Qui crochet? C'est moi!!

I've been crocheting this week. I went for a walk this afternoon and took my crocheting with me. It's just a dishcloth from Cozy Crochet, but it makes for a very nice, relaxing project.

Aspen went with me, but I don't think she was too impressed with my crochet skills. I think she's just jealous that I'm not making anything for her.


Project Spectrum begins in two days: Blue, White, Gray
I'm ready to cast-on Cablenet with my beautiful new sock yarn.


I found Knitting Nature at a used book store.

Check out this price:

Exciting, huh? I can't wait to make a project, once I've corrected all of the book's errata.

Oh-so-Fetching

Well, last night I finished Fetching and I am very happy with the results.

Specifics:
Cast-on: December 12, 2006/ Finished: January 24, 2007
(Basically I made one and then made the other a month later- so about two full days)
Pattern: Fetching from Knitty Summer 2006
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran- Black
I used one ball and began the second ball with about three rows left. I'm not really sure what I'll do with the remaining ball of Cashmerino Aran, but I will find something to do with it.
Needles: Clover Takumi DPNs 4.25 mm (US 6)
Modifications: Knit 8 rows after final cable twist, instead of 4. Then I used the traditional cast-off instead of the picot bind-off: it was too floppy for me.
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this pattern and I will definitely knit them as gifts in the future. They are quick, easy, and oh-so-fetching!! The Cashmerino Aran is so soft and feels great against my hands.

Realization Dawns

So, I moved over to the new Blogger today and I'm starting to get used to it. But I found something shocking!! People had left comments on my blog, lots of people and I hadn't realized!! So I have changed my setting and comments will hopefully come through to me and I will be able to respond to all of you great and supportive knitters.

I really do apologize if I overlooked a comment of yours, but I'm very happy to know I will never miss one again!

Keep reading! You guys are so great!

Satisfaction

I finished my Fetching gloves today!! I am also getting ready to finish my cabled dishcloth, and I am very excited about making a felted bowl from One Skein out of Plymouth Galway. This is just a brief update, but I'm hoping to have a more comprehensive post this weekend!!
Signing off with warm and fetching hands!! FO post to come..

Progress

I finally finished Chart 1 of Hidcote Shawl-- I had an issue with the last row, because when I started Chart 2 I had one stitch too few. It's all worked out now and I am very happy with the progress.

I frogged my Icarus and here is what I've done since. It's not too much since I've been working mainly on Hidcote.

Wicked has been coming along nicely and is such a fun knit, I love watching it grow!! This is the first KAL on the Sexy Knitters Club that I've participated in. Hopefully, I'll have time to finish it before the KAL's over.

Still loving my Bejeweled and it just keeps growing. I'm nearly finished with my first skein and I bought another so that I can definitely make it the length that the pattern instructs.

Knitting Along, Singing a Song...

Today is the first day of my Monthly Dishcoth Mid-Month KAL. I cast on in a light forest green. This cloth is cabled, so it will be a fun knit!

The January KAL cloth was a snowflake and I really liked this pattern.

I cast on my Hidcote Garden Shawl last night and nearly finished the first chart, which is what I'm working on right now. The yarn looks more purple than red in this picture, but here's my progress thus far:

Finally, I cast on Wicked last night for the Sexy Knitters Club:

Here's a more accurate color picture:

No Longer a Noro Virgin!!!

I purchased my first skein of Noro Kureyon last Tuesday so I could make a ribbed hat pattern that magically appeared in my possession(seriously!): it was an omen. So I cast on Wednesday evening and sewed up the back seam Friday night. I must say that the resulting hat is very warm and cozy, perfect for winter. Here are some progress shots and the FO.


Cast-on: January 9, 2007/ Finished: January 11, 2007
First FO of 2007!!
Pattern: Vogue Knitting Ribbed Cap, like I said it magically appeared from a magazine of some kind, basically knit flat in 4x4 ribbing
Yarn: Noro Kureyon in Color 183
Needles: Clover Takumi US 8's
Mods: None, great pattern, but next time it will be knit in the round

My Bejeweled is growing...


