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!

Lots of knitting of late. First of, in a mad spurt of "finishitis" I finished off a slew of UFOs languishing in my stash. They were all very near completion, but still I feel accomplished getting them all done:


Hats for my 2 kids, an apple hat for a baby, three hoodies, a 'sunhat' in woolease, a lacy pink hat and a round baby blanket. The three hoodies in the top right were a gift for a friend - for her toddler and twins. I also finished up two knit hats for my neices today:



Just in time for gifting tomorrow! I like them so much I might try for a boy version for my own son. And I'm considering knitting Berroco's free Snowflake Pattern in cotton yarn as a washcloth....

I need more knitting time! Or more hands, or something. There are SO many things I want to knit, and so many more I don't even let myself consider due to lack of time. My holiday projects (5 hats total, no more seemed sane) are moving along quite well, thankfully, but I want to make so much more!

Argen is outgrowing his second handmade by me sweater, Teagan long ougrew the last one I made her, I have sock yarn to make socks for them both, socks for myself in mind, baby gifts to make (for babies due in January!!) a charity hat project I want to participate in, something for a silent auction due in the spring, and a tank I want for myself. Plus a ton of other cute things keep catching my eye.

I'm also itching to do some felting and koolaid dying, try more fair isle, and do a lace project. Such aspirations for someone with no free time!

Almost finished the knit gifts for my friend. (still need to weave in some ends, block and wrap them) I also started the hats for my neices, they are knitting up really quickly, which is good.

I saw a cute sweater in the yarn shop today, knit cuff to cuff with veregated and then with jacquard yarn, contrasting cuffs, and little triangle flaps for the buttons. I wasn't thrilled with the yarn (Sisu Fantasy - really scratchy and cheap feeling) so I didn't buy the pattern and yarn right there. I may just use the free cuff-to-cuff pattern available online and add the flaps myself, they don't look hard. Then I can use a nice, soft wool if I like.

Still knitting. As much as I can....though not as much as I'd like. I have gift 2 of 3 on the needles, and 3 more in my mind. I started a felted box from Mason-Dixon Knitting, but it's turning out funny so I might give up on it. I also started a Branching Out scarf in Patons Brilliant glittery yarn. I don't know who it will be for, I just had an urge to do some more challenging knitting.

Well, the knitting curse is over. I've completed a Toddler's Knit Helmet for Argen, and 1 of 3 knit christmas gifts I decided on....so far. It's not a lot of knitting, but I haven't got a lot of time these days.

Our family just took a little holiday to Vancouver, and I managed a visit to Urban Yarns while I was there. What a lovely shop! They have so much fantastic, touchable yarn! I knew I didn't have time to knit up half of what I WANTED to buy, so I just bought yarn for hats for my kids. Some super-soft Berrocco Lullaby in blue and raspberry for Teagan, and Debbie Bliss Wool-Cotton (I've wanted to try this stuff for a while) in bright blue and brown for Argen. I'm itching to start them but I just got going on christmas gift #2 so I want to keep moving on that one.

Magknits.com has a new issue out, with a couple things that look neat. I'm liking the felted pumpkin bag, that would let me koolaid dye some yarn to get the orange, too......I need more time. An eigth day of the week just for knitting and drinking tea would do nicely!

I think I'm knitting-cursed right now. First I messed up the hedera sock. Then another sock that had been a long standing UFO. Next, I messed up a simple toddler hat, a pattern I've made a few times now, by messing up the gauge really badly. Finally, I can't seem to cast on for even a simple beanie hat tonight, the yarn splits like crazy! AAARRRG! My knitting "to do" list is growing and I can't knit a thing!

Hedera sock

hedera sock
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

So I did get some knitting done - though it's all headed for the frog pond. I thought I lucked out gauge-wise with the Hedera sock, but the increase in needle size meant the heel was WAY too long, and I'm just not up to recalculating and adjusting. I found out the pattern is intended for a size 7 foot. My 9.5 feet are not going to fit that pattern without some adjustment other than just a bigger needle, so I think I'll look for another. Jaywalker, maybe?

Brimed Hat

Brimed Hat
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

From Holiday Knits, knit in Woolease. I hoped the guage would come out well, and I lucked out! This hat is for a cousin, but I think I'll make one for Teagan next. I love how the brom isn't too floppy....I may do Teagan's in cotton which would make it even stiffer, I think.

I haven't been doing much knitting lately. I've been busy with another project....



