So nice, I made 'em twice!

I woke up this morning, and upon realizing it was the 15th, and we are entering week three of April, I said to myself, "Self, it's time to get those Jaywalkers done already." And I did.

I hunkered down with some TV on DVD (Freaks and Geeks and BTVS, season 7), and got through the second sock in short order. All I had left was about another two inches and then the toe. Due to my supreme luck (I don't pretend it was skill, though I did try), the stripes on both socks match perfectly, and I didn't have to do any measuring at all. I just knit to the same number of stripes. Easy-peasy.



See what I mean? Every time I look at my feet, I pat myself on the back for these. I will have to keep them forever, because it will probably never happen again. To recap, these are the famous Jaywalkers by Grumperina. I have made these before using another striping yarn, but on these, I used a US2 for the leg and a US1 for the foot, which resulted in a supremely comfortable sock. I used AustermannStep in color #3. I love this yarn, though the aloe content makes it feel a little strange in the ball. Mrs. Cooper approves of this color.



I'm sure I'll be making more Jaywalkers. I can't imagine knitting self-striping yarn in stockinette ever again! I highly recommend this pattern.

Next up is the adorable February baby sweater from EZ's Knitter's Almanac. While I continue to work on the CWT, of course. I'm almost done with the ruffle (I'm finished according to the pattern, but I'm adding length), and then I just have to get it all sewn together!

Hooray for Progress!

So I got pretty far on my Jaywalker and then found myself staring wistfully at the Cinched Waist Top. After seeing the top on my dress form, I got excited about seeing this piece together, and had to pick up those stitches already! It's a nice break from the teeny needles I'm using for the sock (US10.5 for the ruffles!), and the cashmere is so incredibly soft, it's a joy to knit. I'm trying to give both projects equal needle time, but must confess that I've been working much more on the CWT, spurred on by the promise of the finish line. I'm almost to the point where the pattern has me stop the ruffle, but I'm going to add an extra inch or so. Of course, once I'm done there's an ungodly number of ends to weave in, and some fiddley finishing, so I predict more sock time and a start on a baby sweater before you see the CWT finished.

I definitely think I'll have some leftover yarn. Which is definitely okay! I have a few balls of this same yarn in black, and I could do with a luxurious scarf.

I'm pretty excited about wearing these puppies! The yarn feels awesome on my feet, and warm. Given the crummy weather we're having, I'll be wearing these socks until June. I did end up using US2 needles for the leg and US1 for the foot, and it made a huge difference! I have no problem at all with getting the leg over my heel, but the foot is nice and snug, just how I like it!




Despite the fact that it's snowing outside right now, my mind keeps wandering to spring knits. I have Rusted Root queued up, and have been checking out my cotton stash for possibilities. I hit the big WEBS online sale and ordered some Jo Sharp Silkroad DK to make the puffed sleeve cardigan out of Fitted Knits, and some Cascade 220 Superwash for a vest. The office I work in is always cold from late spring to early fall (until it turns into a furnace in the afternoon), so I will be needing a little something to put on to ward off the chill. Right now I have an ancient black cardigan and Cafe Bastille Cables hanging out there, but even though my office is cold, I don't think it warrants Lamb's Pride Bulky. [As an aside, finding that journal entry also dated when I made the Kool-Aid dyed yarn that I just now knit. It was three years ago. How times flies!] What projects are you daydreaming about?

Instant Gratification

You know how sometimes you want some pudding... or maybe some cake... and you don't want store bought but you also don't want to do all the measuring and melting and blah blah blah so you buy instant pudding or boxed cake just to satisfy that craving, even though you know they won't taste quite as good as your homemade, labor intensive concoctions?

That's how I feel about these mitts.

I waited patiently to work on the second mitt until yesterday, opening day of the Quick-Fix Knitalong. As luck would have it, I also had the Buffy complete boxed set (with extra special features dvd!) and a lot of time on my hands. I started the mitt in the morning with season 1, and ended it in the early afternoon with season 3 (I skipped around). The more I knit with this yarn, the more I actually liked it. I wouldn't choose it if I saw it in a yarn store, but the different shades of purple aren't that bad, and the blue adds a nice punch. I even got used to the aroma of grape Kool-Aid. To recap, I used Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns for the pattern (I used the mitten pattern and lopped off the top, adding ribbing), and Kool-Aid dyed LB Fisherman's Wool with US3 needles.

