I washed the Sunday Swing socks of the previous post, and threw the too big one in the dryer... to huge success!
They both fit very well now, and although one is lighter than the other, I can report that I have worn them all day, both at home and out and about, and they are most comfortable and warm. To put it simply,
I am in love with my new socks.
(This is especially good news for me, as the last socks I finished are nothing to write home about, not even a little.)
In other news, I am swimming along with my cowl (after having to stop last night because the ball of yarn came to an end, and the new ball had yet to be wound. Yeah, wasn't about to do that at midnight,)
and mom's sweater (to be fair, although I did get past a particularly tricky part in the sweater, the must-pay-attention and incredibly-long parts are up next!)
Been knitting on the gauge swatch for hubby's socks while out in the yard with the kids, and while I was out today and had to wait, so those will be ready to begin soon enough.
Enjoyed winding the sock yarn and cowl yarn this morning, using my knees as a swift, and my hands as a ball winder, although my arms still ache a bit from it... those are some big ol' balls of yarn!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
WIP Wednesday, and one FO!
Wednesday again, and one project out of the way! Sunday Swing Socks are complete, but unfortunately, not perfect. I could rip out the offending sock and re-do, but I'd rather move on. They are warm and mostly comfortable, so fit the bill well enough for now.
Problem one: although the yarn is the same colorway and dyelot as last year's sock, the socks don't match; one is lighter than the other, so that kind of stinks.
Problem two: last year's sock is a bit too loose, and we all know how all set I am with too loose socks.
Moving on...
The Herringbone Cowl is underway, with still about forty rows to go. Since I can pretty much only manage two rows a night for how hard it is on my hands (especially that second row,) I'm just hoping I'll be done by month's end!
Since the next four projects in my queue are begging to be worked on NOW, and one of them has been there since last summer, I am excitedly starting new stuff today. Unfortunately all of them are big projects in one way or another. One of them I don't even have yarn for yet, so in the queue it sits.
The yarn (hubs chose the color, thought it'd look great with jeans) arrived for hubby's socks...
...so those will have to be begun (a wee bit daunting to me as I have never worked socks toe-up before, and so I'm assuming this will not be easy-breezy-fun as socks usually are, and therefore not as excited to start them.)
In the queue since last summer is a sweater for mom, which I've been passing by for other, quicker, easier knits, but the time has come. I'm a little excited! The math and footwork is all done for this one. Washed and re-measured the swatch last night, so I am all set to start Amused for mom, turning it into a cardigan. Provisional cast-on, crazy collar, and major alterations, here I come!
Lastly, I have rarely succeeded at lace knitting while having small children about before, but... this time will be different I say! I just can't give up trying; I am much too intrigued by it. My first attempt was ultimately frogged, my second and third attempts were successful, although smallish, shawls, and my fourth attempt was cut short and rendered a shawl for a doll. Onward with number five! This will be the one! Right? Sticking to fingering weight, thinking that will be simpler, and saving all the laceweight yarn in the closet for now. Anyway, here it is, and here's my yarn I'm thinking for it... I'm not sold on the yarn yet, but it's my favorite of what's in the closet, and I really don't want to have to buy more yarn...
What do you think? Who's with me? There's got to be someone else out there with strong urges to start multiple daunting projects at once, right? :) After all, it's a bright and sunny WIP Wednesday!
Problem one: although the yarn is the same colorway and dyelot as last year's sock, the socks don't match; one is lighter than the other, so that kind of stinks.
Problem two: last year's sock is a bit too loose, and we all know how all set I am with too loose socks.
Moving on...
The Herringbone Cowl is underway, with still about forty rows to go. Since I can pretty much only manage two rows a night for how hard it is on my hands (especially that second row,) I'm just hoping I'll be done by month's end!
Since the next four projects in my queue are begging to be worked on NOW, and one of them has been there since last summer, I am excitedly starting new stuff today. Unfortunately all of them are big projects in one way or another. One of them I don't even have yarn for yet, so in the queue it sits.
The yarn (hubs chose the color, thought it'd look great with jeans) arrived for hubby's socks...
