My new set-up

Finally, I got my own computer: such a gratifying thing. Before, I had to share with the rest of my family and sometimes they had more time-consuming important things to do than my blogging- they're Muggles, they wouldn't understand.

Last night, I caught up on the last two episodes of Lost. While I watched Lost on my beautiful new Mac, I decided I needed some mindless knitting. The Multi-Yarn Shawl is perfect: row after row of plain old stockinette.
I'm really hoping having my own computer will make blogging so much simpler, and already I think it does. Still learning the Mac, since I'm an ex-PC user. Wish me luck! Everyone have a great weekend of knitting!!

April Update

I haven't posted in a few weeks and I really have no excuse-- just business combined with laziness. I've been taking plenty of pictures, but then I can't find the time to post. So, with graduation coming up in 3 weeks, I think, I will have much more time to knit and post. Also, this weekend I will finally be getting my own computer which will make blogging a lot less of a hassle. Now here's a comprehensive list of what I've been buying, knitting, crocheting, and thinking about kniting.

New Treats

I read Stephanie's new book in 2 days-- I couldn't put it down. I also picked up the new Rebecca mag, my favorite. I've found a project in my new mag that would be perfect for some ArtYarns Regal Silk I've had in my stash for about a year:

The shrug on the front is absolutely adorable as well-- I'm planning on making it with either Louet Euroflax or KnitPicks new CotLin.

While I was out buying books, I picked up some yarn to celebrate Lent's ending. I gave up buying yarn for Lent and it was fairly difficult, I'm happy I made it through alive. Anyway, the yarn is also in keeping with Project Spectrum's colors.

The soak is for blocking my Cabled Footies. The MIssion Falls 1824 Cotton is in a great bubblegum pink with which I plan to make a crochet cap from last summer's Rebecca:


Blushing Grannies
I loved this pattern the first time I saw it:

Blushing Grannies is from the Feb/Mar 07 issue of Crochet Today.

This is a close-up of the squares-- I'm really enjoying the crocheting. So far, I've completed 8. Blushing Grannies is destined to be my dorm bedspread next year, but I've got quite a few months to finish.


Choices
This week my LYS is having an anniversary sale and I've limited myself to purchasing enough Tahki Cotton Classic for one summer top. Here are the two I am trying to decide between. Any input would be great and color suggestions would also be helpful.

Tank from Knitting Nature

Tank from KnitSimple's Spring/Summer 2007 issue, I think.

PS for Spring

Pink, Yellow, and Green


My Favorite Tree and a close-up of the blossoms:

Here are some more shots of flowers in my yard:

Fixation Gauge Drives Me Crazy

Knitting with Fixation is a lesson in patience for me. I love the way it looks and stretches, but the tension is a pain in the neck.

I sat and finished the first sock while reading The Blind Assassin. The second sock I cast on at work, knit the ribbing, turned the heel and decreased the foot and knit it around for a few inches. That night I finished the toe, but didn't graft the toe together until this week. They still need the ends woven in and to be washed, but I will have a great pair of summer socks shortly!

Once I finished the Fixation socks, I've been working pretty much exclusively on my Somewhat Cowl, but I had a row or two of tension issues due to being used to knitting with Fixation. The rows aren't very obvious and I'm nearly done with the bottom ribbing. Once I have the body finished I will try it on and make sure everything is as it should or I may be ripping back a few inches to correct the gauge and/or waist increases.

I've not sewn another project but I've been doing lots of research and trying to organize a space for sewing. My family also went out of town this weekend to visit an aunt who is a master quilter and I have plans to "study" with her this summer. I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully I'll have some more time to sew this coming week!

More pictures will be coming soon and I am combing my stash for projects to work on for the April/May Project Spectrum Colors. Some might even include sewing projcts, I hope.

Sewing Extravaganza

I put my sewing "skills" to work these past two days and made a bag I am proud of. My first project has MANY imperfections, but it's a tote for my knitting and any extra bag is good.
My main screw-ups were:
Using my rotary cutter and not making a straight line
Threading the machine wrong (the bobbin, too)
Sewing the top of my tote closed
Mainly, I just got very skilled at using a seam ripper and developed many new and interesting curses each time I made a rookie mistake.

