Startitis

So I have a case of startitis and little other ambition this summer. I’ve got Cauchy on the needles that I’ve turned the heel on and done nothing since. I’ve still got the Autumn Rose Pullover that is hibernating next to my chair. I really need to restart the sleeve on it – the seam is puckering and I’m not sure I can block it out. I just started Crisp by Wendy Bernard and I’ve received the yarn that I’m going to make her Favorite Cardigan (Rav link) with. Of course I really want to start that sweater too – but I refuse to have that much on the needles. I have to finish something!

But here are some pictures of my WIPs.  

This is Cauchy from Cookie A. I’m using Knit Picks Essential in Wine Kettle. My hubby needs some new socks – he’s wearing his others to death.

Here is Crisp from Wendy Bernard. I’m using Cascade 220 Superwash in Celery with leftover Blue Sky Alpacas Melange in Pesto for the accents.

I plan on using this WOTA for the Favorite Cardigan, also by Wendy Bernard. My husband is always of no help when deciding on colors. If I show him a picture of the garment I plan on making and he likes it, he just cannot imagine it in a different color. Therefore, my Favorite Cardigan will be black. It’s OK though, I was leaning towards black anyway. But I still will not  cast on until something else is finished.

Just in time for the blazing hot summer!

Alberta is done, and just in time for the summer. So it will sit in the closet until the weather turns cool again. Let’s just hope the husband doesn’t gain weight between now and then. Here are pictures of the finished product.

It has yet to be washed and blocked, but otherwise is finished.

Pattern: Alberta by Jared Flood

Yarn: Valley Yarns Berkshire in Tan, Plymouth Boku in #60, and Shetland 12 ply in Bark

Needles: US 9

And just to prove it is warm here (and I like the pictures) here are some more flowers. The top is bloodleaf, then my ivy geranium and golden globe.

Pretty

The flowers are blooming so fast what with all the rain/sun/rain going on around here. A day ago this was the only open bloom on my dahlia, now this is the view.

Aren’t they beautiful? My coreopsis is also blooming profusely, but the only good picture I got of it was this single bloom.

There is just something about yellow flowers in the spring that makes me happy.

Alberta – the fortunately/unfortunately version

Fortunately, I was able to swatch and start a new project a couple weeks ago and it was going well. Unfortunately, when the husband tried it on it was way too big. Fortunately, all I had to do was frog back and restart. Unfortunately, after a couple inches, the join on my Denise interchangeables snapped (not the first one to do so). Fortunately, there is a yarn shop close by. Unfortunately, it was closed on Monday. Fortunately, I got there today and bought some Addis. Unfortunately, they are 0.3 mm larger than the Denise needles. Fortunately, it shouldn’t make that much of a difference. *fingers crossed*

I’m making Alberta (Rav link) for the husband. Here’s hoping he’ll like a vest as much as he says he will. He’s never been much of a sweater person, but loves the socks I make him so he’s not opposed to all knitted items. Here’s a picture of the progress I made before the major frogfest.

And a close up with truer colors.

The yarns are Shepherd 100% Lambswool Felted 12 Ply in Bark, Valley Yarns Berkshire in Tan and Plymouth Boku in Color 60 or 6 since they are discontinuing one of them. I’m a little worried about the Boku because while it hasn’t broken while knitting or frogging, it doesn’t take much of a tug to break it. Hopefully it holds up to the husband’s wear. Anyone have any experience with this yarn? I’ve read good and bad.

Kai-Mei

I finished my Kai-Mei socks in time for the April KAL on Ravelry. I’m not usually so quick, but this pattern went super fast and was fun to knit. Not to mention the added incentive of the socks being for me for once. And the fact that there is a limited amount of cold weather left in the season (I hope!). They turned out really well. Take a look. (and ignore my pasty legs)

 

Pattern: Kai-Mei from Cookie A. in Sock Innovations

Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy in Flamingo Pie

Needles: US 1.5

Things I learned:

1. I was able to do two at once on magic loop for the first time with a reversing pattern on either sock. I did have to take one off the needles for the gusset as usual but that was the only time.

2. The other thing I did for the first time was an anatomically correct toe. I found the instructions here, and think I’ll be using the toe again. DH was thrilled with this discovery as he has been trying for as long as I’ve been making him socks to get me to put an “L” and an “R” on his socks. I have refused of course, but the next socks I make him will have this toe. I hope he likes it so he’ll stop asking for left and right letters. Probably though, he’ll keep the toe and still ask for the letters. He’s persistent that way.

That’ll teach me to read the errata

I was nearly finished with my Kai-Mei socks when I happened to be reading through a thread on the Sock Innovations book. In that thread I found that there is an error in the left sock. Sure enough, I found the errata for the book and when I looked closely at my two socks there was in fact a difference. You can’t really tell.

The error was supposed to start at the gusset, but somehow I got it right until I hit the directions for the foot. Then I followed the book and it became wrong. Don’t ask me how I managed that. The nice thing was I only had to rip back less than two lace repeats. The bad thing was I ripped back the wrong sock first. Evidently not only do I not look for errata, I also don’t know my left from my right.

