Four at a time!

Yikes! I am busy. I am working on all these at the same time. I am almost done with the ribbing on the bottom of my sweater. Can't wait to to start the endless miles of mindless knitting of the body of the sweater!

I started Sam's Syracuse hat. This is the start of the blue hat. It will be 2 hats in 1. A full blue hat and a full orange hat that will be reversible with either an orange brim or a blue brim. I am trying to get it done by October so I can bring it to him in October for parents weekend. I hope he likes it. 

The second bird nest is coming along. It's taking way longer than the first one. I want to make like 10 of them and send half to wildlife places in Madison and California. It makes me feel better to knit for animals than people. Animals can't hurt your feelings if they don't use the nests. Mothers who won't let their kid wear what you make hurts my feelings. I want to make hats for the babies and toddlers and 1-2 year olds in church but I'm afraid they won't like them and the kid won't wear it. I want to use the 5 skeins I have of this yarn for the nests up.  

The sock is coming but it is really slow going even if it was the only thing I was knitting. Fingering weight yarn and size 1 needles are slow going. But so far so good.

Back to knitting.....

Sweater beginnings

I have started the sweater. 337 stitches on the needle. The green and orange stitch markers mark off every 20 stitches. Those will come off as the ribbing starts, it starts from the bottom so the bottom ribbing will be done first. Then it gets worked up to the underarms. I will post pictures along the way. I have no idea how long this will take as this is the first sweater I've ever knit and it is the biggest project yet I have undertaken. I am nervous. Will it really fit? Will it be way to big or to tight? According to the website it is supposed to be a custom fit. We shall see. Slightly skeptical and yet hopeful. Spent a lot of money on the yarn and the pattern. The pattern itself is 9 pages long! Off I go to join in the round and start the ribbing. Wish me luck!

Sweater rough start

I have cast this sweater on 3 times and it is not cooperating. First time I tried to join it in the round. I think I managed to do it without twisting but the join was not good. Plus I ended up with 7 more stitches than I should have. I ripped it out. The second time I decided to knit it flat. Somehow ended up joining in the round and it was twisted. Plus both of these times the ribbing didn't look right. I'm not used to dealing with 334 stitches at the same time. I got frustrated, put it in the corner to think about what it's doing to me. I decided to start a sock. 

Attempt number 3 seems to be it. It feels good to have some knit rows undertaken hands as I knit. It makes me excited but these rows are long. I decided to knit the ribbing flat instead of in the round. The picture doesn't show it but trust me, it is. I need 2-1/2 inches of ribbing before I can start the body. I only have 3/4 of an inch so far. Here is a picture:

I also started a sock while this was in time out. I am excited for these as well. I am knitting these on size 1's the smallest I've ever done but they should be warm! They are slow going because of the small needle and the sweater. I am hoping to have the pair done by November. Here's a pic of the toe:

I will ost again when I am ready to start the body of the sweater.

Happy days

This has been a good knitting month for me. First was Maryland Sheep and Wool.  How cool to visit over 125 vendors and all the sheep. Plus share the weekend with over 50,000 people! I do want to go back, but in a few years. It takes hundreds of dollars to buy what you want without much worry about a budget. But, I also had specific things I wanted like a set of needles and cashmere that cost quite a bit. It was very worth it though!

The other happy thing is this picture.

This was the hat I made for my niece. It looks great and it looks big enough. I am soooo happy with how it looks. This may be my go to baby hat pattern. The yarn may also be my go to for baby hats in the future.

The last happy day was going to a yarn shop in Pittsburgh where I was "professionally" measured in order to knit myself my first sweater. Here is a picture of what I want.

I want something so simple I will have a hard time messing it up. All it is is stockinette stitch for the body and ribbing for the collar, waist and wrists. I can do that! The reason I am getting measured is because there is a program developed called Custom Fit. You go to a yarn store where the workers have been trained to correctly and thoughly measure you. Then they put all the info in the computer and say what kind of sweater you want, how long you want it, if you want positive or negative ease, do you want to knit it in pieces or in one piece without seaming it? Then you pay $11.00. If I buy the yarn at the shop, I get $10 off the cost of the yarn. I had the money so I bought the yarn. 

Then you go home and knit a swatch to determine what size needle you want to use based on the thickness of the fabric you made. You wash it, dry it and bring it back in. 

