Crafts Update

Besides my Maryland Sheep and Wool haul, I have a few other projects in the works and a major completion.

Bamboo Clapotis

Pattern: Clapotis
Yarn: South West Trading Co. Bamboo, 3 skeins
Needles: US Size 6 (4.0mm)

I added in an extra increase section and worked a total of 21 repeats in the straight section. This one nearly killed me - I had to really force myself to work on it and get it finished. I don't really like knitting flat and this is one of those projects that doesn't need as much attention as a lace pattern, but it's not mindless knitting either. I did find this handy little pdf that has a nice chart where you can check off each row as you work it - Clapotis Chart.

Design-a-long: Lacy Tank


This is my first Knitty Keen knit-a-long, designing a lacy tank with bust shaping. I just posted the first installment which talks about some of the why's of designing your own and a bit on swatching so pop on over to take a look - Design-a-long: Lacy Tank.

Lacy Shrug Cardi
I bought a couple of balls of linen/viscose blend over the weekend with the idea of making some sort of cardigan/shrug. I made a swatch since the ball band had no needle suggestions and the swatch at my LYS seemed way too loose for my taste.



The yarn seems very happy on my US Size 4 (3.5mm) needles, but I still needed a pattern. Monday morning was spent playing with several ideas, but nothing jumped out at me until I started surfing Ravelry and found a pattern from the Spring '09 IK.



I didn't renew my subscription to IK this year and when I did a quick scan of the spring issue, nothing really caught my eye - I definitely have to look at these things more closely in future. The Whisper Cardigan definitely fits the bill for what I want - a cardigan with a shrug neckline. The Ravelry pattern page has a link to the designer's website with a schematic of the cardi, so while I do intend to purchase the magazine once I track down a copy, I don't actually need it to make one. I have to do major mods anyway due to my body shape, so I'm taking what I know about my shape and the info I learned from knitting up two Mia Shrugs to make this.

Quicky Crafts Update

I proudly present the first Orange Diamond Sock (aka Devon from Cookie A's Sock Innovations).

I actually did this one pretty much as written - a first for me when it comes to socks. I did have to add another pattern repeat to accommodate my wide feet and worked the heel flap for three inches for my high-insteps. I learned a lot - how to pick-up and knit (something that I've been doing ass backwards all this time or avoiding outright) and how the heel-flap/turn/gusset all work together to affect fit. I enjoyed doing top-down and can definitely see the appeal, but the worry of running out of yarn before I'm done is probably enough to keep me doing toe-up. I only did two pattern repeats on the cuff and wanted to do at least one more but I was too afraid I'd run out of yarn in the middle of the foot (note - I probably had enough to do another two repeats). With some luck I'll get the second one done in enough time for MDS&W.

The last of the Patchghan Patches

---

Be sure to head on over to Knitty Keen for a handy reminder to not forget the crochet hook and a tutorial for sewing on nearly indestructible toy limbs.

TTFN!

Someone found the camera cable (Crafts Update)

...and finally got around to downloading/uploading pictures of what she's been up to.

Mia Shrug

Pattern: Mia Shrug
Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece
US Size 7 Needles

I did this (*gasp*) almost exactly as written, with the exception of the 2x2 rib along the collar and bottom edge. It's a very nice pattern with info for knitting flat and in the round in addition to customizing your sizing. The only thing I would change would be info on adding ease. As written, it makes a close fitting garment (no ease), so if you want something a little looser around the upper arm be sure to take that into account.

Chudley Cannons Lunch Bag








Pattern: Brown Bag
Lambs Pride Bulky
US Size 13 Needles

Another pattern I pretty much did as written (I know, what is the world coming to?). I had planned to do a complete I-cord bind-off around the top edge and flap, but I ran out of yarn after doing the flap so I opted for a simple bind-off for the top edge and it worked beautifully - no horrendous flaring. This is a pattern I definitely plan to use again.

Troll Patchghan Squares

These are for an afghan that's going to be raffled off to support a message board I'm a member of.






Pattern: Original Design
Louet Gems Opal (green) and Knit Picks Kettle-Dyed Sock Yarn (Purple)
US Size 1.5 Needles

It looks really, really cool - but it's double knit with fingering-weight yarn on tiny needles and was a tremendous pain to knit.








These are the rest of what I've gotten done so far. Lots of playing around with stash yarns, patterns and textures. Lots of fun to do and something I'm going to keep up so I can make my own blanket to donate to Project Linus.

