Absence Make the Heart Grow Fonder

My home computer is giving me trouble otherwise I would be posting more. I've been knitting a lot but on several different projects. I am 3/4 up the back of the Cherry Bomb shell I'm making from Rowan DK Handknit Cotton and 1/4 up the back of the Norah Gaughan tank.

I've also started the Charlotte's Web shawl--unfortunately I can't get more than 2 rows at a time done--I swear I've ripped 40X more stitches than are currently on the needles! I'm doing mine in shades of blue Koigu. I had a fantasy of giving the shawl to my mother for Mother's Day--perhaps next year's celebration at the rate I'm going.

I've picked up materials for a navy blue tank--it's ruffled around the hem and the neckline. I was more excited by sample than I am by knitting it--it's using Venezia--a rayon-ish ribbon and it is not sliding smoothly off the Addis. I am using lace needles because they are pointier but of course they are not as slippery as the regular ones.

I also picked up some cotton silk for a tank top--I saw a design in an ad in the knitting magazines and have a modified pattern to try.

I also (I know, can you believe me?) picked up some Berrocco Comfort for a short sleeve raglan cardigan. It's knit top down and it is going fairly quickly. I messed up a row and had to take it back to the LYS for help because after all the frogging on Charlotte's Web, I was not going to the frog pond with this one. It's a plain beige but I think I'll get a lot of use out of it.

Finally, I had picked up some Baby Ull and my mother has knit a baby sweater for someone dear to me at work. He and his wife are expecting their first child in November and I'm planning all sorts of Aunt Judy knitted items like said sweater and a blanket. The Baby Ull items are white and will be well done because my mom is doing them. I am playing around with other ideas. I started a blanket patterned with hearts but I bought Zara which is handwashable or dry clean only so I've scrapped that (a cardigan for my sister's very generous mother-in-law, perhaps?) and am now playing around with the idea of a Log Cabin baby blanket using Rowan Wool Cotton--I have a bunch of random balls that I've picked up because I like the colors. I was going to use it for a variation on the wildly colorful baby blanket featured on Knitty.com but think the Log Cabin will be easier for me to keep track of and they both need to be lined so there's little difference to me (again, I hate the way the pick ups look in garter! I'm sure I've mentioned this).

Anyway, I had also bought Pure Merino in navy blue to match the red blanket so I'm going to have to think about what else can be made. I don't really go for patchwork colorwork.

And I'm patiently waiting for some Zarella (I think this is what it is called). The local LYS had an adorable baby blanket knit on the diagonal with alternating stripes of basic ombre and then novelty yarn in the same colorway. Must try this some day. The diagonal knitting will be good prep for the Sandy Cardigan from BGK.

Speaking of which, I joined the BGK Yahoo group. I'm unclear what our next KAL will be. Must investigate further. Not that I've ever finished a KAL project.

Pulse Check

My mother mentioned that a friend of the family may be interested in helping me finish some of my UFOs. So I went through my UFO list and came up with about 10 different things I could just hand over--a black cardigan, a beige alpaca cardi, a throw made of Biggie wool and a sweater for my nephew--and several others. Worth looking into!

The top photo shows the progress on my Inaugural Scarf I'm working on in a KAL. I knit a few rows about once a week on the bus to work. I'm at the end of the first two skeins of Silk Garden and I'm loving it.

The second project is the Cherry Bomb from Big Girl's Knit--I love the help with sizing and this will be the first time I'm trying short rows for bust shaping. I'm using Rowan Handknit DK cotton in a color called Fruit Punch and I'm really enjoying the hand.

I picked up the orange Stain Glass Swing Sweater from my LYS--they put it together for me. It's okay--the color is just not at all appropriate for Spring and the sleeves are a little tight-ish. The thing that really aggravated me though was that they didn't sew on the button--there is only one and I provided it to them and for $75.00 to sew the sweater together, they omitted the button. The yarn itself was over $200 (used Manos and La Gran Mohair) plus the cost of finishing--you would think the button would be included, wouldn't you?

The other potential problem I have is the Panel Jacket I started as part of the Yahoo Group Ample Knitters KAL--I'm using Vanna's Choice which is knitting up nicely. I'm going to have to change needles--it's just not smooth--I've been trying to knit this on the bus too--it's straight garter stitch so it's easy and portable but no so much fun so far. The sweater is made with 10 panels plus sleeves and collar and I'm only on the first panel so that gives you an idea of how it's going. I'll try a different pair of needles before I decide whether to proceed.