They measure your swatch (they explained it but I still don't quite understand it. Something about knitting to your gauge and not the gauge of a typical pattern) and put in more info and then finally print out a pattern for which you pay $10.00.

Ok ok so it's not a cheap process. But if I 

can make a sweater I love it will be worth it.

The yarn I choose is from American Columbian breed sheep that live and graze in Oregon. The coolest thing is I will be knitting with the same yarn (but different weight) that the Olympic sweaters were made from! Now, they were dyed and put together in other places but the process started with this yarn! Here is a picture of it and the color I choose.

I choose this color because the sheep are naturally this color:

These are the sheep that make this wool.  I figure, why mess with nature and buy dyed wool. Plus it should go with most things. I started my swatch:

The lady said to make multiple ones with different sized needles. This one is on size 4 needles. This is my regret. I listened to a lady who told me that if you are heavy to not use thick yarn as it will make you look bigger than you are.

I had the chance to go with a DK weight which is one tick up from what I bought. The fabric I am getting is very stretchy but not quite as thick as I'd like. I will continue and try a size 3 needle next and see how I like that. I am mad at myself for having blinders on and listening too closely and not thinking about it more. The thinner the yarn the longer it will take to knit. I want this done by winter. I could take 3 of the skeins back but I had them wind up 2 so I couldn't return those and each skein was $21.00. The yardage on this yarn is nice at 395 yards. The holes in the swatch are neat little indicators. There are 4 holes which means I used a size 4 needle! Pretty slick huh?

That's all for now. I'll keep you posted.

Almost Maryland time!!

 Friday I leave for the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I am excited but I have been sick for a week. I have a bad cough that gives me a headache and bad coughing fits. I have a slight rattle that doesn't want to go away. My voice is weird and I don't have much energy. I need all my energy for this weekend! I am starting to get worried. It's a viral thing that lots of time will heal. I don't have time, I need this gone now! 

I have a list of what I want to buy. Cashmere is at the top. Most likely 2 skeins. I plan to knit a scarf with one skein. Lots of wool from various breeds of sheep. British yarns are on the top of my list to. Plus other things like maybe a new set of interchangeable needles and a new ball winder. 

The weather looks like rain on Saturday. I  keep reading how muddy the fairgrounds are. Really hoping for dry weather. I am also treating myself to a seafood dinner. Here is the link to where I am going: 

http://www.captaindanscrabhouse.com/seafood-restaurant-menu-maryland-md.php

This place is only 10 minutes from the fairgrounds so I will go there right from the festival. I want to leave the house and get to the hotel around 3:00pm. Check in, settle in then settle in to knit. I'll have a leisurely frozen dinner that is brought from home and a dessert. Watch a little tv but spend the late afternoon and evening knitting and listening to knitting podcasts on my iPod. I specifically got a room with a microwave, fridge and comfy chair. Go to bed between 9-10pm and try try try to sleep before getting up early to make a 30 minute trek to the fairgrounds. 

The shopping starts at 9am. This place is big so I hope to scout out stuff and organize my plan of attack before hand as I wait for vendors to open. I hope to see sheep dog trials. Sheep sheering as well. I also plan to pet many sheep and maybe some other animals like angora bunnies or goats or alpacas and dogs that work the sheep.

And doing this all alone!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait. I will try to remember to take pictures and video so you can get a feel for it. 

My knitting has been slow. I've been knitting on two things, a hat for a toddler, and a scarf/cowl for me. Here's a picture: 

http://images4-d.ravelrycache.com/uploads/booniesangel/225315580/IMG_3837a_medium.jpg

That should do it for now. 

Finally!!!!

This hat is really trying my patience. It's a hat I'm knitting for my unborn niece. I know how to rib-or I thought I did. I have ripped out the brim, never more than 1/2 inch long 8-10 times !!!! I tried everything, magic loop, I bought a hat needle, tried two needles. I finally decided to knit on straight needles. But I gave away all my needles. But I remembered that you can knit straight on a circular needle. I decided to do that as a last resort. I will have to seam up the brim but I can handle that. This almost 1-1/2 inch piece in the picture has taken me a week!  Can you believe it?! 

I think I finally have it beat. Putting in life lines every few rows really helps my sanity and I am far enough along that I don't have to rip it all out and cast on 84 stitches again. I'll keep you posted.

