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.

The Solstice Slip

I am working on the June sock for the Rockin' Sock Club. The pattern is written for both toe-up and cuff down, and because I have only knit 2 pairs toe-up, I decided I needed more practice, so I am knitting this pair toe-up as well. I've completed the toes (2 socks at once, you know!) and hope to begin the feet tonight. I absolutely love the color of the yarn. It reminds me of summer time and popsicles.




THE DETAILS SO FAR
Pattern: The Solstice Slip by JC Briar
Date: Cast On: 06.25.07
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

A Change of Mind

Well, I was originally going to knit the Swallowtail Shawl, and actually cast on and knit up a couple of rows, but after talking to E in my knitting group, I decided to make a stole instead. I've made so many triangle shaped shawls anyway (which I never wear). In chatting with E, I discovered she was thinking of getting back into lace by knitting a rectangle shawl, and that got me to thinking - a rectangle - why not???

I had been eyeing Eunny Jang's Print O' The Wave Stole for quite some time, now, but had steered away from it because I did not like the fact of knitting the two halves separately and then grafting the halves together. After browsing through Eunny's gallery of other knitter's stoles, I relaized that you could do this all in one piece without grafting. So, that's what I am going to do. At the midway point, I may try reversing the pattern to see if I get the same look as Eunny's original piece, or I may just keep the pattern going in one direction. I'll have to swatch the pattern to see what it does.

In the mean time, I have started the stole and am up to row 26. I'm using 100% silk, lace weight yarn by Claudia Hand Painted Yarns in the Earth colorway.






THE DETAILS SO FAR
Pattern: Print O' The Wave Stole by Eunny Jang
Date: Cast On: 06.19.07
Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted Yarn, Earth, 100% silk, lace weight
Needles: Size 3 US (3.25mm), KnitPicks Classic circular needles, 24"

Back Tracking

Ok - It's Sunday, June 3, 2007 - a beautiful sunny day in San Francisco - a perfect day for Israel in the Gardens at Yerba Buena Park.

We saw Mah Tovu, with one of our very own rabbis, Rabbi Josh Zweiback, heading up the band.







We saw a superb Russian violinist, Ilya Rayzman.



And we saw the EXCEPTIONAL, INCOMPARABLE Rita!!!!.












We also had the very special treat of seeing Rita's 15 year old daugher, Meshi.

Finished Grasshoppers

My grasshoppers are now finished. It's a really pretty pattern, although not the most enjoyable one to knit. The P2TOG's were a little tough, but the outcome is well worth the effort! Switching to the pointier KnitPicks needles helped. I'm glad these are done, though.





THE DETAILS
Pattern: Knee High to a Grasshopper by Chrissy Gardiner
Source: Rockin' Sock Club - April 2007
Date: Cast On: 05.15.07 // Cast Off: 06.17.07
Yarn: Socks That Rock Yarn, Walking on the Wild Tide
Needles FootNote #1: Size 2 US (3.0mm), Addi Turbo circular needles, 40"
Needles FootNote #2: SWITCHED @ leg -> Size 2 US (3.0mm), KnitPicks Classic circular, 32"
Method: TOE-UP: 2S1C, Magic Loop

FOOTNOTES
FootNote #1 - CO: Figure 8 Cast On for Toe (size small)
FootNote #2 - Toe Shaping: followed pattern
FootNote #3 - Foot: 46 rounds in pattern
FootNote #4 - Heel/Gusset: followed pattern
FootNote #5 - Leg: 40 rounds in pattern (did not knit any increases in leg, although pattern did call for it)
FootNote #6 - Cuff: 10 rounds (k1, p1)
FootNote #7 - BO: Bound off in K1, P1 (did not follow pattern bind off)

Turtle

Well, it seems my grasshoppers are more like turtles. Things are going so SLOWLY. I have not been knitting much - only about 4 rows in the past week. I just have not been in the mood. I haven't blogged much either - not much to say right now...

OPTIONal Switcheroo

I switched over to the KnitPicks needles to continue with my grasshopper socks. The tips on my Addi's were too blunt so I was having some difficulty with the P2TOG, and given the fact that the pattern is practically all P2TOG's, that's a lot of difficulty! I'm using the 32" size 2 circulars.

On a side note - the purple cable on the KnitPicks needles matches quite nicely with the yarn color!

It's YELLOW Time

My new toy...

Hoppin' Grasshoppers

My grasshoppers are hopping. I'm just about to start the heel turn of the second sock. The heel of the first sock was finished last night admidst EXTREMELY LOUD music from our next door neighbors. They were having a high school graduation party for their daughter, late into the night, DJ & all. I couldn't sleep, so I knit. Oh well, not a bad compromise at all - sleep deprivation for a knit pair of socks.

instep x 2

sole & instep

zee heel - she eez done (well, at least ONE)

THE DETAILS SO FAR
Pattern: Knee High to a Grasshopper by Chrissy Gardiner
Source: Rockin' Sock Club - April 2007
Date: Cast On: 05.15.07
Yarn: Socks That Rock Yarn, Walking on the Wild Tide
Needles: US Size 2, (3.0mm), Addi Turbo circular needles, 40"
Method: 2S1C, Magic Loop; Toe-Up

FOOTNOTES
FootNote #1 - Toe CO: Figure 8 Cast On (size small)
FootNote #2 - Toe Shaping: followed pattern for size small
FootNote #3 - Foot: 46 rounds in pattern

Chocolate Covered Cherries

My chocolate covered cherry socks are finished. They look delicious enough to eat and were a fun knit. I highly recommend the pattern.







THE DETAILS
Pattern: Elongated Corded Rib
Source: Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch
Date: Cast On: 04.10.07 // Cast Off: 05.13.07
Yarn: Meilenweit Multiringel by Lana Grossa
Needles: Size 1 US (2.5mm), Addi Turbo circular needles, 40"
Method: 2S1C, Magic Loop

FOOTNOTES
FootNote #1 - CO: 64 stitches
FootNote #2 - Cuff: K2,P2 rib (15 rnds)
FootNote #3 - Leg: Elongated corded rib (48 rnds, 6 pattern rpts)
FootNote #4 - Heel: Short row heel on 60% of sts (38 sts)
FootNote #5 - Instep: Elongated corded rib (48 rnds, 6 pattern rpts)
FootNote #6 - Sole: Stockinette stitch
FootNote #6 - Toe: Garter stitch round toe

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