential & really like this yarn. It has a nice spongy feel to it.

This has turned out to be an extremely easy knit. Maybe too easy for the olympics? My biggest challenge is completing this on time, so I guess it still counts.

Felted Kitty Bed

I finished the kitty bed but I am not too happy with the felting results. I washed the thing FIVE times and it still did not felt all that much. I used Lionbrand Landscapes yarn and will NOT be using this yarn again for felting. It did not live up to its labeling for felting. It also took DAYS to dry.

Here's the finished product. Not only did the felting give me trouble, but none of my 3 cats even want to use it. See how Scooter is lying outside the bed??



**************************************************
The Specifics
Pattern: Felted Kitty Bed
Time: Cast on--> 02.03.06 // Cast off--> 02.06.06
Yarn: 6 skeins-Lionbrand Landscapes, Spring Desert & a partial skein-Lion Brand Fun Fur, Light Blue
Needles: Size 10 (6.0mm) Clover bamboo circulars (Maybe if I had used a larger needle it would have felted better??)

Overzealous recipient

Gosh - Jazz-Purr is certainly anxious. He's already using his kitty bed & it was not even off the needles!!! I put it down for 2 seconds, and Mr. Jazz-Purr came strolling in, as determined as could be, and crawled right into the darn thing. At least I know he's appreciative of all my hard work!!!








I finally coaxed him out and binded off. Pre-felting dimensions are about 18" high and 20" wide. I'm hoping to get some time this evening to felt it. I'll post pictures post-felting once it's done.

Team USA - Lace

I just joined Team USA, specifically, the lace team. It has all the same rules as Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics, but as the name suggests, it is for US olympians only. I'm going to start training tonight after work by making a couple gauge swatches to help me decide what needle size I'm going to use for the Flower Basket Shawl.

I am currently working on a felted kitty bed from Wendy.

I ordered some blocking wires today, so once I receive them, I can block FF&L.

Frost Flowers & Leaves - FINISHED!!!

As the header suggests, I have finished the FF&L shawl. It took a little less than 4 hanks of KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud and a little less than 4 1/2 months. The picture below is the shawl before blocking. It currently measure about 37" x 37". I'll probably do the blocking this weekend.



STATS: Frost Flowers & Leaves
Pattern: Frost Flowers & Leaves from the book, A Gathering of Lace
Time: Start - Sept 25, 2005 // Finish - Feb 02, 2006 (about 4 1/2 months)
Yarn: Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud, Peppermint --> not quite 4 hanks
Needles: Circular, size 3 US, (3.25mm) using a variety of lengths (16", 24", 29", and 40"); Inox for the first 3 lengths & Addi Turbos for the 40"
Cast-On: Magic Loop
Chart 2 Pattern Repeats: FIVE
Edging: Pattern change - right cable rather than wrapped stitch

***************************************************
As far as what to work on next: I have a pair of Jungle Stripes socks OTN that I have not worked on because I was enjoying the FF&L shawl way too much to stop... So, I'll work on those for a while until next Friday, when I'll begin the Flower Basket Shawl for the Knitting Olympics. I'm going to use KnitPicks Essential sock weight yarn in dusk.

The Home Stretch (no pun intended)==>FF&L

I'm on the home stretch, the last side of the edging, fast approaching THE END... All that will be left is the "stretch" part - the blocking. I should complete the knitting by the end of this week, I would think, barring any major catastrophe. Then I'll have to figure out how to block this thing. I'm really not looking forward to that, as I am not that great at blocking.

Jazz-Purr & Scooter

Edging Along on Frost Flowers & Leaves

I am busy knitting away on the edging...still. I've reached the halfway mark. Hooray!!! The edging is extremely relaxing to knit - it just takes a tremendous amount of time. I'm guessing it will probably take me about 2 more weeks to finish up unless I miraculously get a huge chunk of time in which to knit (which I very much doubt). I started with a full hank of the Alpaca Cloud so it will be interesting to see if it will get me through the entire edging or if I will need to start a 2nd one.




The inspection committee was out in full force this morning...

Happy 16th Birthday, Adam!!!

Jazzy In-a Bag

Someone stole my knitting bag. Who can it be??? Well, it's my deliciously cute knitting buddy, Jazz-Purr -- my sweet, sweet devonrex.









Here's a picture of the edging for the FF&L shawl. I just completed the first side, and considering the fact that this is a square shawl, that means I am 25% of the way through.




I joined today. Opening ceremonies begin 02.10.06 and the games will last for 16 days. I chose to compete in the Flower Basket Shawl marathon. That means I have to begin, complete AND block the shawl in 16 days in order to be a contender. Let the games begin.....!

Edging for FF&L

I am now working on the edging for the Frost Flowers & Leaves shawl. If I calculated correctly, the edging will take about 21,600 stitches. For the rows where you are suppoed to PU a stitch for the wrap, I am doing a cable instead. I did the wrap stitch, but this did not look as clean as I wanted it to so I switched to a cable. This does not look that great either, but hopefully when the shawl is blocked, it will look close enough to the picture in the book.

FF&L shawl body complete

F&L: % Complete as of Sunday, 01.08.06

FINISHED CHART 3: BODY COMPLETE!!!!!

Thirteen rounds knit since my last update --> 162 total rounds completed.

• 91,016 stitches cumulative (14,408 stitches since my last update)
• 100% of body completed (16% since my last update)
• 81% of entire shawl completed, including edging (13% since my last update)

FF&L - 3rd hank

Just a quick update that I forgot to add yesterday. I started the 3rd hank of the Alpaca Cloud (peppermint) about a quarter of the way through round 138. That's at about 65,000 total stitches, so I am guessing that I will use almost 5 complete hanks (@ 440 yds each) by the time I finish this shawl.

FF&L Update: Working on Chart 3

FF&L: % Complete as of Tuesday, 01.03.06

WORKING ON CHART 3 (13 rounds to go)

Fourteen rounds knit since my last update --> 149 total rounds completed.

• 76,708 stitches cumulative (14,844 stitches since my last update)
• 84% of body completed (16% since my last update) {adjusted for 5 chart 2 repeats}
• 68% of entire shawl completed, including edging (13% since my last update) {adjusted for 5 chart 2 repeats}

Note: I ended up knitting only 5 repeats of chart 2, rather than the 7 repeats called for in the pattern.