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So I cast on for another project, even though I have yet to finish my Razor Cami. The baby cardi is done but still needs some sort of closure and possibly a blocking. And I really ought to start Christmas presents (or at least the birthday presents I’ve got coming up).
It’s a little shawl I started out of Red Heart Heart and Sole sock yarn. One skein likely won’t be enough, but I’ll work with what I have at the moment. It looks pretty basic now, I know, but I’m going to add a lace edging and I might even write up a pattern for it. : )
And I only started this because I needed something to knit while in lines at Busch Gardens. That picture was taken while I waited for Kansas to play (they did a show at the park). While I was waiting, I also played with the macro function on my camera and took some lovely artsy yarn/knitting shots:
Okay, that last one is my Swallowtail Shawl, which I brought in case it got cold (it did).
So this will likely be a wip for a while, cast aside while I work on other, more pressing things. But it’ll be nice to have a simple stockinette project on the side in case I get sick of the other projects I need to do. Including a stranded colorwork pillow for someone’s birthday. By when I go back to school. I could do it in a week, but I really ought to get started. Meh. It’ll happen.
It does, actually. I think this might be my last claim for a while (though not the last post–there’s this one and then what I got from the person that claimed me). I want to do some regular swaps and maybe even organize one. Or perhaps just get started on my Christmas knitting. Anyway.
I claimed lapoli for a cowl and acrylic yarn. Here’s what I came up with for the cowl:
(Modeled by my sister)
Pattern: A Noble Cowl, available as a free Ravelry download
Yarn: Almost a skein and a half of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (left over from Climbing Vines)
Needles: Knit Picks 16″ US 7/4.5 mm circ.
Modifications: Only cast on 105 (though that was still waaaay too big), only did two repeats of the pattern instead of 2.5.
I think this came out rather nicely, actually. It’s big but still warm and it can always be pinned with a shawl pin or something similar. And in any case, she loved the drape of it. Turns out she hates things that are tight around her neck. Win.
I also sent her a bunch of acrylic yarn that has been marinating in my stash:
Some Red Heart Super Saver, some Vanna’s Choice, and some unlabeled stuff. She said it’s perfect for her charity knitting. So hopefully it’ll keep someone warm and make someone happy–more than it was doing in my stash.
I’m still working on the baby sweater and the cami. They’re sort of slow-going (well, compared with my usual rate of progress), but hopefully I’ll get Colin’s sweater finished by the time his family gets here. It’s getting there. It’s a bottom-up raglan, and I’m almost at the sleeves. Exciting!
No new FO’s to report (shocking, I know), but I have certainly been knitting and crafting. I’ve been working on a tank top:
(Razor Cami in Caron Simply Soft cause it’s what I’ve got onhand and I want it out of the stash)
and a little cardigan for my littlest cousin:
It’s in some random sport-weight acrylic I got from my grandmother ages ago (it’s been in my stash basically since I started knitting). The cardigan is the 24 months size, so I hope it will fit him during the winter. He’s not even a year and according to my sister (according to the baby’s sister), he’s already in 18 month size clothes. We’ll see.
In non-knitting news, my sister and I spent an afternoon being crafty, resulting in this:
We made paper! Ground up newspaper and magazine pages in a blender, dumped everything in the sink with a bunch of water, then strained the pulp and let it all dry. It’s thick and some of it’s quite fragile, and it’s a strange grey color, but I like it, and I’ll definitely use it in some paper crafts. And there’s glitter in it!
So that’s what I’ve been up to lately. I did another round of the Ongoing Wish Swap, so that will be happening soon. And there might also be a little tutorial type of thing… Stay tuned!
(Modeled by my sister. more pictures can be found on this project’s Ravelry Page.)
Pattern: None, really. I read over Cigar from Knitty, but glove construction is pretty simple. I used my basic mitten pattern for the base, then when I got to the fingers, I used four stitches from the hand for each finger, plus two that I cast on and three that I picked up from the previous finger (more or less). It’s the basic construction used in Cigar, but I did a bunch of things different and I never referred to the pattern.
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool in Purple
Needles: US 7/4.5 mm dpn’s.
I like these a lot, actually. I called them Snowball Fight because they will be perfect for hurling snowballs (if it ever freakin’ snows) at school in Fredericksburg. I had mittens this past winter, but I think gloves will work better (plus they allow for laced fingers with that special someone). They fit quite well too. The gauge is pretty loose, but they’re wool so they should be plenty warm. I don’t find I have a lot of friction when I’m wearing gloves so they shouldn’t wear out too quickly either.
