Saturday, March 31, 2007

Short Rib Scarf

I am currently working on my ISE4 scarf. I decided to do it in the MagKnits Short Row Rib pattern using Manos del Uruguay in the Violets colorway. I am not too hip on the yarn but it is a very striking scarf. I am probably going to have to order more Manos to get the scarf to a length that I would be happy with. I am not too sure though how the Manos is going to work as fringe. I did get over my Purl front and back problem. thanks to the help I got from Knitting Obsession in my last post. Shortly I shall be posting a picture of the scarf.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Lunch Knitting

Ok, I casted on for my Internation Scarf Exchange Scarf and quickly encountered a problem. The problem: how in the world do you do a purl f&b? I know how to do a knit f&b. There is something that has to do with the how the yarn is moved. When I just do it, I somehow end up with three stitches on the needle instead of two or the stitches just look all wonky. So I put that away and brought out the sock. I am now working on the heel and loving every minute of knitting this sock. A few more rows and I will be ready to turn the heel. I'm stopping by Fiddleheads tonight for some more yarn shopping and help with that purl f&b. One of these days I need to sit down and finish up Sven, probably sometime this week.

OOps!

Why does it seem like when you try to set up an account anonymously that somehow your real information gets inputted instead and you haven't done anything to change it! I think I might have been exposed in the International Scarf Exchange. The email posted my first and last initial. Well hopefully the person won't figure it out and I can keep my scarf a surprise!

Monday, March 26, 2007

Excitement is building

I can't wait to get home and see what goodies await me. I should have a box from The Loopy Ewe and a another one from Jimmy Beans Wool for me. One contains some Interlacements sock yarn and the other one Manos del Uruguay for the scarf that I am knitting up for the International Scarf Exchange. I am really enjoying reading all the posts and seeing all the pictures from the scarf exchange. So far no one else seems to have picked the same scarf that I am going to knit for my pal. During lunch I watched a video from Knitting Help on how to do the kitchener stitch. From the looks of it, it seems simple enough. I am in a way anxious to get the Sven Sveater completed so I can try it on. Pictures to come later tonight. I did some knitting on the sock during lunch. I am liking the feel of the Claudia Handpainted yarns but wondering how it would feel once it is completed. Progress photo on the sock later tonight also. Today is an absolutely gorgeous day and here I am stuck at work. I also need to start taking my camera with me everywhere I go. I know it's a boreing blog without pictures.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Almost Finished

I am almost finished with the Sven Sveater. Tonight I casted off the sweater. I had a hard time knitting the 2x2 ribbing using my circular needles. Halfway through the ribbing I got my dpns and put the sweater back on them. Once I did that things went a whole lot better. The neckline looks pretty good. I only did 2 inches of ribbing instead of the three and folding it over. Now, I have to kitchener the stitches that are on the stitch holders on the underarms. I also have to bury all the loose yarn ends and tighten up the stitches when I was doing the two color knitting. I'll take some photos of my progress so far and also of the inside of the sweater. Tomorrow the Manos del Uruguay should arrive by post. I can't wait to see and feel it. I'm going to have DD help me wind the hanks. After I get done publishing this post, I'm going to pull DD's sock out and knit a few rounds. The sock will be going with me to work so I can continue to work on it during lunch. Did I happen to mention that I measured for my gauge and I was right on the money. I was a bit worried that I wasn't going to get gauge because I really didn't feel like frogging what I had knitted so far. DH and I are discussing our mini vacation. We're talking about going to Indiana Amish country in June. Also, I need to start getting ready for my trip to DC with my DD's eighth grade class. Tuesday night starts the chaperone DC meetings. Stay tuned.

