Ten on Tuesday

Nartian-style:


One, Two, & Three:
One more newborn sun hat & 2 pairs of coordinating baby booties for a couple California summer babies, all in need of a wash & block. (The almond sun hat's a previous FO, so I'm not counting it.) -
Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Almond & Stone - yeah, it's summer, but I am so over this yarn at the moment
size 5 & 7 KP circs
A Sun Hat & Waves of Baby Booties (seamless!)


Four:
A finished pair of Lindsays from Cookie A's Sock Innovation -
size 2.50 mm KP Harmony dpns - I broke one of them doing a k3tog
Hand Jive Nature's Palette in Medium Indigo


Five:
Cascadia Sock One (pardon the un-woven end)-
STR lightweight in Happy Go Lucky
Rockin' Sock Club Jan 2010 kit
size 2.25 mm KP circs
Finally trying Jenny's surprisingly stretchy bind-off. Like!


Six:
My informal foray into Tour de Fleece w/my avfkw Polwarth on my Kundert spindle. Doing a 2-ply & it's coming out sport/DK-ish, but it needs to be washed & thwacked.


Seven:
Sunshine Yarns merino tencel roving in Stained Glass - pretty!


Eight:
Golding Cherry Tsunami spindle - Love!


Nine:
Navajo-ply on the fly using my new Golding & the merino-tencel - Going slowly since this is my first foray into a wool blend, though not my first wool blend roving purchase.


Ten:
3G Woodworks custom-requested Curly Koa spindle -
It has a larger shaft than I expected. I'm guessing the shaft & whorl shape makes it more center-weighted as opposed to the more rim-weighted Kundert & Golding. So while this spins very fast, it doesn't spin long. This will take a lot of getting used to. I think I'll have to go back to park & draft 'til I figure out a way to adjust my method so I'm happy with this. It's definitely a lesson for me to do a little more research (found a Ravelry comment after about the larger diameter shaft) and not be lured by my desire for a spindle made of koa.

Vancouver test knit

All done & Sam's got her pattern up on Ravelry.


Because BMFA's BFL Sport is out of stock while they wait for the mill to deliver more, I had to substitute my yarn. I was trying to knit from my stash which didn't quite work, so I ended up buying more yarn from a lys. Due to test knit time constraints, I didn't want to order online & be late in finishing.


Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh DK (formerly worsted) in
Nikko Blue (main color) - 2.2 skeins
Chamomile (contrast color one) - 1.6 skeins
Magenta (contrast color two) - 1.6 skeins
needle size - 9 & 10.5 KP Harmony circs to get gauge


Monkey2 loves the Nikko Blue so much that she's got dibs on her new "blankie." :D


I also finished another test knit, but its not shareable 'til I get the go ahead from the designer. So in the meantime, I have made progress on my Cascadia sock from the Jan 2010 Rockin' Sock Club kit. I'm doing the medium size on size 1 (2.25 mm) KP circs & it seems to fit well so far,


Love the color and going toe up keeps me on my toes (sorry, couldn't resist!) with my knitting.

I've been better focused

When one of the Cookie A Ravelry fan groups began the year-long KAL for all her socks in Sock Innovation, I told myself that I would knit my own pair of Lindsays, the pair I sample knit. Unfortunately, I'm a month behind and only one sock to show for it.


Lindsay right sock
size 2.50 mm KP Harmony dpns
Hand Jive Knits Nature's Palette in Medium Indigo - stash yarn from a lys closing


Mods:
Knitting per Cookie's original instructions since I don't believe Interweave had published the errata for their omissions to the editing. What's missing? These instructions:

The definition for ssskp: slip stitch knitwise 3 times, knit 1, pass 3 slipped stitches over

and:

Leg: Set-up round: K2, p2, (k3, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k3)5 times, p2.

Begin working from Pattern chart, beginning with row 2, as follows: K2, p2, work in Pattern to last 2 stitches of round, p2.

Continue in established pattern until Leg measures 6-7 inches...