In the queue since last summer is a sweater for mom, which I've been passing by for other, quicker, easier knits, but the time has come. I'm a little excited! The math and footwork is all done for this one. Washed and re-measured the swatch last night, so I am all set to start Amused for mom, turning it into a cardigan. Provisional cast-on, crazy collar, and major alterations, here I come!
Lastly, I have rarely succeeded at lace knitting while having small children about before, but... this time will be different I say! I just can't give up trying; I am much too intrigued by it. My first attempt was ultimately frogged, my second and third attempts were successful, although smallish, shawls, and my fourth attempt was cut short and rendered a shawl for a doll. Onward with number five! This will be the one! Right? Sticking to fingering weight, thinking that will be simpler, and saving all the laceweight yarn in the closet for now. Anyway, here it is, and here's my yarn I'm thinking for it... I'm not sold on the yarn yet, but it's my favorite of what's in the closet, and I really don't want to have to buy more yarn...
What do you think? Who's with me? There's got to be someone else out there with strong urges to start multiple daunting projects at once, right? :) After all, it's a bright and sunny WIP Wednesday!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
WIP Wednesday
Sunday Swing socks still in the works. I'm on the foot (the 10.5 inch foot......)
And so it begins. Big Herringbone Cowl KAL. Behold the mess it currently appears to be:
I was positive the stitches were twisted several times during the first row, and I had checked for that several times before I joined. Thankfully, I was wrong and they were not twisted - I hate having to start over - who doesn't?
I'm only on the third row. Have to break to go to my daughter's playdate. (That was fun, let me tell you, when each time I came to the start of the next round, when there's all this fiddly stuff for me to do, she tried getting on my lap and talked incessantly about what dress up clothes she was planning to wear at her friend's house. Sheesh, come back in two stitches, please. :))
So this is how it looks, three rows in:
I think I'm going to like it. :) I will say, though, it is a killer on the hands. They ache pretty badly, so I'm glad for a break.
And so it begins. Big Herringbone Cowl KAL. Behold the mess it currently appears to be:
I'm only on the third row. Have to break to go to my daughter's playdate. (That was fun, let me tell you, when each time I came to the start of the next round, when there's all this fiddly stuff for me to do, she tried getting on my lap and talked incessantly about what dress up clothes she was planning to wear at her friend's house. Sheesh, come back in two stitches, please. :))
So this is how it looks, three rows in:
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The Tiny New Baby Hat
Every hat I used to make for new babies never fit within a mile either way. So I finally gave up, did some math and measuring, found the fit and style I found easiest on babies, and have been doing this hat instead ever since.
It is so satisfying to give new parents a hat that actually fits their child when they put it on that child in front of you. You can smile and congratulate them, instead of apologizing and promising to make them a new hat because the one you made swallowed their child, or, the other scenario, your hat made their 1 day old baby look like a 1 year old because the hat was so small.
This way everyone wins, and you even made the baby a little cuter (if that's even possible, right?) with a little curly-q right on top. :)
The Tiny New Baby Hat
Materials: Approximately 80 yrds worsted weight soft
acrylic or washable wool yarn
Size 5 16” circular needles, and 4 size
5 double pointed needles, or whatever size needed to obtain gauge. (come on, do a gauge swatch… it’s for
the baby!)
Stitch marker
Stitch marker
Gauge: 20 stitches is 4 inches in stockinette stitch in the
round.
Finished circumference: 13 inches; fits 14-15 inch head very
nicely.
Size: newborn
CO 64 sts, place marker, and join to work in the round.
Knit all rounds until hat measures 4 ¼ inches.
Begin decreases, switching to double pointed needles when
sts become too tight:
(Knit all even
rounds.)
Round 1: (k6, k2tog) around
Round 3: (k5, k2tog) around
Round 5: (k4, k2tog) around (If desired, switch to a
different colored yarn at this point.)
Round 7: (k3, k2tog) around
Round 9: (k2, k2tog) around
Round 11: (k1, k2tog) around
Round 13: (k2tog) around
Round 14 and so on: repeat Round 13 until 3 sts remain.
Arrange remaining 3 sts onto one needle, and work an I-cord
for 2 inches. Bind off, and secure end inside the I-cord.
To finish, tie a knot in the I-cord, and weave cast on end
into the inside of the rolled brim.
