How The West Was Spun

WIP Wednesday: November 11, 2009

Project #1: Refined Raglan

Stand back.  I have the bit between my teeth on this one, and headed into the home stretch.  D has been gone since this time last week, so I've been on the "no cooking" option wherein I eat cereal for dinner every night, which cuts down on that pesky cooking and clean-up stuff.  Time much better devoted to knitting.

My circs came in the mail, and I powered through both sleeves.  These are now attached to the body and I'm working the pretty patterned raglan decreases.  I'm about two thirds of the way done the decreases.

Goal:  Come hell or high water, I am finishing this project this week.  

Project #2:  Flutter Scarf

I knit what I thought were the rest of the regular repeats for the first half of the scarf.  My brain remembered the pattern said "55", when it actually said "50".  Oh well - no harm done.   I like a little extra scarf length anyhoo.  So, that said, I'm ready to start the patterning at the bottom of half #1.  It doesn't really look all that much different than last week, but I will comment that I am enamored of how nicely the colors are coming out in this. 

 
 
Goal:  I would like to get the 14 rows of chart B done, but this is going to take a back seat to finishing up the raglan (above), so we'll call this project optional this week and see where things are in 7 more days.

All for now......
 

WIP Wednesday: November 4, 2009

Project #1:  Refined Raglan

Not a bit o' knitting on this.  I decided to wait for my circs, so my gauge will stay the same as that for the body.  Hopefully those will be here this week and I'll get the first sleeve cast on.

Project #2:  Flutter Scarf

During my stay-cation, I decided to cast on one new project (that was the Bousta Beret from yesterday), and tackle a UFO that's been on the needles for a while, my handspun Flutter Scarf.   Seriously, there is no reason why I shouldn't be enjoying knitting this!  I love the yarn and the pattern is easy, but a bit of interest, so I need to just finish it up.

I'm knitting this from handspun merino/tencel singles from Funky Carolina's "Waterlilies" colorway.  I have a couple other colorways in this fiber blend, which seems to lend itself nicely to singles, and I may just go ahead and spin up more of it for more scarves (which aren't my favorites to knit, but I whacked all my hair off this week too, and now I need something on the back of my neck when outside).  Mim's pattern is, as usual, easy to follow, and I love the finished look of it.

Goal:  I'm on row 36 of the first half repeats before the flutter edging.  Finish up thru 55 repeats before starting the edging.

All for now......
 

FO: Bousta Beret

For those of you (and you know who you are) who cannot live without another FO this week, I present to you the Bousta Beret (#2 this year).

As part of my stay-cation, I decided I would knit some fun stuff, because, after all, isn't that what vacation is about?  This is my one and only knitted holiday gift this year, a request specifically from my mum for a beret-styled hat.

Project Specs:

Pattern:  Bousta Beret by Gudrun Johnston.  I rarely knit a pattern twice, but I loved this one and it worked perfectly with the yarn.  The only modification I made was to change the Sl1, k2tog, psso central decrease to sl2 as if to knit, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over, as I like the verticality of that better.
Yarn:  Funky Carolina silk/merino aran-weight.  Carrie sent me this pretty "Ruby" colorway, which is totally perfect for my mum, as a thank-you gift.
Needles:  Size 5 and 7 DPNs.
Notes:  This isn't a difficult pattern, but if you are new to lace, I'd put in repeat markers, particularly once you start the decrease rounds.  Otherwise, the charts are easy to follow and the instructions very clear.

A close-up of the stitch pattern (modeled, for Marcia, for whom such things are very important).

This one will go in the gift box until I get wrapping paper!

All for now.....
 

FO: Potpourri Socks

Yup - finished!  The first day of my stay-cation was pretty gross, weather-wise.  32 degrees, 15 mph wind and snow.  Brrr......

The perfect day to stay inside and do some knitting.

PROJECT SPECS:

Pattern:  Potpourri Socks by Deb Barnhill from Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn.  This pattern throws a little bit of everything at you to keep the stitch count changing on each round, and thus prevent pooling.  Yarn-overs, ssk/k2tog and central decreases and then a figure-of-8 wrapped stitch row.  Definitely no pooling!
Yarn:  BMFA Socks that Rock, lightweight, in the "Peaseblossom" colorway, which was from their 2007 sock club.  Yay for some stash-busting.
Needles:  Size 1 DPNs.
Modifications:  I was a little worried about running out of yarn, so although the pattern called for the wrap stitch rows to have doubled figure-8s, I just did singles.  Seemed to look pretty similar and it saved me a fair amount of yardage.  (I had about 20 yards left over.)
Notes:  Not a difficult pattern, although it does have a lot of different things going on in it, for each row.  I would highly recommend this for very high-contrast handpainted colorways tho - totally gets rid of pooling, even on the soles and heel-flaps!

