Moving Along

2012.  Twenty-Twelve.  I think I like even years better than odd.  Don't know why; it just has a better feeling to it.   Anyway.  Two weeks into this new year and I have completed 2 projects, and started another 2.  I'd like to start more (and have plans to do so), but I want to get established into the new ones first.

First completed project of 2012 is my Dickens Vest.  Photo taken in my workplace bathroom, of all places.



... or I can wear it like this (after I get some sort of shawl pin to hold it together)...


Yarn - Blackstone Tweed Chunky.  LOVE this yarn!

65% Wool

25% Mohair

10% Angora

These socks flew off the needles during that sad, sad Packer game Sunday afternoon.  I think that's why the 2nd sock got done so fast, was that I was so nervous and anxious while watching, my hands needed something to do.


Yarn:  Handmaiden Casbah sock yarn -

80% Merino

10% Cashmere

10% Nylon

 

These feel like butter on my feet.

 

Now on to the NEWly started projects of the New Year.  I finally gathered up my big girl panties, decided on what yarn to use and delved into..... Beatnik   I love the cables! (and this girl's hair).  It's now my goal to grow out my bangs (which I've had all my life) and get to this style by summer.  I don't think I can say the same about the sweater;  I'm sure it will take me all year to complete.  I'm well into the 2nd repeat of cables (photo taken before that point) and have not encountered any problems.  I do have to say that it took me longer to put together this chart to work off of though.

 

Yarn:  Blackstone Tweed (65% wool, 25% mohair, 10% angora)

Color:  Clover

 

I've also started a cabled scarf for my sister, but haven't had a chance to take a decent photo of it yet.

 

Also, my LYS is planning on having a class this spring to do Jared Flood's shawl pattern, "Rock Island" and I think I'm going to be brave (again) and attempt this one also.

 

So, 2012 will be an interesting year to see if I can master (or just muddle through) some new knitting skills in the areas of cables and lace.  With an occassional pair of stockinette socks thrown in when my head and eyes need a break.

 

Happy Knitting ~

 

 

Counting Down

The cookies are baked and frosted, the tree is up and decorated, presents are bought..... but not wrapped.  Ah, there's still time, right?

I just wanted to share with you a gift for my neighbor, Pam.  I had so much fun knitting a Traveling Woman shawl for myself last spring, that I knit another one for her.  It's been completed since summer.  No Christmas knitting worries here.

My Loopified Socks are coming along nicely also.  One done and one to go....

Yarn:  Hand Maiden Casbah - 80% Merino wool, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon

This is a one-of-a-kind hand dyed yarn made exclusively for The Loopy Ewe 2nd Anniversay back in 2008.  This yarn did come with a pattern, but it was too lacey for this busy yarn.  I decided a stockinette sock would be best.  The cashmere in this yarn gives the full "ahhhh" feeling when worn.  Better get busy and start the 2nd one then!

We are having a brown Christmas here in Wisconsin this year - no snow.  The last brown Christmas was in 2002.  We have had one good snowfall, but some "warm" temperatures and rain has reduced it to crusty white remnants.  It just doesn't feel that Christmasy without snow!

I have two different sweater projects in mind after the Dickens vest is completed.  I just started the 2nd front and then it can be sewn together.  I'll share those 2 possibilities with you in the next post.

From my home to yours - May you have a blessed Christmas.

Happy Knitting ~

What the Dickens?

Ha!  I'm on a roll.  I would have posted last night, but Blogger was hiccuping and kept giving me a service error when I tried to start a new post.  Oh well, I'm here now.

The project I'm currently working on is a vest I've had in my queue since last winter.  I even bought the yarn last winter, but I was so intent on getting "Acer" completed that it just had to wait until now.


It's just a simple vest, but looks to be very warm.  The back is done (plain stockinette) and this is the left front.  Chunky yarn + Size 10's = A fast finish?  Let's hope so!

Berroco Pattern:  Dickens
Yarn:  Berroco Blackstone Tweed Chunky;  Needles:  Size 10

I'm not sure if'll I'll be belting it or not; we'll have to see how it looks on me at that point.  If not, I think it will look OK with it just being open.

And here's another little diddy I finished last night - we all need those simple, mindless projects right?

