In progress

I have a touch of startitis this spring, even though I have several projects just a button or seam away from being 100% done.

From Mason-Dixon Knitting, the Bubbly Curtain, because I got tired of being blinded by the late afternoon sun streaming into the window above my kitchen sink:

Lace always looks like a blob before blocking

The Ambidextrous Mittens from Knit One Knit All, because there was pink yarn leftover from the Suspender Sweater and Katmandu Cap:

Never enough pink

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's sock recipe from Knitting Rules!, because I almost always have a pair of socks going:

For moi

The socks I work on at work, during long boring meetings, the curtain is my go-to project for TV (up to season 6 of "Desperate Housewives"), and the mittens, well, they seem to have taken up permanent residence on the diningroom table.

The magic of short rows and built-in i-cord

To escape the fiddleyness of the fingerless gloves, I worked up EZ's Katmandu hat over the course of a couple of days. It's pink!

Pattern: Katmanu hat, by Elizabeth Zimmermann (in Knit One Knit All)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Wool, in colorway 9478 ('Cotton Candy') - a little more than half a skein
Needles: US8
Modifications: None

The cleverness of EZ's patterns never ceases to amaze me. This hat requires no seaming (yay!)

Even though my gauge matched that for the larger hat, it does not fit me the way it fits the model in the book - mine is much more snug. I must have a big head.

But not this CareBear.

Fiddley fingers

One think I do not like about knitting gloves are the fingers - too fiddley, especially in fingering. But I do like the result.

Pattern: Basic Glove Pattern by Ann Budd (I frogged the earlier attempt at the Leap pattern because they were too small)
Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock yarn, in colorway S95
Needles: US1
Modifications: fingerless, with 1x1 ribbing at the end of each finger.

I have enough yarn left over to knit another pair, which I will do someday, when I recover from the fiddleyness. Next time, however, I will shorten the hand length. That is, if I remember to reread this post.

No toasty toes

Even though the yarn for these leg warmers is called Toasty Toes, my toes are not toasty. But my legs are, which is the point of leg warmers, I guess.

Pattern: Takeout for Two, by Cathy Carron
Yarn: Interlacements Toasty Toes, colorway 202
Needles: US4
Modifications: Lots

I basically followed the pattern except for using stockinette here and there, switching to 2x2 and 4x2 ribbing when it seemed appropriate. In spite of my efforts, these don't stay up very well. Their purpose in life, though, is to keep my legs warm in bed when I wear a nightgown.

This variegated yarn did not like any of the stitches I tried - it pooled with wild abandon - and the colors look electric and dark at the same time, very saturated. I'm not sure what else I could have made with this yarn, except maybe a Baby Surprise sweater. But with the recent downturn in the temps here - threat of hard frost tonight - I am glad I have these.

Mitered Crosses

I decided to stop obsessing about how best to join the squares of the Mitered Crosses blanket and just whip stitched them together, then added an attached i-cord border.

Pattern: Mitered Crosses blanket - for Japan, by Kay Gardiner
Yarn: Noro Kureyon in 284 and Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in "Victorian Pink"
Needles: US7
Modifications: whip stitch join

Working on this with record high temperatures (85 in March - seriously?) was a sweaty affair, but now that it has cooled down a bit, I am enjoying this lap blanket. Perfect with a cup of coffee on a cold morning.

Don't buy this yarn

If memory serves me right, I bought this Noro sock yarn on sale, the caveat being I had to take the colorway that was sent. That was okay. But I am really, really glad I am not knitting socks with this stuff. For one thing, the wool content is not superwash. For another, the yarn is spun too tightly; it twists when pulled from the skein, then sticks to itself. The thickness varies, from thick to thin (see below), in places almost thread thin - I can't imagine the fabric holding up underfoot (very punny). And it is scratchy and unyielding and stiff.

Having never used this yarn before, I made some knitting decisions based on my ignorance. Now I fear the fingerless gloves will be too small for my man hands, even though I knit the large size. I know - I should have swatched.

I can't even decide if I like the colorway. What do you think?

Worth the wait

And worth the work.

Pattern: Prairie Blanket by Oat Couture
Yarn: KnitPicks Bare Superwash Merino Worsted Weight
Needles: US8
Modifications: Knit a rectangle instead of a square

I had purchased ten skeins of yarn, used part of one to test dye and swatch, then dyed up nine for the blanket. I knit the increasing portion of the blanket until I used up three skeins (and reached 223 stitches), then knit "even" - increasing on one end of the row while decreasing on the other end - until another three skeins was used, then knit the decreasing portion, using up almost all of the final three skeins. Finished size: approximately 59"x33".

I am very pleased with the results. The pattern is interesting enough to prevent boredom, even with the elongated middle, and I love the double border and bias design. Dyeing with KoolAid produced a variegated yarn, with subtle striping because some skeins had to be redyed. After a bath, the stitches plumped up for a wonderfully cushy feel.

