Category Archives: WIPs

Stashbustin’ #44: Purl Ridge Scarf

Posted on by
8

Remember these tasty skeins from my birthday?

_MG_0244

After some petting and smooshing I knew exactly what they wanted to be. I have been admiring Stephen West’s Purl Ridge Scarf on Ravelry. He is such an amazing designer! (I’m not sold on swants….but still)

4333730974_7ecda8d02f_z

 

(Photo from the westknits Ravlery page)

This tweedy yarn is a mix of merino, llama, wool, and bamboo. It is going to feel so luxurious around my neck. Sure, I have a million other things on the needles. Sure, I have other cowls to keep me warm. But I NEED this one 🙂 Besides, it looks like a quick knit with just knit and purl rows arranged together.

What’s wrong with that logic?

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Nutmeg

Posted on by
9

My Stashbustin’ #37 or my Nutmeg sweater finally has matching sleeves!

_MG_0274

After yesterday’s sleeve folly, I worked all night to finish both sleeves. Gotta love the speed of bulky yarn. I chose to knit garter ribbed cuffs on both sleeves. It really provided a nice and neat finish to the sleeve and kept it from rolling

_MG_0275

 

Now I just have to cruise along on the body section and I’ll be finished! I’ll work the same garter rib at the hem of the sweater. I still have 1 1/3 skein of yarn left so now worries about running out of yarn. It’s taken a turn for the cold here in Kansas so I’m itching to wear this sweater!!

Happy Knitting!

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other

Posted on by
8

At my last post on Nutmeg, I was working on the sleeves. Seriously….one of these things is not like the other….

Sleeve #1 from my Nutmeg

_MG_0267

Sleeve #2 from my Nutmeg

_MG_0260

It might be hard to see in the pictures. But in real life….the decreases are NOT the same. Sleeve #1 called for K2tbl or knit 2 though the back of the loop. And I don’t know if I’m doing it wrong or it was supposed to be that way. But the decreases left raised bumps or visible loopy thing. They were raised enough to actually snag!

Now Sleeve #2 called for K2tog or knit two together. This decrease, while still noticeable, did not leave a raised bump or loop. Much prettier to my eye. So I’m going to finish up the second sleeve, put a lifeline in the first sleeve, and then re-knit the first sleeve to use the same decreases.

It’s not huge deal as these knit up pretty quickly. But still…AAARRGGGHHH! I’m becoming one of those knitters that has to have perfection. Life was easier before, lol

Happy Knitting!!

Shiny New Needles

Posted on by
19

Look what my husband got me for my birthday!!!

20131112-131458.jpgI am now the proud owners of a set of Knit Picks Options Interchangeable needles. Comes wit needles from 4US to 11US and four sets of flexible cords. I couldn’t wait to try these out so I dug through my stash and pulled something from the bottom. I had some Patons Silk Bamboo I picked up on sale at Joanns many moons ago.

I have a skein of Coal and a skein of Sapphire:

document_upload30379-14_medium2document_upload21125-0_medium2

This yarn is just so silky and soft to the touch. It’s one of my favorite yarns to fondle in my stash. And I have been fighting the urge to cast on another Honey Cowl for this winter. And how can you beat the feel of silk around your neck on a cold winter’s day!

_MG_0268

I’m a couple repeats into the pattern. Based on my available yardage I chose to cast on an in between size, or about 160 stitches. I’m working one repeat in Sapphire and one repeat in Coal. I’m definitely in love with the color interplay!

_MG_0270

A couple of observations:

1) I shouldn’t probably work with smooth and soft yarn on smooth metal needles. It has a tendency to slip and slide.

2) These are the first interchangeables I’ve had that screw together. If you don’t tighten them all the way then they come undone and you have to start your project over….twice….

3) Don’t work on this type of pattern repeat when you are tired. You will work the repeats in the wrong order….

I still love my new needles and I definitely need a cowl to keep out the Kansas cold. In the future I will probably use my plastic needles with slick yarn and metal needles for stickier wool.

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Stashbusting Gloves

Posted on by
6

I feel like shouting….”Once more into the breach!!!”

Are these gloves starting to look familiar? Well guess what, they should be! These are some Simple Fingerless Mitts (take three) or my Stashbustin’ #42 project.

P.S. sorry for the bad lighting….it’s getting so dark so early it’s hard to get good pics!

20131103-180052.jpg

 

I wanted to make another gift pair and do a little odds and ends stashbusting. I had some Berroco Vintage DK in orange from my first two pair of gloves and some Berroco Vintage worsted in yellow from my Brick Sweater.  They colors looked good together so off I went.

