FOs: Serpentine Mitts & Purl Beret...

Last FOs of 2008.



Pattern: Serpentine Mitts by Miriam L. Felton
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Baltic Sea (.5 hank)
Needle: US 1 / 2.25 mm Susan Bates aluminum DPNs
Time: 1 week




Pattern: Purl Beret by Isabelle from Purl Soho
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi in Baltic Sea (.75 hank)
Needle: US 2 / 2.75 mm Clover bamboo DPNs
Time: 2 weeks

Notes:

I finished these in November before things got really crazy at work. I knit the mitts a little tighter since my hands are fairly small, so they're nice and snug. Usually my mitts and armwarmers are a little too loose. The beret is nice and floppy but the brim might be too loose. I'm thinking about getting some elastic thread and weaving it through so it stays on my head better.

Overall, these two projects were quick and simple, and they got quite a bit of wear for a few weeks before freezing temperatures hit.

FO: Caps Scarf...

It's hockey season!



Pattern: My own--Washington Capitals Scarf
Yarn: Cascade 220 wool in red and blue (1.5 hanks each), Vermont Organic Fiber Company O-Wool in natural (.25 hank)
Needles: US7/4.5mm KnitPicks Options
Time: 2 months



Notes:

- Failed Ravelympics project (but at least it was done in time for the start of the regular hockey season)
- First time double knitting
- First time doing substantial duplicate stitching

There are a few things I would do better if I were to do this over again. For starters, I'd use a lighter yarn. This scarf is thick and heavy, and it turned out wider than I would have liked. I'm also not quite sure about the quality of the duplicate stitching. Other than that, I'm pretty happy.

I'll definitely take what I've learned from this project for a Montreal Canadiens scarf. And since the Habs are #1 in my heart, it'll have to be *just* right. =)

FOs: Tuxedo Shirt and Baudelaire...

A bit of catch up.



Pattern: Sleeveless Tuxedo Shirt by Theresa Schabes from Interweave Summer 2007
Yarn: Jaeger Java; 4.5 skeins
Needles: US3/3.25mm Susan Bates Silvalume circs
Buttons: La Mode buttons from Exquisite Fabrics in DC
Time: ~1 month for knitting, another 2 months before I finally got buttons and sewed them in.
Mods: Shortened the body a bit and lengthened the straps since I wasn't sure if I had enough yarn.

Notes:

I finished knitting this in June, got the buttons soon after, and it was another couple months before I got around to finishing. This top didn't really appeal to me once the knitting was done, even after blocking. As a result, I kind of lacked the motivation to finish. I finally got around to sewing the buttons and weaving in ends this weekend and now, I love this top. I will definitely wear this quite a bit. Amazing what those finishing touches can do.

---------



Pattern: Baudelaire by Cookie A. from Knitty Summer 2006
Yarn: Koigu KMP in royal purple (2 hanks)
Needles: US1/2.25mm Susan Bates aluminum DPNs
Time: 1 month of commute knitting

Notes:

I *heart* this pattern, and I *heart* these socks. I've done the usual cuff-down socks, toe-up socks with short row heels, socks on DPNs, socks on two circs, and I've decided that toe-up socks with gusset heels on DPNs are my favorite technique. Normally I get bored knitting socks but this is my second pair of toe-up with gusset/heel flap. They maintain my attention, and they don't take ages to complete.



And, of course, I like almost anything that's purple.

---------

I've also been crazy enough to join the Ravelympics. Well, at least I'm crazy enough to knit a reversible Washington Capitals scarf in the the style of soccer scarves. BTW, did I mention I've never done double knitting before? And that I have a crazy work schedule? And that I'm totally making this up as I go along? Yeah...

FO: Wing Top...

Pattern: Wing Top by Kate Gilbert, Interweave Knits Summer 2007
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Silk (5 balls)
Needles: US9/5.5mm KnitPicks Options
Time: 2 weeks
Mods: Omitted last set of decreases around the bust to make it ~31" instead of 30"; adjusted for row gauge difference in the body.

Notes:

I bought the yarn from Stitchy Witch in a recent destash. It's really soft and drapey. Definitely a yarn that needs to be swatched and washed as it fluffs up pretty well. I did knit this a needle size smaller than the ball band recommends even though my tension tends to hit slightly tighter than ball band gauge. I noticed the drap and knew the fabric would be floppy, for lack of a better word. I probably could have knit the 30" size as is but when I didn't like how the swatch looked when I stretched it a couple inches so I took out the last set of decreases to make it 31".

