Keeping Myself in Stitches!

Wow... I finished something!!

So... blog's been REALLY quiet... especially in the knitting department.  In my defense... I have 4 sweaters (that just need sleeves :-/).  I really need to finish up some of my knitting projects.  No worries... it's part of my goals for 2011 :-D

So tonight, I finished my first sweater since... a long time (last spring????).

 

The pattern is "Tubey" and is available for free on knitty.com.  I love the construction and might make another someday.

This started as "mindless" knitting project to destash some leftover Caron Simply Soft while watching my niece's swim meets (have you people been to these things?? The first one I brought the sweater to was 6 HOURS LONG).  Luckily I love her and continued to go to meets and work on the sweater ;)

When I make it again I would probably change the sleeves up a little (I like the bell... and the "roll", but fitted is nice too) and definitely make it a little longer.  I might also do a solid color.

Long and short of it... I like it :)  It's comfy-cozy and I'll be wearing it to Knit-At-Night tomorrow! :)

Ok... now to go finish other projects...

Ok... finished something...

As you more regular readers of the blog have probably noticed, there has been a severe lack of finished knitted objects showing up here.  I have a lot of partially finished projects though, and maybe some day you'll start seeing them pop up here as "done".

In the meantime... I did do a real quick (couple of hours) knitted and beaded bracelet that I want to show off :)  It's my first project knitting with wire... kind of neat!

 

I love the fishes!!!

Not just 'cause they're so delicious... but because they keep my feet warm too!

I finished my Super-Starry Double Goodness Sparkly Fish Socks tonight... on time for my goal of "a pair of socks every 2 months" for 2010 :)  I wish you all could see these in person because the yarn SPARKLES!!! (and unfortunately does not photograph well)

Even the bottoms are cool! :)

You know you're jealous... you know you want your own pair of awesome fish socks! :)

Pattern was fun... I think I might make it again some day.
 
 
 

Vacation = finishing things :)

I recently celebrated my 5th anniversary with my company... and with this monumentous occassion comes an extra week of vacation (wuhoo!).  I'm taking it now :)

The random week off in Februrary is really so I can give my house a much needed spring cleaning (and compose a very long "to do later" list of home projects).  This is happening and going well, but a girl needs some extra knitting time when she's on vacation.

Today I finished not one, but TWO knitting projects!

First, the Cap Sleeved Eyelet Top from Hannah Fettig's "Closely Knit" book.

I love this top and will wear it often.  I was really excited to finally knit something by Hannah... her patterns are gorgeous and well, she's a hometown girl done good! This is Hannah King for you Class of '96ers out there and she's made a great name for herself in the knitting world.  I will be making more of her patterns in the near future.  The yarn on this one is some Lion Brand Wool-Ease that was originally going to be part of an afghan, but that project went down the tubes.

Secondly, I finished my first of 6 stash roulette projects for 2010 (on time!).  This is a scarf called "Enchanting" and is available free on Ravelry.  The yarn is a seemingly no-longer-available yarn called "Silk Soc" by YarnSmiths.  The colorway is great and I love this yarn.  I have a pair of socks I made out of a different color once and they are amazing... so comfy and have worn well over the years. Notice how wonderfully the pink zig-zags through the scarf... so cool!

I am very pleased with both of these.  Now to finish my fishie socks and I'll be right on schedule for my year of knitting. 

I also feel the need to point out that it's almost the end of February and I have NOT bought ANY yarn at all this year (not even a sweater at Goodwill to frog for yarn ;)).  My goal is to knit only from yarn that I already have for the entire year.  In all honesty, I could probably do this for at least 2 years and not run out... so it will be a good thing :)  But it's not easy with so many distractions and enablers... ooooooo pretty!
 

When life gives you lemons...

... make buttons!

After staring at buttons for my newly made sweater (update to come soon) forEVER tonight and only finding 6 of the one that was perfect (needed 9) I finally decided that I'm going to make my own fabric covered buttons.

Sweater is almost dry from blocking... so I hope to make these buttons in the next day or two... :)
 

I designed!!!

I know, I know... I promised my blog wouldn't be "all knitting, all the time", but it's winter... and that's what I do :-P haha

Plus I am simply way to excited about this NOT to post :)  I just attached the buttons to a cute little sweater that I design myself.

Back in the fall I bought a Christopher and Banks sweater at Goodwill (under $5 fyi ;)) and tore it apart to get the yarn... no, I'm not crazy... people do this... nice super-cheap way to get awesome yarn sometimes :)

Anyway... I was on a "let's make top-down raglans!" kick at the time and decided to try my hand at designing my own little sweater.  It was really interesting to see how it took shape and I ended up with a great little off-the-shoulder, asymetrical number that I ADORE!!!!  I think I'll wear this a lot this spring!

The body is just a 2x2 rib that I did in all one piece from the top down.  then I picked up for the asymetical button bands and did them in a horizontal rib.  If you're on Ravelry, all my notes are there.

As you can see from the back... it's just the way the button bands are done that give it that cool "off kilter" look in the front:

 Here's a closer up picture to try to show the detail.  It's definitely a sweater that shows up better in person (especially the colors... which are blue, white, green, and brown)

So that's that :)  I'm pretty darn proud of myself right now... think I'll ride this high for the rest of the day!
 

The "Life's Too Short" Sort of Weekly Knitting Update

 
Life's too short to be knitting things that aren't making you happy.  So my snowflake sweater is going in the "hibernating projects" pile.  I will finish it someday, but right now it's making me unhappy to work on it... and that's just silly.

