How The West Was Spun

WIP Wednesday - 05/07/2008

Hokey doke - the seemingly never-ended scarf is finally finished and off the needles, so......

Project #1:  Little Child's Socks

Are now the top-listed project.  I did get a few repeats knit on these.  I've got 2 more repeats for the leg before turning the heel.

Goal:  Finish up the leg repeats.

Project #2:  Cobblestone Pullover

This has turned into my "knit when you can" project, but with multiple errands and waiting for the yarn skeiner to run, I actually have made quite a bit of progress on the sleeve.  I have 4 more rows, and then will be up to the last set of increases for the underarm "seam".  I think I've decided that I'm going to cut off the large garter stitch cuff, then pick up and knit probably 8 or 12 rows with spaced decreases, down to a smaller garter stitch cuff with less rows (and do that on smaller needles). 

Goal:  Finish all the increase rows.

Project #3 (semi-new) Gentleman's Sock:

I posted a pic of this a few posts ago.  The pattern is the "Gentleman's Plain Winter Sock" from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks book.  Sorta-kinda.  I changed the heel treatment and tweaked some stitch counts to get what I wanted (which is mostly to use up the bulk of this large 450-yard skein of Alpaca Sox).  I'm working these up in another ginormous guy size to ship off to the orphanage.  This yarn apparently felts like the dickens, so cold water/hand washing will be perfect for it, and it IS extremely warm for its weight.

Goal:  First sock is already done and off the needles.  I have about an inch of the second sock ribbing done.  No specific goal, but we are on the road to Idaho for a race this weekend, and I think this will be my primary travel project, since it is exceptionally mindless and I don't really need a pattern to work on it.

All for now.....

FO: Center Diamond Scarf

Finally!  It is done, done, done!!

Project Specs:

• Pattern:  Large Rectangle with Center Diamond Pattern Shawl from Victorian Lace Today
• Yarn:  Rowan Kid Silk Haze - 2 skeins - colorway Liquor (# 595).  I didn't use all of the second skein; there's probably half left over - if anyone can use it for another project, please let me know and I'll be happy to send it to you.
• Needles:  Size 7 US bamboo
• Modifications:  I made this significantly smaller than the original.  I only worked 4 diamonds across the body of the scarf.  Finished dimensions for this project wound up at 15-1/2 x 60 inches after a light blocking.
• Notes:  OMG - I thought I would never finish this thing.  I was distinctly unmotivated through most of it, and I have no clue why.  I like the yarn and the color and working lace.  What the heck was my problem? This was not a particularly difficult knit.  I would rate it fine for moderate beginners who have knit some lace.  Picking up the edging stitches is about it for technical stuff.

Slightly less artsy shot for those who want to see the details:

Liz - remind me of your snail mail addy so I can send this along to you, K?

All for now......

WIP Wednesday - 04/30/08

Project #1:  Lace Diamond Scarf

Look at this! Woot cubed!  (Yes - I know - out of focus - ignore that part).

That little bit is all I have left to put edging on.  I think I have 2 repeats, then the corner, then 7 repeats and the last corner, and then 3 repeat.  I'm going to try like the dickens to finish this and get it off the needles.

Goal:  Finish edging.

Project #2:  Little Child's Socks

Chugging along on this.  I actually did 3 repeats of the leg pattern this week.  No specific goal for this, as I want to concentrate on the scarf this week.

Goal:  None specific; work on this ad lib.

Project #3:  Cobblestone Pullover

I finished up the 16 rows I had set as a goal for myself.  I had D slip this sleeve on and he didn't like the way it kept "flopping in his soup".  Meaning he wanted a tighter fitting sleeve at the cuff.  Okay - I can do that.

Now, shall I cut off the garter stitch and pick up those stitches into just regular ribbing, or should I add a couple of decrease rows and then do a narrower garter stitch cuff (like maybe 6 rounds)?  Any opinions?

Goal:  None (finish scarf!) while I ponder what I want to do to modify the sleeve.

All for now......

Thanks, Mia!

Y'all may remember I was participating in the No-More-Humdrum-Mittens swap.  Although my swap partner (due to some homefront stuff that would sap the knitting strength out of anyone) hasn't quite finished my mittens, she DID send me a box of goodies last week!

Here's the list of goodies:

• A set of cute kitchen towels embroidered with the days of the week.  Sunday's on the top, but there are 6 other days in the set!  How fun are those? And very retro!
• Three bags of various chocolates.  There may be a few less in the bags than are shown in the pictures.  Maybe.  Just sayin'.
• A skein of one of my favorite yarns - Harrisville Highland - for me to play with.
• And not shown, but already in the kitchen - a tin of Old Bay seasoning.  (If you are from the tidewater area, you'll know this stuff makes the absolutely BEST Bloody Mary drinks.)

Thanks Mia!  (And if you get a chance to visit her blog, be sure to take a look at all of her Earth Day pictures - they are incredible.)

All for now.....

WIP Wednesday - 04/23/08

Project #1:  Lace Diamond Scarf

Actual, real, honest-to-dog progress has been made here.  I turned the second short corner and did 7 repeats along the second long edge!  In talking to Liz in last week's comments, turns out this is one of her favorite colors.  Originally, I had planned to gift this to my mum, but she got the larger gray lace Kid Silk Haze project I did last year, and she's getting the red lace shawl, plus a not-yet-knit pair of gray socks this year, so I told Liz this little scarf should come live with her.  Maybe now that it has a good home to move on to, it will finish itself up faster.

Goals:  Since there are a total of 21 points along the large edges, and I have 7 done, I'd like to do another third, and finish up 7 more.  So.... 7 more repeats of the edging.

Project #2:  Little Child's Socks

OMG!  More progress!  I finished the first sock.  Yup - it's totally done and I cast on for sock #2.

Goal:  Finish the ribbing for the cuff and knit 1 repeat of the leg pattern.

Project #3:  Cobblestone Pullover

I actually did find a bit of time to work on this during the last week.  We had a riding lesson cancelled because of snow, so I used that evening to get some knitting done.  I cast on for sleeve #1, finished the garter stitch cuff and started up the arm.

Goal:  I'd like to get 16 more rows knit on this (that's 2 more increase repeats).

And in other totally random things I pick up and knit on occasionally, I finished another square for the Lizard Ridge afghan.  I found this was a good infusion center project, and I was able to knit for about an hour (good needle placement this time!) before the drowsies took over.  I finished up the remaining third of the block the next evening when I was taking it easy in front of the TV.  (Noro Kureyon colorway #92.)

All for now......