My Mara Models

Having two daughters I am very lucky to have models to show off my knits.  I hate to have my picture taken so the only time you see me is when I am showing off new socks.

Pattern: Mara Shawl

Yarn: Peace Fleece Worsted in Samantha Katya Pink

Needles: KnitPicks Options Size 7
Started: December 6, 2010
Finished: January 31, 2011

Last Handspun for 2010

I finally got around to giving my last handspun yarn a bath.  I finished this in the middle of December but it just hung out on a bobbin for about three weeks.

All Spun Up Spin a Long Fiber for October/November of 2010
366 yards of approximately fingering weight
85/15 BFL/Silk blend in the color Rustic

The Soap Opera of the Needles

Pattern: Vanilla Sock w/Hemmed Cuff
Yarn: 2 Windows Dye Company Sock 2
Started: December 19, 2010
Finished: January 19, 2011
Needles Size 0 Hiya Hiya DPN's

This pair of socks ended up being worked on with three different sets of needles.  I started out trying the 9 inch circular.  I really hated them.  I knit for about ten rows and I couldn't take it anymore so I switched to KnitPicks Harmony DPN's.  They were working fine until I broke one.  I know that you get six in a package but I broke one a long time ago so I only had four and I prefer using five needles when using DPN's.  After I broke that needle I switched to the Hiya Hiya's.

Keeping the Toys Warm

Punkinbug has been knitting again.  She finished her scarf for Froggy today.  She likes to sit and knit with me.  She calls it "Knitting Club".

She started a scarf for Little Buddy's Ironman figurine today.  I think the toys in this house are going to stay pretty warm.

A Project Started and a Project "Found"

I must be one of those people that can't just have one pair of socks on the needles.  I finished the Cassandra Socks and just had one pair of Vanilla Socks on the needles but I had to cast these on.  I am using the Stansfield #14 pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks and Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the Lorikeet colorway. They remind me of the KU Jayhawk so I am calling them my Rock Chalk Jayhawk Socks.

This year, I decided that I was going to finish up some UFO's that had been laying around.  This is one of those UFO's.  It is the Mini Mochi Fair Isle hat. I started this hat back in June or July and my goal is to have it done before the end of April.  As I am sitting here typing this I thought I would love to finish this by Valentine's day but then I remember all the other projects I have on the needles and the wheel.  I think I need more hands and feet.

TOO BIG

One of my knitting resolutions this year is to knit the Fiddlehead Mittens.  I started them last week and today I decided to try to finish up the outer portion of the first one.  I thought they might be a little large because I have small hands but I kept knitting thinking that when I got the liner in they would be perfect.  Nope.  It didn't work out that way.  I started the decreases on the top and realized that the mitten was going to be about two inches too long.  I have decided to rip them out and try them again on a size smaller needle.  I think they are really pretty though.

Another UFO Bites the Dust

I decided at the beginning of the year (hard to believe it was just last week), that I would finish up some projects that had been hanging around too long.  This pair took me two and a half months for some reason.

I was able to match them perfectly and to be honest I didn't really try it just worked out that way.

Cassandra Socks
Pattern 3/1 Rib over 72 stitches
Yarn Opal Rainforest in Cassandra
Started October 13, 2010
Finished January 7, 2011
Needles Size 0 Kollage Square DPN's

I had planned not to cast on any new projects until I had some of these UFO's finished but I failed at that one.  I did cast on a new project that I will post about next time.

First Finished Object of 2011

I have finished my first project of 2011.  I finished this on Sunday before we went looking for a new computer.  We ended up with a new computer yesterday.  

So the first finished object of 2011 is Habitat.  I knit this as a shop sample for the Wicked Stitch.  I used her own Cauldron Dyed yarn.  This yarn is so squishy.  I just love it.  I am thinking of picking up a hank of it to start one for me.

Habitat Hat by Jared Flood

Started November 27, 2010

Finished January 2, 2010

Yarn Wicked Stitch Cauldron Dyed in Green

Needles Size 8 and 9 Knit Picks Options 

New Year!!!

Happy New Year!!!

I am making some resolutions this year.

1. Knit four sweaters.  That includes finishing the one I already have started.

2. Knit a pair of Fiddlehead mittens.  I think I would like to knit them out of hand spun.

3. Knit 12 pairs of socks.  That includes the two pairs I have on the needles right now.

4. Finish some of my UFO's.  I have too many and I would like to see some of them finished.

5. Lose fifteen pounds by the end of the year.  I think that is doable.  I actually used my Wii Fit this evening and I always forget how much fun it is.

