Two down one to go

It's amazing what you can accomplish when you really put your mind to it. Sunday I set a weekly goal of finishing 3 items. Last night I finished up 2 of them!

First off the needles was the second facecloth I wanted to finish up in May. Black does not photograph well at all, and with a flash it's even worse. You can't see the nice tidy little purl stitch zigzags that run up the cloth, but you can sure see the little gaps that will hopefully settle down once it's washed.


Pattern: My own
Yarn: Catania
Started: 5/25/2007
Finished: 6/5/2007

I was so thrilled at finishing the facecloth, I pulled out that almost done sock. What do you know, about 20 minutes later all that was left was weaving in the two ends.


Pattern: Plain Vanilla Stockinette
Yarn: Tofutsies
Started: 4/20/2007
Finished: 6/5/2007

With such a good start on meeting my weekly goal, I decided to cast on a couple more pair of socks to help meet the monthly goal of finishing at least 3 more pair. First up was to finally knit up that Cider Moon I bought way back when. I fell in love with the yellows and oranges, so I'm not sure why I've waited so long to knit it up. I chose to use the Simply Lovely Lace pattern from one of the IK issues from last year. I knit another pair in this weight of yarn and they are one of my favorite pair, so it seemed appropriate. These should knit up fairly quickly so hopefully won't languish too long in the knitting bag.



I also did some more work on Intoxicating. Why yes, I do plan to show you multitudes of photos of this sweater as it is knit. Yes, I do know that there is no difference other than another repeat or so from the last photo. Surely you aren't bored with it? Doesn't everyone love this sweater as much as I do??



Just about to the halfway mark on the Turtleneck Tube Vest. This might actually be done in time for me to wear it to my daughter's graduation this weekend. I had to take some major liberties with the pattern. Anyone else knit this and have problems with the instructions not making sense for their size, or is it just the smallest size that has the problem? When I followed the instructions, the ribbing pattern didn't match up on both sides next to the arm openings. I adjusted for that, then continued following the instructions. Once I was done with the increases, I noticed the next issue. Increasing on every right side row only gave me an armhole depth of about 4 inches. I needed more like 8. Ugggggg to the frog pond it went. The width was fine after increasing, so I did the same number of increases but did them every other right side row. Now it fits like a dream. Since I'm knitting this in cotton, which isn't going to have the memory that wool would, I am going to do a few decreases in the stockinette section to give it a bit of waist shaping before I start on the 4 or so inches of ribbing at the bottom. So far this is working out fine and the sweater fits beautifully.

It's a Miracle!!

Posts two days in a row! Woohoo, I am no longer neglecting the blog :o)

I take the most horrible photos when I'm posing. Anyone else have that problem?? Now, if Paul had caught me by surprise I probably wouldn't look like I had smoked a lil wacky weed, or was coming down off a weekend drinking binge. But, I do and that's that.

As promised, here's a modeled photo of the Tuxedo Collar Tank. I really like this top and might make another one later this year.



I'm kinda digging on the slight variations in the colors of the Alchemy bamboo. Makes for photos that look like I messed up the pattern, but in person this sweater is awesome. The knitting is going so quickly, I might start the lace skirt that is sitting in the "soon to be cast on" section of the craft room.



Also knitting up quickly is the Turtleneck Tube Vest. At the rate I'm going, I'll be ready to join the front and back and start on the body section. I'm not seeing any problems so far using cotton so it looks like one of my next projects will be a stash buster.

New Month, New Goals

It's a new month, and time to set some new goals. I didn't quite make my May goals. Instead, I gave in to temptation and worked on new projects instead of the ones I was hoping to finish.

With that in mind, I have decided to set some weekly goals when I see myself getting behind. For some reason, if my deadline is close to when I set my goal, I seem to do better and meeting it. First on the list for this week is to finish off the second of the two washcloths I wanted to finish in May. I am half done with it, and set it aside to work on a sweater that wasn't even on my list. Next up will be to finish the Tofutsies socks. I was so close to finishing (only about an inch from the toe shaping) when I bought the bamboo yarn for a new sweater and got distracted. Also this week I want to finish a new sweater I started last night. It is knitting up very quickly so I don't see any problem accomplishing this.