The top stays up pretty well. The loop through which the scarf is threaded is pretty snug, which makes a pretty sturdy strap. This is definitely a top I could wear dressed down with jeans or dressed up with a nice skirt. I also think the neutral brown color works nicely with the unique construction of the top.

My parents just came back from trip to Hong Kong, so I'm expecting some yarn goodies soon. As a result, I've been working through stash knitting up the projects I've had in the queue as well as finding projects for the leftover yarn that's been marinating since the original projects were completed. I'm currently using the leftover yarn from Orangina (yarn from Mom's *last* trip to HK) for the Sleeveless Tuxedo Shirt from Interweave Knits Summer 2007. Hopefully I'll have enough yarn but I have a couple ideas of how to improvise.

FOs: Tilted Duster and Lace Ribbon Scarf

Pattern: Tilted Duster by Norah Gaughan from Interweave Knits Fall 2007
Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 Wool (12 skeins)
Needles: US9/5.5mm KnitPicks Options
Time: 1.5 months
Mods: Only used 3 buttons instead of 4--Two nice ones on the outside and a clear, inside button

Notes:

I *heart* this duster. It's so soft and cozy. Just right for my heavily air conditioned office. About halfway through the skirt, I realized that I originally intended to make the 36" size (this one is 32") to accommodate layering. Now I have two extra skeins. Given how warm this is, I'm okay with the smaller size because I'd only wear it over a T-shirt.



Pattern: Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery from Knitty Spring 2008
Yarn: Spinning Yarns in "Mulberry Bush" (1 hank)
Needles: US4/3.5mm Addi Turbos
Time: 2 months of commute knitting

Notes:

I love how this scarf turned out. The whole time I was knitting this, I didn't realize that the colors were making a zig-zag pattern. I noticed it when I laid it out to dry after washing. It's about 8 feet long. Also, way easy to memorize for mindless commute knitting.

FO: Drops Eskimo Jacket...

Smurfy.



Pattern: 103-1 Jacket in Eskimo or Silke-Alpaca with A-shape by DROPS design
Yarn: Gjestal Naturgarn No. 1 (5 hanks)
Needles: US11/8mm KnitPicks Options
Time: 2 weeks

Notes: I *love* this jacket. As I was knitting it, I wasn't sure how the smurfy blue would look, but the color grew on me. Very easy, quick knit and very cozy. There are some parts of the pattern that are a bit vague, but as long as you keep notes on where you are and what you're doing, it works out.

I'm trying to work my way through my immediate queue (i.e. the projects that already have yarn for them) and, by extension, my stash. On the needles at the moment is the Tilted Duster. The pieces are going pretty quickly, but I imagine the skirt will slow down progress. Venezia has been stalled mainly because I'm color-worked out. I'm hoping to get back into it soon, but it doesn't look too likely at the moment.

In the not-so-immediate queue, I've added Coraline by Ysolda. There's also a familiar link in the pattern. It's nice to know that something I put together can be helpful.

FO: Wren...

Pattern: Wren by the Berroco Design Team
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool in Leaf (4.5 skeins)
Needles: US5/3.75mm Addi Turbos; US7/4.5mm KnitPicks Options
Time: ~6 weeks
Mods: Made the sleeves longer

Notes: I finished this the middle of last month and only got around to blogging about it now. I'm kind of meh with the end product. Ultimately this cardi will get quite a bit of wear because of its simplicity. It just didn't quite turn out the way I'd hoped. I think the biggest issue is the collar. I knit this a size bigger (I was exactly the smallest size) for layering purposes. Maybe that's the reason why the collar seems so big? I'll also need to find something to secure the front. I'm using a cable needle in the photo.

Currently working on the Drops Eskimo jacket with a chunky, smurf blue yarn I got from Springwater Fiber Workshop's Superbowl sale. It's a pretty fast, mindless knit so far and I still have enough for another sweater. only one week into it and I've already got the body pieces finished. I'm about halfway through the sleeves (working both at once) now.

FO: Squirrely Swedish Mittens...

My WIP pile is now down to two.



