UFO Smackdown

Mystery Stole #4 aka Serendipity Stole

unblocked:

blocked (for now):

Dream in Color Baby in Wisteria
size 6 KP circs
no mods

However, the center kitchenered join needs to be re-done after a few re-do's to fix what I originally thought was a too tight kitchener row. Turns out the last row before I kitchener somehow got pulled too tight & makes certain portions looked seamed in. I'll have to rip the whole kitchener row & re-knit the last row on the shorter half. But not for now. I need a break from this after I finished the second half in 1.5 weeks after picking this back up.

And totally frogged is a test sock I did for someone on knitty 3 years back. The designer had abandoned her pattern & I never got around to replacing her one design element for a different one I would like or a generic St st leg & ribbed cuff.

I decided to frog the whole thing since I assume my gauge wouldn't be the same & I didn't want to keep the short row heel anyway. This yarn will go back in the stash 'til the Monkeys decide what they want out of it.

Basic Chic Hoodie

After months on the needles, I am finally done.


Monkey2 did photographer duties w/a little help from Andrew. Buttons un-done and a little bit a doggie slobber is apparently required.


I'm usually an agressive blocker with pins & wires & stuff, but I was totally lazy & just laid it flat to dry.


Pattern: Basic Chic Hoodie by Bonne Marie Burns
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in Midnight Derby ~ 5 skeins
needles: size 7 & 8 KP Harmony circs

mods:
- Extra inch of length on the body
- No lace panel on the sleeves
- Had comprehension problems with the pocket instructions, so the bind off & cast on order was re-done in a way that worked for me.
- Sleeve gauge a little tighter than it should be since I failed to pay attention to the basic knitting fact that one's gauge will change when going from knitting flat to knitting in the round. My bad! I suppose that should give me motivation to go back to working out 'cause I've been on a workout strike mentally for too long now.


I'm still spindle spinning. My crafty buddy, Tapmouse got a bit of silk from Blue Moom Fiber Arts, so she gave me a little sample of the Tussah Silk in Princess Plummy to practice with. Tapmouse was playing with the Bombyx Silk (IIRC) in Copper Line that had a marked difference in shine between a 2-ply and 3 play. So my lesson of the week was to play a little bit w/the Princess Plummy to see what would happen. On the far right is a 3-ply bit & in the middle is a 2-ply. Not as marked a difference as Tapmouse's Copperline, so we'll have to take pics to compare.


I figure I can play around a little bit since I finished spinning my A Verb for Keeping Warm polwarth fiber. It's all in 2-ply. I still have measure my wraps per inch & swatch to figure out what I want to do with it.

I already knit up my avfkw superwash BFL into a Buttonhead hat, so I don't want to do another. I'll be sharing the hat when I find buttons for it. Otherwise, it's more of a button-less head hat.


And with a couple of my fibers spun up & one knit up, I figure I could add a little more fiber to my stash with another visit to avfkw, this time with a few other RSC'ers in a mini-mini-reunion.


And with more fiber, I'll need to up my count in spindles. It may take me awhile with my cute little Jenkins Delight. I saw that he made them in koa & just had to have one. I'm still all uncoordinated with it still, so I'm sticking with some BFL top to practice with on this.

WIP Wednesday

I haven't done a WIP post in a long time, but it seems my WIP's have been slow going recently.


Basic Chic Hoodie
Dream In Color Classy Midnight Derby

I mis-informed myself into thinking that this top-down, mostly St st cardigan would go quickly. After all, the last 2 Chic Knits sweaters I've knit were done roughly in a month and their construction would imply longer durations of work. I started this before I even started my second February Sweater and I'm still working on this. I suppose if I gave this as much focused attention as my previous sweaters I'd be done by now.


One of my distractions had been a pair of bright socks for a friend of mine. I wanted to match the cable pattern on the Fine Cabled mitts I had already made her. However, in another mis-calculation, I didn't check if the entire leg would go over my heel easily before I knit all the way through the foot. While I would be fine w/the slight tugging it would need to go over my heel, I am concerned that my non-knitting friend will find it too snug to even put on.

