Timing....

I will never be a comedian. My timing sucks.

We are in the midst of the summer here in Florida and I am working on "winter" items such as sweaters and mittens.

I never thought I would be knitting sweaters for myself - for a variety of reasons. These reasons include the fact that I am always hot. It seemed to be a lesson in futility to knit a garment I might only wear half a dozen times a year. Then I was bitten by a bug to knit a sweater for myself.

More designers are creating sweaters to fit a larger range of sizes. More interesting sweaters are showing up in magazines, books, and websites that catch my magpie's eye. I guess it was inevitable.

Back to the timing issue....

I have just completed the Chevron Lace Cardigan by Milobo. I crocheted this garment in "Spa" from Naturally Caron. The drape and softness of this yarn is what I was looking for when I started the project. Although it is short sleeved, it will be a winter garment because there will be several layers of clothing and that makes me hot.

Secondly, I am working on the Give a Hoot mittens. It gets cold downtown while waiting for the bus so mittens seem to be a good idea. My eldest, Grace, wants a pair - without thumbs though - so she can control her iPod.

Thirdly, I am working on a top down raglan using a mix of two worsted weight yarns in my stash. I didn't have enough for a sweater's worth of yarn so I combined the two to give me the yardage. Again, I thought it was insane to buy a sweater's worth of yarn but now I get it. I have been converted.

ON THE NEEDLES: See above!
ON THE BOOKSHELF: An Ice Cold Grave by Harris
ON THE iPOD: Lion Brand's podcast
ON THE TABLE: Spaghetti with meat sauce

Plied Outcomes....

This is the plied outcome of this....

I loved the colors in the batts - another amazing color palette from Sugarbee Studios. This was the March fiber from her club.

I loved the plies.

I was not sure whether I wanted to barber pole it or Navajo ply it. Sugarbee plied it up barpole style for me (which I appreciate!!!) but part of me is thinking to unply it and redo the singles Navajo style. I don't think the final product captures the amazing color progression I worked hard for when preparing the batts.

This was the first fiber I really planned out. My planning worked right up until the plying. I just think the plied yarn really takes away from the singles. I am thinking to Navajo ply the long color block singles and the heathery singles separately and then use them that way.

I still have one more singles of long color blocks and two singles of the heathered style. These may be Navajo plied.

My one concern about the Navajo plied end product with these singles is there will be long blocks/stripes of the various colors and that is not necessarily a look I want. Maybe I will swatch up the plied fiber as is and see how it looks....

I shall keep you updated!

ON THE NEEDLES: Circle Socks and Hanami
ON THE BOOKSHELF: How to Murder a Millionaire
ON THE iPOD: Stitch It!
ON THE TABLE: Highly processed crap that I am too embarassed to list....

Circle Socks

This is Circle Socks - a freebie pattern by Anne Campbell. This pattern is amazingly fun to knit. It looks super intricate but is deceptively simple. I find myself wondering and contemplating the "circles" themselves - considering how they might be used in other designs - such as a detail on a sleeve or yoke.

The yarn is "Lace Merino" from Ella Rae. This stuff is amazing. If I look closely at the yarn, there are spots where the dye doesn't *seem* to saturate the actual fiber but more like it is has been top detailed. I do worry a bit whethe the dye is set or not. I guess we will find out when I wash the socks!

The color combination is a bit unexpected but really quite lovely. The dye runs are short and this makes for non-pooling which makes for good stockinette knitting. This is good because the foot of the sock is done in stockinette!

ON THE NEEDLES: Circle Socks and Hanami (finishing 2nd repeat of chart A!)
ON THE BOOKSHELF: Across the Nightingale Floor and The Secret
ON THE iPOD: Just Stitch It!
ON THE TABLE: Kielbasa and pan fried potatoes

Ouch!

My office moved this week-end. I helped - and ended up with a sparking case of sciatica. As such, things will be quiet on the blog this week - less time in a chair and at a computer will be good.

See you in a few days!

Starteritis

This is what starteritis looks like. Last week, I hit a bit of a knitting funk and my mojo seemed like it was taking a summer holiday.

It took me a couple of days but I dug deep.

I went through my Ravelry "Favorites" list. In the past few months, I have been militant/dilligent about going through my library of magazines and books and adding projects to my "Favorites" that I want to knit or crochet. I also went through and tagged each and every item in my "Favorites." This was no small feat. I have over 800 items in my favorites. This has really paid off, though. I can easily search the list and find items that might suit my fancy.

I wanted to do some lace - it is summer and I wanted something light and airy on the needles. Socks are always on the needles but it did really take some time to narrow down my options to a couple of sock patterns. Even still, I don't feel the sock patterns - not really. I am just kind of "meh" about them.

In the photo above, there is evidence of *EIGHT* new projects. Of course I will blog about these new projects over the coming weeks.

But yes, this is what starteritis looks like. My mojo has come back from holiday, ready to work and get things done.

ON THE NEEDLES: Hanami, Srping Forward Socks and Clapotis
ON THE BOOKSHELF: Across the Nightingale Floor
ON THE iPOD: Electric Sheep podcast
ON THE TABLE: Pasta with meat sauce - Italian sausage and cauliflower for me!

Socks with Socrates!

I bought this yarn on a bit of an impulse on the way out the door at my local yarn store, A Stitch in Time. I do not regret it one bit. What I *do* regret is not buying more of this yarn.

Socrates yarn from Alpaca with a Twist, Wednesday Night Green

This yarn is absolutely amazing. The singles are a bit heathered. In this case, the main color is the bright green but there is a bit of yellow heathered in. This provides the most amazing color.

I searched high and low for a sock pattern I liked. After looking at 5o or so sock patterns, I settled on Spring Forward from Knitty. My only reservation about the pattern was the slouch in the leg of the sock.

I am working the instep on the first sock. I love the pattern, it is easy to memorize and great commuter knitting (or TV knitting). I am knitting the sock on 1 1/2 DPN's. The leg is a good bit more slouchy than I would like - and I will be seriously disappointed if the leg ends up overly baggy. Every row or so (or even when I have completed knitting the stitches on a single needle) I pet the yarn. And pet the yarn. And look at my progress. And pet the yarn. And wonder how it would go if I asked the people on the bus to pet my yarn.

The pattern is only obvious when stretched. See?

(Relaxed)

(Stretched)

Do YOU want to pet my socks?

ON THE NEEDLES: Spring Forward Socks and Hanami
ON THE BOOKSHELF: Across the Nightingale Floor
ON THE iPOD: Splendid Table podcast
ON THE TABLE: BBQ meat salads

Hanami Progress

I love this stole. I love love love it. As I have said previously, this is an amazingly well written pattern and the fabric that is created is astounding.

I am about 1/3 done. I knit 4 rows every morning after I do yoga and this practice has led to a lot of progress. It is the lack of progress/slow progress that often goes with lace that disenchants me so this has made me a fan of lace again.

I am so excited! There will definitely be more lace work done in fingering/sock weight in the future!

ON THE NEEDLES: Hanami and Circle Socks
ON THE BOOKSHELF: Across the Nightingale Floor
ON THE iPOD: Kings of Leon and Tool
ON THE TABLE: Omelettes