Christmas Knitting!

I think I might actually finish all my Christmas knitting, including the projects I decided to add as of YESTERDAY! Last night I finished up the felted crowns for the neices(I think the little shiny star "jewels" finish them off nicely):



And a felted Squid for my son and felted Spider for my daughter:



I knit a kitty washcloth for my friend and neighbour, and am halfway through a heart washcloth for my mother-in-law. My brother's Police Line Scarf is about 30 minutes from done, not counting seaming and blocking - but I won't need to have it ready until my mom's Christmas gathering on Sunday so I have plenty of time for that.

I have a few fun projects I can't wait to get started on, the Toasty Toppers hat-scarves from Knitty for my kids, and a "Better than the Real Thing" sweater for me from Yarn Girl's Guide to Knits For All Seasons. Both should be reasonably quick knits on thick yarns, so quite satisfying. I need to buy yarn for the sweater, and conveniently the local yarn shop has a big sale on the 31st......perfect!

The plus side to being sick, is it sometimes frees up some time for knitting. I've been off work sick for a day and a half, and missing a few other scheduled activities as well. When I felt up to it, I pulled out the needles and focussed on finishing off a bunch of nearly-done projects. First up, Picovoli:

I'm dissapointed in this one. The picot edging on the sleeves and neck and hem was a real pain to execute, and the result still rolls and looks really funny on the sleeves. I feel like I have 80s wings going on. It's too bad, I like the fabric this yarn made, and the fit is otherwise great. I may see how it looks under something, or if I mod the sleeve caps a little. If I rip back the picot edge on the sleeves and just let them roll up to be thinner, it might look ok.

Next comes Skirtsicle:

Not the best photo, but I think my cute daughter is worth looking at, too! She loves the skirt, and I'm quite happy with how it turned out. It fits her nice, and the fabric is thick enough to be at least a little warm, as we're heading into winter. I didn't bother with a picot edge, with blocking (steam ironing) casting off matching the pattern (knit and purl) seemed roll resistant enough. I like how the yarn stripes worked out.

I'm nearly finished the Baby Surprise Jacket:

It needs a good blocking and some buttons. I think I may have to look at my seaming, as the button band doesn't overlap, but I'll see if blocking helps this out. I think this will be a gift for an expectant friend - I'm headed to her baby shower next weekend. I have about 2/3 of a skein of yarn left, I may try for matching socks or booties.

And finally, I'm making real progress on the Daycare Auction Scarf:

I'm hoping it will be an ok item. The stole I sent last year was much larger, and thus much grander an item for the auction, but I know I can finish this in time and with plenty of yarn. I think a lace scarf is more practical for more people, and the colours are great, so hopefully it will fetch good bids.

I've been knitting some, though not so much as I'd like. The yarns in my last post are rapidly becoming beautiful objects, and I'm enjoying knitting with them very much. The Hacho yarn is a nearly-completed Baby Surprise Jacket for a friend. I ran out less than a dozen yards shy - so I guess I will make matching booties or a hat or something once I buy another full skein to finish it off. I'm a couple inches into a narrower scarf for the daycare silent auction with the Fleece Artist yarn. I'm struggling against the thought that a regular width scarf won't seem that impressive, since I donated a huge stole last year - but I really don't want to run out of yarn. I'm also tight for time these days, and I know I can finish a regular sized scarf. If I'm super speedy I could always make two, I have lots of the yarn from last year's project left over.....

Plans in place to knit up a Police Line scarf for my brother, though I need to research double knitting, first.

Pretty new yarn
Originally uploaded by wendymc

Our family took a little vacation over to Vancouver on the weekend. This is the second year we've done this, and it might become our yearly family vacation. We take in the zoo, aquarium, science world and ikea, plus some shopping and eating, of course. Kid-friendly, low stress, and relatively inexpensive. We may extend it from a 3 day weekend to a 4 day one next year, so we can spend some time on Granville Island.