 

All for now......

WIP Wednesday - October 28, 2009

Project #1: Refined Raglan Pullover:

This week, I started the Refined Raglan pullover for my sweater #11 of the NaSweKniMo09 challenge.  This is an easy knit-in-the-round stockinette body pullover with a bit of lace detailing along the raglan shoulder shaping. 

Stockinette, in the round?  I am SO there for mindless knitting this week!

Again, I think this is reading oddly in the photograph, but then again, Lori's colorways are notoriously hard to capture on film for whatever reason.  This is just a couple of rounds shy of the 12" I need to have completed before I divide for the sleeves.  The waist decreases and increases are already done!

Goal:  I needed to order some shorter circular needles for the sleeves and I did that on Sunday, but I think they are on the slow boat.  If they come soon enough, I'll get started on the sleeves this week.  Or I may try to Magic Loop the beginning.  Not one of my favorite techniques, but I'm also not sure I want to wait 2 weeks potentially for the needles to arrive.  I think DPNs aren't going to be a good choice with this merino/bamboo blend, as it will want to ladder.

Project #2: Potpourri Socks

Lots of progress on these, as they've been my foozball-watching knitting.  I cast on, finished the leg, turned the heel and started the foot on sock #2.

Goal:  I have just 6 pattern repeats left plus the toe shaping.  I feel pretty sure I can finish these up over the next few days!

I think I'm going to pull out a UFO (my handspun Flutter scarf) and maybe add that in as my next WIP for the Wednesday updates.  Or maybe cast on another pair of socks.... or there is the Ulmus shawl I've been thinking about starting....... Choices, choices!

All for now.....
 
 

WIP Wednesday - October 21, 2009

Having cleaned out my previous listed WIPs, we are on to all new things for a change. 

Project #1:  Refined Raglan Pullover

I have only just cast this one on, but it'll be sweater #11 for the NaSweKniMoDo09 challenge.  I originally had a different pattern picked, but I could not get gauge without having the fabric feel overly stiff, so since I was more wedded to the yarn than the pattern, I opted to go with a different pattern.  I picked something relatively easy for this, as I'm um.... getting burned out on sweaters.

The yarn for this project was hand-dyed for me by Lori at Oceanwind Knits.  It's sort of a riff on her Mocha colorway.  The yarn was mine originally, 50% merino and 50% bamboo, and I had enough for 2 sweaters plus worth.  I sent her all of it, and she dyed some for me, and returned enough for a sweater and kept the rest for herself.  A fair trade, I think. (The morning light has blued this out a bit.  There are more chocolate browns in it.)

The pattern I decided on is from IK in Winter 2006, the Refined Raglan Pullover.  I am hopeful I can move through this one pretty quickly, but I've already frogged it once, having put a twist into the original cast-on edge.  It's back on the needles and I'm thru the hem facing, ready to knit the turning purl row.

Goal:  Knit up thru the first set of waist shaping rounds.

Project #2: Potpourri Socks 

Since I have had these on the needles since July, I think, it's about time to put some concerted effort into finishing them.  I had finished up the first sock.

Goal:  Cast on for sock #2 and knit the picot edging.

All for now......
 

FO: Icelandic Poppy Shawl

I'm on a roll this week!  Here's another FO.... this one the test knit for Ms Funky Carolina herself. 

Project Specs:

Pattern:  Icelandic Poppy Shawl by Evelyn Clark.
Yarn:  Funky Carolina Laceweight Merino in the "Seafoam" colorway.
Needles:  US size 3 circs.
Modifications: None.
Notes:  Another very nice, small shoulder shawl from Evelyn Clark.  I would rate this as intermediate, as the body lace pattern has long repeats and they are staggered, so you need to use a lot of markers and keep close track of where you are in the row repeats.  The simplest part of the entire pattern is the border, believe it or not.  The crochet edging, as you might imagine, is uber tedious, although not difficult (just single chains and then crochet 3 live border stitches together).  I only used about 450 yards of laceweight for this, but the pattern is written for fingering or DK too.  It is easily enlarge-able, as you can add the border on after any complete repeats of the main lace pattern rows.

