Color Affection, Placemats & Violets Rising

Like a lot of the knitting/crafting world, I'm completely lagging behind on my blog posts.With Instagram & other quickie online social media sources, they're so much easier to update than it is composing one of these blog posts.  In any case, a few things I've finished in the past few months.

Pattern: Color Affection
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy in Spring Tickle, Cinnamon Girl, & Romeo Blue
needles: size US 7

mods:
Ran out of Romeo Blue right at the bind off, so I had to switch to Spring Tickle.  When I had bought the yarn at a lys years ago for another test project (wasn't right for it - not lofty enough & too thin), I had an inkling the Romeo Blue skein wasn't quite as full as the other Smooshy skeins.  I don't know why I didn't weigh it & brought it to the lys' attention, but I don't remember if I had a kitchen scale at the time.

Like most other Color Affection knitters, subbed a kfb for the M1 & added a yarn over near the edge stitch on the RS row & dropped it on the WS row for stretch. And like everyone else, I've have tons of sock yarn in my stash, so I'll probably make another one in a different color scheme, probably with some STR.

Per DH's request for our family cabin, I knit up a bunch of place mats.

Pattern: My own though I used this tutorial to miter the seed-stitch border.
needles: size 8 (border for the thinner yarn) and size 10 for the body

Lastly for now, an Anne Hanson (Knitspot) pattern I got from a Yarn4Socks (now a defunct online yarn store) sock club kit. I've been meaning to knit up this pattern ever since I got it, but since I hadn't knit any socks in awhile, I figured now was as good a time as any.

Pattern: Violets Rising
Yarn: The Woolen Rabbit Superwash Merino
needles: size US 1 (2.50 mm) nickel-plated dpns

No mods.  Cuff is a little on the short side, so I have plenty of leftover yarn to do a pair of fingerless mitts if I wish.

Traveling Sweater

Pattern: Traveling Sweater
Pattern size: The first one in the original publication (the 'smallest' size).
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Woobu in In the Navy - over 3 skeins.  Will need to weigh the remainder to figure how much is left
Needles: US size 4 Knit Picks nickel-plated circs for everything except the wrist bind off when I switches to size 3 circular needles.

Very helpful for the assembly of the sweater is the designer's blog post if you have difficulties picturing it based solely on the written text in the pattern.

I was a little crazy and decided to do a grafted bind off of the 2x2 ribbing spine instead of a 3-needle bind off or the crocheted bind off recommended by the designer. After some research, including this YouTube tutorial , as well as this blog post and a knitting manual here and there.  This worked really well for the body of the sweater which is worked in the same direction and so the knit & purl columns line up when the 'top' and bottom' are sewn together. 

However, grafting doesn't work when the pieces are knit in the opposite direction, such as the back/shoulder/sleeve pieces were.  The columns were a half-stitch off, so the grafting doesn't align perfectly.  But since I already grafted the body, there was no way in hell I was going to undo that seaming and switch to a 3-needle bind off for the entire spin.  I think most muggles won't notice & the knitters that do will get a nice technical discussion with me on the subject matter.  If you're so inclined, that is. ; )

Sorry, for the blurry pic.  At some point I'll re-take and replace it. My last modification was to do a tubular bind off of the 2x2 ribbing as described here.  But before that, I tinked back 4 rows since I wanted the sleeves ever so slightly shorter.

Bigger on the Inside

Bigger on the Inside, a photo by crochet_chick on Flickr.

Like most crafters, I've pretty much abandoned my crafting blog in favor of quick posts on Instagram. I'll have to make an effort to blog more. It would be easier too if I took the time to learn how to add more than one flickr pic into a blog post.

In any case, I'm on vacation, so I've got a little time to post.

Project deets:
pattern: Bigger on the Inside from knitty.com
yarn: BMFA Socks that Rock medium weight in TARDIS Blue bought at Stitches West 2013
needles: size 6 (US)

No mods. I bought 3 skeins of TARDIS Blue and only used 2 for the shawlette, so I'll probably make a pair of socks from the 3rd skein. I don't like the existing TARDIS sock patterns online since they're all colorwork. I'll probably take the TARDIS chart from the shawlette pattern & put them on the leg of the socks & just do a simple rib pattern for the rest of the socks.