Introducing our new son Argen. Born April 28th, 9lbs8oz and 22inches long. He and his big sister have been taking up all my time, so I haven't been knitting much at all. I'm also still suffering from some Carpal Tunnel from the pregnancy, so that doesn't help matters either.

I finished up the pirate hat. The finishing wasn't that bad, once I steam ironed the heck out of it, everything lay flat and nice for sewing up. I questioned the need for the lining but it finishes this hat off SO nicely. I was going to felt it down to fit baby boy early on, but I think I'll leave it and let him grow into it. I don't want to risk ruining the hat after all this work, and considering the big-headed babies I make, it won't be too long before it fits anyways.


I also whipped up a Kidlet Tank in some Lion Brand Microspun I had lying around. It takes about one full skein to make the smallest size, following the pattern using a 4mm came out to a slim size 2. I'm going to see how this one washes up (pilling, etc) and then maybe make another in the next size up. This one fits funny after she eats a big meal, it's that close in sizing. It's a super easy/fast knit, though!

THe pirate hat is nearly complete. I've finished all the knitting, and just need to tack under the lining, then felt it a wee bit to shrink it. (it's about toddler sized and it's meant to fit my new baby - when he gets here) I finished the knitting a couple days ago and have been putting off the finishing......it requires tacking the UN-boundoff stitches to the inside of the hat. There are over 100 stitches so it sounds like a bit of a headache to do.

Stash Flashing Time!!

Click here for the YARNAGE

I finally got photos of all of my yarn, needles and UFO's uploaded. I have a LOT of yarn, ove 100 skeins! Still lots of "cheap" yarn, but a bit of an improvement over last year, I think:

Last Year's stash flash

I was amazed to see I have 12 UFOs right now, not counting the THREE baby hats I found almost done, and finished up, while sorting this morning. Lots of stuff close to completion, too. I should get busy and finish things up!

I started a new project, We Call Them Pirates From Hello Yarn. I'm Knitting it in a thin alpaca yarn and it is SOOOOOOoooooo soft! I've never knit with alpaca before, but wow, it's so nice and cuddly! It sheds a bit, and sticks together somewhat, but it's cuddle factor makes up for that. The hat is coming out a tad larger than I want, I'm making it for my baby boy, but I'll felt it down a bit I think. The edge tension is a little looser than it is where I'm getting into the pattern, but hopefully it will all work out. Overall for my first fair isle I think it's going well:



And it's just so fun knitting a design that is so not-traditional, especially in soft fuzzy yarn!

I THOUGHT that the baby sweater I was working on seemed 'off' in a way, but I carried on. I've mad this particular sweater twice before with no issues, so I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. Unfortunately, I should have paid better attention when I thought it was wrong, I had screwed up pretty badly. Instead of continueing to increase the shoulders/sleeves to the THIRD buttonhole, I stopped at the second, a difference of 18 rows. That makes for a pretty warped sweater with tiny little arms. It's totally unsalvagable. I can either rip back about 80% of what I've done and fix it, or just start over completely. I'm not sure I feel like doing either.

The baby is due mid April, so I have a little time, but not much. I checked my stash and I don't have any other "gender neutral" yarn so I'm sort of stuck redoing this sweater, or something similar. I hate when knitting, which is supposed to be fun, gets frustrating.

I finally finished the doll-sized placket neck pullover:

It's a little bigger in the body and the neck than I'd like, but at least this way it will be easier for my daughter to put on and off the doll. She seemed pleased with the sweater, but I think the real joy will come when her doll and baby brother can dress alike.

I'm starting a simple cardigan in Patons Look at Me for a friend - the mom of a child at Teagan's daycare is due 8 days before me!

I've started the doll-size placket neck sweater. I'm just about to start the arms, but it should go pretty quick. I'm a little worried that the neck won't be wide enough, this doll has a monster head, but we'll see.

I bought 4 skeins of yarn in a blue veregated colourway to make Teagan a matching style sweater. I debated on a more girly colour, but this way I can hand the sweater down to the boy, getting more use out of it. She looks good in blue, too. The yarn I got this time doesn't do the fake fair isle thing, but I figured that the larger size would distrort the effect away anyways, and this colour was nicer.

No photos of the yarn because I'm currently sorting my 18million photos on the computer for printing and archiving - damned if I'm going to take more knitting photos to add to the mess until I'm done!

It's finished!