It is so satisfying to give new parents a hat that actually fits their child when they put it on that child in front of you. You can smile and congratulate them, instead of apologizing and promising to make them a new hat because the one you made swallowed their child, or, the other scenario, your hat made their 1 day old baby look like a 1 year old because the hat was so small.
This way everyone wins, and you even made the baby a little cuter (if that's even possible, right?) with a little curly-q right on top. :)
Monday, January 30, 2012
Shroom to Sunday Swing to Herringbone
Finished my Shroom! So excited to have a hat that fits, is warm, and looks great. The yarn for this was very dreamy in feel and to knit with.
Still working on the Sunday Swing socks, and after (seriously, I cannot believe I did this) picking up the heel stitches and rejoining in the round completely BACKWARDS, I have rectified the situation and am onward to the foot! My feet can't wait for these to be done. And I'd better get moving because it's only luck that the yarn for my husband's socks hasn't arrived yet...
As if I don't have enough I want to do (and even more that I have, ahem, promised to others) I have joined a KAL to do this
Nothing like a new complicated stitch for 60 inches to keep me on my toes! So funny that this KAL starts on WIP Wednesday...
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Gaga for Garter Cowl
Finishing up another cowl today, and figured I'd finally get the pattern on here.
This cowl is super squishy because of the vertical garter, soft, and so warm. It's just perfect for the winters around here, and quick and easy to do. Nevermind that it looks great! So why not knit one up? :)
This cowl is super squishy because of the vertical garter, soft, and so warm. It's just perfect for the winters around here, and quick and easy to do. Nevermind that it looks great! So why not knit one up? :)
Gaga for Garter Cowl
Finished measurements: 14 inches tall, 11 inches wide.
Materials: Approximately 160 yards super bulky soft wool
Size US 11 16-inch circular needle, or
whatever size needed to
obtain gauge.
obtain gauge.
Gauge: 10 sts is 4 inches in garter stitch
Loosely cast on 36 sts.
Knit back and forth in garter stitch for 22 inches.
Loosely bind off, leaving a long tail, and seam bind off to cast on edge.
Note: you could also use a provisional cast on, and then
finish by weaving the cast on and the last row using the garter Kitchener stitch,
if you don’t like seaming.
Happy Knitting!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
WIP Wednesday
Well, to start off with a finished object, I finished the Happy Feet socks. They are too loosely knit, uncomfortable, and sure to have holes in no time, and I am severely disappointed. In a flash of rage I drowned them in hot water and threw them in the dryer on high heat with a towel, doubtfully hoping to shrink them at least a little.
Going to go by the gauge recommended in this amazing book, and no longer by what the pattern says when making socks. The only socks I've made with a fine enough gauge my sister has, and her husband threw them in the dryer on her, and they're a bit snug on her now. Geez, man. Holding out hope for the Sunday Swing I'm currently working on. And so begins the WIP's...
Sunday Swing socks (almost to heel of sock 2)
Garter cowl for my aunt (which is moving along nicely)
My son's socks are still waiting patiently for me to feel like continuing working on them....as is that mitten... Poor thrummed mitten that I want so desperately on those bustop walks, but that I have lost interest in knitting...
So today, started Shroom for myself in some lovely and soft yarn (I couldn't help myself. You should see the god-awful hats I've been wearing to the bustop!)
Stay tuned for pictures of FO's and the beginning of those socks for hubby in the dreamy Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock. (can't wait til it gets here!)
Going to go by the gauge recommended in this amazing book, and no longer by what the pattern says when making socks. The only socks I've made with a fine enough gauge my sister has, and her husband threw them in the dryer on her, and they're a bit snug on her now. Geez, man. Holding out hope for the Sunday Swing I'm currently working on. And so begins the WIP's...
Sunday Swing socks (almost to heel of sock 2)
Garter cowl for my aunt (which is moving along nicely)
My son's socks are still waiting patiently for me to feel like continuing working on them....as is that mitten... Poor thrummed mitten that I want so desperately on those bustop walks, but that I have lost interest in knitting...
So today, started Shroom for myself in some lovely and soft yarn (I couldn't help myself. You should see the god-awful hats I've been wearing to the bustop!)
Stay tuned for pictures of FO's and the beginning of those socks for hubby in the dreamy Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock. (can't wait til it gets here!)
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