Pattern: Squirrely Swedish Mittens by Elli Stubenrauch (Elliphantom Knits)
Yarn: Schoeller & Stahl Fortissima Socka in green and pink (1 skein each)
Needles: US1.5/2.5mm Addi Turbos
Time: 3 weeks, on and off
Mods: Knitted hem, added braids, fewer snowflake repeats

Notes: I started using this long tail CO method for knitting a hem on Venezia. I like it so much that I used it for the mittens. Provisional cast ons tend to take me a few tries to before I have something workable, which gets tiring, so I'm glad that it's possible to pick up and knit together stitches from a long tail cast on edge. I also added braids to the cuff using this tutorial. It was slow to work on the first mitten but by the second I breezed through those rounds.

My gauge was a little off, probably because the needles are a tad larger than called for. The colors are nice, but they're not very "me". I'm going to find a friend I can gift these to.

FOs: Boteh and Monkey

Trying to make up for lost time...



Pattern: Boteh Scarf by Kathy Merrick from Interweave Crochet Spring 2007
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Red Rover (2 hanks)
Hook: F/5/4mm Boye aluminum
Time: 1 week
Mods: Gauge was tighter than specified so I crocheted 4 extra triangles for a total of 20 to reach the desired length.



Notes: My first real crochet project! I figured it out sometime last year, mainly because I really liked the Boteh Scarf. The yarn was originally knit into a mini Sarcelle that just turned out too short. It makes a nice Boteh, though. This was an easy pattern to crochet (note: there is errata for this) and made for nice instant gratification.

And I finally got the Monkey off my back...



Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A. from Knitty.com
Yarn: Southwest Trading Co. TOFUtsies color #722 (1 skein)
Needles: US1.5/2.5mm DPNs]
Time: 5 months
Mods: Altered pattern to be knit toe-up, short row heels, knee-length (because the yarn would not end), increases for calf shaping

Notes: These are *finally* done. I pretty much got tired of their unfinished state and the slow progress due to making them exclusive travel knitting, so I devoted some time after the Boteh Scarf specifically to finishing these socks. I wanted to use up as much of the yarn as possible, which is why they're toe-up and knee length. One skein of TOFUtsies goes a long way (I wear a US 7 shoe in case anyone was wondering just how far). I still have a bit left over but that probably would have taken me closer to the knee than I'd like.

For the calf increases, I basically added a couple stitches per lace repeat over four rounds, which enlarged the overall lace pattern (i.e. each repeat has 4 rounds of eyelets originally, this went up to five after increasing). I also knit the ribbed cuff about half an inch longer than called for.

For some reason the color pattern on the second sock flashed instead of striped until I started the calf shaping. This one feels looser than its mate so maybe my gauge changed slightly for the first half and then tightened up. I did knit half of this second sock while on a couple hours of sleep and jet lagged. The latter half I did at home. Oh well. I'm just glad these are finally done.

FO: Fireside Stocking...

I haven't posted since September? Seriously? Oops.



Pattern: Fireside Stocking by Kate Gilbert from Interweave Knits Holiday 2007
Yarn: Dale of Norway Svale in white (2), dark purple (1), light grey (1); Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Cotton in purple (1), navy (1), blue (1)
Needles: US5/3.75mm Denise Interchangeables
Time: 1 month
Mods: Lined the inside, knit niece's name in top, used fabric scraps for hanger

Notes: I started this mid-November and finished it mid-December. Early enough to mail out to my new niece. I wasn't too picky about the yarn selection. Just went with something that was a similar weight and in the colors I wanted, which is why I used two different brands of cotton. The pattern was hard to get into at first, but once I got the hang of it the knitting was a breeze.

For stability, I lined the stocking with a striped cotton fabric in similar colors.



My best hand-sewing job. Ever. Still wish I had a machine, though.

PROJECT UPDATE!!!

After knitting all the pieces for the hooded jacket, I realized that I wasn't in love with it anymore. I was pretty sure I wouldn't wear it, either, so I frogged everything. The yarn will be turned into Wren.

I am nearly done with the Monkey socks! I have one sock done, and I'm halfway through the second sock. They're taking a while because I've been knitting them while traveling only. And they go up to my knees.

I have two sleeves and a bit of the body done for Venezia. I'm liking my decision to do it in three colors:



For instant gratification and because I was inspired by a week of sub-freezing temperatures, I knit a Squirrelly Swedish Mitten. Note the singular tense. I'm a little color-worked out at the moment. I plan to get to the second mitten after finishing my next instant gratification project:

The Boteh Scarf. I figured out how to crochet at some point last year. Now I'm putting it to good use. I frogged my Sarcellette after I came to terms with the fact that it's too short. The yarn makes a nice Boteh Scarf, though.

Hope everyone had a Happy New Year, and I'll try to update this more.