Checking In and Checking Out

I’m heading out for a boondoggle trip without the Sweeties with my kungfu school. I won’t have internet access but hope to have lots of pics when I return. Maybe. If I get a chance, I’ll try to post later today with actual pictures, but that’s after I pack, go out and buy a bigger suitcase, shop for going out/evening attire, and keep the kids running on their schedules. I haven’t even begun to think about my project while on the trip. That’s how busy and distracted I am. In the meantime, keep on keeping on with your knitting.

Over and out.

Thursday WIP Report

It’s time for that thoroughly unexciting Thursday WIP Report where I show you my infinitesimal progress on knitting and my disproportionate amount of stash acquisition.

This is the first of the Lenore socks I finished up this week. It fits mah–velously, perhaps my best fitting socks ever, because I actually calculated negative ease in the length. I also used tiny needles to make sure they were snug enough and I’m really pleased with the results. Of course, I had to cast on the second sock right away, or else I’d be faced with a bad case of the Ooh-Shiny’s.

Cavern Cardigan is continuing to grow also, although not as quickly as before. Once I turned the heel on the Lenore sock, I could see the finish line in sight, so spent a bit more time with that project. I put on the Cavern Cardigan this morning before this posting, and it fits nicely, possibly a little too loose for my hoochie-mama ways. I had done 3 rows of decreases for the waist and I think I can do a couple more. I’ll probably wear this cardi over a tank, cami or snug long sleeve tee in the cooler months, so I don’t want a lot of positive ease on this.

I’ve been acquiring a bit of yarn, mostly by Ravelry destashes but also had a bit of luck on eBay. I scored three skeins of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, one of my favorite yarns, in a beautiful, springy lavender, for 12 bucks, shipping included. That was my first score.

The second score was just beautiful luck. I mentioned last week that I was obsessing over Bianca’s Jacket, especially larisa’s, and found some beautiful versions made with Berocco Denim Silk. The picture above is the one from IK Fall 2006, but larisa’s version was nicely fitted. Actually, seeing the picture above does not inspire me at all. But it’s just to give you a point of reference on the sweater.

Anyway, seeing that the Berocco Denim Silk is discontinued (I think), that meant the game was afoot! I was lucky enough to snag nine skeins total from two different ravelers, TwistedKnitter and delic8genius, and the lucky for me, they turned out to all be of the same dye lot. Yay for small miracles. That’s TwistedKnitter’s picture of the yarn above. Thanks for letting me use the photo, Janet.

Thursday WIP Report

Things are kind of crazy around here. My brain and I want to either knit or surf Ravelry all the time, but other stuff keeps getting in the way. Things like volunteer work at school. Ugh! I won’t bore you with the details. Instead, I’ll show you my WIPs.

This is the Cavern Cardigan by Laura Chau/Cosmicpluto Knits. I’ve split off the sleeves and done the increases in the front. Now I’m going to add a few decreases on the side for some waist shaping (Thank you again, Patty, for your knitting advice! You are my knitting guru.) I’m using STR Pond Scum in heavyweight on size 7 needles. It makes a nice lightweight fabric that’ll be perfect for spring. It’s a very odd color for me. Acid green is what Madge calls it. It’s definitely not as grassy green in this picture. I bought some from Blue Moon and the color wasn’t as deep a green as I had hoped. So what was I to do? Buy up Madge’s and Marie’s and make a sweater with it. Don’t ask me why. I was inspired. I think I’m gonna like this though.

My Lenore group knitalong socks are crawling along. Once I got to the two pattern repeat, it was snoozeville for me. I was excited by the heel shaping, and now I’m doing the gusset decreases. I just have to keep pushing along on these puppies. Although you can’t see the color variegation very well in this picture, this STR Lenore yarn has the most beautiful color subtleties. I think I’m going to be really excited about wearing these socks when they’re done.

These last pictures are the February installment of Scout’s Swag Sock Club. I only purchased one month for this past year, and it’s easily one of the best sock club shipments I’ve ever received. The yarn is her superwash merino sock yarn in Raspberry Sorbet, and the swag was a Romi shawl stick pin and scarf pattern. I have been eyeing Romi’s pins for a while, waiting for just the Sea Green Aventurine to come into stock, so I was extremely excited to receive this one with the little pink heart on top. Little pink hearts are not necessarily my favorite, but this is so perfect with the yarn. I can definitely live with it.