After I finished the mitt, I waffled between picking up the ruffle for the Cinched Waist Pullover or starting Jaywalker #2, I decided I'd rather do ribbing in the round than pick up stitches. I got through a couple of inches of sock before I had to turn my attention to the newest addition to our family, Betsy.



Betsy is a Dumbo rat, known for their large, low-set ears. We thought that since new rats must be quarantined for two weeks (minimum) before joining established rats, we should get a pal for Eunice sooner rather than later, since she's so lonely. Isn't she adorable?

I didn't expect to finish my first quick project so, erm, quickly! I wondered if I'd have to abandon the pullover this month, but it doesn't look like I'll have to. I finished the top portion last week, but didn't take a picture. I'll get right on that!

The Gentle Sigh of Disappointment

So, remember how I said I was going to start the Lace Leaf Pullover when I finished my nephew's vest? Well, I'm almost finished with the vest, so I decided to swatch for the Pullover. Plus, my knitting basket was down to dregs, so it was time to fill it again.

(Sorry for the craptacular picture, I took it last night.) Despite the yarn label information on both yarns (the one I want to use and the one used in the pattern) being almost identical, I could not even come close to getting gauge for the Pullover without a fabric that looked like fishnet. So, I decided to find a fabric I like and then find a pattern to fit. I got a nice fabric at 16 stitches to four inches. I just spent over an hour going through back issues of Interweave Knits, Rebecca, some vintage books I have and a couple of leaflets, and I have come up dry. I really wanted to get started on my cashmere sweater this weekend, but that doesn't seem likely now. Sigh. I won't give up until I find the perfect pattern, though! I can't use this yarn on just anything, and I'm afraid if I let it sit too long, it'll become that part of the stash that never gets used because it's too good for everything. Leafing through my Interweaves made me wish that magazine sites gave readers the ability to search through the archives by gauge. It would take a lot less time.

As I said before, I am almost finished with my nephew's vest.



This morning, I picked up stitches for the armhole and did a ribbed edge for about an inch. Unfortunately, I picked up way too few stitches and had to rip it. Fortunately, the whole endeavor took only about a half an hour. I kind of felt like I hadn't picked up enough stitches, next time I'll listen to myself! I love this little vest. It's so soft and cuddley, and it's simple enough that he can wear it with most of his clothes. I only have maybe two hours worth of work left on this one. Maybe I can even finish it tonight!

I'm also still plugging away on Jaywalker number one.



This was the best picture of the sock, so please excuse the plain white socks in the background! When I finished the leg of this sock, I let it sit a couple of days before starting the heel. I'm so glad I did, because in the interim, I wore my first pair of Jaywalkers. Now, I adore my Jaywalkers. They hug my feet like none of my other socks, and never fall down or come off in my boots. I do have one beef with them, however, and it is this: the leg is so tight, I have a hard time getting my heel into the foot of the sock. Once my feet are in there, everything's great, but it's a tiny struggle to make it happen. On this pair, I switched to a US2 for the leg of the sock, but kept wondering how this new needle size would affect the fit on my feet. Then, I had a revelation. I am the boss of my knitting. I can do whatever I want. So I began the heel with a US1 needle, and have knit amost the entire foot on the new size. And you know what? The fit is awesome! I have no problem getting my foot into the sock, and once it hits the heel, it slides into place like a new ink catridge in an ink jet printer. I can practically feel the click. I can't wait until these are finished. I can tell already they will be in heavy rotation.

Wish me luck with finding the perfect pattern! If you happen to see anything for the right gauge, using about 820 yards of chunky weight yarn, perhaps calling for eyelets, give me a holler!

Mish Mash

No knitting pictures today. My Jaywalker is just a leg right now, and I'm only a couple of inches into the front of my nephew's vest. So, just some chatter today.

First of all, I am so excited about a pattern I found yesterday, I almost posted right off about it. It's Rusted Root by Zephyr Style. I have kind of this thing for puffed sleeves lately, and I almost fell off my chair from the adorable-ness of this top. I bought the pattern immediately, and as soon as I got home I raided the stash for appropriate yarn. I'm just shy of the yardage requirements with most of my cotton yarns, but I do have enough Cotton Ease in black, red, bright pink, bright yellow and pale yellow. I also have enough in two colors of Lamb's Pride Cotton Fleece, but there are two problems with that. One, I bought that yarn specifically to make Sherwood for my nephews. Two, and this might seem contrary to number one, I've found that Cotton Fleece does not wear well. I have a ChicKami (love this pattern) I made with CF, and it's so pilly and fuzzy, I hardly ever wear it (I certainly never wear it out). True, I wash it in the machine and air dry, but I do that with a lot of my knitted garments, and none of them look like that. My reasoning for using CF in the boys' sweaters anyway is that they will not wear these garments as long as I would. They'll get one season wear out of them, and that's it. Since I want to make Rusted Root soon, I'll probably use Cotton Ease (which incidentally, I have never seen pilling).