In other, non-pictured news I dusted the cobwebs off my Green Thread socks and turned the heel only to realize that the instep is really a bit too snug so I'm going to have to frog it and start all over again with more instep stitches and a few more gusset increases. I love the way the yarn is looking in this pattern, but travelling rib is not my favorite thing to knit so it's probably going to be put away for a bit in favor of something a bit more satisfying - most likely the mate to my Monkey Sock.

I also have finished my first ever garment for myself - a heavily modified Dream in Color Shrug. I ended up changing the sleeves quite a bit, added a collar from Knitting on the Edge, adjusting it to fit my line-backer shoulders, and of course worked it in the round. Now all I have to do is get it, a basin and my wool wash in the same place at the same time and we'll be good to go.

I'm getting ready to begin my mad dash of Easter knits next, hopefully I'll be able to actually get done what I'd like to this year. It shouldn't be too hard considering I have a whole bunch of half-finished things from last year's attempt at being super-knitter. I also need to knock out some sort of sweater for Alex. I started a February Baby Sweater for him, got about 2/3's into it and the realized that I don't have enough of yarn to finish it so it'll be frogged and re-done with a contrasting yoke, cuffs and hem. His Birthday BSJ needs to be heavily blocked and I'm still not sure it'll even fit him so that may be frogged as well and re-knit on bigger needles with some contrasting colors tossed in to make up the difference in yardage.

That's about it for the moment. TTFN!

Good to know (teaser crafts update)

I finished knitting a bag to be felted and gifted tomorrow this afternoon and took a couple of short-cuts that have really worked to my advantage.

• I love using bulky yarn and size 13 needles!
  The size 13's aren't too huge for the bulky so you don't end up with that really loose knitting and the felting resulted in a super-thick fabric. I'm still going to be doing lots of stuff with worsted and size 10's, but the bulky is definitely coming out for projects that need to stand up to a lot of wear and tear.


• Applied I-cord rights all wrongs!
  I've done several bags with flaps and no matter how closely I watch the felting, it always ens up a wavy mess that won't lay nicely no matter what I do. This time I slipped the first and last stitch of every row on the flap and then did a 3-stitch applied i-cord on the three exposed sides. Nice, flat flap with straight sides!


• Don't forget the simple bind-off!
  The opening of the bag is another place where the felted fabric always goes all wonky on me. My original plan was to do the applied i-cord all around the opening and the flap but I ran out of yarn (seriously - I have like 5" left). The only other time I've ever used a simple bind-off is on a linen-stitch towel because a plain bind-off makes the hem all wavy because the stitches are so compressed. I was seriously afraid it was going to be way too tight, but again, perfection! I have a bag that for once does not flare at the the top and become and unruly, wavy mess.

.

That is all - I have felt to shave and another knitted item to wash and block. I'll post picks of the week's knitting frenzy tomorrow after they've been gifted.

TTFN!

January Crafts Update

There has been a lot of knitting going on the past few weeks. Much of my Christmas knitting this year was felted stuff, so an "All Felt" crafts update is in the works.

Here's what's been doing...

Snowmen

A few more of the ones that I knocked out for presents. These three went down to my relatives in Maryland.

Bauble Wrap Neck Warmer







This will one day see light as a Knitty Keen pattern, maybe even before spring if I can carve out some time. This is my prototype, made for (and modeled by too) the ever lovely K using Carron Simply Soft and size 10 needles. I cast on for it the afternoon of the inauguration after I found out K was wearing a scarf made of wool to which she is allergic to because she didn't have a scarf. I've played around with this lace/textured pattern before and I love the way it turned out with the larger needles.

Michael's Charlie Brown Socks






I dyed this yarn ages ago and really didn't like how it looked. Michael has been going through a big yellow phase so I decided to knock out a pair of socks for him. I knit them from the toe up with a gusset and rounded heel with a garter-rib pattern. I'm going to do up a quick and dirty pattern for them over on Knitty Keen, so be sure to take a look this weekend.

Slouchy Mitts


Finally - something for me. John got me some Kureyon Sock yarn last year for Christmas and knitting socks in this was a study in frustration. Doing entrelac on size 3 needles was much easier. They are a bit over sized so the cuffs will fit over my shirt-sleeves to keep the cold out and I can wear them over my cheap gloves for an extra layer of warmth.

Birthday Surprise Jacket


We still have yet to actually celebrate Alex's birthday, so in an effort to get things moving, I'm knocking out a BSJ for him. The yarn is Dashing Dachs sport-weight in the Skippy colorway knit on size 7's. The yarn was a gift from Heather way back last spring when I was going through a tough time. I'm about 2/3's done, so with a bit of luck I'll be able to get pics of the belated birthday boy in his new sweater.

