Saturday, August 30, 2008

Remember me?

I've been meaning to come here and show some of my fo's, but the craziness of life and keeping up with my main blog has kept me away. My needles have been very busy though!

I've finished two sweaters recently - one for Delphine and one for me.

I made the Cowgirl Butterfly Astronaut Vest for Delphine. I used Dream in Color Classy, and I was pretty happy with the way it turned out.

Cowgirl Butterfly Astronaut Vest

Cowgirl Butterfly Astronaut Vest

I tried my hand at making something for myself again - Liesl. I always love Ysolda's patterns, and this one called to me so I cast it on right away. It knit up pretty quickly, and it actually fit me!

Finished Liesl

Finished Liesl

I've knit a few socks - the pair I recently finished I can't show you because I was a test knitter for someone. Hopefully I'll be able to show them soon. I really love the way they turned out!

Like Dani, I've got tons of projects to finish up - one single sock, a doll, and a simple pair of socks for myself. I'm in the middle of participating in an afghan square swap and have been knitting 2 squares a month. I've got 7 more squares to knit and then one for myself to complete the afghan.

I cast on the Laughing Carrots sweater for Dominic yesterday and I owe him a pair of socks too. I've been in complete denial that I should already be planning my holiday knitting - but I plan on trying to map some of that out this weekend and next weekend.

So there is my little update :)

Friday, August 29, 2008

Things might be getting a little out of hand

I've been feeling a bit weighed down by the knitting lately. I have all these projects running through my head. Projects that I will never be able to knit all of in 2 lifetimes. I'm pretty used to that, but still, I've been feeling like I'm not making much headway. I decided to take an accounting of everything on the needles and see what was what.

Big, big mistake. I'm really, honestly not sure how I got to this place, but I have, um, 15 WIP as of right now. I started out feeling vaguely out of sorts, only to now be fully freaked out. I must get this under control. I am going to Rhinebeck in October for the New York Sheep and Wool Festival and I want to be in a better place by then. I can't go into prime knitting season (not to mention holiday knitting season) with so many projects dragging me down.

I'm going to come clean with it all here and then I'm counting on you all to keep me accountable. If I stay on track I may be able to start (mostly) fresh by Rhinebeck. So here goes.

Warning - lots of pictures ahead!

First up is some secret knitting I can't show you. In October though, you'll see it in KnitCircus along with Moose's Argyle Vest in more sizes! I have to have everything turned in by Monday and I am on track for that. There is no other knitting until this is done.

Next I have to finish up a bat hat for my 4 year old niece. I'm using the Kittyville Hat and replacing the pom-poms at the end of the I-cord with some little crocheted bats. She plans to wear the hat on Halloween as part of her costume. Most 4 year old girls want to be princess, but Olivia want to be a bat. The kid is hysterical.













I've also got another Shrug This (this is the third) on the needles. A long sleeve version made with Brooks Farm Solana. Delicious stuff. This is for Maggie because, well, because I got it on sale at Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair for $20. It's a sleeve and quarter away from being done.












A little pair of camo socks for Matty. I just cast these on this past weekend while I was working the Gene Ann's Yarns booth at Stitches Midwest. I needed something small that I could do with no pattern.












The Comfort Shawl to keep me warm while knitting on the couch this winter. I cast this on Saturday night after I purchased it because I, apparently, have no self control.

After that, I'll still have Breeze (needs 2 sleeves, seaming and neckline),











the Zetor Scarf (about 1/2 way done, I think),












Austin socks ( needs a mate),













Paraphernalia socks - Ravelry link (needs a mate),













Candle Flame scarf (about a third done),













Gathered Pullover (needs sleeves),












Log Cabin blankie (about half done-I hope),


































Maggie's Wool Cardi (a third done),













a tank top of my own design (about half done),











and a French Market Bag.











This one is taken care of - or will be momentarily. I'm frogging it. I love the pattern, but don't really love felting, so this will probably never get finished. I'm just going to reclaim the yarn and call it done.

Look! I'm down to only 14!

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Made it!

Blocked at 9am this morning and gifted at 10:30 am. I.am.in.love! The pattern so clever and so fun to knit. I think maybe I should have used higher contrast yarns, but...eh. I'm pretty darn happy with these. I'm especially happy that they were knit in only 6 days, Almost entirely as my after work knitting. A very quick knit. Only 66 rounds after the picot edging.

Anyway, Gene Ann loved them. I was right. No one knits for you when you own a yarn shop. I'm really glad I did. Gene taught my sister and me how to knit maybe 8 or 10 years ago. I thought she was giving me knitting lessons, but really, it has been so much more. I can't imagine my life without knitting. It's my passion. I will always be grateful to Gene for introducing me to it.


Thursday, August 7, 2008

Frog Princes

This coming Sunday is my friend, boss, and LYS owner's birthday. We're celebrating at the shop on Saturday. I had a really hard time deciding on a gift, but I think I've got it.

Kiss That Frog mittens. I bought the pattern on Ravelry. It's well written with clear charts. I'm using Karabella Aurora 8 (my all time favorite yarn!) in green and Jaeger Extra Fine Merino DK in Blue.

I've always admired and aspired to stranded knitting. I tried it out with one of the Three Tams from Knitty last winter and found it very enjoyable. This time I did little more reading up at Knitting in Color, and, I think, improved my technique considerably.

If you look closely, you can see about half of the half body of the frog. When you put your hands together like you're reading a book - voila! A frog!

Oh, and before you ask. Yes, the party is this Saturday. Yes, I'm not quite done with the first mitten on this beautiful Thursday morning. Yes, I think I will finish. I may be in a caffeine haze come Saturday, but I can do it. I have to. I have no backup gift.