It won't be long now

The KoolAid-dyed Prairie Blanket is nearing completion - yay! - just in time for the end of winter. It will help keep the AC chill off my granddaughter this summer, though.

The blanket is not green and my carpet is not orange. I just need to learn how to use the camera better. The striping is not so pronounced, either, but reflects the fact I had to redye some of the yarn. I'm not sure I am cut out to be a dyer, but using KoolAid is a fun and cheap way to find out.

Knit, knit, knit

Sorry for the long absence. Days tied to the PC are starting to take their toll - physical therapy to the rescue, sort of. Two two-hour sessions a week are helping with stretch and strength, but pain continues. In an effort to help my right wrist (too much mousework), I have been limiting my knitting to short bursts. Consequently, the Prairie Blanket is taking forever.

I'm about 70% done and on the downhill side - decreasing two stitches every other row - so the end is in site.

Because the blanket has become unwieldy, I had to start something more portable:

Leap! fingerless gloves, because that day my hands were cold. I plan to use these while keyboarding but I am not loving the Noro sock yarn - not superwash, very sticky, uneven, hopefully not too scratchy to wear.

Takeout for Two

I tried to make a scarf with this sock yarn, but it kept saying no. So I gave in and made not socks but leg warmers for my daughter.

Pattern: Takeout for Two, by Cathy Carron (from Joy of Sox)
Yarn: Austermann Step, colorway 0026
Needles: US1
Modifications: See next paragraph

The pattern called for DK yarn and I used fingering, so I cast on 64 stitches, as I would for socks for my daughter. The pattern uses multiple skeins of different colors, inserting a round of plain knit amongst the k2p2 ribbing at the color changes, but my yarn was self-striping and I did not bother with the plain knit rows. I knit the foot length indicated in the pattern, then knit 6 inches of leg before increasing stitches and changing to k4p2 for the calf. I knit 6 inches for the calf before switching back to k2p2 for the top. Then I simply knit until I ran out of yarn. The DK version goes above the knee, but my fingering version just reaches the knee, which I consider perfect for leg warmers.

Still plugging away

It seems like forever since I posted, let alone posted about an FO (why, oh why, can't I force myself to sew a few measly buttons onto some otherwise completely done cowls?!?) I have been knitting, though: the KoolAid blanket is about 30% done, the stripey leg warmers are about 80% done, the Suspender sweater is - stuck again, because I ran out of yarn, again. While I was trying to figure out what to do about that, another Raveler I had contacted and forgotten about contacted me, and yay, yarn will be in the mail tomorrow. Surely, one more skein will do the trick. (Who knew my arms were so long?)

If you are in need of some inspiration, check out 500 Felt Objects. There is not much in the book about technique, but there are a jillion photos of objects made from felt that will blow you away. I kid you not.

Now my Amazon Contextual Product Ads are not showing up at all. Someday I will have to redesign this blog.

Almost famous

As I am undergoing physical therapy for my right wrist and both shoulders, I decided to lighten up on the knitting a bit. But that doesn't mean I can't read about knitting. My SO picked up a new Rachael Herron at the library for me, not knowing I "know" her.

Initially, I just leafed through A Life in Stitches, but the chapter on love blankets caught my eye. In this chapter, Rachael describes the love blanket she received, and the one she conjured up for Zoom, a Canadian blogger who was having a rough year. I didn't participate in the former but I did the latter. So, while not mentioned by name (or by pseudonym), I still feel like I am part of Rachael's story. And it's a good book, too, very readable and entertaining. While there is a lot of knitting and knitting metaphors, this is really about Rachael and her life so far.

Meanwhile, I redyed the not-dyed-very-good yarn, then started on the Prairie Blanket.

The redyed yarn looks more saturated, so I plan to alternated skeins, to spread the color out. So far, I am liking the results.

(A while back I added a widget for Amazon Contextual Product Ads on the right sidebar. The resulting ads are odd, to say the least, and sometimes a little hysterical. Money Ball? Seriously? How did they come up with that, from a knitting blog?)

Back in the saddle

Somehow, when I set a project aside, I assume that when I pick it up again in a day or two, I will know exactly where I left off. That assumption does not apply to projects that get set aside for weeks, though. It took a bit of knitting and tinking and counting and puzzling to figure out whether I was slipping the first stitch of every row and how I was decreasing the sleeves, etc., but now I "have traction" on the gray and pink suspender sweater. I just hope I don't run out of yarn again.

The KoolAid dyed blanket project is languishing a bit while I work on the sweater, primarily because I need to make a decision on the dyed-not-so-completely yarn. And then actually do something about it. The problem is I have to work for a living (boo) and there are only so many hours in a day.

The legwarmers are progressing, though, because they are small and portable and require no thinking or counting, perfect for keeping my hands busy and my mind from wandering during business meetings. Next week I have to take the car in to be serviced (and to find out why the gas mileage is dropping). I would not be surprised if the legwarmers did not get finished then.

Have a great weekend!

