What a ride...

Well, we ended up selling our house in a mere 16 hours. We moved 3 weeks later. I have to admit it was a tough time for me. While I was out straight working, my DH was left to handle the last of the packing, cleaning and unpacking.

We are currently living in a house my family owns. It used to belong to my Gram and Grandpa, so it has so many wonderful and happy memories. While leaving the house I called home for 17 to move into a temporary house was more emotional that I thought it would be, I am grateful we are not in an apartment or worse.

We've been able to fit, into an already furnished home, ALL of our furnishings! No easy task, and we feel cramped and are living out of boxes & off of clothes racks...but again, it could be a lot worse.

Our focus has been on the new house. Every day there is a new development. I went on a business trip for 4 days in early summer and in those 4 days all the framing went up!

The stage we are in right now is the finish stage, painting, molding, flooring then cabinets and counter tops. We hope to be in sometime in early October.

I just hope we both still have our sanity by move in day!

As for the craft front, again glad that knitting can be a relatively small hobby. It doesn't take up much space. I have 99% of my stash in big plastic tubs that isn't readily available, so I preplanned my knitting for the summer.

I kept out the largest single skein I owned out, during our month of staging, and subsequent month of packing up.

That would be Buffalo Wool Sexy, 800 yards. I bought it at the last Stitches East I went to.

Knowing that I wanted to create a shawl and fingerless mitts that matched. I went pattern shopping to find a simpler shawl pattern.

Windward by Heidi Kirrmaier fit the bill!

More details here. It is hard to see the pattern, maybe this weekend I'll ask DH to take a better photo.

Happy Knitting (in cramped spaces)!

A Shawl

I really like this yarn, so every year it is my purchase from Lisa Souza during Stitches East.

This is the one I bought last year and once I found this Raindrops Shawl pattern I knew the two belonged together.

It is funny however, going from knitting socks on a US 2 needles to US 4 feels like knitting with pencils!

Not bad progress for a few days....it does help when you leave the office at a reasonable hour! I love this deep, rich color of burgundy.

Pattern: Raindrops by Irish Girlie Knits
Yarn: Sylvie by Lisa Souza

Back to the needles....

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!

Happy Spring Knitting...

bring on the Spring Shawls...

Pattern: Pettine
Yarn: HandMaiden Sea Silk
Colorway: Bronze
Purchased from: The Loopy Ewe
Yardage: 437 yards (I have about 2 grams left)
Needles: Signature Needles US 6mm
Ravelry Page

I really love how my DH got the colors right on in this photo. That camera for his Christmas gift was a great investment!

As you can tell from my previous shawls I have a thing for the sideways shawls. Maybe it is because I love using every last bit that I can, or the assurance that I will not run out (if I keep weighing it as I go).

Summer Wind FO

Well it certainly helps when you have an extended weekend full of quality knitting time!

This is what my Summer Wind (or wing) looked like heading into this weekend:

here on Monday morning:

and by Monday afternoon:

Pattern: Summer Wind by IrishgirlieKnits
Yarn: Yollage Creamy
Colorway: Coral Shores
Yardage: just under 400 yards
Needles: Signature US 6MM
CO: 268
Ravelry Page

This is is definitely one I'm keeping for myself!

I am going to start back on my afghan squares. Since they feel a bit neglected and well my deadline to finish all the squares will be here in 3 months!

Bakersfield FO

Well, I didn't expect it to take me a week to snap a photo of my finished shawl and post it. Even with these photos I didn't even get a nice shot of the entire shawl.

Pattern: Bakersfield by Corinna Ferguson
Yarn: Panda Cotton
Colorway: Sable
Needles: Signature Needles US 6mm
Ravelry Page

It was a very nice knit, and I'll add a fast knit. These photos really show the middle pooling I ran into. I think it is neat!

I believe this shawl is going to get worn often. I can see it with my black sleeveless dress, around my black riding coat in the fall, inside my winter coat during winter....oh just love the options! The yarn is so soft and swishy.

From one finished object to starting another one...I've already picked out my next project. I recently purchased some Kollage Creamy in Coral.... Remember the scarf I knit for my then nephew's girlfriend? Well, now they are engaged. I loved knitting with that yarn and wanted a project for me.

My Ravelry que brought me back to Irishgirlieknits' Summer Wind pattern.

LOVE!

Bakersfield Shawlette

I started this shawl last week. I wanted to do a sideways shawl and in searching my Ravelry Que, I noticed a few patterns from this designer. So, I purchased all her patterns in an e-book.

I have had this Panda Cotton yarn in my stash for a couple of years now (yes I admit that!). I thought the colors would work with a nice black sweater and/or blouse that I own or even a dressing up to my black jacket during the fall.

My concern was knitting a sideways shawl up with a yarn that has a bit of elastic in it. I was concerned about how the edges could curl.

....so I blocked it early on Saturday and put it in front of a fan.

It did retain it's shape well, so onward I went.

This is what it looked like by Saturday night (in all fairness all day on Saturday was primary spent knitting

Today I was hoping to get it finished, however there were others things to do. (like all those items I failed to do on Saturday!)

The way this is knitting up I'm sure I'll have it finished in a day or two.

Pattern: Bakersfield
Yarn: Panda Cotton
Colorway: Sable
Needles: Signature US 6mm

Mystery Shawlette KAL Finished

What a fun shawl to knit! It was also the quickest, I started it on May 22 and finished it on June 4.