My other exciting news is rather old. On Valentine's Day, there was a gigantic snowstorm here, and I had the day off from work. My boyfriend and I decided to take advantage of the storm and see a movie. The theater is by this crappy strip mall, which includes a craft store which is going out of business. I had been to this store once before, but was unimpressed with their yarn selection, and never went back. But who can resist a going out of business sale, right? I was dumbstruck when I turned down an aisle away from the acrylic and discovered 100% cashmere yarn AND Debbie Bliss Pure Silk for 40% off! So I have enough cream colored cashmere and pink silk for sweaters. After a meeting with my consultant, I decided on the Lace Leaf Pullover from Interweave for the cashmere (if I can get gauge). I pulled the pattern out the other day, and am just waiting to finish the vest before swatching (you've gotta have goals). Now I just need to find something perfect for the silk.

Well, if you've made it through all of that, you totally deserve a picture. Perhaps something... adorable?

And also a perfect illustration of bad bunnies. She chewed through those laces eventually!


PS: I got my Interweave yesterday! Yippee!!!

Simple Things

I finished the back of my nephew's vest. It went by pretty quickly, considering that I haven't had much time to knit lately. But you know, that's what's so great about kids' stuff.

I think when I refill my basket, I'll put in the yarn I bought to make Sherwood for my older nephew. If I wait until he gets much bigger, I won't have enough yarn!

After I finished the back of the vest, I felt like doing something different. The stockinette had gotten me through a rough week, but I needed a little something with some kick (just a little). So, I cast on for another pair of Jaywalkers.



I really like this yarn! It's Austermann Step, and it has aloe in it. The yarn in the ball feels a little strange. Not bad, just different. Knit up, it's very soft, with excellent stitch definition. When I bought it, I didn't realize it was self-striping. I don't usually like striping yarn, it's just not my thing, but I love it in the Jaywalker pattern! I wonder if I have any other striping yarns in the stash somewhere....

In other news, I'm slightly aggravated with Interweave Knits right now. I renewed my subscription (late, I admit) on January 14. My confirmation email said the Spring issue would be mailed on February 22. I still have not received the flipping magazine. I wrote them an email asking if it had been sent, because I don't know how much longer I can hold out before I just buy it on the newsstand! I'm dying over here!

Me? Ungrateful?

No, just forgetful. I sent a picture of my completed Jaywalkers to Grumperina for the gallery, and was delighted when I not only received a reply, but she replied to say I won a prize! Being of the unlucky-ish sort, I rarely win anything (unless it's one of those contests rigged so everyone gets a prize). That email made my entire day.

More amazing than my winning, was the fact that I won for being the 450th person to submit a photo for the gallery! That's incredible! Especially when you consider all the people who finished a pair and didn't share.

Had some knitting issues over the weekend... I will be taking some photos tonight or tomorrow morning to share!

Productive!

That's my weekend in one word. Not only did I make vocabulary flash cards for the GRE, bake cookies, go grocery shopping, and take my dad shopping, but I also finished three projects! Woo-hoo!

Friday night I hunkered down and wove in all of the ends on the Rebecca tank. I even looked up the complete name of the garment: Sweater with Lengthways and Crossways Ribs. I love all of the literal pattern names in this issue of Rebecca (I don'’t have others to compare) , but this one is my favorite! Check it out!

Specs: Rebecca magazine'’s Sweater with Lengthways and Crossways Ribs from issue 25. 1.75 balls of Sirdar Breeze in light green. 3.5mm needles.






On Saturday, I washed the tank in the washer and set it out to dry. I celebrated the completion of one project by pulling out the supplies for another (Christmas stocking for nephew #2), and considered whether to cast on for something completely new, or finish up the Jaywalkers. Unable to decide, I chose option number three: make a dish cloth.


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Mock-Woven Tea Towel from Jimsy L Design. 1 ball Sugar and Cream cotton in the brightest colorway in the store. US7 needles.

The other day, I bought a few balls of kitchen cotton with the intention of making some dish cloths. What I love best about making dish cloths, is that I feel more freedom in color choice. I mean, the chances of my wearing lime green and yellow together are slim to none, but they make perfect sense for a dust rag.