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Sven Update

I made a trip to Fiddlehead Yarns this morning and got some help from Nan with my sweater. She sat down and helped me with my short rows. It really helped to have her read the pattern to me. It's amazing how having someone read the pattern to you can make it click versus reading it over and over in your mind. I have just completed all the short rows and ready to take a measurement to see if I can do the final decrease and then the neck. Then I get to tighten up and bury the yarn ends that are hanging all over the place. Hard to believe that it is almost complete, I figure that I can get maybe one or two days wear out of the sweater before the warmer weather hits. Today was simply gorgeous a bit foggy in the morning but warmer. I am ready for the warmth. I have gotten some progress done on the sock that I have casted on. I'm knitting it in Claudia's Handpainted yarn in the Freesia colorway using the Knitting Pure N Simple Basic Lightweight Socks. There are a couple of added design features here and there but otherwise it's pretty good. I casted on with size 3 dpns to get the gauge they required. The pattern called for Size 2. I have found out that if I go up a needle size that I can usually get gauge on the first attempt. I am amazed at how fast these are knitting up. Photos to come in a couple of days. I placed an order yesterday from Jimmy Beans Wool for some Manos Del Uruguay in the violets colorway. This is the yarn that I have picked for the International Scarf Exchange 4 that I am participating in. I am very anxious to get started. My thoughts are that the pattern I picked from Mag Knits the Short Rib Scarf will look totally awesome in the variegated purples. I'll post photos once I get some progress done on the scarf. I figure the yarn should arrive on Monday. I am going to borrow DD's arms to help me wind the hanks. I am also hoping not to have any big blob messes that like I have mentioned in my previous posts.

Friday, March 23, 2007

Still Sick but Knitting

Well I'm still sick but I'm functional. I've gotten a lot of knitting done over the past couple of days. The Sven Sveater at the moment is on hiatus. I'm waiting for tomorrow so I can take in to Fiddlehead Yarns tomorrow so Nan can help me understand the short rows. Yes, short rows are kicking my butt. It's kind of funny how the short rows are kicking my butt, because the pattern that I chose for my scarf in the International Scarf Exchange is Mag Knits Short Row Rib. From reading the pattern that reminds me more of Enterlac more than anything. Speaking of Enterlac, today's pattern in the Stitch N Bitch calendar is an Enterlac Pouch. It is too cute. I might just have to make one. Well I'm heading to Gladys Street tonight to check out her selection of yarn. I really haven't thought of anything but Manos of Uruguay for this scarf. What I really want to get is a single color with subtle variations in hue for this scarf. I think this would show the pattern perfectly. If I have time, I may also try to knit a top down hat to go with the scarf. We'll see how far I get. Ok, I did it, I admit it, I finally casted on for DD's socks, but... I have to frog it all ready. There is a huge ladder in the first couple of rows that will not be snugged up. Well I needed something to keep me occupied while waiting to continue with Sven and the short rows and also trying to find the perfect yarn for the ISE4 scarf. I needed something to keep me occupied during my lunch hour. This cold is something else. I went through one of the boutique size box of Puffs yesterday. It's a wonder that my nose isn't looking like Rudolphs. I got the Puffs with lotion and that seemed to help quite a bit. The other side effect from the kleenex that I am noticing is that when the kleenex is touching my lips it is also putting lotion on them as well...go figure that one out.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Yarn Porn! - Warning Lots of Pictures!