Memories of the Stitch and Beach Cruise

It's hard to believe that I got back from the cruise more than six weeks ago. We left out of NY on February 27 and sailed to the Caribbean. While we were at sea, we had knitting classes with Debbie Stoller and Shannon Okey, pictured here below the photo of Bitty and the contents of the goody bag we got for attending.

One of the more interesting people I met was a woman named Laurie who was actually in the service--she is the staff photographer for General Petraeus in Iraq. I didn't know that in the beginning and the other women in the classes referred to her as Laurie, the Photographer. It was only later that I learned why. The group got together quietly and knitted or crocheted squares that Debbie sewed together into the blanket she is holding in the photo. We gave it to her the last night at sea during the final Stitch n Bitch to remember the trip. Very nice work for under a week I think.

Back in the Groove...of Blogging, at Least

I finally found the cable for my camera so I could download (or is it upload?) the photos from the knitting cruise. Here's the cardigan I started in one of the classes I took--it was a Design Your Own sweater class so this will be custom fit for me. I'm using a yarn called Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK. I originally bought the yarn to make a Log Cabin throw for myself but I hated the reverse side of the garter stitch pick up.

I made up the "design" as I went along using several of the slip stitch patterns I learned on the cruise and augmented additional stitch patterns from some design books I had at home. The rest of the rows are 4 rows of stockinette and 2 rows of garter stitch in each colorway. There are a zillion ends to be sewn in but I love working with this yarn--of course I'm using Addi Turbos so I'm sure that helps. I've started the right front and hope to motor through.

I took the Orange Stained Glass sweater to my LYS for finishing and they've called so I hope to be able to go pick it up today--if it fits and nicely done, I'll wear it tomorrow to a Client meeting.

Meanwhile, I've joined the Big Girl Knits Yahoo Group and am enjoying the discussion of the new designs. There will be a KAL soon--we just don't know what pattern yet. I have my favorites I'm hoping for--they're good for the "butt and belly" girls like me. But of course I need to finish the cruise cardi. I also need to decide whether I want to continue the Ample Knitter KAL--it's a nice jacket but it's all garter stitch and it's boring...I may need to switch to Noro or something that will be more interesting for me--it's made in panels so it should be easily portable for the bus and train.

Photos from the cruise to follow shortly!

I Know, I Know

I've misplaced the cable for my camera (I don't make it easy for the cleaning service!) so I haven't been able to update the blog with photos from the cruise or any of my new projects. I will make an effort this weekend to find it and begin posting.

My New Traveling Companion

This is Bitty Baby. She belongs to my niece, Caroline. My parents were going to join me on the Stitch n Beach cruise coming up at the end of February but cannot make it. So rather than sending me off alone, Caroline packed up Bitty with several changes of clothes, including a bathing suit, and has sent her off with me.

I'm fairly certain Bitty won't be knitting but I plan on doing a "roaming Gnome"-like travelogue, photographing Bitty and myself on the cruise and sightseeing. I have signed "us" up for excursions at each port--snorkeling near a coral reef and swimming with stingrays in Turks and Caicos, visiting the Baths in Virgin Gorda on Tortola; seeing both the French and Dutch parts of St. Maarten (trying to fit in two tours--one to a butterfly farm); visiting the historic sites, including a pirates' stronghold, and the beach on St. Thomas and a drive to the rain forest in San Juan. We're going to be very busy girls, Bitty and I.

I'm also signed up for many knitting classes on the tour--provisional cast on, slip stitches, double knitting, felting, learn to crochet, making a capelet, sea socks and basic sweater design as well as a stashbusting sweater class.

There is also a culinary center sponsored by Food and Wine magazine on the ship and I will want to take some classes there too, I'm sure.

Well, Bitty is all packed. I better get started too.

The Weapon That Did Me In

This is the hat that my assassin, dorkasaurus, sent to me. I had been having a sleep study and it just wasn't working for me so I left the sleep clinic at around 2:30 AM and when I arrived home, found the hat from Hat Attack in my mailbox. What a way to go.

Hat Attack!

What did you do this weekend? I'm signed up for Hat Attack, a take off on the Sock Wars game where you knit a hat as fast as you can and mail it off to your "target". If you get a hat from an "assassin", you are "dead" and need to send your WIP to the assassin who presumably finishes it and sends it to your target. I used Noro Kureyon to knit up mine--I got gauge before I started knitting but it looks small to me but maybe I'm comparing this against my own big head. I'm mailing this off to Irish99 in Indiana this morning and will be nervously checking the mailbox later in case dorkasaurus, my assassin, finished her hat on Saturday--it was amazing how many knitters finished their hats and mailed them the same day. BTW, that's Lucy inspecting my finished product.

