March 2009

I feel like I got alot of knitting done this month, but we'll see as I start writing, if I really did.

First off, I finished my Knit One Below Sweater. This sweater was a Child's sweater knit with fingering weight yarn, I used Cotton Classic and bigger needles and was able to knit the sweater right from the pattern changing only the length. And it fits. This technique is so much fun I will be offering a class on the Curves and Columns Vest from Elise Duvekot's book, Knit One Below. That will be on my needles soon.

I am not sure about the order here (my memory is shot), and some of these things were done simultaneously, but I also knit and felted another purse from the book Pursenalties. This is the Ruffles to Riches Bag. The bottom is Berroco's Ultra Alpaca and Tahki's Shannon held together. The ruffle is just Ultra Alpaca. There are so many great bags in the book.

Next came a crochet vest. Yes, you heard me right. I crocheted. Well, we got this pretty new yarn in from Plymouth, Happy Feet DK and we have this cute crocheted vest pattern, so I thought it would make a good sample. And so I crocheted a vest. It went fine, I like the yarn alot and the vest looks very nice.

So, I also thought we could use a sample of a summer sweater, so I designed and knit a summer tie top from Beroco's Zen. I think it turned out cute. It would look great with a pair of white capris this summer. Maybe I'll take it with me on vacation.

This I am really happy with. First, it's a project you've seen before, in all it's unfinished glory. So this was the month it was going to be finished. There was a very pretty shell on the cover of the Summer 2008 Interweave Knits. Well, my sleeveless days are over, so I wanted to make it and add sleeves. The original was knit with a fingering weight silk (only $40 a ball) so I decided to use Crystal Palace's Panda Silk. It is a bamboo, silk and wool blend that has a similar drape to silk. I am very please with the results and just need to get back on the diet so I can wear it this spring. I love it when a project turns out the way you want it to.

I guess that's it. It was a pretty busy month.
Now for what's on my needles and about to be on them. I have a sweater started with Berroco's Seduce. A very pretty rayon, silk and linen blend. I have the body done and the sleeves are next. Hopefully it will be done this weekend. It also gets ruffles on the front. I am anxious to see it done. you'll have to stop in and see it.

Also on needles is a new Einstein Coat. Yes, I already made one, but I am not really happy with it. I used a multi colored yarn and though I love the yarn and the colors I did not mix my skeins (knit 2 rows with one skein, knit 2 rows with another skein) and they tell you to do that for a reason. Handpainted yarns vary a little from skein to skein and I am just not satisfied when I look at the coat. I haven't decided if I will rip it and reknit it or rip it and save it for another project. Hmmm..., but in the meantime one of the people in my class made a color block Einstein coat for a child and it was so cute, I decided to make my new Einstein Coat color blocked. So here's the start of it. the bottom will be this dark purple (you're surprised, I know). The top will be charcoal grey and the sleeves will be red and teal. I am using Lamb's Pride Bulky this time.

And last but not least, another afghan square for class. I have to get this done by Tuesday, so the class can see the sample.

In the line up is the Knit One Below Vest, a black sweater in Panda Silk DK, a Swirl Throw, the Seville Jacket and what ever else distracts me from the project at hand.

And if you made it this far in my journey this month, we also had a remodeling at the shop, which I hope you will all enjoy. We have a new knitting room and I hope you will stop in, enjoy a cup of tea and knit few rows. Hope to see you all soon, I'll be back next month with more unfinished projects.