Keepers

Green Gable

2007-02-07T14:22:00.000-08:00

A near-perfect knit. Easy, relatively fast - what's not to LOVE about Cotton Fleece, and a very nice fit.

Pattern: Green Gable.

Yarn: Cotton Fleece, Sedona Red, 2-1/2 skeins

Needles: Size 6 KnitPicks Options

Size: Medium

All in all, a winner, except for the self-created drama (see here, if you must know). I think this one will get a lot of wear.

Eiffel

2007-01-27T09:46:00.000-08:00

The fit is perfect, the pattern is very well-written, the yarn was fun to work with - a total winner.

Pattern: Eiffel, Winter Knitty, 2006
Yarn: Louet Euroflax linen, fine/sport weight, in Eggplant, 3 skeins
Size: Medium

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed knitting with the linen. I ran the garment through the washer, and gave it about 10 minutes in the dryer, then laid it out to block. It hasn't softened up tooooo much yet, but I think it will with time.

Style note: I decided not to put the ribbons on the sleeves, but felt it still needed it on the body for fit, but I have tied it in the back.... I think I'm of an age where the ribbons and bows are just a bit too cute for me.

Sizzle

2007-01-07T15:30:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Sizzle. Great pattern, quick knit!!

Yarn: KnitPicks Shine Worsted in Sea Spray (not thrilled with the yarn, unevenly spun, with uneven color, and even unattractive slubs of fluff), approximately 750 yards.

Size: Medium, although it's a little big (get me!, even I'm surprised with that).

2007-01-07T15:26:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Calorimetry
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden #87, less than one skein

This took me two nights to knit, but you could easily do it in a day.
This second one on the left is from some unknown Noro left over, and I knit it slightly more narrow. I wear this one the most.

Mittens

2007-01-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

This is actually the first pair of mittens I've made... they may have turned out a bit big -

Pattern - made up
Yarn: Cascade 220, color 9336, with a little added stash mohair for the cuffs.

Fetching

2007-01-07T15:19:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Fetching, Knitty, Summer 2006
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashermino Aran, color 300201 - one ball, EXACTLY, not an inch to spare.
Modification: No picot edge, just a plain cast off.

A beatiful, fun, and FAST knit!

Fake Fair Isle x 2

2007-01-07T15:11:00.000-08:00

Two Fake Fair Isle hats. I love this pattern!

Yarn: Noro Kuryeon (right)

Noro Silk Garden (left) colorways unknown.

Starsky

2007-01-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

I.Love.This. LOVE.IT!and..... IT FITS!

I think everyone needs to make one. And, use this yarn. This Cascade EcoWool is my new favorite. It is SO soft.... and it took less than 3 skeins to make the sweater!
Pattern: Starsky, Knitty, Winter '05
Yarn: Cascade Ecological Wool, Color 8087, less than 3 skeins.
Size: Large - but my gauge was way off, so it ended up blocking out easily to the medium measurements, and luckily fits perfectly.

Prosperous Plum

2007-01-07T14:55:00.000-08:00

Ok - so it isn't so flattering as a tank top (tharms... doncha know) - but I'm thinking I really like it as a vest, and vests are coming back, so there ya go.Don't stare at the cables if they make you uneasy.... I just blithely ignore them, myself.
Pattern: Prosperous Plum
Yarn: Cotton Fleece, less than three skeins
Size 8 KnitPicks Options

Comments: The pattern says to knit with 4" negative ease - and they're not kidding. It is certainly not too small, in fact, I stretched it as long and thin as I could when I blocked it - because it was a bit too short and slightly too big (even though I added an 1" to the length).

All in all, I'm happy with it. I love the eyelet detail and the picot hem. And.... it only took me a week to knit! That's gotta be some kind of record for me!In fact, I have already bought more Cotton Fleece and plan to make another - but I'm gonna figure out a different cable pattern. We'll see

Wrap Yourself In Nature

2006-08-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

Pattern: Wrap Yourself in Nature, from Inspired Cables, Fiona Ellis

Yarn: 3-ply Prime Alpaca, MuskSize 6 needles60" x 17"

Modifications to pattern: This is meant to be knit in two pieces and seamed together in a "V." I knit it straight, in one piece, to the same length as my favorite pashmina.

This Prime Alpaca is the SOFTEST yarn... and very warm. I enjoyed every minute of knitting this yarn and pattern. The cables were fun, and I LOVE the triangled edging.

Icarus

2006-08-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

Specs: Icarus, Summer 2006 Interweave Knits.