So, why haven't I finished 1) my Basic Chic Hoodie (I am on the hood part at least) and 2) the left Lindsay sock? The test knitter in me came out and volunteered to test knit Sam's Vancouver stole.


Unfortunately, the Dream in Color (DIC) Smooshy I chose was too thin to meet gauge. I tried finding the same combination of colors in DIC Classy locally, but all the lys that I was willing to drive to that stocked DIC didn't have the same colorways I needed (Romeo Blue, Spring Tickle, and Cinnamon Girl).

So instead I was drawn to the madelinetosh Tosh DK (formerly worsted) yarn that is a staff pick for June at Article Pract:


Left to Right: Nikko Blue, Chamomile, Magenta (which is/was a bear to photograph as it kept tending to photograph blue-purple instead)


This new combo gives me more of a tropical feel than my original more sedate combo, but rather than Hawaiian scenery, it reminds me more of the explosion of colored silks in the local streets markets in Indonesia (Bali, especially). I do like it as well. And to keep me motivated to finish by the end of the month deadline, I finally used my x-mas gc DH got me from Purlescence Yarns to buy the Cricket Loom I've been wanting for awhile. Once I'm done with the test knit, I'm definitely assembling my loom. Oh, and finishing my other WIPs.

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.

Slip Jigs & Slippery Slopes

Finished in time for Irishgirlieknits return from Sock Camp:


RSC March 2010 kit
Slip Jig by Irishgirlieknits
BMFA STR medwgt in Wild Irishgirlie
size 2.50 mm KP circs
med pattern size
no mods


We've got a nice respite from the spring rains, but by the time I remember to take pics, it's too shady in our back yard. Pics at work are a little better, but flourescent lighting can be icky.


Have I mentioned I have slid down the slippery slope that is spinning? Obviously I'm no where near good, but at least I enjoy the practicing. Now if only I can take a pic of this fiber in the right light. It's Superwash BFL in No. 9 from A Verb for Keeping Warm. I have no idea about my yardage from the 4 oz I spindle spun. I also Navajo-plyed it, but from singles I had already wound on toilet paper rolls, so it was super tricky to keep the tension right. I can totally see how loose I was in a few spots. I do love Navajo-plying, so I'll do it the way I learned in class on my next dyed fiber (but not one that is more semi-solid).

Next step is to figure our my wraps-per-inch and swatch it to see what I can knit it into. One of my other goals too is to see if I can load my spindle with more fiber instead of having a bunch of little skeins when I'm done spindle-spinning.

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.

Raven Swirl

RSC November 2009
Raven Swirl by Cookie A - medium
Socks that Rock lightweight in Blackbird
size 2.25 mm KP nickel-plated dpns


unintentional mod:
1 extra repeat of the cuff because I wasn't paying attention and kept knitting on before realizing I should be doing the traveling panel portion of the leg.

And that's all I've got 'cause we've got a new member of the family:


Lots of re-arranging to puppy-proof the house for Monkey1's little Andrew. He's already snagged a stitch of my Beached LSS Shawl that Jazz, but luckily we caught him in time and no damage was done to either cute puppy or shawl. Whew.

Drive By Post

We've got 2 milestone birthdays, so this'll be quick (links to be added later). But as usual, I'm showing latest Rockin' Sock Club kit after a couple STR projects.


November 2009 RSC kit
yarn: BMFA STR lightweight in Blackbird
pattern: Raven Swirl by Cookie A
needles: 2.25 mm KP nickel-plated dpns
left sock


Unintential mod:
Extra repeat of the cuff. I actually had done way more repeats, but did not rip back all the way. Working on the right sock now.


yarn: BMFA STR lightweight Rare Gem mill end from the Once in a Blue Moon sale
pattern: Traveling Woman
needles: size 6 & 8
mod: 3 reps of Chart A
13 g leftover

Inspired to cast on after Stitches West by Cockeyed the Sockateer.


Love the March 2010 RSC kit.


I'll probably do Irishgirlie's pattern w/this shipment of yarn and do Janel's with some other spring colored STR in my stash.