Inauguration Day Scarf-Along

What a great idea! I'm repurposing the entrelac scarf I started with Noro Silk Garden because I don't like how the "wrong" side of it looks--it would be fine for a sweater, hat or bag but definitely not for a scarf when you can't control which side gets seen. I got the idea for the new pattern--a 1x1 rib knit with two different skeins at one time, 2 rows at a time, from brooklyntweed's blog. Rib knitting gets tedious after a while so a year-long knitting project will be ideal for this.

Another FO for a Darling Little Lady

This is Lucianne--she'd 4-1/2 months old and the cutest little thing. She's wearing a merino hoodie with the zipper down the back--my mother gave me the pattern and said that the mothers of babies love the design because it's easy to get it on and off the baby. Luci has been tooling around Europe in hers!

FO for a Young Friend

I don't remember who the yarn is from but it's a worsted merino knitted with a mock cable. See how the blue matches this charming fellow's eyes?

Unfocused But Happy

I think it's well established that I tend to bounce from one project to the other without finishing any one thing. This week's projects are Lace Latte from Summer 2007 Knitting Universe--I'm making it in Elsebeth Lavold's Cable Cotton in color 09--it's a goldish hue. I apparently skipped the swatch process (I don't recall making that decision) because when I finished the lace edging the first time, it was incredibly enormous. I could have joined it and knit it in the round. So I frogged and restarted on #5 needles which are two sizes down from the pattern recommendation. I like the edging and now it's just a 3 X 3 rib so I can take the project on the bus and train with little difficulty although I do have to figure out the decrease to take it from 2X on the bottom to 1X toward the top of the piece. The pattern is by Norah Gaughan and is designed with an open front that is laced closed. I'm also going to try to modify the design so this becomes a pullover. I'm going to need help with the lace edging--hopefully my mother can help and I can wear this on the Stitch and Beach cruise at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, I finally found the Melissa Leapman book in the piles and piles of papers I've accumulated and have cast on for Audrey, a cardigan with a meandering cable design that kind of gives you an hourglass shape. I'm knitting this in Rowan Cocoon--the color is Tundra which is a sort of milky brown. I'm about to start the meandering part of the cable and I hope it works out well because I love love love this yarn. It 80% merino and 20% kid mohair--I think I've knit with combinations like this before but the hand on this yarn is so soft and silky, it's luxurious. I'm sure I'll live in this sweater when it's ne--and it's knitting up quicky on size 10.5 needles.

I've been trying to find patterns to go with the rest of the yarn in my stash--I've got some Rowan DK cotton, Mondial Splendid, Evita and Rowan Wool Cotton (or Cotton Wool?) but seem not to have enough of it for a project for me. Well, I can always design something for myself, right?

It's Moving Along

I love working on size 13 needles. You can see from the photo that I've finished the back of the Stained Glass sweater. That's Indie inspecting my work.

No additional progress on any of the other projects but since I've got half the right front done too, I'm pretty pleased.

Since I've been "organizing" the stash, I've been swifting skeins into balls before storing them. Here's Lucy surpervising the squirrels as well as my activity.

Focus, or Lack Thereof

I can't seem to concentrate on one project at a time. Last night I tried to start the Hemlock Ring again for the Ready Set Knit KAL to no avail. Then I knit a few rounds on the angora hat. And then knit about 10 rows on the "stained glass" Manos sweater. Oh, and I started a cup cosy with some Kureyon. I'm wondering if it's adult ADD.

Speaking of angora, how do you avoid getting it in your mouth? I certainly don't put the fiber in my mouth but I always seem to end up either angora or mohair in my mouth when knitting with it. And will this be a problem when I'm wearing the garment?

Well, I need to get busy finishing a baby sweater for a friend who is coming to town at the end of January. I certainly have enough of them started so it should be (relatively) easy. Meanwhile I have a list of dog sweaters I need to do too. My original list was 2 dogs, but it's up to four. Luckily three are small and only one is medium. I am amazed at the selection of patterns. I have a pattern for a cabled shrug. I'm going to try felting too.

Can't Get It

I've ripped out the Hemlock ring. Again. I don't know what it is about it. It's a challenge!

I Have No Self-Control

The stash still sits in the dining room in all it's glory. The cats have taken to stealing parts of baby sweaters and dragging them all around the house. This, of course, is my fault for leaving out there and not finishing them. The children for whom they were intended are surely too big for them now.

I went to my local LYS yesterday to pick up my Tilli Tomas Disco Lights sweater where they finished it. It's gorgeous!! And it fits! I couldn't believe it. Success. So riding the wave of those good feelings, I succumbed in a BIG way. I bought some Kureyon to work on the Sandy sweater from Big Girl knits--I'm always about a year behind on KALs and just discovered this--I have a load of Brown Sheep from a KAL I never finished so I figured, I have half the yarn already. And you know what--I'm glad I bought it in the LYS because I got advice on the colorway. If I was on my own, I would have gone too matchy matchy.

