Finished: Burberry, Milanese Loop

I haven't been knitting as furiously as I imagined.  I have been battling something like  a cold and I am trying to figure out whether I will need to give up reading books permanently  since I am incapable of having two hobbies at once apparently.  After reading a good book, I managed to finish two cowls this January.  A Burberry Inspired Cowl Neck Scarf (which is insanely popular on Ravelry and now I know why... in Classic Elite Ariosa) and a Milanese Loop in a gorgeous shade of Madelinetosh Pashmina (well water).  The Milanese was really simple and I am incredibly happy with the end result.  I used a size 6 needle which produced an airy end result but I know  I will be wearing it year round.  

Finished: Line Break

Line Break is the perfect representation of my knitting life.  The yarn, beautiful Madelinetosh Merino Light (from a few posts ago), was purchased from a Rav destash and the pattern was gifted to me by an amazingly kind RAK-er.  After less than a week, I found myself binding off, and being a little sad that this gem was done. 

I am feeling so rejuvenated as we haven't even hit two weeks into 2013 and I am almost at 1000 yards!  It's back to the drawing board for me now; I am quite anxious to start knitting  sweaters but I have just received a skein of Madtosh Pashmina in Wellwater that is dying for attention. 

Happy Knitting!

Finished: Shaelyn

Phillip and I have both been working hard.  Him on a new header for my blog, and me on knitting up a storm. Three days into 2013 and I already had an FO!  I finished my Shaelyn shawl in the amazing Sweet Fiber Cashmerino Luxe yarn I picked up after Thanksgiving(?)... I am really glad I finally knit this pattern.  Now I understand what all the fuss is about! It was easy enough to keep with me when I wasn't really supposed to be knitting, but interesting enough that the lace worked as a minor challenge.  (Ok, challenge is not the right word, I definitely think the pattern is new knitter-friendly, but it required thought.) The end result is beautiful and I am really glad I splurged on this yarn, only now I am regretting not buying more!

I received a package of AMAZING tosh merino light in Stovepipe for a Line Break Shawl, only to return to paypal to pick up a skein of tosh pashmina in Wellwater.   I know that the costs will eventually save me money in the long haul, but I am still feeling a little sticker shock as I continue to rack up the purchases.  Or maybe I am just telling myself that even though I buy nothing but yarn?

On New Years day, I made a short trek to a LYS for a sale.  I picked up some Classic Elite Ariosa for an unknown cowl, and some Rowan Felted Tweed (at 50% off!) for a striped shawl.

And while I am on the subject of yarn, I hand dyed another skein of bulky weight yarn, for an unknown project to come.  I was pretty happy with how this skein turned out, the colors are subtle, muted, and even though I don't have the dyeing thing down just yet (duh, I only just began), I find it really interesting and fun.
Maybe this skein should go to my friend Julie, who provided me with all the supplies?

This morning I cast on a Tea with Jam and Bread for Phillip in 220 Heathers... I am already approaching the raglan increases, so here's hoping he will have a new sweater in a week or two!
Happy Knitting! 

2013 Planning

No new projects to show off as I have taken a break from knitting for the last four days--who knew that was possible?  Oddly, or not so oddly, I have been acquiring yarn at the speed of light, daydreaming about the projects to come in 2013.  Just recently, I picked up a lot of 220 in Yakima Heather for a planned Tea with Jam & Bread for Phillip.  I had been going back and forth on it for a while, mainly because the pattern seems so expensive but when I realized that I would be able to make a male size for him and a womanly size for me, it really eased my decision.  I should be casting on Phillip's in the coming day or two. 

I recently picked up skeins of Berroco Vintage Chunky (Cracked Pepper) for my own version of the Crisp and Gray Vest by Veera Valimaki.. I have used Vintage many, many times but never the chunky version.  I am looking forward to it despite hearing the pattern is rather confusing.

I also picked up skeins of Malabrigo Sock for a to be determined later project.  I am struggling deciding what pattern to use for this disgustingly beautiful yarn.

In other yarnie news, I tried my hand at dyeing this past weekend thanks to a good friend Julie, who gifted me some Lambs Pride Bulky, kool aid and a great book! Perhaps my crock pot method of a few years ago was deathly off, but I've never had luck trying my hand at it.  This time though, I couldn't help but smile with glee when I realized the water was actually clear..Hot damn! I think this could be a long running love affair to come.  

