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!