Here is the KnitPicks order I received last week. Shadow Yarn in Sunset for the Hidcote Garden Shawl KAL

and Palette Yarn in Fawn and Blue for Eunny's Endpaper Mitts.

Colorwork and lace are definitely my weaknesses.

Also the blanket I need to finish for BF Hunter's birthday next Sunday



A fun little quiz with a not-so-surprising result.. Of course I'm merino wool!!! What Yarn are you??

You are Merino Wool.You are very easygoing and sweet. People like to keep you close because you are so softhearted. You love to be comfortable and warm from your head to your toes.
Take this quiz!

Posting, a little late

Well, new year usually means trying to get things done, and so far, I've just been procrastinating. Even about blogging! Anyway, I have a few projects to share:
I've been swatching for Wicked in order to participate in the Sexy Knitters' Club KAL. I love the orange of the Patons Classic Wool, so I'm hoping to have it cast on by the end of the week.

Bejeweled is definitely one of the most entertaining projects I've done in a while, it seems like every time I pick it up it grows infinitely. Can't wait to block it into lacy goodness and wear it constantly. The yarn is Universal Yarn, Inc., Eden Silk. For some reason, the yarn feels better in the skein than in the scarf, but once it's had a nice Eucalan bath that ought to change.

I though Icarus and I were getting along just fine, but then the knitting gods as usual reared their ugly heads(that's my story and I'm sticking to it). I had been reading the chart from left to right because that's how I learned to read (books). I guess I figured that I knew everything. So, I read Eunny's blog and all of her lace primers and I realized that starting over was exactly what I needed to do, and now it's coming along very nicely.

Plus another book full of ideas: the new Knitscene(one of my favorite mags)!! I already am planning to make the Ladybug(scroll down: it's #20) headband out of some leftover black Patons Classic Wool from Center Square.

Knitting New Year's Resolutions

1) Knit lace--
I cast on the Icarus Shawl last night with Skacel Merino Lace in a beautiful teal-green. I will take a picture once I have a little progress and some daylight.
I'm about to purchase KnitPicks Shadow in Sunset for the Hidcote Garden Shawl KAL.

2) KAL's--
I will do both of the dishcloths for the Monthly Dishcloth KAL monthly. I am planning on saving them up and give them as a Mother's Day gift.
For Knit the Classics, I plan on reading the monthly selection and participating in the KAL if I am moved to do so.
Sexy Knitters Club- I bought some Patons Classic Merino in "Paprika" for a different sweater, but I've decided to use it for Wicked instead- the short-sleeved version.

3) Current Projects--
Multi-Yarn Shawl from Home Knits
Central Park Hoodie from Knitscene
Hush-Hush from Knitty (picked it up last week and then took it to a movie today!)
Candy Cane Hat from Handknit Holidays
Bridgetown Belt Bag from Interweave Knits (nearly ready for FO post!!)
Hunter's Birthday Blanket (to be completed by January 21, wish me luck!)

4) Knitting Journal--
I began a knitting journal with all of my current projects and plan to include the pattern name, cast-on date, finished date, yarn, needles, modifications, and a snippet of yarn. It's a plain composition notebook, but I'm hoping to spice it up with a stamped cover. Once it's beautiful, I'll post a picture.

5) Finish Stagnant UFO's--
Irish Hiking Scarf (only recently stagnant- for Mother's Day now)
Clapotis from Knitty (ditto- for Grandma's August birthday now)
Baby Socks from Interweave Knits (the baby turned out to be a girl, so I decided blue and yellow socks can go into my hope chest when they're finished)
Somewhat Cowl (just do it!)
Valentine Pillow from Hollywood Knits Style (nearly out of yarn, but also don't feel like knitting with fuzzy pink yarn)
Afghan Squares for Taylor's Afghan from 100 Afghan Squares to Knit
Loopy Pillow from SnB Nation

6) Knit from Stash-- Keep yarn buying to a minimum: sock yarn or yarn for small projects

Happy New Year to all!