STELLA!!! March 13, 2009

Ah Jimmy Beans, how I love thee! I placed an order on Tuesday and get my stuff on Thursday – what more can you ask for???
My mega needles have arrived!

They’re HUGE and they’ve got glitter! Who would have thought that just to add some “pazazz” Addi’s would add a glitterly needle and cable? Tres cool. We’ll see how the knitting goes as I’m pretty use to doing the size 3s or 7s for almost all of my projects. Hopefully it’ll go super quick (they shall be used for the DROPS moss st baby blanket). It’s going to be a bit holey but I think that’s what makes this pattern so cool. It looks like a cuddly honeycomb! Rowan Big wool, here I come!

Next on the arrival scene was STELLA!! What’s that movie with the guy screaming “STELLA!!” at the top of his lungs? Can’t remember but that’s what I think of when I saw this yarn.

It kind of looks pink in the pic but that’s just the lighting and my oh so perfect photography skills. It’s in a color call “Ecru” which is basically a natural ivory color. This shall be for my DROPS cable blanket that I’m going to be making for Sheena. I think I should have enough with 10 skeins, plus it’s a newborn so really, how big does it have to be?? Best part is that it’s machine washable so she’ll be able to get some use out of it.

I’m almost done with my alphabets and am going to spend some time this weekend to sew. Yes as much as I’m not looking forward to it, it must be done. I need to get this project out of the way so I can start on the Moss stitch blanket. The hoodie is still in the works. I need to work that stitch inc problem in the sleeves which is why I’ve been ignoring it but I think I could get it all done by next week if I keep my act together.

After that it’s all about – STELLA!!!!!

March madness March 11, 2009

So a couple of things have been going on but first my OTN report.
“da hood” is going well. So far I’ve got the back, both fronts and am currently working on sleeve number one. Overall it’s been a pretty easy knit although I did screw up a wee bit. I was working on dec for the left front and it said to dec by the neck side – I have no idea why but I started on the sleeve side. I think it’s because I thought the pattern would have mentioned that you need to dec by the hood and it does seem a bit odd that you would do it there. Though I guess it gives the hood piece some slack by the neck.
Either way I don’t think it’s that detrimental to the project and I think it’ll work out fine when I sew the sleeve on. Worst case scenario I could always rip it and dec it again (horrors).
So anyway other then that that project is coming along nicely. I do think that if I were do it again (which I think I will) I’d use a bulky weight yarn. The Jo Sharp has been great to knit with but the project will end up being more of a “light” cardigan cause it’s a bit holy. It’s still a beautiful color and I do like the texture.

Of course I started on the sleeves and didn’t read the full sleeve BEFORE I started. sigh and I missed an inc 4x! I’m debating whether I should rip it and start over again but then again it’s 4 stitches…what to do, what to do. She does have a chunky arm so I think I’m going to measure it against her arm before I make the decision. ARGH!

Next on my project list is the infamous alphabet baby blanket. That one is coming along nicely and I should have it all completed by the weekend…well at least the alphabets. I should be able to sew it all up and then take some crocheting lessons to get the border done. All in all another easy knit project and it’s been a nice reprieve to just mindless knit a square every night. I might just do another one for one of the “kids” – am not sure who yet but it’s an awesome toddler blanket.
So FO pics to be coming soon!
On the queue is my boss’s baby blanket. His baby is due end of April so I’ve got plenty of time yet. The pattern calls for size US 36 which have to be ginormous! I can see how pretty the moss stitch with it will be though so I’ll have to place my order and get them delivered soon. That one should be an easy knit plus if it comes out really pretty I might just make it for Sheena’s baby. Although I do like that cable baby blanket from Drops. I’m thinking about using Debbie Bliss Stella for it since there’s a sale at Jimmy Beans Wool. Hmm we’ll see.

GANDI!! March 10, 2009

Random thoughts:
My daugher is in love with our cat. Whenever Gandalf approaches she drops anything in her possession and starts flapping up and down screaming GANDI!!! It’s absolutely hysterical. He adores her too, probably because it’s the only person in the house at this point that gives him any sense of attention.

Hayley’s learned too how to pet him instead of the pounding she used to relay on his poor back. What’s even funnier is that he takes it all and never once has he ever hissed or got agitated. Poor Gandi – wait till Hayley starts walking! There will be no place he could hide. It reminds me of that Looney tunes character of the little girl who would hold and squeeze the life of all the pets that are around her. They in turn would run in terror away. That’s my baby girl!

Stitch me up! March 2, 2009

So Stitches! Twas cool – lots of pretty yarn of which I made a few purchases. They had a HUGE amount of sock yarn everywhere in every color and multi color imaginable. Totally cool but I really took it easy on the sock yarn at least for this year as I’m in baby patterns mode.