The idea of knitting with this yarn however DOES make me happy... so I think I'm going to.  But not until tomorrow.

I finished one fishy sock:

It fits perfectly! :)  The second one is started.

And I'm making steady progress on my scarf, which should be finished before Valentine's Day... present for me :) yay!

Not much really to report... Life's busy otherwise... need some down-time... about to go take a little before bed.  'night!
 

Monday night knitting update 1/11

So I don't talk about knitting ALL the time... I figure a once-a-week update seems appropriate :)

First, my "Enchanting" scarf... coming along.  It's my "work knitting" and thus only gets worked on at lunch.  It is currently about 1/4 done and I expect to be finished with it by the end of February.

Next... fish socks!!

I don't have much left on the first sock... will finish it this week.  Hope to have the pair finished by the end of the month... they have sparkles in them.  They remind me of "Rainbow Fish" :)
 
 

And finally... the Snowflake Sweater...

I finished the body, but need to switch the front and the back... this falls under "lessons learned in knitting".  The original pattern is knitted with a front and a back seperate and the pattern was centered on each.  I decided to knit it in the round, but wasn't thinking that if I just continued the pattern around that it wouldn't center correctly.  The picture above shows the current "front"... off center.  The back is perfectly centered however.  So I'm going to rip back (not far... above all the color work) and switch front and back.

But I have to convince myself to take the time to do it :)  Probably this coming Sunday...

So that's where the projects stand as of tonight.  Off to knit some more rows of fishes!! :)
 

New Year... new things :)

First... new year = new attitude.  My one (and only :-P) true resolution is to try to be more positive in all aspects of my life.  This is going to be tough, a cinch! haha  There... it is written down and public and thus I shall be better about following it :)

ok... the knitting lists (I swear the blog won't be ALL knitting this year... but you know me ;)  have to have SOME in here)

This year, since I was unable to keep to the stash roulette last year, I made my list a bit simpler.  Well, I actually have 3 lists: one for stash roulette with only 6 projects this year, one for sock with 6 pairs, and a "general projects" list that has bigger things, like sweaters, but are still all from stash.  I am not going to be picking randomly this year, but will just choose a project.

Since I finished my "Glittens" (glove/mittens... I didn't name the pattern... it's actually called that :)) today,

I rewarded myself by casting on for the first "stash roulette" project.  This is the "Enchanting" scarf that is available on Ravelry and I'm making it from Yarnsmiths Silk Soc yarn that I've had for a while... the colorway is "Mixed Berries"

I will also be casting on for some cool socks very soon (details to come).  In the meantime, I'm working on finishing the Snowflake Sweater, too, so that I can start a new one :)

But, though my fingers are itching to get a few more rows done on that scarf... I must retire for the night... two late nights in a row is not something I'm used to these days ;)
 

About that time of year again...

Well... not been so good lately about keeping up the blog.  Will be better about that!

Before I get to the point of my post, I have to say that Avatar is amazing and you really should go see it while it's still on the big screen.  I saw it in IMAX 3-D and I cried and found myself literally holding my breath at points and... well... just go.  It's an experience.

Oh, and I have to share the one thing that made me *facepalm* on the way out... little boy (10 or so) says disappointedly (!!) "Man, they spent all their budget on the set and got no-name actors".... *HUGE SIGH*... yeah kid... sure... whatever

Ok. Now to my original point. Stash roulette!  Last year (2009) my list was:

1. Ziggy (hat) in a purple Spunky Super Nova

2. Green Day (vest) in a blue/green Brunswick Impressions

3. SImple Toe-up Socks in Four Sizes in colorwork pattern using a purple and a blue Lamb's Pride Superwash

4. Jaywalker (socks) in a brown/blue Lion Brand Magic Stripes (half done!)

5. Kitty Pi (cat bed) in Spumoni Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky

6. A bag of my own design in a navy Lamb's Pride Bulky and a brown Lopi

7. Urchin (hat) in a cream Bernat Alpaca

8. A scarf using the cable pattern from Star Crossed Slouchy Beret in a teal Kilcarra Tweed

9. Huggable Hedgehog (toy) in brown Jojoland wool and Cello fun fur

10. Diana's Knee Highs (socks) in a blue/white striping Lane Cervinia Forever Jaquard (started)

11. Celtic Latticework (socks) in a plum baby alpaca from the Fryeburg Fair

12. Snowflake Socks in a cream and plum Rowan RYC Cashsoft

So 5 (and a half) out of 12 projects completed... LAME!  I can do better than that! :)

So here comes 2010!  My knitting goals for the year are to once again try to complete one stash-busting non-sock project a month... and also 6 pairs of socks. :)  Still working on both the "roulette" list and the "sock" list.  But I will post them by the end of the week.

While I didn't finish all 12 of those projects... I have been knitting :)

In the realm of "practical knitting", I made this hat specifically to keep me warm and cozy for the inevitable snow shoveling times that are to come.

I am also in the process of creating a matching pair of mittens... they are really cool in that the tops fold back and you have a finger-less glove underneath.  Handy for when you need those digits free for a second.  As you can see, I have one finished.  My goal is to finish the other before the possible upcoming nor'easter that's being forecast for Friday :-/

I'm also working on a sweater:

So yeah... New Year's lists to come and hopefully a little more interesting action on this blog.  Enjoy the rest of your 2009!