Yarn: Interlacements, Rick Rack II (Judy Ditmore), color 119, about 1200 yards. 100% Rayon. And yes.... to my great relief, rayon blocks well and makes "points"

Needles: Addi Turbos, size 3, 24"

Comments: Great pattern, fun knit, well written. Big payoff. I still walk into the other room just to look at it.

Rib and Cable Mitts

2006-08-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

Pattern: Rib and Cable Mitts, Spring 2006 IK

Yarn: Khroma, The Fiber Company, colors Plum and Aegean

Needles: Size 3 DPN

Nail Polish: OPI Ultimate Party Girl

You have enough yarn left over to make another pair, just by swithcing the body and trim colors! Score!

Black Purl Socks

2006-08-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

Specs:Pattern: Simply Lovely Lace Socks, Spring 2006 IK

Yarn: Lorna's Laces, Black Purl colorway. I used just barely over one skein

Needles: size 2 Crystal Palace DPNs

Comments: I did the cast on for 60 stitches, and did the Picot cuff - which I must say - I LOVE!!! I'll be using this a lot. Very cute, very easy.Also, I did NOT knit through the back loops, as it says to in the pattern. Why - because I didn't want to, that's why... I tried it for awhile, hated it, didn't want to be stressed while knitting... and so, there. I just didn't. So, my socks don't have those twisted stitches, but hey - it saved my sanity and I still think they're "Simply Lovely."

Crazy Jaywalkers

2006-08-29T14:25:00.000-07:00

Jaywalkers

Trekking XXL, colorway 105, one ball

Size 2 DPN

These are wild. You either love 'em, or hate 'em. I love 'em!

Dublin Bay Socks

2006-08-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

Socks: Dublin Bay

Yarn: Lorna's Laces, Sherbet colorway. I used just a smidgen over one skein, which is pretty sweet, I think!

I revised the pattern a little bit for size 2 DPN's, casting on 64 stitches. That's the only real modification. I think this is such a pretty pattern for the variegated yarns, like Lorna's Laces.... very pretty, but still simple enough it doesn't complete with the yarn. I'll be using it again.

Rogue

2006-04-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

I can't even tell you how much I love this...I will wear it everywhere. I will wear it until it falls apart. People will get sick of seeing it...

Pattern: Rogue, Girl From Auntie
Yarn: Bartlett Yarns, Fisherman, Burgundy Heather, 6-1/2 skeins
Time: exactly one month, working exclusively on Rogue

Hubby's Snowflake Hat

2006-04-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

Pattern: Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns, Ann Budd.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK (colors?)

Duplicate stitch snowflake

Lady Eleanor

2006-02-20T12:47:00.000-08:00

Specs: Lady Eleanor Entrelac Stole, out of the Scarf Style book by IK70" long, 6-3/4" wideYarn: - Schaeffer Yarns, Miss Priss (100%merino wool), colorway "Mr. Funny"about 1-2/3 hanks - LOVE THIS YARN!- Various coordinating colors of Cascade 220Needles: Size 10, Boye Needlemaster circular

Ok - it's not your typical Lady E, but I like it. I kind of broke a lot of style rules here... but isn't knitting about making it your own? I made a scarf instead of a stole, and I didn't use the typical Noro or yarn that makes it's own blocks.

Hubby's Hat

2006-02-20T12:42:00.000-08:00

Specs: Pattern - out of "The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns" - Ann Budd

Yarn: Knit One Crochet Two, Ambrosia, color 455, 1-1/4 balls

Size 3 circulars I didn't get a picture of it on the hubby, but Kaity and Carmen modeled.

The hubby actually wears it all the time. Definitely a winner.

BlueBonnet Socks

2006-02-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

Gotta love a fast knit!!! I have been wearing these like crazy, and they wear and wash beautifully.

Specs: Hill Country Yarns, Instant Gratification Sock Yarn, color: BlueBonnet One skein.

Knit on two size 5 circs, in 5 days!I didn't really have a pattern, but cast on 44 stitches kind of winged it from there, consulting a few different books.

Jaywalkers

2006-02-20T12:36:00.000-08:00

Love these!!!

Here's the specs:Pattern: Jaywalker, by Grumperina.
Yarn: KnitPicks Sock Landscape in RedWood Forest - two skeins
Needle: Size 2 DPN's

I made them the smaller of the two sizes, casting on 76 stitches.

Sister Scarf

2006-02-20T12:29:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Sister Scarves
Yarn: KnitPicks Shine

Sorry, I don't remember a lot of the specs on this, such as needle size, but I know it took less than two balls. I changed the pattern and used stockinette for the body.... a mistake, because it curls terribly.

I'll probably make this again, using just the Horseshoe lace (on the bottom of the scarf) for the whole scarf... I really love that part of the pattern.