Below is the loot I got from Sheri at The Loopy Ewe I could not believe Sheri's generosity. I got the large tote bag, a sock pattern and a skein of Opal's Petticoat in the 1294 colorway. Most importantly I am now a Loopy Groupie! Thank you Sheri! Lisa Sousa's LimeNViolet Colorway Cherry Tree Hill in the Winterberry Colorway Seacoast Handpainted in Chocolate and Caramel coloway. Doesn't it look yummy? Claudia's Handpainted Yarn in the Jill's Pink Colorway All Things Heather in the Sunset Colorway Tofutsies don't know the name of the color. It is really soft. It says item #731 Cherry Tree Hill in the Serengti Colorway Cherry Tree Hill in the Fall Foilage Colorway Perchance to Knit in the Starburst Colorway Claudia Hand Painted Yarns in the Begonia Colorway Socks That Rock in the Rocktober Colorway A picture of all the yummy yarn loot! I've finally broke down and took pictures of all my recent acquistions. In the course of taking pictures, I forgot to take pictures of the progress of my Sven Sveater. I am almost done with the color in the yoke. I'll post pictures of the sweater soon. I have gotten quite far on the sweater. I came home yesterday from work early. I slept from 9 until 2. From then on, I worked on my sweater. I didn't even do my weight watchers meeting. I also hd to find a sub for today's meeting because my voice is just too horse to talk for a long period of time. I got the name of my pal for the International Scarf Exchange 4. I think I decided on the MagKnits Short Row Rib scarf. Now to find the perfect yarn for this scarf. Here's the promised yarn porn.

Friday, March 16, 2007

What a Day...

What a day I had yesterday. Yesterday was the deadline for the scholarship program here at work. I had given DS a check the night before to go to GTC to get his transcripts but then found out that we really didn't need the transcripts just a copy from the computer would be good enough. I tried all morning to get a hold of him. Finally, he did end up calling me back. I decided to take a half day off from work, I need to get that along with the first two pages of our tax return in the mail with yesterday's postmark. Once that got done, I decided to stop in and see Mindy at Fiddlehead Yarns to sign up for a sweater class next month. The sweater is to be knit from the neck down. I picked out the pattern and then was debating about the yarn. I didn't want to spend a ton of money on yarn for the sweater. I couldn't decide between an orange and a lapis blue in the cotton fleece from Brown Sheep but instead went with this colorway from Cascade. I'll post the picture of the yarn as soon as I get the hanks wound from Mindy tomorrow. I did make a mistake in calculating the number of skeins that I needed and quickly called Mindy to hold two more skeins. After that I spent the rest of the afternoon knitting the Sven Sveater and listening to a new podcast that I uncovered while reading Sheri's blog. Lime and Violet are so much fun to listen to. Although, I want a visual picture of just how big their yarn stashes are. I might need it in the future, especially if DH ever starts complaining about the amount of yarn I have. That reminds me, I need to gather up my itchy, scratchy acrylic yarns for a trip to my Mom's house. She graciously said that she would take that stash. So, that makes my stash at the moment a lot smaller and I do mean a whole lot smaller. I've been looking at the brochure that I recieved about all the classes at Stitches Midwest which is in August. There are numerous classes that I would love to take but I am not sure if I want to spend $85 a class (non-early bird price). I think I'll just save all my money for the Market. I am debating about bringing DH with me again. The first time I went which was back in 2005 he tagged along with me. If he were to come this time, I don't think he would realize just exactly what he is in store for. I forgot to mention, that when I checked the mail yesterday, my one skein of Socks That Rock (STR) was sitting in the mailbox. I was so excited to finally get them. I ordered the Rocktober colorway. Eventually they will become a pair of sock but for now, they will just be petted and fondled every now and again. I had told DD that I would go to Washington DC with her 8th grade class this year. Here it is mid-March and they have yet to announce who the chaperone's are. I am seriously considering not going. Let her have fun without Mom around and also Mom really can't afford the cost of the trip plus the spending money. Mom has instead been spending the money on yarn, yarn, knitting books and of course sock yarn. Besides they are requiring so many classes ahead of time that I'm not sure if I would be able to get off from my WW meetings to attend these meetings regarding the trip.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Well I got the 3 inches of 2x2 ribbing done on the body of the Sven Sveater and I did the row of evenly increases, now comes the rows and rows of endless knitting in the round. I have to knit about 12 1/2 more inches if I read the instructions right. The instructions say to Knit in even stitches around until work measures 15 1/2 inches. So I am taking it to mean that includes the ribbing. If I'm wrong someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Since discovering bloglines, I'm totally enjoying keeping up with all the blogs that I read. It's nice to have them show up when there's updates and I don't have to have a favorites list and click on them all individually. I add blogs as I read about them from other people. I've also got a few podcasts marked also. Now, I just need to sit down and listen to them. Last night, I placed another order with Sheri at the Loopy Ewe. I had a $25 credit that I was anxious to use. I am going to have a whole stash of sock yarn and I haven't even knitted one complete pair of socks! I have one pair done but they don't have their mates. They were the ones that I had knitted toe up. I'm not sure if I will ever finish their mates. I do have a difficult time with the joining them in the round on the smaller needles. I still haven't casted-on for that pair of socks from Knitting Pure and Simple. Although, I do confess that I have the yarn, needles and pattern in my knitting bag. It is calling my name, but not to the point of screaming yet. I am doing my best to hold it at bay. The names for the ISE4 should be coming out pretty soon. I'm anxious to get started on my scarf. Mindy from Fiddlehead Yarns sent out her new class list for April and guess what? Yep, you guessed it, there's another class in there that I want to sign up for. This one is to knit a sweater in cotton from the neck down. Hmm, I definitely could use a cotton sweater for the spring/summer months. I know just the perfect yarn and color too. Now, to go and snag it before someone else claims it.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Ouch!

