DNR

Every knitter at one point in time is tempted by a specific knit.
It was a cover knit...there was something about it. The diminishing rib pattern that shaped the garment...so clever.
A perfect shape for me...in at the waist...A-line bottom. The perfect spring sweater for me!
A beautiful colour...spring like...so bright and cheerful.
What a blur. It was all a blur.

Of course the whole time my inner knitter spoke to me.
I ignored it.

What about that no closure front? Really? Is that going to work for you?
Oh all that stocking stitch...and that ribbing...you will dread knitting it after a while.
Positive ease. Seriously. You are going to knit a sweater for yourself in positive ease?
Stop. Stop knitting now.

People, I have said it before...listen to your inner knitter.



DNR.
Thankfully, this knit has signed a donor card. All yarn from this sweater will be transplanted...quickly, before it is too late.

Oh...what about the finished photos. They are coming...along with my thoughts on the sweater and how you can avoid these problems...

Antique Lace

I finished up my sample knit for Shall We Knit last week.

Antique Lace by Ilga Leja.



Started: February 14, 2009
Finished: February 19, 2009
Pattern: Antique Lace by Ilga Leja
Yarn: 4 balls of Schulana Sojabama 55% bamboo 45% soy. Both the pattern and the yarn are available at Shall We Knit.
Size: medium



When I looked at the pattern I thought it would be interesting to knit. At first glance it is not really something I would wear myself. Well, once I finished it and tried it on, I quickly changed my mind. Normally, for myself, I need to wear things that show my waist. If I wear something that hangs down without waist shaping I tend to look pregnant. With the lace stitch and the length of the piece, you can still see my shape...not prego looking! This would really look great over a little black dress.

There is a little short row shaping at the shoulders. Ilga is very thorough in her pattern writing. She explains what you will be doing and also offers step by step instructions. You can follow the chart or use the row by row instructions. The neckline decrease are also charted out for you.

The yarn is just beautiful. It was a pleasure to knit with and the drape and sheen is just outstanding. I was a little worried when I did a full wet block. It came out feeling much like twine. I don't remember this with the swatch. It did end up blocking out perfectly and the bamboo/soy blend kept the softness and sheen. I will definitely keep this yarn in mind for future knits!

Spring is...just a few knits away.

You know spring is on its way when you get your hands on the spring Interweave knits.
My subscription ended long ago and I debated renewing. I flipped through issues in the bookstore/LYS as they came out. Nothing was really exciting me. A few knits...here and there...but nothing worth picking up the magazine for.
Nothing until Spring 2009!
I don't know what it is but this issue has so many knitable-wearable-knits. At least for me.
I love the cover sweater. Diminishing Rib Cardigan.
Gorgeous. Simple. A great addition to any knit wardrobe.
So, I cast on...and knit (a little obsessively).



The photo depicts the results of day one...220 yrds of 220.
I am now in the bottom ribbing section. It is a good tv watching/knit 'n chatting knit.
Hopefully I will be sporting my new spring knit...in my spring colour I like to call raspberry (depending on the light - it is more fushia in the daylight)...in no time.

Well what's the rush you ask?
None.
I just really want to cast on for the Zickzack Tunic. Seriously. I love this knit. It is so me.
I have swatched already and have so much to tell you!

Oh and then there will be the Whisper Cardigan. And I love the lace in the issue...and Eunny's Blooming cotton scarf (just imagine that in wool for the winter...gorgeous)...the petal halter...hmmm...

If you need me I will be here knitting...

It's back!

My knitting mojo is officially back!
Horrrrraaaayyyyy!
I finally feel like my knitting is in a good place again. I have those projects that keep me up late at night because I just don't want to put it down.

You know you have a great project on the go when knit with your eyes closed.

Not like "look ma, I can do it with my eyes closed"...I mean you just want to keep knitting but your body is saying no. The eyes begin to close and your hands just keep moving.
Please tell me this happens to you too, so I don't feel so crazy!?!

Many of you are on ravelry so you see what is happening in my projects page. 6 WIP's! Yes that is 6 projects on the go. There are even completed projects that I just haven't had the time to blog and tell you all about...patience please, I am busy knitting with my eyes closed;)

Ok. So here is the textured shawl/scarf. This is a great little "recipe" for a shawl. You make it as big as you want...or knit until you are out of yarn, as I did.



Pattern: Textured Shawl recipe by Orlane
Started: Feb. 8, 2009
Finished: Feb. 13, 2009
Yarn: 2 balls of Jo Sharp Alpaca Silk Georgette in "quince", this gorgeous rusty orange colour. I picked it up at the *Shall We Knit sale at 40% off...can't beat that!
I blocked it out just as I would block out a lace shawl...trying to get it as big as I could. It turned out to be 48"x 22".



I love, love this pattern. It is perfect for that gorgeous yarn you fondle in the yarn store...one that a sweaters worth would be out of your price range, grab a few skeins to knit this shawl. The simplicity of the stitch pattern really showcases a luxurious yarn beautifully.

Will I be knitting this again...ABSOLUTELY!

Oh, and I know you clicked on the *"Shall We Knit" link...and saw the St. Patricks day green yarn sale!! Guess who will be buying some green yarn!?!

Feeding the habit.

You may have noticed that I have been trying to feed the habit lately. I put up my first pattern for sale in hopes to buy a couple skeins of something in order to knit up...another pattern. I am just about there. It is definitely a learning experience and not as easy as it may appear.

There are others ways to feed the habit. I have done some test knitting for other knit designers in the past and now am dabbling in sample knitting for a LYS.
What a great way to work with beautiful yarns and patterns that I would not normally be able to do.



