Argh!

I think it might be time for bed.

Wow, Where did I go?

Well, where have I been? I know a few people have mentioned that I haven't posted in a while, but wow. Almost 2 months? The good news is, I've actually been knitting. A lot. And sometime soon there will be photographic evidence. But here is a quick list of what's been finished while I was hiding under a rock.

Forest Swap Blanket (that was started before I moved. oops)
Catherine Beanie
Gaptastic
Traveling Woman, Pt 2
Battleboro Hat
Bitterroot with beads
Pogona shawl
Ski beanie



And here is what is in the works:
sockhead
soroyan scarf
heather's mittens
Short and Sweet Shrug
Hermione's Everyday Socks
Jaywalker Socks

and my ultimate knitting project: CENTRAL PARK HOODIE

Which i'm glad to report is thisclose to being finished. I only have the ribbed border, buttons, and a few ends to weave in. I know it's august. I know i live in the midwest. but i will find a reason to wear it.

oh and i started cross-stitching. like i needed another hobby.

Anxiety...

In the midst of 2 rather large projects (CPH and Dreamcatcher), I made a few small projects to get my sense of accomplishment back. I just felt like I'd never finish a project. For the love of Pete, just let me finish something! Not only did I finish 4 projects, but I knocked out some stash yarn too!

First is the Felicity Hat. I used the Artyarns Supermerino I received in a Christmas swap. The pattern is very clear and easy to follow. The top is a little, uh, poofy, but i'm sure it will work out once I start wearing it. Since I had a ball left over, I also made some Easy Fingerless Mitts to match. Now I just need it to be cold again so I can wear them. But don't worry Mother Nature, there's no rush.

I also finished a cable hat that I semi-designed. It's in bulky weight yarn, and I thought I had my gauge right. Apparently, I did not. It turned out WAY too small. So does that mean I just finished a Christmas present 6 months early? Score.

And finally I've started a Doctor Who dishcloth set. Nothing is more satisfying than starting and finishing a project in about an hour.

Baby Blanket

A few weeks ago, my dad asked if I would be interested in making a baby blanket for one of his friends who is expecting. I said, "Of course!" and asked a few questions for specifics. The only detail he mentioned was to "not buy cheap yarn. Get the good stuff." I love that he went a little yarn snob, but he does understand levels of quality in yarn.

I chose the Dreamcatcher Blanket. I swore I would never knit a blanket, but this one is so cute. It's made from different textured blocks, and has a lot of leeway in its design. The blocks are coming out a little bigger than the pattern stated, so I ended up making a 4x4 blanket. I'm using Vanna's Choice in pink, yellow, cream, green, and blue. It's it awesome?

Oh and I tried a new technique with this blanket. It's called "following assembly directions." Instead of crocheting a border and slip stitching it, I actually mattress and whip stitched the blocks together, wove in a million-billion ends, and bordered it with crochet.

Epic Sweater Cast-On

You know when you start a new hobby and find that one masterpiece of a project that you WILL be able to make someday? For me, that is the Central Park Hoodie. Cardigan. Cables. Hood. I had to have it. I've been coveting this sweater since I started knitting in the beginning of 2009. I finally decided to jump in last month.

WARNING: This is NOT a free pattern. This is NOT stash yarn (though I got it clearanced, so I don't think it's a total loss). That is how much I want this sweater:

It had one aspect that intimidated me as a new knitter: cables. Now that I've pretty much got a handle on those, there are 2 much more intimidating aspects I know of now: fit and assembly. This gauge thing is a little tricky. I ended up going up a needle size from the pattern's suggestion, but I still think I'm a little off. (Does that feeling ever go away?) The assembly makes me a little nervous too. I've seen magic worked with mattress stitch, but I'm still concerned about lumpy shoulder seams and things.

The yarn I'm using is Cascade 220 Superwash. If I'm making the epic sweater, I don't want to chance ruining it with water. If this sweater fits, I'm wearing the crap out of it. If it doesn't, I hope someone else will love it.

It's actually working up much faster than I expected, even with all the cables. I started it on Mother's Day, and finished the back in 2 days. The 2 sides of the front were finished by the end of the week.

The sleeves are taking a little bit longer since I'm doing them 2-at-a-time. I know, I swore never to do that technique again, but I really want the sleeves to be perfectly even.

So here's hoping to a great sweater that I can actually wear in public.

Marled Wool, Take 3

A couple weeks ago, I posted asking for suggestions for a use for my marled Fisherman's wool. I decided to try the Seedling pattern. First, it took about 45 minutes to wind one ball from the messy, angry, almost hank I wound after frogging the last project. I cast on with fingers crossed. I got through about 2 pattern repeats and, of course, I couldn't see the stitch pattern!

100 sts x 10 rep x 2 = 2000 stitches. Boo!

So I ripped that out and started the Mara Shawl. First, let me say that I love shawls in worsted weight yarn. They FLY. I'm already finished with the body of the shawl (one ball = 450 yds or so) and have started on the edging. It looks like a crumpled mess because the wingspan of this shawl is already 5 feet and i'm determined to only use my 40" cable. I have less than 6 inches left now!

Cooperate, and Nobody Gets Hurt

Last night I had some problems with the Jaywalker pattern. Ok, problems may be sugar-coating it. Let me give you some background.

I'm using my ball of Mountain Colors Crazyfoot in Wild Raspberry finally. Originally, I wanted to use Hermoine's  Everyday Socks. About 3 inches into the sock, i realized I couldn't see the texture at all. I bit the bullet and ripped that out. I found another pattern I liked, Jaywalker. So I cast on for that and when I started the actual pattern, my stitch count was off. Oh, that was probably because I neglected to look at the number of cast on stitches. Duh. So I rip that one out (2nd time for those of you keeping score) and try again, using my brain this time. I got about 2 inches into the leg and suddenly, my stitch count isn't working. What gives? It's a 7 stitch repeat. I'm pretty sure I can consistently count to 7. But I think, "well, i'm smart. this isn't my first rodeo screwing up a stitch count." so i start counting all the stitches, adding them where they need to be, taking them out where they don't. and what happens?

it get all kinds of wonky.

i can't fix it.

I. Can't. Fix. It.

However, I keep my wits about me (sort of) and decide to set it aside. And by set aside, I mean throw angrily into my knitting bag.

I got home from work today and decided to give it another go. and this time, i used my super-secret weapon: stitch markers.

And it worked.

Yay!