How on Earth!?

Can May be over already? It's unreal how quickly time is flying.

But when stitches fly off the needles the way this sweater has I can't really complain to much.

I finished this (and washed and blocked it) yesterday.

As soon as it's dry I'm going to try it on. I'm sure it will fit, I can't wait to see how it looks. I really hope I love it.

I managed to knit a few rows on my bohus and then ran out of yarn again. Some of the colors I have a lot leftover, some came out with very little left over, but the ones that have been short are very annoying. It's hard to keep project momentum up when I am forced to stop so often.

Did you ever?

Start a project and even though you just keep knitting you are pretty sure you will never wear the item? I'm knitting this sweater:

(Prussian Jewels)

In these colors (sorry the picture is so dark - it's still raining here but I think we might get a little sunshine today):

The colors are too bright for me, I don't wear these kinds of colors. Even with all the lovely purple - will I wear it? I don't know. But some how, I just don't think I will. So why am I finishing it anyway? I can't even imagine what I'm thinking. I bet I finish it, wash it, block it and try it on. I might even wear it once. Then unknit it and repurpose the yarn.

Still I press forward. Because, after all, I'm also making this

(Bohus Sweater)

In PINK! I don't wear pink. I love this yarn (This kit is from Kimmet Croft, I wish they had a website). This yarn is soft and delightful to knit. I'm trying to decide if I should order one from Sweden to compare the yarn. Or just order another kit from Kimmet Croft and enjoy the yarn.

Have I mentioned lately that if I knit a sweater a month it would take me over 3 years to knit what's in my stash!? I haven't reach SABLE Status yet, I am however still stunned by it. It is a relief. I don't know about the socks though, that could take longer.

Spring has Sprung

And it's time to stop pouting and get back to it.

I have shamefully neglected updating this and the only way to remedy that is to write something, no matter how inconsequential.

There has been LOT of knitting and even some finishing. In particular this:

Became this:

And here is a close up of the edge.

This was and awesome knit. I am thinking about making another one. Just as soon as I finish a few other things.

I have three pairs of socks on the needles. Two are second socks. The other is a pair of Hogwarts socks that I'm knitting two at a time.

I think that I want to spend this year knitting more out than in - So I need to tally up all the outs and all the ins and then find a widget that I can put on here that will report on how successful I am. I was doing pretty well until the last four weeks. I bought yarn for three sweaters: a Bohus, an entrelac sweater I've admired for sometime and a present for my mother.

I am also spinning up some of the fiber I've had in my stash for years. I'm not sure how that counts, since it's both in and out, but I can't wait to finish the spinning so I can start the knitting.

Next update will include pictures of current knitting, perhaps a brag post of all the other things I've finished the last few months and the initial confessions on the yards in and out year to date.

2011

Already this year has run me over.

There has been a lot of knitting.

I made myself this hat. The pattern is Temple cats from Knitpicks. The yarn is JoSharp and Rowan dk weight wool.

I started this sweater for my mother, it's a Philosopher's Wool kit that she bought. For a pattern I've been using various charts from Fair Isle Sweaters Simplified and shaping from EZ's EPS.

I have also made a pair of mittens, a pair of slippers and finished a pair of socks.

My current fascination is with Veil of Isis. I'm knitting it with Knitpicks Bare in laceweight. It's been really nice to knit with and I'm so pleased with how the lace is turning out.

There has also been a lot of snow and cold. I'll not subject you to pictures of that. It's hard to get decent pictures of that much white.

Snow

It's stormy today, wind is blowing, snow is falling and I'm stuck at home watching bad TV. This is a picture of the daughter's second floor bedroom window.

(no the snow isn't up to the second floor but it's piled high on the stoop). It is about waist deep at the front door. Should be fun to try getting out later.

Being stuck inside means - KNITTING!

I am making a Christmas stocking for my nephew.

I also made him a little hat to keep his head warm. It might be overkill since he lives in California. But it's CUTE and alpaca so it's soft.