Antique Lace by Ilga Leja is a lovely lace sleeveless cardigan. It would be just gorgeous over a little black dress.
I am using Schulana Sojabama (oh and yes, in a shade of green!). It is 55% Bamboo and 45% soya...both fibers I have not yet worked with.
The drape and sheen is just unbelievable. It is so silky feeling, definitely a pleasure to knit with.
At first glance the pattern is a simple lace design. For some reason I can't seem to remember the 8 rows, but I usually just have to glace at the chart as I knit. This could be because I am also watching tv...like LOST...which is hard enough to follow itself, forget about trying to knit anything with a chart!



This is the first time I have worked short rows in lace. Ilga provides very thorough guidelines as well as step by step instructions. I love it when I am set up success.
Needless to say, I did have to rip back and knit back a few times on the front as I decreased the neckline trying to watch Lost. Oh and there is that first slip stitch that I knit...and realized it a pattern repeat later.
It must be perfect...no "making it work" here. Store samples are looked at by knitters...you know what they would be thinking if they saw the smallest mistake....yes, there is always a better knitter than you out there;)

Shall We Knit has the most beautiful yarns in stock. If you haven't been there yet, it is definitely worth the drive to New Hamburg!

So what colour pants do you wear with those?

You know you are one crazy knitter when...
you show your sister the socks you are working on and she says...
"So what colour pants to you wear with those?"
What colour pants? I never even thought about it. Who worries about the colour pants they are going to wear with hand knit socks.
Hand knit socks are a work of art...they compliment all pant colours...or no pants at all!



These socks say
"Look at me! I am hand knit! I feel so nice on the feet!"
they do not say
"How do I look with these blue jeans? Do I look ok...am I drawing attention to myself? How are my stitches? Are they even?"

Who wouldn't love a pair of sockettes in such an electric blue colour to welcome spring! I love wearing sockettes around the house. I inherited a pair I knit for my sister Moe. I love the cotton blend, they are my favourite. Plus they remind me of my sister. Hopefully I will get to knitting the other sock and write up the pattern so you can have a pair for spring too;)

p.s. These socks don't really talk. I haven't come across any talking yarn...I am using Regia cotton, which is a wool/cotton blend....non speaking.

Baby Bootie-licious!

What does a knitter do when they have a baby shower on the weekend?
Pick up those needles and knit something for a baby!
I love knitting for babies...what knitter doesn't? The projects are small and finish quickly...quite satisfying. The baby patterns out there are just so gorgeous...I started knitting all because of Debbie Bliss' baby patterns.
I still buy her baby books...just in case there is a baby to knit for...none here, kitchen is closed;)

So, I came across the cutest baby booties on Ravelry.
Blue Steps baby booties.
Look what I knit up in one evening...



Yarn: Elann Devon in green and brown. This is listed as a sport weight, but I consider 4 ply. It is currently not available.
Adjustments: All I did was knit the sole in brown and the main part of the bootie in light green.



The contruction is brilliant. You start with a magic cast on. I purled the first row...ensuring the second set of stitches were worked through the back of the loop to put them on correctly. I did my increases on the knit rounds of the garter stitch sole. The increases are done at the toe and the heel...mine look ok but I would like to figure out a better increase for garter stitch.
I switched to the green once I started the brioche stitch. It looks great and it is so squishy.

This baby is going to love these on his feet!

The pattern is simple to knit...I actually knit the second one with out the pattern. I have bits of Devon left...more booties to come...just need some babies to knit for!

Big Fat Fern Afghan.

I did it! I finally figured out (with a little ravelry help) how to put my patterns up for sale!

The Big Fat Fern Afghan



Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick, 6 skeins (approximately 640yrds)
Needles: US size #13/9 mm. A similar sized crochet hook is optional for the cast on.
Gauge: 9 sts and 12 rows in 4" knit in stocking stitch.

My favourite lace motif - the leaf.
Combined with simple stocking and garter stitch to make a big fat cozy afghan. It knits up quickly in a super chunky yarn and it is perfect for the beginner lace knitter.
The pattern can be easily modified to add more width or length.

Many knitters have commented that they would knit is as a wrap...great idea!



The Big Fat Fern Afghan pattern is listed for $3.oo US on ravelry.
For those of you who are not members yet (I highly recommend you get on the waiting list!) you should be able to access it here:
buy now

I hope you like the pattern. I am getting better at making them up and have figured out pdf's!

Happy knitting!

Slippery socks.

After playing around with stitch patterns...and listening to the pleas of small children waiting for their socks to be knit up...I came up with these:



Cheesy socks. Of course named for the colour...
Both are knit in the Patons Kroy socks that the boys dyed.
The Wilton orange icing colouring is exactly the colour of cheesies.
I used a tubular cast on and some 1x1 ribbing which seemed to compliment the simple slip stich and garter row patterning.
I am planning on knitting an adult size and will have the pattern up soon...maybe for spring;)



Purple cable and garter stitch socks. Yeah, I need to come up with a name. The purple icing colouring didn't take as well as the orange, but I like how they turned out.
This pair I knit toe up and ended with the 1x1 ribbing. There was a little "adjusting" to make the 1x1 ribbing line up...so the pattern needs work. But for kids socks, it is fine!

I love that the boys wanted socks. They don't wear socks around the house. Sometimes Lucca will, but Matteo takes them off immediately when we get home. They seem to need traction when running around the house...so you can imagine how my morning has been since they finally got the socks...
One slip down the wood stairs and a couple times on the wood floor. It's almost like they are doing it on purpose now!

I sent them in the carpeted basement to play before I end up taking them to the hospital.

FYI I have been attempting to add patterns to ravelry for sale...I know some of you are waiting for the Big Fat Fern Afghan pattern. I didn't realize that you need to be "set up" for sales...so I am awaiting authorization...hopefully you will see it up soon...I will keep you posted;)