One of the hilights of the trip for me was a trip to Urban Yarns, a nifty little yarn shop over there. Some gorgeous yarns, and good sales. I didn't need much yarn (have you SEEN my stash lately??) so I didn't buy much, but I couldn't leave a couple special purchases behind. The 2 lovely skeins in the photo above are Hacho by Mirasol Yarns which I'd never seen before. It's really soft and the colours are even richer than they look in the photo. This is destined to be a Baby Surprise Jacket - not the most traditional baby colours, but it should look nice, I think. Sadly I was 2 inches into the first attempt when I found a huge error and had to rip. Ah well, it's should be quick to knit back up again.

I also brought home this gorgeous Fleece Artist Merino:

Which will become some kinds of scarf or stole for the Daycare Silent Auction this winter.

All these lovely, wonderful yarns are making me eye some of my cheaper wools and acrylics more critically. I may have to find new homes for them, to make room for all this nice yarn that keeps following me home.

Finished Felting!

Finished Felting!
Originally uploaded by wendymc

Felty goodness! I finished up the felted hat for Argen. I knit up the brimmed hat from HandKnit Holidays, put an extra row on the brim, and obviously made it extra large pre-felting. (it covered my head and face) It felted up nice, but too small! I had to stretch it out a bit to fit my son's giant melon. He's put it on a few times now, but he's not sold on wearing it.

I also knit up a felted crown out of some leftover koolaid dyed wool I had. The pattern is here at the Fibre Pirate Blog. It knit up super fast, so I think I'l be making a few more - the neices and my kids will get them for Christmas, maybe. I dyed some wool blue and green for the next one, and I'm thinking about some beads or sequins I could sew on for extra pizazz.

Red Dwarf Sock Progress

Red Dwarf Sock Progress
Originally uploaded by wendymc

Making progress on the Red Dwarf socks. I really like knitting with thicker yarn and bigger needles. It moves so much faster and is encouraging to see te sock grow. I like the look and simplicity of the short row heel, this is my first time trying one. Toe-up is also appealing to me - this is just a great all around pattern!

I'm also working on some stuff to felt - a crown and a hat. Also in the queue is a skirt for Teagan. Busy, busy!

Red Dwarf Socks

Red Dwarf Socks
Originally uploaded by wendymc

I am knitting, I'm just not posting. It seems there just isn't time to do both consistantly, so knitting wins out.

I'm working on the Red Dwarf Socks found at Turtlegirl's Bloggy Thing right now. They're knitting up quick, I'm enjoying working with thicker yarn. It's Regia 6-ply (in the Jungle Colourway) on 3mm needles, much faster knitting than my standard 2.25mm ones! I used the figure 8 cast on as reccommended, but doubled the number of stitches to cast on for the start. I like the toe much better done this way, 16 stitches to start makes a really pointy toe, and I don't have pointy toes!

Lacy Eyelet hat for coworker's daughter

Lacy Eyelet hat for coworker's daughter
Originally uploaded by wendymc

Finished up gifts to bring in for my coworkers today. I am on holiday for a month starting Monday, and one coworker is going on Paternity Leave soon, so it had to be today. (the babies are also 6 and 7 months old, so I'm already overdue!)

The Lace cap and Tassle hat are for a little girl. The lace cap is made out of Patons Katrina and I love how squishy and stretchy the fabric is. I'll definitely be making more, especially since the hat only took about half a skein. I tried to make matching socks but I ran out of time. The tassle hat is one I was making for my neice for christmas last year, but it turned out too small. Perfect for a 6 month old. Bernat Satin (my tried and true baby yarn) for this one.


The other coworker has a little boy so he gets the knit vest I made. It was going to be for Argen, but it barely fit him when I finished it a month ago, so there is no way he'd get any wear out of it by the time fall rolls around. I love how this vest turned out, and my coworker seemed pleased.


Next up, swatching for Trellis for another friend. (and taming and purging my unruly yarn stash....)