Pattern:  Chinese Waves Dishcloth (no purling involved - 4 row repeat)
Yarn:  Sugar'n Cream

This was the perfect project to take on the road now that Gus has started traveling every Sunday for high school bowling league, or watching intently Season 2 of "The Walking Dead" (it's on AMC Sunday nights).  Gus and I are now avid WD fans.  It won't resume new episodes until February, so we had to resort to re-watching Season 1on instant Netflix. 

There's no snow here yet, but it certainly is getting colder.  It would be nice to have some white stuff when I buy the Christmas tree this weekend.  Be careful for what you wish for, right?

Happy Knitting ~

Fair Isle Hats

I'm not usually excited about knitting hats.  I just don't look good in them, and personally, I'd rather do socks or sweaters.   But when Beth at The Black Purl (my LYS) held a class back in October to knit a Norwegian fair isle hat, I thought, "Why not?"  It had been a long time since I did any 2-stranded knitting, so it was an opportunity to re-learn that skill.  And re-learn I did.

We did the Fair Isle Hat (#8) from the Fall 2011 Vogue Knitting magazine.  It was a bit clumsy at first holding a strand of yarn in each hand, but soon I was speeding along, following the pattern. 



.... and pretty soon, it was done!


Yarn:  Classic Elite Fresco (60% Wool, 30% Alpaca, 10% Angora) - Chocolate Brown and Robins Egg Blue

Very soft and lightweight; perfect for this time of year.  Not a below zero hat by any means, but then, what is?

After posting this hat on Facebook, a good friend of mine chimed in that she'd appreciate it if I made her one also.  She wanted Wisconsin Badger colors, so red and white it was.  Same Fresco yarn.


Except it looks a lot better on Kelley...


So two hats is enough for this knitter.   If you're not shocked already at seeing 2 posts in 2 nights, wait till you see what I have for you tomorrow...

Icey Acer

I have finished "Acer"!   I accidently found out about this sweater when reading The Yarn Harlot's blog last winter where she mentioned she was knitting it.   After finding it on Ravelry and viewing the 200+ knitters who have knit this sweater, I decided to throw my needles into the ring also.

Acer wasn't as intimidating as I first thought.  It was knit on circular needles, all in one piece.  No side seams to sew, which was really nice.  The sleeves were knit on double point needles, so they were the only pieces to sew in.  I'm a chart knitter, and the chart was easy to follow from front to back.

Yarn used:  Sublime Organic Merino Wool DK

This yarn is so very soft and very warm.  It was pleasure to knit with.  It will be one of my most favorite sweaters to wear now.

The buttons are my favorite.  They seem like they were meant to be on this garment.

I started this sweater January 2011, but it was well worth the wait.  I'm always nervous when knitting and sewing a sweater together, and always wait until it's all sewn up to try it on (ok, I may try certain parts on to check length & width), and I was very happy when this fit like a glove.

A HUGE Thank You to Ravelry knitter, katika-imani.   I ran out of yarn while knitting the last sleeve.  Everything else was done, even the button bands.  I needed just one more skein to complete the sleeve cap.  I searched Ravelry for the Sublime yarn I needed in the color and dye lot I needed, and came up with about 6 other knitters who had what I needed in their stash.  I sent them all a message asking if they'd be willing to sell me one of their skeins.  Some needed their yarn for projects and a couple offered to sell me one.  Katika was the first to offer me one of hers and within a week, I had it and finished my sleeve.  Knitters are so cool that way!

I am happy to learn that blogger.com has improved it's way of you inserting photos.  One reason for my sparse updates was that it was always a hassle that it took so much time to get photos into my post.   I hope to update you all more on current (and completed) projects.

Knit On.....

We Begin Again

Beginning 8th grade. At a new school. A school just a few blocks away. New teachers. Cool teachers he reports.  No more riding the bus.   Biking or Walking is his new way of transportation.

Official summer growth - 1" since the last day of 7th grade on June 8th. He's now 5' 5 1/2", 140 lbs, and size 11 feet. Amazing.

... but he'll always be my little boy.


Loved ones were guinnea pigs at the dining room table tonight. This dish was a hit and I'll be making this again as cold weather comfort food.

Ree Drummond's Peach-Whiskey BBQ Chicken

It was easy to make and it make's a lot - great for next day leftovers. I served it with mashed potatoes, not grits.

Off to the the Black Purl tomorrow for a day of knitting and visiting with knitting friends.  Waiting patiently for the fall yarns to arrive.