Hi

I haven't posted in awhile. I went to the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival. It was in a large ballroom with many many vendors. They had the Olympic sweaters on display! I got some pictures.

 I finally broke my year long yarn diet. But this was just an appetizer. I plan to go full pig out mode in May when I go to Maryland. I can't seem to stop collecting Packer yarn when I find it. The purple yarn is for two baby hats and two sets of baby socks for two different babies. I spent a pretty penny on this yarn so I hope they like it even if they don't appreciate what went into them. 

The yarn is much more tonal that the picture shows. You can see a better picture below. The gray yarn is from a breed called Jacob sheep. Slightly rustic. The red yarn is 50/50 merino and angora. The brown yarn is 25% cashmere 25% angora and 50% merino. 

I plan to start the first baby hat on Sunday. I am practicing a pattern for baby socks with this stupid acrylic that I bought. I'm not sure if the socks will look like socks when I am done. It requires some seaming. I make a point when I go to these festivals to try and buy yarn that you can't buy or easily buy in your local yarn store. I found out the red yarn is discontinued. 

More next time!  Bye!

Wool socks

Yesterday I bought myself a pair of 80% wool socks at LL Bean. I really want to knit myself a pair I can wear. How are these socks? They are slightly rough to the hand but not the foot. They remind me of the wool I am knitting my black shawl out of. They are thinner than I expected. I am surprised they are not ovens but they do a good job regulating your foot temperature. I wore them to bed and my feet didn't overheat.

They feel a bit sweaty right now. Maybe it's time to take them off. I have to hand wash them or they will felt and shrink. I have heard soooo much about wool socks I had to try some. It's on my knitting list this year to complete a pair I can proudly wear. So far I am quite impressed and it makes me look forward to knitting a pair. 

Projects for the new year

Now that the 1,000 pound hat on my shoulders is done I feel so light!  I am going to focus on working on my wips (works in projects). I'm currently working on my black shawl. I want to finish this fourth skein before I buy the last four to finish this. It is wider at the top but I can't stretch it out fully because stitches would fall off the needles.

Other projects I plan to work on is a scarf, my blue Rowan shawl, a poncho, and two more shawlettes. Plus I have to fix Grace's stocking. I have a calendar app that I have scheduled a week for each project. 

Once March comes this grand plan may fall apart as I will be going to the Pittsburgh knit and crochet show. Then in may I will go to maryland sheep and Wool Festival. It is the second largest show next to the New York sheep and Wool festival (aka rhinebeck). I fully intend  to run wild and buy a bunch of yarn. I can't wait!!!!!!!!

The hat is done!

2013 knitting completions

 

Finally!

Last night I started the hat! I shocked myself as I cast on and joined in the round by magic loop method and it went perfect!  Usually I have to restart 1-3 times to get it right. I'm quite excited as I have been tired and on stocking burn out. Now I just have to knit ribbing for 

12-1/2 inches. But it's ok because I love ribbing. I am starting to get the itch to start my Pavo-vicuña socks. 

It's done!

I finally finished Hannah's stocking. It took forever. It looks pretty good. I will  never use two strands of acrylic to knit anything ever again. What was I thinking? Now to the hat for Sam and Joel. As I said before they will share the hat. Ultimately it will go to Sam for college. I should be able to whip this hat out pretty quick since it's bulky yarn. I have to decide what needle size to use to make it thick enough. Then on to the socks for me. 

Wool

I have talked a bit about mitts that I made. But nothing I have knit has given me the feelings of deep joy that the Packer mitts gave me. The softness, not fuzzy alpaca/angora softness but it's own deep softness. The way this yarn knits up. It's beautiful! But what sent me over the edge was how warm these mitts are. How incredibly warm merino wool is. Are all wools this warm? 

I could feel myself in a sweater made out of this yarn. The thought of my upper body being as warm as my hands made me swoon. 

The other thing that got me was how stretchy the mitts were. No need for elastic or much ribbing. I just can't get over it. I think I have the mitts out of my system. It's back to the stocking. I finished the heel. Now the final slog to get to the toe. I think the heel looks ok so I will keep it. I don't know how long it will take to finish. I'm anxious because I want to start the hat and my socks. 

More mitts!

I don't know what comes over me but I made another pair of mitts. This time it's a record. I started Friday and finished both on Sunday. It would have been Saturday but the first mitt was too long and I had a hole and I dropped stitch. So I ripped out 2/3 of it and now they look better. 