Fibre Fest and other knittery....

Lizard yarn
Originally uploaded by wendymc

I had a fun time over on Saltspring Island for the Fibre Festival this weekend. I met up with a bunch of the Bitchy Bees gals and they were great company. We checked out the Saturday Market first, where I was elated to find Nut-Free Vegan Fudge for the kids, and admire some interesting pottery. Once we made our way over to the fibre festival, there was plenty more to see. We saw some drop spindle spinning (she made it look so easy!!), and how linen yarn is made, and an amazing display of some mathematical patterns in knitting. For shopping, most of our time was spent oggling and fondling the yarns at the Indigo Moon booth. I didn't buy anything there, though I was tempted. I bought the yarn pictured above, plus another skein in muted jewel tones. They're 50/50 superwash merino and tencel, enough to each make a pair of socks. (The lizardy yarn is for me!) The day ended off with a visit to an alpaca farm. There we met some shy Alpacas and some pushy Sheep, and fed them all some grain.

Back to knitting, I'm drowning in UFO's and deadlines. I'm trying to finish a yellow cardigan for a coworker, that I'd like to deliver this week. I have a baby gift that I need to decide on and make within 2 weeks, and then there is everything else I was already working on. If only I didn't have a full time job to keep me busy!

I'm very excited because it looks like I will be going to The Saltspring Island Fibre Festival on Saturday! A local knitting group I've hung out with in the past was organizing to meet up and "do the festival together, but most gals were turning it into an overnight camping excursion. I can really only manage a day trip, but happily another knitter is driving over and has room in her car for me. I'm really, REALLY excited. I'm looking forward to an adult day trip away, and of course, knitting and yarn and all that good stuff!

I'm still working away on my Wyvern Socks. They're moving slowly as I don't have much knitting time, but the sock is longer, so there is progress. I just finished one arm on the baby cardigan I'm knitting as well, more progress.

I turned 30 on Monday and was gifted with tea and a pair of skeins of Noro Kureyon yarn from my friend. The search for the perfect project is on. I WAS thinking I would like a multidirectional scarf for myself, but many folks tell me that Noro is a bit scratchy for a hat or scarf. I guess the Fake Isle hat from Magknits is out, too? Maybe a Kureyon Kozy is a better idea? I do need a tea cozy.....Other ideas?

Not only can I not keep up with everything I already have on the needles, my "to knit" list keeps growing. Ravelry is not helping, now I have easy access to plenty of photos of hundreds of fantastic projects, showing how different yarns people chose change the look. I'm trying to be realistic about which projects I add to my queue, only adding those things I think I might actually make, but it's still getting to be a long list.

One project that I really REALLY like the look of is the Puff the Merino Dragon Scarf I'm not sure if I would actually make this, seeing as shipping alone is $13 US to get the kit to me. (at $25 the kit isn't outrageous, but the shipping pushes it up too high for me!) I wonder if the pattern is available alone anywhere.....

I'm putting together a package for my partner in the Summer Stash Swap I joined. It's fun shopping from your stash, and takes some of the "How much do I spend? What if I choose badly for my partner??" stress away. I have some neat yarns I just don't seem to be using, and a couple seem perfect for my partner. I'm trying to think of a couple neat extras to throw in to round out the package as well. This will be my first knitting swap ever :)

I've been working on the Wyvern socks for myself, and a hooded baby cardigan. Both are creeping along, I don't have a ton of knitting time, or focus to work on these projects. I did find a local knitting group that meets on a night I'm free, so I've been enjoying that the last few weeks.