In conferring with tapmouse, I first decided that I would not rip back to either cast on w/more stitches or re-design w/less cables & more ribbing. Instead I had though I would finish this pair for myself and knit another pair from some similarly bright green yarn in either a plain vanilla pattern or a re-design. However, it would ruin the matchy-matchy theme I want w/the mitts. So, I am now leaning towards ripping the whole thing and start over, but this time have one swatch be w/more stitches and the other w/more ribbing or St st and less cables. For now this is on hold.

eta: In perfect timing, I found that Article Pract had the Koigu on sale and they had the chartreuse in stock! So this partial sock has gotten a reprieve from the frog pond. I'll finish this pair for myself & knit a new much less snug pair for my friend.

In the meantime, I also whipped up:


a Sun Hat - newborn size
Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Almond
size 5 & 7 KP circs

This was originally intended for one of my team members in a class I was taking at work who had a baby girl, but I waited too long to start. I was going to finish the night before the last day of class, but that was the Lost episode that I got mad at and all planned knitting during or after that episode didn't happen. I'm no longer po'd at the Lost writers (who I'm sure knew they were going to get a bunch of reactions similar to mine), but until the series finale, no knitting is going to happen on Tuesday nights between 9 and 10 pm.

On the plus side, I've started a stash of baby knits for Monkey2's teacher who is due at the end of the summer.

And one time at Sock Camp...

Hah. Not really. While my Rockin' Sock Club friends are having a kickin' time up at this year's Sock Camp, I'm back at home in a quieter mode working on one of the March RSC patterns.


Slip Jig by our darling Irishgirlie, Carrie
pattern size medium
STR medium weight in Wild Irishgirlie
size 2.50 mm KP circs (just 'cause I know Carrie enjoys circs rather than dpns)

One down, one to go after a brief detour in another size.


Apparently I had a Cinderella stepsister moment and cast on for the small instead of my usual medium. I should know better than to not believe the designer and tech editor. Even my DH noticed when I tried on the small cuff (on top in the pic above) that it would be too snug. Despite the purl stitches in the cable rows, it doesn't lend itself to being very stretchy.


And since hats are quick, I finally got around to knitting Monkey1 a beanie hat version of the Scroll Lace pattern (there's a chart here) that was used for my Malabrigo Twist cowl. I used the recipe directions for this Pomatomus hat to do my decreases for this hat as well. I think I figured it out correctly.


yarn: Dream in Color Classy in Some Summer Sky
needles: size 7 & 9 KP Harmony circs (I'm hecka tight when I knit Dream in Color yarns)
CO 100 sts


And in the spirit of Sock Camp class-taking, I took WonderMike's Navajo ply on a drop spindle class at A Verb this weekend. My over-the-fold technique still blows, but the Navajo-ply method is so awesome! I'm looking forward to practicing this technique more on my little stash of dyed fibers.

Digitessa

It only took me over a year to finish the pair, 4 months after I finished the first. Which is why this was in my UFO-in-denial project. I kept it as a WIP on my Ravelry project page and only once-in-awhile put it to sleep. But Nathania's call for a UFO Smackdown on Twitter & a Facebook group got me going. So glad I did.


pattern: Digitessa
yarn: Wollmeise 100% merino sock yarn in Digitessa (the yarn & pattern came together in a kit)
needles sizes: 2.50 & 2.75 mm KP circs


Yarnissima (Marjan) isn't lying when she says this pattern is demanding.

Modifications:
Because my row/round gauge was shorter than the pattern spec, I ended up at a different spot on the top of foot chart. I had failed to make clear notes on the first sock, so when I did the second (finally), I didn't quite get it to match. :p

And to alleviate any problems in getting the sock on, I switched to the larger needles on Chart 5B instead of Chart 6 as suggested in the pattern. That's right, there were at least 6 charts for this design. I won't complain though as the alternative would be to have the charts printed in teeny-tiny font which would've created issues for me if I had to enlarge them on a copier.


