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!

Progress: Castle Pullover

I have been working my needles like a mad woman lately.  With the long holiday weekend over, I have finished all of my Christmas knitting---yes, it's true, and we still have something like 30+ days, huh?  I shouldn't brag too much.  I have been wanting to make the patterns of my gifts for a long while so it was easy to muster the courage to work on them.  They also awarded me another 500-ish yards to my year total, so I'd say the last week or so has been a tremendous success! 

I also started my Castle Pullover two days ago.  I decided to use some Elann Highland Wool my mother in law gifted me last year.  It was the only amount of stash yarn I had that somehow equaled a sweater and I just had to, especially when Cecily had a special on her patterns.  I am almost done with the body and toying with the idea of 3/4 sleeves.  Still haven't made the choice but I am somewhere near approaching my seventh skein and still have two left. Somewhere in the back of my head I am picturing wearing it with a long sleeve mustard top, so we'll see.  I think the lace will actually look quite nice once I am finishing blocking the piece. I am dreading the return to work, if only because I will have to put down the sweater. 

While I was on the topic of the holidays, I have begun the sweating that begins when cyber Monday starts approaching.  Will I buy anything?  Can I really afford any more yarn or more importantly, do I have a place to house it anyway?  Single luxury skeins or work horse sweater quantities...? The feeling of dread that comes over me is epic.. Webs has free shipping on orders over $75, but really?  Maybe I can find something better?  The questions are never ending.... I still haven't made the big decisions, but you can believe I will be red eyed with my calculator in tow at my laptop around midnight.  

Finished: Annabel Cardigan

Earlier this week, I bound off my Annabel Cardigan.  I don't remember when I cast this on, per my Ravelry page, I have been working on it for almost 10 months.... It certainly didn't take me ten months, but at some point I realized my markers were playing tricks on me, and I had to frog the whole thing and restart it.  I'd say from the time I actually rebegan the project, it took me about 10 days of real knitting.  The project took 1.5 skeins of Cascade Eco. I had some trouble selecting buttons, I couldn't decide if I wanted buttons all the way down or just for the top, I still haven't figured it out but I did select two white buttons for the time being. 

 

 

Last weekend, while on a shopping excursion for Christmas yarn, I did pick something up for myself--surprise! A beautiful skein of Malabrigo Sock in Persia. I'm not too sure what it will become at the moment but I couldn't resist. I have been in a blue mood and this seemed to fit me perfectly. I am considering, once done with my gifts, recasting on a Damson shawl, but I haven't solidified any plans just yet.

 

I have also begun swatching my Castle Pullover in a lot of Elann Highland Wool that my mother in law picked up at an estate sale.  Looking forward to this cute design by Cecily, who just kills me with her designs.

 

I am working on quite a few projects at the moment, but most I can't discuss since they are Christmas gifts... I can't believe the year is almost over.  With the progress of my gifts, I imagine I should be ahead of the game, completing most everything before mid December.

 

 

Finished: Shimmer in Blue + Princess

Any time the weather changes, I find myself moving forward with my knitting.  I just can't help but want to be bundled up with a large (or small) piece of knitting keeping my hands warm... this winter is no different. 

In the last few weeks, I have been hitting the needles dutifully and have finished some new projects, bringing my yardage for the year to almost 8,000! 

I  finished another Dovetail Cowl for a dear friend in Oregon.  It worked up in about two days in Cascade 220 and I really hope she gets wear out of it this chilly winter.

Recently a coworkers 4 year old daughter caught a glimpse of me wearing my Pogona shawl... the next day she asked if I had made it to which I replied---"of course!"  Without blinking an eye lash I asked what her daughters favorite color was.  Within a week my mini/lazy version of the Princess shawl was born.  This took just about one ball of Rowan Felted Tweed and I ended it with a tiny little butterfly button.  From what I've heard it is a big hit and I couldn't be happier! 

And finally, yesterday, I bound off my Shimmer in Blue in a muted shade (Stone Blue) of Malabrigo Worsted.  This worked up in about 4 days and was about as mindless as it gets.  Garter stitch and a cable repeat which includes only one cable row.  Perfect work knitting! I had a little trouble with the set up row and needed to add two rows of stockinette to work the math out, but overall, it is snuggly and the perfect shade for the upcoming change of weather. 

I have also finished one half of my new pair of some cloudy days in an unknown superwash wool.  I am feeling a little underwhelmed with the pattern the second time around.  Nothing wrong with it--but with my lack of exposed legs these have hit the back burner fast. 

Before the year ends I would like to:.  

• begin and finish a Noro Striped Scarf for a work friend.
• work on a pair of Herringbone mittens in shades of gray (surprise!)
• finally begin Phillip's Star Trek hat if I can ever figure out the scale of the chart and sizing.... (we'll see!)
• select yarn for a Pontos Cardigan. 

I feel as though I may be skating on thin ice with only about 60 days left in the year but with my work ethic it just may be possible... Happy Knitting!