Smitten

For my first post of 2011, here is my last FO of 2010.  Sprig Mittens by Eli Stubenrauch in Lamb's Pride Bulky.  (Details and more photos available on my Ravelry page.)  I finished knitting these just in time for the weather to warm up a bit, but I've been wearing them anyway.  They are really warm, and the LPB yarn is totally snuggly.  Spring is still a long way off, so these will be keeping my hands toasty for awhile.  (If the current forecast is right, I may get to see how well they do in the snow this weekend.)

I had a couple dog product reviews to share but stupid Blogger is not cooperating, so they'll have to wait until next time.

Christmas Knits

Seems like these days I can knit, or I can blog about knitting. But there's not time to do both. Two planned presents hit major snags this week (no pun intended). Above are some FOs (from L to R): Dashing (in Crystal Palace Aran), and--from OS Wonders in Malabrigo (my new fav. yarn)--Mel's Funky 3-Way Hat, and (my umpteenth pair of) Easy Mittens. All of these patterns are great gift knitting!

Among my other holiday chores? Taking Katie to the groomer so (as they put it) she can "look nice for Santa."

Chevron Socks

Busy week and not much time for knitting. I made some progress on the Anthropologie Capelet, but I've had to rip out a row here and there because the stitch markers occasionally slip over the YOs. It helps to keep track of increases--if I know how many stitches are supposed to be in a section, I can tell if the marker has moved. I also finished the pair of socks for my niece started way back in June. She picked out the yarn--green is her favorite color--and I gave them to her for her bday last weekend.

Pattern deets: Chevron pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks, knit on 2.5 mm DPNs, in Crystal Palace Panda Cotton in "Fern"

Confession: halfway through sock no. 2, I noticed that it was a little narrower than sock no. 1. And what I finally figured out was that I had accidentally used 2.5 mm DPNs on sock 1 and 2.25 mm DPNs on sock 2. Duh. (Oh, Knit Picks nickle-plated DPNs , I love you, but I wish you came with sizes tatooed on your shiny selves!) So I frogged sock #2, and started over. Along the way I was fairly crabby about the splitty-ness of the yarn. But as the socks began to take shape and I figured out how to catch/fix the splits, I grew fonder of the yarn, and I will definitely try it again for socks. Making the forethought heel for this project also added to my heel repertoire. Always a good thing.

Painting, knitting, quilting

A busy but fairly productive week. There was, of course, painting. And there was also progress on Dashing . Here's one mitt.

For LLM, here's progress on my chenille quilt. On Monday, I picked out fabric.

(Note: I'm just learning about quilting, so I might not be using the right words to describe stuff here.) Tuesday morning was my first class. Actually, it was the only class for this project, which doesn't take a long time to learn how to do and which (so far as I can tell) is similar to a rag quilt, at least in texture (and which I'll be learning to make next month). But instead of piecing squares, you're working with whole pieces of fabric layered on top of one another, with the bottom layer facing RS out. Then you draw one line on a diagonal across the quilt (it can go corner to corner, but doesn't have to) and then a second line so that it forms a T (i.e., it's at 90 degrees) with the first. (Lines form a T, not an X--i.e, the second line doesn't cross the first.) Once you have your two lines, then you sew (and sew and keep sewing until you can't remember a time before sewing) parallel lines.

My lines are parallel, sorta. I started on the shorter side because it was easier. After your lines are sewn, you cut in between them and through all but the bottom layer of fabric which produces the raggy edges. I did just a little to see what it would look like.

I was doing fine in class, but then at home, I managed to bunch up the fabric and (sob) I had to rip out 7 of those seams. Actually, I'm still ripping--I only have patience for so much ripping, and then I have to work on something else. Which is probably why I finished this first of the Dashing mitts. The finished pair will go into my Christmas present stash, which is growing nicely.


Last post I mentioned that I had to alter the pattern a bit--which I did--and I'm pretty happy with the results. Basically, for each inch (each set of 8 rows) I multiplied by 7(-ish, i.e. it wasn't exact), which worked out this way:

• Cuff: 15 rows instead of 18
• 7 rows between cables instead of 9
• Hand: 21 rows instead of 24
• Thumb: 6 rows instead of 9

Now I have to go rip the mitt I started before I figured all of this out and start over. At least I'll be able to keep 15 rows of the cuff.

OSW Squashy Bag

Dead camera batteries + house full of company = no blog updates.

But I did get in some knitting, especially in the past couple of days because it's been raining like crazy.

So I have this rule that I can knit for an hour in the morning, and then I have to stop. If I don't, I won't get anything else done. I'm an early riser, so this rule works pretty well (i.e., it doesn't mess up my day) when I stick to it. But sometimes I cheat. Like today. I'd started the "Squashy Bag" from OSW yesterday, and was making good progress until this morning when I got to the flap. For some reason, I got messed up counting the bind offs just before the flap, and it took me a few tries before I figured out what the instructions were actually telling me to do. "Step away from the knitting," I kept thinking, "come back to it later." But in addition to my 1-hour-in-the-morning-rule, I also have a thing about not putting work down when I'm stuck on something--I hate the thought of picking up a project and having to first undo a problem. (Is that weird?) Anyway, I think I finally figured it out, but I won't be completely sure until I knit more of the flap to see if it's really centered.