I’m not sure how much I like making gloves though. I much prefer mittens; I know that. Much faster to just go around and around. Knitting the individual fingers is a bit tedious. Regardless, I’m glad I made these because like I said, I think I’ll get a fair bit of use out of them come winter.
Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl Evelyn Clark (free on Knitting Daily)
Yarn: Knit Picks Palette, about a skein and a half in Huckleberry Heather
Needles: Knit Picks Options US 6/4 mm
Modifications: I only did 12 repeats of the bud lace pattern cause I got bored.
For my first major lace project in a fingering weight yarn, I’d say this went pretty smoothly. I messed up the lace a couple of times, but all in all, I’d say it came out well. The color is very pretty and though I don’t really have a HUGE need for shawls, I think I’ll wear it in the fall when it’s cool but not cold enough for a real scarf/cowl. Very pretty. Very drapey. Blocking is like magic. : )
The yarn is also lovely, and I will definitely be ordering from Knit Picks again, as I’ve said. Probably some lace weight. Possibly some chunky-weight wool for a sweater. *shrug* We’ll see.
COMING SOON TO A BLOG NEAR YOU (meaning this one): Stuff from the Ongoing Wish Swap. Another (different swap). A knitted thing. Possibly some in-progress stuff. We shall see.
Pattern: Tank Girl by Vickie Howell, from a summer issue of Knitty
Yarn: NaturallyCaron.com Spa (75% microfiber acrylic, 25% bamboo) in Ocean Spray, about a skein and a half.
Needles: US 6/4 mm Knit Picks Options circular needle
Modifications: Knit in the round, left out the color change and the drop stitches, didn’t continue the ribbing up the back, didn’t bother with the lingerie rings (just did an eye cord and fastened it to the back of the tank). I probably also fiddled with the length– I basically just knit the bottom until I ran out of yarn in that skein then did the other part.
So I’m a huge fan of this tank top. It came out amazingly. It fits perfectly (well, the straps might be a leeeetle long), and I will definitely be making more in other colors. Possibly in other fibers. I like making tank tops cause they’re quick to make and I don’t have to knit sleeves, so that’s fun.
The yarn: I would definitely use this yarn again. The bamboo makes it nice and drapey and soft and lovely, while the acrylic makes it more hard-wearing. It’s hella splitty, so if you don’t like that, stay away, but I only had slight problems with it (splittyness is never really an issue for me). Also, ya know, big box craft store and all that. But I bought the two skeins separately, each with a 40% off coupon so the tank was probably $3.50 total? SCORE.
Coming up: That swap thing, some more knitted things. If you’re good, there might even be a wip post somewhere sometime.
Pattern: Lelah from the Knitting for Booze Hags blog.
Yarn: Cascade Sierra, color 66 (they really ought to name them), about a skein and a half. Oh, and a little Lily Sugar and Cream, for the tie.
Needles: US 10.5/6.5 mm and US 9/5.5 mm Knit Picks Options circular
Modifications: Nine repeats of the lace pattern instead of 7, decreased rapidly over three rows so it would actually fit my bust, added ribbing to the top and left out the elastic.
I really love how this came out. It is actually a little bit long, but the fit is great and I think it’s really cute. I definitely think I will get a lot of wear out of it, and I think you should know by now my love and adoration of Cascade Sierra. It’s amazing yarn and I’ll probably make at least one more garment out of it by the end of the summer. Maybe another tank top.
Speaking of tank tops, I started another one, this time out of Caron Spa, an acrylic/bamboo blend that is really quite lovely. It’s a sport weight though, so the knitting is fairly slow going, plus I haven’t had nearly as much time to knit as I normally have.
Speaking of garments: For those of you playing along at home, here is where I am in my sweater-a-month challenge:
January: Corona/Talia (I did them both in January)
February: Burgandy (Cable Cardi from Knit Simple)
March: Spring Cardi (Hey Teach)/Lime
April: Lime/Superman
May: Climbing Vines
June: Lelah/Tank top yet to be finished
Which MEANS if I was aiming to complete 12 adult-sized garments in one calendar year, as is the goal of this Ravelry group, I would currently be good for 8/12 with number nine about two-thirds of the way there. Why yes, I do knit like a fiend. AND I have a fairly good idea of what I’m going to do for both ten and eleven AND I have the yarn already. One of them is completely weather inappropriate and the other will only sometimes be. And I haven’t decided which to do first.