Branching Out Scarf

2006-01-02T22:45:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Branching Out
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, color 03 (mint); 1-3/4 balls

Wendy/Heather Essential Stripe

2005-11-29T13:25:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Wendy's Essential Stripe
Yarn: Cascade 220, color 8420 for main body; Casdade 220, color # unknown for small stripes; and some beautiful handspun variegated I was gifted by Heather.

Great pattern, very easy to follow and fit to size. Wendy gives LOTS of options for striping, sleeves lengths, and neckline finish.

Sitcom Chic

2005-11-04T16:18:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Sitcom Chic, Knitty.com
Yarn: Cotton Tots, Bernat

I love this sweater, because it ended up just as I had hoped - a warm, cotton, feels-like-a-sweatshirt sweater. It's great for running around town and I'm very happy with it.

I learned after the fact that I've been doing my yarnovers all wrong, so the eyelet detail is not as noticeable as it is supposed to be, and I lengthened the sleeves to full length sleeves, instead of 3/4. We'll call it "artistic license!"

Ella

2005-10-15T13:27:00.000-07:00

Pattern: Ella, by Wendy Wonnacott, Knitty.com

Yarn: Knit One, Crochet Too, color: Borealis, three hanks

I loved knitting this shawl, once I got the lace pattern down. It was a very addicting knit, and I will probably make another sometime down the road.

(Original post, 10/14)

Another view:

Marilyn's Not-So-Shrunken Cardigan

2005-10-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

This is definitely a keeper. It was an great knit - easy to follow pattern by Wendy. I've already worn it quite a few times. I modified mine a little by making it about 2" longer, and only putting on one row of ruffles.

pattern: Marilyn's Not-So-Shrunken Cardigan
Yarn: Shine, from KnitPicks, in Orchid

Glampyre Tubular Camisole

2005-09-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this! The pattern is from Stefanie at Glampyre Knits, and I made it with color-your-own yarn from KnitPicks, which I dyed with Kool-Aid. Grand total including pattern: $8.74!!! Now, you can't beat that!

Socks!!

2005-09-09T08:23:00.000-07:00

I gotta tell you..... I was NEVER going to make socks. way - to - hard

Kaity was making socks, and they just baffled me.... I couldn't understand them, heel flaps, turned heels, and those gussets with the stitches going every which way - no sir, I just couldn't get my mind around it.

Then, one day was was watching Knitty Gritty on DIY, and the girl was teaching Sock 101. She explained it SO well, and I could watch her do it.... and I got it, it really didn't seem so hard after I SAW it done (yeah, as you can imagine.... I'm real good at math, too.... echhh, I gotta see it, touch it, to get it).

So off I go - luckily, the Knitty Gritty girl starts you out more with slippers, BIG double-pointed needles and BIG yarn... so I made slippers, two pairs. The top picture is made with my left over Manos from hubby's Chullo hat. They're pretty funky, and I may even wear them as hiking socks - you know, they're wool and all.

The 2nd pair - I really wasn't up for those yet... size 2 DPN's, Wildfoote Yarn. Pattern: Mind of Winter, freebie on the web, BMG's Footies. Oy, I ripped those suckers out sooooo many times! Yarn's too little, the needles are too little - I have old eyes. They gave me fits! But they're done.... they're FULL of mistakes - but you can't see them from where you are, can you? We're talking a HUGE learning curve here. Gotta say, not a bit fan of the Wildfoote, not real comfy, splits way too much for me.... but they are pretty socks.

Socks are now my FAVORITE thing to knit - always have a pair going. They're relatively fast, and interesting enough that you don't get bored. LOVE to make socks! Now, that wasn't so hard...

One Skein Wonder

2005-09-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

Okay - we all make a OWS, don't we. I was tricked into making one, you know.... making it for the body I only have in my mind. As you'll notice, you don't see it modeled on me, do you? Oh, it fits alright.... but I'm 40-something.... do I really belong in this? Besides, there's the "tharms," you know like "cankles." Tharms are arms that are shaped more like thighs. Ok, when I lose those last 20 lbs and uncover the beautiful muscles I'm sculpting 3-4 days a week at the gym, but are covered with that layer of fat obscuring them..... then I'll post a new picture, but only then.... when I don't have tharms anymore.

Pattern: Glampyre, One Skein Wonder
Yarn: Cascade 220, 100% Peruvian Highland wool - another new fave.... Beautiful Stuff!

I could just give it to my ballerina niece, it looks like something a ballerina would wear to me.... or is that just copping out?