And then I spied a basket full of new yarn called Rowan Cocoon--it's a heavy worsted in natural colors and is a blend--there's mohair in there. It's beautiful. And since I want to participate in the WEBS Hemlock Ring KAL, I had to buy some. I think this was much more costly than the yarn that was recommended but I LOVE it. I started it twice last night but had problems--need to start again in daylight. I was watching the Clive Owen movie Shoot Em Up at the same time--not a good mix because my attention was divided.

So while I was at it, I bought more of the same yarn in a different colorway for a sweater--the shop had done a sample of a cable cardigan from Melissa Leapman's Hot Knits. And Addi Turbos. Now if I could only find the book.

But that's not all. I wanted to make myself a hat and saw a pretty angora and sequin sample on display. Had to get it for myself--choose black angora and silvery sequin on black thread. I've got a good 2" done already.

And then a mother/daughter team came into the shop and sat down to work on their projects. One of the ladies was working on cardigan designed at the shop. It's a swing silhouette and made on size 13 needles using Manos del Uruguay and Lana mohair. I selected an orangish-ombre-ish (color V) colorway and have at least 4" done. I'm loving this too.

I resisted purchasing two skeins of Disco Lights in Parchment--I already have two and don't really know what I'm going to do with them.

And finally I just pulled out the Noro Silk Garden entrelac scarf--I think I already posted about how I don't like the reverse side of entrelac. I'm going to knit it in a rib pattern, alternating two rows of different colorways. It's nice and portable too.

Stash and Burn

I moved everything into the dining room to force myself to manage my stash. And here everything sits since Saturday. And I can't find my wristwatch. Oh, well.

January KAL: AmpleKnitters

I've joined the AmpleKnitters group on Yahoo. We're doing the pattern called Oblique from Knitty.com. The official cast on isn't until next week but I needed to try this out a bit to make sure I could handle the yarn overs etc for the lace knitting (my foray into lace didn't work out on the SOTS or Mystic Waters). I'm enjoying it very much and like the look. I'm using Blue Sky Alpaca Organic Cotton in Nut. I'm a slow knitter, so hopefully a ton of people will get to the cuffs sooner than I--I don't like the turned back cuffs and will need to modify. More on this to follow, I'm sure!

Mission Accomplished!!!

I've finally worked my way through two UFOs--the novelty hat I got from FinePoints and the Simple Fair Isle Hat from Diane Soucy at http://www.knittingpureandsimple.com/ (it was a free pattern). I used cashmere yarn I picked up at AC Moore for the Fair Isle and love the color combination if I do say so myself, but the final product is gigantic--I clearly didn't pay enough attention to gauge. I'm going to try to felt it tomorrow. The novelty hat is very cute although I'm still unclear how the top was supposed to be finished. It's supposed to have a pom pom or some other ornament on top. I used Noro--I think it was Kureyon and it's nice and warm. I just wish there were a way to avoid hat hair.

Been Too Long

Haven't made much progress on anything lately. First I was busy working on a new business pitch at work, then I got a sinus infection, then the stomach bug going around and then the holidays hit. I'm still trying to organize my stash. I've given my mom several small batch of yarn for hats to donate and I still have more yarn than I know what to do with. I'm a slow knitter so although I'm in the midst of several sweaters, I wonder if I should start on a cotton shell for the Stitch and Beach cruise at the end of February.

One of my New Year's resolutions is to stitch more and bitch less...I figure both will make me a better person. I imagine I may have more time for this since my boss informed me yesterday that although we won the business as a result of the presentation I mentioned above, they don't care to work with me. And since only 35% of my time is covered by client business, she suggested I may want to consider other options. Outside the agency. This was a tremendous blow because I had a wonderful job offer just three months ago and they talked me into staying--I didn't hold them up for money or title or anything else. Well, lesson learned, right?

I have finished two hats that were in progress--I need to get someone to photograph me in them so I can share them. The first is a cashmere hat made in a pattern I got online (I'll provide all the details with the photos) but it is enormous, which is some feat given that I have a fairly big head and am hard to fit with hats off the rack. I'll try felting it. The other is the spiral hat I got from Liz at FinePoints at Stitches in Baltimore. I couldn't follow the instructions on finishing the top, but did the best I could. Had to wear that hat today because it's about 24 degrees here in the NY/NJ area with wind chills in the below zero area. They are predicting temperatures in the 50s next week. Crazy...