"No Pictures" is No Excuse

I've been putting off posting this weekend because I needed to take pictures of all the things I have to discuss. However, I don't know when I will get a chance to do this with the holiday coming up, so this post will be picture-less. But that will just make you come back to see updates on these mystery projects, right?

Holiday Stashdown Update

I finished the Man (or Anyone) Cowl from some naturallycaron.com Country in charcoal. The yarn is awesome, I have used it a few times and love how soft it is. The cowl worked up in only a few days, and the pattern is perfectly clear. I wish it had a little more stitch definition though. Any suggestions?

The official Holiday Stashdown project count is down to 3 now. The seed stitch scarf mentioned earlier is about halfway done, although this has to be the slowest scarf I've ever made.

Now onto....

Personal Knitting

I was very excited when I managed to knit my WIP bin down to a few projects. My Ravelry project list only had one row of works-in-progress (all with pictures which is rare), and I was determined to knock a few of those out as well. However, and I'm sure subconsciously, I was more determined to start as many projects as possible to get that page back to how it normally looks (disorganized). Startitis struck and I now have 3 newly cast-on projects.

My First Toe Up Socks have been calling to me to start them for a while now. I invested in an Addi Lace fixed circular needle so I could try socks on Magic Loop. I'm using Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy Johnson (from the library of course, though I may look for a copy). I started with the "easy" toe and am steadily knitting towards the heel. I have not decided what heel I'm going to use yet, though I'm leaning towards the short row heel, just because I haven't made one yet. I'm using Berroco Comfort Sock and LOVE it. It's super soft and the color is beautiful. It's called Beach house, in blues and teals, with some white and sage green thrown in. I hope it's durable, because at less than $8 a skein (which is enough for a pair of socks for me), I could use this all the time.

The Dr. Who scarf is next. This isn't acutally for me however, but this is a request from the best man in our wedding, Matt. He got a gift for both Travis and I, and I had knit something for practically everyone but him. So I asked him if he wanted anything and his answer was, "Can you knit me a Doctor Who scarf?" My head went blank at first. I know how long this scarf is in the series. I've seen the patterns and projects on Ravelry. But because I like Matt, I tell him, "Of course! It might take a while though, because I have about a dozen Christmas presents lined up already..." He tells me that's fine, there's no deadline. I recently asked him how long he *actually* wanted the scarf to be. The pattern is about 17 feet according to my calculations, and I hope his answer is somewhat shorter than that. I'm using the Season 12 pattern because it lists the Vanna's Choice colors. I'm using an array of Vanna's and Michael's brand Impeccable. I also changed it to  stockinette instead of garter stitch because I like how it looks more. I added a 3 stitch border also, so it would not roll up.

Last is the Swinging Stripe Cardigan from the pattern of the same name. I really wanted a basic open cardi pattern, and love the rolled collar on this pattern. I'm using some Universal Yarns Worsted I picked up at Tuesday Morning in green and brown, and I think things are going well so far. It is more of a guideline for the cardi than an actual pattern, so I hope it turns out ok. I don't have a lot of experience with top down raglans, but I'm not far enough along yet to know if I'm doing something wrong. I do plan, however, to take some advice I heard from the Knitmore Girls' podcast, and start the sleeves shortly after connecting the round for the armholes.

Aaaand, that's about it. This post was a little wordy, so hopefully I can knock out some photos and get those up here.

Holiday Stashdown 2010 and Bonus Handspun!

Well, I have been quite busy this week and have so much to update.

Pom-Pom Earflap Hat (x2)

This was made from leftover Impeccable and the Basic Earflap Hat. I added i-cord ties and a pom on top. Very easy to make, and the hardest part was figuring if this was going to fit its recipient.














And here is the second one, made from a random skein of Wool-ease I bought a while ago.















ok, so each took about half a skein, but that's one whole skein out of the stash, right? and to celebrate, i used up another skein making myself a hermoine hat from a skein of Berroco Vintage in Sloe Berry #5184. is it bad that i'm a little excited for cool weather?

And now, for the bonus. Spinning class on Thursday at Knit Stop was awesome! I've only been going for about a month, and have about 5 ounces of red corriedale spun on my drop spindle from Nomad Yarns. I had enough singles spun to start plying, and I got to use the shop's spinning wheel. Kate is an awesome teacher, and had me going in no time. After much research, I believe it is a Lendrum folding wheel, definitely double treadle, and boy do I want one now. The spinning was so much faster and smoother than on my drop spindle. I have about 125 yards plied and waiting to be soaked and whacked and hung dry. But here they are!