So now that my UFO-in-denial is done, I cast on the second half of my Mystery Stole #4 (aka the Serendipity stole) a year after I finished the first half. Sense a trend? Hopefully I'll finish this second half before the year is up.


Also done is my spinning class with WonderMike. I may not be drinking the Kool Aid yet, but I do appreciate all the skill and hard work that goes into hand splindling. It does seem to be quite an attractive craft as Monkey1 asked me to show her how. I may need to sign her up for a class sometime 'cause my teaching her is like the blind leading the blind at this point. :p


So to distract her from my lack of spinning skills, she and Monkey2 got to split the wares in Woolgirl's Hello Kitty Valentine's kit. I get to keep the yarn (Curious Creek Fibers in a special Woolgirl colorway & yardage) and project bag of course.

Don't get any ideas.

Yes, I'm talking to you, all my spinning friends!


Just because I'm taking a class doesn't mean I'm hooked. Especially since my practicing in between the 2 sessions seems to be getting worse instead of better. :p But that reflects nothing on the sweetheart of a teacher who is Wonder Mike. I just think that the Yarn Harlot's rule of thumb that you have to practice a skill for 28 days straight before one gets anywhere near decent definitely applies to me. And then some.

At the moment, it's not a relaxing thing to do. It seems to have a way of bringing up my control issues. At one point, I looked at some messed up fiber and contemplated pulling out my metal eyelash comb to re-comb it so I could re-spin it an effort to not let it go to waste. It's good thing the call of dinner-making duty kicked in and I let that crazy thought go.


But before testing the waters in the world of spinning, I managed to finish a baby gift set that I started after the baby was born. I was stuck on inspiration when I didn't know what gender the baby was 'til after our friend gave birth.

Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Violet - over 1.5 skeins total
Mason-Dixon Baby Kimono
SnB Umbilical Cord Hat
Ruth's Perfect Baby Booties


Lastly, It's hard not to cast on while I'm working on my UFO Smackdown when I got my second to last Embrace the Lace club kit, so I'll use it as motivation to finish. The yarn is Dream in Color Classy in an exclusive Woolgirl colorway w/a pattern by designer Lisa Dykstra, who's been Woolgirl's designer of choice for quite a few of her club & special kits. I'll be sure to send healing thoughts her way when I knit up her patterns.

The 80/20 Rule

Or is it 90/10? In any case, most of the gift buying, gift knitting, gift knitting, and card mailing are done. It's just that last batch that's going take awhile and may not make it on time.

The birthday twin likes his cardie! Although he said he didn't mind my posting his pic, the moment of bright sunshine through our office window combined w/flourescent lighting was not flattering to his forehead, so off it went.


It was also my sister's (aka the original Monkey) birthday, so another slouchy hat was whipped up.


Slouchy Copy Cat Hat
Dream In Color Classy in Deep Seaflower
size 7 & 9 KP circs
mod: Cast on 86 sts


A friend's husband had been deployed to Afghanistan, so I had started this for him. Thankfully he has been sent home, but he requested I finish this for his friend who is still there. It won't get there by Christmas, but still in time for the harsh winter there.

Helmet Liner - one size! - hope it fits
Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Camel Heather
size 6 & 8 KP circs
mods:
- size 6 for the face ribbing only
- decreased the corners of the face ribbing as several knitters have suggested on Ravelry


Call me a sucker. A long-time friend at work sweet-talked me into a hat. Smooth, he is.

Turn-a-Square hat
Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Delft Heather - 1 skein!
Cascade Greenland - a bit of gray
size 7 & 8 KP circs


This is the 20% (or 10% if I want to make myself feel better) that will probably not make it. However, this slowly progressing Seemingly Simple Vest is more like the bonus gift as we've got the usual items for her this year. Yarn is Cherry Tree Hill Twister (discontinued?) in a Waters potluck color. At least I'm stash-busting.


Lastly, I've got something in the holiday FAIL category. My first attempt at making this particular Knit Picks Swish Worsted colorway (Clematis Heather) into a cowl ended in frogging. Something about Ciara's Cowl pattern and this color of yarn was just not working. Or it could just be the yarn and stitch pattern combo just being super super slow for something I wanted to crank out fast.