Later in the month I am hoping to finish the Leg Cozies I wanted to finish last month. For some reason the lace pattern just lost it appeal and I set them aside. I'm not going to worry about these too much since Jenn says she won't use them til it gets chilly, but I don't like to leave projects to languish too long in the knitting bag. Also in June, I want to finish Intoxicating, which I started yesterday. It is knitting up quickly, like the one I want to finish this week, and I am in love with the yarn (photos of both sweaters later in the post). I am falling behind in the 52 Pair Plunge, but I'm sure I will catch up eventually. I am hoping to finish 3 new pair of socks this month.

This afternoon I put the finishing touches on the Tuxedo Collar Tank, which diverted me from my May goals. I really like this sweater. It knit up quickly using Tahki Cotton Classic, and the collar gives it an interesting look. I'll get a modeled photo tomorrow as I plan to wear it to work.


Pattern: Tuxedo Collar Tank
Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic
Started: 5/15/2007
Finished: 6/3/2007

Actually finished in May are the Knee High to a Grasshopper socks from the Rockin Sock Club. I love the new yarn BMFA is carrying and plan to get some more. My feet do so love silk.


Pattern: Knee High to a Grasshopper, Rockin Sock Club
Yarn: Silkie Socks That Rock, Blue Moon Fiber Arts
Started: 4/29/2007
Finished: 5/27/2007

Last night I cast on for Intoxicating. The pattern is very intuitive so it's knitting up fairly quickly. I hope the back pattern is as easy to work. I love the colors and can't wait to get to the orange parts.



Speaking of orange, I decided to knit the Turtleneck Tube Vest from "Fitted Knits". Several other SAM knitalong members have knit this and I just love how theirs look, so jumped on the bandwagon. The pattern calls for wool, but this is too summery a sweater in my book to be wool, so I am attempting it in cotton. This yarn is part of the grab bag goodies I got from Webs a month or so ago. Although it didn't photograph well, it is a tweedy mixture of orange, white, and a taupe color. In my stash I have some Pakucho cotton that is very close to the taupe color in this and may make a shrug from the same book using that with some of the orange as trim. It will all depend on how this knits up in the cotton. I will soon know as this is almost knitting itself.

Am I ever ready for a long weekend!

I am soooooo glad this week is over and we are heading into a long weekend. Let's just leave it at it's been hectic to say the least.

I've managed to get some "stress relief" knitting in and finished up a couple of projects. First off is another pair of baby socks. My co-worker says they get cuter with each pair. Sounds like an invitation to make more precious baby socks to me!


Pattern: Feather and Fan
Yarn: Knit Picks sock something or other leftovers
Started: 5/17/2007
Finished: 5/19/2007

Although, not really on track to meet my May goal, I did manage to get some knitting done on the Leg Cozies. I will not be making these as long as the pattern calls for. Jenn doesn't want them to pool so much around her ankles. And, like mother like daughter ..... her legs are skinny enough that I won't be doing the increase rounds either. This project just gets simpler and simpler. I am hoping to put some more effort into these on Monday and see if I can't get close to finishing them by month's end.



I finished the first of the Knee High to a Grasshopper socks and have some progress on the second. The lace pattern is knitting up pretty quickly and I am hoping to have the pair complete tomorrow.



Also on the "finished" list is the first of the Tofutsies socks. I stalled a bit on the second as I don't relish miles of straight stockinette, but I plan to make this my main project for Sunday and see how much of it I can get complete. I just might get caught up on the 52PP projects if I put my mind to it.



As I had hoped, I was able to complete the Surplice Lace Top last weekend in plenty of time to wear it to dinner with my parents. I love this top! It is cool and comfy. Not socasual that I can't wear it to work, yet not so dressy that I can't wear it with jeans and tennies. I've worn it several times since completing it.


