TA DA!

Ok, my sister is down for the weekend and just stepped out to a birthday party, my husband just went to Home Depot....so it is the perfect time for taking photos of an FO!
Sorry, I didn't dress up for this one! I must say that the bright tshirt helps to show it off thought!



Here is the back and wearing it as a scarf. Under or over a coat is just gorgeous!



Started: April 21, 2006
Finished: April 29, 2006
Yarn: Regia Silk...of course.
Pattern: Sheltland Lace Shawl from Wrapstyle.
Adjustments: Well, I didn't follow the number of repeats, I just went with wanting to use 2 balls of regia...we all know how that worked out. The size is perfect I think. I don't really know how they made the edge so pointy...well I don't really like the dramatically pointy points! So my points are a little more subdued.

Notice the scrabble in the background...thanks so much for the challenging words;)
gorgeousness
fantasmagorically incredulous
Fantasmacredulous
and my favourite...
"quoxzak" yeah - It's a seven letter knitting term. It means "to wait patiently while a shawl dries." from purl needlemeyer. I think I figured around 122 pts for that baby!

AAAARRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH.

It has failed me. My squeeze technique. Go figure.



Ready to cast off....not enough yarn. I know what you are saying...yes, those of you with measuring tools, scales and such!

And I thought I could have done one more repeat! HA!

Off to the LYS to get an entire ball so that I can cast off. Thank goodness this yarn is splicable - spliceable? (is that a word? With the current scrabble games at night with the hubby...I need to know so that I can tuck it away for when needed! "It's a knitting term"....yeah, I use that one alot!)

I was able to cast off...don't worry I will use the rest of that regia silk ball;)



Dry my little shawl...dry.

A little progress and a knitting request.

With many days spent walking to and playing in the park lately, the shawl is strickly knit at night. I am not bringing that baby to the park! I have made progress...I am on the edging now. I probably could have done one more repeat, it is hard to say.


This baby will be blocking tonight for sure. Then I need to finish my sock.

Yesterday I went and picked up this patons pattern.
You did see brooklyntweed's Urban Aran Cardigan didn't you? It is fabulous. I immediately sent the link to Tom (you remember my little brother...the tom hat). He loved it....if I may quote...

"i want one.
can you knit hemp?
thats what i wanted; a zip up.
the pattern is super cool.
i like the colour too.
it would also be cool in a green with yellow specks.
or yellow/brown.
so if you start to day you can finsh by may 14th right? (20 days)
i'll pay for the yarn."

I let him know that I have handled hemp yarn and it is really scratchy...I am sure it softens after wash...but I discouraged it. May 14th...he obviously thinks I can wip off a sweater in a couple days...well ok, I could. Pay for the yarn! Ha that's the funniest part! His birthday is in June, it could be a gift.

So I asked him what colour.

"if i had to choose from the web site i guess i'd pick;
0208 Malt Heather
but ideally, match colour of the attached photo.
i think;
60% green / 10% yellow / 20% Burnt Sienna / 10% black "

Here is the photo he sent....
AHHHHHHH!

Anyway, I really like the cover sweater as well, for myself. I picked up some patons classic wool in brown. The dyelots were different, but you couldn't tell in the store. Well...at home, I could really tell. Lesson learned! I will take it back and pick another colour.

Other notes of inspiration. Have you seen this book? Well, I have only seen it on line...and I am LOVING it. I must get me a copy immediately!
Also, the summer IK looks pretty decent. I can't wait to actually get a copy in my hands to make some decisions.

From Black to White.

I know what you are going to say. We've had this conversation before...but I just couldn't decide on a colour. My husband was waiting in the car...and I couldn't think of Grandmas winter coat colour...I think it is red, but I am not sure...so I went with cream. It actually looks white in some light. Maybe it is white. Maybe it is not so practical. Maybe I just needed something to knit...



Grandmas shawl (come on, the colour is perfect for cool summer nights!) is the Sheltland Lace shawl from Wrapstyle.
The pattern is so simple. Like almost too simple. I love the leaf pattern, you see it often in my knits.
This is a very easy knit, there is no reason to look at the chart. Perfect for someone wanting to venture into lace knitting.

Again, the yarn is Regia Silk. Love it. NOT JUST FOR SOCKS!

Side note:
Someone asked about the last shawl. It was the Diamond Fantasy Shawl made of Regia Silk. I try to answer anyone's questions. I know I am behind on a few...I am getting to it...sorry. If you put your email in the email address are in comments, I will send you a response immediately, then I don't forget.

I went to visit some socks.

So you knit someone some gorgeous socks...then what? What happens to the socks? How does the yarn hold up?

Well, I went for a little visit this weekend and got to see mom's canal du midi socks. Now, my mother wears the things I knit, ugly or not. I mean she wears them...as soon as they are given to her...and I don't know when she takes them off.

