New Year, New Finished Object

I started these socks right before Christmas. Well, you know how that goes - add hosting Christmas, while still unpacking from moving and well these socks took a month and 2 days to finish.

 Pattern: Plain Vanilla with Fish Kiss Heels
Yarn: Kollage Yarn Luscious
Yardage: 1 skein (used 2 and have abut 1/2 of each left)
Needles: US 1.5mm
Ravelry Page

I really liked this yarn. Since this is my first project using it, I'm curious as to how they will feel on my feet.

This was also my first project using both my Sock Rulers. You can find them here. I've been using one for months now, but for Christmas received another so now no more counting. I knit to the inch mark that works for me and VOILA!

Being that it is the start of a new year I want to think about the new technique I want to learn this year. I was thinking steeking, but not ready for THAT! It might be color work on a pair of socks. I would like to knit a pair that has different color toes, heels and tops. 

Pumpkin Anyone?

This hat caught my eye for a couple of reasons, quick knit and that I have a special 3 year old that could be interested in wearing this.

I showed this special cutie a picture of it in the Knit Simple magazine. I talked about it and how it showed the little boy wearing it and asked her if she wanted one. The reply I got was 'sure', so I said I'll make you one...the reply "make me one Aunt Dawn".

You got it!

I bought the yarn at Northampton Wools. Of which is one of the cutest shops I've been in. I didn't realize it had a whole additional level, of which is a can't miss!

Pattern: Pumpkin Hat #06
Found in Knit Simple Fall 2015
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted & Solids
Needles: US 9
Ravelry Page

Someone LOVED it!

Longest Summer...ever.

I don't think it helped that my knitting project was a shawl, that I HAD to knit, but found it a bit boring.

Don't get me wrong, I really like the knitter that developed this pattern (have knit many of her patterns)...I really like how it came out...it was just the process of knitting it I didn't like.

In the shawl's defense this summer has had us in a tiny house, staring at boxes, trying to patiently (ha!) wait for our new house to be finished.

Please pardon the picture - we have NO space for an indoor photo shoot. Where the right point is a bump in what I was laying it on. I also need to take some better photos, maybe when we are not in the middle of a heat wave.

Pattern: Windward
By: Heidi Kirrmaier
Yarn: Buffalo Wool Sexy
Yardage: ? at the moment
Needles: US 5mm
Ravelry Page

I need to find my scale, so I can weight the skein that is left. I want to make a pair of fingerless mitts.


Now on to a quick knit. Happy knitting!

Finished my striped socks

Hot off the needles!

Pattern: Toe up Socks by Sarah Peasley with Short Row Heels
Yarn: Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso
Colorway: Tiki Bar
Needles: US 2mm
Ravelry Page

Love them!

I thought I was finished back on November 3rd but...

I decided to make these socks longer.

I mean I had the yarn so why not. Right?

So, New Years first project begins with a frogging of an existing project? I think that is what is bothering me so much.

However it didn't take long to add a few more inches and Viola!

I really like this new length for these. The yarn is a bit thicker fingering weight, so it makes for a warmer sock perfect for this time of year.

Now I need to get going on the first 'real' knit of 2015!

Final Project of 2014 and it wasn't my socks

So, you probably know I finished my blueberry socks on Christmas Eve (see prior post). Well, they were not my last project of 2014.

My oldest niece, just a couple of weeks prior, had asked for a pair of fingerless mitts. I think it went something like a FB post stating these are nice looking....how could I resist knitting up a pair.

The pattern in her request and the yarn color wasn't going to work together, so I chose another pattern (took a big risk in this if she was even going to like this) and then had to change the yarn since the swatch I did in the new pattern didn't work well with the yarn (it wasn't going to be warm enough).

Talk about not only changing her requested pattern AND yarn. This might be an epic fail.

Well, we celebrated with her yesterday....I think she likes them. She put them right on and they stayed on for quite a while. Although I forgot to get a picture of her in them!

Heck, she even asked how I did the cabling. Music to this knitters ear!

Pattern: Mom's Cabled Mitts by Jessica Jensen
Yarn: Classic Elite Yarn - Sundance
Colorway: Slate Blue
Yardage: A skein for both (I need to do a final weight of what I have left)
Needles: US 6
Ravelry Page

Having knit 2 pairs of socks in a row in US 1.5 & 2 mm going to this size needles felt like I was working with pencils...although it does make the project go faster!

