Finished: Light Trails & Song of the Sea

Spring break week afforded me lots of time for knitting.  Over the past few days I have managed to knit over 1000 yards, finishing my Light Trails sweater in madtosh sport and knitting a Song of the Sea cowl in Manos Fino. 

 

The Light Trails sweater was a bit daunting.  I purchased the pattern and realized that it has 10 pages.  After reading all of the pages I became aware that the designer, Suvi, did an amazing job explaining everything in great detail.  I couldn't ask for more.  Why then did I managed to screw up the cable panel for my sleeve?  Not sure.  Anyway, I finished it and I love it more than I thought.  It is boxy, and just my style and even though I did not alternate skeins, I like the effect of the hand painted yarn.

 

There are many notes on my Ravelry project page for anyone curious about further details. 

 

So I decided it was time to use some vacation yarn and beat my queue.  Next, I cast on a Song of the Sea Cowl.  The pattern is well written with charts and written instructions both.  The yarn was well worth the wait.  I love how buttery and easy to use Manos yarns are.  I noticed it had little fuzz balls reminding me of madelinetosh dandelion and that made me like it even more!  The colors throughout the yarn were rich but subtle and perfectly mocking of the sea theme.

 

 

In other news, I have developed startitis for the first time this year.  Feeling a furious need to cast on everything and knit instead of sleep.  I have worked through my queue, putting it together in a manic order and paired it all with stash yarn.  I'd say I am in for a lot of knitting this year.  While I dream of many more wooly sweaters, I have cast on another Dissent shawl (this time for me) in glorious NBK and Shibui yarns...

 

 

I would love to continue to chat but knitfm and my project are calling me...

Happy Knitting!

 

Finished: Work + Shelter & Pei

Forgive me, I have been a bad updater.  Things have been a bit hectic and while I can't say I have given up knitting, my completion rate is hitting a low.  Maybe I am exaggerating though, since I have finished two projects (and made significant progress on two others) in the last month.  

My Work + Shelter tee by Holla Knits is complete.  I bought this yarn many moons ago in Arkansas-- on sale.  I was a bit worried as cotton has a bad reputation on hands.  My only complaint is that even with gauge this top turned out huge.  I am starting to wonder if I just don't know what to size I wear.  I wouldn't call it a complete loss as I have been wearing it pretty much non stop since the sun has been out, but I would probably be happier with something two sizes smaller. 

I also managed to finish a Pei cowl in madelinetosh dandelion.... I am not sure I will be able to put together appropriate sentences about how amazing this yarn is.  When I ordered it I was concerned about the linen content.  I thought, well it looks a lot like TML but... Truth is, dandelion has become one of my favorite yarns, if not my favorite.  The colorway used is Opaline, which has a tremendous amount of depth. Is it telling that I am wearing the cowl as I type this?  (I really am.)

I've made progress on a pair of Rye socks for Phillip out of Malabrigo Rios... This will be my first full venture into sock territory.  So far so good. 

AND, the cream of my knitting crop... A few weeks ago I begged Phillip to take me to a fiber fest in another state.  Surprisingly (not really), he immediately agreed because he is a great husband and knows that I will be endlessly entertained.  Anyhow, I realized that I obviously must wear something beautiful and impressive to the event, which is in a few weeks.  I scoured Ravelry (story of my life) and found the Light Trails sweater.  First, it is my style.  Boxy, and a bit awkward.  Naturally, I immediately cast on.  With my madelinetosh sport (!!!).  I had been fighting the feeling to hoard the  yarn and never use it in case madtosh stopped existing, but I cast on.  The pattern is incredibly detailed (something like 10 pages) and there are instructions probably where instructions aren't necessary (I believe this to be a good thing.).  So I am dutifully working the pattern and I finally join in the round.  Whoops, I attached one of my sleeve panels the wrong way. WTF.  I wanted to jump off a bridge for a while but kept on going.  So I will be the mirrored sleeve panel lady at the fiber fest.  At least I will be in a sweater that cost $130, right?

Happy Knitting!!

Stash Updates & Finished: Nalu, Waves & Zuzu's Petals

First of all, Julie sent me a beautiful pair of socks and I may have been bitten by the sock bug.  I don't want to take them things off!  Funny enough, I normally hate socks and actually am not even sure I own my own pair.  I tend to pilfer Phillip's when boot time rolls around.  Anyway, I mention this new sock love because on my birthday I needed some stash enhancement.  I went to one of my favorite knitting stores and just grabbed for my life. 

Newly acquired yarn:

 

Don't judge... I have plans for all of it and have managed to finish a few more projects in the last month. 

 

For Julie, Zuzu's Petals in madtosh sport, the Dahlia colorway... This knit up quick and I will totally be making another one for me.

 

A pair of Malu Mitts, also in madtosh sport, this time in Charcoal.

 

And a Waves shawl in Malabrigo Silky Merino... again, allllll mine.  I will have to take decent photographs of that after reblocking (too many yo, k2tog's to be perfect after just one block).

 

Anyway, I'd say 2014 is off to a great start.  I am off to swatch for a Work & Shelter sweater in cotton picked up many moons ago.

