Felt Like Knitting

WIP Wednesday - 1/6/10

There is a lot of knitting going on here, but since it's spread out over several projects I feel like I'm not accomplishing much.

Tenza Mitts - These are for a Christmas present - so no details available!  :)  But I will tell you that I am loving this project!  They are a fun knit and I love how they look.  (I'll get better photos later when I have a model available.) 

Palindrome Scarf - This scarf is for the Red Scarf Project.  It's the January selection for the Knitspot group's KAL.  Join us if you can!  There is no requirement to knit a scarf each month. I'm using Patons Classic Wool in Rich Red for this project.

Darkside Cowl - There's just something about starting a new project.  Even when I know I shouldn't, I cast on for something new.  The other night at bedtime (my husband is always asking me why I start things so late at night) I cast on for this cowl.  It's been so cold here (like 16 degrees in the morning!) so I've been bundling up when I take Trump outside.  I've never worn a cowl before and thought this would be just the thing for walking the dog.  Plus I'll be able to use up the skein of Malabrigo left over from my Central Park Hoodie!

 

WIP Wednesday - The me edition

           

 

We are all works in progress, right?  Just thought I'd share my new hairstyle with you.  I think this is the trendiest haircut I've ever had.  My old stylist left town so I'm trying someone new.  I really like the cut but may not be able to style it like she did.  I was thinking of starting to color my hair but with this new cut I don't think I will.

 

More important than outside changes are those on the inside, right?  KM recommended a book to me a couple of weeks ago called Crazy Love.  I bought it today and I'm really looking forward to reading this book and seeing how it may change me.  I also bought Forgotten God by the same author. 

 

What are you reading?

WIP Wednesday: December 9

I really enjoyed knitting the One Row Handspun Scarf  for the Red Scarf Project so I cast on for a scarf for myself in the same pattern.  This fall I bought a magenta coat (that I love!) and this should go well with it.  The yarn is Araucania Toconao and it's great to knit with.  The colors were a little prettier before the hank was wound but I still like them.

One more thing about the Red Scarf Project in case you didn't see it on Anne's blog...  Anne is offering prizes if you post a picture of your finished scarf in the Knitspot group red scarf emergency KAL thread on Ravelry.  Also in the Knitspot group, there is a thread asking us to vote for a charity that buys knitting machines for Columbian kids at risk.  Their goal is to "Provide vocational training (couture machine knitting) to teens at risk in Colombian orphanages so that they may become successful entrepreneurs in their communities."  That sounds like a good project!  If this charity wins the contest, the money will help pay for more knitting machines, yarn, and instructors.  We can vote every four hours and the contest ends on 12/10.

This hat is for homeless people being helped by 7 Bridges to Recovery.  I may have mentioned this before, but volunteers from our sister church go to downtown Atlanta every other week to help the folks who live under the bridges and overpasses of Atlanta.  They take food, hygiene kits, and clothes to them.  I hate to admit this but I haven't had enough guts to join them.  But I can knit hats.  Seeing the pictures on the 7 Bridges web site and hearing the stories makes me realize how incredibly blessed I am.  The next time I complain about having to take my dog out at night when it's cold, I'll try to remember my brothers and sisters living under the bridges.

The last WIP is an Everlasting Bagstopperfor Emma.  The yarn is some that I bought on eBay when I first started to knit.  I never could figure out what to make with it but I like it in this bag.  This project has been going on for quite a while so I should really pick it up again.

I think I have some unfinished dishcloths and a couple of UFOs (sock, sweater) but this is about it for the knitting right now.  Good luck with all of your projects!

Edited to add:  Does anyone know how to make distinct paragraphs in Typepad?  The post looks all lined up when I compose (picture on left with text on right and spaces between paragraphs) but then it looks like a staircase when it's published.  I've changed a little of the HTML code but nothing works and I don't know much HTML.