Since it is the New Year, I need to pick what my 'learn something new' is going to be. I have a couple of ideas, but nothing nailed down yet. Stay tuned!

8PM on Christmas Eve and how is the sock you ask?

Soaking!

Literally.

Moments before the Soak they looked beautiful fresh off the needles!  If you live close by you probably heard the joyful noises of the bind off and final weave in of the ends! I had made it just in time to wear these on Christmas.

Pattern: Toe Up Socks by Sarah Peasley
Yarn: Panda Cotton by Crystal Palace Yarns
Colorway: Blueberries-Grapes
Yardage: TBD (but I'm thinking about 1.25 skeins per socks)
Needles: US 1.5
Ravelry Page

Merry Christmas!

Secret Scarf Knitting

So, I have these two really great friends and I wanted to provide them with a little something knitted for the next time I saw them.

Well, doesn't it figure that our lives were so busy (aka work!) that it had to wait a couple of months. Last night we finally met up and they received these:

Which went from this:

To this (in a few weeks):

Pattern: One Row Scarf by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Pearl
Colorway: 50 Shades of Gray - Anastasia & Christian
Needles: US 6
Ravelry Page

When Lorna's Laces came out with the 50 Shades of Gray, I had to special order it. Jimmy Beans Wool was great in handling it, as I had requested it in the Pearl base - since I'm allergic to wool. It took a few weeks, and then this gorgeous package of yarn arrived.

These are all 5 skeins:

I mean who wouldn't want to share her 50 shades with great friends! You know the kind, they meet you for drinks, send you text messages for support/encouragement, listen to the complaining, talk you off the cliff, share life lessons...you know the kind!

The same that say "I'll have what she is having!"

Now back to regular knitting...

About these socks...

or rather FINISHED socks!

Ok, so I need to tie in the ends and block them. I'm still calling them finished. The yarn you see on the left is the only yarn left.

Pattern: Self improvised, trying on as I went
Yarn: Universal Yarn Bamboo Pop
Colorway; Happy Birdies
Yardage: 292 yards
Needles: US 2
Ravelry Page

These were my 4th pair of socks I've knit. The prior 3 were knit cuff down and I didn't enjoy them very well. I do not care for picking up stitches. However, thank you Sarah Peasley, I've learned how to knit socks toe up and have fallen in love with this method.

I think I'm going to CO a shawl, then another pair of socks. Why not?!

Wet spun linen anyone?

I picked up this yarn when traveling a couple of years ago to Sitka, Alaska.

While it wasn't easy to knit with, the linen is hard on the fingers, I really like how it came out. I didn't at first like the pooling then it grew on me. When I was blocking it this past weekend my husband mentioned it looked like Tartan, I can work with that - in fact I really like it!

The pattern is from a shop we visited when we got back to the lower 48 in Washington. If you are a long term blog reader, it was the same trip we visited Debbie Macomber's shop A Good Yarn and actually ran into Debbie!

Pattern: Bias Before & After Scarf by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas
Yarn: Country Linen by Raven Frog Fiber Arts
Colorway: Raspberry Truffles & Cream
Yardage: ~300 yards (and I used all except 7 inches!)
Needles: US 6, 4 mm
Ravelry Page

Best blanket ever....

when you are sitting in a cold living room, thank you AC!

I've been working on this blanket exclusively since late March. It wasn't one of those things that I would knit on every day...more like if I got a row or two in a week I was okay with that, especially when it hit the center section.

It took about 7 1/2 balls of the yarn, of which was semi-planned. I had originally planned another project for this yarn, however, when this pattern came out from WEBS, I had to knit it! I had 8 skeins in my stash, so I planned the center of the blanket accordingly.

I'm enjoying it during the evening when the AC becomes a little much.

Pattern: Snowdrop Baby Blanket by Kirsten Hipsky (WEBS)
Yarn: Valley Yarns Longmeadow
Colorway: Periwinkle
Needles: US 6, 4mm
Ravelry Page


Now I think this little cutie needs another hand knit something or other.....

Clapotis

I'd been wanting to knit one of these for a really long time. I'll admit I first read the directions when it showed up in Knitty, back  in 2008?, and remember thinking I need to up my skills before I tackle that one.