I also just got my invite to Ravelry.com!! I sense that the little bit of knitting time I did have is going to shrink further playing with ravelry, and getting my projects and yarns into the system. It's very VERY cool and well worth the wait. (I'm wendymc over there, by the way)

Cupcake Hat

Cupcake Hat
Originally uploaded by wendymc

This was a really quick knit. I cast on Friday afternoon and delivered it midday Saturday, and I wasn't knitting non-stop or anything, either. The pattern is at http://www.nakedsheep.com/cupcakehat.html and I didn't have any problems with it. I used Bernat Satin, and I went down to a 4mm needle.....perhaps that is why it came out too small. It fits the recipient's 18 month old sister, but the 3 year old's head is just a bit bigger. I gues I'll be knitting another one!

The bobble things (I think the pattern calls them nubbles) were pretty hard on the hands, especially since there are 40 of them, but the effect is pretty neat. The pompom gave me a lot of trouble, I totally forgot how to make them. Ah well, the kids won't notice.

Argen in the Oz Vest

Argen in the Oz Vest
Originally uploaded by wendymc

The Oz Vest from Natural Knits for Babies and Moms is finished. I was worried it would be too small, but it fit's Argen now. So long as he doesn't grow TONS in the next few months, he should be able to wear it this fall. I loved the yarn I chose - Scheepjes Softfun. I used about a skein and a half, it's 60% cotton, 40% acrylic, and very soft.

I modified the pattern to knit in the round, and regret that decision. With the garter rows in the pattern, I didn't save THAT many purl rows knitting on circs, and I got messed up on the upper half many times. I lost track of which side I was on, where the decreases were, and got all the ends tangled up. Next time I think I'd just knit the pieces flat, I only saved the two short side seams anyways. It was a fast (not counting my mistakes and ripping) knit and turned out nice, so I might make more. Perhaps I'll whip up another for a baby gift with the other 1.5 skeins I have left.

Teagan Models her Monica Tank

Teagan Models her Monica Tank
Originally uploaded by wendymc

I finally finished up Monica for my daughter. I made a few mods, and they worked out pretty well. First, I changed it to be knit in the round - no reason not to, since it was all stockingknit with no shaping. This also eliminated the need to purl, so it knit up extra fast!

I subbed in stash yarn. Both acrylics, both a mystery to me beyond that. I liek the look of the multicoloured ruffle, though it's a bit catchy so I hope it doesn't pill and pull too badly.

I did i-cord for the straps. My thought was that knitting the straps would let them stretch out too much. I just wish I'd thought to make them a touch shorter to allow for a little stretching, even with the modded straps.....

Summer Knitting

I couldn't resist the contest over at Skeins Her Way. Go check it out, and tell her you heard about it from me!

My summer knitting goals:
- more dishcloths
- more squares for Blankets4Canada
- fall vest for Argen (Oz from Louisa Harding's Natural Knits for Mom and Baby?)
- another tank for Teagan (Debbie Bliss Eyelet Vest from Special Knits??)
- finish Teagan's socks (ideally before summer)
- socks for Argen
- baby gifts for about 4 friends
- finish picovoli for me

So a busy, knitty summer ahead!

Just because I haven't been updating, doesn't mean I haven't been knitting!

I've got a couple things that are ALMOST completed, so I'll have some photos to show. (caplet and tank for my daughter) I'm working on Picovoli for myself in some nifty cotton yarn, recovered from a failed Tivoli T I started more than a year ago. I'm knitting some socks for my daughter in fun striped yarn. I was nearly done the first sock when I thought it time to try the thing on her foot.....way too small. Rip, rip, rip! Here's a photo of how they looked a little before I ripped them:

I'm trying again with a seed stitch rib in place of the chevron pattern, and it's loosened up the guage quite well. I'm doing these toe up and trying a short row heel, so some new things for me. I have a slew of babies to knit for, plus plans to knit some things for my son. Busy, Busy!

I can't believe I didn't post about completing the stole!! I finally finished it, just in time for the tea, and I am really quite proud of this piece. I used Fleece Artist Blue Faced Leicester, which is amazing wool. The pattern is Sivia Harding's Gothic Leaf Stole.