I got this crazy idea that I wanted something I could wear for the Monday night Packer game. Well now I do! I didn't have a lot of yarn left but enough. I was nervous because I really didn't know if I would have enough. 

More thoughts about mitts

I

I am wearing the mitts I made because my hands are cold. They actually help. But it's my fingertips that really get cold. It got me to thinking maybe I could make myself a pair of warm ones with the flip tops. But for right now my fingertips are warming up. But these are mostly nylon and acrylic. Warm wool would be better. 

But I want the mitts to be hard wearing. I have a nice pair of 100 percent alpaca mittens. They are a bit big due to the nature of alpaca-it has no memory. I bought them for $20 at the wisconsin sheep and wool festival 2 years ago. They are double knit. The top layer developed holes from wearing them driving the car! The friction of the steering wheel on the mittens. I have mended them but they look bad due to the gray alpaca I used. These mittens are amazing when you shovel snow. Warmest things I have. 

I have never been a big fan of bulky weight yarn. But I think I am going to rethink that. The thought of having a thick warm throw as I knit or watch tv is suddenly appealing. Thick mitts or thick socks. I better stop before I cast something on.

Mitts are done!

I finished the mitts. I'm not real happy with the second mitt. I tried a new bind off that is stretchy. It is and i really like it. It was easy to. The thumb does not match. I kept doing seed stitch instead of 1x1 rib. The good thing is I learned something new. I will use this new bind off in almost all my projects.

I want to knit all the things!

As you know I started Hannah's stocking. I didn't get far before I was drawn away by another project. Hand warmers. I made a pair last year and gave them to Hannah who will probably never wear them. I may take them back and give them to Grace and see if she will wear them. Somehow I talked myself into knitting a pair for me quick.

So far they are quick. I just finished one in 3 days and need to sew it up so I can wear it. As soon as I finish the second one I will be a good girl and go back to the stocking. I will post a picture when they are done.

I was looking on Ravelry at all the newly posted patterns as I do everyday. There are that many!  I saw one for boot toppers. I've seen these before but they "sell" them as decorations for the tops of your boots. But this pattern showed them in a practical way. More like leg warmers and they can keep the snow out of your boot legs and if snow does get in it will not make your legs wet. You need to use wool though. Acrylic will soak up the snow and your pants will still be wet. I have this strong desire to knit warm things for winter. It's like a nesting urge. I have a pair of thick socks waiting to be knit. Then came these hand warmers and now these boot toppers. Winter is supposed to be extra cold and snowy this year. I want warm knitted things!!!!! Stupid stocking. Sigh....

It's done!

I finished it on Sunday night. It is not as long as I want it compared to Sam's. I want them all to be the same lenght.  Easy to do. The pattern says to decrease until there are 8 sttiches on each needle. Then I just knit round and round till it is the lenght I want. Then cinch closed. It looks like a stocking! Even though it's far from perfect, can you see how big the heel is? Yuck! I can see fuzzys from the black yarn I used for the lifelines. Lesson learned on that. I hope to remove the fuzzys as I rip it out after Christmas. I am excited that it's done. Now I can start on Hannah's stocking. Her color is more of a teal. I started the white fuzzy top today and will buy the other skein I need on Tuesday, my day off. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pointy sock

Ok, a quick updade on Grace's christmas stocking. How did I not see this sooner? Anyway I was very close to being done only 5 more rounds to go. Then I stopped and looked at it. Why didn't I take a picture? The toe had turned into a point. One side had turned into a 90 degree angle where all the decreases were! It looked stupid.the pattern called for two needles but I thought I could do it with one. Maybe, but I also noticed that I hadn't done the increases right. I was only doing one total when I should have been doing 2 on each side. Why am I such a bad knitter?
So I ripped it back to when I started the decreasing for the toe and used 2 needles (I had 48 stitches total) and put one needle in half the stitches and the other needle in the other half. I used different stitch markers that will not fall out as easy. I also noticed that doing this section will go fast because I will be decreasing 4 stitches each round, 2 per needle. So that made me feel better about ripping back. I really really want to start Hannah's stocking. I was afraid something like this was going to happen.
I also decided that when I am done with this I will hang it up for Christmas but then will take it back, rip it out back to the heel and re-knit the second half till I am happy with it. The heel is much to big. I said I would make them stockings and I want them "hung by the chimney with care".