May 2009

Another month has flown by...

It was a busy month, my daughter graduated from college and my son finished his freshman year at college. I couldn't be prouder of both of them. So it was a big month for all of us, Graduation ceremony and moving out of the dorm. But of course, in between, I got a little knitting done.

I finished up my started projects from last month.

The Kudo sweater turned out really pretty. I love the colors (and so does everyone else, I am now waiting for the back order to show up). It is a self striping cotton/rayon/silk blend. No wool and very nice to work with.

Yesterday was our last class for the Seville Jacket and I wore mine to class. The yarn is Cosmos and the border is Soft Twist. I think it turned out cute. Hopefully there will be picture soon in the customer gallery as the rest of the class finishes their sweater. I love to see the same sweater in different yarns, It is so much fun to see all of the possibilities.

I also finished my black sweater out of Crystal Palace's Panda Silk DK. It is a Merino/Bamboo/Silk blend and a dream to work with. It is hard to see in the big picture, but the top is cabled giving the bottom fullness. I needed a black sweater to wear with everything and I saw a few in patterns that I liked, so I combined elements of each of them and got my sweater. I am very pleased with it.

I also knit a sweater from Sally Melville's book, The Knit Stitch. It is called Caddy's Sweater. It is all garter stitch, but the bottom is done on size 5 needles making it opaque and the top on 10.5's making it sheer. A very nice effect. I made it from Araucania Ruca. It is made from sugar cane (yes, sugar) and comes in lucsious colors and I have been dying to work with it.

I also made a sample for the shop from a new yarn, Nepal from Katia. It is a Super Chunky that self stripes, is machine washable and knits very quick. It is a little swing jacket and pointy hat. Fun colors.

I also finished up one of a few Christmas presents, shhhh... and have another on my needles. You'll have to wait until January to hear more about that. And on my needles (or in my head)...

We just got a new yarn in, Crystal Palace's Mini Mochi, so cool. Another self striping sock yarn, but really pretty colors and very soft. Of course it's not screaming socks to me (it will to many, but not me), but it has been saying it wants to be a shawl. So, what shawl, I looked at patterns on line and while it makes up beautifully in a lace pattern (check out http://straw.com/cpy/free_pattern_yarnssort.html#Mmochi for lots of free patterns with it) I wanted something else. So while walking one day, I remembered that when I was done making the Curlicue Coverlet last month, I thought it would also make a great shawl. It works so well with self striping yarns that I decided Mini Mochi would be perfect. It's not very far along yet, but I love it. The colors are great and it feels good. Even though it is a fingering weight yarn I am knitting it on a 7 and think the drape will be good for a shawl. Stay tuned...

Almost on my needles, is a sweater out of Ella Rae's Lace Merino. This has been sitting on my desk looking at me. I made a pair of socks out of it (yes, I did) and loved the yarn, so of course I wanted a sweater too. So I've been playing with patterns and what to do with it and the other day I found a bag of beads I had set aside, they were the perfect accent and so I swatched. I am pretty sure it will be a cardigan. I seem to have a thing going on with fingering yarns, I need more time!!

I have also worked a few more rows on the Alice Starmore makeover sweater that has been mentioned in months past.

And last, but not least, an argyle vest. This has not yet reached my needles and is still mostly in my head. But my son said he would wear a vest if I made one and he likes argyle, so a vest is in the works. I have charted the argyle and we picked out a yarn (Berroco's Comfort, machine washable, he's a college student) and colors. So, hopefully it will end up on needles soon.

So, that was May. I wish all you a happy summer of knitting! Till next month, Nancy

April 2009

It's spring and the flowers are blooming and though gardening sounds tempting (not really), I'd rather knit. So here goes:

Finishing up from last month - Afghan squares. I'm not sure how many you've seen but here are 3 more. There are 5 in all and the class is doing well. This week we will learn about putting them together. I was thinking, I'll just make these square for class and call it a day, but they really are pretty and now I'm starting to think about making more and an afghan.... maybe later.

Next, The Einstein Coat - done and I love it.






Then the sweater in Berroco's Seduce from Norah Gaughan, vol. 4 called Frond. It is very pretty yarn and the sweater is cute with ruffles down the front.



So that's it for finishing up last month's projects , this month I knit the Curves and Columns Vest from Knit One Below by Elise Duvekot. I used Soft Twist from Berroco and Merino Worsted from Malibrigo. I love this one too. It was fun to knit and I think it is a really cute vest. We are offering a class to make the vest. The knit one below technique is really fun and not too difficult once you get used to it.