Pattern: Surplice Lace Top, Nashua Handknits North American Designer Collection No. 4
Yarn: Nashua Ecologie Cotton
Started: 4/21/2007
Finished: 5/19/2007

Almost as soon as I cast off the Surplice Lace Top, I cast on for this little summer top. I love the neckline and collar! I am knitting it in the called for yarn: Takhi Cotton Classic.



I am just about an inch shy of the armhole shaping on the back and hope to have this top completed fairly quickly.



Why the need to finish the tank so fast? Well, as if I hadn't purchased enough stash for projects in the past month or so, I made yet another purchase yesterday. I decided to spend my lunch hour browsing the bookshelves at my LYS yesterday and they had a copy of "No Sheep For You". I idly picked it up and wouldn't you know it opened up to this little number!



It was love at first sight, and I immediately forgot about the 4 or so sweaters I have lined up to be cast on and decided I simply had to have this sweater in these exact colors. I poured over the silk yarns but just couldn't find one that had all 3 colors needed. Each yarn had 2 and nothing else I liked as much as the 3rd pictured. I engaged the LYS owner in the search and we were about to give up when something made me look up. There it was!



An unopened bag of Alchemy Bamboo full of beautiful skeins of green, purple, and orange yarn! I am drooling all over it as I type this and can't wait to be able to cast on. I am hoping to have enough willpower to wait until the tank is done, but I've said that before. And, we all know how it ended lol.

Back on Track

I think I'm back on track knittingwise. A bit of progress on all of my projects on the needles, and I even started another project. Yell at me for it if you will, but I just can't seem to stop myself from casting on when I decide on something I want to knit.

This week I finished up one pair of baby socks, and started a second. I had originally planned on finishing both pair last weekend, but another project drew my attention away from them. Eventually I'll make my way through all the leftover bits of sock yarn I have and my co-worker's baby will have toasty toes for quite some time. This pair marks pair 5 for the 52 Pair Plunge. I'm a bit behind schedule there, but do have 3 other pair on the needles right now in various stages of completion. If I focus a bit on these I should be back on schedule in no time.



I mentioned in my last post that I had gone in search of ribbon for the Elegant Ribbed Stockings. It didn't photograph really well (I'm sure if I whine enough about the photos, hubby will purchase a new digital camera!), but it's a yellow and green plaid and I am in love with it. I'm thinking a nice green vest over a yellow top will look cute with these. Maybe with walking shorts, maybe a skirt. Not sure yet.



I did manage a few rows on Mermaid 2. Not a lot of progress on this project, and I don't really expect much too soon. I'll keep plugging away at it a few rows at a time over the summer, and once Fall hits I'll work on it full force.



Most of my progress this week has been on the Surplice Lace Top. I've sewed in the second sleeve now and am just about halfway through the last piece to be knitted. Tomorrow night should bring the last of the seaming and weaving in of ends. Hopefully this will be ready to wear to dinner Saturday evening.

Lots of Knitting, Lots of Stash Enhancement

I decided to do some knitting last night and save the blogging for tonight. Might have been a bad idea since I wound up stuck at work until almost 8pm! *sigh*

I did finish the washcloth Wednesday as I thought I would. Meeting my May goal of completing 2 of these should be a snap. It knit up really quickly in some yummy cotton yarn. I have 2 more balls of this cotton set aside for other washcoths.


Pattern: My own from one of those gazillion pattern stitch books
Yarn: Catania
Started: 5/9/2007
Finished: 5/9/2007

Since I finished Mermaid 1, I decided to devote some time to the Surplice Lace Top. The Lace pattern is knitting up pretty quickly, and I love the Nashua yarn! The color in this photo is a bit off I think. It's a much softer yellow and slightly variegated. Hopefully, once finished, I can get a better photo of the true color in natural sunlight. I don't think my goal of finishing this by month's end will be difficult to meet.



I've slowed down quite a bit on the sock front. Seems my attention keeps wandering. That's what I get for buying too much pretty sock yarn! I've finished just about 1/2 of each of the below pictured socks. The Tofutsies (pictured on the right) is a great yarn to knit with, but I'm bemoaning my choice of straight stockinette.