I'd never properly blocked any knit items before. One wool cabled sweater got a light "wash and lay out, stretch and mould to shape" blocking, but that was the whole of my experience. Lace is much, MUCH different. My first attempt ended up all scalloped:


While that was pretty, it wasn't the look I was going for. Since I left it to the last minute I didn't have time to go chase down blocking wires - so some crochet cotton had to be used instead. I pulled the cotton so tight it snapped at one point! (I nearly had a heart attack when I thought it might have damaged the stole!) Once I got it all re-pinned, it looked much better:


I was amazed at how the blocking defined the lace stitches so well, and evenned everything out. Here is a photo of it hanging outside:


I have about a quarter of the yarn left, maybe more, but I'm not sure what to do with it. I loved this pattern but I'm not ready to work with it again, so I might seek out a different lace pattern and try a scarf for myself.

*sobbing*

*sobbing*
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

I was really excited to finish the 19th repeat (of 24) tonight. It was looking like I'd actually finish this thing on time, and it's looking so nice.......then I found the hole. It's a doozy, right around repeat 11, so there is no way I could rip back. I want to cry!!

I somehow "corrected" the stitches afterwards so the problem is at least focussed to that section. I know I can tie it up to stop unravelling, but how do I make it look nice? Even if I can figure out the stitches and get them all organized, whatever I do to tie it off is going to be painfully obvious once I block it out.

*sob*

Gothic Stole Half

Gothic Stole Half
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

Halfway point in the Gothic Stole. I once again have hope I'll finish it in the next couple weeks as needed. It was looking dicey, but I've picked up the pace. Some rows I can memorize and then they really fly along. I love how it's looking, I can't wait to block it out for full effect. I've never properly blocked something, though, so I hope it's not difficult.

Knit Booties

Knit Booties
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

Best photo I could manage of this wiggly boy. These are the Anchor booties (Minus the anchor motif) from Zoe Mellor's "50 Baby Booties to Knit". They were going to be a gift but they came out big enough to fit Argen so I think he'll get to keep them.

And now back to the shawl....with about 400 rows and only 4 weeks left, I can't put it off any more!

Gothic Stole Progress

Gothic Stole Progress
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

The stole is moving right along. The first repeat gave me trouble, and I redid it a few times, but I got into a groove and it's growing quickly now. I think I'm even one and a half repeats past what you see inthe photo.

I have been going to a bi-monthly knitting group at a friend's home. Great, casual group of ladies, and I really enjoy it. But, the host is very pregnant, due any time, and so the knitting is on hold. As luck would have it, I came accross a local group at a coffee shop that is held weekly and it's pretty much a drop-in kind of place, so I checked them out this week. Nice gals, and quite friendly. I got a full repeat of my stole done (impressed them with my project - heh) and I think I'll go back. It's on Tuesday nights when Magnus is home, which is a bonus.

I joined up with Project Spectrum 2.0 for fun. The idea being there are 3 colours for every 2 month period all year, and you're to create and share art/craft fitting those colours. I'd already started some grey baby booties, so that fits for the February/March set of Blue, White and Grey!

I've been knitting quite a bit lately. I knit a chemo hat to donate, a winter hat for my son, a baby hat for a gift, a pair of socks in chunky wieght yarn for my husband's birthday, and swatched a bunch of lace. I am enjoying knitting so much, knitting really makes me happy.

Today I ventured into the yarn shop - ALONE - for almost an hour. It was so nice to fondle all the yarns, flip through the patterns, and not feel time pressure. I managed to finally select the yarn and pattern for a shawl I'm making. My kids' daycare is doing a silent auction fundraiser and I offered to donate something, I thought a shawl would work out well.

I'm knitting the Gothic Leaf Stole. There was a sample hanging in the shop done in Fleece Artist Blue Face Leicester 2/8, so I bought that as well. It's a little darker than it appears in this photo:


I haven't figured out how to handle a 1000 yard hank of yarn yet, but I'm excited to get started!