I must say that I am happy with the Regia Silk.

Here they are...oh mom, they even have stickers stuck to the bottom...



I have one complaint about the bottom...that of which I haven't been able to solve yet....they get dirty. As all socks do, the bottoms have been stained with dirt. (mind you I did see her walking around on the back deck with them on, this may be the dirt...I am not saying your floors are dirty mom!)
I don't know if you really see it in the photo...but they are dirty. I soaked them in eucalyn then decided to put a little liquid dish soap on the dirt and gently rub them. It took most of the dirt out, but you can still see a stain.

Help! What do you use?

Here are the heels...with a little pilling, but nothing that I will worry about.



I don't think this is bad pilling. Now, I wish I took a photo of the other socks I made mom. She wore them constantly. I knit them from some knitpicks sock yarn. WELL there was some serious blurring and pilling...I cleaned them up and they looked just fine...I guess you get what you pay for. Another note on those knitpicks socks, I put them in my washer on the delicate cycle with my other hand knit socks. They felted a bit. Not a full felting, but they were stiffer after the wash. Again, you get what you pay for.

Finally, another note on Regia Silk. I found it with a sparkly thread spun into it! Regia Shine. Imagine a shawl made of that!

The diamond fantasy

You saw it blocking...now here she is...



Started: April 16, 2006
Finished: April 20, 2006 (that includes blocking!)
Yarn: Regia Silk in charcoal grey 2 balls
Pattern: Diamond Lace Fantasy Shawl
Adjustments: None really. I added one repeat on to the "scarf" length and still had some yarn left over...I don't think I would have had enough for another repeat...but maybe! I blocked it 29" to the tip and 59" wide. The yarn relaxed to 28"x59". The size is perfect for my little Great Nonna.



OHHHHH the NONNA POSE...I think the neighbours were watching me out the window on this one.



I really enjoyed knitting this shawl. The yarn is lovely to knit with. Seriously, it could be one of my favourites. With 55% merino wool, 20% silk and 25% polymid, it is so soft and luxurious. It is very much like a DB Baby Cashmerino, but obviously in a sock weight. I know some of you have asked how it holds up, and I will give you that answer after the weekend when I go and examine Mom's socks.

It makes beautiful socks and now a gorgeous shawl! What else will I knit with it?!

The pattern kept my interest, yet I could still beat my husband at scrabble...3 nights in a row. The WS is purling, except for the edges, and the patterned RS was simple to knit.
A fabulous knit, which I will probably knit again....but next time with the addtions of beads!

Here is my little letter to Nonna...with the help of this web site. Those that read Italian, please let me know if I am saying something offensive!

Nonna,
Ho trovato un bel modella di scialle che ho pensato lei amerebbe. E fatto di seta e di lana cosi la terra abbastaza caldo. ll Because delle fibre naturali, lei non avra bisogno di lavarlo motto spesso. Dovrebbe essre una volta all'anno bello. Ho incluso della istruzioni speciali con le foto per aiutare quando ha bisogno di essere lavato.
Forse questo sara l'estate che saremo in grado di venire la visita. Poi posso lavarlo per lei!
Amare Carolyn

Hehe...Tina...let Michael know that it's on!

Dear Hubby...

To my Dearest Husband,
You may have noticed my severe mild addiction to the art of knitting. Yes, I live, eat and sleep knitting...well I try. I am about to make something very easy for you...
We seem to be past the jewelry gift giving stage in our marriage...you have given me all that I could want. (well...the 10 year is an unbelievable 20 months away...and then we will renegotiate gifts)

You may have noticed that I have added a couple of links to your desktop....like beside the poker playing icon.

They are some wonderful knitting kits from Kim Hargreaves. She designs gorgeous handknit sweaters and then packages the pattern, yarn and notations (those are things like buttons) in order for you to create this wonderful sweater. I have linked to 4 beautiful designs. Bea, Buttercup, Maggie and Glee. The colours I leave up to you...you do know what I like don't you? Mind you, I would knit any and all of them if that is what you should choose!

What a wonderful surprise it would be to open up the door and see that fantastic delivery man with a Kim Hargreaves kit for lets say....mothers day. (it is on May 14th and Kim Hargreaves is offering free shipping until the end of April...just incase you needed to know....she will ship right to Canada!)
Mothers Day, my birthday, our anniversary, the children's birthdays (I should get something for birthing them...remember Lucca was 9lbs 6oz!), Valentines Day, Christmas, Easter, National Womens day....whatever the gift giving holiday is, you would be a sure winner with one of these kits.
Thank you...LOTS OF LOVE!
Carolyn

Hippopotamus sock.