WIP Wednesday - Brambler

            

My goal for this week is to finish Brambler.  I decided to change yarn, so on Saturday I went to a LYS and bought some Shibuiknits sock yarn in Mulberry.  I also bought some Bristol Yarn Gallery Buckingham in a beautiful grayish-blue color (picture coming later).  It's so soft and I thought I might opt to use it for Brambler, but I couldn't resist the beautiful berry color of the Shibuiknits.  The scarf is much farther along than in this picture.  It also has more dog hair on it!  This has been a fast knit and I can't wait to block it.

I know I'll be tempted to cast on for another lace scarf when Brambler is done.  But, I'm going to try to finish up a few things first.  I'm close to being done with the Bubble Bag and the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.  Maybe I can have those finished by next Wednesday, too.

Checking in

Just checking in to share how I did on the WIPs last week:

1)  As you saw in my last post, I did spin the Spunky Eclectic roving by Saturday's class.  I'm having trouble coming up with a pattern for it, though.  It's so bulky that most things I've swatched don't look right.  I'm going to try the Uptown Scarf from Weekend Knitting next.

2)  I think I did work on the hat pattern, but I didn't get it done.

3)  I made it to a LYS for the brown for the Bubble Bag.  They didn't have the other yarn for the Vintage Bubble Bag, though.  I also bought five skeins of Araucania Ranco Multi (color 303).  I had a coupon that expired at the end of the month, so I took advantage of it and bought this yarn for Clapotis.  While I was at the store, there was a tornado warning and bad thunderstorm.  This was not the best environment in which to calculate yardage, so I just bought everything that was in the colorway.  I now think that two skeins may be enough for this project, so I'll probably exchange the other three.

4)  I did knit swatches of the yarns I spun.  In fact, I have two completed hats to show.

                       

                                       baby hat                                     really big hat

You can't tell from the pictures, but the hat on the right is huge.  This thing is loose on me and I have a big head.  This is the hat for my brother and I think his head may be a little bigger than mine.  If not, he may not be able to wear it!

Remember the yarn that I thought would be fingering weight when plied?  I forgot about the "poof factor" and the singles didn't stay as thin as they were on the bobbin.  But I'm happiest with this yarn so far because it's thinner - even if it is still bulky or heavy worsted weight.  I'm looking forward to knitting it! 

                                               

In non-knitting news, E is still sick.  She had improved then relapsed.  Her glands (especially on one side) are really swollen.  We're waiting on some bloodwork results now to figure out what she may have.  It's hard not to worry when your child is sick.

WIP Wednesday - 1/9/08

Thanks for all of the helpful information about address book options!  I'm going to try the 3x5 card system that Randi suggested.  You were all very helpful and I'm glad to know I'm not the only person with address book issues!

We have been very focused on robotics around here lately.  It's been hard to find time to knit, so I'm going to set fewer knitting goals for this week.

Project #1:  Gretel is progressing nicely.  E has decided she wants the slouchy type Gretel, so I've started that section of the pattern.  I added a cable to the needles so I could see the hat better.  This made the top of the hat stand up.  When E tried it on, she looked like Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan on Star Trek!

Project #2:  I didn't get 6 inches of the scarf done, but that's okay.  I'm just happy to have this project back on track again.  It's fun to see all of the color combinations on Ravelry.  I'm tempted to put most of my sock yarn into scarves!  I just wish this project was a bit more controlled.  Using two cakes of yarn isn't always very handy.

Project #3:  I haven't finished the hat sample, but I have made progress and made some modifications to the pattern.  This time I'm knitting the hat in the Vanna yarn I bought a while back.  This color is looking a little too 70s to me.  It looks very similar to the bathroom in my in-laws' old house.  It's going to end up being a child-sized hat.  I'll probably knit another sample in a larger size after this one is done.

Knitting goals for the week:  Work on (and hopefully finish) the hat sample when I need a simple or portable knitting project.  Knit at least a few rows of Ariann when I have time to sit down and concentrate.