I did find this great yarn that I’m going to make the Zimmerman’s February baby sweater with. It’s from Miss Babs – I need to get to that website cause it was $25 for 500yards of pure beauty!.

I think I need to get a new camera cause this one totally doesn’t show the complete glory of the pinks and tans in this yarn. It’s machine washable too which is a HUGE plus in my book!

I also got some Malabrigo in damask rose from ImagiKnits booth. Which ironically is my LYS. I heart them – so helpful and nice while other booths people would just look at you as to say “For real, you’re asking me THAT question?” Miss Babs was super super nice too – hence the future purchases from her store that will be made!

So this weekend I also worked on “da Hood” but I totally frogged it on Friday. I couldn’t reconcile the pattern with the stitches. So I just knitted a swatch of the cable pattern that was causing me grief and decided to use stitch markers to help me keep the pattern in place. HUGE DIFFERENCE! I’m totally working it! Now the only thing I’m worried about is the sizing although I think it’ll be fine as I’m a wee bit of a tight knitter.

The photo doesn’t do it justice. It’s actually sooo incredibly pretty and is knitting up fast even though I’ve got to stop and use the cable every once in a while. I’m hoping I can finish off the back tonight since I’ve only got a couple of more inches to go and then get started on the front. I want to finish this one before my Knit Picks yarn comes so I won’t feel guilty neglecting one project for another.

Shrug accomplished! February 26, 2009

Yippee – it’s done I finished my baby shrug and it doesn’t look so bad

And from behind

So I think I mentioned that I wasn’t too fussed on the yarn..although it is super soft. I had to re-enforce some stitches since the strand spilt in some place but you can’t really tell unless you closely inspect it. I do think I need to block it a bit since the front part is a bit curly but I still think it looks class.

Leftovers February 25, 2009

Manos me!
So going through my stash the other day I find a bunch of Manos leftover yarn in such amazing pretty colors. I stuck them all in a beret I made (one of my first knitting projects, *sniff, sniff*) so I can just look at them together and gather inspiration.

What to make, what to make? It’s Manos so none machine washable which is a no can do for a sweater (sans shrug) and not sure about socks.. The purple Manos sock didn’t come out that great (Actually I’m thinking of frogging them) so I’m really at a loss of what to do.

Maybe if I stare at them long enough in their pretty little beret I shall become inspired and create something AMAZING! Hey, one can dream.

Yarn procrastination
In other news, I’m been procrastinating buying some new yarn that I’ve been drooling over at The Three Irish Girls site. First of all, I love the name , and second of all it’s all hand dyed and sooo absolutely pretty. There’s a beautiful bubblegum and tan color called “Maureen” that I think would be fantastic for Hayley’s Baby Sweater. But I keep coming back to do I want to pay $40 bucks of yarn right now right before Stitches? I know crazy huh? Who debates over buying yarn? But I’m sure I’ll be seeing this and more at Stitches so I’m really on the fence over this. I guess I would wait. It’s not like I don’t have enough projects to keep me going!

Poaching!
Last I wanted to hit on the Leyburn Sock pattern that I totally poached off of Pinfish
on Ravelry. >:) Yes, I poach and am proud of it!

Happy feet will be my yarn as I work through my stash. I think it’s perfect for it!

I really love the fall colors in this yarn and since the pattern is kind of “leafy” I think it’ll be perfect. Just can’t decide who they’ll be for though at this point, I’m kinda of leaning toward – ME!

Depletion of yarn February 25, 2009

Alas I have run out of yarn. I know it’s crazy but it’s true..well for my blanket that is. More is on the way but at least I’ve done a big chunk of the blanket prior to depleting my resources.

It’s looking very pretty and I’m wondering if the blue border is going to make it too boyish. We’ll have to wait and see.

Maybe I’ll just buy more yarn and make another. It’s such an easy knit; the only parts that I’m actually dreading is the sewing and the crocheting but then again don’t I always. I also decided to buy more Shine for yet another Alphabet blanket – this time for Conor. I went back and forth on boy colors since I’m horrible with picking up colorways but decided to “risk it all” and go for
Mallard and Laurel. Haven’t decided yet on the border though I am thinking of using the Fedora.

Also on my purchased cart I got another skein of Robin’s Nest. I now have three – don’t know for what yet but it’s probably going to be for a boy sweater. It shall live happily in my staff for the moment.

Lastly I have to review the Harmony needles from Knitpicks.

Review:
So after listening to the Sticks n Strings podcast which gave Knit Pick needles such an awesome review I decided to buy a pair. I got two sets of interchangeable circulars (24 inch and 32 inch) and a pair of size 7s. So the wood and color are absolutely beautiful and gorgeous to knit with. The challenge with these circulars is that as you’re working through your project you inevitably twist up the cable or needle so slowly but surely you’re needle starts unscrewing from the cable and as a result catch on your stitches. Not cool.
I had to stop a couple of times to “unhitch” my stitches from the ridge and screw the needle back on. It’s a shame really cause I would have totally bought more as they’re very economical and the needles themselves are very well made.