I finished the Child's Placket Neck pullover tonight. There was so little finishing, just kitchener under each arm and sewing the front of the placket down. The knitting itself was fast and easy, so it was a great pattern/project. My daughter was confused about which baby this sweater was for (we got her a baby doll for christmas she promptly named 'baby brother') So I'm thinking of making a matching one for her doll with the 3rd ball of yarn I bought. This sweater only took 2, so I am hoping I could squeeze out a doll size one with one ball and the little leftovers I have.

I am considering making another for Teagan, too, in another colour. The yarn is soft and nice to work with for an acrylic, and the pattern is just so nice.

The Olympics sweater is progressing nicely. I really like this yarn, it's very soft for an acrylic and the colourway is so pretty. At this point I'm considering making the sweater in a larger size for Teagan, too. Of course, I'm still on the stockingknit body section so it's all easy at this point - we'll see if I still want to make another after dealing with the upper part. Here's the sweater so far:

I finished the baby cardigan last night. It still needs blocking (in a bad way!) and buttons, but otherwise it's all done. I'm still not thrilled with how the sleeves attached, but even with fiddling that's as good as it got:

I'm hoping some blocking will help them out. It ended up bigger than I expected (Debbie Bliss' sizes do run large) so it may be for the fall rather than when he's a newborn.

Here is the yarn and the start of a swatch (warmups) for my knitting olympics project. It's an acrylic yarn but really nice and soft.

I really, REALLY dislike finishing work on knitted items. One or two simple seams I can handle, but putting together a whole sweater is so frustrating for me. It seems like the pieces don't match up, my sleeve ends up crooked, or there is some other problem.

I finally finished all the knitting for the baby cardigan I'm knitting, and started the assembly today. Several hours of seaming in, and I'm only halfway done. What I have done doesn't look right, so I may be ripping it to start over. The sleeve looks kind of puckered, I think I need to space out the stitches more than I did. Unfortunately, that means ripping all the seaming I've done on the arm so far, which is most of the work I did. The sweater is looking cute, but at this point of the project I remember why I always favour top-down/seamless projects. Once the knitting is finished (the fun part for me) I still have to tackle this frustration, and I end up feeling like the quality of my finishing work detracts from the end result.

I'm going to work at it, though. I want to finish it tomorrow night, so I can feel free to start my next project (a SEAMLESS baby sweater) for Friday's Knitting Olympics beginning.

The Knitting Olympics!


This sounds like too much fun to miss:Knitting Olympics. Basically you have to cast on for a new project during the openning ceremonies of the olympics (Feb 10th)and finish before the flame goes out. (Feb 26th)My plan is the Child's Placket-Neck Pullover from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I have some neat self patterning acrylic I'll use, assuming it swatches up alright. It's not a very ambitious project, but I don't have tons of free time these days, so I think it's enough of a challenge to finish in 16 days. The additional challenge is finishing the cardigan I'm working on now, first. I don't want to start the new sweater until the old one is done - better get knitting!

Petal Baby Hat

Petal Baby Hat
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

I made This Petal Hat intending it as a baby gift, but as you can see it ended up a bit on the large size. Teagan likes it, and it looks cute on her, so I'm not worried it came out so large. The pattern is written flat but I just knit it in the round. There is a wide plain patch because I forgot to remove the 'seam allowance'. The top came out nicely, too:


I really like this pattern, once I get it started it was easy to remember and just knit away. I started a second hat in some cascade fixation yarn. The yarn is pretty crazy bright, but hopefully ok for a young baby:


I altered the pattern to cut out the seam allowance which eliminated 3 stitches and the cascade is thinner yarn, so even with the same size needles it's coming out smaller. The cascade is knitting up quite stretchy, too. There is a lot of yarn so I may be able to make matching socks or mitts.

I lost my hook. I settled in at the hospital yesterday (waiting for an ultrasound) ready for some time to work on the star blanket, and I didn't have my crochet hook! I looked at home and can't see it, so my only hope is that it't in the car, having fallen out of the bag. I don't know what size I was using so replacing it won't be easy if it's not int he car.

Someone linked to an amazing shawl at http://www.needlebeetle.com/lace/swallow.htm. I have never had any desire to make a lace shawl, but this one is tempting!!

Star Blanket

Star Blanket
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

Got a little farther on the star blanket. I like how it looks framed in blue, though I really REALLY wish I had made the yellow part in the centre bigger. Too late now! I'm not sure how much blue to do, and I was thinking about doing some blue, and then some yellow, or striping back and forth, I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

I brought it to work with me, because I had an ultrasound appointment this morning. I knew I'd be waiting so I thought I could get a lot done. (I finished a round and a half doing my glucose test at the lab the other day, over 800stitches!) I get to the waiting room, pull out the blanket and.......no hook! So I had to sit and read out of date magazines and curse myself for not double checking that the hook was in the bag this morning.