WIP Wednesday - 1/2/08

Project #1:  The tubular cast on for Gretel went fine and I'm enjoying knitting this hat.  I did complete my weekly goal, but I haven't felt motivated to knit on it since then.  I think that might be because I have to pay attention to it and I'm not in the mood for that.

This week's goal:  knit through the first part of the instructions.

Project #2:  I went through my stash and made plans for several projects:  Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, Mosaic Mitts from the 2006 IK holiday edition, Felted Retro Chainstitch Bag from Anne Hanson, Koolhaas Hat from the 2007 IK holiday edition, Designer Gloves from Creative Knitting, and Colorwork Hat from IK.

                              

                              

I had frogged the Chevron Scarf because my gauge changed when I switched needles.  So tonight I cast on again with my size 4 Addi Natura needles.

This week's goal:  Knit at least 6 inches on the scarf.  Put the other projects in bags and file them in my yarn closet.  (They are listed above in their proposed order of knitting.)

Project #3:  I completed another sample for my hat pattern.  (This is the third time I've knit it.)  I like the decreases better this time, but the ribbing isn't long enough and the whole hat is a bit short and tight for an adult.  So I'll be frogging and re-knitting it.  I did get the pattern written up so I plan to follow the directions while pretending that I've never knit it before.  Writing a pattern is more time consuming than I thought it would be.

This week's goal:  Knit the hat again while following the instructions.  Edit the pattern.  If the hat is completed, create a PDF of the instructions.

WIP Wednesday - 12/26/07

                         

I was able to accomplish all three knitting goals from last week.  Do you notice anything strange about the mittens?  The one on the right side of the picture was "kitchenered" and the one on the left was finished off using a technique I read about in the Knitting Daily newsletter.  I never thought that the two methods would look different.  I'm not sure why they are since both methods are very similar.  Maybe I did something wrong.  But, my husband doesn't care that they're different so I'm leaving them.  If they were for me, I'd have to rip one out and re-finish it. 

The three dishcloths are for my mother-in-law and they still need to be blocked.  I usually don't block dishcloths, but these need it.

I swatched for my daughter's hat.  The strangest thing happened.  When I started swatching, I kept having to go down in needle size.  Then when I got down to a size 4, I had to go back up.  Last night I got close to the recommended gauge with a size 7.  Very odd.

On to this week's goals...

Project #1:  Cast on and finish at least the ribbing part of Gretel.  I would have cast on last night, but the pattern recommends a tubular cast on, which I've never done.  I was watching King of Kings and didn't think I could concentrate properly.

Project #2:  This isn't technically a knitting project, but it does involve yarn.  in 2008 I want to use up some of my stash and get my yarn into my set of cubbies.  (Right now it's also in bins on the floor.)  So, this week I will go through my stash and make plans on what to knit with the yarn I have.  I'd like to make plans for at least three projects and schedule them for next year.

Project #3:  Work on my hat pattern.  I set this up as a goal for 2007 and haven't yet finished it.  I did knit two prototypes, but haven't completed the pattern.  I'm not yet happy with the decreases.

I liked setting the weekly goals from last week.  It kept me focused and I accomplished more than I would have otherwise.

WIP Wednesdays

Kim wrote today that Anne has started WIP Wednesdays.  Anne sets up to three weekly knitting goals then shows pictures of her works in progress each Wednesday.  This sounds like a great way to stay on track with my knitting, so I'm going to give it a go.  Since I just read about this and I'm not ready with pictures this week, I'll just set my goals.

Project #1:  Knit one or two dishcloths for my mother-in-law for Christmas.  I'm going to try a new pattern from the latest Creative Knitting magazine.  We'll be seeing my in-laws next week after Christmas, so I think this is achievable.

Project #2:  Finish my husband's mittens.  I'm on the straight part of the second mitten, so this is also do-able.

Project #3:  Swatch for Gretel.  I've been swatching with Cascade 220 and I want to finish this up and figure out if it will work.  I really love Ravelry for doing this.  Tonight I searched all the Gretels that had been made from Cascade 220.  How handy!

What knitting do you have planned for the next week?