Sisters

I will freely admit that I would rather buy 2 expensive 18" dolls (the one with the brand name A______ G___) than make another felted doll.  The hair alone was a pain to do.  Not to mention felting them by hand in the sink since my clothes washer is a bit too gentle for machine felting.  Which probably explains why there's a year separation between the first doll I made (the one in blue) and the second.  At least it didn't take almost 5 years like it took for me to have my 2 monkeys. 

Pattern: Benji & Friends doll by Maggie Pace
Yarn: Pick Up Sticks Wool in Sandy, Chocolate, Pink (or Petal?) and Sea Blue
Needles: US size 10 for the dolls & US size 6 (but I may have stuck to the 5 recommended in the pattern) for the undergarments

The pattern & yarns were bought at Maggie Pace's moving sale.

I also bought the two clothing patterns designed to go with the dolls which I'll do next gladly.  I don't mind knitting doll clothes as much.

No vacation knitting would be complete without a little knitting for myself:

Pattern: Autumn in Garrison
Yarn: The Fibre Company Babe (discontinued) in Iris
Needles: US size 8
Pattern size: one

And a little more for Monkey1:

Pattern: Taylor Swift Inspired Diamond Slouchy Beret
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Bulky in Blackberry (color discontinued I think)
Needles: US size 10.5
Pattern size: the larger one

I had already knit the worsted weight version for Monkey1 a year ago.  I had downloaded this bulky weight version at the same time when it was offered free & finally got around to knitting this version.

They both are drying from a wash/block, so no block FO pic yet.

Done with the holiday knitting

After knitting a few gift knits after last Christmas holiday season,  I finished a few more for my staff at work (my numbers almost doubled) and for a couple of Monkey2's teachers.  I even managed to knit a spare just in case, just like when we buy an extra box of See's Candies during the holiday season. 

These Naylor Street infant & toddler hats were knit while I was test knitting/tech editing Carrie's pattern, so I don't have any particular babies in mind for them yet.

Yarns:  Knit Picks Swish Worsted (Carnation pink) and Cascade 220 superwash in a blue (lost the label so don't know the color number/shade)
needles: size 7

size: in Men's for my newest staffer
Yarn: Berroco Comfort Worsted

I was in a rush to finish before I took time off w/the monkeys, so I didn't take a pic of both Hat Shaped Hats, but I did make two for one of my staffer's boys.

Yarn: Bernat Roving in Dark Grey
Needles: Size 19 Clovers which I think we got free at a Stitch & Pitch a couple years back.

For one of my staffers who likes pink:

Pattern: Zigzag neckwarmer on the Jimmy Beans Wool site
Yarn: Stitch Nation Washable Ewe in Icing
Needles: Size 8 needles

The spare:
Pattern: Phydeaux Twist Cowl (the non-i-cord edge version) which I think I got in her newsletter
Yarn: Loops & Threads Cozy Wool in Sweetgrass
Needles: Size 19

The one that went to Monkey2's dance teacher:
Pattern: also Phydeaux Twist Cowl
Yarn: Loops & Threads Cozy Wool in Black
Needles: Size 19

This one went to Monkey2's grade school teacher:
Pattern: Phydeaux Ridgely Cowl (also via her newsletter)
Yarn: Loops & Threads Cozy Wool in Thunder
Needles: Size 19

Not fond of knitting with such large needles since my hand movement has to be much larger, but since I'm done w/the holiday gift knitting for the year, I get to go back to smaller needles to knit things for my monkeys and myself.

Wool Accessories Season

I finally got around to knitting a hat to match my Ishbel Shawlette.

Pattern: Ishbel Beret 
Pattern size: 3rd size up
Yarn: Madeline Tosh Pashmina in Tart
Needles: US size 5 & 6

No mods.

I love Knitwhits colorways & had actually bought a couple skeins from her booth at Interweave Lab in San Mateo last year. I bought more this year, but this time I actually knit them up for Monkey1.

Pattern: Victoria Gauntlets 
Yarn: Knitwhits Freia Fibers Flux Sport in Ultra Violet
needles: US size 7
No mods though when I make myself a pair, I'll have to add at least 2 more stitches since my hands are wide.

