I have no real reason for not having blogged except my life isn’t overly exciting right now. School has started up again and I’m still working a few hours a week. Weekends are spent catching up and spending time with Matt. I feel like I’m never home, always on campus until late. I have been doing a bit of kntiting, though most of what I’m about to show you was completed before classes began.
We’ll begin with the finished objects.
First, the sweater I made for Matt (at his request). Although I started it before our holiday cruise, it wasn’t finished until early January. It’s made in my new favorite yarn: Berroco Vintage. A 50/50 blend of wool and acrylic means it’s warm, has a decent drape, and, most importantly, it can survive a trip in the washing machine. The pattern is just a basic bottom-up raglan.
I accidentally had two stitches in stockinette between the decreases instead of one but I really like the look. He loves the sweater though says it’s a little warmer than he’d like. I just point out that he’s going to love the warmth when he’s skiing this coming weekend.
As I’m sure is pretty obvious, I love knitting lace shawls. Now that I’ve basically run out of relatives to make them for, I’ve turned to knitting them for other knitters. If you ever want me to knit you a shawl, either provide pattern and yarn or make me something in exchange.
I’ve made two Damsons, one for Kel and one for Holly. Kel’s was knit in Dream in Color Smooshy and Holly’s in Fiberphile Squishy Sock. I know the colors of each are lusted over, but i wasn’t a fan of the yarn bases themselves. Dream in Color was oddly squishy and Fiberphile wasn’t spun nearly as tightly as I would have liked.
Then, there’s this poor shawl which doesn’t have an owner. It’s made using Happy Feet and the Traveling Woman pattern. It’s a really lovely shawl, just doesn’t have a recipient. If you’d like it, leave me a comment (with your email address filled in the comment form) and I’ll be in touch RE: sending it to you.
Then there are the WIPs….nothing super exciting to explain so here’s a few photos.
The thrilling first inch of the back of the Minimalist Cardigan I’m making for Alison.
The start of a Grace Lace Beret for Maegan.
And, lastly, my first ever item in laceweight yarn, Citron from Knitty in Malabrigo Lace.
Apparently, a move to a colder climate (in a town with two great LYS’s) did wonders for my knitting mojo. I made myself three sweaters, only one of which fit at all. I made a sweater for a relative which fits perfectly. I made a shawl for each of my husband’s aunts, one for my aunt, and one for a dear friend. I still don’t see myself as a sock knitter despite finishing one pair started in 2008 and knitting three from scratch. I also made nine hats, seven baby items, and random other items. I tried lots of new yarns this year, all of which I swore were my favorite until I tried the next.
I learned something important this year: I do not like to knit things for myself. Sweaters rarely turn out correctly due to my odd shape, wool worn at my neck in any way makes me itch, hand-knit hats rarely keep my head warm, and gloves just cannot hold my attention. Plus I really, really love hearing someone gush about how much they love something I knit for them. I’m going to use the next year to continue my streak of knitting for friends and family, maybe even for birthdays and holidays versus my current “It’s mid-July, have a shawl!” pattern.
Ever get so behind that you don’t even know where to start in getting caught up? Since my last FO post, I’ve finished or finished knitting a toy, a baby sweater, four hats, two shawls, an adult cardigan, and a scarf. I’m more than a little bit behind. Of course, not only am I behind on blogging but way, way behind on taking FO photos. And, with finals ending today and my heading out-of-town Saturday, I’ve got three days to clean our place, pack, mentally wrap up the semester, and try to find a few moments when I can kick Matt off his PC long enough to edit the few decent photos I’ve taken.
But, never fear, I do have a few photos to share with you.
First, the two Quincy hats I made – one for me in Cascade Ecowool and another for Alison in Tinka.
Then there’s the Foliage hat that I didn’t make quite long enough. I used the leftovers to make gloves but lost one then tossed the other without thinking about the fact the leftovers could have been used to make the hat actually workable. Anyone want a too-short hat?