 

Pattern: Mystery Shawlette by Wendyknits
Yarn: Handmaiden Sea Silk
Colorway: Ocean
Needles: Signature US 6, 24" circulars


Now back to knitting my squares for my afghan...or another shawl...

Mystery Shawlette KAL Part 2

Well, I finished part 2 this morning.

Here is what it looks like on the needles:

Then, with a few pins to show the design:

Since part 3 (which includes 70+ rows!) was already released on Thursday, I'm going to be knitting quite a bit this weekend. Well, after the chores are done. You know the weed maintenance, house cleaning, grocery shopping, planting the window boxes & front pots....

Good thing I have 4 days off in a row!!

Mystery Shawlette KAL Part 1

I just completed Part 1. This is what it currently looks like:

 The following photo is a much more accurate color representation. The Sea Silk is going to make the stitches look fabulous when I block it out...

Wendy already released Part 2 this morning. You can find it here.

So far I'm liking what I see.

Mystery Shawlette KAL

I decided to join my first KAL. It is called the Summer Mystery Shawlette by Wendyknits.

This is what it currently looks like after my CO and 2 set up rows. The next 12 rows (part 1/chart A) were issued yesterday, however I am going to start those tomorrow night.

Pattern: Summer Mystery Shawlette
Yarn: Handmaiden Sea Silk
Colorway: Ocean
Needles: Signature US 6 - 24" (US 8 to CO)

Come join us here.

Has it really been 20 days...

since I last blogged? Well, there have been some big events in the past couple of weeks.

First there was a wedding shower;

 a night out with the bride;

a fabulous meal out with said bride (me and my sister);

 (yes that would be my Multnomah shawl)

 and a total of 34 inches of snow in the past 2 weeks;

I was able to take that photo this afternoon. I'm glad we do not have any close neighbors that would have seen me sticking my head and camera out the window!

Phew!

Unfortunately, even with all that snow, I still had to make it into work, so I just started back on the shrug today. I need to work quickly as the wedding is in 3 weeks!

A finish Multnomah

I loved this pattern. In fact I had a hard time stopping.

Here is it blocking. I am going to block it a second time to even the YO's down the center.

Pattern: Multnomah
Yarn: Handmaiden SeaSilk
Colorway: Cosmic Dawn
Purchased from: The Loopy Ewe
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony US 4mm
Link to my Ravelry Project Page

Here is what it looks like on:

See what I mean about need to block it again. The top YO's need to be opened a bit more. I would recommend this pattern to anyone who wanted to try a lace pattern. It was easy to memorize and like I said I wanted to keep going...maybe I should have.

Multnomah Progress

I'm cruising right along on my Multnomah Shawl.

Here is the lace detail a little closer:

I LOVE how it appears there are waves. I hope to have this finished in a couple weeks.

Cosmic Dawn

I was searching through Ravelry and came across a pattern called Multnomah. I knew when I saw it that my Handmaiden Sea Silk in Cosmic Dawn colorway would be perfect.

Cast off I do:

Love it!

So, what were you doing last night?

Watching tv, browsing the internet, shopping,...well, I was staying up past my bedtime determined to finish my Sweet Jazz scarf.

Here she is this morning, bright and early:

Final cast off was at 10:26 PM last night!

Here is my Sweet Jazz tonight being blocked:

 "C"..she is all done! (dorky - yes I know, but since blogger likes to rotate my photos every once in a while I couldn't resist on this one) Isn't she beautiful? I can't wait to wear her.

I hope to have some better photos this weekend, if the weather will cooperate.

I'm loving how this came out. In fact, I'm seriously thinking about knitting this pattern again. I have another pattern I want to cast off first, however I'm keeping this pattern in my Ravelry que line!

My plan to cast off on my Just Enough Ruffles scarf tonight, however we will see.

Tonight, it is early to bed!

Sweet Jazz

Beyond my Just Enough Ruffles Scarf/Shawl I've also been working on Sweet Jazz. I've found that if I work too long on a worsted weight yarn my hand tend to cramp and I need a smaller needle/finer yarn to work out the cramps.

Odd, yes I know. I can't help but think it has something to do with my being more comfortable working with lace weight yarns. However, who really knows.

A closer look:

Pattern: Sweet Jazz by Samantha Roshak (love her patterns!)
Yarn: SR Kertzer On Your Toes Bamboo
Colorway: Marti Gras
Purchase from: The Loopy Ewe
Needles: US 5 Knit Picks Harmony Circulars
Yardage: Pattern calls for approximately 500 yards

I really enjoy the patterns that Samantha creates. She works in short rows, along with a m1r and m1l for increases. Once you get the ease of picking up the correct stitch to m1 these stitches are a piece of cake.

She also writes out her patterns as well as charts them, so they are helpful to all knitters with a particular preference.

I find it funny that when I started knitting I couldn't stand long rows of purling, however I've become to like this. It makes for the perfect TV knitting.

After having worked on this for 5 days I'm now here:

That would be 8 rows away from a FINISHED OBJECT!

Just Enough Ruffles Progress

I've been working on my ruffle scarf lately. It is just flying on the needles...that worsted weight yarn on US 8 needles really helps.

I only have 2 rows then bind off. I'm debated on whether I should make the ruffle a little larger. I do have enough yarn.

What do you think?