It was that time of year when Wooly Wormhead holds her Mystery Hat Knit-along &; once again I joined up. I stash dove for this yarn as I decided to join after shopping at Interweave Lab market. The only problem I had with this yarn was that one of the ball in the bag I bought from a lys closing a few years back had a lot of breaks in them. After the 4th break, I had to tink back a few rows & use another ball. Thankfully, it looked like the rest of the balls in the bag & the yarn in the plastic bin they were stored with were all fine.

Pattern: Wooly Wormhead Mystery Hat KAL 2012
Pattern size: Large
Yarn: Lana Grossa Numero Uno (discontinued) in color #112
Needles: US size 5 & 6
Mods:
- Picked up stitches on a 1:1 row ratio & then did an increase row in purl to get the desired number of stitches for the body of the hat after knitting the brim. Added an extra repeat of the body pattern since my stitch gauge didn’t match the pattern & I wanted to make sure it was more beret-ish instead of beanie-ish.
- Added 3 plain rows to the crown decreases.

BTW, I'm wearing my favorite lip color for this fall season in the last pic. (MAC Rebel)

The knitting on these mitts were finished in September, but I didn't get around to seaming them closed & adding the buttons 'til today.

Pattern: All of 'er Buttons Mitts from the Jan 2012 Rockin' Sock Club
Yarn: Socks that Rock lightweight in HRH Crown Princess of Purple, Violetta
Pattern size: Large & long
needles: US size 1.5 mm, I think? I totally forgot to put the specs in Rav when I cast on

Mods:
- 2 extra repeats of the pattern on the hand portion after the thumb gusset as is my preference.

- Extra cable cross on one of the mitts. DH calls it my ‘signature.’ LOL!

Blog Catch Up

I knew it had been awhile since I blogged, but hadn't realized it's been 4 months. I knew that aside from my secret sample knitting, I hadn't been knitting very much so didn't have much to share 'til now. The secret sample knitting however, are still secret.

The STR charity blanket is finally done! After starting this 4 years ago(!) for our knitting group at work I finally finished it.  When I signed up for this I didn't realize that our knitting group would decrease all the way down to a mere 1 or 2 of us.  So I finally decided that I would finish it all myself.  The blanket has been washed/blocked and mailed to Blue Moon Fiber Arts (BMFA) for Tina to send to her favorite charity.

Pattern: Knitting for Love by Cookie A & Nathania Apple for BMFA (not listed in Ravelry or BMFA's site - contact Cookie A or Nathania for the pattern)
Yarn provided by BFMA: Socks that Rock Heavyweight in Jade (center square & throughout), Count Cluckula, Mr Green Jeans & Thistle - what little was left was also mailed back to BMFA.
Needes: US Size 6 circulars
Dimensions: Roughly 41"x41" 

Also done & blocked over the summer is a darling shawlette that was part of our March 2012 Rockin' Sock Club kit.

Pattern: Perennial by Debbie Stone (aka Cockeye the Sockateer)
Yarn: STR medium weight in Budding Twig
Needles: US Size 5 & 6 KP Harmony circs

Intended for my toddler nephew, but I'm not sure if his face is securely sewn on, so I may reinforce it before mailing it off.

Pattern: Tony the Toy Box Monster
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease
Needles:  US Size 6

I also finally got around to knitting a baby hat to coordinate with the Lilianna cardigan shown in my last post.

I also made a moss stitch/seed stitch baby beret to coordinate with the Lucky baby cardigan I knit a couple years back.  These will be gifts for the next family or friend who has a baby girl.

Pattern: Moss Stitch Hat by Debbie Bliss
Yarn: Rowan All Seasons Cotton
Needles: size  5 & 6 circs

Last for now, but not least, is a hat/scarf combo that I started while my monkeys were rehearsing for their big dance recital last month.  Monkey2 put it to good use this weekend as we got more than a smattering of snow at our cabin.

Pattern: Comet Tail Hat (free Lion Brand pattern)
Yarn: Lion Brand Amazing in Pink Sands
Needles: size 9 KP circs

Lilianna

Pattern: Lilianna by Irishgirlieknits
yarn: Knit Picks Swish DK in Carnation (dc'd)
needle: size 5
pattern size: 0-3 months

No mods since this was a test knit for Carrie. The pattern calls for sport weight yarn, but I got gauge with the DK yarn I had in my stash.