There is also this shawl which is a mystery shawl from Ravelry. I'm into part 3, but just barely. Part 4 was released last week. Sigh. I never can keep up with these things.

I am also making progress on Jeanne. The back and both sleeves are done. The front is 1/4 completed.

Wicked little vest is coming along quite well. I'm almost half finished with the back arm holes. It's a pretty quick knit, not difficult and mildly entertaining.

At some point today there will be cookie making. The gingerbread is all mixed up and waiting in the fridge. As soon as ambition strikes (and daughter is mobile) there will be delicious smells filling the house! I think I'll go hurry the daughter along.

Alas - so close

Thanksgiving proved to be my downfall.

So, even though I have more kits I could put up, I'm going to return to posting my finished works and random yarn talk.

I'm making good progress on the Camp Hoodie for Liz. I've finished the front and nearly finished the back, I have about 3 inches left before I join the shoulders and knit the hood and facings. Although the yarn isn't bad I'm not fond of it and I'm pretty sure it's all to do with the cotton content.

I tried to do a jogless technique on the patterned part. I'm not at all pleased with how it's turned out. Might as well have suffered with the jog.

I have about 6 inches of the back of the Wicked vest done as well. It makes a nice break from the acres of st st the Hoodie requires.

Nov 24, 2010

I have, in my copious stash a variety of lopi light, which I bought instead of the regular lopi I needed .

I have finally found a pattern that will use nearly all that yarn! The lite lopi pullover from Interweave Knits.

And really - who needs 47 pairs of felted slippers anyway?

Nov 23, 2010

I'm too busy knitting to put up a kit this evening.

I want to see if I can get all my WIPs finished up before the end of the year (that is so not going to happen). It would help if I got at least a few of them finished.

Nov 22, 2010

Dale of Norway always creates lovely designs.

Ingeborg has always been one of my favorites.

I have the yarn (in my own color selection of course) Dale of Norway Daletta. This is a really beautiful yarn. I made a swatch hat using these colors and yarns to test them before committing to a whole sweater.

Pretty spiffy if I do say so myself.

This yarn was purchased at a going out of business sale.

Nov 21, 2010

This yarn will become Green Mountain Gardens Cardigan. I attempted to find a pic of this sweater online, off Ravelry (to which no everyone wants or has access) but failed.

I am now busy knitting my daughter a sleeveless hoodie for her holiday gift. She chose the pattern and the yarn. It's knitting up very quickly. The yarn is Spud & Chloe Sweater, wool/cotton blend. Not my favorite, but I think it will make a nice sweater. The colors aren't something I would have chosen either - but since I won't be wearing it, it's not my problem.

I am not sure why, but I can't seem to knit button bands on my father's cardigan. I knit 3 different ones today and none of them turned out. I finally frogged them all and put the cardigan back in the workbasket.

Nov 20, 2010

Finally finished sewing up St. Brigid. I was so pleased I wore it all day. The front is closer to the true color of the yarn. I wish I had used a provisional cast-on and grafted the neck back together. Other then that - it's a perfect fit and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

Today's sweater kit is a friend's destash (thanks Nancy!). I've had this yarn for years, over a decade. I've decided to use it to make the Wicked Eyelet Rib vest. I have made several of this fancy little sweater vests and I really like them. I'd never have thought so before I made the first one.

Nov 19, 2010

This yarn is from Black Water Abbey.

It was purchased to make a cabled sweater, but the yarn is so dark the cable-work couldn't be seen. This was very disappointing.

I am searching for a pattern with some texture, but not much, that will show this yarn off to it's best advantage. The color is absolutely exquisite.

Nov 18, 2010

No sweater kit today. I'm busy sewing up St. Brigid and spending time with my daughter.

We have spent an entire evening playing video games and making dinner.

Nov 17, 2010

Some people go on vacation or to exotic locations and buy souvenirs. I do too, except I buy yarn. I purchased this yarn in Montreal (I was there for work) The shop was quite fantastic. If only my french had been better!