Finished Socks

I finished the husband’s Herringbone socks. I almost always do socks two at a time on magic loop so when I went to take a picture of them, it took me a minute to see that the socks were two different lengths. Well, the husband made them look like they were two different lengths. He’s such a dork.

I made him pull them up and take new pictures.

Pattern: Mine

Yarn: Knit Picks Essentials in Shoreline Twist

Needles: US 1.5

And since I completed socks for him, I decided to finally make another pair for myself. I’m doing Kai-Mei from Cookie’s book Sock Innovations. They’re going pretty quickly, the first part is all ribbing and I’m nearly done with it. I’m doing two at once like I usually do, but I’m not sure after picking up the gusset if I’ll be able to do the foot that way. Maybe I’ll give it a go. The yarn is Dream in Color Smooshy in Flamingo Pie. It’s the first time I’ve used the yarn and so far I really like it, especially the subtle variations in color.  Here they are:

At the rate I’m going, I may actually get them done in time for the April Cookie KAL.

Trial

Recently downloaded Windows Live writer and wanted to try it out for the blog. I have to say, it makes changing my font a lot easier than wordpress does. At least that I could figure out with my limited skills.

 

Here’s a cutie to test the picture adding feature. Wasn’t Q an adorable kitten?

 

Edit: Hmm, need to work on pictures…

Adding to the Stash

So I was planning on going to look for sock yarn that was solid to semi-solid in anticipation of Cookie’s book that I will be getting soon. (C’mon Amazon, I’m waiting…)  Well, I did get that, but also ended up with a few other additions to my stash. I did get Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn today so I can  play with the other sock yarn I got. Here’s some pics:

Artyarns Ultramerino 4 in colorway 122.

Dream in Color Smooshy in Flamingo Pie.

Knitty Bits 2 Sock Yarn. No colorway listed on label.

Claudia Hand Painted in Butter Pecan.

I was only able to grab one skein of this and I really hope I can come up with a second for a pair of socks.  I couldn’t pass this colorway up though, even if it was only one skein.

While I was there I also grabbed three balls of Cascade 220 Superwash in Celery. I’m thinking of making Crisp by Wendy Bernard with it.  First I need to finish my Autumn Rose Pullover.

Speaking of which, I’m working on the sleeves for the pullover. I started the sleeves thinking, heck, I’ll do them at the same time on magic loop like I do socks. It’ll go so much quicker. Unfortunately I underestimated the tangle factor in all those different colors going to two different sleeves. I quickly rethought that decision and am doing one at time.

Here’s my progress on the Herringbone socks. I’ve just turned the heels so only have the legs left.

Sock Innovations should be here in a couple days. I’m trying to get the husband’s socks done so that I can start some for myself with the new book. I’m thinking maybe Vilai or Kai-Mei (Ravelry Links), although the latter looks like it would almost have to be done one at a time because it is a right/left pattern. Or maybe not, I’ve never knit socks like that before. Guess I’ll have to wait for the book.

Weekends

 Weekends are supposed to be relaxing right? So why do they end up being the busiest part of the week. The time to catch up on housework, bills and visit family and friends. Seems like I have even less time to relax and knit on the weekends than during the week, although I always put it in my weekend plans. I’m a glass half full kind of person.

So I’ve pre-ordered a long awaited knitting book Sock Innovations by Cookie A. And just so I didn’t have to pay for shipping I also added Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn. Because adding a $13 book is so much more economical than paying the $5 shipping or whatever it would have been. I’m really looking forward to Cookie’s book. I don’t think there is a pattern in there that I don’t like. I’ve joined a KAL on Ravelry for the book. We’ll see if I knit fast enough for to keep up. I also may have to invest in some solid sock yarn as most of the patterns will probably look better that way. (That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.) I’ve been eyeing some Dream in Color Smooshy – technically semi-solid but close enough. The handpainted book is supposed to be great for teaching how to use handpainted yarn to it’s full potential. Since I love handpainted yarn for socks, but hate the pooling, this book should be very helpful.

I’m partway through another pair of socks for the husband. He loved his Harris Tweed socks so much, and wears them constantly, I bought another couple balls of Knit Picks Essential Shoreline Twist. This time I’m making them a Herringbone pattern. Just made it up, although I’m sure it’s in a book somewhere. Here’s a picture of them from last week.

And a close-up.

And an update on the Autumn Rose Pullover. I’m having my doubts that I’ll get it done in time to wear it this season. I’ve just started the sleeves and am planning on making them full length instead of 3/4. I’ve also not started the steeks as I wanted to raise the neckline a bit. The neckline start is on a separate piece of yarn and will be started when I join the sleeves. Hope it turns out to be the right depth. Here’s the progress.

And a close-up of the main color pattern.

Well, there are my two WIPs. Now to figure out which Cookie sock I want to do first and drool over which yarn to buy for it.