Carrie's colorway was fun to work with.  Not just a "plain" solid; there are lots of little flecks of color throughout, but there were no areas of pooling either.  This laceweight yarn had a slightly stiff hand to knit with, but it softened up nicely with wet blocking, and the yarn is spun with enough twist that it has a LOT of bounce, so you can really stretch it out. 

I love the pretty little curved edge points in the design.  They make it fit over your shoulders really nicely.

I wouldn't expect another FO tomorrow.  Just in case any of you were thinking I was going there.  Just sayin'.
 
 All for now......

FO: Printed Silk Cardigan

Apparently Typepad ate my original post, but be that as it may, I have finished the tenth NaSwekniMoDo09 sweater!

Project Specs:

Pattern:  Printed Silk Cardi by Connie Chang Chinchio.
Yarn:  Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool in a grayed denim-blue color. 
Needles:  US size 4 circs.
Mods:  I shortened the length a little bit, but I deepened the armsceyes and adjusted the sleeve caps as well, since I think it would have been a bit tight on me otherwise.  I also lifted the scoop neck by 1-1/2 inches and I also added another 1/2-inch of ribbing there.
Notes:  This was not exactly a fast knit (took me almost 2 months!) and you do need to pay good attention to the diamond pattern or else you get confuzzled with the decreases and shaping easily.  The 1x1 ribbing is.... well... slow.  I was happy the sleeves were only three-quarter length ones.

So: Sweater #10 for NaSweKniMoDo, PLUS a Project Spectrum 4 offering (since we are focusing on blue things this time).

All for now...
 

WIP Wednesday - October 14, 2009

Project #1: Printed Silk Cardi

Despite having my MIL here this weekend, or perhaps because of it, since we had a lot of car-driving time, I managed to finish up sleeve #1 that would not die, and got that sewn into the finished body.  I then gave mysel a stern talking-to, and started sleeve #2, which I suspect will also be a bit of a slog, but dadgum it, I am going to finish it, one way or the other.

Goal:  Finish sleeve #2 and get this sewn into the sweater.  I will just have a few ends and the ribbed neckband to complete then to get this one off my plate.

Project #2:  Icelandic Poppy Shawl

I also made some nice progress on this one this week.  I finished the body repeats, I worked the set-up rows for the border, and started on the border, knitting rows 1 through 5 of the 18 rows I need to complete.  You can just barely see the border pattern starting to emerge here.

Goal:  I'm going to see if I can get this border finished, and then I'll just have the crochet bind-off to do.  Kind of a lofty goal, but I'm at least gonna try.

All for now......
 
 

WIP Wednesday - October 6, 2009

Prepare to be thrilled by the stellar photos this week, let me tell ya.  My apologies for their level of craptastic goodness.

Project #1: Printed Silk Cardi

Car time, but not a lot of knit time this weekend.  I have knit about 5-1/2 inches of the total 12 inches (these are 3/4-length sleeves) I need on this.  Pretty boring 1x1 rib, so I will hold out the hope I can at least get the first sleeve finished this week.  Tubular cast-on for this, for those of you keeping score of such things.  I tried two different techniques and picked the (for me) easier one.  (Insanely busy this week, with my MIL coming on Friday, needing to get the camper to and from Santa Fe for repairs and just general life stuff in the way.)

Goal:  Finish sleeve #1.

Project #2: Icelandic Poppy Shawl

I have knit half of the remaining body pattern rows on this one, sneaking in a little bit of knit time before and after we left for Colorado.  Yup - still looks like a large blob o' lace.  I did make the executive decision to only do the 7 body repeats as called for in the pattern.  I did some Google and Ravelry searching for finished photos, and this looks a little bit larger than some of Evelyn Clark's other smaller shoulder shawls (like the Flower Basket or Swallowtail shawls), and Carrie is a small person, so I am hesitant to make it too much bigger than it is written for.  And...um... I am tired of knitting the interior pattern at this point anyway. 

Goal:  Finish the last 4 rows of the body pattern and work the setup rows for the border.

All for now.....