Sew Knit

I finally caught up with my work knitting friends on our February Lady Sweater KAL.


yarn: BMFA Socks that Rock Heavyweight in Korppi
needles: size 8 KP circs


Comments:
Not much to say, especially since this is my second time around with the pattern. Because the violet in one skein was brighter than the other 2, I alternated the skeins. Pardon the back shot, but the color is truer in this pic. I have Monkey1 trained well as she made sure to ask if I wanted my head cut off or not before taking the pics.

Love the colorway and since it's a favorite pattern already, it'll probably get as much wear as my first.


pattern: Lush-ious Swirl Cowl (though there are other free scroll lace cowl patterns out there, especially on Ravelry)
yarn: Malabrigo Twist test skein when it was called Gusanito
test skein yardage: 130 yds (as compared to the current 150 yds)
colorway: Azul Seco
needles: size 10 KP circs

mods:
- CO 100 sts
- Extra purl & knit round after the cast on round & extra purl round before the bind off round.


The yarn was a x-mas gift from tapmouse a couple Christmases ago and I had been ruminating what to knit with it since. Due to the shorter yardage, I stuck to a cowl pattern.

I had actually knit this completely the first time around exactly as written on size 9 needles. I decided that the thicker parts of the yarn were a little too stiff and wanted a slightly looser cowl. With 17 g leftover the first time, I took a chance that I would have enough if I cast on one more repeat on larger needles. So off I frogged & re-knit. Since it took me one day while home with a sick Monkey or 2, the frogging was totally worth it.


In honor of Monkey2's birthday over the weekend, I made her a dress in fabric and ribbon she picked out. Because she was sick the entire weekend (and then some), it took dinner and a dose of kids tylenol before she was in a good enough mood to model it for me. That pic is on Facebook, but here the dress itself (and the little matching bag) will do.

Back to the usual

Cloudy days make photographing black items pretty darn tough, but I'm too lazy to wait for a sunny day.


pattern: Bella's Mittens
yarn: Cascade 128 Superwash in solid black by request
needles: size 9 & 10 KP nickel-plated circs
mod: by my sister's request, made the mitts convertible

As much as I love this cute reverse-engineered pattern, I think knitting this 3 times is more than enough. But then, the only reason I knit this is again is that my sister requested a pair of mitts that would allow easier access for her fingers when iPhone-ing away on her mass transit to work. What I do for family.


pattern: Yarn Harlot's sock recipe
yarn: Regia Flusi das Socken Monster
needles: 2.50 mm KP dpns

Monkey1 picked this colorway out during one of our visits to Purlescence. I originally started knitting this in my normal continental fashion, but was inspired by Irishgirlieknits & Cupcakefaerie to practice my lever (aka Irish cottage style) knitting. So aside from the cuff and half the toe (I got really impatient by then), most of this pair was done lever-style. I think I've got the hang of it, at least on dpns, especially since I've reverted to my norm of tightening my gauge on the second sock. Whether or not I'll switch to this style entirely will most likely depend on my mood & gauge I need.


So. In a recent training class at work, the lecturers talked about how there are 3 parts in our skills process - the comfort zone, the learning zone, and the panic zone. While not in my comfort zone, I am at least out of my panic zone and firmly in the learning zone when it comes to my newbie spinning.

I love the Kundert spindle I got from A Verb's booth at Stitches West. While no where near consistently competent, at least I'm no longer afraid to practice w/dyed fiber as opposed to the white BFL I started with. It probably helps that the dyed BFL mix I bought is in my color comfort zone too.

I will also say that a large part of getting out of my panic zone has been all the encouragement I've been getting from my crafty buddies, especially Tapmouse, my awesome teacher WonderMike (always willing to give suggestions on spindles and fiber) and the fabulous Verb ladies, Kristine and Adrienne.

Closing Ceremonies

Finished on Wednesday with time to spare!


