So, let's start a sock...

The Starwars hat is complete, and I must say that I love it. Unfortunately, it is still drying. So you will have to wait until tomorrow to see it.
I also got my seed stitch jacket (the baby sweater I was knitting...remember that?) moving. I only have the sleeves left and some finishing.

Now, time for a sock.
With careful thought...I decided to make a nice warm winter pair for a Christmas gift, of course...



These are from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks. The Mamluke Socks.

I couldn't decide on colour choices. I am using the elann devon that I bought recently. I wasn't sure if I really wanted the stark contrast that they are done in...and the black grounds them a bit. Also, the recipient wears black pants frequently in the winter...so why not try to match that? I have a lighter colour of plum that I could be using...what do you think?

This gives me a chance to see how I like fair isle socks...to prepare for my own long awaited Norwegian Stockings!

Again, lets keep it moving...

Thank you all for your comments on the swallowtail shawl...what a great gift it will be!

Now with some knits out of the way...it was time to get the Stars Wars Hat moving again.



The second pattern repeat is done and I have started the decreases. I may go back to a couple rows to rework the pattern for the decreases...then it will be perfect.

We don't want anything less than perfect!

Tell me, will there be interest in this pattern? I will make better notes when decreasing if anyone would like a copy of the pattern. The R2 D2 motif is not mine, so I will have to consult my lawyer on that one, maybe contacting the motif creator...

Swallowtail Shawl

I don't know what it is about knitting shawls, but it is as addictive as knitting socks.
I love it!



(sorry...the lighting is horrible today, I think it is going to rain)

Started: I don't know...I think the 14th of August.
Finished: Aug 25, 2006
Yarn: Lana Gatto Tolegno VIP (80% wool, 20% cashmere) colour 12965 x2 balls
Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl from the current IK (Fall 2006)
Adjustments: I went with a larger needle (bryspun US#6) and I guess a thicker yarn...not by much! My finished measurements are 64" wide by 28" long.

Here is a close up of the lily of the valley edging:



I love this pattern...especially the lily of the valley borders...the texture with the lace is beautiful! It was a quick knit...even though I was knitting other projects during the same time period. A fairly simple pattern for the average knitter.

A finished Christmas knit...
And so begins the endless Christmas Knits that you will now see on the blog.
I love knitting for other people...especially those that really appreciate it.

Something is finally blocking!

This is the first time I have had a bleeding colour problem...



It's not really that bad...next wash I could add some vinegar I guess.

Here is the Swallowtail Shawl blocking...



I must say that I really LOVE knitting lace. There will be many more lace projects...so I really think I need to build a large blocking board (the current board is great for sweaters...but I need the ironing board added to it for shawls). Hint...hint...dad! It's really easy...check out this idea HERE.

Also, I tried stringing through some cotton to give me a nice straight edge...but it didn't work out so well this time...I need blocking wires.

Keep it moving...

I hate it when projects are sitting on the needles. Just sitting...not going anywhere...waiting their turn.



Swallowtail shawl needed a little movement last night, so I completed the first lily of the valley chart. I love the little bobbles in the lace.

For those of you who need a good knitalong...there is one here and one here.

Hey, did you notice the needles? That cord is not an addi cord...

As you know, I value Grumperina's knitting opinions...so I finally bought some Bryspuns.
I must say that I do like them. I find they feel a little strange being almost weightless and the needle itself is very flexible. I think I am just not used to that with addis. The tip is perfect for the lace work. The p5tog would be nearly impossible with addi turbos blunt tip.

Hopefully I will finish the shawl this weekend...as for the Sundara project, I have just slipped over the half way mark...ahhhhhh. I feel much better now!

Enough to make your head spin...

There are some serious sales right now...end of season stock kind of sales.

I keep looking at those BIG bags that are out...hmmm. I carry this small purse that holds a wallet, a phone and a lipstick. I would never be digging around in my bag looking for perfume, some socks, a bottle of water...or whatever it is that people carry in those big bags.

Well, at 40% off...I think I could find something to carry in a big bag...



Knitting, of course;)

(Yes this is a sad way to show the little progress in knitting lately.)

Let me also tell you, I timed my SPM again...this time sitting up.
46 spm.
What a difference from lying down!