Unfortunately, Scout just closed sign ups for her sock club. She has to run a lottery for it since it’s quite in demand. If you’re looking for a sock club, keep your eyes on this one, folks. If you’re looking for a new sock club, check out Melanie LotusYarns’ Punk Rock Sock Club. Her colors will be based on punk album covers of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Her yarns are beautifully dyed, and as a relatively newer yarn dyer, she still has the strong call of her muse. I think sign ups begin this Friday.

What’s the latest obsession? Bianca’s Jacket from Interweave Knits Fall ’06. I dismissed this one at first, but seeing larisa’s inspired me. After obsessing over the different yarn choices in Ravelry, I decided to try my Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed in stash first. I’ll have to swatch first and see if I get gauge and like the fabric. Fingers crossed! What’s your newest obsession?

Have a great week!

Back with a Vengeance

Hi, I’m back. Didja miss me? Okay, don’t answer that. I’m guessing my two readers would comment “yes” just to be polite. Well, thanks for coming back.

I missed my regular WIP report last week, because we went on a little family skiing outing to Mammoth. This was our first skiing trip with the Sweeties, and it didn’t disappoint. Two days of great skiing, family time and memories. I have to add, because I know you’ll appreciate this, that we all donned our handknit hats on the slopes. Sa-weet!

You might recognize Sweetie Girl’s hat; it’s Madge’s Unoriginal Hat in Hard Rock. She very sweetly offered it because it was too big for her, and I greedily snatched it up. Sweetie Girl wears it quite a bit, not only for skiing but also for evening soccer and softball practices, and simply loves it. Thanks Madge!

What does vengeance have to do with anything? Well, I’ve been doing some WIP busting and have something to show for it.

Sweetie Boy’s Sweater finally got done. I realized on Sunday evening that we were leaving that Thursday for the snow, and Sweetie Boy’s sweater would be perfect on the slopes.

Project: Woody Sweater from Debbie Bliss Junior Knits
Yarn: Rio De La Plata 3 Ply Thread – Kettle Dyed in Rabbit Colorway, 5.5 skeins
Needles: KnitPicks Options US size 8
Start: November 2007
Finish: February 2008
Thoughts: I gathered all of the yarn which varied quite a bit in color, brought it to knitting group, polled my knit sisters on how to work in the color variegation. They, being the fabulous, knowledgeable and helpful sorts, showed me the way. I picked up the sleeves and knit them flat, instead of knitting them separately and attaching later. Thanks Patty, Melise, Madge and Fay Lynn!

I finished the second sleeve on the drive up to Mammoth and seamed it up that night. Nothing, I tell you, Nothing, has given me so much satisfaction as seeing my handknit being worn on the slopes and knowing it was keeping him toasty and warm.

The other sweater I finished up was the Mia sweater for Sweetie Girl. I finished this before two weeks ago (?) and finally took the modeled FO picture yesterday morning when Sweetie Girl wore it to school. Yes, she actually wears it and it makes me extremely happy. I think it makes her happy too.

Project: Mia Sweater from Debbie Bliss Junior Knits
Yarn: Cascade 220 in Magenta colorway (too lazy to find the ball band and figure out which one it is), 2.5 skeins I’m guessing.
Needles: KnitPicks Options US size 8
Start: September 2007
Finish: February 2008

Thoughts: For some reason, this sweater took forever to finish and I’m not sure why. Maybe the tons of stockinette, which usually don’t bother me that much. Maybe the tons of stitches once I was knitting from sleeve to sleeve across the back got too much on my 32″ cable, so I had to wait for the 40″ cable from Knit Picks. Maybe the seaming part. Yup, the seaming part. I went to Joann’s and picked up a few choices of buttons, and let Sweetie Girl choose. She originally wanted some cute flower shape buttons in bright solid colors but none of the colors looked right. In the end, she piucked the classic round leather button which was my first choice too. Only I didn’t tell her that until after she chose the button. Good taste, huh?

I’ve got on more finished sweater to show you only I still have to take the picture. Maybe tomorrow at group. It’s the Alexandra Ballerina Sweater from Fitted Knits. What am I working on now? Once Sweetie Boy’s sweater was done, I cast on the next day for the Cavern Cardigan using STR Heavyweight in Pond Scum. And pond scum is an apt description for the color. I’ll show ya next time how very pond scummy it is.