It's unblocked since I still need to knit on the ties since I opted to not do a button/buttonhole.  The baby shower is in August so I've got time.

I've been slacking

I really haven't been very motivated with my knitting the last few months, especially after spring break in Honolulu. But I assume I'll pick up production when I am ready. But I have done some knitting.

I did finish making a full-fingered glove version of Sivia Harding's Queen of Beads sock pattern.

And I started Cockeye's Perennial shawlette pattern on my way to Honolulu. But I actually didn't work on it while on vacation since I had the kids with me.  I then stalled when I broke the wood needles after we came back home.  I did get a replacement pair, but I haven't picked this back up yet.

I don't know how I finished Irishgirlieknits' sample Fiar, but I do well with deadline knitting.  I love the colors so much I'm making my own at some point.

I also started another Rockin' Sock Club kit, this time choosing All of 'Yer Buttons Mitts.  I'm actually done w/knitting one and need to cast on for the second.

I also started what will eventually be Tony, the Toy Box Monster before our trip to Honolulu.  This will be a gift for my newest nephew, but I'll have to sew on a pair of eyes instead of using safety eyes since he's in the TOT (toddler-of-terror) age range.

Converting a beaded sock pattern into gloves

I'm not the biggest fan of knitting with beads, especially when it comes to a beaded sock pattern. So I finally decided to convert the socks into gloves instead.

Rockin' Sock Club Jan 2009 kit
Pattern: Queen of Beads socks by Sivia Harding
Yarn: Socks that Rock lightweight in My Blue Heaven
Beads: not the 8/0 beads specified in the pattern. The RSC kit actually came with beads that were a size smaller. They need to be threaded on to the yarn before you start knitting, so it was a PITA to get them on the yarn.
needles: size US 1 (2.25 mm) circs for the body, dpns for the fingers & thumb
pattern size: The medium sock size was close enough to the stitch count for a large glove size, so it worked out well for me

I still need to weave in all the ends & close any gaps when I re-attached the yarn for the fingers & thumb.  It may take me a little while to do the left glove since it takes forever to thread the beads on.

Knitted Monsters

While the Monkeys and I have been out sick for a few days, we were on a monster-knitting kick.  I knit one up for Monkey2 and Monkey1 & I shared knitting duties on hers.

Gabby the Garden Monster and Irving the Icebox Monster from Rebecca Danger's Big Book of Knitted Monsters are the first 2 we've completed and we've got at least 2 more in the queue.

For Gabby:
yarn: Stitch Nation Washable Ewe in Strawberry
needles: size 6 circulars
mods:
- Monkey2 didn't want a white mouth, so we settled on brown which was the only other felt color I had in my stash aside from red.
- size 6 mm safety eyes since Joann's were out of size 9 mm's.  They're not in there well, so I may have to replace them with embroidered eyes soon.

For Irving:
yarns: Cascade Greenland for the main color & leftover Plymouth Encore Worsted purple from Monkey1's 'doll' poncho. 
needles: size 6 circs

Monkey1 knit the body & sewed all the pieces together. The cockeyed ear was by her design. I knit up all the appendages.  Her other mods were to leave off the belly button and the mouth.Our one unintentional mod was to forget to stuff to the arms, but since Monkey1 was fine with it, we're leaving them as is.

Also done with the knitting and assembly is a second Benji & Friends doll. It's only been a year since I knit the first. :p I just need to felt it when we're up at the cabin with the old school (non-high efficiency) washer or by "hand" in basin.  However, that'll have to wait until my lungs are functioning better.  This cold's not quite at flu level, but it's a miserable one.

In the meantime I've finally cast on for my RSC Jan 2009 kit, the Queen of Beads.  I had temporarily lost the beads and lovely Sockateer Tammy send me a little replacement bag.  Of course, some corollary to Murphy's Law kicked in and I found my original packet of beads after I received Tammy's replacement.

Once I finish the "leg" portion of the sock, I'll decide if I'm going to convert them into fingerless mitts or gloves or finish it as a sock.  I guess we'll see.