Now here it is Sunday (I won'’t be able to upload this until tomorrow), and I found myself face to face with my lonely last Jaywalker. So, I finished that up, too!



Grumperina's Jaywalkers using Opal Rainforest yarn in Tiger. US1 needles.

I've said it before, and I'’ll say it again... these are the most comfortable socks I own. They are so snug! I love the wild pattern of the yarn, and it also feels nice. Modifications include changing the kfb for the increase portion to a lifted bar increase on each side, short row heel and short row toe (my first!). I have so much of the yarn left over, I'’m going to try to squeeze a baby hat out of it to donate to the hospital. Donating newborn hats is something I have always meant to do, but never got around to. Do you think the hospital would use such an unconventional colorway?

Word is there will be Internet access in my apartment at the end of this week! Will this translate into more updates? Tune in!

Actual Knitting Pictures!

These are hurried shots, taken this morning as I rushed around the apartment, late (per usual). First, the easy one:

Just the toe to go! These socks are very warm, and I can't wait to wear them this winter. Ooh! Won't they also be awesome for Halloween?!



Now for the hard one:




The tank and I are at odds again. I was so excited yesterday after I finished up the shoulders and took it off the needles. Then I tried it on. In a word: Wah. The arholes are too short, which makes the entire garment too short. I don't really know how I missed that! I'm not too upset about it, though. By my estimation, I'll only have to add another couple of inches, and the top of this tank, which looks pretty shapely, is actually just a rectangle. The ribbing makes the shape. Shortness notwithstanding, the tank looks cute! AND I think I'll be able to wear it this fall, also, layered under my brown corduroy jacket.

Speaking of fall fashion... reading Becky's blog has renewed my interest in fashion, and I've bought armloads of fashion magazines of late (though I've yet to purchase the September issue of Vogue, or, as I like to call it, the Bible). Is anyone else a little alarmed at the resurgence of leggings worn with belted sweaters and ankle boots? I look at those, and all I see is my favorite outfit from seventh grade: black leggings, belted tuxedo shirt (WITH bow tie), and black ankle boots. Or my favorite outfit from fifth grade: magenta oversized sweatshirt, black leggings, black Reeboks (I also had an oversized Mickey Mouse sweatshirt with the collar cut off that I worked with this look). And let's not forget my elementary school look of black leggings torn and fastened with safety pins, pink shirt with grid design, wacky shapes and tails. I might be legging'd out.

Seriously, it's for your own good.

I debated briefly with myself this morning over whether to take a photo of the Rebecca tank (I wish I could remember the name they gave it, it's so literal as to border on the ridiculous), and finally decided that it really looks pretty much the same as the last picture I took. Not that I haven't been working on it, it's just at that black hole stage where nothing seems to happen. I go around and around, and don't even seem to run out of yarn! Seriously, I haven't even changed balls yet! I haven't casted on for the second Jaywalker yet, because I'm afraid if I sacrifice one knitting minute to anything other than the tank project, I will not live to see it finished.

Last night, as I settled in to watch the end of A Sound of Thunder, I flirted with the idea of hitting up the stash for a new project. The crisp breeze of last afternoon had me thinking about fall, and Christmas, mittens and stockings. Maybe I could just cast on for one little mitten, maybe the tank wouldn't even notice. I gazed longingly at the door to the stash room, and picked up the tank. I knew if I strayed, I'd be punished severely. Maybe I'd find another break in the yarn, or get a terrible knot, or maybe, just maybe, it would become the tank that never ends, and I would be 85 years old, still working on this project, but knowing I'd never be able to wear it when it was finished. I worked a few more rounds.

I know it probably sounds like I'm down on the tank. Maybe you're asking yourself why I'm even working on it if I hate it so. But you just don't understand! I see the potential in this tank! I know what it could become, if only it would try to work with me! If I give up on it now, it will never realize the successfull tank it has inside! So I continue to work. Knit two rows, purl two rows, longing for the day I can begin armhole shaping.

Welcome to the Jungle!

I've finished the first Tiger sock!