Star Blanket

Star Blanket
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

I've been working on my star blanket a bit. It's an easy portable project where I don't need to refer to a pattern, and I can stop and start easily since I'm not counting stitches or anything. It's really slow going, though. I realized why - it's over 400 stitches per 'round' now, and each round only nets me another cm around the blanket. I don't know how big I'm going to make it, but it's going to take me a while.

I'm wishing I'd made the middle yellow part bigger, but I am NOT ripping back now. I'm going to edge it in light blue, but the bulk of it will be white, I think. The pattern is neat, but if I made it again I'd use thicker yarn and a bigger hook. The blanket wouldn't be as fine and soft, but it wouldn't take half a century to finish.

Given it's taking me so darn long to make, I think I'm going to keep this one for our baby boy to use.

I'm very excited, my friend is getting a local Stitch n Bitch organized. There is another group that meets monthly, but I never clicked with them. They're nice, I just didn't connect, plus they meet downtown on weekends, which is harder for me to manage. It's just going to be the two of us this week, but hopefully next week there will be more interest. Lots of folks off the local parenting board are interested, they just couldn't make it tonight. I'm looking forward to dedicated knitting time, out of the house, with a fancy coffee drink :)

The Debbie Bliss sweater is annoying me. The shoulder shaping made NO sense, so I'm adapting it and hoping I can make it all work out. I've just started the second front piece, so there isn't too much more to knit. I need to make the second pocket before I can progress much more, though.

I'm working away on a simple baby sweater for the boy. My goal is to finish this one BEFORE going into the hospital to have him! I'm using the Simple Baby Layette pattern from one of Debbie Bliss' books, and some cotton/acrylic yarn by Patons. (Rio) It's looking a bit big, but then he can grow into it. I've already got the back and one pocked finished, so it's working up fairly quickly.

Matching Socks

Matching Socks
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

Teagan and her new baby doll model matching socks. I made the socks for Teagan first, and then thought I may as well whip up a matching doll pair with the leftovers. Various (stupid!) mistakes caused the doll socks to take longer than the toddler socks to make, but she seemed happy with them in the end.

I did find that homemade socks don't seem to stay on kid feet as well, so I may stick to knitting her hats and things for now. They'll be fine in shoes, but running around in the socks they kept slipping down on her.

I'm killing the Accordion sweater. I've been frustrated with it all along, it's just not fun, and I'm getting too many signs to "give it up already":

• the ribbing will need MUCH blocking to widen out enough
  
• it was painful to knit woolease on bamboo needles
  
• now that I switched to metal needles, it's only bearable, not fun.
  
• I'm questioning the colour choice
  
• I saw a sweater that would be much nicer than this one promises to turn out, for a mere$12 in the store
  
• I just realized I knit the left front backwards.
  

SO I think this sweater has a date with the winder, to be turned back into centre pull balls for some other purpose. I'm both frustrated and gleeful about this.

I'm looking forward to my next planned project - tiny knit doll socks to match my daughter's, so on christmas she and her brand new baby doll can wear matching socks. (they're girly sock colours and her doll is a boy, but she won't care)

The socks have been knit, though I still have to weave in the ends. I hate finishing work, seaming, weaving, all of that stuff. In this case I have only 4 short tails to weave in and I haven't done it. I really should, then I can wrap the socks up and be done with them!

I'm back to working on Teagan's Accordion sweater (from knitty.com). I have done too much to abandon it, and if I don't finish it soon she'll get no wear out of it before she's too big. I've done the back and the left front, and am about 1/3 done the right front now. It's moving much faster on metal needles, if I really work at it I might finish it for christmas.

Teagan's sock

Teagan's sock
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

Progress so far on Teagan's sock. I haven't had a lot of time to work on it, but it goes fast when I do get to it! It looks small, but the ribbing stretches quite a bit. Seemed like a perfect fit this morning. Teagan knows I'm knitting them for her, but I'm hoping after finishing (and trying on) the first one, she'll forget for a month so I can gift her with them at christmas.