Coming up soon: stuff from the Ongoing Wish Swap (my package), a cold weather thing, and that tank top. OH, and a shawl which I need to block when I get home. That’s coming up too. Stay tuned!
Hi guys! This post is a little late in coming because I’m away, but here’s a little something regardless. : )
I claimed Craftster user Rangerbeth for fruit cozies and an eye pillow. Here’s what I came up with:
Pattern: This one from I think I’m gonna purl.
Yarn: Lily Sugar and Cream cotton
Needles: US 7/4.5 mm dpns
Mods: I made the blue one smaller to fit smaller applies, peaches, and plums.
They’re cute! If I ate apples with any regularity, I might make some for myself.
(Note: This picture is courtesy of Rangerbeth because I brilliantly forgot to photograph these.)
I also whipped up some eye/neck/back pillows. They’re filled with rice and a little bit of lavender soap and you can put them in the microwave or the freezer to heat or cool your aches and pains. I might make some for myself cause they were so easy and they’re perfect for using up small scraps of fabric (you could quilt them too). The rice is contained in a smaller bag inside the pretty fabric. I used t-shirt scraps because I didn’t want the rice to leak out all over.
I really LOVE how these came out and I think they’d also make great gifts, so I’ll definitely be making more. Plus, they’re top-stitched. Everything looks better with top stitching. ALSO, I bothered the iron the fabric, which was basically amazing. I love the iron.
I also got my package from the person that claimed me, but as it is at home and I am not, pictures of that will have to wait. I may have other FO’s coming up though, including a tank top.
(click to make bigger)
Pattern: Climbing Vines Pullover from the winter 2008 Interweave Knits
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Lake Ice Heather
Needles: US 6/4 mm and US 7/4.5 mm Knit Picks Options 24″ circular, also US 7 dpn’s.
Modifications: Knit in the round to the sleeves, sleeves done in the round, lead motif added to wrist of one of the sleeves, length probably added somewhere; I fiddled with the numbers a little.
I really like how this sweater came out. It fits me better than Elizabeth (much closer fit), and the leaves are really distinct and pretty. The sleeves are a little snug but not unwearable. I like it, and come winter I think I’ll wear it a lot.
About the yarn: I like it a lot. It’s quite soft and I am totally in love with this color. I love the subtle blue sections blending with the grey base… It’s lovely. And I love it. I think the yarn is a bit thin for a worsted weight, but it knit up well on the 7’s, so I’m not really complaining. My spit splice (well, I used water) resulted in a weird texture (kind of scraggly) so I’m not sure what the felted fabric would like, but with this sweater, I’m not really itching to find out.
Tomorrow: A swap package. Later: Another knitting FO, the tank top I referred to before. Stay tuned!
Unfortunately, this did not come out how I wanted, despite modifications, so it’s headed for the frogpond (or, well, hibernation I guess because I have a metric fuckton of yellow RHSS and I can’t see needing the yarn from this bag any time soon). It’s not so bad though as I didn’t really need another bag and I prefer to sew purses anyway. *shrug* Here are the specs regardless:
Pattern: DROPS cable bag, 98-54
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver, in Bright Yellow
Needles: US 8/5 mm Knit Picks Options 24″ and 30″ circular needle
Modifications: Many. Cast on fewer, made the increase and decrease rows less steep, lengthened the cable panel for a larger bag, made the cables wider (4×4 instead of 3×3, which actually made a huge difference) probably effed up the bottom bit (I basically just decreased, did garter for a while, then seamed the bottom using Kitchener stitch). I also cast on with a provisional cast on and knit the top garter band later because I wanted to see how my CO number would work and also I was anxious to get to the cables to see how they would work out. Planned to line with pretty pink fabric and use a chain handle, but didn’t get that far.
In happier news, the Climbing Vines pullover is nearly done. I have the entire body knit as well as a sleeve and a half. The other sleeve will probably be done by Tuesday. I’m also working on a special present for my friend Sarah’s birthday (if you’re reeeeally curious, Sarah can be found in the second ever post of this blog, modeling a hat, a crochet calorimetry, and a scarf thing), which I am planning to mail to her Tuesday. When she gets it, I’ll post pictures here. I also started a pair of gloves, mostly because I wanted something small I could knit while at Busch Gardens (Williamsburg) with some friends today. They have fingers, so they’ll be taking a little longer, but they will happen, and pictures will happen here. ALSO, there’s swap stuff (yes, another one). So stay tuned for lots more posts about finished things.
Stitch, Brinn, Stitch! 