Yarn is Mauch Chunky that I bought a couple weeks ago at my LYS. I hadn't tried this yarn before, but I'm really liking it. The color is "bing cherry," and I'm using size 11 circs (24", but I probably could have used 16") and DPNs.

And below, finally FINALLY, I finished the second blue stripey sock. The first of this pair was my first short-row heel attempt, and I discovered after I posted (bragged) that there was actually a pretty big hole at the last wrapped stitches on each side. A few gajillion SRHs later, and, grateful for advice from helpful friends about minimizing those dag blasted holes, I forced myself to finish the second sock.

More Yarn and some FOs

... and then, you know how maybe you have another friend who takes a trip and brings you back as a souvenir a couple balls of Regia sock yarn (because she understands that a girl can never have too much sock yarn). Thanks Courtney!

So. Okay. Some FOs to report on. First, last week I finished my Ribbed Lace Socks (from SKS). I think these turned out swell. And did I mention how I love the eye-of-partridge heel? (Yes, I believe I did, but it bears repeating.)

Next: I actually took a break from sock knitting when I caught sight of this tote on Ashley's blog. The original pattern, Elisa's Nest Tote, can be found at the fabulous Purl Bee. Ashley's photo is way cuter than mine. My nephews are, sadly, too big to fit inside this tote, even though it does stretch quite a bit. So I opted for the more traditional photo of tote-with-fruit. As if I just returned from the farmer's market--where, actually, I haven't yet taken my tote because, well, I wasn't quite finished with it on Saturday morning in time to shop there.

Although this project took me longer than, as the pattern puts it, "a few hours," this was practically guilt free knitting because I used up a couple balls of 1824 cotton that I had in my stash. My tote is just a little smaller than the measurements given in the pattern--partly because I suspected I didn't have enough yarn and partly because I made it a comfortable size for my 5'1" self to carry. Accordingly, I opted for the shorter (8") handles.

And, finally, I tried my hand at this lacey bookmark from One-Skein Wonders. The knitting was quick, although I didn't love working with crochet thread.

But the beading. Oy. I read the pattern and thought--okay, string some beads. How hard could that be? And, as it turns out, it's not the beading, but the knotting. See those ugly white knots under the last bead on the bottom? You don't see those in the picture in the book. I checked. So how do you not have those knots at the end? Beats me. I looked online, but maybe wasn't using the right search terms because I only found info about working with wire, not waxed thread, which is what the pattern calls for. I did get some helpful advice about how to hide the ends of the string. (Thanks, Courtney's friend.) Also, note to self--next time match the string I use for the beads to the yarn color. Duh.

FOs: Socks for My Dad

I waited to post these until after Father's Day.

Nothing fancy--just simple St St socks with short row heels. Truly, though, me and the short row heel will just never be BFF:

Yes, the SRH is fast and not so much with the counting, but (in my hands at least) just not so dependable. Meanwhile, here's a close up of the Dutch heel from my Madder Ribbed socks (Knitting Vintage Socks). Now there's a respectable heel.

I love this pattern. Love. It.

At first I thought the seams along the back of the heel might be weird, but actually they make for a seriously good-fitting sock. The star toe, I admit, isn't such a good fit for me (maybe Weldon's readers at the turn of the century had pointier feet?!).

I definitely see more Vintage Sock patterns in my future. And more projects with my Knitpicks nickel-plated dpns. (Thanks cauchy09 for the book and the recommendations!)

On a whim, I decided to turn my dog dish cloth into a little bag, like maybe for toting around a sock-in-progress.

First, using size 7 needles, I knit a second square for the back--this one was plain st st with a garter edge. Then I sewed front and back together and added a handle: Using size 6 needles, I picked up seven stitches from the left side and then knit in garter stitch until the handle was the length I wanted. I also added a button hole and a button to attach the handle on the right side:

Katie suggested the bag could also be used for carrying around doggy treats.

Spring Break Knit-a-thon: Photo Update

Some FOs and Firsts

School is keeping me unbelievably busy these days. Not much time for blogging, but I have been knitting. I actually finished a bunch of stuff, including these socks for my man for Valentine's Day.

Nothing fancy, just K1 P1 for the cuff and leg, traditional heel flap with a garter stitch edge, and then st st for the foot. I used size 2 DPNs. The yarn is a new try for me--it's Lang Jawoll cotton (49% wool, 35% cotton, and 16% nylon). It's really soft, but seems durable too. We'll see how they hold up. (Socks modeled by my new sock blockers, purchased at the Loopy Ewe.)

Also completed is this nifty blue and white stripey sock that includes another first for me. Can you guess what it is? Look closely . . . .

Still not sure? Here's a close up:

If you guessed "short row heel," you are correct! Woo hoo! I must say, though, that I owe all of my success to the wonderful tutorial at cosmicpluto knits, where I found terrific photos and clear and helpful instructions.