Pattern: Shawl that Jazz
Yarn: BMFA Luscious Single Silk in Beached (almost 2 skeins)
needle: size 9 & 10.5 (bind off only) KP circs - my 8's were tied up on WIP's
mod: the extra ruffled version


top: BFL mix in Bleeding Hearts
l-to-r: Tumbleweed, Lenka (nicely out of my comfort zone), Rabia, ValenTINA, Vancouver Violet

I'm glad I finished early since I got to cruise through the Stitches West Market in a relaxed mode. I spent most of the time looking at lots & lots of fiber, testing spindles, and just enjoying the atmosphere. Aside from a smaller budget, the time spent meant I was a little more thoughtful about what I should buy. My final BMFA buys were nicely restrainted with just some lightweight STR and only one BFL mix roving. I already had some BFL & Polwarth from a Verb from Keeping Warm after my beginning spin class, so I felt I didn't need to get more yet.

After such an exciting end to my February knitting, I can go back to my usual schedule.

Ravelympics update

Halfway through the 17 days of the 2010 Winter Olympics, I am more than halfway through my Blue Moon Fiber Arts Luscious Single Silk (LSS) Beached Shawl that Jazz.


Since the LSS yardage is a little shorter than the pattern calls for with the regular ruffled edge, I'm not going to even attempt to try the extra ruffled version. I might've been further ahead on this Ravelympics project, but I haven't exactly been faithful to all it's garter stitch glory.


Instead, I managed to finish Monkey2's little pair of Fetchings. She loves them so much she asked me to make 2 more pairs...for her 2 BFF's. In the exact same color. LOL! But that's not going to happen.

Cascade 220 in a bright turquoise color
size 6 KP circs
mod: CO 40 stitches


I also messed around with my sister's second pair of Bella's mittens. This time she requested the convertible version that she saw somewhere so she won't need to take a mitten off when she texts on her phone while commuting on mass transit to work. The first one is done 'cept for the convertible part. I probaby won't do the button & button loop though.

Multi-themed weekend

It's been quite busy with the usual President's Day holiday weekend being combined with Valentine's Day, the Lunar New Year, the start of the Winter Olympics, & NASCAR season. The number of knitting projects I've got going seems to match this weekend's multiple events too.


For the Ravelympics which is scheduled for the Winter Olympics, I cast on for my second Shawl that Jazz in the Beached LSS I bought at Sock Camp last year. I decided that I wanted a bit of meditative garter stitch so I could watch the Olympics with ease.


But before that, I finally joined in on our mini-STR February Lady Sweater KAL at work with Tapmouse2 and Calafia. They're practically done, while I'm struggling to not make more errors on my second FLS. This time it's in heavyweight STR in Korppi.

My first set of errors were not doing all my increases in the increase row while watching the premiere of Lost's last season. I should know better than to knit anything that requires even the remotest of attention when Lost is on. My second set of errors was repeating the wrong right side row of the gull lace pattern. With alternating skeins, it's a pain to rip back a couple rows to fix. Then there's the botched garter stitch edge in one little section that I worsened in an attempt to correct it. Apparently, familiarity breeds errors and not just contempt.


The only new pattern I've been working on is the Raven Swirl sock. I won't even start my 2010 RSC sock until this is done. I love this sock, but it would also go much faster if I devoted more time to it. As it is, I get a row or 2 in here & there. But I do love how it's knitting up.


On my quick, but distracting, pile is Monkey2's new K&K Cap. The first 2 were getting too small, so I knit up the medium size. Fortunately or unfortunately, I didn't swatch, so the hat's a little big, but that means she's got room to grow. It's in a turquoise Cascade 220 colorway that she would not let go of the last time we went to visit Purlescence Yarns.

I may need to knit up a second hat as Monkey1 decided to attach her freeform crocheted "snowflake" to the hat. It's very cute, but Monkey2 wants her hat plain.


Of course, the hat wouldn't be complete without a set of mitts to match. I'm almost done with a child-sized version of the Fetching fingerless mitts. I kept the row counts the same mostly, but CO 40 sts instead of the pattern's 45. Fits her great.

And that's not even all. Not pictured are Monkey1's second Regia Flusi das sockenmonster sock on which I'm practicing my lever knitting and my sister's second Bella's Mittens, this time as a convertible pair.