Finished Objects

I am overdue on posting some finished objects! I completed them a while ago. But things just keep popping up that need my attention. So I hadn't gotten the chance til now.

Sad thing is, I have another FO that I haven't taken pics of. Not to mention some stash that I got at the Smiley's sale. Between work and baby/pregnancy stuff, there aren't enough hours in the day! amnesia

Gothic Temptress Socks

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Cast On:
April 4 2009

Completed:
May 10 2009

Pattern:
Gothic Temptress by Janine Le Cras (Ravelry Only)
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gothic-temptress

Made for:
Me

Size:
9" circumference, 9 1/4" long

Needles:
US 1 1/2 / 2.5 mm Knitpicks Options & Harmony
2 socks on 2 circs

Yarn:
Knit Picks Essential in Black
3 skeins = 693.0 yards (633.7m)
Purchased at Knit Picks
http://www.knitpicks.com

I cast these on for April Sock Knitters Anonymous KAL. It fits both pattern possibilities. It is knee high and under appreciated.

I picked up the yarn especially for this pattern. I looked forward to making them. They were an easy knit as there is a lot of stockinette. So it definitely helped. But given they are knee highs, they still took a while.

I also am glad they fit both criteria as I could run out of yarn before I get to knee highs. I have big calves! Luckily, I didn’t run out and they go all the way to the knees.

I added extra stitches to the increases to help them fit my calves. So I ended up with about 10-12 more stitches than the pattern called for. It was easy to do given that they are toe-up. So I just kept trying them on, adding increases as needed.

I put elastic at the top edge to help them stay up. And I am very glad I didn't sew the picot edging at the top too tight. They fit well.

I need to buy the ribbon to lace through the back. I like the way they look even without that. But the ribbon will make them really special.

It is so hard to show the detail with black yarn. There is a picot edging at the top and there are some cables that form Os where the ribbon will be laced.

All in all, a satisfying finished project.


February Baby Bonnet

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Cast On:
May 8 2009

Completed:
May 9 2009

Pattern:
Taken from imajypsee’s february baby bonnet project (Ravelry Only):
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/imajypsee/february-baby-bonnet

Made for:
Kiddle

Needles
US 4 / 3.5 mm Knitpicks Options

Yarn:
Knit Picks Shine Sport in Cherry
~0.5 skeins = 55.0 yards (50.3m)
Purchased at Knit Picks
http://www.knitpicks.com

I wanted a matching hat for the February sweater I made for the kiddle on the way. I thought the picture showed one. It did. But of course it being Elizabeth Zimmermann, she didn't say how. Just that she knit it. *sigh*

Luckily, during my grumblings about EZ, Silvercat pointed out that some on Ravelry had probably already come up with a pattern for it. A search on February bonnet in projects in Ravelry turned up many projects. The one I liked best was one by imajysee. She was kind enough to put the instuctions in her project description. So I was off and knitting.

Given the size, it was a quick knit. And it is a good, straight forward pattern. I love the way it came out.

And yes, I know Bear's ears ruin the lines of it. But the kiddle won't be out til Sept.. So I will have to wait for her to wear it. *grin* And Bear is a very patient model.

There is more I should share. But if I do not post this, I don't know when I will. And it might wait around several more days! So two finished objects down. Still have another I need to take pics of as well as some yarn pics. Whee.

First Baby Sweater for Kiddle & WIPs

First Baby Sweater for Kiddle

Cast On:
April 21, 2009

Completed:
May 2, 2009

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Pattern:
February Baby Sweater on Two Needles by Elizabeth Zimmermann
from Knitter's Almanac

Made for:
My Baby Girl Kiddle Due in Sept. - Size 0-6 months

Needles:
US 4 / 3.5 mm Knitpicks Options

Yarn:
Knit Picks Shine Sport in Cherry Colorway
2.5 skeins = 275.0 yards (251.5m)
Purchased at
Knit Picks http://www.knitpicks.com

First project I am knit for my baby girl kiddle due in Sept.. I am so excited to be knitting baby clothes.

I got the Shine Sport as it is machine wash. I figured it made sense to use it on the infant stuff as it will probably still be pretty warm in Sept.. Then again, you never know!

EZ doesn’t mention adding buttonholes until the pattern started. So I didn’t put any in for the garter rows. I just decided to put an icord tie at the neck instead. I like the way it looks.

I love that is the first baby sweater for my little girl to come!

I do seem to struggle with EZ's patterns though. The way she writes things doesn't make sense to me sometimes. For instance, for the sleeves, she says knit 4" with a 1" garter stitch border. However, it isn't clear if that means it is 4" or 5" total. I went with 5" based on another baby sweater I knit. I figure if they are long they can be cuffed.

She also just assumes you know you should be putting in buttonholes all along the way. I recall from the Tomten that I should read the entire pattern before I start. But I can't seem to translate in my head what it means. I can read it, but it doesn't make sense to me. So I tend to work along the pattern and the find that there was something she wanted me to do! *chuckle*

Either way, it is a pretty sweater. And it will look great on the little one.

I am going to do the matching bonnet which being EZ it is shown but no clear instructions given. Luckily, Jamie/Silvercat pointed out that someone on Ravelry has probably already figured out how to do it. And she was right. There were a few different ones, but I liked this one the most. http://www.ravelry.com/projects/imajypsee/february-baby-bonnet (sorry Ravelry only link)

Works in Progress

I am not sure what should go on my needles next other than the baby bonnet. I do want to cast on an EZ baby surprise jacket. But I am not sure what yarn I want to use for it. Also, two EZ patterns back to back might drive me bonkers!