Have a great day and click those sticks.

Final Finished Objects of 2010

I didn't finish the 10 in 2010.  I finished 8 and I am pretty happy with that.  This is the last one that I finished.  It is the Holden Shawl made from Wisdom Poems Sock.  I really enjoyed knitting this one and I think it turned out pretty good.

This is the last pair of socks that I finished this year.  The pattern is Blueberry Waffle socks.  These socks took me three months to knit for some reason.  I kind of lost my sock knitting mojo this year.  I think it is coming back though.

This is one of the last yarns that I spun this year.  This is some Louet 70/30 merino silk blend.  I have already started another shawl out of it.  I hope to get going gangbusters on it soon.

This is the other yarn that I finished up in December.  This is about 615 yards of a single out of Ocean also by Louet.  I really enjoyed spinning a single.  I was always a little afraid of it before but I have conquered that fear.  I plan of using this to make a Clapotis maybe.  

My blogging Mojo also kind of bit the dust a little this year.  I really enjoy seeing what I have done so I plan on continuing next year. 

I am ready to begin the new adventure of 2011.  

Cables Galore

I seem to be on a cable kick right now.  I started the Habitat hat yesterday.  I am using Wicked Stitch Cauldron Dyed from the Wicked Stitch.  This yarn has a lot of sproing I think.

I have been working on my Twist sweater a little here and there.  I have finished the decreases for the arms.  I just need to finish the back and start on the two fronts.  I would really like to finish this sweater before it gets hot so I have a few months.

Maine Comes to Kansas

I was in the mood for a "quick knit".  I think these fit the bill pretty well.  I started them on November 21,2010 and finished them the next day.  These were made out of the Sea Dreams Handspun 2.0.  These will be going to live with my sister in law, Denise.

The first pair was such a fun and quick knit I made another.  These are going to live with the babysitter that watched the kids on Saturday last week while I took a Spinning Self Striping Yarns class.  I started these on Sunday and finished on Monday.  

Winding and Rewinding

I am having a mild case of startitis so I wound some yarn today.  I have been cleaning the house getting ready for Thanksgiving so I took a little break.  This yarn is for a pair of Maine Morning Mitts.  It is some handspun I spun up a few weeks ago.

This yarn is so I can keep working on my sweater.  This color is actually a turquoise.  The weather is kind of cold rainy/snowy mix so not so good for taking pictures.

These two yarns I actually rewound.  They were both failed sock attempts from this summer.  I am feeling a strong urge just to knit vanilla socks.  I am hoping that these two failed attempts at other patterns will make it to a couple of completed pairs.

#8

I am still trying to finish my 10 shawls in 2010.  I have finished 7 of the ten.  I am not sure I am going to finish.  This will be #8 when it is done.  It is the Holden Shawl.  I am using Wisdom Yarns Poem Sock and a size 6 Knit Picks Harmony Needle.

I Promised a FO

I promised a finished project yesterday so here it is.  This is the scarf that I spun from Barley and Daisy's fleece.  It is just a fifteen stitch garter stitch scarf. I plan on giving it to my sister.  The size is 3 inches by about 6 feet.

I was able to get a very cute model to show it off.  He works for yogurt and candy corn.

Sock Knitting Black Hole

If you can't find me it is because I have entered the "knitter's black hole".  I keep knitting and knitting on this sock and it just doesn't seem to get any closer to being done.  I am always four more repeats from starting the toe decreases.  Hopefully I will find the exit soon.






I do have a finished object but as Ferb would say "Wait for it".

New Handspun

Sea Dreams Handspun 2.0  spun from a Gale's Art Corriedale Sibling.  This is a light worsted to a worsted weight yarn.  I plan to use it to make some fingerless mitts for my sister in law.

Garden Party spun from another Gale's Art Corriedale Sibling.  This a heavy fingering to sport weight yarn that I plan to use to knit a pair of socks.

Ishbel

Is finished!!!!!  I finally finished binding off  the stitches yesterday and I blocked it today. I have to say I LOVE THIS PATTERN.  I so need to make one for myself.

This one is going to live at my LYS, The Wicked Stitch.  It was knit out of Jennifer's hand dyed sock yarn.

Pattern: Ishbel

Yarn : The Wicked Stitch Cauldron Dyed Sock Yarn

Started: September 25, 2010

Finished: October 25, 2010

Needles: Hiya Hiya Circular Size 7

This makes number seven for my 10 shawls in 2010.  I am hoping to knock out three more small ones before the end of the year, even if I don't 7 is pretty good for me.