I've got to go and tend to Alex now and hopefully we'll all get some sleep. 'night all!

Crafts Update

Even with all the tumult, there is still knitting being done.

Finished Items

Michael's Sherwood Sweater

Adapted from Knitty's Sherwood Sweater pattern - rewritten to accommodate a larger gauge and to make it a seamless raglan.
US Size 10 Needles
Cascade Eco Wool

This has actually been done for quite some time, I just haven't had the camera and him wearing it in the same room at the same time - I still don't so you'll have to settle for the perennial laying on the carpet shot. This is my first sweater (well 4th if you count baby ones, but I don't), and I've learned a lot from it. I have to work on my k2tog decreases - individual ones don't matter that much, but a whole bunch of them in a line left a little ladder gap that I'm not too crazy about. I won't even show you the underarms - one of them is done on the wrong side and while a mistake of this magnitude would usually eat me alive until I ripped it out and did it correctly, but I'm sure no one will be examining them that closely so I'm not sweating it. All in all, it pointed out some places where I need to improve my technique and I got a sweater he'll be able to wear for at least two years out of it.

Mittens


Original Pattern
US Size 4 and 8 Needles
Pattons Classic Merino

Michael's needed these for the longest time and while I had these intricate colorwork ones planned, time was of the essence since the cheap gloves we had for him just weren't cutting it anymore. I guessed my gauge and just tried them on him several times while knitting to get the size right.

Snowman


Original Pattern
US Size 1.5 and 3 Needles
KnitPicks Bare Fingering Merino
Davidson Co. Domy Heather

I've been working on several things to put up in the Knitty Keen Etsy shop and this was knocked out over the past few days and I have to say I'm absolutely delighted with the results.

On Going

Swallowtail Shawl


This was started as part of a knit-along over the summer and has sat untouched for months. I only have 3 more rows of the Lily of the Valley chart and then the peaked edging. With luck, I'll have it done for my mom for Christmas

Even Elf Chicks Need to Keep Warm Scarf


It's at least doubled in size sine I last took a picture of it. There is an ever so slight chance I may have it done in time to wear before Spring.

Crafts Update - Swap edition

There has been knitting going on, precious little, but it has been happening. Unfortunately, I have not taken the time to actually take pictures of anything in progress, so instead I'm going to show off my recent magic yarn ball swap. You've already seen the temari ball, but here's the rest of the package I sent out this morning...

Temari Side View

Unwrapped


Ready to go


My Swap Package


So, so many goodies - a lovely selection of teas, four balls of the KnitPicks Kettle-dyed sock yarn, a project bag, some options cables, note cards, and a book mark.

Lunch and family beckon - hopefully I can get a full crafts update up over the weekend. TTFN!

At long last - Craft Update!

It's a quick one 'cause I should have been in bed a half-hour ago.

Jitterbugging Monkey from the Toe-up

This is my version of Cookie A's Monkey Sock from Knitty rewritten for toe-up, magic loop, and with a gusset/rounded heel/shortrow heel flap. I just can't seem to do things the easy way. The next time I come up for air I'll post my pattern modifications.

Green Thread Sock







Yet another Cookie A. Pattern - her Red Thread Sock. John bought me the pattern for Mother's Day. I like it, but not quite as much as some of her other designs - M1P are a major PITA to do. Once I get to the cable lace on the cuff I should be happier. I haven't added it to my Ravelry notebook yet, but I'll probably get the stats up there sometime this week.


Elf Chicks Need to Keep Warm Too



This is in fact the Woodland Shawl lace pattern done up as a scarf in some of the Kureyon Sock that John got me for Christmas. It's my first *real* lace pattern, although I'm sure my Green Scaley Sock has to count for something. The pattern itself is quite lovely, my picture of it under the glare of an incandescent bulb however is not.

I have a few other things in the works - a bucket/sailor hat for Alex that I'm planning on knitting up in some Debbie Bliss DK cotton and a cotton bag for Michael that I'd like to have ready for our trip to the shore at the end of the month - we'll have to see about that.

There is oh so much more going on, but my two-handed computer time is very limited (hell, one handed isn't happening all that much either), so posts will continue to stew about in my brain. Needless to say, "I still aten't dead!"

Crafts Update

It's been a while - but here is some stuff for the Bean and some stuff I made for another babe-to-be...

Coming Home Outfit

Koigu Baby Surprise Jacket




Orange Malabrigo Snazzy Pants Longies

Swap Package

Araucania Nature Wool Saartje's Booties




Frilly Baby Socks




Noro Iro Gnomey




Rowan Kid Classic Swing Thing

Thanks for looking!