And in my weekend spinning fever, I spun up a couple of samples we were given a few weeks ago. They're probably only 25 feet a piece, spun and plied on my drop spindle, then wound into the cutest little skeins.

The official Holiday Stashdown count is now 4 gifts in 6 weeks. One is definitely coming with me to knitting tomorrow, although I doubt it will be finished anytime soon. Maybe the socks will come with me also...

Holiday Stashdown 2010 - exhibit 6

Presenting another successful week for the Holiday Stashdown!

Beanie and Mitts

This is the Men's Fingerless Mitts pattern by Piece by Piece. The pattern was very easy to follow, and I had no problems at all. The rest of the yarn turned into a beanie which I thought would make a nice set. However, I like the Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted so much, I just might keep it for myself.

What do you think?

Socktoberfest Win!

I posted a couple weeks ago that I was using Socktoberfest as motivation to finish the pair of socks I'd been working on since about the end of September. This weekend I knew was Halloween, but it didn't occur to me that Halloween was also the LAST day of October. So, I got my butt in gear and finished 2/3 of a sock in 2 days. Here is my newest (and second ever) pair of socks!

I still don't know how I feel about the yarn (Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Colori Socka Color) If there's only a small section knitted, it's pretty ugly. When it's a full sock, it's less so, but still not really my style. But either way, they're done and they're mine!

In Holiday Stashdown news, there's not much to report. The seed stitch scarf is coming along as well as it can be I suppose. However, I do know why people advised against it, since I'm already getting bored with it, and it's about 12" long. I'm not sure how long it will have to be yet, so all I can really do is keep knitting.

Or cast on a new pair of socks!

Knive Chau!

Today was the costume contest/chili cook off at work. I was trying to decide between pirate (which i've been the past couple years) and anything else. I remembered that I'd made a scarf from the movie Scott Pilgirm Vs. The World. One of my favorite characters is Knives Chau. In the end of the movie, she comes out with an awesome black and white stripe scarf.

My version was started about a week after I saw the movie. It was part stash busting, part comic book nerd. It then languished in my "to finish" box for about 2 months waiting for all the ends to be woven. About a week ago, I decided I was definitely going to use it in my costume and started weaving in those ends. I threw it in the dryer to soften the yarn.

so today, I WAS KNIVES CHAU!!!

ok, not as angry or mean, but basically the same :)

Holiday Stashdown 2010 - plus a bonus FO!

Well I didn't quite finished the next set of gifts by FO Friday, but on the bright side, I did finish gifts for 6 people!

Spa Cloths

These are the Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth, made from 3 colors of Sugar n' Cream and Peaches n' Cream that I'd picked up over the summer for market bags. I made a dozen, and 2 will be given to each recipient, plus a lotion probably. For the time being, i do not want to knit anything on the bias or any dishcloths for a while.

However, on a personal knitting note, I finished the Shalom! It looks like a cardi and fits like a cardi, so we're calling it a completed cardi. All it needs is a button, a soak (the wool is a little itchy), and a decent photo. This was taken inside, at night, on my phone, but it's a glimpse into the Shalom-y awesomeness.

Another "free" item: I listen to the Lion Brand Podcast and read their blog. On their Ravelry group, they started a topic about what their listeners wanted to hear about this season. I mentioned that I wanted to find resources for formulas for projects (sweaters, hats, etc) so i could customize more items. They answered my question on the podcast and suggested I check out Ann Budd's The Knitters Book Of Patterns and The Knitters Book of Sweater Patterns. These books are fantastic! Most patterns come in 6 sizes and 6 gauges, so it does most of the math for you. These are definitely on my wish list.

Holiday Stashdown 2010 - exhibit 4

Wow, I'm really banging out gifts this weekend! I present to you, the Hermione Hat.

This is made from about half a skein of Patons Classic Wool in Jade Heather that I bought probably about a year ago with no planned use. I LOVE this pattern. It was so easy to read and understand, and I finished it in a day (granted, it was probably 4 hours or so of knitting). My row gauge was a little off, so I didn’t do as many rows of ribbing or as many repeats of the cable. I did decide to be picky and continue the eyelet/cable repeat through the crown, but I’m not sure if it’s really visible. I will definitely be making this hat again.