Psst!

For Project Spectrum...

Hunter playing w/ adorable Bichon Frise pups.


Puppies playing with a blue dishtowel are precious... and such a contrast!

I'm still knitting...
Wicked is nearly finished- but I don't like the seed stitch border at the bottom. So I may frog it and knit some ribbing instead.

Le Slouch was cast on Monday with WAY too many stitches, I decided that 68/4=27. I'm not sure what I was thinking. Anyway, I restarted knitting from the much too big beret and I'm nearly to the crown decreases, again. So, I should be finished with pictures by at least the end of the week!
I tried on my Le Slouch this afternoon for my mom and she asked what that kind of hat was called-- the one without a top!! So obviously NOT a knitter!

Sleeving It Up Nice

This is all I had time for today, but hopefully I will finish the sleeves by the end of the weekend!!

Weekend Knits

For the past week, I've been working mostly on Wicked. I finished the pocket knit it onto the sweater, finished the seed stitch border and bound off the body. I'm moving right along. I still need to do the sleeves, but that won't take long. Hoping to have this finished soon (I know I said that a week or so ago, too). The pose in this pic is pretty funky b/c I was talking on the phone while taking it.


I went away for the weekend and took a small project with me: Rutabaga from the Spring 07 Knitscene. And I finished it! And I love, love, love it!! I can't stop touching it-- I now love Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece.

Pattern: Rutabaga from KnitScene Spring 07
Yarn: 1 1/3 skeins Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Teddy Bear (the name fits the color PERFECTLY!!!) See how much is left of the second skein?
Needles: KnitPicks Options US 10 1/2 , of course, and Clover Takumi 10 1/2 dpn for strap and 3-needle bind-off
Modifications: None- a very well-written pattern
Notes: I LOVE this bag and have plans to make another one as a gift to have on hand, but that probably won't happen anytime soon.

Monthly Dishcloth February Exchange:

I received a beautiful package with two dishcloths, candy, note cards, and some beaded stitch markers.
Also, on the card, she wrote my name the same way I do (something I've never seen before and I got ridiculously excited):


Hope everyone has a great week!!

Truckin'- A Post of Wicked Pictures

It's been a week/weekend of progress. Wicked is nearing the finish line-- it will be my first completed sweater!! My excitement has kept me going round after round.

I marked the pocket placement with some new stitch markers, I had to make a special trip, but it was worth it.

The pocket is nearly finished in this picture. I cast it on this morning...

And by 9 tonight it was a part of my sweater!!

I stil have 2/3 of the seed stitch border left, but that will take very little time, I was just getting a little burnt out (I've spend probably um... 5 hours on this sweater today).

In Other News (or some Bejeweled Eye Candy):

This is Maggie, Hunter's dog. She's so sweet and I love the contrast of my violet Bejeweled and her fluffy white fur!!

Hopefully, I will be onto the sleeves of Wicked or done with it next time I post. I will be out of town this weekend, so knitting will definitely be on the agenda!!

Happy Valentine's Day to All!! I hope it was memorable, at the very least!

Update: Actually KALing in a Timely Fashion!

Cable Net Socks (Project Spectrum):
I enjoy making socks (granted, this is only my second pair), but the tiny needles do hurt my eyes a little bit. Once I'm through with the ribbing, the stockinette and cables will be easier... I HATE purling in the round, or at least switching the yarn like in the ribbing.

Wicked:
I've been making this sweater while reading Wicked and listening to the Wicked soundtrack. I put the sleeves on scrap yarn last night and I haven't had a chance to try it on yet. But hopefully I will do that tonight or tomorrow.

Central Park Hoodie:
I have the back and both fronts finished. The ribbing on the sleeves is pictured below and I am hoping to finish this sweater by the end of the month, with any luck!

Got Gauge??

Well, I was swatching for my Cable Net Socks for Project Spectrum, and I'm 2 stitches off! So instead of buying needles, which I can't currently afford, I'm just knitting the socks a few sizes smaller. It's nice when I actually use my head. So I've cast-on my socks and knit the first row of ribbing.

This time, in order to avoid SSS (Second Sock Syndrome), I will knit the cuff of one sock, then the other, etc.

Loving lace so much! I am well into the second chart of the Hidcote Shawl and I am LOVING this pattern and so excited with every pattern change. The worst part for me is knitting the WS rows... so many tiny stitches to purl!!


My goal is to finish Wicked by the end of this weekend, so wish me luck. I love the color, pattern, yarn, and the Knitpicks needles. Basically, it's one of my favorite knits and I am very excited to see it coming along.

I <3 Wool!!!

I don't know what it is, but everything I've been knitting lately is woolly and wonderful. Today, I spent my time working on Wicked, Central Park Hoodie, and my Hidcote Garden Shawl.
I love the feel of wool as it winds through my fingers and I am always reminded that no fiber will ever be as perfect (to me) as wool!!
Anyone else who loves wool and cannot knit with anything but, a shout-out is encouraged...
I LOVE WOOL!!!

Scarves, Socks, and Snow... Oh my!

Two Finished Objects

I woke up this morning and began to knit with a vengeance. I finished Hunter's blanket, finally!! Only 13 days late. Since he had a regional swim meet today, he took a nap with the blanket this afternoon. I will post a picture of him and the blanket together soon.

Cast-on: Summer 2005/ Finished: February 3, 2007
Pattern:
Yarn: JoAnn Sensations Rainbow Boucle (acrylic/nylon blend) I bought this yarn WAY before I became a fiber purist
Needles: US 10 Interchangable needles, Adii 40" circular, and Susan Bates Quiksilver straight needles, I got so bored with this project that switching needles made it more bearable
Notes: I started this pattern when I was still a relatively novice knitter and it is SOOOO monotonous. I will NEVER make a garter stitch blanket again!!!


Once I finished the blanket, I decided to cast off my Bejewled and weave in all the ends. I wore it to work tonight, even though I haven't blocked it yet. And every time I looked down, I DID feel a little fancy!

Cast-On: January 16, 2007/ Finished: February 3, 2007
Pattern: Bejeweled by Lisa Shobhana Mason
Yarn: Universal Yarn Inc Eden Silk (wool/silk blend) Color: Sky
Needles: Clover Takumi US 8
Modifications: I think my scarf is a little shorter than the pattern instructs, but only because I didn't want to run out of yarn
Notes: I can't wait to use this yarn again. It is a treat to work with and has great stitch definition. Definitely a favorite!

Project Spectrum

I took these pictures on Day 1 of PS and haven't had a chance to post them yet. Thursday happened to be the only "Snow Day" we will be having here in east TN.
White and Gray:


I posted my yarn for the Cable net socks and began swatching a few days ago. I've been focused on Hunter's blanket for the most part and haven't done too much swatching yet.
Blue:


Miscellaneous

The Yarn Haven just opened replacing my old LYS Knit n Purl. The selection is beautiful and the owner is SOOO sweet. If you're ever in Knoxville, check it out!! I bought a couple skeins of yarn to make a beret next fall, because I don't really have the time now and it's almost warm again.