M is for MORE to come February 18, 2009

Okay so I’m still working through my Alphabets and just finished the “M” square last night. So far so good. It’s been pretty simple and I have a neat little stack of squares just waiting to be sewed together. Yah.
I saw this with little enthusiasm as even though I’m dying to finish it up and get it all done – I’m not looking forward to the sewing and *cringe* crocheting the border.
A new adventure but hopefully it won’t be that painful as I’m already plotting another Alphabet blanket – maybe for Conor though as of right now, I’m not too sure. I love the colors on this one as I’m a bit purple fan but I keep thinking of that Red/Gold color layout that Kelly picked out in KnitPicks and how AWESOME that would be for Hayley’s blanket!
We’ll see – must finish this one first!
So this week has been a quiet one. MAAWG is happening downtown so I get to relax at home and do the whole email thing and then zip off to downtown and sit in as folks talk about botnets, spam and all the rest of the messaging love. JOY. It’s not so bad and I might actually learn a thing or two. The evil part of this is all the GOODIES in the way of treats they have! Mini cakes and utterly sinful desserts to keep you caffeinated and jittery during the session. Another whoop for my ever expanding butt. -sigh-
Perhaps I’ll sneak in some knitting in between sessions. God, I’ve been so obsessed lately!! I know lately is rather relative…

My ABCs February 12, 2009

I am embarking on a mega baby blanket quest the likes of which I have not see before. I’ve got waaaaay too many to do so I’m truly booking it. I’m beginning my quest with the basics..that is the alphabets. I found a great pattern of squares so I’m going to knit them up, sew it and then crochet a border around it all. Hopefully it’ll turn out so absolutely wonderful that I’ll have to keep it for Hayley and start it all over again for someone else.

I had a hard time picking colors since I’m diasterous at color schemes. The baby log cabin blanket (of which I’ve banished to the end table drawer, not to be see for a while) is a prime example. I’d rather not delve into it too much but suffice it to say Dark fall colors and gray aren’t the best for a baby blanket.

I decided to go with the purple family with a blue border. I have a light and a darker purple using KnitPicks Shine yarn which I love! So soft, so warm, so cuddly – yes I refer to my yarn in cuddly terms!

So far I’ve got A through E done and I’m really hoping that I can get to finish this before the end of the month. My goal is to do one letter at minimum a day (hopefully two extra ones over the weekend)

Couple of pics on the first letters finished!

Ode to the Clap February 12, 2009

So I finally finished my Clapotis and I have to say I really like knitting it. There is something just “naughty” about dropping a stitch that I actually raveled in Overall it’s a pretty easy knit and could just be absolutely mindless until you get to the PM or YO. Regardless it was a pretty easy to do and I’m thinking about …dare I say it…xmas presents!
It makes a beautiful shawl particularly using the Manos yarn.

One thing about Manos is that since each skein is a bit different and they don’t do dye lots the colors are a bit darker in the beginning and they get lighter when I added a new skein. A bit annoying although I doubt anyone will take notice.
Another frustrating bit was that I must have forgotten to drop a stitch or I accidently knitted where I shouldn’t have.
-sigh-
So there’s an instance in my pattern that’s missing the drop as you can see below.

Very annoying as I feel everything thing that I knit always has something “off” about it. I read on one of the ravelry forums today that that’s what makes it “unique” which is amusing.

Anyhow, back to the pattern, it definitely knits up to be more like a shawl then a scarf. Which I should have figured since I believe the width is about 20inches. Still pretty and it give it the draped affect. Another thing is that it called for about 6 skeins of Manos and I think I only used 4. Which is great – more yarn to do something else but still the knitter in me is nagging. Do I knit too tight? What’s this going to mean when I do a sweater?

Yea, yea, yea – GAUGE is the answer. To which I say in the memorable words of my 11th grade English teacher, “PSHAW’! I truly hate the gauge and as I listen to more knitting podcasts it’s not making me more enamored by it. There’s EASE you have to worry about and blocking the swatch and way to many things to do before you even get started on the pattern. Alas, patience must be a knitter’s calling of which I sorely lack. Perhaps, I’m half a knitter..like just an “itter”? Okay I’ve gone overboard on the rambling bit.

Back to the clap – I’m thinking about knitting this for one or all three of Mark’s sisters..or perchance my Jersey friend?? Don’t know..I’ll have to be on the look out for yarn deals on Noro or Manos – those are the ones that I think will look fab for this type of project.

Yes talking about xmas knitting projects is insane in Feb but hell I never get to finish them when I start in October so why the hell not start early and just stash it!