So, at 206 sts a row right now, that is 4.48 minutes to knit a row and approximately 35 minutes to knit an inch.
Man oh man.
*There is 8 hours left of these 206 sts!

Unless of course I lie down to knit...that's 5.15 minutes a row and 40 minutes an inch...that is *8.64 hours left in this section.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

But of course, we don't think of knitting that way.

* Not including any stitch fumbles, turning your work and working 2 sides at once.

Some weekend progress.

I did manage to knit a little this weekend, even though we had some company.
CK and I did some cross border shopping...gotta love Target and Twelve Oaks Mall! Some nice man at the border obviously didn't really care how much we brought back...I think he was digging me ;)

I was determined to put a dent in the test knit for Sundara Yarns....



Some of you know what it is...some of you have guessed...but all I can tell you is this...
YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE PATTERN IS RELEASED!
I thought I would bore quickly with it...but it is not so. I think it is because I can multi task while knitting this. Watch a movie, entertain, tend to the children, chatty chatty...whatever.

I also timed my SPM while knitting it. There are a couple twisted stitches and purls in the pattern...and my SPM while doing so (pretty much lying down on the couch) is 40.
I can't even fathom how fast 120 SPM is...hence the name fastknitter! I am unable to link to her blog...but she was attempting to break a record this weekend...that just blows my 40 SPM out of the water.

I am curious to see how many I can do while knitting plain stocking stitch...

May the force be with you.

Firstly...a little eye candy for Friday...



I found a copy of VK and was able to flip through it quickly...there are some goodies.
AND another yarn sale at Knit One Purl One, one of the LYS here in Windsor...15% off all instock yarn for the next couple days. So, why not pick up some of that new Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK?!

Jedi Carolyn here, knitting away on the stars wars hat.



I had to play around with charting a little bit, but finally came up with something.
I found the chart HERE. There are some great fair isle charts, if you are interested.

Some star patterns, another R2D2 chart and then some decreasing.

May the force be with me...

FYI Some have asked if I knit continental...Nope...I am an English thrower. I think I throw quickly...but I have seen others much faster.
I have yet to study combined knitting, the way Grumperina knits. It is on my list of things to try, maybe after the Christmas knitting is complete.

Hey, how about SPM (stitches per minute). I will time myself when throwing and also when knitting fair isle (using both english and continental) and come up with my SPM.

What is your SPM?

The knitting gods are smiling...

So, when you are as addicted as I am to knitting, and you are "cranking" out the knits left and right...what about buying all that yarn?!

Yes, there is a plan of one day winning the lotto...but until I start playing...enter Purly.

Test knit, me test knit?! YES of course.
You will send me the yarn?! YES send it.

Check out the colour of this yarn. (this is photo # 501, and I think I have captured the colour)



Gorgeous. I love, love, love it.
Everything you have heard about Sundara's yarn is absolutely true. It knits up and washes wonderfully. No bleeding, no fading. The colour is nothing I could every find in my LYS searches. Not pink, not red, but a gorgeous raspberry.

I don't want to compare it to yarn, because it is far superior to any...but it has similarities to koigu. Nuff said.
Go now and buy some...seriously.
Thank you Sundara!

What is it? What am I knitting...

Come on in...can I offer you a drink?

I feel like I'm sitting in my pj's knitting at 2 in the afternoon and someone is knocking at the door...

Welcome all ye followers of Grumperina!

Kathy...what can I say? To even be mentioned on your blog...I am truly humbled.
It is funny how my FO's inspire you when picking your projects, because your blog is the one that started all of this.

So what came first the chicken or the egg?

Your knitting inspires me and your brilliant mind baffles me.
Thank you so much for sharing your adventures in knitting.

Now...I must neaten up the blog because the visitors are coming!

MIA summer.

I feel like I am never home.

Running here and there, visiting, entertaining the children, appearing at birthday parties...finally I am home again!

I get home to skim the million blogs I read...maybe comment if I have a moment or a thought...and then try to blog myself.
There are a lot of knitting, knit thoughts, projects, yarn purchases going on...lots to blog about!
So be patient as I fill you in over the next week...