I weighed each remaining lot of yarn and divided in half. One half for each glove. I worked the orange (dk) in 2×2 rib until I ran out. Then I proceeded on with the pattern in the yellow (worsted) until I ran out of yarn. I wasn’t able to fully complete the 2×2 rib at the top, or really at all. So the mitt curls a bit…ok a lot. I’m going to give this first mitt a bath and a block to see if it solves the curl. Otherwise I’ll rip back and correct it. Then of course….knit the matching mate to go with.

Honest opinion time….do you guys think this glove works?

Only a few more weeks till Xmas…..

Oops!!

Posted on by
10

My Socktober Socks are looking good!

20131103-140257.jpg

Only one problem…I have size 10 wide feet. I have big lady feet, since I was like 12. I’ve simply learned to deal. I managed to adapt the pattern to fit said size 10 feet. However, I failed to calculate correct yardage on the project….oops! I only have enough yarn for a single tall sock or a regular sock with a partial toe section of hte second.

20131103-140436.jpg

Lessons learned….patience tested….I’m finishing this as a single tall sock and moving on. It is a great learning experience and I shall keep this as a sample sock. And by the grace of god my next attempt shall yield an actual pair!!

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Sleeves

Posted on by
3

My Nutmeg sweater or Stashbustin’ #37 is getting sleeves!!

20131103-134714.jpg

I was swimming along the body section and noticed my yarn quickly disappearing. I decided to pause on the body and work the sleeves (oh the joy of interchangeable needles!) lest I run out of yarn.

20131103-135155.jpg

I’m one sleeve down and quickly dispensing with the second. They are quite lovely and are giving me the tight fit I was missing on my Brick sweater. I am finding once again that I have to cut out a few pattern repeats on the sleeves to fit my shortish arms. I also opted for garter ribbed sleeve cuffs.

Now, when I’m done I will then work the remaining body either to my desired length or until I run out of yarn, lol. And I’m definitely going to use the garter ribs for the hem. I think it looks very sharp!

Happy Knitting!

Not FO Friday: Fingerless Gloves

Posted on by
5

Looks like a FO doesn’t it?

_MG_0234_medium2

 

Sadly, I only have one glove complete. I really really liked my first pair of finger-less gloves. I just had to cast on a second pair. I had exactly half a skein of my orange Berroco Vintage yarn left so I took that as a sign to make another pair.

While starting the second pair, I realized I didn’t follow the directions correctly the first time. I inadvertently worked the first 32 rows in the 2×2 rib instead of 10 rows in rib then 22 rows of stockinette. So for this pair I followed the directions as written.

_MG_0232_medium2

Based on how this glove turned out, I think I prefer my accidental pattern interpretation of the first pair. Those gloves were much more fitted right up to the wrist and flexed with my hand. This glove bunches slightly at my wrist when I wear it.

But I shall persevere and work the second glove to match. But I think this pair will definitely land in the gift pile.

Only 54 days to Christmas!!!!

WIP Wednesday: Nutmeg

Posted on by
10

WIP Wednesday: Nutmeg Sweater or Stashbustin’ #37

_MG_0240_medium2

I have finally conquered my early hurdles in this sweater. I am finding that I like lifted left and right increases for top down raglan sweaters. They just look much neater to this knitters eye. And I can knit them “twisted” so I can reduce the appearance of holes.

_MG_0241_medium2

Pardon the dog hair. I have a white dog and his hair is EVERYWHERE!!! No matter how much I dust or vacuum. Nonetheless, I have finally divided for the sleeves and I’m working down the body. Miles and miles of stockinette but I find that it suits me and my current mood.

For a bulky sweater, this is creating a fairly dense fabric. This will definitely be a warm sweater for this winter. I haven’t been working monogamously on this, but it is growing!

My only decision left is if I am going to work the hem as written with a rolled edge to match the neckline? I am waffling….perhaps a 2×2 rib for a few rows?

Any thoughts out there?

Socktober Progress

Posted on by
17

Tah Dah!!! I have turned my first heel on my first ever sock…..

_MG_0235_medium2

I’m working a toe up sock with simple gusset heel. I’m using Knit Picks Felici in the colorway Peachy. It’s fingering weight yarn on size US 1 needles and it feels like its taking forever!

_MG_0237_medium2

I am finding that holding my tension between the needles is hard for me. And I have some looser tension spots that no one will notice but me, lol. Knitter problems, I swear I’m my own worst critic.

Now I just need to knit up the leg portion. I will definitely use some sort of super stretchy cast off. (On a side note, I have a sneaky suspicion about my yardage on this project. But I will refrain voicing those thoughts until I have finished this sock)

Happy Knitting!!!