I then tried to knit this yarn into a plain cowl and while the colorway looked so much better in stockinette stitch, I screwed up my gauge and it was too big. Again it's been frogged and the yarn has been put on holiday time out. I may need to return my Princess of Purple tiara for my problems with this particular purple yarn. There's just something about this particular shade that I am not syncing with.

Next month I hope, post-holiday relaxing knitting. AKA socks! It's been too too long.

In the meantime, wishing you all a happy holiday season!

Tested by a Nebula

Sometimes, supposedly knitting a second sock at a "relaxed" pace doesn't always mean things go smoothly. I've had to tink & rip back so many more times on the second sock (the right) than the time-crunched test-knit-on-a-tight-deadline left sock. Apparently, relaxed doesn't mean I'm allowed to lose my focus on the pattern. But I'm happy the pair is done.


Nebula by Cookie A
pattern size medium
Dream in Color Smooshy in Wisterious
size 2.75 (US 2) Knit Picks nickel-plated dpns

only mod: less pointy toe


With the long holiday weekend, I get to get a bunch of knitting done & finally finished my first Cat Bordhi secret sock as well. The foot construction is her new sock architecture to be released via book form at Sock Summit.


The varying blues & blacks of the STR Rare Gem lightweight I bought at Sock Camp reminded me of how the Pacific Ocean changes colors as you gaze at it from a tropical beach - from the turquoise & aqua shades near the shore to the dark blue of the deep ocean, to the black shadows on the surface caused by the clouds overhead. So I ended up nicknaming the Rare Gem My Deep Blue Sea. I then decided the Crest of the Wave pattern (using the chart in More Sensational Knitted Socks) more fitting than the 2 Cat patterns I initially had in mind for the leg.

Pixies, Roses & Stars

I don't mean to be all about the sock knitting, but I somehow started way too many and I'm in the mood to finish some so my WIP number is closer to my comfort level.

Did I mention Rogue Roses is a fast pattern? That and it's in medium weight. The only issue I have is because I didn't start the second sock at the "same" spot in the color progression and knowing my gauge for the second leg would be different than the first, the second leg vertically flashed, with much of the orange, even tempered with the pink, ending up in the front. It's a bit uncomfortable for me, but not so much that I want to rip it out & start over. Also, the foot patterning of the second ended up close enough to the first.


Recap:
March Rockin' Sock Club Kit
pattern: Rogue Roses by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka The Yarn Harlot)
pattern size: medium
yarn: Socks That Rock medium weight in Gertrude Skein
needle sizes: 2.50 mm KP metal dpns (for the inside of the picot hem) & 2.75 mm KP metal dpns for the rest orf the sock
no mods otherwise


Also completed is my Pixie Park plain vanilla sock. Started on our Disneyland trip and worked on off and on since then, with a few rows of practicing the Yarn Harlot's lever method here and there. I finally got around to finishing off the toe. Since it's my only vanilla sock WIP, the second sock will also be worked on intermittently with the occasional row or 2 of lever knitting.


The Yarn Harlot's sock recipe
STR lightweight in Pixie Park
size 2.25 mm KP Harmony circs (got my replacement for the one that broke)


Part of the reason why the second vanilla sock will be done at a casual pace is that I need to pace myself with this sock.


Nebula by Cookie A - available on her website today!
Dream in Color Smooshy in Wisteria
size 2.75 mm KP dpns to get 8 spi
Left sock in the medium size
No mods as this was my test knit
test knit period for test sock: April 14 to April 19


With all the twisted stitches and cabling, the test knit period was a little tough on my hands. So to avoid hand fatigue and to try to address my other issues with Smooshy, the right sock will be going at a more leisurely pace.