New Yarn

new yarn
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

I went to the yarn store in Colwood this weekend, in search of some veregated Sox yarn (Bernat) for socks for Teagan. They had the colourway in the photo, on the left, that I think should do nicely. The yarn on the right just called to me from the shelf - they had a sample knit up and it's so pretty and bright. I might make an earflap hat for Teagan out of it.

Face Cloths

Cloths
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

I've been knitting some face cloths lately. My bigger projects (Accordion sweater for Teagan, blanket, etc) were all bugging me, and I needed some instant gratification. I'm enjoying the simple lace patterns, enough detail to keep it interesting but still portable tv knitting.

I'm thinking of making up bath Tea or bath salts to package with them as gifts for the daycare staff where my daughter is....

Knitting Meme! I was tagged by Shetha for this one:

What is your all time favourite yarn to knit with?
I haven't knit with a lot of nice yarns. If the 'cheaper' yarns I like Bernat Satin, and Lion Brand Woolease. Sirdar Rio (cotton/acrylic blend) was super nice to knit with, and I liked Patons Look at Me, before they discontinued it.

Your favourite needles?
Circulars, for everything. I like doing socks on two circs, and even flat knitting feels better on them. Most of my needles are Aero or Susan Bates Metal and plastic needles I've picked up at thrift stores. I have one pair of casien DPNs that are nice to knit with (but taste and smell nasty) and my Pony Pearl DPNs are comfy, too. I don't really like bamboo, they grab the yarn too much.

The worst thing you've ever knit?
I tried making Chicknit's Boatneck Shell, but I tried to do it in the round and adjust the measurements. This was as a very new knitter, and I didn't even know about guage. I used Phildar's Paper Phil yarn which is hard to knit with and impossible to rip, so this project lingered for a few years before I finally just threw it out.


Your most favourite knit pattern? (maybe you don't like wearing it...but it was the most fun to knit)
I love making these cabled hats:

Super easy to knit, but work up fairly fast. Good portable knitting that isn't straight stockingknit. The pattern was from a book called Hip Knits, I think.

Most valuable knitting technique?
I don't know the name for it, but when you need to rip many rows, and you insert your needle into the stitches, then rip-rip-rip and the stitches land back on the needle automatically at the intended point. Saves so much time and stress versus trying to get all the stitches back on the needle one by one after some frantic ripping.

Best knit book or magazine?
I don't really have one. I really like "Adorable Knits for Kids" but I haven't knit anything from it yet. I love Debbie Bliss' items, but don't like her patterns. if that makes sense.

Your favourite knit-a-long?
I haven't completed one. I joined the Soleil-along, and failed out.

Your favourite knitblogs?
Sandra at Stay at Home Knitter, Carrie at Carrioke.net, Spring at Twistedstitcher.net. Wendy at Knit&Tonic is really entertaining, too.

Your favourite knitwear designer?
Uh, don't know if I could name enough to pick a favorite! I like Debbie Bliss' stuff quite a bit, though.

The knit item you wear the most? (how about a picture of it!)
I haven't knit a lot of things for myself to wear, actually. Ironically the one handknit top I wear the most, though, is the very first one I made, one of the first things I knit. The pattern was in the first Knit It, and I used Lion Brand Homespun.

Sorry for the darkness, it's the only photo I could find.

Tagging Sandra at Stay at Home Knitter

Not making much progress on Accordion. I dropped an edge stitch and had to rip back abotu 12 rows = lame. I'm just not motivated, Woolease on Bamboo needles was a mistake. It's also just really boring knitting 4x4 rib.

I started a baby hat because I wanted something different, we'll see if the break can get me moving again.

I'm still working on Accordion. I finished the back and got a good start on the one front panel, but it's slow going. I haven't had much knitting time. The few times I've managed to flop in front of the TV in the evenings, I haven't wanted to knit, even. I've got to hurry, the cooler weather is starting and I want Teagan to be able to wear that sweater!

I'm craving quick knits, so if I can't get motivated to work on Accordion maybe I'll whip up another baby hat or a dishcloth or something. Christmas is coming, so it can't hurt to have a couple things stashed away.

Accordion

accordian
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

Here's my progress on Accordion so far. It's 8 inches, so I'm a little over halfway done the back. I thought it was going to be way too big when I first cast on, but the ribbing really pulls in.

I'm working on straights for a change. Usually I use circs, even for flat knitting. If I could have found a circular needle in the right size (4.5mm) I would have used it this time, too. Oh well, I wanted to give the bamboo ones a try anyways. They're nice and light in my hands, but a bit catchy on the woolease yarn. I can't get over how LONG the straights feel as I'm knitting. I feel like I take up more space knitting with them - hah!