Our knitting guild project for the month was Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise sweater. We did them in sock yarn so we could dress teddy bears and send them to children who need a bear hug. I made mine out of Plymouth's Happy Feet.

This is why it is called a "Surprise" sweater, because you knit this blob and when you are done and fold it into shape, Surprise! you have a sweater.

I also started and finished the Curlicue Coverlet from Oat Couture. I have been fascinated by this pattern for years and decided it was time to make it. I used Jojoland's Rhythm, a self striping worsted weight wool. It can also be made with a DK weight. It is knit using short rows to give you the swirl effect. It was really fun to knit and is so pretty. It looking at this before I sewed the only seam, I thought, hmmm.... wouldn't that be a beautiful shawl, and... what other yarns would be fun to work with... so many yarns and patterns, so little time.....

Now on my needles: The Seville Jacket. I am teaching a class this month on Knitting a Sweater My Way. That means taking a pattern and changing a few things to make it easier to do (at least I think so) and to improve the results (again, at least I think so) and we are making the Seville Jacket from Oat Couture. I am working a week ahead of the class and they start tomorrow, so my sweater is done to the shoulders (week 2).

I am also making a short sleeve sweater out of Plymouth's Kudo, a cotton, rayon and silk blend, which self stripes. It is using a Cheveron Stitch pattern. This will be done soon.

Also, I got started on my black Panda Silk DK sweater. It is a combination of about 3 patterns that I liked and will be a cardigan. I am hoping to get in done for vacation (30 days and counting....). I still have a long way to go! Argh..

And as long as we are talking about my knitting journey, I just returned from a Knitting Weekend sponsored by out Knitting Guild. Lily Chin was our quest teacher and it was wonderful. She taught us about reversible color knitting and custom fitting. We learned alot and ate too much, but had lots of fun.
And so my journey ends for another month, see you again in May for more knitting.
Until then, Nancy

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.

February 2009

I don't know how people do this daily or weekly, I have trouble keeping up each month. Well, here goes. Looking back right now, February feels like a blur, so I am not sure I'll get this in chronological order, but I try to remember everything.

I scheduled a class on Felted Clogs, So I had to make a pair (or 3). First pair, class sample, Plymouth Galway and Brown Sheep Naturespun. They were fun to make and comfortable to wear, so I made another pair for Mom for Valentienes Day (no picture). We're on a roll now, what about a different yarn? Another pair with Lamb's Pride Bulky. I liked these alot, but they did need a haircut. I didn't want Mom to slip on them so I reseached what to do with the soles. One suggetsion was caulk and one was something called plastic dip (for the handles of hammers) The red pair has plastic dip on the bottom and Mom's pair has both. They worked well.

I also needed a sample for the yarn of the month (Sirdar's Crofter DK) so I made this Wrap Vest from Pattern book 349. It is really cute and comes with sleeves or without and in adult and children's sizes. Hopefully my daughter will wear it when the shop is done with it.

Then off to a 4 day swim meet, 4 knitting bags full of projects. What was I thinking. 2 were finished and 2 are still in progress. Finished: Freddy the Frog, too cute. I used Encore Worsted. I did the frog before I left so I could finish the back and sleeves at the meet.

Also finished: The Vintage Bubble Bag form the book Pursenalities. I made this bag before and people loved it, but the book was out of print. I found out the book was back in print so I ordered some and made a new bag with Brown Sheep's Nature Spun and Noro's Yuzen. I am looking through the book and thinking of another bag too. Another swim meet, maybe another purse. I'll keep you updated.

Still in the works: My Knit One Below project: From the new book Knit One Below. An interesting technique with too many wonderful patterns to choose from. I am actually doing a kids pattern with larger yarn and getting an adult sweater. This still needs sleeves and hopefully I'll make some progress on them at the swim meet.

Also in the works a crocheted vest (yes you heard me right). No picture (so no proof) because it's at home. I promise it will be done in time for next month's update.

I also completed a square for the Great American Aran Afghan (an other class).
And I just finished a Mitten out of a new yarn. Malabrigo Merino Worsted. It is lovely soft wool. and the second mitten is on the needles, promis, I did the first one last night.

Well, that was my month. I'm tired. Until next month, Nancy

January 2009

New year, New knitting! Sort of. I spent most of the month finishing my Sweater from Kuryeon Sock yarn sweater. Back to that in a minute.

