Thursday, March 31, 2011

Day Four: Where are they now?

I just can't believed I've just blogged 4 days in a row! I'll have to check to see if that is a record.

Ok - so to answer the question(s) Where are they now? or Whatever happened to ______?

Well, we talk about this topic a lot in the Selfish Knitters group on Ravelry since the question where are they now indicates that you have gifted a handknit away. As in what deems a person knit worthy. Interestingly enough I started knitting for me. Yet, my second knit project was for my sister, clearly a knit worthy person!

To date I've made 3 items for people outside of family. One was a dishcloth for Dish Rag Tag. I did a hat for a friend's little girl. The final was for my nephew's longtime girlfriend...technically, when you've been around that long you are family right?! So maybe I have only knit two items for outside family members.

All of which have been talked about on the blog.

However, back to the question at hand here, Where are they now?

I'm choosing to go way back.

Back to 2007.

My first & second completed knitting project:

Fun Fur Scarves.

One for me, one for my sister.

Yes, I'm publicly posting a picture of two scarves made out of Fun Fur. Come on it was 2007, give a woman a break.

So - where are these scarves now? I haven't worn mine in years, however I still have it. The one on the left was given to my sister, I'm not sure where her scarf is. Maybe I do not want to know!

How far I've come from $1 yarn at a hobby store, to official yarn snob!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Day Three: Tidy mind, tidy stitches

Organization. Depending on who you ask this is my middle name. My stash is no exception.

All of my yarn is cataloged in Ravelry. If I have a specific project in mind for it, the yarn is linked to the pattern.

Last year I participated in the 2010 Flash Your Stash. I took the picture on the right in April 2010.

The bottom one is from March 2011. Hmmm, it seems a little enhancement went on this past year.

Interesting to see some of the same skeins, figuring out the skeins that are no longer in the stash and seeing the new ones. Also, for full disclosure I didn't put all the skeins of the projects I'm currently working on in this photo.
One of the things that stands out at me this year are my purchases from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I did purchase a couple of skeins from Stitches East, then promptly ordered 5 skeins of Sock Candy when I got home. They are all starting the bottom row on the left hand side. The other skeins on the far left are Knit Picks Comfy & Cotlin. They are some of the softest yarn I've held.

As for where I store my yarns. I have this canvas bag from LLBean. The yarn goes into see through plastic bags by weight into this bag.

I am going to guess that 85% of my stash resides in this bag.

I take out all the skeins of yarn for the particular project I'm working on and locate them elsewhere for ease of use. I also keep my leftover yarns if the ball is small enough in mason jars.

If I have a majority of a skein left after a project it goes into a see through bag with all the others and put in a separate tote bag.

Yes, it is my organized stash!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Day Two: Skill + 1UP

I really like this topic today. Each project I do I look to expand my knitting techniques. I try to learn a new pattern, new stitch, technique or just try something different.

My first couple of projects I was working with basic knit & purl to show different patterns. I then learned to knit in the round for my socks. The next few projects were lace and I needed to learn YO's, Inc, KFB etc. Overall, I've feel I've progressed nicely in my learning of new techniques.

This past year I was determined to learn cables as I'm determined to knit myself an Irish Knit sweater this decade. I started learning cable with simply 2 stitches held to the back or front in this scarf;
This was the project I took on vacation with us last year. Unfortunately, it is still a WIP, as I realized when our winter began and my sister's wedding rapidly approaching, I needed to get a couple of other projects finished up.

As you may have read in my blog post from early March that I recently finished my Winter Wonder. This for my was a bit more complicated cable design. I'm so pleased with how it came out!
I feel much more confident in my cable knitting after this project. So, that means I'm on track for that Irish Knit Sweater I promised myself!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Day One: A Tale of Two Yarns

If you've read this blog through the years you already know my love of Handmaiden Sea Silk. I'm allergic to many fibers so I've found this is my favorite in which to knit my many lace projects with. I love the stitch definition it provides, and I find blocking my projects really make them shine. The yarn is just overall a delight to work with!

This is my Handmaiden Sea Silk in the Blackberry colorway.


However, I decided to try the Handmaiden Sea Three. I figure I loved the Sea Silk so much, I would really like this one...it's thicker cousin!

These are two skeins in the Twilight colorway.

It is comprised of the same material, however just spun to a different weight (Aran). I'm not as big a fan of this weight.

I knit my Saroyan Shawl from this and just find it too heavy. While the yarn is lovely to work with and just sails over the needles I'm going to save the rest of my Sea Three for scarves.

There lies my Tale of Two Yarns.

Stay tuned for our topic of the day tomorrow...

Sunday, March 6, 2011

FO Winter Wonder

Well I did it. I finished my Winter Wonder in record time.

This is my first completed cable project. I'm officially
Pattern: Winter Wonder by Irishgirlieknits
Yarn: Berroco Remix
Colorway: Strawberry #3960
Yardage: Skein and a third (still need to weight it to be exact)
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony Circulars US 8

I quickly took this photo in between downpours here today. I tried it on and I hope to order a pin from Designs by Romi that will compliment it well.

The bigger decision is being that it is my first cable project I'd really like to keep it. However, I know someone that it would look fabulous on.

Isn't this always my dilemma with all my finished objects? Is it yours?

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Cranking out cables

I can't believe how fast I'm knitting cables.
Someone suggested that I could be going even faster if I learned to knit without cable needles. I've tried it on this scarf and I just can't get comfortable with it.

Even with using the cable needles I feel I've been really knitting alot this past week (both in speed and time spent). I've been able to knit every night this week and it has helped my stress level tremendously. I'm trying to enjoy it now, as my busiest time period is almost upon me at work and when that happens I barely make it home for supper.

I originally purchased 2 skeins of this Berroco Remix, I'm still on skein one although I'm hoping to make a cowl out of what is left after this project.

Back to knitting...