I caught the bug. Well, really, I needed a traveling project when I finished the lace leaf socks...so I cast on for another sock.
I am glad to read that I am not the only one who can't read the name! It's not that I can't read it...my brain swipes over it and comes up with pomtamus...like Hippopotamus. Don't ask.
I used the tubular cast on from the lace leaf sock...and it is looking lovely!



Also, I did finish a seventh repeat on the shawl and the icord edging. I love this edging. The technique is new to me. Maybe I'll show you how to do it...for those that have never done it.

Now the shawl is blocking SEVERELY! Don't you love it when it says "block severely". The rough and tough side of knitting.
Here is a peak...



I'll have the official FO on the shawl tomorrow.

That was quick!

I thought I should show you some progress on the Diamond Lace Fantasy Shawl...like before I show you the FO.



It knits up really quickly. The pattern is easy to follow. I can't say that I have memorized it...I just need to glance at the beginning of the row. You can also easily catch mistakes as you knit....yes I do make mistakes. (can you see the one I didn't fix? I really caught it late...and...and...well...you can hardly see it)
I have had to tink back a couple times...no big deal.

It is now a "scarf" size...6 repeats of the main pattern. I could stop here because Great Nonna is so little...a scarf may be a shawl on her! I'll do another repeat and then check my yarn situation. I think seven repeats is all I will get out of it, along with the icord edging....

Sockapalooza socks are complete!

Here they are in all of their glory...



A sock sleeve, and they are ready to go!




Started: March 19, 2006
Finished: April 12, 2006
Yarn: Koigu 100% merino
Pattern: IK winter embossed leaf socks.
Adjustments: I added 4 stitches to the cast on and placed them in the purl stitches in between the pattern...it worked out just wonderfully! I also had to add a little length to them so a few plain knit rounds are after the pattern, before the toe decreasing...it still works for the pattern.

The pattern was easy to memorize and kept the knitting interesting.

Here is the short journey of your socks...
They began here....and I turned the first of many heels here.
They traveled a little...well, to the state of Connecticut.
They were born again a couple times and survived a mishap with the ball winder...all my fault!
My mojo returned...and they neared the finish line with little left to knit.
I hope you enjoy them!

Thank you Allison for another great sockpal KAL. I look forward to the next round!

Here comes the lace.

I download the Diamond Lace Fantasy Shawl pattern today and decided to swatch it with some leftover Regia Silk sock yarn. Believe it or not...the addis are working for this pattern. I am using US#5 and there are no real tricky moves....well, not that I have encountered yet. Some k2tog and some ssk...a few psso's...addis this diameter can handle such simple moves.



I am loving it! LOVING. I am actually going to use the Regia Silk for the shawl. It works out perfectly and it is a dream to knit with.

The yarn has a little shimmer to it, which really looks lovely.



Check out Cara's beaded version she is knitting. I am really loving that idea...maybe I'll have to make a couple of these!

I am still selecting a colour for Grandma's shawl...which may be a Diamond Fantasy as well.

I do have some charcoal grey that was going to be a pair of socks...but...Nonna over in Italy would love the grey (according to my MIL).
Only little old Italian Nonna would love grey...or black!
So Nonna...although we have never met (I send pictures occasionally with a little note in my attempt at Italian...I found a site that will translate for you, it helps!) I am about to become your favourite Granddaughter in law!


Other knitting news...the sockpal socks are blocking!



Next up, a little sock sleeve...

The "River" begins to flow.

So I joined the KAL for Rowan's River, bought the yarn then never started it.
I don't know what it is about it. Maybe it's because I have read how boring it is to knit...maybe it is because I am not the biggest fan of mohair...maybe it is because I had started it a couple times and didn't like the large yo holes and the fact the mohair sucks to frog...I just don't know.

Well, I forced myself to start knitting it. I decided to use smaller needles (US#7) which will give me more of a scarf than a wrap, that is just fine with me.



I don't own the proper needles for lace knitting. I am knitting on some susan bates straights...which are a little too heavy for me and the tips are too dull for lace. Addis are not even an option for this type of knitting. I don't really like the grab of bamboos.
The search is on for lace knitting needles!

I am not totally committed to this knit.
I will be cheating on River...sorry.
Just what with?

I have searched through blogland...spying on what you are knitting, what you have knit...looking through your blog roll for more inspiration. Nothing.

I would like to knit a shawl/wrap/scarf for Grandma...but nothing has grabbed me yet.
I also have two babies on the way...not mine!
When it doubt...look at Debbie Bliss patterns.
Check out this shell made from her new yarn Pure Silk. Hmmmm...with a little added shaping it may be perfect.
How about some gorgeous cabled cardigans? Grace and the Cabled Jacket. Possibilities.
I keep my eyes on this little baby knit. I love it. I do have a 50% chance that someone will have a girl.