Buttonhole Bag

2005-09-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

I decided I needed to felt something, and I loved this bag I kept seeing on everyone's blogs. I decided I'd make a bag to haul little knitting projects around in. I'm still at the point in my knitting adventure where some patterns baffle me..., and I was having trouble finding one I could understand and "see" in my head. I have to be able to see it in my head, or I don't know where I'm going..... so I just looked at a bunch of bags I liked and kind of made it up from there.

Yarn: Noro Kureyon, color #159 - wow, this is some beautiful stuff. Felts nicely, but doesn't really shrink. (get me, I actually swatched AND washed it up beforehand to see where I was going with this).

Yeppers, it's a nice bag, but too small for it's intended purpose. Okay, so I have a whole other skein in my stash I could have used, but I just got impatient and couldn't wait to see it done..... so it's smaller than I planned. But, it now goes to Bible Study with me every week and holds all my books for that perfectly... and all those ladies are non-knitters, so they are very impressed with my "skill."

My First Sweater

2005-09-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

I love this sweater - hey I just love sweaters.... next to purses, shoes, and jackets.... yeah, I probably love sweaters the most.

Here's the obligatory take-it-yourself in the bathroom shot...

It's a little big (which is WAY better than too small), and the arms are a little floppy, but I will wear it like crazy. Of course, I started it in the Winter and didn't finish it until it was too hot to wear a wool sweater, but this year... I can't wait. It's the perfect blue to go with my jeans (which is all I ever wear anyway).

Pattern: Ann Budd's "Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns"
Yarn: Lamb's Pride worsted, Winter Blue

May I just say... this book is genius. I borrowed it from my Mom. She's lucky she got it back. You just pick the sweater you like (the combinations are endless), knit up a swatch in the yarn you choose, and she does all the math for you!!! Genius I tell you.

3rd Eye Chullo

2005-09-09T07:25:00.000-07:00

So I say, "Hubby, want me to make ya something?"

Now I'm really a glutton for punishment.... my first try with double-pointed needles! Cast on two stitches to each of four needles.... yah, right... Kaity had to get me started on this one. After that, it actually was really easy. Hey - I can knit, AND follow a pattern!

Pattern: Knit Wit 30 Easy and Hip Projects - 3rd Eye Chullo
yarn: Manos de Uraguay

He even wears it, sometimes on a cold night after a mountain bike ride, and I think it's been hiking in the Sierras. The hubby's big on keeping his head warm...

Can I just say.... this was the first yarn I FELL IN LOVE WITH! It is sooooo beautiful. Worth every penny, soooooo pretty and soft. They have the most amazing colorways, mmmmm, pretty!

Aibhlinn

2005-09-09T06:57:00.000-07:00

Oh baby- I love this one... and I may be the only one who does... at least in my family. My girlies just think it's very "odd." But check it out, I've ventured beyond scarves, barely... this is just a big, tubular scarf, but when I saw it in Knitty I had to have it.

Now we're really out of my easy-project-comfort-zone.... we're talking swirling ribs AND bobbles., AND knitting on circulars. I started and restarted this project about four times. Still didn't have the right number of stitches cast on and one of the ribs is smaller than the rest, but just look at it.... all gathered around my neck you can't even tell, can you? Not to mention the other hundreds of mistakes.... but hey, no one should be looking that close anyway!

Patttern: Aibhlinn, Knitty.com/Fall04
Yarn: Knit One Crochet Too's "2nd Time Cotton" in Beluga Blue (recycled cotton, very pretty, perfect for this project, splits like crazy!)

I still love this - and wear it like the girl in Knitty - with my jean jacket... I don't care what my daughters say. But, baby, it better be really cold outside (which it rarely is where I live), 'cause it keeps you warm!

Poncho

2005-09-09T06:49:00.000-07:00

Just the basic info here.... this poncho deserves, and will get it's own post in the main blog someday.... suffice it to say, it's my first venture past the scarf... we've moved on to k2tog and M1 (threw me for a loop), AND following a pattern (believe me, I found the easiest one I could!).

Pattern: Lion Brand Split Neck Poncho
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore

Ignore the fact that I'm wearing shorts in the picture, and it's 90 degrees outside....I've only worn it a couple of times....I don't know if I'm a "poncho person."

First Knits - Scarves

2005-09-08T20:09:00.000-07:00

It seems like everyone I know who knits, starts with scarves. That's all I was going to make, actually. One day I picked up a scarf Kaity was making and asked her to show me how to knit.... and it was so relaxing, we ran out to our LYS that day, in the pouring rain, because I had to knit! Anyway, these are two of my first. The one on the right is just straight knit, and I made sure to pick something really fuzzy so my mistakes wouldn't show. I don't remember what it was made out of. The one on the left is my second scarf.... get me, now using seed stitch, and knit with Rowan Chunky Print.