The second sleeve is now completed and on the stitch holders. Last night, I casted on for the body of the sweater. The first time that I casted on, I ended up short. I used a long tail cast-on and ran out of yarn, so time to do it again. The second time I casted-on and joined I got around to complete the round and found out that I wasn't ending on a purl stitch and I somehow had an extra stich on my needle. Probably not an extra stitch but made a few mistakes along the way. Well, what's the saying the third time's a charm. I casted-on had way too much yarn left over, easily fixed with the snip of a pair of scissors. I joined the round, good so far, add a stitch marker, good, get around and just enough stitches to end on a purl but oh-oh, my stitch marker ended up wrapped up in my knitting. I wasn't about to rip it all the way out again, so how do I fix this? I slipped the ring from the marker and then removed the cute little sheep from my knitting..ah success. I am using my KnitPicks circular needles and I forgot how much they hurt. I'm a pusher and the tips are a bit sharp. At the moment, I have about an inch and a half of ribbing done, halfway through the ribbing and then after that it's all the knit stitch. The race is on to get the body to a certain point until Saturday. The Red-Cabled sweater is dried and neatly folded. I might wear it tomorrow. If I do, I am bringing a lighter shirt to work with me, you never know if it is going to be warm. We're having computer problems at home, I can't get the pages to load. Once that situation gets fixed then I'll post some pictures.

Monday, March 12, 2007

The Never-ending Sleeve

I got some knitting done this past weekend. Not much but enough. I am still knitting the second sleeve. Everytime I think there's only a couple more rows to knit, I then measure and nope not 18 inches yet. I should be able to finish up the second sleeve tonight and cast-on for the body. I am hoping to get the 3 inches of ribbing and the 15/2 inches of straight knitting completed by Saturday when it's time for the final class of the Sven Sveater. I did get the Red-Cabled Sweater finished. I'll move that to my new listed of Finished objects later on. I buried the remaining yarn tails. Sewed the button on. DD and myself made a trip to Hobby Lobby to get some thread for the button. I also did a crochet loop for around the button. Last but not least, the sweater went for a bath in some wool wash that I got from Fiddlehead Yarns. I tried to get as much of the water out that I possibly could in the sink. I was amazed at how much water the wool held. Once I got the water out, I put a towel on the floor and rolled the sweater up in it and put my knees on it to get more out. One of my co-workers said that I should have done that one more time. Once that was done, I got one more towel out laid it out on the floor in the corner of the livingroom and laid the sweater out for blocking. The cable looks absolutely gorgeous and you can see more of the shape of the sweater. I'll try to remember to take a picture of it before I take it off the floor. DH was a bit upset about where I chose to leave the sweater but I told him that it would be removed by the time he gets home from work (I hope). My box of loot from Sheri at the Loopy Ewe arrived on Friday. I was very happy with all of the yarns and the color choices I had made. She's supposed to be putting more yarn up within the next day or two. I have a $25 credit to use and the next order makes me a Loopy Groupie! I can't wait to see what yummy yarns she'll put up next. I'll post a picture of the loot a bit later too.