Wow, almost a month since I posted! I really haven't been knitting much, so I haven't had anything interesting to say. I'm nearly done a fruit hat for Teagan, out of Handicrafter cotton, and I made one chunky baby hat that just needs it's ends woven in, but that's about it.

I did start knitting up a chunky cardigan from Yarn Girls' Guide to Kid Knits, but my guage was off and the rolling was way too much for me to imagine it blocking out, so I ripped it. Then I started on Accordian from knitty.com, but I'm worrying that it's too wide. I was on guage for the swatch, so I'm going to go a little farther and see. It's all ribbed so it should shrink in a bit. Photos when I have more than an inch knit up.

I've been knitting a bit, just no time to take photos, so I haven't bothered posting. I made one and a half mittens to match the pink hood, it's WAY big. So the hat is too small, mittens too big, sigh. Teagan found the hat on the couch (my fault leaving it out) and tried putting it on. It was bound off but not tied off, so a LOT of it unravelled. I haven't figured out if I will fix it or start over and make it bigger. I really do like the pattern, I may try AGAIN with different yarn.

I finally finished the blue pinwheel baby blanket. I like how it turned out, but I'd like to block it. It's acrylic, but I still think some blocking could make it look even nicer.

I've started a chunky 3-pointed hat, and have lots more projects in mind, just not enough focussed knitting time. I really should start on some christmas knitting. I should decide WHAT I'm knitting, so I can start on it, eh?

The Tiny Tot Helmet was an abysmal failure. I tried about 12 times to make it work, following the pattern exactly, following it fairly closely, making up my own ideas, and every combo of those. It would not work out no matter what I did, so I gave up. And then I found a new (and much better/cuter/comfier looking) pattern, the Toddler Knit Helmet! My first one, int hat koolaid dyed yarn, ended up really large. I could squeeze it over my head, it was that big. I'm debating trying to felt it. If I put it away until it will fit her.....that would be a LONG wait, and I'm just too impatient for that. I'm a little worried that felting it would make it funny at the neck though, since the ribbing wouldn't stay stretchy.

I really liked the pattern, and the size issue was my own fault for using the wrong yarn and needles, so I gave it another shot. Here's the second attempt:

It's a little smaller around the face than I'd like. I think I would knit a couple more rows in height, maybe increase by a few more to make the head bigger around, and add a couple rows of ribbing. It's knit in a cotton/acrylic blend, but despite living in Canada, it really doesn't get THAT cold, so it should be perfect. I'm working on matching mittens now, with the rest of the yarn.

Red Koolaid Yarn

Red Koolaid Yarn
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

I dyed up a HUGE hank of wool I had kicking around. I used kiwi strawberry and Raspberry koolaid to make the lighter pink (a tad lighter than the photo shows it) and Tropical Punch + Raspberry koolaid for the darker shade. I'm happy with the colours, girly but not wussy - perfect for my daughter! I'm going to make her a Tiny Tot Helmet and maybe matching mitts, I'm sure there is more than enough wool.

Tivoli is workin up fine. I tried it on and it's a tiny bit looser than I'd like around the chest, but otherwise great. I'm working the waist decreases now so not much left.

Still working away on my Tivoli, I'm into the waist shaping now. It's getting a bit boring, but I really want to wear this top so that is keeping me motivated.

There are a whole bunch of things I want to make, baby things, christmas gifts, stuff for my daughter. I think my next project could be this Tiny Tot Helmet for my daughter. It would look great in some koolaid-dyed wool, I think. Now I just have to find the big stash of white and cream worsted wool I bought for dying. I got a bunch at a thrift shop (50cents a skein!) and then some Lana at Walmart ($2) knowing I'd use it, but I haven't seen it since we moved......I sense a search and rescue mission this evening.

Here is my Tivoli T so far:



I'm halfway through the "knit straight for 5 inches" section. It's a little boring at this point, but knits up fast at least. I really want to finish this so I can wear it. We're having our first 'coolish' day in a while and it's making me more aware that summer won't last forever.

The reclaimed yarn is well on it's way to becoming a Tivoli T. It's kntiting up nicely, and fairly fast. I just finished casting on for the underarms, so it should go pretty quickly now.

I'm having severe startitis pains these days. I keep seeing more stuff I want to start, but I've got the pinwheel baby blanket AND Tivoli on the needles, plus an abandoned fruit cap. That should be enough for now.