I haven't seen the new VK but I did finally get my IK.
(did you notice that I knit nothing from the last IK...nothing...hmmmm.)

I really like this edition. There are some great projects in it...
This, this, this, definitely this, and not to sure about but maybe this. Will I have time to knit all of these? Well, probably not...until after Christmas.

Yes, I have plunged right into the Christmas knitting.
You have seen the dolls...the hat swatches...now the swallow tail shawl.

I have finished the first two charts and am on to the lily of the valley cart.



"Dashing through the snow...in a one horse open sleigh..."

I am so sorry to show you this...

Sorry...so sorry...I know, you are on a yarn diet...BUT...



Just as I suspected.
Gorgeous yarn.
Elann has developed this yarn called DEVON. It is 100% unshrinkable wool...so soft...really, really soft.
The colours are beautiful! Perfect for fair isle knitting.
Oh and for socks...yes! Beautiful textured socks.

Here is a swatch I knit up last night. It will be one of the christmas hats for my nephew...obviously for the one who is into star wars.



I haven't washed the swatch, I just did a quick steam iron on it. I'll let you know how it washes and how the swatch wears....
So far...I am loving this yarn!

P.S. please don't buy it all!

Fetching.

I really love this knit.



Hey, they photographed black! (This pair was knit with US#7. )

Started: Aug 5, 2006
Finished: Aug 8, 2006
Pattern: Fetching from Knitty.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino aran, in black. 2 Balls made 2 pair.
Adjustments: Well, there was that "no gauge" issue...but I did end up with two wearable pairs. Next time I will use the US #6...yes, I will make them again!

These could easily be knit in one sitting. One ball will make a pair, which is a fabulous gift. I love this yarn...it is one of my favourites (baby, aran...and yet to be knit dk). It really knits up wonderfully...mind you it does pill with continuous wear, but I don't mind.

Knitted Bag

I finally got around to finishing off my niece's birthday gift.

The striped side...

The plain side...

Started: July 30, 2006
Finished: August 7, 2006
Pattern: Knitted Bag from "Toys to Knit"
Yarn: Odds and ends of sock yarn..from baby ull to koigu.
Adjustments: I cast on the number called for but instead of 4" it is 6" which doesn't really matter...I don't know how they used fingering yarn on a US#3 and got 45 sts in 4"...but whatever. So the bag is approximately 6" square.

It's perfect, and she will certainly love it.

I am finished the "Fetching" sets...I am just sewing in ends (yes I had enough yarn!)...the air is busted yet again (new one finally on order) so it is hard to do anything in this heat. Today it seems cooler...so far....

What a "fetching" pile...

Just having one of those days...



(I can't photograph black.)

So I really wanted to make Fetching, the fingerless mitts from the current knitty....they are so nice and in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran...so luxurious.

The pattern calls for US#6 and I knit tighter than the "usual"...so I used US#5...
Yes, 5's...why? I don't know why...I should have used 7's but my brain was not functioning...
So then I decided to use 7's on the next one and then make two pairs...one a little smaller than the other.
The pair knit with 7's are looser than I would like...so I really should have used 6's.
Anyway...here we are, on the last one...praying that I won't run out of yarn...

Moral of this story:
Check gauge.

Eye Candy Friday

Homemade granola...berries and yogurt...mmmmmmmm.

Feeling HOT HOT HOT!

It's HOT. Like, I'M MELTING...HOT.
I think I am becoming delirious with heat...maybe it is heat stroke...I doubt the air conditioner...it's on, but it is still HOT.
What a better time to stay inside and knit.

Progress on my little knitted bag for my niece's birthday...



Ok, it's cute. I am using up scraps of sock yarn and I am able to work on some intarsia...which I have never offically tried. Not too bad. Although, I must tell you I am just CRAVING some fair isle. Seriously, I've got to find a fair isle project soon....

What about the sweater on the cover of the fall IK. I haven't got my copy yet...but is that really something one could wear? Is that the NEW FI yolk sweater?

Check out this free pattern...

I am waiting for the superman shirts to dry...evidently, we cannot leave the house in anything but!

Have you seen the latest Debbie Bliss free pattern?
Lace and Bobble Jacket.