Despite the lovely color palette and squooshiness of the yarn, I have a distinct dislike for knitting it into socks for some reason. I love Dream In Color's worsted weight, but the Smooshy requires a lot more work than I want to do to get the gauge or the fabric I want. Unfortunately, I succumbed to the lemming rush for this yarn when it became much more widely available and bought way too many without knitting one first. I am somewhat at a loss as to what to do with the rest of my Smooshy stash. I've got a bunch for Jeanie, but that's a stole. I seem to be okay with knitting Dream In Color Baby (uh, whenever I get back to the second half of my MS4), so I am assuming I should be okay knitting the Smooshy as a lace yarn.

I also am having an aversion to destash for some reason. I have not had a bad swap or cp (custom purchase) in either my makeup or knitting experience, but my inner voice tells me that I am due for one. So I am avoiding destashing for a long while, if not permanently, unless it's with close knitterly friends. The only option for the rest of the single skeins for now is to use them doubled to make hats & fingerless mitts instead of socks.

On the WIP slow boat

It's going to be a busy month for me with family events and special knitting for others so my WIP's will be progressing rather slowly.


As part of the Makin' Cookie's Ravelry group KAL, I'm finally working on Cookie's Hedera socks in Fleece Artist merino (I have no idea which version but it's the skinnier one) in Lily Pond.

I did goof up the gusset decreases 'cause I thought I wouldn't need to decrease all the way down to 60 stitches so I didn't move the first & last held instep stitches to the gusset/sole. It turned out I was a little too loose at 62 & so added the last set of decreases in. The only drawback to that is that I don't have the pretty gusset decreases like in the pattern. Sometimes I need to learn to trust in the designer, especially Cookie.


My second chart repeat on my Digitessa sock went a lot faster than the first once I got the hang of Yarnissima's notation & logic. It's on hold 'til I have some time to devote to knitting off 3 charts (2 gussets & the instep).


And I finally got around to finishing chart 6 of my Mystery Stole 4. The yarn for the second half is wound and once I mentally prep for that first bead row where you place them practically every other stitch, I should be ready to cast on for the second half.


The only thing that isn't on the slow boat is the beret I cast on at the Stitches West after party at Purlescence. I did have to cast on twice as I was trying another tubular cast on method, this time in the round. Too much laughter is detrimental to doing it correctly the first time round.

Star-Crossed Slouchy Beret (Rav link)
Dream in Color Classy in Black Pearl - only 1/2 skein
size 9 & 11 KP circs
this tubular cast on in the round 'cept corrected by her commentary
other mod: lengthened the ribbed cuff to 2"

Being Unoriginal

So Monkey1 is righteously scolding me 'cause I have caught what I thought was their mild cold and it's been kickin' my arse. Well, technically it's more like they've sent some gorilla cousins to sit on my chest all day & night. Ugh. I haven't been in the mood to knit at all, but I'm surprised I've actually accomplished something or another. This time my hat knitting karma was behaving.


Unoriginal Hat
Sheep Shop Company Two in Primavera
size 11 KP circs

No mods made. I'll have to gift this to a friend with a long head since the pattern isn't so much narrow as it is long.


The surprise is that I actually finished Hint #4 of my Mystery Stole 4 KAL. Right now it's 21" long unblocked. I don't think it'll block out significantly longer since my swatch didn't either. But it won't bother me since my SotSii stole was also on the small side.

But what I really wanted to post about is that Cookie A said we could share this about her upcoming book set to release in April 2009. I'm so excited! The pair I sample knit for her is Lindsay.

In the land of beaded lace

I believe tapmouse already mentioned the word "insanity." Clearly I am. As is the first beaded row where we have to place a bead on every other stitch. That's ~58 beads on one row! Then we have to repeat it for the other half of this stole.


I'm glad I stuck to my Dream in Color stash yarn though. The Pansy Golightly isn't as variegated-looking with more stitches on the needles. And the irridescent purple beads I picked give a nice subtle shine which is perfect for me since I'm not much on the bling...unless it involves some wicked gorgeous eyeshadow.


And that lovely little 4.0 Friday night made me so nervous that I stayed up late enough to finish hint #3 of my SotSiii. On the plus side, it means that I can knit hint 4 at a nice leisurely pace and finish that by this upcoming Friday night.