What Season Am I?

You Belong in Spring
Optimistic, lively, and almost always happy with the world... You can truly appreciate the blooming nature of spring. Whether you're planting flowers or dyeing Easter eggs, spring is definitely your season!

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Do I or Don't I?

Do I or Don't I cast-on the Claudia Handpainted Yarns in the Freesia colorway for DD's socks? I am doing all I can to not cast-on the pair of socks. I'm progressing nicely on the Sven Sveter. I am just about done with the first sleeve, a few more rows and I should be able to place it on my knit picks cables and put the ends on them. Sharon from the International Scarf Exchange closed the enrollment for participation. She is taking the next week to make the matches. I can't wait to see who I am going to be matched up with. That is part of the reason why I am not casting on for the socks. I'll be picking the yarn and the pattern for my swap partner in the exchange. It'll be the first exchange that I'll be participating in. I got a pleasant surprise on Monday from my Stitch N Bitch calendar. Every Monday a fave fiber is featured. This past Monday Socks That Rock was featured. The fibers are sent by people all over the country. Well the place that the person was from caught my eye, which just happened to be Kenosha and then I looked at the name of the person and that person just happened to be Mindy, the owner of my LYS. I sent an email to Mindy telling her I saw it. Yesterday was totally fun. Sheri over at The Loopy Ewe put up a lot of new sock yarn and other goodies. It was fun shopping and trying to get some yarn before it disappeared out of my cart. I did manage to get some really cute stitch markers and some yarn from Perchance to Knit. I ordered some more Claudia's Hand Painted and some Cherry Tree Hill along with a couple of sock patterns. One more order and I become a Loopy Groupie! Yay! I can't wait to get the yarn. Look for a post with pictures of my haul in a couple of days. I also ordered some Socks that Rock from Blue Moon Fiber in the Rocktober colorway. Also coming in the mail is an magazine from Interweave that has the Central Park Hoodie in it. Two of the girls in my sweater class made it from the last class and I absolutely love it. I want to make my own. I am definitely going to be looking forward to the mail in the next couple of days. I can't wait for it all to get here!

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Not in the Mood

Well I just posted some pictures of my latest project. Tonight, I'm just not in the mood to do any knitting. So, I am just going to veg out on the computer. I've been doing some thinking lately. I've decided that I am going to start expanding to other things on my blog. I'll still post progress on my knitting projects but also talk about other things. Another thing that I decided, I am going to get some Size 2 and 3 double pointed needles when I go to Mindy's on Saturday along with the Claudia Handpainted Yarn in the Freesia colorway that Mindy is holding for me. My first pair of socks that I am going to knit from the cuff down is going to be for DD. I asked her last night if she wanted them to be knee highs and she said yep. I am going to knit them in the Knitting Pure & Simple sock pattern that I got from The Loopy Ewe I also need to save some money for either Sunday or Monday night, Sheri has promised a lot of new yummy yarns and of course some Bart, Loopy and Sister Louise stitch markers that I want to score. Well that's it for now. Have a good one!

Sven Pictures

ARE HERE!!!!!! My progress on the Sven Sveater. This is the first sleeve. It is a quick knit. The ribbing is done in size 7 double point needles and the rest of the sleeve is done in size 9s. I am liking the color. The colors for my Sven Sveater. I am using Cascade 220. So far it is knitting up really soft. I am very pleased so far. I am anxious to see how they will all fit together.