2013 seems to be full of possibilities.  I can't keep my mind from wandering to the next project, the next idea, the next yarn buy.... Hopefully in the coming twelve months I will be knitting even more than this year, and these are some of the projects I am hoping to conquer (full list can be found on my Ravelry queue):

Work + Shelter

Ashby

Beaubourg

Oak Grove

Levinwick

Rocky Coast

Eternity Cardigan

Linebreak

Happy Knitting!

Finished: Lattice Top & More

2012 has been an amazing year of knitting for me.  It is hard to believe that almost 365 days have passed from the point where I started tabulating my yearly yardage total.  So far, I have finished 10 shawls, 12 hats, 11 cowls, 6 sweaters. 3 pairs of gloves, a blanket and a few other things.  I can't really remember this year without seeing needles  in my hands. (I can't stop thinking about what I will knit in the coming year.... The list is long, but I will get back to that as the month draws near, ie next week!)

Earlier this morning, I bound off a Cap Sleeve Lattice Top by Purl Bee in Elsebeth Silky Wool.  Dreamy yarn, easy pattern, and an end result that really matches my personal style. 

I recently finished an Ishbel Shawl in Malabrigo Sock in the Persia colorway.  What an amazing little shawl.  Now I understand why there are thousands of project pages on Ravelry.  Yay for Ysolda Teague and her designs.  I gifted this to my mother in law for Christmas and I really hope she loves it as much as I do! 

And an Oaklet Shawl in Classic Elite Miracle.  My mother in law picked this yarn out while visiting a yarn store I had never been to... the yarn is tencel and alpaca.  The end result is fuzzy and soft.  And the pattern can be found for free on Rav.

I gifted my sister in law a recently finished Pasha Hat in Malabrigo Silky Merino.  Jane Richmond can really do no wrong when it comes to hats..

I'd say it was a fruitful few weeks.  I am approaching 12,300 yards for the year and I am desperate to see just how far I can go.  Off to the drawing board and to my stash to continue on! Happy Knitting! 

Finished: Effortless Cardigan

Ten days ago, I couldn't decide on a project.  I was thinking about sweaters, shawls, gloves, all of it.  I finally settled on an Effortless Cardigan with the knitpicks Merino Style.  After about 1100 yards, I had a new cardigan.  The finished project is blocking; I really can't wait to wear it.  The pattern was a little too simple for my liking, and picking up so many stitches wasn't my favorite, but overall I would definitely make it again! I think it would be great in a subtle yarn, like Malabrigo, or the suggested Madelinetosh.  

Only a few weeks left in 2012 and I can't help but think about my last few projects, and I've begun my 2013 planning- including a pullover for Phillip, another few sweaters for myself, and hopefully a swap of BFF Cowls by Ysolda and tiny owl knits--if only I could find a friend to swap with! 

Happy Knitting!

Finished: Castle & Cyber Monday!

On Thursday, I had one garter row left on my last sleeve of my Castle Pullover.  For seven dutiful days, I worked on the sweater... over 800 yards.  When I bound off, I put it on, and it fit wonderfully-- despite the pounds that have been falling off of me from my illness. I couldn't be happier.  The pattern is simple, the lace looks great and with the 100% wool I used, it kept me warm most of Friday when I wore it to work. So many thanks to my generous mother in law who gifted me the yarn for my birthday earlier this year.

Well, as I anticipated, I was dragged out of bed on Monday morning, bleary eyed, tired and a little grumpy to check all the sales out.  I ended up picking up a lot more than I thought, and thanks to Phillip's encouragement, I haven't even begun to feel guilty yet!  I had already picked and paid for quite a bit before he woke up... I anticipated the usual sigh when I buy yarn while he is asleep... I even prepared him by telling him that a divorce would really hurt the cats psyche.  To my utter surprise, he then mentioned I should check out the knit picks sale!  I think all the quick progress I'd made on Castle made him believe I was some sort of knitting factory, so thanks to Cecily, for somehow getting my husband to feel like I could knit all the yarn in the universe!  I ended up picking up more than a sweaters quantity of Ella Rae Heathers, in various tones--likely for a Tea with Jam & Bread pullover.

A lot of Knitpicks Merino Style (from a fellow Raveler), for an Effortless Cardigan.

And my splurge, Sweet Fiber Yarns, Cashmerino Luxe... The color was not quite what I anticipated--a lot more copper than the mustardy dark yellow I was anticipating, but the yarn is beautiful. It also happened to be practically free (well, sorta. at least in comparison to the original price), so many thanks to Loops for having the sale and quickly fulfilling my order! 

With the start of my weekend here, I am going back and forth on what's next...

Happy Knitting!