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!

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.

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.

Things we do for love

IMG_1762_edited
Originally uploaded by daniknits

Knitting doll clothes has always been right up there with knitting toilet paper covers for me. Never gonna happen.

But when my girl picks me flowers and shows me her pantless grandma doll...well, I guess it won't be long before I'm gifting the entire family with tacky tp covers to match the bathroom decor. At least it's a good use for leftover sock yarn.

Thank You Cabled Socks

My friend and co-worker has been wonderful to me. She's helped me out with some work stuff that truly would have been miserable without her help. So, as a knitter, I decided what better way to say thank you than handknit socks?

We always joke that my friend is pretty plain jane about clothes and colors, so I went to the stash and found some charcoal grey Regia Silk. Perfect. I couldn't bear the boredom of 2 completely plain grey socks though, so I threw a cable twist into a 2x2 rib.

A few friends have expressed interest in the pattern, so I'll share. It's really more of a recipe though.



































Cabled Thank You Socks

2 balls Regia Silk
US size 2 Needles

Cast on 64 stitches (or whatever multiple of 4 makes you happy)

Rounds 1-3 - Work in 2x2 rib
Round 4: C1B, P2 around. (Cable without a cable needle by knitting the second stitch first)
Repeat these 4 rounds until desired leg length.

Work the short row heel of your choice over half the stitches. (I used a YO short row heel. A tutorial can be found here.)

Continue working in rounds, in pattern, until foot is 2 inches less than desired length. Work your favorite toe. I used a round toe as follows:

Toe:
(Knit 6, K2tog) around
Knit 5 rounds
(K5, K2tog) around
Knit 4 rounds
(K4, K2tog) around
Knit 3 rounds
(K3, K2tog) around
Knit 2 rounds
(K2, K2tog) around
Knit 1 round
(k1, K2tog) around
K2tog - around (8 stitches remain)
Break yarn, draw through remaining stitches with a yarn needle and pull to close.

Voodoo sock... and post your projects!!

Okay- I know you all are knitting! I've seen pictures! So c'mon- post here and share! :)

I have been in school for the last 2 terms and have not had much knitting time. I TRIED to knit socks for my DH, but here is my, oh- about 34th (and final) failed attempt. It was the wrong size. After all that work. Note the needles impaling it before it became a ball. Hopefully that got rid of bad sock mojo with that yarn.

And yes- that is the same yarn that a certain little black kitten (not that sweet innocent calico ;) ) completely snarled not too long ago. So one ball is now again a ball, and another is a complete tangled mess in a bag. Sigh.

I did, however, knit one sock of my swap yarn. With the fabulous pattern she sent along. I am impressed with myself, as it fits so well. I may have to post a picture of me wearing the one sock- because... I can not seem to get the next sock started. I keep casting on and have gotten to the second row a couple of times, but then it turns bad and I pull it out. :(

maybe when finals are over... One more week!

Sock Frenzy

I have never considered myself a sock knitter. Sure, I've made a pair here and there, usually with at least a couple months between the first and second socks. But recently I was struck with the idea to make some small socks for the kids and use these little socks to learn a few new techniques.
First I did my basic Ann Norling kid pattern, cuff-down, heel flap, kitchnered toe socks for Maggie. I used Happy Feet by Plymouth, 1 Skein with a bit leftover, Size 1 feet.











Then, I tried the Universal Toe-Up Sock Formula from Knitty. There was no way I was making a gauge swatch for a sock, so I took the gauge off the ball band for the math. Here I learned about W&T short-row heels and toes and a sewn stretchy bind off. I could not get the figure eight cast on, and after an hour or so, I went ahead with the easy crochet cast on. I did not enjoy the W&T short rows. Well, to be honest, I found them to be pain in the ass. I followed a few tutorials, and I think I did okay,but...eh. I used Wildefoote by Brown Sheep, Size 11 Toddler Feet.












Then I ran across YO short row heels. I was sure this had to be easier and less fiddly the W&T method. So, I tried it out for my little niece. Cuff-down, YO short-row heel, kitchnered toe. Regia Stretch, Color 81 (i.e. clown barf) - about half a skein, Size 9 Toddler Feet.












Out of the 3, this was the sock recipe I liked the best. So, I did it again. (I couldn't leave my other little niece out, now could I?) The only change this time was I used Knit Picks Sock Memories in Flower Power. I loved this yarn! Really soft and nice to work with and I love the bright colorway. I used about 3/4 of a skein for Size 11 Toddler Feet.












I would have guessed after a month of knitting nothing but socks, I would be done and ready for something new. But yet I am happily working on my Austin Socks (RPM from Knitty) that have been languishing since October. I think somewhere around the 3rd pair, I became a SOCK KNITTER!












So, what have you all been up to lately? Other than the meme, it's been very, very quiet.