Finished: Agnes & Terra

I wasn't kidding when I said I was dying to swatch for my Agnes sweater in Malabrigo Chunky.  I ended up finishing it in record time, something like three days and haven't wanted to take it off since! Melissa LaBarre  has always been a favorite of mine and this pattern proves why.  It is a lovely (and easy) raglan and so easily customizable.  The end result does fit (yay!) and I love it.

 

Right after the bind off for Agnes, I cast on a Terra shawl in some 220 that has been laying around for a long time.  I finished it up last night after an X Files marathon and it is huge! I should call it my accidental poncho.  I guess I didn't realize 600 yards of worsted on size 9's would be so epically large on me, but I am really happy with it.  I have been eyeing the pattern for at least a year or two so I am glad I finally pushed myself to it...and even better, I easily surpassed my self imposed 15,000 yard goal for the year.

 

      

 

 

With my long weekend, I am planning on swatching for a few things including a Seagrass cardigan by my knitting crush Cecily Glowik Macdonald.  I also need to begin planning my last few holiday gifts but I feel like I can coast for the rest of year knowing I've made major strides in my knitting life.  ALSO, expect a huge update early next week when my large Webs order arrives! :)

 

Happy Knitting!

 

Finished: Featherweight

I really must figure out a way to type and knit at the same time... The cold weather is upon us and I can't stop dreaming of projects. It does not matter that I only have two hands, one brain and not enough power to knit like a real machine--I want it and I want it now.  In the last two-ish weeks I have finished three projects, all of which are Christmas gifts so I will have to save those for after the holidays.  Every year I always say I am not going to stress myself out with knitted gifts, but I always knit and I never stress out.

 

Finished a few days ago was my very first fingering sweater!  Featherweight in 220 fingering is complete and fits!  I don't know why I lagged on the last few pieces but I finally finished all those tiny stitches and I have a new little cardigan.  The project notes on Ravelry are basically right, the sleeves are a tad small and it probably would have trouble staying on if I hadn't made the collar a bit bigger.  I knit for an extra inch or two and it did make a difference.  (I am even planning other fingering sweaters...)

 

Recently, I started to feel bad for my husband.  I realized no matter the holiday, I always know what I want---yarn.  It does not matter that he chooses thoughtfully and well.  Deep down I am always dreaming he will surprise me with a room full of madelinetosh or Malabrigo.  But because he is so amazing and because I don't want to take anything from him, I decided to buy my own little holiday gift today.  It took a long, long, long time to decide but I filled a Webs cart with things my heart desired and I simply can not wait for the arrival.  It will include a sweaters worth of madelinetosh, madelinetosh skeins for shawls, and a few Dreamz replacement needles (technically he broke those so this was payback--an expensive one but still...) I will be sure to photograph (and swoon over it) all when it hits my doorstep.

 

 

I just received a shipment of Malabrigo chunky so I am aching to swatch for another Agnes sweater tonight.  Hopefully within a few days I will have a big, wooly monster to wear for the impending snow the forecasters say is coming.

Happy Knitting!

 

(In unrelated news, blogger has somehow managed to delete a majority of the photos from my posts... these posts will be removed soon, or fixed at some point.)

 

Who's stalking me?

Phew... I thought not much had been getting done in the way of knitting lately but I guess my perception is a little off. 

I had the INSANE pleasure of test knitting for Lisa Mutch recently.  If you are on Rav, I will spare you because you already know her as lisa312, the lovely Canadian designer and yarn goddess.  When she allowed me to test knit and even gave me a choice between a few patterns, I really couldn't decide... they were all equally amazing and then Slain ended up in my email box and I couldn't help myself. This is probably my favorite shawl that I have EVER knit. (if you were keeping count you would know that is between a hell of a lot.)  It is made with madtosh and knit on size 7's to give a good drape.  I absolutely have never loved anything I have knit before so much. (I mean it.) I already need another one...  Anyway, she should be releasing the pattern sometime in the next few months and I highly recommend it; it is not "difficult" but has w&t's which help break the monotony of the garter.  I am dying over this one. Please make sure Phillip buries me with it.

 

Also finished was a Stockholm Scarf (in cowl form) in the amazing handspun by Rachel.  I really love the way this turned out.  I have had to stop myself from wearing it every day.  The yarn was amazing to work with and the cowl is large but not too bulky. (I am about to start swatching a Pebble tank in the beautiful red..WEEEE!)

 

And finally, I managed to pop out a Kathleen hat for a good ol' friend at work.  This hat is a great example of why I love (some) hats.  I have made it twice now but somehow it still manages to be interesting and not at all dreadful. The color was darker than I imagined (a Rav buy) but it fits his brain so I am pleased.

 

In other news, my yearly yardage totals are well.  I am hoping to hit 15,000 yards this year (aka 8.5227273 miles, or 45000 feet, or 540000 inches).  I have about 1000 yards tied up in my Featherweight Cardigan which will be done soon,  if I can manage to stop hating the last sleeve which is all it needs. With a few other projects on the way, I will easily hit my goal.

 

And just because it feels like a milestone, I have hit over 10,000 page views on mrsmurrayknits.  I will sleep easy tonight knowing that 10.000 awesome knitters, or one really creepy person has enjoyed my knitting adventures.

 

Happy Knitting!!!