Sungazer Sweater

 

You can see all my comments about this on Ravelry. The pattern is really pretty cool but I really do not like this yarn at all. It's expensive, it's itchy, it's rough, it has grass in it, and I don't like the brown.  

I figured out what I was doing a few wedges along but I didn't want to rip the yarn back because it's so fuzzy. I did have the problem that it isn't stretchy along the diagonal joins so I'll look more into that in the future. 

I wore it to work today and I was boiling hot.

I knit 2 socks in 1 and I liked it! Plain turquoise socks

The only knitting I'm doing right now is while watching a show and it has to be pretty mindless. Also, I still haven't finished the lovely purple spring forward socks I started years ago now. Anyway. So I saw this book: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1296428448 somewhere and sure enough my local publib had it so I checked it out. 

Well, I wasn't going to make heavy socks because I have no need for them, but I did have a pretty turquoise yarn from Holst Garn (https://holstgarn.dk/en/highland-sock-yarn-44/holst-garn-highland-sock-yarn-14-fjord-p4522)

Knitting a swatch, I'm back with 8 stitches per inch on number 1 KnitPicks wooden dpn. I have tried magic loop and 2 socks on 2 circs but I just prefer dpn. I feel like I don't have to let go and move around as much? I've also tried bigger needles and metal needles but this is really my thing.

I like this book has a table for regular and curvy toes, gauge, and standard sock sizes. Yes, I could figure everything out and I have in the past, but this was really nice to just look at it. 

I cast on 76, did 1.5" 1x1 rib, went 7.5" from edge, did the lifeline for the heel, did 5.25" for foot, other separation lifelines, 6" for second leg, heel lifeline, and 5.25" and then dec 1 each side every other round until half were left then every round until like 10 were left (I can't remember) then I grafted the toe. That doesn't scare me and I'm much more worried about having something bumpy there with her method. 

Then I went back and separated and did 3 more toes (2 that became heels), and ribbing. 

I have to say watching Nimble Needles on YouTube has been a great pep talk. I know a lot about knitting but it's always nice to learn more.

Also, definitely buy or borrow the book, but you can see some of the same information on afterthought heels on this very useful video: https://youtu.be/t7KbY77jzxE (yes long, but you can move it along or watch faster)

Two more Schemer Slipovers

 

I never thought I was much of a vest person but perhaps I am? I've made 3 of these: https://ravel.me/schemer-slipover now and I'd love to make more. Comfy to wear, fits nicely, enough interest but still tv knitting. 

The charcoal is more Berroco Vintage and the Blue is Cascade 220 Superwash (which isn't 220, but oh well). Both came from So Original in Columbia Maryland. 

I think I shortened something on the charcoal one but I did get it out of 3 skeins. I ran a bunch short on the blue even though I shortened things on it, too. The proprietor ordered more of the blue for me and I was ever so grateful. 

First project in AGES: Schemer Slipover

  

This is the Schemer Slipover by Apella Knits. It's knitted from 3 skeins (with none left over) of Berroco Vintage which is an acrylic-wool-nylon blend. It's pretty soft and easy to work with. I got the yarn from Sweet Pea Fiber which is located inside Three Birds Fabric in Hyattsville, MD. They have a fairly small selection but there's some nice stuff.

The pattern is pretty easy. I've done a bunch of short row shaping for sock heels but this seemed a little different. It worked ok and didn't leave holes. I definitely want to make another.

WIP: socks

As you can see no real knitting since my children were born in 2012 but on a camping trip I got to knit part of one sock and hopefully next camping trip I will work on the rest. This is the spring forward by Linda Welch pattern that was in knitty in summer 2008. The yarn is from Miss Babs from a stitches East event in Baltimore a number of years ago it's a bamboo Merino nylon something combination that's a really nice.