Here she is in all her blue splendor:


And she's already been put to use in storing my Somewhat Cowl:


I don't have too much time before I have to go to work, so I'll leave you with some Project Spectrum shots I've been meaning to share. The movies I had to include because I watched them this week and was excited about their "blue-ness".

1. Periwinkle Fixation, 2. Blue Needle Case, 3. T-Pins on the Cheap, and Blue, Too, 4. AnotherBlueMovie-Bewitched, 5. Blue Plymouth Galway for Felted Bowl, 6. Blue-ish Rotary Cutter, 7. Periwinkle Fixation Socks' Heel Flap, 8. BlueMovie- AGoodYear, 9. My Blue Tools, 10. Periwinkle Fixation Sock, 11. Somewhat Cowl in my NEW BAG!!!, 12. My First Solo Sewing Gig

Cable Footies Finished

I went to the SouthEastern Theatre Conference this past weekend. And it was a blast!! I took some knits with me to wear: Le Slouch, Bejeweled, and the Bridgetown Belt Bag. I wore them all and felt oh-so-crafty when I could remark that I did, indeed, "knit it myself."

The weekend was also filled with lots of knitting time. I cast on the One Skein Cable Footies before I left and finished them this evening. I always finish projects in the evening when it's hard to take a decent picture, but I don't possess the patience to wait until tomorrow to take a picture.

This is the actual color and all that remained of the two skeins (I included a pad of Post-Its for scale).

Pattern: Cable Footies from One Skein
Cast-On: March 6, 2007 / Finished: March 14, 2007
Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 Wool- 2 skeins, color 23
Needles: Clover Takumi 4.5 mm (US 7) dpns... the reason I used 7's instead of 8's wasn't that I checked my gauge, but because I didn't double-check the pattens spec's. But they still fit!!
Size: Small (Women's 7 1/2 to 8 1/2)
Modifications: None that I can think of besides the needle size.
Recipient: Hunter's mother... hoping that some knitty goodness can change her heart toward me.

Quick, small projects have been what I've been thriving on lately, but I'm not totally sure what my next small project will be. But whatever it is, I'll keep you posted!

Busy, Busy, Busy

I cast on a pair of Cable Footies from One Skein last Wednesday. I finished the first Saturday

and cast on the second yesterday and I am nearing the finish line. My second pair of socks has been fun-- worsted weight makes the project go by so quickly!! These socks are for my boyfriend, Hunter,'s mother, who enjoys hating me. Bribery works sometimes, doesn't it??


At Urban Outfitters, I bought Sew U and I CAN'T WAIT to learn how to sew. A little while ago, I played around with my mom's old machine and stitched some muslin, just to get the feel of the machine. I have a long way to go before I achieve anything wearable, but I'm still very excited.


College decisions have been nearly finalized and if I go to the nicer, more expensive school that I love, I will be making many sacrifices in the name of frugality. I'm hoping very much that I can take handmade objects to the next level. Wish me luck!

Le Slouch Off the Needles

I really wanted to finish this hat by last night and I did!!! During Lost I wove in yarn tails (something I hate!!!)
Anyway, Le Slouch is done and I wore it today in the nasty rain. But my hair certainly stayed dry!

Pattern: Le Slouch(pdf) by Wendy Bernard (one of my fav. designers)
Cast-on: February 26, 2007/ Finished: February 28, 2007
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Jean Née (50 cotton/50 acrylic) in a color I can't quite define (brown, gray, hints of mauve)-it's color 5, if you're curious. I used a little over one skein. This yarn is SO soft, I can't stop stroking it! And that sheen... I plan to use it for a sweater one of these days- my new LYS has LOTS in stock!!!
Needles: Clover Takumi dpns 8's and 9's
Mods: Well, it wasn't on purpose, but when it came time to pull the yarn through the rem 6 sts, I had 10 and was too lazy to do anything about it. It looks fine, so I'm not going to worry about those 4 extra sts.

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.

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.