Wednesday, February 28, 2007

it's always the knitting that suffers...

I've been pressed into service! I'm working on a top-secret sewing project. (Yup, I can sew when the spirit moves me.) I'm hoping that it's only a short-term thing...no longer than a week. Unfortunately, this project is eating away at my nighttime knitting. I might post the results her in a few weeks, but no promises.

I'm making steady progress on the Aran Tee. I manage about 5 rows on the way to work, and another 5 on the way home. I'm still a few rows away from the armhole shaping for the front. I would like to finish knitting this project before Sock Madness begins in a couple of weeks...Thank goodness for short sleeves!

Monday, February 26, 2007

madness!

Sock Madness, that is...I'm really not sure what came over me, but I just signed up for this competition-based knit along. Every two weeks, the organizers will release a new pattern. You get paired up with someone out in the blogsphere, and try to finish knitting the pair of socks first.

Since I have only completed three pairs of socks, I signed up as a novice. I'm not jaded enough to think I could win, but I think it will be a lot of fun. And, at the end knit along, I could have 7 new pairs of socks!

Thursday, February 22, 2007

call & response...

I started writing a response a comment to my last post (left by Jessi). Once I saw it was getting a little long, I figured I’d just turn it into today’s post:

I also think I might have a sizing issue. I was really disappointed that the pattern is written in such limited sizes. I'm working on the 34" size, which should be okay, but very fitted. The next size is 38", which would be much too big. I'm sure I could have add more repeats of the Berry pattern to get an inch or two larger, but then I would have to work out the shoulder shaping.

I really like Swish. The yarn is pretty soft on the hands, and is kind of springy. I’ve never worked with Wool of the Andes, but this stuff has a lot of give. With any luck, I will be able to block the pieces out and get an extra inch in the bust.

I picked the color to fit in with my wardrobe. I wanted a neutral color that fits with my standard black and blue, but didn't want to worry about stains or it getting dingy. I’m pretty set in my ways, and gave little thought to joining Project Spectrum.

Also, Jessi, sorry that your Aran Tee didn't turn out the way you wanted.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

i love aran...

I'm absolutely pleased with this project. The aran patterns are easy enough to memorize, yet complicated enough to keep it interesting. I just completed the back, and am a few inches into the front.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

more cables...

I have decided to shelve my Gatsby Girl Pullover for a while. I know I said that I would complete all of my 2006 UFOs before starting my 1st seven, but I just couldn't bear to know any more 1x1 ribbing. I still love the pattern, and think that the yarn is perfect for it...I just need a little space. In the end, I will most likely substitute one of the 1st seven for this project. It may be cheating, but I'm not buying any new yarn (yet).

With nothing else on the needles, I turned to my list and chose the Michael Kors Aran Tee as my first new project for 2007! This pattern is from the Holiday 2005 Vogue Knitting. If it weren't for this pattern, I might not have bought the issue. I knew that I would never get to knit it in the Plymouth Royal Cashmere recommended by the pattern. (At $32 a skein, times 9 skeins, I might as well go out and buy an MK sweater). But, I also knew there would be a ton of substitutions available.

My version will be a bit more practical. I'm using Knitpick's Swish. I bought it last year to make a baby sweater. Even though I only needed two skeins I bought ten so I could get free shipping! Cast on Friday morning, and have been flying through the rows every since.


The patterns are a lot easier than they appear. The trickest part has been remembering to put the bobble in the middle of the diamond motif. I have made a couple of small mistakes, but figure I will live with them since they are on the back. I will be much more careful when I start the front.

The yarn is great, and shows the stitch patterns really well. I've heard that the yarn tend to shrink when you machine dry it, but I don't really plan on throwing this piece in the dryer. I can't believe it has taken me two years to start this project.

Monday, February 12, 2007

1st FO of '07...

That's right...I finished something! I now present Butterfly:

Pattern: Butterfly by Jennie Atkinson (Rowan Magazine 37)
Started: Feb 9, 2006
Finished: Feb 8,2007
Yarn: OnLine Linie 09
Needles: Denise Sz7

I started this project last February hoping that I would be able to complete it before the weather got warm. Well, things didn't quite work out that way! After a quick start, Butterfly was dashed aside and replaced with wedding planning. I worked on it off and on, but never really got back into it...I finally picked it up again once I laid out the rule that I would finish my '06 UFOs before starting '07 projects. I finished the knitting last weekend, and quickly blocked the pieces.

Once the two pieces were seemed together, I added the picot edging and the top and the straps. Instead of garter stitch, I made the straps in i-cord. I hope this make them a little more sturdy.

I'm very happy with the way this one turned out, and it's done just in time for Valentine's Day. Now that I have officially finished all Six of '06...Let the new knits begin!

Thursday, February 08, 2007

interweave goodness...

I got my Spring issue in the mail last night, and poured over it on the bus ride to work this morning. In my opinion, this is their best issue in years! I always enjoy the technical articles, but have found the project patterns spotty. In some issues, there would literally be just one or two patterns that I could actually see myself knitting. Well, that all changed this time around! Here are a few of my favs:


Wednesday, February 07, 2007

socks that rock...

I have been reading about this year for a while, but haven't experienced it myself. Last year, I managed to knit three pairs of socks. I thought that was pretty good for a sock newbie. So, I never got caught up in the STR fever. Plus, the price tag was a little higher than your average sock yarn.

I became even more fascinated by this yarn once I learned about the Rockin' Sock Club. What an awesome idea! Unfortunately, I didn't hear about the club until after sign-ups had closed. So, I signed up for their waiting list instead.

Well, Friday was my lucky day. I got an email from Blue Moon Fiber saying that there are still spaces in the club. Remember that sock yarn is not included in my Yarn diet. With that in mind, I jumped at the chance and signed up...Soon, I will have Socks that Rock, too!