I also made an Odessa for myself but at the wrong gauge. It turned out too small so it’s now Izzy’s. It’s cute and bright blue, I just failed to get a photo before I gifted it. (Or maybe there’s a photo on Matt’s camera – it’s a mystery.)
Here’s what the yellow cardigan I knit for my expecting cousin, Chelsey, before I added the buttons and shipped it off to her without another photo. Another oops.
Oh, here’s a quick shot of that toy I knit, Celestine. I was going to give it to Izzy until Matt started to refer to it as a cat toy. It now lives on the top of our TV, of all places.
And, last but not least, a button-y shot of the sweater I made for Maegan. I know for sure I have modeled FO pics on Matt’s camera. The finished product fits her perfectly which is amazing as I cannot seem to make a sweater for myself that fits that well.
Maybe I’m not as behind as I thought. Unless you wanted some specifics on these FOs like, oh, pattern or Ravelry project links. I don’t have that sort of time right now. Just go to my Ravelry project lists here.
I tried really hard to be good. I tried not to buy yarn. But, yeah, didn’t work.
Here’s what I’ve bought lately:
- Berroco Comfort DK: destined to become an Odessa for me
- Cascade Eco Wool: will be turned into as many hats as I can for classmates and friends
- Tahki Tinki: Mittens for me
- Debbie Bliss Fez: Not sure yet, maybe mittens for a friend
One day, when we were busy working on statistics homework, Leah asked me to make her a hat (or did I offer?). Being wool-allergic, the Dark Horse Fantasy was the perfect choice and, hey, I had it in one of her favorite colors. I started making it Sunday night and finished it this afternoon. I’m certainly going to make the pattern again, it’s the perfect combination of simplicity and complexity.
No, normalcy is probably not a word but I simply do not care. I’m back to my old self today, having fully adjusted to the quietness of the house without Matt. I’ve taken to 1) eating junk food and 2) watching lots of TV online. It’s really helping to keep me distracted. Plus, hey, I’ve gotten tons more knitting done than I would have usually (no one other than the cats to ignore).
Progress shot (not really exciting) of the lavendar sweater. I’ve only got about six inches to go on the body (don’t worry, will try on before deeming it complete) then the horribly boring bit of the sleeves. I’m not going to have any problem getting it finished this month. Woohoo! (Beth and Rosemary – how are you sweaters coming along?)
Then, a new project, a hat for my friend, Leah. It’s the Odessa pattern by Grumperina in leftovers from Maegan’s gray sweater which I will eventually blog about (when Matt’s back with the good camera).
I barely left the house today – only long enough to pick up breakfast. Between having the smoker on in the backyard and the guys from the gas company replacing our gas meter, we couldn’t really leave the house. I probably would have gone to the knitting shop except Matt’s leaving tomorrow on business so I’m in the treasure-every-moment phase of preparing for him to leave.
Oh, and here’s how far I’ve gotten on the sweater.
Welcome to my post of random photos. There’s nothing tying any of this together. Really.
1. My old blog writing location: Messy desk in our upstairs office. Surrounded by not only yarn but dead computers, rarely used TV, and school stuff
2. My new blog writing location: Living room, using new PC with easy access to Diet Coke, snacks, and bad TV. Much preferred.
3. Shoes my Mom bought me – aren’t they awesome?
4. Yarn Beth got me as a thank you (against my wishes). The blue/green is from Saarbrucken, the town we almost wound up in after mis-reading a train station sign in Meinz, Germany the April before last.
I did wind up starting a new sweater, after all. I blame Beth and Rosemary and their NaKniSweMo efforts. While I’m not going to be making the same pattern as them, I am joining them in spirit. I decided on the Sage Blouse (Rav Link).
The pattern actually calls for the Rowan Cashcotton DK so, hey, I know it’ll work. I really love the sleeve detail and the sort of, kind of lace pattern at the yoke. I haven’t gotten very far, as you can see, but that’s not surprising as my main knitting days are weekend days. Matt’s gone next week for work so I expect to do even more knitting in the evening.
No time to really write today. So, instead, here’s a picture of the sky as seen on my walk from my car to campus this afternoon. Pretty, eh?