Before Christmas I asked my daughter, would your boyfriend like one of these hats (danish earflap hats). "Oh no, he doesn't wear hats." Ask my son about a friend of his too. Same answer. As I said before, my kids loved theirs and wear them all the time. My son did say he'd like another in red and black. So, they are back at college and I get a call from my daughter, Dave saw my hat and would really like one. "I thought he didn't wear hats?".... Ok, I'll make him one. A few days later, I get another call from my daughter, "I was having dinner with the boys swim team and love my hat." Are you kidding me?? At swim meets they have a chinese auction to raise money, so I made two hats in the school colors for the auction. I told her if the boys want a hat, have their parents bid on one. So I still have to make the red and black one for my son and I get a call from him. "My friend really likes my hat and would like one after all." .... Ok, what colors does he want? The hats were all delivered and a huge success. Mothers came to me at the swim meet saying they put all their tickets in the hat cup and if they don't win, I will have to make one for them...I hope they win! So far, 11 hats.

Back to the sweater, it's really cute and I love the colors. It is knit with Noro's Kureyon Sock yarn on size 2 needles. It was not the quickest knit, but I did enjoy it.

From one extreme to the other, I just finished (and I mean just, about 15 minutes ago) an Einstein Coat from Sally Melville's book, The Knitting Experience: Book I, The Knit Stitch. I knit it with Araucaria's Nature Wool Chunky on size 10 needles. The entire coat is garter stitch and a great beginner project. We are going to offer this as a class at the shop. I saw a customer wearing this coat and it is really cute on. It is so popular it even has it's own ravelry group.

And now, I know there are still unfinished things in my bag, shhhh... I am going to make a pair of felted clogs and do a class. And I am going to cast on today to start a cute wrap top out of a new yarn from Sirdar, Crofter. And, I almost forget, I have the yarn pulled to make somethoing from the Knit One Below Book. I need more hours in the day!

Until next month.... Nancy

Done!

December, 2008

Happy New Year, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I had a busy knitting month, but I don't feel like I have a lot to show for it. All that Christmas shopping and cooking (and eating) must have gotten in the way. Well, here's what I did get done:

First, more hats. Two more earflap hats and 2 more pairs of fingerless gloves. They were for gifts and very well received. And by the way, the two hats I made last month, one for each of my children (and I use the term children loosley, they are 21 and 18), were very big hits. My son wore his the whole week he was home, even around the house. (maybe I should turn the heat on!) I also have requests for 2 more, another for my son and one for his friend. I have other things I want to knit!!

I also made him a tie, no not the one I started .... months ago, but a new one. It was shown in this month's Knitter's magazine and I thought, that's cute, I can whip that up before the holidays. Hmmm... the knitting wasn't too bad. It is Opal's Harry Potter sock yarn, but it was a bear to finish. You sew the back together as a center seam, not so bad, but the main part of the tie is overlapped and sewn together. I had to tack down the one layer (hard to see) and then sew the other layer. I might not do this again.

Also from Knitter's Magazine, Winter 2008, came an idea for another sweater. They made a sweater (pg. 89) using 2 strands of different colors of Trekking XXL sock yarn. It is knit on a size 8 needle as a worsted weight. What a great idea. I didn't love the sweater they made, so I looked for another worsted weight pattern and decided on the South Slope Cardigan from Oat Couture. I too, used 2 strands of two different colors of trekking XXl and size 8 needles. The sweater is knit on the diagonal giving a nice effect to the colors. It was a fun way to use sock yarn and really gives you the chance to create "custom" colors.

Well, I must have really liked Knitter's Winter 2008, because I am kntting another sweater from it (Triple Checks, pg.94) and was hoping to have it done in time for this, but I'm not quite there. Hopefully this weekend. It uses Berroco yarns, Inca Gold, Bonsai and Geode. I am using Berroco's Inca Gold. Soft Twist and Jasper. I am working on the band, which ties in the front and hope to be finished very soon. I will post an update, when I finish (hopefully Monday).

I have also started a sweater from Jenny Watson's Catwalk Pattern book out of Noro's Kureyon Sock Yarn. It's going to be a cute little cardigan. I love, love, love the colors. (but you knew that already)

Yes, there are still the UFO's, waiting patiently for me to get back to them. And I will... just not sure when.

Until next month, a very Happy New Year to you all! Nancy