I have two pairs of socks on the needles currently. That is a rarity. I usually just stick to one pair at a time.

One are the Gothic Temptress socks. I love them, but they are knee socks and took forever to knit. I only have to bind off the edge, then fold over and attach for a picot edge. I will use EZ's sewn bind off so they are nice and stretchy. Though I confess I am worried about sewing the top over to create the picot edging. If it is too tight, they won't stretch enough. I am going to have to just be careful and perhaps leave more yarn than I would think was wise.

I also cast on a sock pattern that my mother-in-law got me while she was in England. I have been wanting to cast these on for a while, but hadn't yet. The Sock Knitters Anonymous KAL for April was underappreciated patterns (or a couple other options). The Gothic Temptress socks are for the April KAL as there were less than 15 in Ravelry. The Wensleydale Lace sock pattern wasn't even in Ravelry. So it definitely fit into that category. So I cast them on April 30th. I have til the end of this month to finish them for them to be included. Though I am aware I might not make it. Especially not with the baby knitting I want to do.

But either way, I want to make them. The yarn is this lovely Schaefer Heather that is superwash, silk & nylon. It has such a beautiful shimmer. And with the laciness of them, they should make nice summer socks.

The yarn I was talking about:

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The SKA KAL for May was cables or a designer who only has one free pattern. I confess that I don't really see cables as spring socks. And I don't buy really buy individual patterns. So I figured it made sense to have a pair of socks I wanted to do. If they get done in time, great! If not, I will still have a lovely pair of socks.

I have rambled enough for today!

Works in Progress

Just wanted to update about my works in progress. It has been a while since I posted about them.

St. George Dragon Scarf

Cast On:

April 24 2008

Pattern:

Morehouse Puff the Merino Dragon Scarf

http://www.morehousefarm.com/KnittingKits/Scarves/Dragon/

Needles:

US 8 / 5.0 mm bamboo dpns

Yarn:

Morehouse Farm Merino Merino 3-Strand in Cardinal

3 skeins = 420.0 yards (384.0m)

Purchased at:

Morehouse Farm Merino

http://www.morehousefarm.com

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Cast on for St. George's feast. *grin*

I ordered another kit as it was on sale. I had figured I would cast it on at some point. Then my hubby read me something my mother-in-law wrote him. She was wondering what dragons do on St. George's feast day. *laugh* I love the woman... *grin*

So it seemed only right to cast on the scarf.

I have only done a little so far. But I recall why I like the pattern. It is actually pretty simple once you understand the basic repeats.

I still miss my first one, Dracul. *sniffle* I lost him on the PATH train last fall. The problem was he was too short. So he kept falling off me.

This time I picked up an extra skein of the yarn. I intend on doing more repeats & making it wider at the top. It will be interesting to tweak the pattern to get it wider.

I also am doing it on size 8 needles this time. I did my first one on size 10s because I was knitting so tight. However, I want this one to be tighter, thus denser.

Though I have to be careful... This yarn breaks...a lot. In the first 2 repeats, the yarn has broken three times. I will have to loosen up on my stitches. The good news is that wool sticks to itself. So I just rejoin the yarn. But it does mean working back.

I confess I don't see how this yarn is three ply. I find it is sorta loose and there isn't much ply to it at all. Guess it is just my tight knitting coming back to bite me. *laugh*

Edited here: Pattern is spoke for. Thanks for the interest.

Xmas Tomten for Trinity

Pattern:

Modular Tomten Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann

Needles:

US 10 / 6.0 mm Knitpick Options

Yarn:

Lion Brand Lion Suede Solid in Teal

Maybe 5 skeins = 610.0 yards (557.8m)

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I started this before leaving for my work conference. I wanted something simple to knit during the meetings. It definitely fits the bill with this.

I am thinking I might learn to do some crochet stitches to border the edges. It could look pretty.

Knitting it for Trinity, my grandniece (no, not that old, just have nephews around my age). I suspect it will be too large. But she can grow into it. At 4 months she was 20 pounds! So she is growing fast.

I admit I wouldn't have bought this yarn except for it was $0.99 a skein at a local store. So I figured it would be good for some baby stuff.

I dislike knitting it honestly. It isn't a yarn I would buy again. It sticks. A lot.

But I think her mom will like it. The yarn is very soft and fuzzy. And machine washable. So I am guessing it will be a good present.

It is nice getting a jump on holiday knitting. I figure this way it is very relaxed. I will probably knit a matching hat as part of the pressie.

Blue Jeans Lace Leaf Shawl

Pattern:

Ble Jeans Lace Leaf Shawl

http://whatgivesblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/blue-leave-shawl-pattern-remember-this.html

Yarn:

Malabrigo Yarn Lace in Azalea

I am also still working on the Blue Jeans lace shawl. It is about 60% done. I only have 8 more of the 35 repeats to go. But I am feeling less into it these days. I don't know why I am stalling a bit on this. Though I am going to knit some in the car for the road trip.

I think part of it is about the fact that each row takes a long while to complete. So if I have to stop in the middle of the row it is a bit of a headache.

The strangest part is I have three projects on the needles and NONE are socks!! It is sooooo weird. *laugh*

I have to scoot! Off for my fifth anniversary weekend. Can't wait.