Poodle Skirt scarf

Another scarf in fingering - I don't think I will do that again for a while. I usually get tired of scarves halfway through, and scarves in fingering seem to take forever. I don't know why I would think they should knit faster than socks, though, even if the needles are bigger.

Pattern: Favorite Scarf Ever by Lisa Bruce
Yarn: Barn Yarn, in 'Poodle Skirt'
Needles: US5
Modifications: I did not knit this scarf in two halves to be grafted together, so I ended with 2 knit rows and a bind off.

I love this colorway (especially the name), but the color runs were too short for socks. I'm loving the tiger-stripe chevrons, though.

Now. I REALLY need to get back to the gray and pink suspender sweater, before winter passes us by.

Stash reorg leads to leg warmers

I decided to copy all my CDs onto my old laptop, thereby eliminating the need to even have the CDs. But I really like the CD shelving, so I repurposed it to hold some of the stash.

My daughter noticed the big ball of Toasty Toes and wondered what that was for. I said leg warmers and she said I'd like some leg warmers.

But instead of the Toasty Toes, I am knitting hers in some self-striping Austermann Step.

The pattern calls for DK yarn and this is fingering, so I'm not sure how long they will be. But they will be colorful!

Not according to plan

In the continuing saga of dyeing yarn with KoolAid, I took that pretty sample and knit a swatch in garter stitch.

That got me itchy to get going for real on the blanket. But first, I had to dye the rest of the yarn. In the name of efficiency, my first inclination was to try to dye it all at one time. Sanity prevailed, so instead I tried two skeins at a time. The results were less than stellar.

I used more KoolAid, to try to get a more saturated, more even color, but what I got was more variation, from very saturated to almost no color. There is still more yarn to dye, so I will try one skein at a time. Depending on the result, I will then maybe re-dye the above skeins.

To dye for

My daughter requested a new, bigger blanket for toddler N, who has outgrown the baby-sized ones I made. It would need to be washable, of course, and wool (wool is naturally flame resistant, plus it breathes), but I did not want to break the bank. So I purchased some undyed skeins from KnitPicks (my first purchase from them), with the plan of dyeing the yarn myself, using KoolAid.

(I keep typing "KookAid".)

An article on knitty provided the how-to and examples of what each flavor might look like. My daughter chose the Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade, but I decided it might be prudent to work up a sample. It's really simple.

First, I measured out one ounce of yarn.

Not a bowl of spaghetti

Washed the yarn.

The casserole dish is sitting on a burner but not over a flame

Mixed one package of unsweetened KoolAid into water in a pot.

Blue lagoon

Added the yarn and heated it all to almost a boil.

Blue spaghetti

Let sit for 30 minutes, then rinsed and washed the yarn.

Smells like KoolAid

Ta-da!

The color, while very pretty, is uneven in saturation, which my daughter likes but is something to keep in mind for future adventures in dyeing. Once the yarn is dry, I am going to knit up a swatch for this pattern: Prairie Blanket by Oat Couture.

Grounded in Degradee

I did not think anyone would want white-ish socks, so I used this yarn for a fingering weight scarf.

Pattern: Grounded, by Kirrily Robert
Yarn: Fortissima Socka Degradee Color, colorway 101
Needles: US4
Modifications: None to speak of, although I did slip the first stitch of each row knitwise

I *love* how the colors change, although in real life they are more muted than in these photos. And the fabric is incredibly soft and airy.

Can't wait to wear it. Too bad it is going to be 50F here today. Maybe I should move farther north.

First FO for 2012

Actually, I finished this last year, but was too lazy to take a photo, much less post. Besides, I already had my recap for 2011 finished.

Pattern: Smilla by Susan Luni
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky, in 'Oregano'
Needles: US15
Modifications: I knit this flat, so had to seam it. Ugh. Also, I did not understand the instructions, so instead of a neck wrap, it is more cowl-like. I may have to take it for a test run, to see if I need to make further modifications - it seems really bulky.

2011 recap

Today seems like an appropriate time to post a recap of all the knitting that actually got finished in 2011. More knitting occurred, as evidenced by my WIP list. Maybe one of my New Year's resolutions should be to eliminate WIPs? That intention has been semi-permanent for a long time. We shall see what happens in 2012.

Socks
Jaywalker socks
Undulating Rib socks
Twin Rib socks
Bluebell Rib socks
Retro Rib socks
Baby Cable Rib socks (for my SO)
3x3 Cable with Moss Stitch socks
Inlay socks
Baby Cable Rib socks (for me)

Scarves/wraps
Mobius Ring wrap
Zandloper scarf

Hats
Suede Baby Hat
Kromboomssloot Snood
Spiral Tweed Cloche
Watch Cap
Classic WWII Watch Cap
Official Kittyville Hat

Sweaters
One-piece Baby Kimono
A-line Cardigan
Hooded Pullover

Misc. baby stuff
Summer Slumber Sack
Feather and Fan baby blanket
Baby Bib o' Love
Baby Genius Burp Cloth
Pinafore Dress
Mittens

Household
Gridded Kitchen Towel


Happy New Year! And knit on!