I made just a couple of changes. Firstly, I substituted the dreaded kfb for m1 left and m1 right. This changed the pattern somewhat, as now the decrease section has one raised stitch the length of the sock, and the increase has two raised stitches, but I prefer that to the bars. I did a short row heel instead of flap (oh, how I loathe picking up stitches!), and I also did my first short row toe! I closed the toe with a zig-zag cast off, which was really fun to do, but leaves an obvious ridge. I'll do the second of the pair the same way, and then I'm going to kitchener. The last thing I did was to make the bottom of the sock in plain stockinette. I didn't like the idea of those decreased stitches rubbing my sweet little feet. I graciously took a picture of the bottom so you could see the difference the stitch pattern makes to the striping pattern of the yarn.




Now I like this yarn well enough, but I really think the wild zig zags add a little something, don't you? I don't think I would be so enamored of this sock if it were plain stripes. Plus, the tight stitch pattern makes the most comfortable sock ever to grace my foot. It hugs every curve, without being restrictive. LOVE this pattern!

I got the heel and toe pattern from an online, subscriber-only Interweave Knits pattern, "Priscilla's Dream Socks." They are my new favorite short-row heels (and toes). Instead of the annoying and, at times, confounding "wrap," that pattern has you do a yarnover. MUCH easier, both to execute and to pick up.

After finishing the first sock and admiring it for awhile, I decided not to cast on for the second sock straight away (playing with fire, I know), and I casted on for a Rebecca tank. It's just a few rows right now, though. I'll take some pictures when there's something more than a ruffle!

Bad Blogger!

I forgot my camera cord at home, so I can't show you the fabulousness of Grumperina's Jaywalkers in Opal Tiger yarn. As I suspected, the zig-zagging of the sock pattern creates a nice, tiger-y effect. I am loving the pattern! It's fun to do, and as usual with self-striping yarn, I love watching the pattern emerge. I'm already eyeing the sock stash and wondering what other yarns I have would be suitable for this pattern.

Next time I'll remember my camera cord! I'm still looking for a suitable pattern for the Sirdar Breeze. I can't seem to get any more than 5 stitches per inch, and all the patterns I find need either 6 per inch or 4. Fortunately, Bonne Marie has many patterns in that gauge. Perhaps I'll do another ChicKami, or maybe Sitcom Chic (I've been meaning to make that for awhile now!). Another pattern I've been meaning to make (and already own) is Gigi, but Cutaway is pretty cute, too. Oh, decisions! (Can you tell I'm a Bonne Marie fan?)

I hate to have an entirely pictureless post, so I'll go ahead and tack on some belated photos from my yarn expedition to WEBS with Amy.

My companions, Amy and her incredibly adorable and well behaved son, J. I think her baby-carrying device is brilliant! Not only does she get to keep in close contact with her child, but look at all the yarn she can carry with two hands versus one! Amy's always been a multi-tasker.


The spoils. See that wee pile off to the right? That's my stuff. The rest is all Amy's! She was a shopping dynamo! Please keep in mind that she was really Christmas shopping, she really isn't a crazy yarn hoarder (that's my job).


Next time I post I'll show those fabulous tiger pictures. And maybe, just maybe, that Sirdar will tell me what it wants to be.

Pictureless

Well, I have one more square finished (only three to go!), but no photo of it. I hope you'll be content with some blathering, because I feel like talking about knitting, but no one with whom to talk about knitting.

First, I saw a pattern today that made my heart skip a beat. Here's a picture of Hello Yarns' version. Look at those adorable squirrels! (Here's a link to the .pdf of the pattern.) I'm feeling a little squirrel crazy because of the latest girl to join our clan.

Meet Fats!

Judging from the shape of her belly and nipples, she just had some babies. We're hoping that if we leave food out for her, she'll bring the babies around when they're bigger. What can I say? I like small fuzzies.

Speaking of patterns (in other words, bringing this back around to topic), I have been daydreaming of knitting something besides off-white Encore for the last week or so. This post by Amelia Raitte convinced me that I need to jump on that Jaywalker bandwagon and make a pair using my Tiger striped Opal.

I purchased the Leaf Edged Bolero pattern some time ago, and am now thinking it would just the thing to carry around when the A/C gets too arctic. The big question is, do I buy some KnitPicks Shine, or do I use the Cascade Pima Tencel I picked up during the WEBS sale?

I still haven't forgotten about the Astrakhan cardigan either. That Astrakhan taunts me daily from my knitting basket. I also still have to swatch some yarn for two different gift sweaters (planning ahead for Fall gifts), and also envision giving everyone on my Christmas gift list a hat or pair of mittens. Probably a pipe dream, but I'd at least like to give something to those I've not yet given something handknit.

Looks like my break is over, and there's a big storm brewing. I'd hate for a lightening bolt to erase all of my daydreaming!