Socks for Mom

I love to knit, and in the past year I've forced myself to try some new things. The real artist in my family, though, is my Mom, who makes jewelry. (I also have an aunt who is a painter. I've inherited their interest in creative arts but none of their talents.) When I visited my Mom over the holidays, I admired this very cool pair of earrings she made (which, unfortunately, are too small for my digital camera to get a good picture of). As always, she told me to just take them. And as always I protested a little though secretly hoped she'd insist--which she always does. Then I had an idea--we could trade. I'd brought along some knitted things to show her, and she seemed to really like the socks. So, I proposed that in return for the earrings, I make her a pair of socks. I finished them last night:

They're actually much prettier in person (in sock?) than in this photo. I think the open rib pattern worked well with Cascade Fixation. I'm not wild about knitting in CF because it's so spring-y, but the effect in this pattern is kind of lacey, and I like it. (Additional pattern deets here.) I'll ship these off tomorrow.

Sockcess!

Appropriately, as I finished the second of my double-moss stitch socks, the sun came out and shone upon them.

Some Finished Projects

Here's a picture of the bday scarf I made for C. R., who agrees that she would, indeed, have peeked if I'd posted anything prior to her bday, which was this past Wednesday. C. R. has been this way since college, and it's good to know that some things don't change. :) (Happy bday! Now get to work on your felted tea cozy!)

Pattern: Easy 1 Skein Scarf from S n' B Happy Hooker
Yarn: Paton's Classic Merino Wool, Black

Late yesterday afternoon I also completed the "class sock" project from Sensational Knitted Socks.

This is my first ever sock, and I kind of can't believe I did it. This morning I cast on for an actual sock I can wear--one of the 4-stitch sock patterns from SKS. In the meantime I'm considering possible uses for my practice sock.

Fetching

One of these things is not like the other.
One of these things just doesn't belong.
Can you tell which thing is not like the other,
Before I finish my song?

I inadvertantly left out 4 rib rows above the thumb of the left-hand and didn't discover it until I was nearly finished with the right hand and I thought, hm. . . . something's different. DUH. I considered whether or not to go back and fix my mistake, or perhaps try to start a new fashion trend of wearing differently sized fingerless gloves kind of like those Camper shoes called "Twins" but they don't match? But I had more yarn on hand, so in the end I submitted to convention and just made myself a new left-hand. Here's the finished pair--left and right both the same size:

I do love this pattern. The gloves are sooooo warm. Perfect attire for sitting at the computer or reading. And stylish to boot (or would it be to glove?)!

One Skein, 3 Runs, No Q

I was out of town at a conference the weekend before last, and now I feel like I'm behind on everything. Yeesh. But I had enough time in the airport and on the plane to complete a whole scarf. Well, almost. It's the "One Skein Scarf" pattern from Stitch n' Bitch crochet, and I used Patons Classic Merino Wool in leaf green as given in the pattern. The project was just as easy as the pattern promised, though my gage must have been a bit off because I ran out of yarn just as I was rounding the last corner with a mere 3 shells left to go. So I had to run out and buy more yarn in order to finish. But I did, and I'm really happy with the finished project. Now I can't decide whether to keep or gift it. I do love the color . . . .

And I accomplished one other thing recently, of which I'm kinda proud. This past weekend, Katie and I competed in our first ever agility trial. We had 3 runs, none with qualifying times (not to mention with many faults), but we definitely had fun trying. Kate surprised me by holding a stay at the start line when asked. That might not sound like much, but for us it's big. And although she did take a quick tour around the course on the first run, she came back to me and stayed with me until the end. On the second and third runs, she was so excited that she took the last obstacle and kept on going! Cute, but unfortunately, the rules say that I have to leave the course with my dog under control. Oh well. I'm thinking we'll do another trial in January which will give us lots of time to work on that little problem. :)

Easy Ribbed Scarf

So much of academic work involves rewriting and revising that sometimes I crave the experience of starting a project and then completing it. Of course I chose this career because I enjoy working through big, complicated projects and ideas. But every now and then, I want the satisfaction of saying that I finished something.

So today, before I begin work on the umpteenth revision of a paper I've been working on for awhile, here is a picture of a finished knitting project. Yes, it was easy. Just K2 P2. But it's finished and ready to be worn. Well, "ready" just as soon as the weather is cool enough for a really really warm scarf. The pattern, which is from Stitch n' Bitch, calls for Brown Sheep Co's Lamb's Pride Bulky. I used Charcoal Heather. Except for the color, it looks just like the photo in the book.

Thinking about fall

In Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard writes about the moment when she feels the season changing--I can't remember now if it's winter to spring or summer to fall. Although I don't think this morning was the moment for us (it's a little early), fall-ish weather seems to have descended on eastern PA, at least for the time being, and in a good way. Ever the fashion-conscious canine, Katie rushed to the winter closet and grabbed this scarf.

Trial preparation update: Kate and I submitted our entry form for the upcoming trial--we signed up for three runs. I figure by the third try, Kate, the most distract-able of dogs, will be focused on the course and not on everything else around.

Final thought: this is, of course, a day with a sad history and legacy. I'm going to try to steer clear of the TV and seek other, quieter, ways of being mindful about past (and current) events.