Socktoberfest

I must have taken Socktoberfest to heart this year.  I am in the middle of knitting two pairs of socks.  This pair is out of Rio De La Plata.  I have no idea what the color is but I am liking it so far.  I am using the Blueberry Waffle pattern.

I also started another pair this last Thursday.  These are just a basic 3/1 rib vanilla sock.  I am using the Opal Rainforest Cassandra colorway.  I am using size 0 square DPN's.

Hermione's Everyday Socks

I finished my Hermione Everyday Socks this morning.  I think they turned out pretty well.  The color is so happy and cheerful which will be a good thing this winter when I get tired of brown grass all over the place.


Pattern: Hermione Everyday Socks
Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug in Fuschia
Needles 2.5mm Kollage Square DPN's
Started September 5, 2010
Finished October 7, 2010

New Experience

Being a spinner, I find myself on occasion thinking I want a fleece.  At the LYS, the owner has some already cleaned fleece that she sells by the ounce.  I brought it home and took a brush to flick the locks open.  This is what I had after I finished flicking it.  I took it back to the LYS and ran it through the drum carder.  

I spun the two batts and then plyed them together.  This is my finished yarn.  I have around 210 yards of a light worsted to worsted weight.  I think the finished yarn is awesome.  I am not sure that I will ever get a raw fleece since I am really not that into dealing with cleaning it but it sure was a fun thing to try.

New Projects

When you are a knitter, when you finish a project you start another or maybe even two.  I started two.  This is the beginning of an Ishbel.  I am really enjoying knitting it and it is going quickly.  I think almost anything would seem to go quickly after the end of the Pi Shawl though.
When this is finished it will be #7 in my 10 in 2010.

I also finally got over my sweater fear and decided to cast on Twist.  This is potato chip knitting due to the fact that I want to keep going so I can turn just one more cable.  I am setting a goal of having it finished by Halloween but time will tell if that really happens or not.

Ta Da!!!!

I finished the 100th Camping Anniversary Pi Shawl last week.  It sure seemed like it took forever to bind off those 895 stitches at the end.

Details
Pattern 100th Anniversary Pi Shawl (Camping)
Yarn  Knit Picks Gloss Lace in Port
Needles Size 6
Started August 10,2010
Finished September 22, 2010

The blocked shawl is approximately 52 inches across.  I love how blocking a shawl makes it look incredible.  I am tempted to knit another Pi Shawl but I have a couple of other projects to finish first.

Wow!! September is Almost Half Over!

I have been busy with all sorts of projects.I finished the hat for my friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I had everyone in the family give it hugs before I send it off.  I hope she will like it and I hope she  kicks cancer's hiney.

I finished a sock yesterday while watching the Kansas City Chiefs play.  It was a really late game so I only watched the first quarter.  It is the Hermione Everyday Sock in Colinette Jitterbug in the Fushia colorway.  It was a pretty quick knit for me.

The progress on the Port blob continues.  I am on the third of four repeats of the last chart before starting the border.  The rows at this point have 576 stitches so they take awhile.  I am excited about finishing this shawl and casting on another Pi Shawl because I am really enjoying knitting this one.

For some reason, I thought I needed to crochet something this morning.  I dug out some kitchen cotton and crocheted this dishcloth up.  I am not sure what the pattern is, it was something one of the ladies at knitting was told me about last week.  The dishcloth only took me about 90 minutes.

Is That a Pair of Finished Socks????

I finally finished one of the three pairs of socks that I cast on back in June.

Horcrux Socks
Yarn Colinette Jitterbug in Mardi Gras
Needles Knit Picks Options size 1.5
Started June 19, 2010
Finished August 19, 2010

This is my active sock project that was started at the same time as the finished pair.  I am sitting on the deck and  working on it this morning while Little Buddy is outside playing.  The yarn is Fleece Artist Cosmic Dawn.  I am using the Stansfield 196 pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks.

A Mess

That is what this shawl looks like right now.  I am on the 576 stitch rounds now.  I am done with the first of four repeats and then I just have the border.  I am really liking this project and I am already thinking about knitting a Girasole or a Shipwreck (ravelry links).

I also started this hat.  I am calling this project on my Ravelry page Hat I Wish I Didn't Have to Knit.  I am knitting a Shedir for my friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer last week.  She has to have four months of chemotherapy and then surgery.  She could use lots of extra prayers right now.  I am knitting this out of Rowan Cashsoft.  I want to make her one more hat before I mail these off if anyone has another great pattern I would love to know.