The BMFA Silkies (pictured on the left) is so scrumtious! I really want to buy more of it, but I think Paul might just scream if one more package shows up on our doorstep in the near future. Not sure what the poor thing is going to do when I get my backorder lol.



I finally pulled out the Leg Cozies for Jenn and worked on them a bit last night. This pattern is going much quicker than I gave it credit for. She just may have these by the end of the month!



To make up for 2 unfinished pair of socks, I cast on another baby sock last night. Hope to have the pair done tonight, then finish another pair tomorrow. That should keep me on track with the 52PP and give me time to finish up those unfinished pairs.



I blogged about the purple Mermaid I cast on earlier this week, so I decided to show you the colors in the 3rd kit I received. This one will be for me and I can't wait to knit it. The colors are so much fun, and much brighter than they photographed. Wonder if I can have all 3 Mermaids knit before the end of the year .... hmmmmm.



There has been much stash enhancement going on in my knitting life lately. When I went to JoAnn's to get some ribbon for the Elegant Ribbed Socks, I saw they had some yarn on sale and poked about until I found something I wanted. I picked up enough Bernat Cool Crochet to make the Josephine Top from the latest IK. I love the soft pinks and browns. They will go well with some silk pants I got for this summer. I also picked up several skeins in a deep chocolate that I believe is destined to become a crocheted lace jacket.



On one of my many recent trips to KM, I picked up this yummy yarn on the 40% off sale shelf. It will become the Talored Scallops Jacket pictured on the cover of Lace Style. This will be a perfect jacket to keep in my office since it's so dang cold in there all year.



On yet another of those KM visits, I picked up some goodies for socks.



Tonight when I got home, my Webs order had arrived. I finally bought one of those grab bags, just to see what I would be surprised with. I can honestly say that I am not disappointed and will purchase more of these in the future. I was a bit afraid that I would wind up with a ton of novelty yarn that I would never get knit up into anything, but look at what I wound up with. Two of those are Cascade, and three are Filatura di Crossa. I am in love with the navy colroed ribbon yarn. Can't wait to find out what they all want to become.



Yesterday, the postman brought my Elann order (also photographed here is the Regia Bamboo that just wouldn't fit in the above photo). The brown is Elsebeth Lavold Angora and will become a yummy sweater. The gold is Luna and will become a lace skirt.



Just because I couldn't pass it up, I snapped up several skeins of Kornucopia. It is going to be so much fun to tell people I am wearing a lime green sweater made from corn lol.



I know there have been more recent purchases, but they must be buried under the newest of the haul. Eventually they will be pictured .... as projects in progress if not before.

Woohoo!! The Mermaid is done .....

I haven't posted in quite some time, but there has been knitting progress nonetheless.

I finally finished the Mermaid jacket. I love it!! It fits really well, and the colors are great. Only one photo to show. The front shot didn't turn out very well at all. Must teach husband about how knits look so much better when the sun is shining on them instead of them being hidden in the shade. *sigh* Other photos will have to wait until he is home again .... yep once again he is travelling on business :o(


Pattern: Mermaid, Hanne Falkenberg
Yarn: Hanne Falkenberg 2 Ply Shetland Wool
Started: 2/15/2007
Finished: 5/5/2007

I also finally buckled down and finished up the last few repeats on the Chevron Stripes Hand Towel and finally got around to taking a photo to post. More linen has been purchased for towels for the half bath, and much cotton has been purchased for matching washcloths. I cast on for one of them this evening and am just about 1/3 through it. Progress photos tomorrow (if I remember to blog lol)


Pattern: Chevron Stripes Hand Towel, Mason Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Eroflax Linen
Started: 3/12/2007
Finished: 5/4/2007

The other 2 Mermaid kits I ordered arrived, and I have cast on for one of them. I decided to start with the sleeves this time since that's where I kind of lost interest in the project on the last one. We'll see if this helps speed the knitting process up some.



I know the month is 1/3 gone now, but I'm going to post my goals anyway. For May I am hoping to accomplish:

2 bathroom washcloths
Jenn's leg cozies
Surplice Lace Top
Knee High to a Grasshopper socks
Tofutsies socks
2 pair baby socks