I want to make a sweater with the same general shaping as this one but I also want to change the colorwork patterns that are in it. I still haven't quite decided what changes will happen. But one day I will have a Montreal sweater to remind me of my trip and the fun and interesting things my co-workers and I did.

Nov 16, 2010

This yarn is finally all caked and ready to start knitting. This yarn is VERY fine knit holding two strands together. There are also beads to add. The only real question is - should I make this hat?

This is called the Square Necked Cardigan. This is another clearance/sale find.

I think out of print books and sale kits is the main cause of my SABLE status.

St. Brigid is currently being sewn together!

Nov 15, 2010

This yarn is destined to become Tempest.

I used Jaquard dye to create the lighter purple one myself, I was very pleased when it was finished, it was exactly the color I was trying to make. The darker is the Amethyst colorway. Both are Fleece Artist BFL 2/8 weight. When I ordered them I ordered a blue one - called Storm (I think) as the darker. It didn't have as much purple as the picture made it appear and the Amethyst was ALOT darker then it looked.

This is the trouble with online shopping. It's so hard to judge color, and even harder to judge how well they go together. I was concerned when I bought the yarn, but no yarn store near me carried this yarn so an in person review wasn't possible. I know I could probably have returned one of them, but I wanted to knit a swatch to see how they would go together, just in case they'd work.

Nov 14, 2010

Poetry in Stitches and a sale strike again. This was too cheap to pass up, since I had the book (this kit didn't include the book) and the book had gone out of print and was hard to find. If I recall correctly it was cheaper then the cost (to the store).

This yarn is lace weight and very fine. Lovely hand and color.

I have less then 20 rows left before I finish my St. Brigid. I really want to get that finished so I'm going to make this a shorter post than usual.

Nov 13, 2010

In the continuing line of my delight in Starmore Designs - Zauberflote.

Unfortunately it isn't available on the Virtual Yarns website anymore. Too bad really, it's a lovely piece.

As you can see I have started caking the yarn. The yarn is quite lovely, soft and with great color.

Nov 12, 2010

Today's edition is the Lopi edition. Ah lopi, a hearty yarn that doesn't get nearly enough credit. I have made several lopi sweaters, some out of other yarns for the more delicate members ofmy family. I adore the sweaters I have made using lopi, in spite of (or maybe because of) how hairy they are. I find them warm, but not too warm. All of this yarn was purchase 75% off or is left over from a kit I bought a couple years ago. Isn't it annoying when you only just break into the last skein, use a few yards and are all done?

.

The only problem is deciding which sweater to make. I have enough yarn to make two of the patterns in my pattern collection. Today's choices are:

But there are at least three others that are always neck and neck in the running.

Maybe I should just put the main colors in a bag pattern numbers in another and do a random draw. Luckily, I have enough other things to work on that I don't have to decide today.

Also - mustn't forget. I finished this hat last night.

It's a gift for my mother. (well, she bought the yarn, I did the knitting) The pattern is Swirly Gig from Knitpicks. The yarn is Gloss, in fingering weight.

Nov 11, 2010

I love this sweater:

This is especially amazing when you know that I really dislike the color yellow. (except on kitchen walls - I have no idea why that is, it just is) But in this case there is just something visually appealing about the color combination. The pictures is from Fair Isle Sweaters Simplified. The chart is there and I have what I think is the proper yarn amounts.

The yarn is from Philosopher's Wool. It's their two-ply. The 'pattern' isn't in the book exactly, but in keeping with the Philosopher's Wool philosophy (Choose your colors yourself) I plan to 'follow' the pic and make my own version. I also plan to use Elizabeth Zimmermann's EPS system and make a more fitted/less baggy style. I will still knit it in three pieces and steek. I will also need to knit all three pieces in tandem in order to keep the band sequences similar, just in case I'm wrong about the amounts I need.

It's amazing to me how much less scary that thought is after you survive the first one.