Wrist warmers

I got someone who lives someplace warm for secret Santa but works on the computer a lot so I decided on wrist warmers. I looked all over ravelry and I came up with this pattern:  http://lisabeedesigns.blogspot.com/2008/09/fishtail-wrist-warmers.html?m=1

I used cheap but soft acrylic and #4 dpn. I think the whole thing took 6 hours. Would have been less but I had to fix a lot knitting in the truck while trying to converse with my fil. 

Baby stuff so far

I’m expecting twins in April 2012 so I’ve done some knitting. The twins are boy/girl, so I’m knitting some generic things that will work for either/both.

 

Two Mason-Dixon kimonos out of Peaches n Creme. Don’t enjoy knitting with cotton, don’t enjoy garter stitch, didn’t really like the pattern!

First of what will be two 5-hour sweaters. I started with this version of the pattern, but it was hard to understand and I couldn’t get the stitch count right so then I saw that someone pointed to Fiber Gypsy’s version and that’s much better.I’ll use that for the second one of these.

I’m debating what to do after that sweater. Booties? I have some Sockotta so I was thinking about some socks and maybe some legwarmers.

Here are some things I made earlier. The bibs are from Mason-Dixon, too. Hats are just top down standard pattern.

FO: Raspberry Beret

I just realized I never put this on here. It's the Baroness Beret by Susan Power. Pretty easy. Fits nicely. Keeps the head warm without smushing the hair too much

FO: Leaf Socks

I just finished these this week. As I described on Ravelry, I needed a bigger size so I added a stitch each repeat. It worked quite well. This is a really nice superwash Merino Nylon blend (Miss Babs Windsor Sock Yarn). It is a real pleasure to work with. I have a lot left over - I'm not sure what I will use it for. I used size 1 Harmony DPN (I love these)

FO: Waffle Knit Socks

These are from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. The yarn is Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in Spruce. They were knit on 5 dpn, size 1 (2.5mm)

I was trying to take a picture of them with Mark modeling them but this is what happened:

When we got her to move, I got this picture:

Here’s just the socks:

Test post

Ignore. I’m just trying live writer and incorporating pictures more seamlessly.

Now I’m typing around the picture testing that. Seems to work.

 

 

 

And now I’m typing over here. Ok, that seems to work.

And still I’m typing.  Ok, time to publish

FO: Trellis tank

This is from Interweave Knits Summer 2009. I couldn't get gauge so I just knit the smallest size and got what is probably an XL. It fits beautifully. The yarn is Cotlin. The red is less obnoxious in real life. I added a few inches to the length and as you see, added on. I wish I had added on in 4 darts around instead of at the side seams but it looks ok on.

WIP: Trellis tank

This is from Interweave knits. The yarn is KnitPicks cotlin. The color is really much prettier in real life. The first two skeins of cotlin had big issues - lots of poky crap, thin spots, knots... but the rest of the skeins have been perfect. You do get covered in small bits of fiber when you knit with it.

WIP: Peacock socks

This is one of the reticulated 4 stitch repeat patterns from Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks. It's using essential/stroll in peacock and black. The colors are really much more vivid in real life, I can't take pictures worth a darn

FO: SFS Ugly colorway

long time no post - I seem to be doing more tracking of my knitting on Ravelry, but it's worth keeping a second copy so I'll post some things here.

This is Regia Galaxy. The yarn is nice to knit with but I really do hate the color. I need to get these bad boys shipped off. I've had them for a while.

My new almighty reeling machine

Aka swift

FO: Claudia Hat

Great pattern, found using Ravelry. This is Wool of the Andes in Hyacinth. It's a really intense deep purple, but my photography leaves something to be desired. I'm going to see if my husband will take a picture of it on my head. Of course finishing it means we have a 70F hot spell in the middle of February!

FO: 2nd Buckskin socks

boy do I hate this color!

FO: Laptop Case

This uses Michael delVecchio's pattern. The yarn is Delly's Delights Farm (Trappe, MD) MAE, colorway #103. Using size 10 Denise Interchangeables

WIP: Print O' The Wave Stole

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Originally uploaded by cpikas

From Eunny Jang using Raisin Gloss from Knit Picks. I think I already muffed up and will have to frog.