 

Happy Knitting!

 

Finished: Rock Island, Stucco & Dissent

I feel a bit swamped at the moment which is why my updates have flat lined.  That doesn't mean I haven't been knitting like a mad woman.  In the last 25 days I have finished three projects bringing my yardage total to over 1000!  First was Rock Island.  I will spare you the horror of the entire story (sorta..)... The project wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought but, I still managed to screw it up enough to not be able to gift it to Julie, which majorly pisses me off.  Sure, it could be worse but I still can't do it... sigh.  If I could stomach another, which I probably could, I would be sure to take a hard, long look at everything prior to bind off.  Funny enough, the worst part of the shawl is the garter stitch, which should have been a walk in the park...

I tested for Lisa Mutch again and made Dissent.  A two color fingering shawl at loose gauge.  This knit up incredibly quickly and has already found a home with Rachael.  I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine and will totally make another before the year is over.  Lisa's patterns are so well written and easy to follow.  The last few designs by her have been welcome as they allow me to get an aethestic that I love without wanting to rip my hair out.  I have no doubt this design will be extremely popular once released next month. 

And lastly, the make up gift for Julie after the Rock Island catastrophe of 2014: Stucco by Rose Beck.  I used a new yarn--Juniper Moon Farm and was very impressed with it.  This shawl was made with worsted weight and while the body is extremely easy to keep track of, the edging is where it makes its mark.  The border is comprised of an eight row repeat where you wrap the yarn around a stitch numerous times.  This does use a massive amount of yarn, but the end result is totally worth it.  I love Rose's patterns and this one is no different.  I just hope Julie will love it and that it won't be too heavy in the Florida heat. 

Happy Knitting!

See ya 2013...

The end of the year is upon me and I am reflecting on my finished projects and totals.  I lost a good week of knitting thanks to an unpredicted hospital stay a few weeks ago.  Ugh.  On one hand I am incredibly thankful to be home and getting better, but it was a wrench in my final few projects. 

My Christmas gifts have all gone to their forever homes.  For my mother in law was a set of All the Water mittens by Kristen Kapur in Blue Sky Suri Merino.  If you've ever used this yarn then you already know they are soft and lovely--no surprise there.

 

Previously finished was a Windschief hat for my father in law.  He and Phillip often bike together so hopefully the hat will be helpful this winter.

As I think about all the projects I finished, I can't believe my hands went so quickly... I managed to finish 38 projects, 11 of which were full sized garments.  It's insane to think that many yards (16,400+) and that many skeins were wound, knit, and blocked into submission.  I can't even imagine what will be done this time next year.  I also managed to begin (but not finish) three new projects prior to the hospital stay including a Rock Island Shawl for Julie, a Zig and Zag Cowl for Rachael, and an Indigo Ripples Skirt for me.  Hopefully these few will be done quickly and I can move toward beating my yardage totals in 2014.

 

 

Happy Knitting (and New Year)!

Finished: Seagrass & Sand and Sea Shawlette

Well, we had our first snow day this past week and it was every bit as delightful as I hoped.  I am getting a tad stir crazy now as I approach three full days in the same pajamas but returning to work ought to fix that right up.  Anyway, it gave me plenty of time to knit, so no complaints here.

 

I was able to finish my Seagrass cardigan by Cecily in Berroco Vintage DK.  This thing is pretty cute! I tend to prefer really oversize or tight and this is tight in a way that I am not accustomed to.  Overall, I am pretty happy with it and it took very little yarn;  I think I barely broke into the third skein.  And it took me less than a week.

 

I also finished a gift for a dear friend K, the Sand and Sea Shawlette in Coastal Knits.  This one is made with tosh merino light and as you can imagine, is to die for.  I am really sad to see this one go.  The yarn is so subtle and the pattern was well written.  I made the body in garter to avoid having to pick up all the wraps, and I have to say, I think I like it better than the stockinette versions I have previously stalked.  Hopefully she will love it.

 

 

I've also just begun a secretive color work project for Rachael, who gifted me the beautiful handspun.  Once that is complete, it is off to Rock Island for Julie... you know, I keep reading the pattern, over and over and over and over, and it appears to not be too difficult but it's one of those times that you know when you're actually knitting it, it has the potential to make you want to rip your hair out? Oh, but the finished project will be amazing.  I just know it. 

 

Off to wind some yarn...

Happy Knitting.

Stash: madelinetosh

My Webs order arrived yesterday and I would be lying if I didn't say that I wasn't still in a yarn-y fog.  I immediately told Phillip that I needed more...poor guy. But seriously, holy shit I am so excited!

 

Skeins for the previously mentioned Rock Island shawl for Julie arrived.

 

Skeins of tosh merino light in beautiful Jade came for an unpicked Rose Beck shawl.

 

And the finale, a sweaters worth of tosh sport in Composition gray... swoon.

I keep going back and forth on what to make with these skeins: Poolside or Audrey in Unst.  Either way, it can't be wrong as this yarn is to die for.

 

Other things arrived too: replacement needles, gift tags, crap that means nothing when you get your first whole box of tosh.

 

Happy Knitting!