I just don't know yet. I'll finish up my sockapal sock this weekend and paddle down the river...but other than that....

Some answers...another FO and some sockpal progress.

Thank you all so much for your comments on the "Masterpiece". I am sooooo happy with Forecast. It is just unbelievable to even read things like....
"Wicked"
"Freaking awesome"
"This is just Gorgeous"
"Astounding"
"Hot, hot, hot"
"Just gawgus!!!"

Must I go on?! I love knit bloggers!

A couple answers for you...

"By the way, how do you manage to get it buttoned up like that without gaping on a negative-ease sweater?"
I don't know. Really. I was worried, but it just worked out. It may be the yarn...it is just wonderful. It gives you some play. Maybe the choice in buttons has something to do with it. There wasn't a huge amount of negative ease and there are ten buttons down the front. Luck, I would say.

"And did you love knitting with the Jo Sharp?"
I love this Silkroad Aran Tweed. It is fabulous to knit with. It blocks wonderfully and it just looks fantastic!

"I'm also curious as to how you got enough yarn to finish."
Well, I just got lucky. I didn't save any information from the yarn and had no idea of the dyelot. I went to my LYS with the scraps and found a ball. The colour looked like a good match. End of story. Luck, again.

Also, I forgot to say in the finish knit information that I did a 3 stitch bobble, not the 5 stitch one. I had mentioned that in early progress posts, but I will add it to the final information for reference.
I can't believe those that I have inspired to knit Forecast! I can't wait to see yours!

Now...I finally blocked the second pair of Komi Mittens. I can now consider them complete.



Started: March 5, 2006
Finished: March 25, 2006 (blocked April 7, 2006!)
Yarn: Garnstudio Baby Ull grey, cream and purple.
Pattern: Knitting Marvelous Mittens
Adjustments: I squared off the top and the thumb. I just think the written pattern makes them too long and too pointy for my tastes.

Here is a closeup of the blocked stitches...they are just so perfect!



The patterns in this book are fabulous. I really enjoy the stranded knitting...as I may have mentioned before!

Also...a little sockpal progress. This is all I have on the needles right now.



Now...what next? I'm looking for some inspiration.
Maybe some lace?

A blogging question...how do you attach a file (pdf) to your blog? Anyone?

WARNING: Jaw dropping handknit sweater in the post below...

OK, this is the "masterpiece". I have done it. It fits perfectly and I LOVE IT!


Started: March 2, 2006
Finished:April 7, 2006
Pattern: Forecast
Yarn: Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran (I think 12 balls)
Adjustments: My gauge was a little off, so I added length to the ribbing...knit in one piece, you can just try it on as you go! I also made the bobble a 3 stitch one instead of the 5 stitch.

I knew the yarn...so I blocked it to the perfect fit. The yarn blooms a little after wash, so I made a smaller size than I actually wear. The sweater has a very little negative ease now...perfect.

This is by far my most favourite knit sweater. It was fun to knit...the texture I just love.
I will actually wear this one out in public.

Here is a detail of the buttons.



I was leaning towards some wooden ones then changed my mind and went with the green. Perfect I think!

It does do up just fine...



But...too constricting for me...I'll wear it with some of the buttons undone (this way I shouldn't overheat too quickly!)

Same Bat-Channel

Did the brave knitter find the yarn for the button band?
Will she over-block it?
Will the appropriate buttons be located for such a fabulous sweater?
Will the cold weather hold out a couple more days so it can be worn?
Better yet, will it be completely dry to wear on the weekend?



Stay tuned. Same Bat-Time (well, maybe)...same Bat-Channel...

Todays "Forecast"...cold, windy and a little yarn shortage.

You knew it would have to happen. This is turning out to be my favourite knit ever...fits so perfectly and now this.
Tell me what is wrong with this picture...



About 5" of the sleeve to go...then I also have to knit the button bands. Yes...that is all the yarn I have left.
I don't even know how many balls I started with or how many I have used. I have searched the stash...the scraps...the 1/2 balls...no more left. I think I started with 11 balls of Jo Sharp Silkroad Tweed Aran. I know I bought it at my LYS last year...maybe...just maybe they have some left.

It's going to snow tomorrow.

Don't get me wrong, I am really loving my Forecast sweater...but with the tastes of spring weather that we have been getting, I really don't want to finish knitting it.



I just have the right arm to knit and the button bands. I am so close, yet, I just don't want to knit it. I sat down the other night and forced myself to knit the one arm. Sometimes I just have to do that to finish. Here is a close up of the 3 stitch bobble I am making instead of the 5 stitch bobble.



Thankfully it is calling for snow tomorrow...maybe I'll be able to wear it once this year. If I knit the next couple days...I'll be able to wear it this weekend...