February 2010

February, a short month, but busy.  I actually feel like I accomplished a few things this month, not the ufo's in my knitting bag, but other things.  We have gotten a lot of our new spring yarns in and they are so tempting and samples need to be made; any other excuses??  So here we go..

I did finish the Cabled Rib Sweater made with two strands of sock yarn held together.  I used Aruacania's Ranco.  A solid and a multi. This is a great way to enjoy all the beautiful sock yarns without knitting socks on 1's.  Two strands of sock yarn = worsted weight.  So I got to enjoy these beautiful yarns and knit on 8's.  I love the color effects you can get by mixing yarns.

Then new yarn shows up....We got a yarn called Bombay by Katia.  It is a self striping cotton in great colors.  So, I pictured (in my head) a little girls sun dress and an adult summer cardigan.  The little sun dress has a cute ruffle around the neck and the Cardi uses a slip stitch pattern to break up the horizontal striping a little. I am pleased with the way they turned out.

Another new yarn is a Lace Weight from Noro, Sekku.  I had to try this out too.  I started knitting it in my Lucsious Lace scarf pattern, but as with all Noro yarns there is some thick and thinness to it.  It did not do the yarn or the pattern justice, so, rippp... I then decided on a simple feather and fan pattern - perfect.  Feather and Fan is such a simple pattern, but works well for so many things.

I also needed to get a sample made for July's Knit and Knibble, so Beaded Bookmarks were in order.  I wrote the pattern and charts and knitted 3 of them.  The knitting went very quick.  I knit all three in one day (ok, it was a snow day and I had a little extra free time). I used Panda Silk on 2 of them and Ellla Rae's Lace Merino on the other.

We won't discuss or show pictures (again) of the unfinished projects in my bag (Lace Stole, 2 socks, my husbands sweater), because they are still there and not much has changed.  But I didn't let that stop me from starting some new unfinished projects...

First, is a bathing suit coverup I am making out of Katia's Colibri and Plymouth's Wildflower.  This will get done, I need it for April.

The knitting guild is having it's annual Knitting Weekend later this month and we are knitting something (of our choice) out of the new book Swing, Swagger and Drape.  I am going to do the cover sweater and so this weekend I did some swatching and started my first one and a half miters for the sweater.  I wanted to make sure it is going the right way and I uderstand the pattern before we go.  I am knitting it from a new yarn from Plymouth, Merino Superwash.  It is really a nice yarn and I am doing three colors, Charcoal Grey, Grey and Pink.  Will this be done by the end of March??? .....

And a swatch for two more new yarns.  Lonco, a fingering weight cotton by Araucania.  Hopefulley will be a drawstring top one of these days and Paper from Katia.  Yes, paper...to be a Bag.

It has been a busy knitting month and March promises to be the same.  I am really looking forward to the knitting weekend and 3 days of KNITTING!! (and great company, while doing it).

Happy Knitting to you, until next month,  Nancy