So, I waited, saw the thousands of knitters knitting them on Ravelry and finally bit the bullet. I can now say that was one of the most fun knits I've done. There is nothing like the feeling you get when you drop your first column of stitches on PURPOSE! You hold your breathe and hope you did it right!

I'm really enjoying wearing this to work, it goes with so many of my clothes, wrap it around your neck with a sweater/skirt and I feel like a million bucks!

Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Great Adirondack Yarn Co. Bamboo Cotton

Yardage: 900 yards
Colorway: Mixed Berries
Needles: US 7mm
Ravelry Page

 Trust me, if you haven't knit one already, what is taking you so long? Knit on!

A really warm cozy

I had originally intended this yarn to be another project, however after I cast on I realized it wasn't meant to be.

I am still blogging about all the knits I did last year, so I can tell you I've worn this all winter long at home. It is the perfect size to wrap around my shoulders, or loop around my neck, either way I'm really warm and the yarn feels heavenly on my skin.

Pattern: Cozy by Danielle Schoonover
Yarn: Great Adirondack Yarn Co. Bamboo Cotton
Yardage: 495, and I used every bit!
Colorway: Victorian
Needles: US 9
Ravelry page

The color alone just goes with anything...perfect to brighten up this long new england winter!

Bakersfield Shawl

So, you all know by reading this blog I have a fondness for Handmaiden Sea Silk. I couldn't resist knitting up this shawl pattern again in it.

Pattern: Bakersfield Shawl by Corrina Ferguson
Yarn: Handmaiden Sea Silk
Colorway: Salt Spray
Needles: US 5mm
Ravelry Page

We spent time last year, over a big birthday of mine ending in 0, in Bermuda. This was the project I chose to bring and knit up during that time. It makes for a wonderful memory!

Purless Pullover

This was a sweater I knit for myself last fall, however I just got around to weaving in the ends.

Pattern: Purless Pullover by Kirsten Hipsky
Yarn: Valley Yarns Goshen
Colorway:  Persmission
Needles: US 8 (I think, I didn't update Ravelry)
Ravelry Page

This is one of the squishiest sweaters I own. Love it!!

Simple Baby Cap

Nothing like whipping out a little baby cap for a precious newborn!

Pattern: Simple Baby Cap by Susan B. Anderson
Yarn: Universal Yarns Cotton Supreme Batik
Colorway: Pink Lemonade
Needles: US 7mm
Ravelry Page

A finished tomato

This was my 2013 goal, to learn colorwork. I got this in right under the wire, as I finished the color section on New Years Eve!

For those of you familiar with Wendy's Tomato pattern, you'll know I really customized this sweater. I added long sleeves, made it more tailored through waist shaping and raised the front collar.

Pattern: Tomato by Wendy Bernard
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca Worsted Cotton
Colorway: Periwinkle & Sleet
Needles: US 8 mm
Ravelry Page

So, as I enjoy the foot of snow falling outside I'm toasty warm today in my sweater!

Candy Cane Hat

I couldn't resist knitting up this cute hat for Lil Miss. She spent a good hour with it on her head last weekend. She played with her dollhouse, looked at pictures of herself on my cell phone, texted with her mommy all while wearing the hat....a winner I say!

Pattern: Candy Cane by Susan B. Anderson
Yarn: Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic
Colorway: White and Pink
Needles: US 7
Ravelry Page

Stepladder Scarf

This was the very first completed knit of 2013.

Pattern: Stepladder Scarf
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Luscious Silk
Colorway: Copperline
Needles: US 7
Ravelry Page

This picture does not do this color justice. It is a beautiful copper orange and the silk is just divine on your neck on a cold winter day here in New England.

Trying this photo for color.

Ahhhh, THAT is more the color.

Vitamin D

2013 was the year I knit my second sweater. I was able to find the perfect yarn in 2012 when I went to Stitches East and visited the WEBS booth.

The linen in the yarn really brought out the stitch definition. I just enjoy the feel of this sweater on my skin. It shows that it is one of my favorite knit items to wear as I probably wear it once a month!

Pattern: Vitamin D by Heidi Kirrmaier
Yarn: Classic Elite Yarn Allegoro
Colorway: Green (although I think more slate blue)
Needles: US 6
Ravelry Page

You really see the short rows I did. I even modified the pattern for more, as I wanted it a little longer than the pattern in my size provided. 

I can't believe I have blogged this much already in January...maybe I have my blogging grove back!